Married. Wait! What?

Wings of Artemis #Includes 6.5

by Virginia Nelson, Lia Davis, Melissa Shirley

Picture the scene: You wake up from a night of having too much fun. Things aren't as clear as they should be...and you're MARRIED. What would you do?

12 authors—USA Today Bestsellers, Award Winning, fan favorites, and a debut author—show you their take on this unique theme.

12 talented authors bring you 12 BRAND NEW fun-filled, suspenseful, sensual novellas in this first installment. That’s TWELVE stories sure to make you smile, laugh, cry, and fall in love.

We’ve stirred in a diverse collection of romances into this book bundle! There’s sci-fi, contemporary, paranormal, and gay romance with Alphas, mafia, vampires, shifters, sexy lawyer, and MUCH more. Something for everyone!

Genres: Romance, Anthologies

808 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 3, 2017

About the author

Virginia Nelson believed them when they said, “Write what you know.” Small town girl writing small town romance, her characters are as full of flaws, misunderstandings, and flat out mistakes as Virginia herself. When she’s not writing or plotting to take over the world, she likes to hang out with the greatest kids in history, play in the mud, drive far too fast, and scream at inanimate objects. Virginia likes knights in rusted and dinged up armor, heroes that snarl instead of croon, and heroines who can’t remember to say the right thing even with an author writing their dialogue. Her books are full of snark, sex, and random acts of ineptitude—not always in that order.

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb anthology on the "waking up married" theme. The authors chose ingenious ways with their personal style to tell each story. This is a great collection with plenty of originality and diversity. Many were new-to-me authors, but I can't wait to see what else they've written. These are very spicy stories. If you like your romances steamy, then you will love these. Grab your favorite blanket and settle in for a night of reading.

[Terri Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am enjoying anthologies more and more. It is a great way to get to know several authors at one time. I think it must also be a great way to challenge yourself as an author. The stories in this book are like a slice of lava cake; sinfully delicious. I loved each of them. The idea behind this book is unlike anything I have ever read before. There is a unique story for every genre lover and it is easy to read each story in one sitting, which appeals to my need for completion. The only downside to this book is now I've met several new authors and my TBR has increased by a lot of books. :)

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only read Married to Trouble by Carmen Falcone so far but if the rest of the stories in this set are anything like that you WILL NOT be disappointed! Married to Trouble was a quick, steamy, fun story. A mobsters daughter and a lawyer wanting her father's business. Add in a fake marriage and let the fun begin.

[Linda Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun set to read. Each story feels very complete and there are no cliffhangers that can disappoint someone.

I couldn't stop and stayed up late reading them all. There is a great variety of stories and it hits all the popular themes. You have step-siblings, friends to lovers, paranormal romances, a mob story, a M/M romance and a sci-fi romance with a reverse harem. The only thing I would have liked to see was a MC romance.

I was drawn to the set by the inclusion of another reverse harem story by Rebecca Royce. I love her Wings of Artemis series and was excited to get the chance to read another book connected to the series. It does not require any previous reading and doesn't leave you hanging. It is a side story.

The stories are fun and sexy and the authors really do a great job of drawing you in quickly and keeping you interested. I definitely found some new authors to check out.

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received.

[Rosanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review for Accidentally Forever by Cara Carnes:
Cute little read by this author. This book is fast paced but you won’t be missing a thing!
Not my first rodeo by this author and definitely not my last!!
The other authors are also quite good! You’ll like every journey these authors will send you on!!

[lisa jung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gift from Author for review.
12 author's write these short hot surprise wedding books. Waking up and finding your married and don't remember it make for a hot fun book. Rebecca Royce has her bride married suprisly to 3 different men that she comes to love. You will enjoy each of these hot new books.

[Arianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC from author Rebecca Royce in exchange for an honest review.
In this anthology, every heroine find herself married without remembering it. Yes, there's the Las Vegas drunken trope, but some authors used a bit more creativity.
In A ship called Malice, Priscilla, a rare woman, was sold by her parents. During the auction au incident occurred and she lost consciousness, only to awaken sold and married to three men. One is our McQueen's youngest uncle. I love my Sandlers. This three saved Priscilla from a man who would have seller her to his friends until she died. Now she has a choice: go to a planet where women are protected or became their wife for real. Loved it. 4 stars.

In The ice bride, Betha, a photojournalist, found herself the only survivor in a plane crash during her reportage in the Arctic circle. She is found by ice giants who recognise her for her mate but intends to let her go away because she's human. The mother of the three magically marry them so they cannot be parted (mothers know best).
Nice but wasn't convinced in the end.
3.5 stars

[Lesa Dunbar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these books. I laughed my butt off on most of them but there was a couple that the hero was a true ass to the heroine. I wanted to slap their heads off before she forgave them. But a great set of books.

