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A Marriage of Connivance

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‘They’ve ruined our lives. And now they’re going to find out exactly how that feels. I’m going to take this little fantasy they’ve decided to live in and smash it to dust. And you’re going to help me.’

People-pleasing Ellie and aloof Jordan have practically nothing in common. Except one thing. Their girlfriends, Zoe and Caitlin, are best friends with one another.

One day, Ellie is given the completely unexpected boot by Zoe. Across town, Jordan’s getting the same from Caitlin. They’re leaving their girlfriends for each other, after deciding they’ve been hiding from their secret feelings for too long.

Ellie and Jordan are left feeling miserable and angry by the abrupt cuckolding they’ve both experienced. There’s only one thing that could make them feel better…

Sweet revenge.

And despite being polar opposites, they decide that if they’re going to get back at their selfish exes, they might do better if they join together to mess with the lives of the people who have ruined theirs.

But as they plot to settle the score, their shared goal unites them in more than just petty retaliation and they find themselves unexpectedly romantically involved. And they have to ask themselves if there’s more to the relationship than just mean spirited scheming.

But then again, what if there isn’t?

221 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 16, 2016

57 people are currently reading
284 people want to read

About the author

Natasha West

51 books376 followers

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5 stars
159 (28%)
4 stars
185 (33%)
3 stars
151 (27%)
2 stars
41 (7%)
1 star
13 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
Profile Image for lov2laf.
714 reviews1,105 followers
July 13, 2017
Two people taking revenge on their exes only to fall in love with each other themselves is not a new plot idea but it doesn't make this book any less entertaining.

Like some of Natasha West's other books this follows more of a rom-com theme and I think it was pulled off well. Particularly, I think she did a great job making Ellie and Jordan into dynamic rather than flat leads that offer us some surprises, while each and every character is written to be distinct.

The comedy landed, both through absurd situations and dialogue, the chemistry was real between the mains and the narrative was well paced. Not too long, not too short. It also didn't hurt that Ellie and Jordan were clever and likable to boot.

The only issue, if you can call it that really, was the way Jordan's character came across I pictured her as butch/soft butch only to get her physical description half way through the book and having to do a complete U-turn. Spoiler, she's not butch.

Appreciate the craft but don't go into this read thinking it's serious...have fun with it and you'll get an entertaining romance in the end.
Profile Image for Morgan LaTerza.
48 reviews14 followers
March 4, 2019
4.25 stars
I am quite late to this party, but I’m glad I found this book. This was a light, enjoyable romance novel that was a quick, easy read.

Natasha West kept the plot interesting and although this is a romance, the pace of the story felt didn’t drag like many novels of the same genre tend to do. I never knew what was going to happen next, which helped keep my attention through the end of the book.

The premise of the story was quite unbelievable and most certainly wouldn’t happen in real life, however I didn’t find that off putting. While there was some angst, it didn’t feel thrown in only for the sake of having it.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to romance fans. If you want something fun and lighthearted, give this story a try.
Profile Image for Kexx.
2,330 reviews100 followers
April 28, 2022
A good story that made me feel uncomfortable - revenge always carries a certain ambience that is hard to disguise and can leave a nasty taste. And this trod the thin line.
Profile Image for CLAR.
252 reviews119 followers
August 18, 2020
From reading the blurb for this book, I knew I had to swallow a fair amount of dubiety to fully enjoy the story. In the beginning, I was so entertained by the plot that I was sure this would be a 5-star book, or at least a 4. Reaching the middle, however, I wish West eased more slowly into the MCs' attraction—or at least their realization of it. The first half of the book was so good, not much had to be done to establish Ellie and Jordan's chemistry. I guess that's why the perceptible flip of a switch at the start of the second half, to clearly express the MCs' developing feelings, hurt more than it did good. This is the sort of romance that would've been better approached with a gradual progress.

From then on, things went downhill as the events that followed were so fabricated, it left me feeling the amusing plot was wasted. If there is one request I would like to make to authors, it's this: Can we please retire the drama where character A refuses to listen to what character B has to say, and so character A flees with all these assumptions that character B doesn't want them, yadda yadda yadda... I swear it's the most annoying and uninspiring way to stir up conflict. DON'T. DO. IT. ANYMORE.

