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Cinderella Undone
I NEED A WIFE TO SAVE MY DAUGHTER. SHE NEEDS MY MAGIC.I loved her like a sister forever ago.Before life served us tragedy with a bitter cherry on top.Before I learned love isn't a damn fairy tale.Before I became a single dad.Protecting my little girl is all I still care about. Kendra is my lifeline if she'll just play along.Her job is easy.Wear my ring. Turn my scowl into a family man's smile. Help save my daughter from a scorched earth custody fight.She gets the Cinderella treatment in return. My money, my mansion, my reputation. I'll put the glass slippers she's slaving over on main street and bend the world to her designer genius.Simple. Painless. Mutual.If only she was the shy thing I remembered, and I wasn't the same red-blooded maniac who wanted her under me years ago.My wall of ice isn't working like it should. Not when we trade barbs that make me throb. Not when I grab her hair. Not when I can't decide if I want to push her away, or drink those lips in an unending kiss.Complicated. Messy. Cruel.That's our crazy truth.This madness ends one Cinderella undone, or me in stitches.This book may cause frantic overheating and an ugly cry or two. Complete full length standalone romance novel. Alpha male abundance. Happily Ever After like a rainbow at the end of the storm. Find out why Wall Street Journal bestselling author Nicole Snow makes readers swoon!
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 29, 2017
4492 people are currently reading
1001 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Snow
116 books6,506 followersNicole Snow is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author. She found her love of writing by hashing out love scenes on lunch breaks and plotting her great escape from boardrooms. Her work roared onto the indie romance scene in 2014 with her Grizzlies MC series.
Since then Snow aims for the very best in growly, heart-of-gold alpha heroes, unbelievable suspense, and swoon storms aplenty.
Current fan favorites include her Enguard Protectors series, accidental love novels, plus long beloved MC romance thrillers like the Grizzlies and Deadly Pistols.
Find more about Nicole here:
Website: http://nicolesnowbooks.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolesnowbo...
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nicol...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NicoleSnowBooks
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Nicole-Snow/e/...
Since then Snow aims for the very best in growly, heart-of-gold alpha heroes, unbelievable suspense, and swoon storms aplenty.
Current fan favorites include her Enguard Protectors series, accidental love novels, plus long beloved MC romance thrillers like the Grizzlies and Deadly Pistols.
Find more about Nicole here:
Website: http://nicolesnowbooks.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolesnowbo...
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nicol...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NicoleSnowBooks
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Nicole-Snow/e/...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 350 reviews
September 17, 2017
Yet another author that writes heroines who are pathetic, stupid doormats, it's embarrassing! And of course she's a virgin because god forbid she actually meets a decent guy. No! Can't have that! Instead, she waits around for the so-called hero to finally pay attention to her after he's been treating her like shit and fucks around for years...blah blah blah typical bullshit...and when he finally does pay attention to her, it's not because he genuinely likes her or anything; nope, he needs something from her and he knows she's stupid enough to go along with what he wants because she just looooves him so much! He continues to treat her like shit while she blindly accepts it because she doesn't deserve any better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2017
Nonsense...
All I'm going to say is this is one of the most absurd, awkwardly written, convoluted without making any sense plots I've ever read.
All I'm going to say is this is one of the most absurd, awkwardly written, convoluted without making any sense plots I've ever read.
September 13, 2017
I think I may have read a different book than the rest. Knox was no alpha male unless your definition of one was a guy who has no control over his temper, always assumes the worst of those he supposedly loves and puts no real effort into any relationship outside of, possibly, his daughter.
As for Kendra: who, in their right mind, allows a stranger to take possession of a child with nothing more than a piece of paper that no logical person would believe was real?! Also, I'm a fan of redemption stories and the forgiveness needed to make it one - but COME ON - she's ready to be all-in again after some pretty ridiculous statements were flying... and he never had to put any effort into repairing anything between them.
This was all too much for me to be able to give this book much beyond a 2. I finished it only because I hoped it would get better. HOWEVER, I seem to be in the minority so maybe it's just me.
As for Kendra: who, in their right mind, allows a stranger to take possession of a child with nothing more than a piece of paper that no logical person would believe was real?! Also, I'm a fan of redemption stories and the forgiveness needed to make it one - but COME ON - she's ready to be all-in again after some pretty ridiculous statements were flying... and he never had to put any effort into repairing anything between them.
This was all too much for me to be able to give this book much beyond a 2. I finished it only because I hoped it would get better. HOWEVER, I seem to be in the minority so maybe it's just me.
August 30, 2017
While some may think Knox was a little much, I loved him. He was an asshole who was just the perfect amount alpha as well making him an awesome alphahole. From suspenseful plot to steamy romance I enjoyed Cinderella Undone!
January 9, 2019
Great read!
This book had an amazing story line with amazing characters you couldn't help falling in love with. The only thing that confused me the most about this book was that it went from hating each other to loving each other with the flip of a page. The ones we're definitely blurred and I felt like I skipped part of the book. It was such a quick change up I was a little confused. However the book itself was still amazing.
This book had an amazing story line with amazing characters you couldn't help falling in love with. The only thing that confused me the most about this book was that it went from hating each other to loving each other with the flip of a page. The ones we're definitely blurred and I felt like I skipped part of the book. It was such a quick change up I was a little confused. However the book itself was still amazing.
August 31, 2017
Knox sure is one pushy man, “glad you came to your senses. I'll be by later to pick you up. Got to move you in quick if we're going to pull this off.” Knox has an attitude problem, “there are six guest rooms. Turn them all into Leonardo's effing workshop for all I care,” I growl..." I liked this book, Knox was a complete arse at first, like I wanted to kick him in the nuts kind of arse, and then he all of a sudden changes that it gace me whiplash.
September 21, 2017
I tried, but DNF at 60 %. I can't even.