[Dina Bushrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first story I've chosen to read in this set is Carmen Falcone's "Married to Trouble." Another home run for this author; her story is filled with not only a strong young woman, Clarissa, trying to show her father she can run a clean business, but an unsuspecting lawyer, Beck, trying to make partner in his law firm. The story is filled with humor and hot, sensual, steamy encounters. Both must work with her mobster father to make their dreams come true. Promising her father to safely drive her home to Vegas is not as easy as it sounds when his passenger has plans of her own. If he can do this one thing for the father he's a sure thing to bring his business into the firm and easily make partner. But her plans are not to go straight home to daddy, but to prove to dad that she is grown and woman enough run a business by being a wife. Surely being a wife will show him she's mature enough, right? Too bad Beck has no plans for being a husband. That's enough spoilers, you need to read the story to see how much trouble a young woman can cause when she puts her mind to it and how it effects everyone involved. .
Second story I read was "About Time" by Kim Carmichael. A quirky sci-fi romance; a story of a world which had to learn to live by time schedules in order to survive. Schedules for your entire life, including everything from housework, eating, to marriage and sex. But what if you were different than most and didn't believe in going through life according to a schedule. Read this very different but thoroughly entertaining romance story with a unique world building background.

Pick up this great set of 11 stories by 11 terrific authors and be ready to have some jaw dropping, sexy and humorous moments

[Jennifer G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Married. Wait! What? is an eclectic collection of surprise marriage stories. There are 12 stories by some of today's top writers, including sci-fi, contemporary, paranormal, and gay romance; something for everyone. Such diversity, but all with the common theme of waking up unexpectedly married. I pre-ordered the book for the stories from three of my favorite authors; Rebecca Royce, Ripley Proserpina, and Amy Sumida, but was happy to see several other authors I recognized as well as discovering some new ones.

Married To My StepBrother by Virginia Nelson
Paul and Liza first met when their parents started dating. They became friends and then more. They haven't seen each other in years, but haven't forgotten the other. Each has measured every date against their shared memories. Now they are thrown back together years later when their parents decide to marry. The attraction is still strong between them and the morning after their parent's wedding they waken in a hotel room, hung over and wearing matching rings. These two want each other, but it's taboo. Will that be enough to keep them apart? This is a fun story. A little kink, a lot of sex! The sexual chemistry between these two is off the charts. I personally didn't find it really taboo; maybe just enough for an awkward introduction. I did enjoy these two together and was happy after a bit of stupidity on Paul's part that he came to his senses, found his romantic streak, and went after his wife.

Ship Called Malice by Rebecca Royce
As a HUGE fan of The Wings of Artemis series, I jumped at the chance to read this story. It was great! Priscilla lives in a world where men drastically outnumber women. This means that marrying multiple men or women being used as a commodity is not unheard of. Priscilla was raised with her sisters knowing that she would be sold into marriage. A freak accident and head injury while being placed on the auction block leaves Priscilla unconscious until she awakens in a med machine surrounded by three strange men on the pirate ship Malice. Bo, River, and Jordan didn't plan to buy a wife, but when they saw Priscilla injured, up for auction, and about to be purchased by a dishonorable man, they acted on instinct. Now they have a wife they aren't sure what to do with. Jordan believes that destiny (the winds) intended this marriage, Bo wants to keep Priscilla, but River Sandler (yes, that Sandler family) has issues and can't accept having her around. A plan is made to drop her off in a safe place in 3 weeks unless all agree that they want to stay married. This is a story of overcoming fears, taking chances, falling in love. It's so good, as expected. Bo and Jordan are sweet and caring, but River is the challenge. His family has messed him up. He's complex and damaged, but so worth the trouble. The moments with him made the book for me. I love that Priscilla followed her heart on every level and that she made everyone better and gave them the possibility of the best possible life. I do hope that we cross paths with these four again!

Accidentally Forever by Cara Carnes
Megan has crushed on her best friend's brother Chad forever. Now after celebrating a bit too much after the wedding of their other brother, Megan and Chad wake up, incredibly hung over with no memory and few clothes. What they do have are matching rings on their left hand. Megan is horrified. She has no self-confidence, only seeing herself as the unworthy, fat, annoying friend of his sister. Chad actually finds her beautiful, curves and all, but since he's been burned by his ex and is in a custody battle, he's less than pleased by these developments. He immediately has his lawyer draw up divorce papers, has her sign them, and then they head to a family weekend to hide from the press. In a short period of time Chad gets to witness Megan's grace as his Grandfather tries to shame her, Megan defending his son, Hunter against his Grandfather, and how good she is with his son. Plus, it's clear that Hunter adores her, not to mention how much his sister loves her, and how highly his parents consider her. Chad gives into his feelings and the two spend a special night together, but the next morning he acts in fear and anger and destroys Megan. Can he undo the damage? This was a short story with so much depth. Megan's pain and lack of confidence; Paul's bitterness were obstacles to a HEA. I enjoyed it very much.