Also, with the complication of their exes' involvement in the MCs' story, this book should've been longer, so as not to rush the narrative to where the pairings were finally reunited. IMO, brushing past unresolved conflicts, then having them just magically sorted out in the background, does not qualify for a satisfying ending, even if these were only conflicts between secondary characters.
Profile Image for Alexis.
510 reviews650 followers
June 21, 2017
This would never happen but it was a super fun read.

I must have read this book several months ago now and somehow forgotten to mark it as 'read' or review it. The blurb provided unfortunately spoils a lot of the story but it was such a crazy ride. I loved reading how Ellie went from practically being afraid of her own shadow to becoming so much stronger and how Jordan is way sweeter than the aloof character she lets everyone think she is.

There were quite a few funny moments throughout the book but the comedy took a backseat to the chemistry between these two very different women. I was rooting for them throughout the entire book. As for the secondary characters I found myself absolutely hating everything there was about control freak Zoë and eventually even liking Caitlin again but even they added so much to this story.

This end up getting 4.25*
(I really wish goodreads would change the current whole star rating system.)
Profile Image for Kate.
76 reviews13 followers
October 28, 2016
Nice easy read while I'm on holidays. As with this authors other books I really enjoyed this one.

The story revolves around Ellie and Jordan who are both dumped by their girlfriends who were best friends and have now decided to get together. What else are Ellie and Jordan going to to but plot revenge?

This is a funny, sweet and easy read. Definitely worth a few hours of your time.
Profile Image for Book Worm.
120 reviews32 followers
March 6, 2017
Very amusing and entertaining. I laughed several times and chuckled so much, that people started to look funny at me.
This book has lightened my heart.
Maybe I should not feel like this in light of the very mean goal the two MCs have: to break two people apart. But this has been like a Shakespearean comedy: full of intrigue, puns and a little Puk impish enough to drop the juice of the love-flower into the unsuspecting eye and tears of laughter into mine.
Profile Image for Nolly  Frances Sepulveda.
383 reviews23 followers
October 1, 2016
Fabulous

Fresh, fun and fantastic. This was just a fun book to read. Jordan and Ellie made a great pair in their scheming and Zoe and Caitlin definitely deserved each other. I liked Janice as well, she was a great character as friend and mother figure. There are goog laughs to be had and some reflections into the whole relationship thing. I feel that both Jordan and Ellie found themselves in the end.
Profile Image for Lorraine Rusnack.
1,126 reviews32 followers
August 11, 2020
Partner swap

I had quite a few laughs with this story. The way Ellie and Jordan plot to get back at their exes was really well planned out. Them slowly developing feelings for each other throws a wrench into the plan. It seems like things happened fast, but sometimes that's what life is all about.
Profile Image for Margaret.
353 reviews56 followers
July 13, 2017
Detailed score: 2.5 rounded up

Kindle unlimited book so nothing ventured nothing gained.

This one is fine. Pleasant. Inoffensive

Definitely instalove. Fade to black pwoar. Tell not show but it didn't get on my nerves as much as it usually would. Probably because overall it's v shallow.

Overall: I'm not ruing the hours of my life I spent reading this, but there's much better out there.

365 reviews42 followers
September 30, 2016
Just missed the mark.

I could have really liked and recommended this book if not for some issues that arose. It is a concept narrative. The plot is first and foremost. Two couples meet for regular get togethers. Zoe and Ellie have been involved for three years and are about to take a giant leap in their relationship. Jordan and Caitlin have been together about a year and a half but aren't getting along.

During an important and embarrassing scene, Zoe dumps Ellie for Caitlin telling her to move out. Oh, Zoe is such a...prize. Caitlin does the same to Jordan. The rest of A Marriage of Connivance is fun, fast and predictable. None of the characters exude personality or weight. I could not invest in any of them. Still the story has momentum and I found its humor to be charming. I'd put the stars somewhere between three and four. Enjoy the read.
12 reviews1 follower
October 19, 2016
Cute enjoyable read!

