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The Husband Gambit
Marry me for 1 year. Payment: $1.2 million.
Hayden Somerset is convinced the ad is a joke, but he responds anyway because, hello, $1.2 million. He’s broke, living in a tiny apartment with two roommates, and exhausted from praying his ancient car survives just one more week. His skyrocketing rent and crushing student loans aren’t helping either. At this point, there isn’t much Hayden wouldn’t do for that kind of cash.
The ad isn’t a joke. Jesse Ambrose is absolutely serious. His father, the charismatic patriarch of a powerful Hollywood dynasty, has his eye on politics, and he’s counting on California’s liberals and progressives to elect him. But Jesse knows what his father believes when cameras and voters aren’t around. As the election looms, he’ll do anything to force the man’s hand and show the public who Isaac Ambrose really is.
Anything, including marrying a stranger so his father will make good on his promise to disown Jesse if he ever takes a husband.
Now he just has to wait for his father to take the bait… and try not to accidentally fall in love with his fake husband.
Hayden Somerset is convinced the ad is a joke, but he responds anyway because, hello, $1.2 million. He’s broke, living in a tiny apartment with two roommates, and exhausted from praying his ancient car survives just one more week. His skyrocketing rent and crushing student loans aren’t helping either. At this point, there isn’t much Hayden wouldn’t do for that kind of cash.
The ad isn’t a joke. Jesse Ambrose is absolutely serious. His father, the charismatic patriarch of a powerful Hollywood dynasty, has his eye on politics, and he’s counting on California’s liberals and progressives to elect him. But Jesse knows what his father believes when cameras and voters aren’t around. As the election looms, he’ll do anything to force the man’s hand and show the public who Isaac Ambrose really is.
Anything, including marrying a stranger so his father will make good on his promise to disown Jesse if he ever takes a husband.
Now he just has to wait for his father to take the bait… and try not to accidentally fall in love with his fake husband.
11 pages, Audible Audio
First published November 6, 2018
247 people are currently reading
1292 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Witt
218 books2,722 followersL.A. Witt and her husband have been exiled from Spain and sent to live in Maine because rhymes are fun. She now divides her time between writing, assuring people she is aware that Maine is cold, wondering where to put her next tattoo, and trying to reason with a surly Maine coon. Rumor has it her arch nemesis, Lauren Gallagher, is also somewhere in the wilds of New England, which is why L.A. is also spending a portion of her time training a team of spec ops lobsters.
Authors Ann Gallagher and Lori A. Witt have been asked to assist in lobster training, but they "have books to write" and "need to focus on our careers" and "don't you think this rivalry has gotten a little out of hand?" They're probably just helping Lauren raise her army of squirrels trained to ride moose into battle.
Visit her website at http://www.gallagherwitt.com/.
Authors Ann Gallagher and Lori A. Witt have been asked to assist in lobster training, but they "have books to write" and "need to focus on our careers" and "don't you think this rivalry has gotten a little out of hand?" They're probably just helping Lauren raise her army of squirrels trained to ride moose into battle.
Visit her website at http://www.gallagherwitt.com/.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 407 reviews
February 4, 2022
Family drama and all the talk about money and Hollywood elite aside, I really enjoyed this story. I liked Hayden and Jesse, they were lovely together. Their relationship is slow paced, which I liked, and I think the "fake husband" trope was done really well here.
This was my first book by this author, but, to be perfectly honest, I picked it up because it was narrated by Greg Boudreaux and Michael Ferraiuolo. Both were absolutely fantastic. I'm sure their narration made me enjoy this story so much more than if I had just read it.
This was my first book by this author, but, to be perfectly honest, I picked it up because it was narrated by Greg Boudreaux and Michael Ferraiuolo. Both were absolutely fantastic. I'm sure their narration made me enjoy this story so much more than if I had just read it.
November 29, 2018
This book is slow with a capital “S”. 😒 My God, 60% and nada action. Not even an intense UST. ☹️ The winded version of Ambrose family drama went on and on and on and on. 🙄 And Hayden grated on my nerves so bad. He’s a real whiny little b**ch in the beginning. Although he made up for his actions in the end, it was a little too late for me. and the plot??? “PREPOSTEROUS!” 😂 By all means, it was a very well-written and well-edited book. It’s just .. too slow-burn and more telenovela-ish for my liking. 😬
2.75 the fake wedding never came true for me stars
⭐️⭐️🌟
2.75 the fake wedding never came true for me stars
⭐️⭐️🌟
August 21, 2019
3.5 Stars
Hayden is a broke, aspiring actor, working at a pizza joint to make ends meet and living in cramped quarters with his two best buddies (who are also dirt poor). When he finds a personal ad seeking a gay man who is willing to enter a one-year marriage arrangement for the sum of 1.2 million dollars, Hayden can’t resist making contact to find out more.
Jesse is a film make-up artist, born into a life of privilege as a son of Hollywood magnate, Isaac Ambrose. Isaac’s success and influence in showbiz is all-encompassing, and at home, he’s a tyrannical ruler, bullying his family into living and behaving in a way that best suits his personal pursuits, even at the cost of their personal happiness.
Being gay, Jesse has been threatened time and again with disownment should he ever dare to marry another man, but as far as the public is concerned, Isaac Ambrose is a liberal, open-minded and generous man, much to Jesse’s disgust. So when Isaac announces he’s running for office, Jesse takes it upon himself to form a plan to discredit his father in the most indisputable way he can: by marrying another man and secretly recording his father’s denouncement of Jesse’s lifestyle choices and making his vitriolic opinions public knowledge once and for all.
At first, Jesse and Hayden simply need one another to achieve their personal goals, but with the more time they spend together they easily become friends and confidantes, and eventually, much to the shock of them of, they fall in love, making their initially farcical marriage much more complicated than it already was.
I liked most of this story, with Jesse and Hayden being easy characters to follow and root for. Their romance was a slow-burn of epic proportions, but that was mostly due to the astonishing length of the story itself, which perhaps, was longer than it dared need to be. There was a lot of repetition in character thoughts, feelings, and insecurities throughout, which I find to be a common complaint of mine when reading Witt’s books. But, still, regardless of the unnecessary length, I really liked Jesse and Hayden and how their romance played out.