The Ice Bride by Ripley Proserpina
Photojournalist Betha survives a plane crash in a deserted part of Canada and is rescued by twins Raynor and Grim. They take her back to their cabin where they live with their mother Freya and their older brother, Fenris. They are Jotnar or Ice Giants from the line of Odin and Thor, and they recognize her as their skoai (their bonded). This is a problem because she is human and the Elders will see her as a weakness and kill her. After an incredible afternoon with the twins, the Elders do show up, burn the house to the ground, injure the guys, leave taking Freya with them, and returning Betha to her old life. When she awakens in the hospital, she's told she was found in the plane's wreckage and that it was all a hallucination. It's not so easy for her to return to her old life with the memories of her husbands. And in the meantime, her husbands are training to take on the Elders and get Betha back. Ripley is an incredible author. She can move between contemporary and mythical better with ease. This is another brilliant example. The backstory, the world-building, the characters are all exceptional.

About Time By Kim Carmichael
Amsen lives in a world dictated totally by time. She does not fit. She doesn't want to get married and is already a year late for the acceptable time. She is an artist, a complete waste of time. She wakes up to find herself in a forced union with an unsuspecting man, Hallan. Her parents committed this shameful act because it was the only thing they could do with time being what it is. It doesn't matter that her new husband is gorgeous and their sex is the best she's ever had. He wants her to follow the set time table for their days down to the minute. She was determined to teach him about stolen moments and he was determined to teach her to follow a schedule, Lucky for him, this time he met his match with his life partner

Awakened Beauty by Amy Sumida
No one does fairy tale re-tellings as good As Amy. This is a twist on Sleeping Beauty with a surprise appearance by a well-known dragon. The Dragon Queen had a witch cast a spell on the Princess Seraphine of the neighboring kingdom after her parents rejected the Dragon Prince as their daughter's husband. She was placed in magical stasis for 20 years while everyone else lived and aged. The spell was finally broken by another witch, Rune who met her in her dreams. The two fell in love and married. True love woke her up, but in her real life she had no memory of Rune or their love. Fortunately, she had taken precautions for this in her dreams and Rune was able to prove that he was her true love. But fairy tales are never that simple. Magic makes it's mark in more than one way and The Dragon Queen makes a dangerous return. But in the end it is a fairy tale and we must get a Happily Ever After! This is such a clever story. The characters are a delight and the cross-overs and tie-ins are so very well done.

Married to Trouble by Carmen Falcone
Clarissa Garubo has a plan; her new husband Beck calls it a hidden agenda, she prefers to think of it as an opportunity for both of them. As the daughter of the head of the Garubo Family, Clarissa wants to be seen as an adult, taken serioiusly, and put in charge of her late mother's jewelry stores. To accomplish this she married the attorney vying for her father's business. After all it was his idea; he wanted to make her his wife before he took her viriginity; albeit he had been drinking at the time. Still the marriage could further both their careers and since they are hugely attracted to one another, they can have fun for a while, then file for divorce. Beck isn't thrilled with being tricked, but it's in his best interest (his life) to go along and please Antonio Garubo! The plan goes well, too well and when they each reach their goal, neither wants to keep to the initial terms. This is a cute story, nothing extraordinary. Clarissa is adorable and Beck turns out to be a very lucky man. It was nice to see a young lady one-up all the men!

Number One by K Williams
Review to Come

The Hesitant Husband by Mae Hanley
One night in Vegas was all it took to get forever with the man of his dreams, sorta. Jordan has loved Alex for years and Alex loved Jordan once. However Alex couldn't disappoint his family, so he gave up on them, hid his feelings, and went after girls. Now after ten years and one drunken night in Vegas, Alex wakes up to find his beautiful man beside him in bed as his legally married husband. He's conflicted; body, mind, heart all saying different things and he hurts Jordan. Jordan leaves to give him some time to make up his mind and ends up in a deadly situation. The moment Alex gets the message that his love is in the hospital, his mind is clear. Family prejudice does not get to dictate his life any longer. He loves Jordan, always has, and isn't losing any more time apart from him. I love two hot men finding their way together. I love "love" in any form. And I love people overcoming their fears. So obviously I loved this short story!

