What do you think?
Rate this book
Love in London #1
To Have and Hate
‘Everyone has their price, Olivia.’
‘There isn’t enough money in the world to persuade me to marry you.’
Beckett. Let me count the ways I loathe him.
1. He’s the bane of my existence.
2. A thorn in my side.
3. I’m pretty sure he’s the devil in disguise
Or he at least has him on speed-dial.
So why am I standing here, bouquet in hand, about to become his wife?
He calls it a business proposition.
I call it blackmail.
He says our fighting is foreplay.
I say he should be on meds.
He says he has the power to destroy my company,
I say with a husband like him, who needs enemies.
But I can survive this six-month calamity.
All I have to do is keep hating him . . .
To Have and Hate includes an older hot Brit, a marriage of convenience, and is a hate-to-love fest, full of fire, fun, and smexytimes!>
‘There isn’t enough money in the world to persuade me to marry you.’
Beckett. Let me count the ways I loathe him.
1. He’s the bane of my existence.
2. A thorn in my side.
3. I’m pretty sure he’s the devil in disguise
Or he at least has him on speed-dial.
So why am I standing here, bouquet in hand, about to become his wife?
He calls it a business proposition.
I call it blackmail.
He says our fighting is foreplay.
I say he should be on meds.
He says he has the power to destroy my company,
I say with a husband like him, who needs enemies.
But I can survive this six-month calamity.
All I have to do is keep hating him . . .
To Have and Hate includes an older hot Brit, a marriage of convenience, and is a hate-to-love fest, full of fire, fun, and smexytimes!>
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2019
4417 people are currently reading
3310 people want to read
About the author
Donna Alam
43 books2,105 followersDonna Alam is a #7 Amazon Kindle store and USA Today bestseller. A writer of love stories with heart, humour, and heat, she aspires to sprinkle a little joy into the lives of her readers. When not bashing away at her keyboard, she can often be found hiding from her responsibilities with a book in her hand and a mop of a dog at her feet.
Hear all the news by joining her newsletter below or pop in and say hello in her private reader group, Donna Alam's Lambs.
Lambs - https://bit.ly/DALambs
Donna's Newsletter - https://subscribepage.com/e6z5p6
Hear all the news by joining her newsletter below or pop in and say hello in her private reader group, Donna Alam's Lambs.
Lambs - https://bit.ly/DALambs
Donna's Newsletter - https://subscribepage.com/e6z5p6
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 429 reviews
August 8, 2019
What a fantastic read!?!?!
This was my first book by the author and now I’m hooked!
Beckett is sexy AF and the perfect antihero.
Olivia is badass and snarky. I loved their hate/love relationship. Hot sexy times were SCORCHING!
Highly recommend this one!
~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 5/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 5/5
Secondary Characters~ 5/5
The Feels~ 5/5
Pacing~ 5/5
Addictiveness~5/5
Angst~ 5/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 5/5
Theme or Tone~ 5/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 5/5
Originality~ 5/5
Ending~ 5/5
Book Cover~ INCREDIBLY SEXY
Series~ stand-alone
Source~ Kindle eBook - ARC for honest review
Would I read more from the author? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes
This was my first book by the author and now I’m hooked!
Beckett is sexy AF and the perfect antihero.
Olivia is badass and snarky. I loved their hate/love relationship. Hot sexy times were SCORCHING!
Highly recommend this one!
~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 5/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 5/5
Secondary Characters~ 5/5
The Feels~ 5/5
Pacing~ 5/5
Addictiveness~5/5
Angst~ 5/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 5/5
Theme or Tone~ 5/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 5/5
Originality~ 5/5
Ending~ 5/5
Book Cover~ INCREDIBLY SEXY
Series~ stand-alone
Source~ Kindle eBook - ARC for honest review
Would I read more from the author? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes
August 7, 2019
TO HAVE & HATE by Donna Alam is the story of Olivia and Beckett who enter into a marriage of convenience for six months.....if they can make it that long. Of course there is sparks between them but not all are sparks of desire some are due to their attitude. Their setting is in London, there is some funny scene along with some really hot ones.
Overall really enjoyed this book and hope to read more from this author!