What I didn’t care for were the secondary characters. I’m someone who feels the enjoyment of a story can be majorly enhanced when the MCs are surrounded by wonderful support characters, but here, aside from Hayden’s two buddies and Jesse’s already disowned brother, I couldn’t stand a single person in their lives. Jesse’s family were absolutely horrible excuses for human beings. And, yes, there are people in this world that are truly this narcissistic and egotistical, but their behaviour and treatment of Jesse and Hayden, time and again, was just too extreme to comprehend. In fact, they were so bad that I was left scratching my head as to why Jesse hadn’t disowned them long before now!
Atrocious family members aside, this was a fairly enjoyable take on the marriage of convenience/fake relationship trope.
****************************************
Audio Edition:
I could not resist buying this audio, dual narrated by two of my absolute favourite voice artists, Greg Boudreaux and Michael Ferraiuolo. I just can’t go past Greg’s always reliable and undeniably sexy-growly voice, or the personality and heart Michael puts into the characters he’s portraying, which always makes me laugh and cry at the appropriate times. Needless to say, their performances enhanced this story exponentially for me, resulting in me rating up when all was said and done.
Hayden is a broke, aspiring actor, working at a pizza joint to make ends meet and living in cramped quarters with his two best buddies (who are also dirt poor). When he finds a personal ad seeking a gay man who is willing to enter a one-year marriage arrangement for the sum of 1.2 million dollars, Hayden can’t resist making contact to find out more.
Jesse is a film make-up artist, born into a life of privilege as a son of Hollywood magnate, Isaac Ambrose. Isaac’s success and influence in showbiz is all-encompassing, and at home, he’s a tyrannical ruler, bullying his family into living and behaving in a way that best suits his personal pursuits, even at the cost of their personal happiness.
Being gay, Jesse has been threatened time and again with disownment should he ever dare to marry another man, but as far as the public is concerned, Isaac Ambrose is a liberal, open-minded and generous man, much to Jesse’s disgust. So when Isaac announces he’s running for office, Jesse takes it upon himself to form a plan to discredit his father in the most indisputable way he can: by marrying another man and secretly recording his father’s denouncement of Jesse’s lifestyle choices and making his vitriolic opinions public knowledge once and for all.
At first, Jesse and Hayden simply need one another to achieve their personal goals, but with the more time they spend together they easily become friends and confidantes, and eventually, much to the shock of them of, they fall in love, making their initially farcical marriage much more complicated than it already was.
I liked most of this story, with Jesse and Hayden being easy characters to follow and root for. Their romance was a slow-burn of epic proportions, but that was mostly due to the astonishing length of the story itself, which perhaps, was longer than it dared need to be. There was a lot of repetition in character thoughts, feelings, and insecurities throughout, which I find to be a common complaint of mine when reading Witt’s books. But, still, regardless of the unnecessary length, I really liked Jesse and Hayden and how their romance played out.
What I didn’t care for were the secondary characters. I’m someone who feels the enjoyment of a story can be majorly enhanced when the MCs are surrounded by wonderful support characters, but here, aside from Hayden’s two buddies and Jesse’s already disowned brother, I couldn’t stand a single person in their lives. Jesse’s family were absolutely horrible excuses for human beings. And, yes, there are people in this world that are truly this narcissistic and egotistical, but their behaviour and treatment of Jesse and Hayden, time and again, was just too extreme to comprehend. In fact, they were so bad that I was left scratching my head as to why Jesse hadn’t disowned them long before now!
Atrocious family members aside, this was a fairly enjoyable take on the marriage of convenience/fake relationship trope.
****************************************
Audio Edition:
I could not resist buying this audio, dual narrated by two of my absolute favourite voice artists, Greg Boudreaux and Michael Ferraiuolo. I just can’t go past Greg’s always reliable and undeniably sexy-growly voice, or the personality and heart Michael puts into the characters he’s portraying, which always makes me laugh and cry at the appropriate times. Needless to say, their performances enhanced this story exponentially for me, resulting in me rating up when all was said and done.
September 9, 2019
Narration: ***5+++ Michael Ferraiuolo + Greg Boudreaux = audiobook heaven Stars***
Story: ***3 generous audiobooks-make-everything-better Stars***
Story: ***3 generous audiobooks-make-everything-better Stars***
November 21, 2018
I liked it, but I am a bit torn over the story too...
Both Hayden and Jesse are super likable guys with a slightly over the top humor and attitudes that fit the setting of L.A. and Hollywood very well.
And the plot seems to match the slightly exaggerated MCs perfectly.
Jesse Ambrose is one of the sons of the famous Ambrose acting dynasty. His father, Isaac Ambrose is an A league actor who rose to fame with macho action movies. He taught his son early on that he wouldn't be accepted within the family as a gay man.
Jesse more or less made peace with his father's homophobic behaviour but when his father decides to run for a political office, Jesse is determined to sabotage his campaign to prevent a homophobe from getting actual political power.
Trying to set up his father and having him admit his homophobic attitudes in public, he starts looking for a husband for hire to fake a gay marriage in order to enrage his father enough to drop his professional and liberal facade and show the media his true face.
Struggling actor Hayden, who comes from a poor middle class family, sees the ad and immediately goes for it.
1.2 millions in exchange for being a fake husband for a year? That's like winning the lottery, right?
Of course, Hayden is a very sweet and caring guy, so it's hard for Jesse to just fake things when the only guy he could actually fall in love with is a guy who married him to fulfil a contract.
All in all, the story was bit bumpy. I'm all for the husbands for hire trope. I absolutely love it. However, the REASON why Jesse went down that road was a bit complicated to comprehend. Wouldn't it have been more reasonable to just date, fall in love and marry the usual way to rile up daddy? Why go looking for a husband for hire? And why placing an AD for it?
I can imagine that such an ad would go viral within minutes and the people responding to such an ad would probably be 'interesting characters' to say the least. Of course, in this romance, Hayden, the man responding to the ad, is Jesse's Mr Right, which is bending reality so far that even I as a romance fan have a hard time just accepting it.
By the way, I just need to mention that I found their sexual history pretty amusing. I mean Hayden's story and Jesse's story were totally hilarious. Like, of the jaw-dropping kind. Not to mention Hayden's brother's, seriously.