Wait, You Did What? by TA Moorman
Review to Come

Destination: Wedding by Melissa Shirley
Review to Come

I will finish reading the last three stories and have the remainder of the review completed within days. Even without finishing I can easily say that this Anthology is full of fun, sexy stories and well worth the read!

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, I have read only MARRIED TO TROUBLE by Carmen Falcone, but regardless of how the other novellas fare in this box set, it’s well worth it.

MARRIED TO TROUBLE by Carmen Falcone

All Beck Anderson had to do was to drive Clarissa Garubo from New York to Las Vegas. Beck figured it was a small price to pay to have a chance to land the contract that would make him a partner in Steinhouse & Woods. Clarissa honestly doesn’t like to fly, but riding with the handsome Beck solidified an idea she had recently. And that’s how Beck woke up with a hangover and married to very young Italian mob princess.

Carmen Falcone throws in several romance tropes in MARRIED TO TROUBLE and makes it as smooth as silk, and as sensuous. Although Beck finds Clarissa very tempting, she has very good arguments to get him to see her side of the story, and I thought this was very clever from Ms. Falcone, because I agreed with the scheme as well. Carmen Falcone is rather extraordinary: she instinctively knows precisely just how far to go to make something that, at first glance, sounds entirely too outrageous and make it perfectly believable. In MARRIED TO TROUBLE, there are no misunderstandings, no miscommunication; Beck is willing to go along with Clarissa’s plan because it makes sense, and they both have nothing to lose, and much to gain, as they are truly attracted to each other.

The characters are so perfectly described that I could picture the adorable Clarissa and her limpid doe eyes; I saw her father with smoke nearly coming out of his ears, his booming voice trying to intimidate Beck; and the charming if slightly befuddled Beck navigating precariously his future and his attraction to Clarissa. MARRIED TO TROUBLE is a terrific story, well-plotted; it’s fun and lively; very sweet and very sexy at the same time.

Carmen Falcone keeps earning her 5 stars on a regular basis for very good reasons, and MARRIED TO TROUBLE is yet another proof of why she earns them fair and square.


I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Christine Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read all the books in this anthology, but I plan to because Carmen Falone's novella, MARRIED TO TROUBLE was excellent. I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review and whew! So glad I read it!

Every time I pick up a Carmen Falcone book, I know I’m going to get rewarded by a sexy, fun romance that is sizzling hot with characters who have huge hearts. And MARRIED WITH TROUBLE—one of the novellas in the MARRIED. WAIT! WHAT? Anthology of sexy short reads delivers again. Beck Anderson wants to make partner in a firm, but first he’s got to make sure the CEO’s daughter, Clarissa Garubo, makes it home to Vegas. Beck’s sure he can deliver on his promise to this man with a somewhat sketchy business reputation, but Clarissa has a plan of her own, tricking Beck into a Vegas wedding so she can prove to her traditional father she’s capable of taking over the legitimate side of Garubo’s businesses as a way to honor her mother’s memory. Beck’s caught between a rock and a hard—really hard hehe—place when Papa catches them in bed together. Now he’s got to play along with his fake wife or he’ll lose his chance for the partnership or even worse because nobody hurts this Papa’s little girl. Though the story is short, Ms. Falcone’s characters and plot with its interesting twists and turns gives the reader a completely evolved love story with HOT HOT HOT sex, witty dialogue, and classic Falcone bravado and panache. You’ll love this story and I bet the rest of the anthology is equally as fun and sexy to read.

[Crystal Yawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m working my way through these will update as I read. I love boxes and getting lots of great stories for a small price.

Married to Trouble
Carmen Falcone
5 stars

A night of heavy drinking in Vegas turns into an unexpected marriage to the mob boss’ daughter. When Beck and Clarissa decide to stay married for 6 months to both get what they want , the sheets start on fire and don’t start. This quick little read is full of passion



Married to my stepbrother
Virginia Nelson
3 stars

Typically I love Virginia’s books and typically I love stepbrother books, but I wasn't feeling this one. Too much time was spent on why the relationship was wrong, and not enough time spent on why it was so right. The domineering stepbrother came across as forced also and was more creepy than Master/slave.
The chemistry between the two is strong, the book is pretty hot it has a lot of potential, but missed the mark for me.

Accidentally Forever
Cara Carnes
5 stars

Though I’m rating this 5 stars, I will say it has a lot of editing mistakes at the beginning and is a bit confusing on who the players are. It could use another going over with a close eye to detail.
Aside from that, I fell in love. This one just grabs you and makes you happy. Even when you are fuming at some of the behavior you can’t help but love everyone. New to me author who I’ll have to look for more books from in the future


Number One
K. Williams
3 stars
Took a bit more to get into this one. The characters are very flighty and unsure of their feelings, the drama seems a bit stretched Too much telling vs feeling.