April 27, 2018
This was an enjoyable read. I thought that the story was really great. It is the love story of Knox and Kendra. I thought that the characters really made the story interesting and enjoyable. Knox was complex. He is a broken and cold man who would do anything for his daughter, Lizzie. However, when I read his character, I felt like he was misunderstood and lonely. Also, he tried to hide what he truly feels. It will be really nice to see the different sides to his character. Kendra was the sister’s best friend that he probably always wanted but could never have. She is more open and outgoing that Knox. I think she brings the best qualities out of Knox, and I really love how the story unfolds as she falls in love with him. I thought that they have really great chemistry. Overall, a great review.
June 1, 2018
Unbelievable
You never know what you get with freebies. More often than not, they aren't great. However, I've rarely come across an author quite this bad. And, in trying to be as fair as possible, I suffered through THREE of her "novels." Maybe the first was a fluke, right? No. Just no. The first was actually by far the most bearable. And the saddest part of all, overall, is that she has potential. Genuinely, the lady could possibly write decent material. But, omg, she needs some classes, workshops, an exciting team, and a freaking REALITY check.
The dialogue is the worst part, and that's saying something.
People don't talk like that. No one does, and she writes EVERYONE, every single hero and heroine, just the same. Static, stock (bad stock, at that) characters that fall so very flat. And did I mention the dialogue? No. Just no.
Unbelievable plot lines. Poorly researched situations and specifics, especially regarding legalities. Life doesn't work anything remotely like that.
And the characters' choices, attitudes, pitiful farce of "development," jeeeeeez. Too awful for words.
And it just compounds, over and over, until you want to scream.
The smutty parts are great, mostly. They contrast awfully freaking hard with the rest of her writing tone, but the woman could easily write firecracker erotica... But even there she just doesn't pull off believable. Again, it's a combination of character flaws, dichotomies, and just a lack of realism. Also, I can't help but think that any Target audience gullible enough to remotely enjoy these books probably consists of the type who want less smutty sex scenes and more dreamy, white-washed ones. But, that's probably more analysis than necessary for this book and author.
Idk. I tried, hard, to enjoy these for the frivolous, freebie, candy books I'd hoped they were... And I'm pretty sure I figuratively broke a tooth and got food poisoning. So, no more Ms. Snow for me.
You never know what you get with freebies. More often than not, they aren't great. However, I've rarely come across an author quite this bad. And, in trying to be as fair as possible, I suffered through THREE of her "novels." Maybe the first was a fluke, right? No. Just no. The first was actually by far the most bearable. And the saddest part of all, overall, is that she has potential. Genuinely, the lady could possibly write decent material. But, omg, she needs some classes, workshops, an exciting team, and a freaking REALITY check.
The dialogue is the worst part, and that's saying something.
People don't talk like that. No one does, and she writes EVERYONE, every single hero and heroine, just the same. Static, stock (bad stock, at that) characters that fall so very flat. And did I mention the dialogue? No. Just no.
Unbelievable plot lines. Poorly researched situations and specifics, especially regarding legalities. Life doesn't work anything remotely like that.
And the characters' choices, attitudes, pitiful farce of "development," jeeeeeez. Too awful for words.
And it just compounds, over and over, until you want to scream.
The smutty parts are great, mostly. They contrast awfully freaking hard with the rest of her writing tone, but the woman could easily write firecracker erotica... But even there she just doesn't pull off believable. Again, it's a combination of character flaws, dichotomies, and just a lack of realism. Also, I can't help but think that any Target audience gullible enough to remotely enjoy these books probably consists of the type who want less smutty sex scenes and more dreamy, white-washed ones. But, that's probably more analysis than necessary for this book and author.
Idk. I tried, hard, to enjoy these for the frivolous, freebie, candy books I'd hoped they were... And I'm pretty sure I figuratively broke a tooth and got food poisoning. So, no more Ms. Snow for me.
May 4, 2020
Well this was a first for me by this author and these narrators.
I enjoyed the story over all I found some parts of it to be over the top. Like the first half what I like more was the last half when things felt more real and less fairy tale like.
I think I will give this author more chances because I really enjoyed the strong characters and who well rounded they were.
The male narrator over did it just a bit but man is gruff voice delicious! The female was good a little timid if a voice can be timid well she sounded like it.
I enjoyed the story over all I found some parts of it to be over the top. Like the first half what I like more was the last half when things felt more real and less fairy tale like.
I think I will give this author more chances because I really enjoyed the strong characters and who well rounded they were.
The male narrator over did it just a bit but man is gruff voice delicious! The female was good a little timid if a voice can be timid well she sounded like it.
September 6, 2017
I couldn't Finish this book. I know people loved it but, not me. Knox was just so mean. Especially to Kendra. I get he had a lot of bad things happen in his life but, it doesn't give him the right to treat Kendra like total crap. I just couldn't continue to read what next nasty mean thing he'd to Kendra and she'd take it.
September 15, 2017
Way too obvious attempts to bring Cinderella elements into a story that is more Beauty and the Beast. I generally enjoy fairy tail retellings but this was not to my taste.
March 27, 2018
Cinderella Undone by Nicole Snow is a romance about Knox who needs a wife to save his daughter. Luckily, he knows exactly who's going to help him. Kendra is his sister's best friend and cares for Lizzie a lot. The fake relationship and the hidden feelings drive them both crazy. Several people have something against their love and against him having the guardianship for his daughter. For Knox, protecting his daughter and Kendra is a difficult job. But he will do everything in his power to do so.
I have mixed feelings for this book. To be honest, I enjoyed reading this book, most of the time. It keeps you reading and wondering what will happen next. Some actions were predictable, but what surprised me was that other actions happened out of the blue and made everything more thrilling.
Knox is a really sweet and caring father. He does everything for his daughter. She is everything for him. But he has kind of two personalities. He is really shitty to Kendra and sometimes to his family too. I don't like that every person and he himself "apologizes" for his shitty behavior because of his traumatic time in the military. There is always the option to get professional help with these things. Kendra is a nice woman. She is a bit naive, but I like her.
All in all, this was a good read. I did not like a few parts because naivety and shitty behavior. But I enjoyed reading the book.