Couldn't put it down. I'm going to be beat at work tomorrow, but I just had to find out how it all worked out. I liked it enough to recommend to anyone looking for a fun little romance with a touch of revenge thrown in for good measure.
53 reviews3 followers
May 23, 2019
Jordan and Ellie decide to do a very in depth revenge scheme to get back at their exes that left them for each other. This book was a quick and easy read. The revenge plan turned out to be a lot more complicated than I first thought it was and it made it absolutely hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud at more than one occasion.

My only complaint, I believe, is that it was too short and a in my opinion a way too quick read. I’d have loved it if the author took some more time with the main characters and their developing need and feelings for each other, and not just for the revenge. Let’s just say the jump was way too big from breaking and entering for their plan and suddenly ending up in their bed. Not quite believable but enjoyable none the less.

Final rating 3.5 stars rounded up
Profile Image for Grendaycita Segovia.
796 reviews18 followers
February 28, 2021
2,8

Esto es un merequetengue, cambia el narrador cuando menos te esperas y llega a desconcertar un poco, por lo menos las personalidades de los protagonistas está clara y se distinguen.

Fue un libro divertido, con personajes entretenidos, aunque con problemas de parejas muy forzados; esto ya lo tenía de The Pluss One (otro libro de la autora), pero aquí me hizo rodar los ojos más de la cuenta.

Una cosa que me fastidio, que esto no es de un matrimonio falso, si no, una broma cruel para desquitar el dolor y de paso vengarse con estilo de un abandono y terminó feo de una relación.

En fin, si llego a leer otro de la autora será de estos años recientes, donde ai mejora en esto de las narraciones no tan revueltas.
Profile Image for Zingari.
214 reviews
March 16, 2018
I don't usually go for revenge. It all seems too messy, and this was definitely messy, but also a riot.

I didn't know how I would feel about it, but 5% in I decided I was on board with some revenge. Zoe and Caitlin are truly two horrible people. Love may make people do stupid things, but they're just cruel.

There was a point though when I thought Jordan and Ellie may have gone too far, but under no circumstance was I ready for how this ended. Technically, these two did them a service.

I think I actually disliked Zoe more than Caitlin, and I definitely didn't see that coming in the end.

I think what brought it down for me was the fact that the ending could have gone differently. More moments of actually being happy could have been squeezed in. The character growth could have happened sooner, and Ellie shouldn't have taken those last steps to get what was hers to begin with. I couldn't care less about Zoe and Caitlin once the attraction between Ellie and Jordan started. I wanted more of those similarities they were finding, more things for them to share and reveal.

The whole plan could have ended sooner with a final update like there was. I just wish I got to know the main protagonists more (together and separately) than what was offered.
Profile Image for Lesuniverse.
2 reviews
February 27, 2019
I have started to read this book by chance and I was out of curiosity I could not stop reading. The book has a calm and simple timing that will take you through a totally viable story.
Ellie and Jordan suffer once a month when they must attend the monthly meeting of their girlfriends who have been great friends in college. while they look like an ornament their brides enjoy the meetings. from one day to the next, in very extreme situations Ellie and Jordan are left by their girlfriends, who have hidden certain details from their relationship. Ellie has nowhere to live and Jordan needs someone to pay the rent so they end up living together and with a mission that gives them the strength to move forward ... take revenge on their ex-girlfriends. Make their life so miserable as they coyld. the book is entertaining, you travel with these two girls fulfilling the steps of their diabolical plan ... Ellie and Jordan go from hating each other to discover a friendship and something more. I would have liked a little more development in their relationship but the book is good. It's short and nice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Raelynn Smith.
102 reviews
April 21, 2020
Revenge of The Exes!!! . . .

This RomCom is just BRILLIANT!! It has it all from steamy chemistry to bitter heartbreak to horrible Exes to revenge plots. Ugh I've read this book at least twice now because it was just too funny and sweet aaaand honestly this book helped lift me out of a book funk.

Ellie and Jordan were dumped in the worst ways possible, but that's not the worst of it, nope, their ex-girlfriends, Zoe and Caitlin, decide to try have a happily ever after . . together. So what are two scorned women supposed to do? Well they come up with an amazing revenge plot to destroy their evil exes, but Jordan and Ellie don't realize mutual hate for their exes may not be the only thing between them.