[Pamala Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love!

I totally enjoyed this book. Especially when most of the stories started in Vegas. ( I live in Nevada, I can relate. ) I would definitely recommend this book to all my friends and neighbors.

[Anna Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars

[Gladys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Married. Wait! What? is a fun collection of 11 stories written by a variety of great authors like Ripley Proserpina and Rebecca Royce. Provides something for everyone with a wide variety of themes and heroes. I am posting an honest review after reading an ARC copy of this book.

[Amy Naylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best thing about anthologies is that you get to read books from your favorite authors and you are introduced to new authors as well. Rebecca Royce's Ship of Malice was so good. This is a novella from her Wings of Artemis series. You don't have to read the other books in the series to enjoy this one though.

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really enjoyed this set.. of course some stories were more entertaining for me then others.. but overall all of them were very well written.. the characters were funny and made me laugh.. and it was all so much fun to read. i am glad i got to review it

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an anthology of stories by various authors that all have a story surrounding a similar theme- (see title) - though written in different romance sub-genres. I am trying to write a little bit about each story so I will update my review as I go along. With so many different genres and authors every reader will have different things they like or dislike but I can say in general terms that what I have read so far is worth the purchase price and then some!

Below I have my thoughts on what I have read so far, in the order that they appear in the anthology:

Married to My Stepbrother by Virginia Nelson (7% of anthology)
I wasn’t really a fan of this one - events happened too fast for me to feel a connection between the main characters. The plot is a classic one that I like but I just didn’t like the execution here. There was a sexy flashback scene in the back of a car that showed promise but the rest of the short story I struggled to get through. The hero was referred to as being a dominant but this entire plot thread did not ring authentic for me.

Ship Called Malice by Rebecca Royce (13% of anthology)
I really enjoyed this sci-fi reverse harem novella and I think the only thing that would have made it better was if it was expanded into a full book so that there were more interactions between each hero and the heroine, both romantic and otherwise. The writing is very good, I just would have liked a little more relationship building. The romantic scenes are sweet rather than sexy to me, and I like both kinds so this is not a problem for me. The world created here is very interesting – there is enough information for this story, and just enough to whet the appetite for the other series set in this world that the author mentions in the foreword. I have not yet read any of that series, but I certainly plan to after reading this.

Accidentally Forever by Cara Carnes (9% of anthology)
This was a cute, contemporary, best friend’s older brother romance. I liked the family elements of the story (both good and bad); and the ways in which the hero was supportive of the heroine. It was a quick, light read, but there is not much depth.

The Ice Bride by Ripley Proserpina (12% of anthology)
This author continues to amaze me with just how much she can fit into a novella length story. The uniqueness of this Norse mythology inspired reverse harem story truly blew me away. The writing is excellent and I know I will read this story over and over. I don’t even know how else to describe how much I loved this story! Definitely one of my two favorite stories in this anthology so far.

About Time by Kim Carmichael (9 % of anthology)
This story is tied with The Ice Bride (see above) for my favorites in the anthology so far. It is a sci-fi kind of story, with another plot/world concept that is very unique and interesting to me. One of my favorite kind of romances to read are those when a rule-following hero and a fun, spirited heroine fall in love and this fit that perfectly for me. The environment in which they do so is described with a skillful economy that somehow gives you everything you need to know in an entertaining and quick read. To my knowledge, I haven’t read anything else by this author but I am definitely going to go find what else she has available.

[Jennifer Schultheis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t had the time to read all the books in Married. Wait! What? anthology but I did make time to read Married to Trouble by Carmen Falcone. Every time this author puts out a new book, I try to drop everything and dive into her book.

Married to Trouble, does not disappoint! The book is filled with plenty of steam. Clarissa and Beck really heat up the pages. If you’re in the mood for a fake marriage that quickly turns real between the daughter of a mobster and dirty talking lawyer, definitely grab this anthology.

[Daiga · Rating 2 out of 5]

1. Virginia Nelson - Married to My Stepbrother
2/5 In places I almost thought it was good writing, but it felt like more of an illusion. I thought characters might be more than two dimensional, but alas, it was just a fleeting thought. From too sappy to harsh to too sappy again in a span of 3 pages. It's insane. I understand this is a short story, but it's just cringy.