I have mixed feelings for this book. To be honest, I enjoyed reading this book, most of the time. It keeps you reading and wondering what will happen next. Some actions were predictable, but what surprised me was that other actions happened out of the blue and made everything more thrilling.
Knox is a really sweet and caring father. He does everything for his daughter. She is everything for him. But he has kind of two personalities. He is really shitty to Kendra and sometimes to his family too. I don't like that every person and he himself "apologizes" for his shitty behavior because of his traumatic time in the military. There is always the option to get professional help with these things. Kendra is a nice woman. She is a bit naive, but I like her.
All in all, this was a good read. I did not like a few parts because naivety and shitty behavior. But I enjoyed reading the book.
August 30, 2017
So I have a confession.
I am a sucker for storylines with that particular kind of bad boy; ya know the stubborn, jackhole who's black heart beats solely for his babies. Never giving in to what else he wants out of life because his priority is the munchkin.
While there is a woman in the background fighting to stay away from him, knowing he will hurt her, yet she is drawn back to him every time- no matter what happens between them.
* SIGH * and *SIGH* again.
Yeah, I got that with this book, along with a hella cool reboot on one of my all time favorite Fairy Tales, and so much more!
Cinderella Undone is emotionally intense, yet a sexy, witty make me want to pull out my hair romance fairy tale with a twist that once I started reading, I could not put down!
I was a goner after about the 5th time he said " sunflower"!
IMO this heartbreaking suspenseful white hot romance is an absolute must read!
I am a sucker for storylines with that particular kind of bad boy; ya know the stubborn, jackhole who's black heart beats solely for his babies. Never giving in to what else he wants out of life because his priority is the munchkin.
While there is a woman in the background fighting to stay away from him, knowing he will hurt her, yet she is drawn back to him every time- no matter what happens between them.
* SIGH * and *SIGH* again.
Yeah, I got that with this book, along with a hella cool reboot on one of my all time favorite Fairy Tales, and so much more!
Cinderella Undone is emotionally intense, yet a sexy, witty make me want to pull out my hair romance fairy tale with a twist that once I started reading, I could not put down!
I was a goner after about the 5th time he said " sunflower"!
IMO this heartbreaking suspenseful white hot romance is an absolute must read!
February 9, 2019
Kindle unlimited and I need to take a break. Another TSTL virgin ‘heroine’ and a rich asshole who treats her like utter garbage. Knox might be the worst ‘hero’ I’ve ever read in one of these stories. Even his daughter can’t soften him. Doesn’t help that her dialogue is more socially inept accountant on tinder than four year old girl.
Skip this one. I’m never getting those hours back.
Skip this one. I’m never getting those hours back.
August 29, 2017
This is the story of Knox and Kendra (with a little of Lizzie). Knox is the ultimate bad boy who is broken, damaged, and cold. His is a bastard and it takes a bit before the reader warms up to him in this story. He has a daughter (Lizzie) that he loves more than life itself and he will do anything for her. In this story he needs to marry in order to keep his ex from being part of his daughter’s life. He is the way he is because he is so protective of his loved ones. He tries so hard to protect that it comes off as ungrateful and mean, but that is not who he truly is. Kendra is the opposite of Knox, caring, loving and willing to put others first. She also is the woman who got her heart broken by Knox in the past and is determined not to fall back into old ways. She is strong and bold, but her heart melts when she sees Knox and Kendra together. She decides that she will do whatever it takes to protect Kendra, even pretending to marry the Bain of her love life.
This story is filled with lies, betrayal, love, redemption, respect, and steamy scenes. The story is presented with dual points of view so the reader is in both of the main characters head. This really adds to the story because there are times when a character says one thing but means another and this is a great way to be both in the story and “behind the scenes.” There are also flashbacks from a previous time and this adds to the discovery of why Knox is how he is and how Kendra comes to love him again.
This is another great story from this author and I really enjoyed reading it, it was a new take on some old story lines and it made them bold, fresh, and exciting. I received an ARC and am leaving a voluntary review.
This story is filled with lies, betrayal, love, redemption, respect, and steamy scenes. The story is presented with dual points of view so the reader is in both of the main characters head. This really adds to the story because there are times when a character says one thing but means another and this is a great way to be both in the story and “behind the scenes.” There are also flashbacks from a previous time and this adds to the discovery of why Knox is how he is and how Kendra comes to love him again.
This is another great story from this author and I really enjoyed reading it, it was a new take on some old story lines and it made them bold, fresh, and exciting. I received an ARC and am leaving a voluntary review.
September 17, 2017
This book got me all riled up. I really didn’t like how Knox treated Kendra. His crappy attitude made me hate him and at the same time I tried to silently tell Kendra to stop with the fussing and go on with her life. On the other hand I realized that once you have had a lifetime crush it is quite difficult to just stop and not think about the only love of your life. This book is actually a bundle that seems to slowly unravel. Knox made a “mistake” in his youth and got a girl pregnant who happens to be the daughter of his dad’s business partner. After giving birth to her child Sam runs away leaving the baby to Knox but although being a complete jerk, Knox is a wonderful father. Sam’s father actually hates Knox and although he isn’t interested in his grandchild in order to make Knox suffer he will try to get full custody of the child. To make things worst Knox wants to get full control of his father’s company who has passed away leaving him full of rage. For this reason he asks Kendra to act as his fake fiancé until he gets things sorted out. The story is messed up with a lot of twists but the basis of the entire book is the heartbreaking love of Kendra for Knox and his unawareness of the fact that deep down he cares for Kendra and has been in love with her for a very long time. Will Kendra finally have her happily ever after and will Knox for once show her who he really his behind his armor? That’s the reader’s task to find out.
December 8, 2017
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.