Thank god their sex life with each other was a little more romance-traditional, LOL. At least when it happened...
I also had a pretty rough time accepting that their marriage was just a vehicle to cause even more hate and contempt from a homophobic maniac. The whole setting was pretty unusual and quite a bit nerve-wracking...
Still, I'm super happy to have read this new novel by one of my favorite authors!
3.5 stars!
Both Hayden and Jesse are super likable guys with a slightly over the top humor and attitudes that fit the setting of L.A. and Hollywood very well.
And the plot seems to match the slightly exaggerated MCs perfectly.
Jesse Ambrose is one of the sons of the famous Ambrose acting dynasty. His father, Isaac Ambrose is an A league actor who rose to fame with macho action movies. He taught his son early on that he wouldn't be accepted within the family as a gay man.
Jesse more or less made peace with his father's homophobic behaviour but when his father decides to run for a political office, Jesse is determined to sabotage his campaign to prevent a homophobe from getting actual political power.
Trying to set up his father and having him admit his homophobic attitudes in public, he starts looking for a husband for hire to fake a gay marriage in order to enrage his father enough to drop his professional and liberal facade and show the media his true face.
Struggling actor Hayden, who comes from a poor middle class family, sees the ad and immediately goes for it.
1.2 millions in exchange for being a fake husband for a year? That's like winning the lottery, right?
Of course, Hayden is a very sweet and caring guy, so it's hard for Jesse to just fake things when the only guy he could actually fall in love with is a guy who married him to fulfil a contract.
All in all, the story was bit bumpy. I'm all for the husbands for hire trope. I absolutely love it. However, the REASON why Jesse went down that road was a bit complicated to comprehend. Wouldn't it have been more reasonable to just date, fall in love and marry the usual way to rile up daddy? Why go looking for a husband for hire? And why placing an AD for it?
I can imagine that such an ad would go viral within minutes and the people responding to such an ad would probably be 'interesting characters' to say the least. Of course, in this romance, Hayden, the man responding to the ad, is Jesse's Mr Right, which is bending reality so far that even I as a romance fan have a hard time just accepting it.
By the way, I just need to mention that I found their sexual history pretty amusing. I mean Hayden's story and Jesse's story were totally hilarious. Like, of the jaw-dropping kind. Not to mention Hayden's brother's, seriously.
Thank god their sex life with each other was a little more romance-traditional, LOL. At least when it happened...
I also had a pretty rough time accepting that their marriage was just a vehicle to cause even more hate and contempt from a homophobic maniac. The whole setting was pretty unusual and quite a bit nerve-wracking...
Still, I'm super happy to have read this new novel by one of my favorite authors!
3.5 stars!
November 15, 2018
4.5 stars
This is, hands down, the best use of the fake husband trope I have ever read. It’s never been a favorite trope of mine but the fact that Jesse wasn’t attempting to save his reputation or keep an inheritance but had a higher, more selfless purpose, made this a delight to read. The author’s writing skills didn’t hurt it either! Jesse is a kind of a poor little rich boy but he balances well with Hayden’s everyman character, both crafted to be intelligent and interesting figures. They discuss all the potential ramifications of their deception that they can think of before finalizing their deal. Of course later on, they get blindsided by emotions they never thought to anticipate and not just those they develop for each other. This is slow burn romance and not sex-heavy, since in spite of their attraction and comfortable dynamic in living together, both struggle with ethics and morals in crossing the boundaries they’ve set. A two week fake honeymoon cruise gets a little too real and sends those reservations overboard. Then the emotional hurdles they couldn’t predict start popping up as momentum builds to the final confrontation. I got all the feels that I could ask for with a romance, even becoming teary-eyed, particularly where Jesse was concerned.
Jesse and Hayden don’t get caught up in major drama between themselves, which was so refreshing. They discuss their differences in mature ways, without angry exchanges. Hayden talks out troubles with his former roommates, Ashton and Luis, and Jesse has his younger brother Alex for a sounding board. All the secondary characters add a great deal to the depth of the story. Ultimately, the crises and some major emotional battering originates from the antagonists, Jesse’s parents and elder siblings. The plot and narrative was riveting in how L.A. had her characters drive the plot forward without any of the cliché devices I’ve often found used with this trope. I did want to see much stronger consequences for Jesse’s father but the results were realistic and in keeping with the background he was given. If you enjoy fake boyfriend/fiancé/husband stories (and even if you don’t, like me), some angst, drama that fits the plot and a glorious HEA epilogue, I would highly recommend this book.
*An ARC was provided by the author, publisher or a promotional service and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review for JessieGBooks*
This is, hands down, the best use of the fake husband trope I have ever read. It’s never been a favorite trope of mine but the fact that Jesse wasn’t attempting to save his reputation or keep an inheritance but had a higher, more selfless purpose, made this a delight to read. The author’s writing skills didn’t hurt it either! Jesse is a kind of a poor little rich boy but he balances well with Hayden’s everyman character, both crafted to be intelligent and interesting figures. They discuss all the potential ramifications of their deception that they can think of before finalizing their deal. Of course later on, they get blindsided by emotions they never thought to anticipate and not just those they develop for each other. This is slow burn romance and not sex-heavy, since in spite of their attraction and comfortable dynamic in living together, both struggle with ethics and morals in crossing the boundaries they’ve set. A two week fake honeymoon cruise gets a little too real and sends those reservations overboard. Then the emotional hurdles they couldn’t predict start popping up as momentum builds to the final confrontation. I got all the feels that I could ask for with a romance, even becoming teary-eyed, particularly where Jesse was concerned.
Jesse and Hayden don’t get caught up in major drama between themselves, which was so refreshing. They discuss their differences in mature ways, without angry exchanges. Hayden talks out troubles with his former roommates, Ashton and Luis, and Jesse has his younger brother Alex for a sounding board. All the secondary characters add a great deal to the depth of the story. Ultimately, the crises and some major emotional battering originates from the antagonists, Jesse’s parents and elder siblings. The plot and narrative was riveting in how L.A. had her characters drive the plot forward without any of the cliché devices I’ve often found used with this trope. I did want to see much stronger consequences for Jesse’s father but the results were realistic and in keeping with the background he was given. If you enjoy fake boyfriend/fiancé/husband stories (and even if you don’t, like me), some angst, drama that fits the plot and a glorious HEA epilogue, I would highly recommend this book.