2. Rebecca Royce - Ship Called Malice
2.5/5 The beginning was actually promising, I was wondering if I'd like to read more of those. But then bad things kept happening. Like is author friendly with math? 1 woman to 200 men born doesn't mean just a commodity, it means exploitation at first and then end of human race. Who said this?, if you put a man in a room with a hundred women the possible outcome is hundred babies after a year. If you reverse it and there's one woman to hundred men, then it's 1-2 babies max. So premise already feels sketchy and implausible. Kinda tainted the whole view of the further story. I don't even care about the poly relationship. It wasn't the worst aspect of the story, it was underlying and kinda natural, acceptable to everyone involved. What further failed was the progression of the relationship, it was both too fast and too slow. Characteristics undeveloped and I actually struggled to put any physical traits with the names of men. It was introduced at the beginning and I forgot immediately after, the other traits helped me distinguish between the actual characters, but every single time eye, hair, skin was mentioned I was baffled.

3. Cara Carnes - Accidentally Forever
3/5 Some solid parts to the story with glaring issues in others. I disliked the sappy explicit PG13 interlude that had a following of manufactured argument that progressed to an ending of the story with cavity inducing saccharine sweetness (plus weirdly truly explicit interlude there). Felt like the author started on a full length story and then realized the word limit and had to squeeze all the plot points in 1 chapter.

4. Ripley Proserpina - The Ice Bride
3/5 Ménages have to be executed well. And this was just halfway there. Siblings being involved feels incestuous. So I'm gonna leave this review at that.

5. Kim Carmichael - About Time
4/5 Surprisingly sweet story. The little getting back together bit was a bit too manufactured and unnatural, but otherwise really neat. The opposites attract, the untruths that were revealed, the planning and everything Amsen did to destroy them. At the end, a nice balance.

6. Amy Sumida - Awakened Beauty
2.5/5 Inconsistencies, she feels like twenty years ago was yesterday, and then next chapter she's weary of the time that's passed.
There's also the issue of Rune being creepy. The murders. The magic, the 'sight', the wedding, knowing everything beforehand, I feel like I'm watching a crime drama and we as viewers are informed who the bad guy is while the heroine is still falling in love with the guy. Not exactly something you'd expect from a romance novel.
And the ending is weird at best of times. The mother's sacrifice and immortality, then the following bit of how the pair lead humanity to betterment. Whole description was cultish.

7. Carmen Falcone - Married to Trouble
0/5 Starting off on really weird tangents. Like what's the plot about? Was this in any way conscious human thought process? Mob? Father thinking a daughter is serious when she has a quicky Vegas one night stand wedding? Where's that leap coming from?
And at chapter 2 the wildly bad tangents and writing reached such levels that it's just at a level I can't continue reading. It's just horrible.

8. K. Williams - Number One
1.5/5 Who is capable of being lovey dovey in their head one moment and then couple of hours later being over that person and thinking it wouldn't have lasted.. And you had planned an elaborate wedding beforehand? Dealing with impossible relatives who were the only negative about the relationship up to that point? HOW?
Then the little tidbits of Zach being basically her love interest for forever meaning that somehow they've been together without her knowing. Seriously unhealthy relationship right there.
The writing is just awkward. Actually painful.
Combining the weird plot, the unhealthy relationship, the awkward writing it's just a nope from me.
But that drinking and not remembering events before getting drunk is really creepy, that happens if you're roofied. Both of them not remembering it is just lazy writing. Author needed 2 contradictory points and allowed both to happen: both being too drunk to remember for 2 days, and them being totally sober when deciding to get married to show everyone that they're actually in love while properly consenting. It's just poor writing.
The whole premise for this story was a jilted bride getting drunk and marrying her best friend. I have to say, removing the jilting and consequently all the bullsh*t reasoning of who's sleeping with who at any given time because it's revealed in chapter 6 that while she never slept with her fiancée she has only ever slept with Zach, and he hasn't had sex with anyone else since her, and the frankly creepy way they got to the altar; it would have been a solid 3.

What the hell does she have a doctorate in? Vice president of what? Designing kitchens? How these tie together?
Also author warping the reality of story to fit their needs - in the beginning Zach needs to tell his boss he's taking a vacation, at the end to create intern drama he is THE boss.

9. Mae Hanley - The Hesitant Husband
3.5/5 Some positives (good pacing, conflict resolution) and some negatives - I don't think author 100% followed which men had which role. At the end Jacob just left the bed. With a splint instead of a cast on his swollen ankle? I think it was supposed to be Alex. That whole interlude was unclear if even author knew which character was which.

10. T.A. Moorman - Wait, You Did What?
3.5/5 Apart from some minor typos and a bit of a false start, (I really dislike reading the ending/middle point of the story as a prologue), it was a solid story until they did get married. I just take objection over how it happened.

11. Melissa Shirley - Destination: Wedding
4/5 Pleasantly surprised, I don't like particularly sweet things, so this got a 4 for the ending.
This displays the bad decisions people make, we're all flawed and this portrayed that. Pacing was good and charactera were well developed.