Oh my goodness get ready to fall in love with Knox. Knox is a single dad who final day himself in need of a wife and mother for his daughter Lizzie. Knox is broken and damaged and Oh so alpha and will give you whiplash but I loved him. He is however a good father to Lizzie. She is his world. Knox finds himself doing what he never was going to do and marry to keep his ex from being a part of his daughters life. Kendra however is the exact opposite of Knox and someone he knew long ago. He thought he would be getting the shy girl of years ago but boy was he ever wrong. Knox broke her heart once and she's not letting that happen again ever. However once she sees Knox with Lizzie all beta are off and Kendrag is will to do anything to help Knox.
Filled with angst, suspense and giggle I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone. There is so much to love about this book. Nicole Snow always writes amazing books.
Oh my goodness get ready to fall in love with Knox. Knox is a single dad who final day himself in need of a wife and mother for his daughter Lizzie. Knox is broken and damaged and Oh so alpha and will give you whiplash but I loved him. He is however a good father to Lizzie. She is his world. Knox finds himself doing what he never was going to do and marry to keep his ex from being a part of his daughters life. Kendra however is the exact opposite of Knox and someone he knew long ago. He thought he would be getting the shy girl of years ago but boy was he ever wrong. Knox broke her heart once and she's not letting that happen again ever. However once she sees Knox with Lizzie all beta are off and Kendrag is will to do anything to help Knox.
Filled with angst, suspense and giggle I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone. There is so much to love about this book. Nicole Snow always writes amazing books.
September 12, 2017
A steamy hot romance with an alpha male that is on the edge to be an axshole in the beginning but he luckily develops through out the story. There is lots of great chemistry between the two main characters. Knox is the man who needs a wife so he can keep his ex out of his daughters life. He has had very bad experience in relationships and therefor he is cold and broken. But he meets Kendra and makes a deal with her. She opens him up with her loving way of taking life and his daughter. But she has a past with Knox, where he broke her heart.
A story that has it all. It has betrayal, lies, heartbreaks, passion, chemistry, hot scenes and emotional ups and downs. It is written in dual POV and that gives the reader the opportunity to know the thoughts and feelings of the main characters.
I like the aspects of the story line and the plot. I can only recommend it to others.
I received an ARC and am leaving a voluntary review.
A story that has it all. It has betrayal, lies, heartbreaks, passion, chemistry, hot scenes and emotional ups and downs. It is written in dual POV and that gives the reader the opportunity to know the thoughts and feelings of the main characters.
I like the aspects of the story line and the plot. I can only recommend it to others.
I received an ARC and am leaving a voluntary review.
September 13, 2017
Cinderella Undone by Nicole Snow a fairy-tale five-star read. I adored this book, it was so sweet, but not sickly so. There was a great story and plot and you can’t help but get sucked into the story. Knox Carlisle is a gruff and harsh man, but the thing is he has good reason to be gruff. He has a past that would curl the toes of many. Knox just wants to live his life following the family business and ensuring his little girl never knows what she is missing, he wants to be both parents to her. He does such a good job, but as usual when you do a good job someone always wants to knock you down.
Kendra Sawyer was a girl with a crush on her besties big brother, and she wasn’t able to forget it, until he did something she could forgive, but deep down she hasn’t been able to forget. There is always one isn’t there. What ensues is a story full of ups and downs and situations that will have you wanting to hug people as well as shake them.
The will they won’t they will keep you on your toes, and Cinderella does get her glass slipper but will it get broken in the end?
Kendra Sawyer was a girl with a crush on her besties big brother, and she wasn’t able to forget it, until he did something she could forgive, but deep down she hasn’t been able to forget. There is always one isn’t there. What ensues is a story full of ups and downs and situations that will have you wanting to hug people as well as shake them.
The will they won’t they will keep you on your toes, and Cinderella does get her glass slipper but will it get broken in the end?
September 8, 2017
Wow
4 stars
I really enjoyed this story a bunch. The ins and outs that this couple takes then the author throws in a twist that you don't see coming. The hidden yet complexity of a man that has basically only love for his daughter but also fights the love for another but also deals with consequences beyond his control in his own mind then the author throws another few twists you won't see.
Hot sex and some dominance.
Happy Sexy Reading
4 stars
I really enjoyed this story a bunch. The ins and outs that this couple takes then the author throws in a twist that you don't see coming. The hidden yet complexity of a man that has basically only love for his daughter but also fights the love for another but also deals with consequences beyond his control in his own mind then the author throws another few twists you won't see.
Hot sex and some dominance.
Happy Sexy Reading
September 4, 2017
Wonderful story that I LOVED!! Great storyline that was superbly written and developed and flows flawlessly. Knox and Kendra are wonderful characters with incredible chemistry and a strong connection. Could what starts out as a mutually beneficial business arrangement turn into more? You have to read this fabulous book to find out!
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
June 7, 2019
In general, I dig Nicole Snow. I went on a bit of a binge a few months ago, and enjoyed it at the time.
HOWEVER, I read this 6 weeks ago, and literally don’t remember it at all. Legit, I read the blurb, was so sure I hadn’t read it before that I borrowed it from KU, and finally accepted that I’ve read this unmemorable story when the book I borrowed was already on the last page.
I’m pretty sure it wasn’t bad, because that would have been memorable. But yeah.... I can’t remember the last time a book left so little impact. But then again, I apparently wouldn’t.
HOWEVER, I read this 6 weeks ago, and literally don’t remember it at all. Legit, I read the blurb, was so sure I hadn’t read it before that I borrowed it from KU, and finally accepted that I’ve read this unmemorable story when the book I borrowed was already on the last page.
I’m pretty sure it wasn’t bad, because that would have been memorable. But yeah.... I can’t remember the last time a book left so little impact. But then again, I apparently wouldn’t.
September 10, 2017
Kendra has always been attracted to her best friends older brother Knox. Knox has been through hell, between military, his daughters mom running off and now the company's CEO is trying to find a way to get rid of him.
No matter what has happened over the years, Kendra can't quit wanting Knox. Knox has known this for years and tried to push her away years ago. Now when he needs her help, can they just do things as friends? Knox can't risk getting his daughter taken away, and Kendra would make sure that he keeps her. But how will she keep her heart?
There's some action and mystery. Of course finding love ❤️.
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."