Overall really enjoyed this book and hope to read more from this author!
September 8, 2019
This was an awesome read! I am a sucker for enemies to lovers romance and this little gem ticked the right boxes.
It had humor, intense heat, and tension and the familiar push and pull between the two main characters. It's the push and pulls that always grabs at me and this book was full of it.
Olivia and Beckett were one of a kind. The sexual tension between the to was thick and you could cut it with a knife, the witty banter and overall chemistry were through the roof, fighting or fucking these two were on fire, and the way their personalities bounced off each other was perfect. They were a very unlikely couple yet they were perfect for each other. Beckett came across as an asshat, to begin with, if I'm honest, but in no way did that make the story any less amazing. If anything, I am a dead set sucker for an asshole male character, but as you get deeper into the plot I start to see more than one side to him and it made me fall for this man even more. He has his demons, he has his hangups and he has his struggles, he's become a very guarded man, and I think that is what Olivia could see in him from the start and though they started out as enemies, that changes fast and the passion, lust, heat, and chemistry between the two of them was consuming and even though this book was full of heat, it still had light-hearted moments where I was in stitches from laughing so much.
This story had it all in my opinion and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's my first book by this author, but it will not be my last!
5 Stars
It had humor, intense heat, and tension and the familiar push and pull between the two main characters. It's the push and pulls that always grabs at me and this book was full of it.
Olivia and Beckett were one of a kind. The sexual tension between the to was thick and you could cut it with a knife, the witty banter and overall chemistry were through the roof, fighting or fucking these two were on fire, and the way their personalities bounced off each other was perfect. They were a very unlikely couple yet they were perfect for each other. Beckett came across as an asshat, to begin with, if I'm honest, but in no way did that make the story any less amazing. If anything, I am a dead set sucker for an asshole male character, but as you get deeper into the plot I start to see more than one side to him and it made me fall for this man even more. He has his demons, he has his hangups and he has his struggles, he's become a very guarded man, and I think that is what Olivia could see in him from the start and though they started out as enemies, that changes fast and the passion, lust, heat, and chemistry between the two of them was consuming and even though this book was full of heat, it still had light-hearted moments where I was in stitches from laughing so much.
This story had it all in my opinion and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's my first book by this author, but it will not be my last!
5 Stars
August 11, 2019
Can a girl give more than 5 stars to this please? *sigh* A TOP 2019 MUST READ for me!
Check out my FULL REVIEW, TEASERS i made, BOOK QUOTES & MORE CL I C K - H E R E
September 2, 2019
DNF. Nope. Not happening..... I don't have time or patience for this crap.
January 15, 2020
This was just Meh... Or maybe not even meh at all...
The heroine has a crush on someone else and they were about to start something but he learns he is going to be a father as his ex is pregnant so that relationship ends before it starts.
Then she meets the hero. He offers her a deal: A marriage by contract that will last for 6 months. Both ends will have their own gains. He will get the majority of the shares in the company being a married man and earning the trust of other shareholders and she will get the money for her own business as she was in need of financial support.
There is sexual attraction between them and they also develop feelings in time but it all is very superficial. I didn't feel it. The book didn't make me feel at all. I think it is because of its superficial writing. You know, some writers make you feel it all and some can't. Here, nothing, nope, nada...
The heroine has a crush on someone else and they were about to start something but he learns he is going to be a father as his ex is pregnant so that relationship ends before it starts.
Then she meets the hero. He offers her a deal: A marriage by contract that will last for 6 months. Both ends will have their own gains. He will get the majority of the shares in the company being a married man and earning the trust of other shareholders and she will get the money for her own business as she was in need of financial support.
There is sexual attraction between them and they also develop feelings in time but it all is very superficial. I didn't feel it. The book didn't make me feel at all. I think it is because of its superficial writing. You know, some writers make you feel it all and some can't. Here, nothing, nope, nada...
August 14, 2019
2,5 ❤️🤔⭐️s
Fake and arranged marriages is a theme that I like to read.
Olivia and Beckett’s story didn’t thrill me though.
The characters weren’t fully developed and lacked maturity. Although I’ve read it I still do not have a clear portrayal of Beckett!