[Mae Hanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Married To My StepBrother by Virginia Nelson 3.5 stars
Two kids thrown together because their parents start dating. Torn apart and friendship lost because the parents break-up. The reconnect as their parents announce they are getting married - awesome story of the conflict of marrying a step sibling. Though I never really felt the taboo aspect since they never actually lived together as steps, and they reconnect as adults.

Ship Called Malice by Rebecca Royce 3.5 stars
This was my first read in this universe, and it clearly stands on it's own without having read the rest of the Wings of Artemis books. Great universe, not one I'd want to live in.

Accidentally Forever by Cara Carnes 4 stars
Enjoyed this one a lot. Cara's characters always feel real and three dimensional to me. Megan's vulnerability and Paul's stubbornness, the perfect combo.

The Ice Bride by Ripley Proserpina 3.5 stars
Loved the story, was never clear why Freya had two names (kind of threw me off on occasion), and while I loved the dynamics between Betha and the boys, I can't help but feel one of them would be the dominant lover/husband.

About Time By Kim Carmichael 3 stars
This one took me a bit to get into, the time constraint aspect of the story, while well done, I just couldn't really wrap my head around it. I really liked how they worked through their differences and the ending was unexpected.

Awakened Beauty by Amy Sumida 3 stars
This one is a re-envisioning of a fairy tale. It was well told, but just didn't grab me personally. Actually she lost me at Puff.

Married to Trouble by Carmen Falcone 3 stars
This seemed like a new adult story to me. I had to suspend reality to believe a father would automatically hand over a business to a 19 year old into because she married.

Number One by K Williams 2.5 stars
I liked that it wasn't a typical Vegas wedding. I liked they were life-long friends. However, the both seemed a little young to me (I don't believe their ages are mentioned) to be working in such powerful positions. This felt like a new adult read to me.

The Hesitant Husband by Mae Hanley
I won't review my own story.

Wait, You Did What? by TA Moorman 3.5 stars
What a lovely twist ending! Totally appreciated the story, the characters and the ending.

Destination: Wedding by Melissa Shirley 3 stars
I enjoyed the characters, the story, the writing. Looking forward to checking out more of Ms. Shirley's work in the future.

[Kathleen Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far I have only read a Ship Called Malice, a novella in the Wings of Artemis, a Reverse Harem series by Rebecca Royce, but I'm looking forward to reading more stories of women suddenly waking up to find themselves married!

I love the Wings of Artemis series and in a way it's a little more distanced to the group of characters that we are familiar with, and in a way it makes it more enjoyable. It was also a really good length. I didnt feel like I was missing out on anything and the pace was good and it didnt feel rushed.

I absolutely loved our main character Priscilla. One thats a cool name and she wasn't a wilting flower. From what i gathered she was tall for a woman, she was strong and actually worked with her hands and she she knew how to work hard because she'd lived on a farm, and well her parents birthed girl babies to be sold into slavery. That will toughen a girl's skin.

Bo, Jordan and River were so different from each other and complemented the relationship to Priscilla. While River can be prickly at first and a tough nut to crack he was a marshmallow inside when it came down to it. They all needed each other. So glad it was them that saw her and rescued her from the slave auction. *sigh*

I also liked that the guys were older, 40, because it would be hard finding a woman in their universe and it was interesting seeing people who had been set un their ways and pirating for the past 20. All three guys were wonderful but I'm almost thinking Jordan is my favourite but River is my favourite because he had so far to go, to open up, to bare his soul.

I received a copy of this book from one of the authors in exchange for an honest review

[Miki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Stories!

🌟Married to My Stepbrother by Virginia Nelson is contemporary story M/F. If you like steamy this story is for you.
🌟A Ship Named Malice by Rebecca Royce was so good I wanted to scream! This story has a HEA, but getting there is amazing! If you like RH read this! You'll love it too!
🌟Accidentally Forever by Cara Carnes is like a contemporary fairy tale. It made me smile. If you like curvy girls getting the hot guy it's for you.
🌟Ice Bride by Ripley Proserpina was so good I wanted to start over and read it again! This RH was very different having people that was like meeting a new kind of super hero but still in our time and world! Wow, it was hot too! If you like imagining the new this story is for you!
🌟About Time by Kim Carmichael is really Sci-fi but seems more like a happily ever after fairy tale.
🌟Awakened Beauty by Amy Sumida is a great fairy tale! I loved the puns, the references to songs and other fairy tales, and the love Amy puts into the work.
🌟Married to Trouble by Carmen Falcone is a contemporary story M/F with a mob style twist. It even starts steamy.
🌟Number One by K Williams is a contemporary story M/F that reminds me that friends make great couples.
🌟The Hesitant Husband by Mae Hanley is a contemporary story M/M that is also steamy.
🌟Wait, You Did What? by T. A. Moorman is a cute contemporary story M/F.
🌟 Destination Wedding by Melissa Shirley is a wonderful contemporary M/F read!