No matter what has happened over the years, Kendra can't quit wanting Knox. Knox has known this for years and tried to push her away years ago. Now when he needs her help, can they just do things as friends? Knox can't risk getting his daughter taken away, and Kendra would make sure that he keeps her. But how will she keep her heart?
There's some action and mystery. Of course finding love ❤️.
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."
June 2, 2021
This book was a lot better than I expected. I loved reading it. It was fast paced and the plot twist was crazy! I loved it!
Alphahole that will fall to his knees because of his childhood friend.
Alphahole that will fall to his knees because of his childhood friend.
September 12, 2017
In this story, we follow Kendra and Knox in a mash up of friends to enemies to lovers and a second chance romance. Kendra was best friends with Knox’s little sister and had carried a crush on him for what seemed like forever. It seemed at one point that their relationship was just getting ready to begin when it all came crashing down around them. Later, they are brought together out of necessity, but will they be able to keep it strictly business? When Knox needs Kendra’s help to save the only thing that matters, his daughter, will she be able and willing to help?
While this story was interesting, I felt like there were some problems. I actually enjoyed the first half of the story more than I did the second half. In the first half, we get to know Knox and Kendra. There are flashbacks that catch us up on their backstory and set us up for the drama that is about to come. I enjoyed their backstory. I felt terrible for both of them and wondered how they would ever be able to overcome what they had been through. Knox certainly had a dark past, but he was trying to be a better man. He was always trying to be better. However, he hurt Kendra deeply and I wasn’t sure she would ever be able to move past the mistakes he made. Then we get about halfway through and things make an abrupt change. I want to avoid spoilers, but let’s just say there is a major switch with very little discussion about it. I thought at the very least there would’ve been a conversation about the change in their “arrangement”.
I also had a few issues with the characters. Knox hurt Kendra terribly and yet she carries a torch for him anyway despite what she tries to make herself and others believe. Then, he barely has to apologize for her to completely forgive and move on. If that isn’t bad enough, he makes a huge mistake again, hurts her, insults her, and again she just rolls over. I found it hard to really like him when he continues to make the same mistakes. I also found it hard to feel bad for her or root for their relationship when she never really makes him live up to his promises. I’m not saying people shouldn’t forgive, but she seems to just let him walk all over her.
As for the drama, it was a bit over the top. From Kendra’s design issues to the dirty diamond deals to the mysterious letters to the custody battle and fake identity, it was a lot for one book. While it was all tied together in the end, it just seemed like a lot. I felt like so much was happening that there wasn’t enough focus on the people and relationships. If that had been stronger, I think I would’ve enjoyed it more.
The storyline was interesting, and I wanted to know how it ended, but it wasn’t really something that drew me in and kept my attention. I didn’t really root for them as a couple, or care deeply about what happened to them. Overall, it’s a book I would pass on in the future, but it was okay as a free read. It is currently free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers, so you can try with nothing lost but time. I’m glad that’s all it cost me.
Originally written for NovelMomma.com
While this story was interesting, I felt like there were some problems. I actually enjoyed the first half of the story more than I did the second half. In the first half, we get to know Knox and Kendra. There are flashbacks that catch us up on their backstory and set us up for the drama that is about to come. I enjoyed their backstory. I felt terrible for both of them and wondered how they would ever be able to overcome what they had been through. Knox certainly had a dark past, but he was trying to be a better man. He was always trying to be better. However, he hurt Kendra deeply and I wasn’t sure she would ever be able to move past the mistakes he made. Then we get about halfway through and things make an abrupt change. I want to avoid spoilers, but let’s just say there is a major switch with very little discussion about it. I thought at the very least there would’ve been a conversation about the change in their “arrangement”.
I also had a few issues with the characters. Knox hurt Kendra terribly and yet she carries a torch for him anyway despite what she tries to make herself and others believe. Then, he barely has to apologize for her to completely forgive and move on. If that isn’t bad enough, he makes a huge mistake again, hurts her, insults her, and again she just rolls over. I found it hard to really like him when he continues to make the same mistakes. I also found it hard to feel bad for her or root for their relationship when she never really makes him live up to his promises. I’m not saying people shouldn’t forgive, but she seems to just let him walk all over her.
As for the drama, it was a bit over the top. From Kendra’s design issues to the dirty diamond deals to the mysterious letters to the custody battle and fake identity, it was a lot for one book. While it was all tied together in the end, it just seemed like a lot. I felt like so much was happening that there wasn’t enough focus on the people and relationships. If that had been stronger, I think I would’ve enjoyed it more.
The storyline was interesting, and I wanted to know how it ended, but it wasn’t really something that drew me in and kept my attention. I didn’t really root for them as a couple, or care deeply about what happened to them. Overall, it’s a book I would pass on in the future, but it was okay as a free read. It is currently free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers, so you can try with nothing lost but time. I’m glad that’s all it cost me.
Originally written for NovelMomma.com
August 25, 2020
I’ve read enough Nicole Snow books to know she has a type. A type of hero that is. He’s big, powerful, deadly ex-military, broody, and usually not looking for a relationship. I’ll tell you up front that as a male contemporary romance reader this isn’t my favorite type of male protagonist. But because I’m more interested in the heroines and the fact that Nicole imbues these guys with a heart of gold and a protective streak a mile wide it allows me to enjoy the story until they fall in love with the heroine and stop acting quite so much like an ass. My biggest issue with this story was the male protagonist Knox is so angry, bitter and self-loathing for so long it made sticking with the book a grind. Repeatedly hearing Knox tell himself that he’s a ruined man who only has enough love for his four-year-old daughter Lizzie while Kendra kept telling herself how Knox wasn’t the same guy she’d fell for as a teenager and she didn’t even like him now got repetitively annoying after awhile. Knox is a former Marine who had several tours in Afghanistan where he saw things that changed him. Then inexplicably one drunken night while on leave, he knocks up his father’s business partner’s druggie slut of a daughter Sam who disappears shortly after giving birth. How Samantha even knew who the father was is just one of the mysteries of this story. As is the fact that she remained clean and sober while pregnant. Since Knox is going to be a father he leaves the Marines and joins the family’s diamond business, Black Rhino. He heads up the firm’s acquisitions department which means he goes to Africa using his special ops training and deals with all the warlords and other nefarious characters that run the dirty blood diamond trade. How this is a better alternative for a new single father to remaining in the Marines is anyone’s guess. There he sees and does more things that increase his self-loathing. Knox’s father has a massive heart attack and dies. After his death Knox finds several letters he’s written (but apparently never mailed) to a mystery woman named Julia destroying the image Knox had of his father as a devoted husband and family man further disillusion him. Of course Knox never read the letters so he just assumes they are love letters to a mistress. Again that he didn't mail. Put it all together and Knox as I said is a very bitter, angry disillusioned man who tells himself he only has enough love left in his cold frozen heart for his young daughter.