There were many parts that the storyline was really dragging and the ending was so rushed leaving me with even more questions.
Fake and arranged marriages is a theme that I like to read.
Olivia and Beckett’s story didn’t thrill me though.
The characters weren’t fully developed and lacked maturity. Although I’ve read it I still do not have a clear portrayal of Beckett!
There were many parts that the storyline was really dragging and the ending was so rushed leaving me with even more questions.
October 6, 2019
3.5
I have a weakness for marriage of convenience plots, especially ones where there's tension between the happy couple. I've read far too many and so I've come across all manner of improbable circumstances. I have to say, while the couple tension was bob on, the reason for the marriage of convenience made absolutely no sense to me at all. So that didn't help.
That aside, I enjoyed his gradual defrosting, his dirty mouth and the smut, but the bickering dialogue was ruined for me by the formatting and writing style. The use of single speech marks along with dialogue and thought on the same line meant I struggled to separate speech from thought as well as getting muddled with who was actually speaking because it rarely made it clear. Countless times I stopped reading to try to figure it out and that got old very quickly; not only was it irritating, but it also pulled me out of the flow of the story.
Complete story, available on ku. While I enjoyed some aspects of it, I suspect I'll remember this one for all of the wrong reasons.
I have a weakness for marriage of convenience plots, especially ones where there's tension between the happy couple. I've read far too many and so I've come across all manner of improbable circumstances. I have to say, while the couple tension was bob on, the reason for the marriage of convenience made absolutely no sense to me at all. So that didn't help.
That aside, I enjoyed his gradual defrosting, his dirty mouth and the smut, but the bickering dialogue was ruined for me by the formatting and writing style. The use of single speech marks along with dialogue and thought on the same line meant I struggled to separate speech from thought as well as getting muddled with who was actually speaking because it rarely made it clear. Countless times I stopped reading to try to figure it out and that got old very quickly; not only was it irritating, but it also pulled me out of the flow of the story.
Complete story, available on ku. While I enjoyed some aspects of it, I suspect I'll remember this one for all of the wrong reasons.
August 9, 2019
oh la la...
didn't really expect anything...LOL, I went in blind, since i'm a sucker for "enemies to lovers" trope, add an "arranged marriage" and voila...sometimes you have a cliche - ed romance flingly and sometimes (like this time) you have an interesting input into the unusual but mutualy beneficiary agreement...that well, led to, you know what and where...LOL
but my impressions on the journey to get there...
didn't really expect anything...LOL, I went in blind, since i'm a sucker for "enemies to lovers" trope, add an "arranged marriage" and voila...sometimes you have a cliche - ed romance flingly and sometimes (like this time) you have an interesting input into the unusual but mutualy beneficiary agreement...that well, led to, you know what and where...LOL
but my impressions on the journey to get there...
March 23, 2020
the plotline is just my jam...too bad the writing is not working out for me..
is there but not quite yet... I had the same problem with another book by this author but I like it better than this one
is there but not quite yet... I had the same problem with another book by this author but I like it better than this one
August 13, 2019
No doubt this will be an unpopular opinion, but I really didn’t enjoy this as much as I was hoping to. I think I went into it with such hopes because of all the amazing reviews, but unfortunately for me, it just didn’t reach that mark. I think it was more the characters, than the storyline that put me off. I couldn’t connect with Beckett at all, and Olivia drove me mad with all the OM drama!
October 12, 2019
I liked it, got annoyed, and then went into a love/hate relationship.
To Have and Hate was a rollercoaster. It had it's cute moments because they two were getting closer to one another. However, there were some moments that left me confused. It all started with a fake marriage between Olivia and Beckett. Now Olivia is in love with her app, e-volve, it's kind of like tinder but better? Then there's Beckett who is kind of like her knight in shiny suit.
The thing is, her love for this app is bleeding her own bank account dry. She loves the people she works with and really believes in her app. It doesn't help that she finally got a chance to make a pitch in front of some financial investors. Of course there are some hints of a possible romance between her and her boss Luke.. but that flame dies out rather quickly.