Honestly, this is one of those reads where you finish reading the book with a smile on your face. The revenge is sweet but there is so many tender moments between Jordan and Ellie, and yes, even Zoe and Caitlin. Plus all the funny moments that keep you chuckling at all the antics Ellie and Jordan do in fulfilling their plans.
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Profile Image for CassTrusty.
83 reviews
October 8, 2017
This had me all over the place

***SPOILER ALERT***

I just want to start off with saying that I really like this story and recommend everyone read it if given the chance.

I was very uncomfortable with the way they were ruining the relationship of Zoe and Caitlyn. I understand being mad and wanting to hurt them, but what they were trying to do wasn’t make them feel bad but destroy a love that was on the back burner for too long. I didn’t like the way Caitlyn and Zoe treated them, but I also didn’t feel they deserved to have their loved destroyed. I’m glad that Ellie fixed everything at the end because of she hadn’t, I really would have felt sour after this book. Jordan and Ellie seemed perfect for each other from the start. Jordan wasn’t overly pushy and Ellie needed someone who would let her have her own voice. I don’t see how they didn’t see that themselves from the start.



Profile Image for Angie Engles.
372 reviews41 followers
February 22, 2018
While the writing is very good and the characters do go through what at least _seems_ like a growth period I just found myself too appalled by both main characters' behavior the entire time I was reading this. I can understand how intensely painful being cheated on must be, but infidelity is no excuse for some of the very petty means both women take to get back at their exes (slashing innocent strangers' tires as "collateral damage" is just inexcusable and beyond wrong!!) The amount of anger I felt at this may be over the top and is most likely clouding my judgment (and I suppose you could say if a book brings out such a strong reaction in you it has done its job) but all I could think was "I am so glad I don't know either of these women."
Profile Image for Leigh.
191 reviews
June 1, 2019
This was another great read by this author. I love how all her stories have love, humor, and happy endings.

This book had wonderful characters, with Jordan being my favorite. I actually think she is my favorite character from all the books I have read by Ms. West. Jordan is sarcastic, tough, and prickly, at times, but she also has a caring side which makes her the perfect combination of salty and sweet.

The storyline itself was engaging, funny, and unique. I would definitely recommend this book.
Profile Image for Rachel Crosby.
Author 2 books1 follower
June 24, 2019
Another 5 stars for Natasha West!
This is the second of Ms West's books that I've read. Both books have pleased me immensely. Good lesbian romantic fiction is very hard to find, IMHO. Miss West has the knack to produce such fiction. While the storyline in this book is a bit fantastic, the reality of the characters makes it all work. Jordan and Ellie are a wonderful match and sweetly sinful co-conspirators.
Profile Image for Crystal.
2,499 reviews64 followers
February 19, 2021
My first FF book, and I'm glad I went with this one. It had a fade to black type feel so I could ease into the trope. Regarding the story, I think I was mostly uninterested in the first 75% or so of the book. Then when the plans started falling into place within the plot, things picked up. Unfortunately, I felt a little let down by the ending, so almost all of the book had me checked out. But the writing is good, and if you can deal with third person viewpoints, I'd recommend giving it a try.
Profile Image for Ummi Shedd.
107 reviews3 followers
January 7, 2022
This is an interesting read!
It'd never happene but it was still entertaining! I was just laughing thought the book because of the absurdity of the book and all four characters are hilarious 😂

I'm still laughing at Ellie predicament Zoe just decided that was the moments for her actual big surprise 😂

I wanted to pick Ellie out of the pages of the book wrap her up in a hug and protect her from the evil of this world. She was too pure, too good and none of them deserve!
Profile Image for Erica Lee.
Author 48 books913 followers
October 8, 2018
Amazing

Loved this story. It was so sweet. It progressed perfectly with just the right amount of drama. My only complaint is how tired I’m going to be tomorrow since I read it all in one night :)
Profile Image for Celina.
1,545 reviews67 followers
September 28, 2019
Interesting plot

I wanted more angst. I deserved more angst and heartbreak coz it seems like the kind of story where you get a whole lot of it. It was cool, though. Jordan is my favourite.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews

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