Kendra the female lead is (the Cinderella of this story) is Knox’s younger sister Jaimie’s BFF. Why that is so also never made sense to me because Kendra and Jamie seemed to have absolutely nothing in common. Jamie is rich, isn’t much of a student and loves to party and if I’m reading the story correctly did two different guys at the same party. Kendra is middle class, a very serious student and at 23 years old still a virgin. Kendra has had a crush on Knox forever which Knox six years her senior is well aware of. He likes Kendra and if she wasn’t so much younger than himself he might have dated her. But because she is and she helps keep his wild sister somewhat under control, he acts as a protective older brother to her helping her navigate the drama of adolescence. But after his forays into the African diamond business he’s so full of self-loathing that he does everything he can to destroy Kendra’s (now in her early twenties and graduated early from college) crush on him because he knows she’s too pure, too innocent and too good for him. Kendra tells herself she hates the hollow, cold man Knox has become. Yet she’s constantly looking for a sign of the old Knox who comforted her when she got stood up by her date for the junior prom. As deliberately rude as Knox has been to her for the past four years, she comes across as a kind of pathetic character in her inability to get over her teenage crush on Knox.
Knox hates Victor Wright his daughter’s maternal grandfather who is the senior partner in the diamond business his family has owned for generations. How that happened is never clear either. The feeling is mutual. Victor wants Knox to limit his involvement in the firm to his trips to Africa to acquire more blood diamonds while Knox wants the firm to move to synthetic diamonds. Victor hatches a plot to prove Knox is an unfit father and file for custody of his granddaughter as a threat to coerce Knox into resigning from the firm. Knox’s response is to ask Kendra to pretend to be his wife to improve his image and make him look more stable as a parent to the courts if there’s a custody battle. At first he doesn’t tell Kendra that’s what he’s doing. In return he promises to be her fairy godfather (hence the Cinderella moniker although he refers to her as Sunflower throughout the story) and open doors to her to launch her career as a fledgling but very talented fashion designer. Kendra is ready to turn him down until he fesses up that he needs her in order to keep custody of Lizzie. As much as she tells herself she hates Knox, she acknowledges he’s a good father and she doesn’t want the evil Victor to get his hands on the little girl, so she agrees to go along with his scheme. Now to make this story even less plausible Knox wants to keep their fake engagement and that they are living together a secret from his mother who watches Lizzie during the day while he’s working and his sister who again is Kendra’s best and apparently only friend despite the fact that he makes it known to the society pages that he is engaged to be married. We’re never told what Kendra tells her parents is going on when she moves out of their house and into Knox’s. Apparently like Knox's family, her's don't read the society pages either.
There are other little things that made no sense. One evening while Knox and Kendra and Lizzie are out for dinner and strolling about and acting like any engaged couple (even holding hands) Knox picks up that they are being watched. He chases the guy down, assaults him and threatens him. Why? If the guy is there to observe whether Knox and Kendra are really a couple then that’s exactly what he would have seen and reported back. It’s exactly what Knox would have wanted the result to be. So why chase the guy down, take his cellphone and threaten him? It’s not as if he was peeping into their bedroom windows. Which is another issue. They’re supposed to be pretending they are engaged and living together but if anyone bothered to check they’d discover the two have separate bedrooms.
As with most stories where the hero is a moody and self-loathing once Knox gets his head out of his ass and makes his move on Kendra the story begins to improve dramatically. From this point on they become a happy little family until Victor launches his diabolical scheme and once again Knox comes off looking like an ass. Fortunately by this point Kendra has found her own badass inner self and refuses to give up on them.
I’m tempted to give this book 2 stars because I got so tired of Knox’s self-loathing and because so much of the story felt implausible even for a contemporary romance. But there was enough good stuff in here that I’ll give it 3 stars which for me means it was okay, not bad, but not great either.
Kendra the female lead is (the Cinderella of this story) is Knox’s younger sister Jaimie’s BFF. Why that is so also never made sense to me because Kendra and Jamie seemed to have absolutely nothing in common. Jamie is rich, isn’t much of a student and loves to party and if I’m reading the story correctly did two different guys at the same party. Kendra is middle class, a very serious student and at 23 years old still a virgin. Kendra has had a crush on Knox forever which Knox six years her senior is well aware of. He likes Kendra and if she wasn’t so much younger than himself he might have dated her. But because she is and she helps keep his wild sister somewhat under control, he acts as a protective older brother to her helping her navigate the drama of adolescence. But after his forays into the African diamond business he’s so full of self-loathing that he does everything he can to destroy Kendra’s (now in her early twenties and graduated early from college) crush on him because he knows she’s too pure, too innocent and too good for him. Kendra tells herself she hates the hollow, cold man Knox has become. Yet she’s constantly looking for a sign of the old Knox who comforted her when she got stood up by her date for the junior prom. As deliberately rude as Knox has been to her for the past four years, she comes across as a kind of pathetic character in her inability to get over her teenage crush on Knox.