*An ARC was provided by the author, publisher or a promotional service and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review for JessieGBooks*
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February 12, 2022DNF @35%
I really tried but I just cannot stick it out for another 317 pages 🥱😩
I really tried but I just cannot stick it out for another 317 pages 🥱😩
August 21, 2023
Isn't this the best feeling ever? Picking up a random book from your never ending tbr and finding a treasure?
If I had to describe it with one word, it would be genuine.
What a funny thing it is that the only two books I considered giving 5 stars to this year (this one and Honey Girl) both have less than 4 star average ratings.
I'm 100% sure everyone who liked R,W&Rb and Boyfriend Material will like this one, too.
The mcs have probably the healthiest relationship ever and I never for a second thought this book lacked of something. It was perfectly balanced in every aspect and every emotion was realistic.
The first few chapters were hyseterical, laughed my ass off, but it also dealt with serious topics.
If I had to describe it with one word, it would be genuine.
What a funny thing it is that the only two books I considered giving 5 stars to this year (this one and Honey Girl) both have less than 4 star average ratings.
I'm 100% sure everyone who liked R,W&Rb and Boyfriend Material will like this one, too.
The mcs have probably the healthiest relationship ever and I never for a second thought this book lacked of something. It was perfectly balanced in every aspect and every emotion was realistic.
The first few chapters were hyseterical, laughed my ass off, but it also dealt with serious topics.
November 22, 2018
2.5 Stars!
First off this was completely unrealistic. The reasons for needing/wanting the fake husband didn’t make much sense.
And don’t even get me started on the politics.
I did manage to finish this one, but once again I’m reminded that the LA Witt of late is just not for me.
First off this was completely unrealistic. The reasons for needing/wanting the fake husband didn’t make much sense.
And don’t even get me started on the politics.
I did manage to finish this one, but once again I’m reminded that the LA Witt of late is just not for me.
September 3, 2023
Really enjoyed this.
November 15, 2018
When Hayden Somerset sees an ad seeking marriage in exchange for over a million dollars, he thinks–as any rational person would–that it is a joke. Or some kind of porno/serial killer set-up. He is broke though–and I do mean broke–so he, in a fit of madness probably brought on by an excess of ramen, writes an email asking for more information. He is shocked when a day later he walks into a restaurant to find a stunningly hot man waiting for him, and not some kind of kinky killer clown. A man who is actually going to pay him 1.2 million dollars to be his husband. For reals. All he has to do is stay married to Jesse Ambrose for a year. Which sounds way too good to be true. And probably is. Except…Hayden thinks this Jesse guy might be legit, and have a very good reason for shelling out the cash. Seems when Jesse says that he’d do just about anything to stop his (secretly) bigoted father from gaining political office on a “liberal ticket” he is willing to put his money where his mouth is. Which sounds like something Hayden can get behind. He just might have to spend a little bit of time reminding himself that having Jesse put his mouth on other places would probably be all kinds of a bad idea.
It might seem like such a small thing to other people, but I honestly think that my favorite part of this story might be how is portrays being broke, and the kind of near constant worry that comes with it. A lot of the time being poor is portrayed as some kind of badge of honor, and asking or taking help (especially in the form of money) makes you a bad person. If someone offers you something you have to reject it, or else you are greedy and mercenary. Gifts are bad. Help is unnecessary. Pride is above all and is all.
Which…yeah, fuck that.
I have been poor for my whole life and I have to say that if someone was to offer me a way to stop needing to worry that if I have even one spectacularly bad day my life could be wrecked, I’d take it. And that doesn’t make me any less proud. It makes me rational as fuck. I say screw the mindset that says that the only people who deserve help are the rich. I also say screw the mindset that being poor is somehow some kind of choice for a majority of the people stuck in it. That if all people did was stop being so prideful than they could easily have that 200,000 McMansion in the suburbs. I’ve got no time for the mindset of The Noble Poor, and I find the careless use of it in fiction to be detrimental to helping anything.
That doesn’t mean I’m not also skeptical of people who come with money in one hand and another behind their back–likely holding the hammer they intend to beat you down with. It just means that I get tired of being told by the stories that I read that my willingness to take a hand-out when needed somehow makes me less. Less good. Less honorable. Less worthy of the good things that those who have never needed that kind of help get almost every day.
So…I liked how this book portrayed Hayden. It wasn’t all of one and none of the other, but it fit a lot better the mindset I have lived in for almost my whole life. He is constantly having to remind himself that he has money now. That buying lunch at a restaurant isn’t a huge financial risk. That he could have his car break down…and he could handle it. It wouldn’t screw his entire life over. He doesn’t let the money become everything to him, but watching him slowly unwind and relax because his life was easier with the money…it felt real. He knows exactly what it feels like to have the financial rug pulled out from under him, so he doesn’t go on spending spree–and even small purchases still give him anxiety sometimes–but his reactions to the stratospheric change of circumstances is probably the most realistic I’ve ever read. It was refreshing, if nothing else.
As to the other parts of the story, well I really enjoyed them too. I felt at times that Jesse’s dad was a bit too mustache twirling, but the way politics are these day I can’t exactly say it was unrealistic. Which is just lovely. But my loathing of politicians (even just the aspiring ones) aside, I found Jesse’s reactions to his father to be very heartfelt and honest. Heaven knows I’ve had the same feeling about certain members of my own family. That kind of knowing that the bad is inevitably coming, but you can’t fight the vague and probably painful hope that for once all that shit said about “family” this time might actually hold some weight, and it keeps you from ever just walking away completely. It sucks. And it is painful. And man being a grown-up should come with some kind of return policy.
Anyways…this has all been kind of rambly, I know. It was just the kind of story that pulled out all sorts of things in me. Some a bit more pointy than others. I had a lot of fun reading it, and Jesse and Hayden really do work very well together, so I can’t say I ever regretted a second of it. And despite what this review might come off as feeling, it is not actually that much of a downer. It was just a very well written, and well-rounded, story that could have been just another “pretend marriage” trope–which still would have been 100% up my alley–but actually took the time to develop both the characters and plot into something a bit more…honest. Even the bits that are pulpy by nature.