It also doesn't hurt that later in the book she realizes how much a douche he is.
Then there's Beckett who offers to marry her and give her financial relief that she needs. He does make her sign some contracts and make him a board member. It was kind of adorable how much they tried to spend time away from one another because there was this giant pull between them. It was an obvious attraction that anyone could see.
Of course these two had their differences and bickered like crazy. Yet, they loved each other endlessly. It was adorable to see them happy but then something would happen or be said - and bam! They would annoy me and the sparks went out.
Overall, I liked the ending but I'm not sure about the whole book. It was just too much push and pull for me.
To Have and Hate was a rollercoaster. It had it's cute moments because they two were getting closer to one another. However, there were some moments that left me confused. It all started with a fake marriage between Olivia and Beckett. Now Olivia is in love with her app, e-volve, it's kind of like tinder but better? Then there's Beckett who is kind of like her knight in shiny suit.
The thing is, her love for this app is bleeding her own bank account dry. She loves the people she works with and really believes in her app. It doesn't help that she finally got a chance to make a pitch in front of some financial investors. Of course there are some hints of a possible romance between her and her boss Luke.. but that flame dies out rather quickly.
It also doesn't hurt that later in the book she realizes how much a douche he is.
Then there's Beckett who offers to marry her and give her financial relief that she needs. He does make her sign some contracts and make him a board member. It was kind of adorable how much they tried to spend time away from one another because there was this giant pull between them. It was an obvious attraction that anyone could see.
Of course these two had their differences and bickered like crazy. Yet, they loved each other endlessly. It was adorable to see them happy but then something would happen or be said - and bam! They would annoy me and the sparks went out.
Overall, I liked the ending but I'm not sure about the whole book. It was just too much push and pull for me.
February 6, 2022
5 Stars!
RTC
RTC
August 8, 2019
I absolutely LOVE a well written Enemies-To-Lovers story that's loaded with tension, verbal stouches and intense passion; but throw a true antihero into the mix and you've found my Kryptonite!
TO HAVE AND HATE is just that story and Donna Alam's Beckett is just that Hero!!
When Olivia Welland goes looking for investors to try and save her haemorrhaging start-up, the last thing she expects is to fall head over heels for one of the principles of the firm.
Well, in reality she faceplants at his feet before even entering the building, but I digress!
What she really doesn't count on is the said financier offering her a marriage proposal-come business proposition in exchange for saving her business, that comes attached with a ruthless charismatic A-hole in a Saville Row suit!
Beckett is without exaggeration the most wicked, arrogant, egotistical, dirty-mouthed cad Donna has ever penned and yet he is still downright delicious!
He truly doesn't make a good first impression, but he's just so nasty he's divine!
But Olivia's no shrinking violet in the face of this abrasive man and she may not be successful in business but she is successful in pressing Beckett's buttons and giving him a fight to fuel both of their libidos, and the resultant chemistry and impact is incendiary!!
This is undeniably Donna's hottest couple yet and seasoned with her customary saucy wit and laugh out loud humour colouring this story, this is another 5 star hit!!!
TO HAVE AND HATE is just that story and Donna Alam's Beckett is just that Hero!!
When Olivia Welland goes looking for investors to try and save her haemorrhaging start-up, the last thing she expects is to fall head over heels for one of the principles of the firm.
Well, in reality she faceplants at his feet before even entering the building, but I digress!
What she really doesn't count on is the said financier offering her a marriage proposal-come business proposition in exchange for saving her business, that comes attached with a ruthless charismatic A-hole in a Saville Row suit!
Beckett is without exaggeration the most wicked, arrogant, egotistical, dirty-mouthed cad Donna has ever penned and yet he is still downright delicious!
He truly doesn't make a good first impression, but he's just so nasty he's divine!
But Olivia's no shrinking violet in the face of this abrasive man and she may not be successful in business but she is successful in pressing Beckett's buttons and giving him a fight to fuel both of their libidos, and the resultant chemistry and impact is incendiary!!
This is undeniably Donna's hottest couple yet and seasoned with her customary saucy wit and laugh out loud humour colouring this story, this is another 5 star hit!!!