Knox hates Victor Wright his daughter’s maternal grandfather who is the senior partner in the diamond business his family has owned for generations. How that happened is never clear either. The feeling is mutual. Victor wants Knox to limit his involvement in the firm to his trips to Africa to acquire more blood diamonds while Knox wants the firm to move to synthetic diamonds. Victor hatches a plot to prove Knox is an unfit father and file for custody of his granddaughter as a threat to coerce Knox into resigning from the firm. Knox’s response is to ask Kendra to pretend to be his wife to improve his image and make him look more stable as a parent to the courts if there’s a custody battle. At first he doesn’t tell Kendra that’s what he’s doing. In return he promises to be her fairy godfather (hence the Cinderella moniker although he refers to her as Sunflower throughout the story) and open doors to her to launch her career as a fledgling but very talented fashion designer. Kendra is ready to turn him down until he fesses up that he needs her in order to keep custody of Lizzie. As much as she tells herself she hates Knox, she acknowledges he’s a good father and she doesn’t want the evil Victor to get his hands on the little girl, so she agrees to go along with his scheme. Now to make this story even less plausible Knox wants to keep their fake engagement and that they are living together a secret from his mother who watches Lizzie during the day while he’s working and his sister who again is Kendra’s best and apparently only friend despite the fact that he makes it known to the society pages that he is engaged to be married. We’re never told what Kendra tells her parents is going on when she moves out of their house and into Knox’s. Apparently like Knox's family, her's don't read the society pages either.
There are other little things that made no sense. One evening while Knox and Kendra and Lizzie are out for dinner and strolling about and acting like any engaged couple (even holding hands) Knox picks up that they are being watched. He chases the guy down, assaults him and threatens him. Why? If the guy is there to observe whether Knox and Kendra are really a couple then that’s exactly what he would have seen and reported back. It’s exactly what Knox would have wanted the result to be. So why chase the guy down, take his cellphone and threaten him? It’s not as if he was peeping into their bedroom windows. Which is another issue. They’re supposed to be pretending they are engaged and living together but if anyone bothered to check they’d discover the two have separate bedrooms.
As with most stories where the hero is a moody and self-loathing once Knox gets his head out of his ass and makes his move on Kendra the story begins to improve dramatically. From this point on they become a happy little family until Victor launches his diabolical scheme and once again Knox comes off looking like an ass. Fortunately by this point Kendra has found her own badass inner self and refuses to give up on them.
I’m tempted to give this book 2 stars because I got so tired of Knox’s self-loathing and because so much of the story felt implausible even for a contemporary romance. But there was enough good stuff in here that I’ll give it 3 stars which for me means it was okay, not bad, but not great either.
January 20, 2022
For years, Knox has done everything he can to discourage Kendra's crush on him - not because he doesn't care for her, but because he doesn't want to ruin her seemingly perfect life with his dark, dangerous secrets. Now he's being threatened with losing his daughter, and Kendra is the only one he can trust to help him keep her with a fake engagement and marriage.
Kendra's done everything she can to move on from her crush on her best friend's older brother, but then Knox tempts not only her heart with his proposal but also her career with the rewards he's offering if she goes along with his plan. Now she'll go along with the fake relationship for his daughter's sake, but she's not going to risk falling for him again, no matter how many times he's right there to rescue her.
This is a very intense story mostly because Knox is one of the most intense book boyfriend characters I've ever read. He is laser-focused on protecting his daughter and Kendra while also focusing on wresting control of his father's company from the ruthless partner determined to push Knox out completely.
The writing in this is top-notch, the characters are complex and fascinating, and the plot just sweeps the reader along like riding a raft down the rapids. There's plenty of hot and steamy action, more than enough heartfelt feels, and more emotional growth and impact than expected from a romance novel. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Kendra's done everything she can to move on from her crush on her best friend's older brother, but then Knox tempts not only her heart with his proposal but also her career with the rewards he's offering if she goes along with his plan. Now she'll go along with the fake relationship for his daughter's sake, but she's not going to risk falling for him again, no matter how many times he's right there to rescue her.
This is a very intense story mostly because Knox is one of the most intense book boyfriend characters I've ever read. He is laser-focused on protecting his daughter and Kendra while also focusing on wresting control of his father's company from the ruthless partner determined to push Knox out completely.
The writing in this is top-notch, the characters are complex and fascinating, and the plot just sweeps the reader along like riding a raft down the rapids. There's plenty of hot and steamy action, more than enough heartfelt feels, and more emotional growth and impact than expected from a romance novel. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
December 21, 2017
Parts of this book mad me so angry I wanted to stab someone mostly because I can't stand when all the action/turmoil/conflict happens at the very end and it's resolved in a rush. Kendra is best friends with Jamie and she's been in love with Jamie's big brother Knox for years. She's now 23 years old, graduated from college and she's scored an internship with a master designer. She's a shoe designer and her dream project is a pair of glass shoes she's been working on. Knox Carlisle is a former marine, on his 21st birthday his father died unexpectedly and he had to take over his position at Black Rhino Jewelry. His father has a business partner named Victor and he does not like Knox at all. Knox had a ONS with Victor's daughter, Sam which resulted in pregnancy. Sam took off after giving birth to Lizzie four years ago and no one has heard from her since. Knox loves his daughter and will do anything for her so when Victor threatens to take her he must do something drastic. He offers Kendra a fairy tale lifestyle in exchange for her pretending to be his fiancée so he will seem responsible to Victor and the courts. A lot of shit has happened between the two of them over the years and Kendra is reluctant to trust Knox.
September 9, 2017
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This story will make you feel, for good or bad. The story mainly follows Knox (looove his name) and Kendra ( or Sunflower, as Knox calls her) with their respective families making up the brunt of the secondary characters. I will say the beginning was a little confusing, there is a lot of time jumping, backwards, forwards, backwards, forwards. It is essential for story building, and after a while it became less confusing. I think a part of my confusion was due to constantly trying to figure out or assign their proper ages. I like knowing the ages of characters, even in flashbacks.