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
It might seem like such a small thing to other people, but I honestly think that my favorite part of this story might be how is portrays being broke, and the kind of near constant worry that comes with it. A lot of the time being poor is portrayed as some kind of badge of honor, and asking or taking help (especially in the form of money) makes you a bad person. If someone offers you something you have to reject it, or else you are greedy and mercenary. Gifts are bad. Help is unnecessary. Pride is above all and is all.
Which…yeah, fuck that.
I have been poor for my whole life and I have to say that if someone was to offer me a way to stop needing to worry that if I have even one spectacularly bad day my life could be wrecked, I’d take it. And that doesn’t make me any less proud. It makes me rational as fuck. I say screw the mindset that says that the only people who deserve help are the rich. I also say screw the mindset that being poor is somehow some kind of choice for a majority of the people stuck in it. That if all people did was stop being so prideful than they could easily have that 200,000 McMansion in the suburbs. I’ve got no time for the mindset of The Noble Poor, and I find the careless use of it in fiction to be detrimental to helping anything.
That doesn’t mean I’m not also skeptical of people who come with money in one hand and another behind their back–likely holding the hammer they intend to beat you down with. It just means that I get tired of being told by the stories that I read that my willingness to take a hand-out when needed somehow makes me less. Less good. Less honorable. Less worthy of the good things that those who have never needed that kind of help get almost every day.
So…I liked how this book portrayed Hayden. It wasn’t all of one and none of the other, but it fit a lot better the mindset I have lived in for almost my whole life. He is constantly having to remind himself that he has money now. That buying lunch at a restaurant isn’t a huge financial risk. That he could have his car break down…and he could handle it. It wouldn’t screw his entire life over. He doesn’t let the money become everything to him, but watching him slowly unwind and relax because his life was easier with the money…it felt real. He knows exactly what it feels like to have the financial rug pulled out from under him, so he doesn’t go on spending spree–and even small purchases still give him anxiety sometimes–but his reactions to the stratospheric change of circumstances is probably the most realistic I’ve ever read. It was refreshing, if nothing else.
As to the other parts of the story, well I really enjoyed them too. I felt at times that Jesse’s dad was a bit too mustache twirling, but the way politics are these day I can’t exactly say it was unrealistic. Which is just lovely. But my loathing of politicians (even just the aspiring ones) aside, I found Jesse’s reactions to his father to be very heartfelt and honest. Heaven knows I’ve had the same feeling about certain members of my own family. That kind of knowing that the bad is inevitably coming, but you can’t fight the vague and probably painful hope that for once all that shit said about “family” this time might actually hold some weight, and it keeps you from ever just walking away completely. It sucks. And it is painful. And man being a grown-up should come with some kind of return policy.
Anyways…this has all been kind of rambly, I know. It was just the kind of story that pulled out all sorts of things in me. Some a bit more pointy than others. I had a lot of fun reading it, and Jesse and Hayden really do work very well together, so I can’t say I ever regretted a second of it. And despite what this review might come off as feeling, it is not actually that much of a downer. It was just a very well written, and well-rounded, story that could have been just another “pretend marriage” trope–which still would have been 100% up my alley–but actually took the time to develop both the characters and plot into something a bit more…honest. Even the bits that are pulpy by nature.
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
November 13, 2018
Oh this one's a cracker, it fully hits all the right notes for a fake boyfriend/husband trope and has a real villain that you absolutely want to see get his just deserts.
Both Jessie and Hayden are brilliantly complex men, each with hang-ups which define the way they approach the relationship and they needed a shake or two to get them to play ball!
Jessie's family are poster people for dysfunctional and there were times when - if I could have reached into the book and smashed their faces into a brick wall (and I'm not usually a violent person at all) - I would have done.
Hayden's former flatmates are great and I loved the dynamic created between the three of them and their reactions to Jessie's NDA keep quiet gift were pitched perfectly. I understood totally how they felt because I've been there!
The romance itself is a slow, slow burn, they're all about treating it as a business arrangement until the honeymoon happens and that's a gorgeous slide into masses of hot sex and lots of intimacy which eventually builds up to a crisis point.
I loved everything about the big relationship test, I just wish there'd been even more of a negative karma for Jessie's hideous dad.
This is another top class release from L.A. Witt.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
Both Jessie and Hayden are brilliantly complex men, each with hang-ups which define the way they approach the relationship and they needed a shake or two to get them to play ball!
Jessie's family are poster people for dysfunctional and there were times when - if I could have reached into the book and smashed their faces into a brick wall (and I'm not usually a violent person at all) - I would have done.
Hayden's former flatmates are great and I loved the dynamic created between the three of them and their reactions to Jessie's NDA keep quiet gift were pitched perfectly. I understood totally how they felt because I've been there!
The romance itself is a slow, slow burn, they're all about treating it as a business arrangement until the honeymoon happens and that's a gorgeous slide into masses of hot sex and lots of intimacy which eventually builds up to a crisis point.
I loved everything about the big relationship test, I just wish there'd been even more of a negative karma for Jessie's hideous dad.
This is another top class release from L.A. Witt.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
April 13, 2024
3.25*** stars
Man, I’m glad this is over. Shame I think about it this way now at the end because I was actually pretty invested in the plot for the first half of the book. But hell the second half was at first annoying as fuck and then towards the end just plain boring. I even quit the epilogue with 20min left on the audio.
Great narration by Greg B and Michael F. tho.
Man, I’m glad this is over. Shame I think about it this way now at the end because I was actually pretty invested in the plot for the first half of the book. But hell the second half was at first annoying as fuck and then towards the end just plain boring. I even quit the epilogue with 20min left on the audio.
Great narration by Greg B and Michael F. tho.
December 31, 2022
It’s so boring and I couldn’t connect with the characters at all. Hayden was frustrating and the way he kept complaining and talking about how he is going to use the newly earned money got me eye rolling. 😒🙄He talks about how we was going to use the money for 5 whole chapters. Him and his roommates got mbas but they can’t even find a decent job and lives in a shit hole with student loans towering over their heads. It’s understandable but the way he keeps talking about lack of money and stuff made me DNF the book. I know how broke he is but he doesn’t have to keep on repeating it every single time. The book is unnecessarily long and feels lacking to me. The characters were meh especially Hayden.🥴
Moreover the purpose of the marriage just seems stupid. To get disowned by his dad? Seriously? I know Jesse or whatever hates his dad and tries to head butt him all the time because his dad is a fake gay supporter but doing this is just lame. He should’ve done something cooler for his revenge or whatever. The villainous and evil father was emphasized over and over until it became way too over the top. Simply unrealistic.