[Hennah · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great collection! My favorites were by far:
Ice Bride by Ripley Proserpina
Betha is a photojournalist who ends up surviving a plane crash in the icy north, and finds herself in the middle of a supernatural world she didn't know existed. Three Jötar, or Ice Giant, brothers save her, and they are bonded to one another by a crafty mother who only wants happiness for her sons. I don't want to give the rest away, but like everything she writes, Ripley Proserpina transports you with her spectacular storytelling. This one is definitely a five star story.

Ship Called Malice by Rebecca Royce
This is a standalone story from her Wings of Artemis world, and I can't help but lament that fact. Malice is a ship, twin to Artemis, that is used as a pirate vessel. Her crew, Jordan, Bo, and the guarded River Sandler rescue Priscilla from slavers set on selling her to a vile man who would use her as something much less reputable than a wife. The problem? They have to marry her in order to keep her from him. This book is fantastic, and I can't help wanting to see these characters pop up again in Rebecca Royce's other stories in this universe. Also definitely a five star book!
Number One by K. Williams
This story is one that warms my heart. Rigby is left at the altar, but isn't going to let that bring her down. Her best friend, Zach, goes to Atlantic City with her on her honeymoon, and they wake up married, with absolutely no recollection of the previous night's events.

[Jammie Bebout · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an intriguing and surprising idea for an anthology! With this outstanding group of authors, it’s bound to be a stellar read. So far I’ve only had the time to read Rebecca Royce’s “Ship Called Malice”. It is a stand-alone Wings of Artemis story. Color me ecstatic! I’m up for any book in this fantastic series. Ship Called Malice definitely does not disappoint. This is an endearing love story between Priscilla, Bo, Jordan, and River (who just happens to be part of the Sandler clan). These complex and authentic characters completely draw you into the story, and before you know it, you’re completely obsessed with their lives and relationships. This book is impassioned and hopeful, intriguing and riveting, surprisingly witty and totally enthralling. If this is any indication of the caliber of this anthology, I can’t wait to read the rest!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fab collection of authors writing so many different ways that a heroine can find herself accidently married. I have only started with the first couple of stories and can't wait to get through them all.

The heat factor is instant with the first story from Virginia Nelson. Fortunately it doesn't stay at that level as we move into the next stories.

Ship Called Malice from Rebecca Royce comes next. I have loved the Wings of Artemis tales and this addition to the world is wonderful. While you don't need to have read any of the previous stories, I can't wait to see if this one gets folded in to the others.

Cara Carnes brings the next story. I was all sappy with Accidently Forever. Megan made me grab the tissues.

I'm off to read the rest of the stories. Can't wait to find out what surprises the rest of the authors have.

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book and voluntarily decided to review it.

This is a fabulous collection of surprise marriage stories by a selection of fantastic Authors.

My favourites were Wings of Artemis - A Ship called Malice by Rebecca Royce, a fantastic story about Priscilla who was sold by her father to a human trafficking group, while awaiting to be sold off she falls and hits her head, when she awakes she finds she is married to 3 guys, the storyline and chemistry are amazing and this was my favourite in the collection

My other favourite is The Ice Bride by Ripley Proserpina, Betha is a photo journalist, her plane crashes and she finds herself married to three ice giants, I found this story to be unsual and exciting and I loved this one also

All the other stories are fantastic, I would highly recommend this box set to anyone is a great read

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read all the books in this anthology yet so I'll just have to add to it as I go.

Ship called Malice by Rebecca Royce
I have loved the entire wings of artemis series but you don't have to have read any of them before to read this one. While we have heard of some of the characters mentioned in this one in the other books, there's no real story involving them in this one. Three space pirates have the undeniable urge to save one woman from the fate before her. Once they have her though, they have to figure out what to do with her. She's spent her whole life knowing what was in her future, until she wakes up married to three men who are unlike anything she ever thought. I really enjoyed this one as much as the rest in the series. As always Rebecca did a fantastic job.

[Donna Hokanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve only read one story so far but it alone makes this set worth getting.
A Ship Called Malice by Rebecca Royce 5 Stars
Waking up to strangers
In a universe where men outnumber women, only in Jordan’s family her parent had several girls. The way her father looked at it, they were his to sell off to be marred as they matured. And that just what happened to Jordan, only she was unconcise when she got married off due to a fall at the auction house. Waking up to find three men hovering over her in the medical bed.
This story is a self-contained story but is part of the Wings of Artemis series. It’s has a Sandler brother named River in it.
Very entertaining story to read.