August 26, 2019
What a magical ride. I laughed so hard and swooned a lot in this book. Beckett was delish. I loved his sexy British ways.
December 30, 2019
The marriage may be fake, but the feelings and passion are real!
Update: upon further reflection, this book sort of reminds me of Gone With the Wind. Heroine pines after “the one who got away”, unable to see his true colors die to her younger self’s crush. She marries for money to the man as dynamic as she is. It’s not until late in the book when the blinders are ripped off that she sees the one who got away is a blessing in disguise-an unanswered prayer (if you’re a Garth Brooks fan). We all have those schoolyard crushes on people we thought were one way and turned out to be a false construct inside our own teenage minds.
Also, this book is about life giving you what you need, even if you don’t realize that what you want is all wrong for you and what you need will become what you wanted all along. I wanted a son until I was told my unborn baby was a girl. Turns out I wanted a daughter the whole time. That sort of thing. The bathroom scene near the end of the book? That’s pretty funny stuff, if I do say so myself.
Witty banter with laugh out loud lines give this novel a crisply fresh feel to the prose. The dialogue and banter are top notch. The characters are relatable (even the one who’s a billionaire!) and the passion between the two main characters is palpable. Beckett & Olivia just about cause your Kindle to catch fire with the way they almost chemically combust (not really, they just get pretty hot with their antics).
This is not a book for someone wanting a squeaky clean romance. If you want those, you’re clearly either lying to yourself or you’re hopelessly lost.
This book is so hot that you’ll be looking for a fan to cool you down...or an industrial sized freezer, but don’t blame me if you melt everything in that freezer.
Seriously. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 X 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 = this book. Don’t say I didn’t warn you if you’re looking for some romance where they only hold hands and kiss chastely. This book isn’t about being chaste. It’s about passion, going after dreams and finding out that life gives you what/who you need and not what/who you THINK you want.
He’s a man with mysteries and she’s a woman with a fiery temper. She gets a bit of it from her Gran, a fun character that shows that age can be just a number, not an indication to one’s worth or wits.
The characters are true to life in their flaws and their demons. They learn that together they can complement the other instead of expecting the other person to complete them. I’m happy to say that this is one of the author’s best books to date.
Update: upon further reflection, this book sort of reminds me of Gone With the Wind. Heroine pines after “the one who got away”, unable to see his true colors die to her younger self’s crush. She marries for money to the man as dynamic as she is. It’s not until late in the book when the blinders are ripped off that she sees the one who got away is a blessing in disguise-an unanswered prayer (if you’re a Garth Brooks fan). We all have those schoolyard crushes on people we thought were one way and turned out to be a false construct inside our own teenage minds.
Also, this book is about life giving you what you need, even if you don’t realize that what you want is all wrong for you and what you need will become what you wanted all along. I wanted a son until I was told my unborn baby was a girl. Turns out I wanted a daughter the whole time. That sort of thing. The bathroom scene near the end of the book? That’s pretty funny stuff, if I do say so myself.
Witty banter with laugh out loud lines give this novel a crisply fresh feel to the prose. The dialogue and banter are top notch. The characters are relatable (even the one who’s a billionaire!) and the passion between the two main characters is palpable. Beckett & Olivia just about cause your Kindle to catch fire with the way they almost chemically combust (not really, they just get pretty hot with their antics).
This is not a book for someone wanting a squeaky clean romance. If you want those, you’re clearly either lying to yourself or you’re hopelessly lost.
This book is so hot that you’ll be looking for a fan to cool you down...or an industrial sized freezer, but don’t blame me if you melt everything in that freezer.
Seriously. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 X 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 = this book. Don’t say I didn’t warn you if you’re looking for some romance where they only hold hands and kiss chastely. This book isn’t about being chaste. It’s about passion, going after dreams and finding out that life gives you what/who you need and not what/who you THINK you want.
He’s a man with mysteries and she’s a woman with a fiery temper. She gets a bit of it from her Gran, a fun character that shows that age can be just a number, not an indication to one’s worth or wits.