Moreover the purpose of the marriage just seems stupid. To get disowned by his dad? Seriously? I know Jesse or whatever hates his dad and tries to head butt him all the time because his dad is a fake gay supporter but doing this is just lame. He should’ve done something cooler for his revenge or whatever. The villainous and evil father was emphasized over and over until it became way too over the top. Simply unrealistic.
July 19, 2019
Audiobook.....excellent narration!!!
The story....the premise was a bit OTT, but the MC’s together worked for me.
Angst...very little.
UST..some.
Heat...didn’t come into play until later, but these guys got into each other!
Love...slow burn, sweet and solid.
Plot...powerful Hollywood father threatens his son if he marries a man. Hard to buy in Hollywood, but I can go with the premise that there are bigots everywhere. Like I said, the storyline was a bit OTT.
HEA...solid as fuck!
The story....the premise was a bit OTT, but the MC’s together worked for me.
Angst...very little.
UST..some.
Heat...didn’t come into play until later, but these guys got into each other!
Love...slow burn, sweet and solid.
Plot...powerful Hollywood father threatens his son if he marries a man. Hard to buy in Hollywood, but I can go with the premise that there are bigots everywhere. Like I said, the storyline was a bit OTT.
HEA...solid as fuck!
November 19, 2018
This story takes the cake for the ungodly amount of redundant narrative that I eventually just skipped over. Although I mostly enjoyed the fake boyfriend trope and cast of characters, this book could easily have been trimmed by a third.
November 20, 2018
Wow, this was so good! I really really enjoyed this one.
Jesse Ambrose is one of five kids of Isaac Ambrose, Hollywood royalty - an actor, director, producer. He's filthy rich and has a ton of influence.
Which is why it's been so hard for Jesse or anyone to get proof of how horrible Isaac Ambrose really is behind closed doors.
He's homophobic, racist, sexist...I could go on. But the main thing dealt with in this is his homophobia, because Jesse is gay, and Isaac Ambrose hates that he is. So much so that he's threatened to disown Jesse if he ever actually goes through with marrying a man.
Jesse's mother managed to stop his father from disowning him when he found out Jesse was gay - appealing to his need to have a good reputation - but he didn't back down on disowning him if he married a man.
Not that Jesse's mother is that much better, mind you. She didn't do it out of the goodness of her heart. Honestly, who knows why did it. Maybe it was ultimately to save her own reputation as well. She was never once supportive of Jesse throughout this, even if she was less horrible than Isaac. But in a way, she was her own brand of horrible. Had to be, I guess, to be married to a man like Isaac Ambrose.
But anyway, Jesse gets desperate when he finds out his father is planning to run for governor as a Democrat soon, and so he puts out an ad for a fake-husband, who he'd pay 1.2 million dollars to be over a year.
Down on his luck aspiring actor Hayden is down to about 40 bucks in his bank account, having to stretch that out along with his two friends and roommates, that he answers the ad. He's cautious abut it, bringing one of his roommates along to wait outside the restaurant and everything, but it turns out he needn't of worried. Jesse isn't a serial killer or anything creepy like that.
So he agrees, and they start their fake relationship, that doesn't stay fake for long.
I enjoyed their progression from fake to real, to strangers to being in love. It was done well and convincingly. Their chemistry was great and the romance was awesome.
It also dealt with the ethical question of being with someone if someone's paying you...
But it's real between them, and it was only a matter of time before they both realized that and told each other.
I was happy with how things turned out. Jesse and Hayden together and in love and find a new sort of family away from the toxic Ambrose one. Jesse's father continues a career and doesn't face a lot of consequences, but that's par for the course for the real world. Big name men like Isaac Ambrose? Rarely get their careers completely ruined or ended. It's sucks, and it should DEFINITELY change. But some people just don't care how horrible a person is.
They succeed in squashing any of his political ambitions, though, which was Jesse's main goal, so that was good.
Their HEA was awesome and well earned and also adorably cute. Definitely recommend this :)
Two thumbs up from me. Loved this!
Jesse Ambrose is one of five kids of Isaac Ambrose, Hollywood royalty - an actor, director, producer. He's filthy rich and has a ton of influence.
Which is why it's been so hard for Jesse or anyone to get proof of how horrible Isaac Ambrose really is behind closed doors.
He's homophobic, racist, sexist...I could go on. But the main thing dealt with in this is his homophobia, because Jesse is gay, and Isaac Ambrose hates that he is. So much so that he's threatened to disown Jesse if he ever actually goes through with marrying a man.
Jesse's mother managed to stop his father from disowning him when he found out Jesse was gay - appealing to his need to have a good reputation - but he didn't back down on disowning him if he married a man.
Not that Jesse's mother is that much better, mind you. She didn't do it out of the goodness of her heart. Honestly, who knows why did it. Maybe it was ultimately to save her own reputation as well. She was never once supportive of Jesse throughout this, even if she was less horrible than Isaac. But in a way, she was her own brand of horrible. Had to be, I guess, to be married to a man like Isaac Ambrose.
But anyway, Jesse gets desperate when he finds out his father is planning to run for governor as a Democrat soon, and so he puts out an ad for a fake-husband, who he'd pay 1.2 million dollars to be over a year.
Down on his luck aspiring actor Hayden is down to about 40 bucks in his bank account, having to stretch that out along with his two friends and roommates, that he answers the ad. He's cautious abut it, bringing one of his roommates along to wait outside the restaurant and everything, but it turns out he needn't of worried. Jesse isn't a serial killer or anything creepy like that.
So he agrees, and they start their fake relationship, that doesn't stay fake for long.
I enjoyed their progression from fake to real, to strangers to being in love. It was done well and convincingly. Their chemistry was great and the romance was awesome.
It also dealt with the ethical question of being with someone if someone's paying you...