Knox is the quintessential, and perfect, alphahole. He worked in the family jewel business where he bucked heads with his gawdawful partner who also happened to be the grandfather of his baby girl and the father of his missing baby-mama; seriously crossing the ties between a home and work life. As a former Marine, Knox had plenty of battle experience and was used by his partner for leading acquisitions missions, basically against his wishes. Due to that he suffered quite a lot and sorta self destructed on those who loved him. He had so much pain locked inside him he basically didnt know how to live normally outside of the sunshine his 4 year old daughter, Lizzie, provided him. His past; both personal and professional, and his present; professionally, were filled with tension, anger, secrets, worry, fear, angst, death, and pain. So. Much. Pain. You totally understand and empathise with his alphaholeness when you get to know him better. I really respected how Knox tried to stay noble, to follow the paths he thought would hurt everyone the least in the long run, even when it looked as if he wasnt. He was a battle-scarred, dark, shadow of a man just trying to hold it together, and after my initial dislike (heeello, alphahole) I rooted for this broken man to get his happily ever after. Also, there has never been an alphahole more devoted to his daughter than Knox. In many ways fatherhood was his light in the dark. It made him beautiful.
Kendra was about 6 years younger than Knox, so she hadnt had time to develop any deep, dark, soul stealing pain. ;-) She was an unjaded, despite heartache, and bright person; both intellectually and metaphorically bright. She was Knox's little sister's best friend, so she grew up knowing, and idolizing, him. She crushed hard on Knox, who had at one point also been her friend and confidant. She knows, when she is 18, that he likes her too, and is crushed when he cruelly throws away her affections. She spends years, 4 or 5, hating (and probably loving) him until he comes to her with a business arrangement. He asks her to fake an engagement so he can keep his daughter and his family's business. In exchange for her help he will open doors for her professionally as her unpaid internship isnt really getting her the real knowledge or exposure she needs in the fashion industry where she is a talented up and coming designer. Or she would be if not for her evil boss. She accepts his offer because, even though he broke her heart, he was a wonderful father and she couldnt let anyone break Knox and Lizzie apart; proving how big her heart really was.
Their fake relationship morphed, unsurprisingly, into something rare and real until tragedy hit and threatened to separate their small family and their happiness. Old fears and pain resurface when Lizzie is threatened and both Knox and Kendra must face the fallout. Things seemed pretty bleak, but they worked, separately, to right wrongs and heal each other.
I enjoyed this story, despite a few bouts of confusion, and found the professional backdrop of the diamond industry to be an interesting touch. The characters were all pretty well fleshed out, self aware, and evolved with the story. The sex scenes are, frankly, hot as hell. Steamy doesnt even begin to cover it. Molten comes close!
If you enjoy a story filled with emotions, rife with angst, rolling in redemption and love, and melting with heat, (and seriously, who doesnt?) you will probably enjoy this book.
This story will make you feel, for good or bad. The story mainly follows Knox (looove his name) and Kendra ( or Sunflower, as Knox calls her) with their respective families making up the brunt of the secondary characters. I will say the beginning was a little confusing, there is a lot of time jumping, backwards, forwards, backwards, forwards. It is essential for story building, and after a while it became less confusing. I think a part of my confusion was due to constantly trying to figure out or assign their proper ages. I like knowing the ages of characters, even in flashbacks.
Knox is the quintessential, and perfect, alphahole. He worked in the family jewel business where he bucked heads with his gawdawful partner who also happened to be the grandfather of his baby girl and the father of his missing baby-mama; seriously crossing the ties between a home and work life. As a former Marine, Knox had plenty of battle experience and was used by his partner for leading acquisitions missions, basically against his wishes. Due to that he suffered quite a lot and sorta self destructed on those who loved him. He had so much pain locked inside him he basically didnt know how to live normally outside of the sunshine his 4 year old daughter, Lizzie, provided him. His past; both personal and professional, and his present; professionally, were filled with tension, anger, secrets, worry, fear, angst, death, and pain. So. Much. Pain. You totally understand and empathise with his alphaholeness when you get to know him better. I really respected how Knox tried to stay noble, to follow the paths he thought would hurt everyone the least in the long run, even when it looked as if he wasnt. He was a battle-scarred, dark, shadow of a man just trying to hold it together, and after my initial dislike (heeello, alphahole) I rooted for this broken man to get his happily ever after. Also, there has never been an alphahole more devoted to his daughter than Knox. In many ways fatherhood was his light in the dark. It made him beautiful.
Kendra was about 6 years younger than Knox, so she hadnt had time to develop any deep, dark, soul stealing pain. ;-) She was an unjaded, despite heartache, and bright person; both intellectually and metaphorically bright. She was Knox's little sister's best friend, so she grew up knowing, and idolizing, him. She crushed hard on Knox, who had at one point also been her friend and confidant. She knows, when she is 18, that he likes her too, and is crushed when he cruelly throws away her affections. She spends years, 4 or 5, hating (and probably loving) him until he comes to her with a business arrangement. He asks her to fake an engagement so he can keep his daughter and his family's business. In exchange for her help he will open doors for her professionally as her unpaid internship isnt really getting her the real knowledge or exposure she needs in the fashion industry where she is a talented up and coming designer. Or she would be if not for her evil boss. She accepts his offer because, even though he broke her heart, he was a wonderful father and she couldnt let anyone break Knox and Lizzie apart; proving how big her heart really was.
Their fake relationship morphed, unsurprisingly, into something rare and real until tragedy hit and threatened to separate their small family and their happiness. Old fears and pain resurface when Lizzie is threatened and both Knox and Kendra must face the fallout. Things seemed pretty bleak, but they worked, separately, to right wrongs and heal each other.
I enjoyed this story, despite a few bouts of confusion, and found the professional backdrop of the diamond industry to be an interesting touch. The characters were all pretty well fleshed out, self aware, and evolved with the story. The sex scenes are, frankly, hot as hell. Steamy doesnt even begin to cover it. Molten comes close!
If you enjoy a story filled with emotions, rife with angst, rolling in redemption and love, and melting with heat, (and seriously, who doesnt?) you will probably enjoy this book.
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