But it's real between them, and it was only a matter of time before they both realized that and told each other.
I was happy with how things turned out. Jesse and Hayden together and in love and find a new sort of family away from the toxic Ambrose one. Jesse's father continues a career and doesn't face a lot of consequences, but that's par for the course for the real world. Big name men like Isaac Ambrose? Rarely get their careers completely ruined or ended. It's sucks, and it should DEFINITELY change. But some people just don't care how horrible a person is.
They succeed in squashing any of his political ambitions, though, which was Jesse's main goal, so that was good.
Their HEA was awesome and well earned and also adorably cute. Definitely recommend this :)
Two thumbs up from me. Loved this!
November 23, 2018
Great 'fake relationship' romance!
Although the scenario seems a bit far-fetched, the author presents it in a reasonable enough way, so I could get happily on board and enjoy the show! And that is exactly what I did.
So what's to like?
.) Hayden: (the rich poor boy) I liked his down to earth and sensible approach to the whole affair, his shock at how the rich and famous live, his practical outlook on life and his warm and caring personality.
.) Jesse: (the poor rich boy) No idea how someone so 'normal' can come out of family like his. Tbh, I don't think the author is exaggerating here. I can easily imagine 'families' like this. And Jesse is a nice, cute guy on a mission that makes him a bit of a saint.
.) the organic progression of their love story
The way it happened felt real and logical (apart from the wedding which obviously happens a lot sooner than normal!)
1. physical attraction
2. getting to know each other
3. becoming friends
4. falling for each other
5. lots and lots of sex! (Hayden and Jesse's honeymoon activities made me feel exhausted just by reading XD)
.) the epilogue
It was cute and fitting, but not too sweet.
Did I have any niggles?
Only two minor ones:
.) the inner monologues sometimes went on too long for me and ripped me out of the plot too much.
.) the mention of how poor Hayden was (financially) and how little he could afford was fine too start with, it is part of the story after all, but in the later stages it just started getting a bit repetitive.
All in all, this is a very nicely written, easy read romance most of you will enjoy!
Although the scenario seems a bit far-fetched, the author presents it in a reasonable enough way, so I could get happily on board and enjoy the show! And that is exactly what I did.
So what's to like?
.) Hayden: (the rich poor boy) I liked his down to earth and sensible approach to the whole affair, his shock at how the rich and famous live, his practical outlook on life and his warm and caring personality.
.) Jesse: (the poor rich boy) No idea how someone so 'normal' can come out of family like his. Tbh, I don't think the author is exaggerating here. I can easily imagine 'families' like this. And Jesse is a nice, cute guy on a mission that makes him a bit of a saint.
.) the organic progression of their love story
The way it happened felt real and logical (apart from the wedding which obviously happens a lot sooner than normal!)
1. physical attraction
2. getting to know each other
3. becoming friends
4. falling for each other
5. lots and lots of sex! (Hayden and Jesse's honeymoon activities made me feel exhausted just by reading XD)
.) the epilogue
It was cute and fitting, but not too sweet.
Did I have any niggles?
Only two minor ones:
.) the inner monologues sometimes went on too long for me and ripped me out of the plot too much.
.) the mention of how poor Hayden was (financially) and how little he could afford was fine too start with, it is part of the story after all, but in the later stages it just started getting a bit repetitive.
All in all, this is a very nicely written, easy read romance most of you will enjoy!
August 31, 2019
2.5 stars!!! 🙄 I should have liked it.. I typically like fake-boyfriend/husband type stories and I was excited after reading the premise; but the story never took off. 😬 Hayden and Jesse though likable MCs just didn't have enough chemistry to sell the slow-burn.. and this was the slowest of all slow burns.. almost glacial..🙄😰. And the book was loooong.., I had to skip pages sometimes 😴 I just got bored reading about Jesse's evil family and villainous father over and over again.. They overshadowed the romance between the two and there was no space for character development or connection. The final chapters and the epilogue managed to salvage a little and therefore the rating.. Disappointing read.. not recommended 👎👎
November 20, 2018
I hated this book. I know, I know. I should have just thrown in the towel at the 50% mark when I thought my rage was going to overcome me. I KNOW!
This was not a good time and I couldn't wait to finish.
And truly, I don't feel comfortable even writing a review about any of it. I FUCKING HATE POLITICS!
Ridiculous.
August 25, 2019
I don’t know how to rate this. The narration was INCREDIBLE. I could listen to either of these narrators read the phone book. They carried the story. If I had been reading or listening to a lesser narrator I think I might’ve been bored.
November 16, 2018
*3.5 stars*
It was good. I liked Hayden and Jesse. Story was okay.
But.... It was told in so much dialogue. Guess I found out that I don't like that particularly way of story-telling too much. It distracted me.
September 6, 2021
I must admit the whole "fake relationship / husband for hire" theme is my drug of choice, and Witt does a wonderful job in pulling this off in "The Husband Gambit."
We get loads of background on Jesse Ambrose and his majorly dysfunctional father who is a Hollywood heavy hitter. You can completely understand why Jesse has committed to bringing him down, and why he feels the "fake husband" plan will succeed. Hayden is a great character and you also get why he is willing to marry Jesse for money, and the betterment of his future and that of his friends. It takes a while to present the plan and richly develop the characters, but the pacing of the book is lively and it really holds your interest until the plan is set into motion.
And once everything is ready? Holy Hannah, Hayden and Jesse have chemistry in spades and their honeymoon cruise spent testing the structural integrity of all the furniture in their suite? Frickin' Priceless. But again it works because Witt has set the stage for these two men getting to know each other as friends, get comfortable with their daily routines and let the sizzling slow-burn get ignited. My only niggle was But I bought 99% of this story hook, line and sinker and give it 4.5 stars.
I received an ARC from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
We get loads of background on Jesse Ambrose and his majorly dysfunctional father who is a Hollywood heavy hitter. You can completely understand why Jesse has committed to bringing him down, and why he feels the "fake husband" plan will succeed. Hayden is a great character and you also get why he is willing to marry Jesse for money, and the betterment of his future and that of his friends. It takes a while to present the plan and richly develop the characters, but the pacing of the book is lively and it really holds your interest until the plan is set into motion.
And once everything is ready? Holy Hannah, Hayden and Jesse have chemistry in spades and their honeymoon cruise spent testing the structural integrity of all the furniture in their suite? Frickin' Priceless. But again it works because Witt has set the stage for these two men getting to know each other as friends, get comfortable with their daily routines and let the sizzling slow-burn get ignited. My only niggle was But I bought 99% of this story hook, line and sinker and give it 4.5 stars.
I received an ARC from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
November 8, 2018
Very cute and charming fake marriage trope with a side of Hollywood and politics. Come for the fake marriage, stay for the characters who will leave you with a bunch of goopy, warm feelings while also making you laugh. Hot also. I mean, it's LA Witt, so of course it's hot. :)
January 13, 2019
I struggled with this one. I felt like...I should have liked it.
But it was lukewarm at best.
I tend to enjoy the fake boyfriend/husband trope. I'm still not certain why I didn't enjoy this one.
Jesse hires a fake husband with one purpose. He wants to out his father (a famous wealthy actor with his eye on taking over the local political ring) for the homophobe that he truly is.
And well...the father was just as ugly as you would imagine.
Jesse was sweet.
Hayden was great.
But it never really came together for me.
It picked up on the honeymoon and in the end, I was glad that I finished.
But there were moments that I felt like I was pushing myself to get to the end.
But it was lukewarm at best.
I tend to enjoy the fake boyfriend/husband trope. I'm still not certain why I didn't enjoy this one.
Jesse hires a fake husband with one purpose. He wants to out his father (a famous wealthy actor with his eye on taking over the local political ring) for the homophobe that he truly is.
And well...the father was just as ugly as you would imagine.
Jesse was sweet.
Hayden was great.
But it never really came together for me.
It picked up on the honeymoon and in the end, I was glad that I finished.
But there were moments that I felt like I was pushing myself to get to the end.
September 14, 2023
Ya got the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. This could have been a three part story.
Son finds out father is going to run on a progressive Democrat ticket. Oh did you know father dearest is a big time director. He can't help the fact his movies give off racist vibes. He's just holding a mirror to social issues of this era.
So up goes an advertisement for a man looking for a platonic husband. It's only for a year, and you get one million dollars.
A husband is chosen. Will father of the year keep to his word. Will the son break away form his family. Form ties with a new circle of loved ones.
Basically this was drama on top of outrage. Gurl I can't believe it got so emotional. I felt every tear. Yes, I cried!
Son finds out father is going to run on a progressive Democrat ticket. Oh did you know father dearest is a big time director. He can't help the fact his movies give off racist vibes. He's just holding a mirror to social issues of this era.
So up goes an advertisement for a man looking for a platonic husband. It's only for a year, and you get one million dollars.
A husband is chosen. Will father of the year keep to his word. Will the son break away form his family. Form ties with a new circle of loved ones.
Basically this was drama on top of outrage. Gurl I can't believe it got so emotional. I felt every tear. Yes, I cried!
September 6, 2019
5 Stars for the narration.
3 Stars for the story.
3 Stars for the story.
June 27, 2022
Miss Witt is either a huge hit or a huge miss for me. This one was mostly a hit. I have had this book on my shelves since January, intrigued by the blurb but put off by the awful cover. Yes, I am superficial, I know.
Hayden and Jesse is an amazing couple. Their chemistry is amazing. But there was some times when I just wanted to scream at them to get their shit together. Their thoughts and feelings got repeated one too many times. Like yes, we get it.
I loved that the characters were so free to be themselves. They told each other things you normally doesn’t tell people you date, like funny sex anecdotes. Because, they were just faking it.
Hayden and Jesse is an amazing couple. Their chemistry is amazing. But there was some times when I just wanted to scream at them to get their shit together. Their thoughts and feelings got repeated one too many times. Like yes, we get it.
I loved that the characters were so free to be themselves. They told each other things you normally doesn’t tell people you date, like funny sex anecdotes. Because, they were just faking it.
November 15, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
The Husband Gambit is a well-written, but relatively ordinary romance that relies heavily on the fake marriage trope. Jesse and Hayden are fully dimensional and the author has done an excellent job of giving them solid backstories and enough detail to make them relatable. Hayden has something of a chip on this shoulder regarding money, which is more than understandable, but it doesn’t always make his character likable. But I understood where he was coming from more often than not, so he was still engaging. The antagonist, Jesse’s father, is suitably evil and feels like someone we all know and thoroughly detest. With regards to the romance, it’s sweet for sure, but rather abrupt in its development. There’s a brief moment where Jesse appears to feel he is in love, but on the whole, their romantic relationship develops in a rushed frenzy in the last couple chapters. As a result, it doesn’t have quite the impact I would have preferred.
My biggest frustration with The Husband Gambit concerns its pacing and originality. Nothing feels fresh about this story. It’s a trope that’s been used well in other situations, but here it just feels a bit flat and uninspired. The events in the book read as commonplace and almost boring. It’s rather slow and plodding and there isn’t much by way of rising action until the end. There are moments of tension, which are well done, but on the whole, The Husband Gambit just feels more than a little run of the mill.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
The Husband Gambit is a well-written, but relatively ordinary romance that relies heavily on the fake marriage trope. Jesse and Hayden are fully dimensional and the author has done an excellent job of giving them solid backstories and enough detail to make them relatable. Hayden has something of a chip on this shoulder regarding money, which is more than understandable, but it doesn’t always make his character likable. But I understood where he was coming from more often than not, so he was still engaging. The antagonist, Jesse’s father, is suitably evil and feels like someone we all know and thoroughly detest. With regards to the romance, it’s sweet for sure, but rather abrupt in its development. There’s a brief moment where Jesse appears to feel he is in love, but on the whole, their romantic relationship develops in a rushed frenzy in the last couple chapters. As a result, it doesn’t have quite the impact I would have preferred.
My biggest frustration with The Husband Gambit concerns its pacing and originality. Nothing feels fresh about this story. It’s a trope that’s been used well in other situations, but here it just feels a bit flat and uninspired. The events in the book read as commonplace and almost boring. It’s rather slow and plodding and there isn’t much by way of rising action until the end. There are moments of tension, which are well done, but on the whole, The Husband Gambit just feels more than a little run of the mill.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
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