The characters are true to life in their flaws and their demons. They learn that together they can complement the other instead of expecting the other person to complete them. I’m happy to say that this is one of the author’s best books to date.
dnf
January 17, 2020Some women had a problem with the opening of the book. The heroine was getting ready to have a night of sex with a man she's wanted since high school. He tells her his ex just told him that she's pregnant and that puts the cabosh on that. Unfulfilled, she goes to a restaurant and meets... again... the man who tripped her earlier in the day. He's a bit of an ass. British guys are generally not my cuppa. He asks her leading questions and like an idiot, she spills her sexual business to him and basically admits she hasn't gotten any in a long while. His driver takes them to his house and instead of going inside, he makes out in the care with her, getting her so aroused and then having his driver take her home unfulfilled... again. This just isn't her night. She feels like a cheap hooker. This is where I stopped reading. From what I gather, he was evaluating her for an arranged marriage with himself. Seemed kind of gross to me. I was wishing she'd have had the driver drop her at a bar and go home with someone else to finish her sexually. That would have served the pompas hero.
August 7, 2019
The opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s apathy. And this pair feels so much. There is so much passion between Olivia and Beckett. Whether they’re fighting or… well, pretty much anything else, the sparks leap off the page when they’re together. I adored Olivia’s fighting spirit and her viciously snarky wit. The banter as they tore into each other left me howling with laughter. I wasn’t sure about Beckett for the longest time. He’s a bit of a bully and that totally rubbed me the wrong way. But once we get the chance to see the real man, see him being vulnerable, learn why he’s so guarded, I began to understand what Olivia saw in him. I could see that while they were opposites and had started out as enemies, they were perfect for one another. Their strengths dovetailed with each other’s weaknesses, making them stronger together than either one was alone. I hope in the future we’ll see stories about some of their friends.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author through Bad Boy Update.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author through Bad Boy Update.
January 24, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️ three stars -
Let’s be honest, I picked up this book for the smoking hot cover ❤️ but I was also entertained with two of my favorite tropes: arranged marriage and enemies to lovers. A nice mashup here - le sigh.
I enjoyed this one, for the most part. Good pacing, good character development, lots of sexy smut, and a nice dose of romance. I enjoyed the heroine here and I liked the fact that she was a strong career-focused woman.
As other reviewers have mentioned, there is some OM drama here with our h, but for me it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the story. I felt that this was included for the h’s growth arc, so I accepted it, as the romance here between the h and H develops at a slower pace. For me, it fell into the h’s definition of a strong, developed fmc and was acceptable to me as a part of her character, as I enjoyed the portrayal of the heroine here.
What did detract from my enjoyment, and this story’s ability to get a higher star rating from me, is the lack of a fleshed out storyline and a complete character arc. Certain plot points and character influences were introduced, but then simply not expanded upon (the H’s addiction and the h’s grandmother, for example). This distracted from the story and reduced the star rating.
I did love the Cinderella vibe with the Hero jetting the heroine off to New York, and with him providing financial backup to her business. But guess what? Even though he provided the financial means to save her biz, she succeeded because she brought her brains to the table, and I just loved that. It’s always nice to read a story about a career woman that’s out there working hard and making things happen. Sometimes that’s an anomaly in romance-land, so it’s always refreshing to find books with this element.
Overall, a solid three star read. I will definitely read books from this author again, as I mostly did enjoy myself here.
Let’s be honest, I picked up this book for the smoking hot cover ❤️ but I was also entertained with two of my favorite tropes: arranged marriage and enemies to lovers. A nice mashup here - le sigh.
I enjoyed this one, for the most part. Good pacing, good character development, lots of sexy smut, and a nice dose of romance. I enjoyed the heroine here and I liked the fact that she was a strong career-focused woman.
As other reviewers have mentioned, there is some OM drama here with our h, but for me it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the story. I felt that this was included for the h’s growth arc, so I accepted it, as the romance here between the h and H develops at a slower pace. For me, it fell into the h’s definition of a strong, developed fmc and was acceptable to me as a part of her character, as I enjoyed the portrayal of the heroine here.
What did detract from my enjoyment, and this story’s ability to get a higher star rating from me, is the lack of a fleshed out storyline and a complete character arc. Certain plot points and character influences were introduced, but then simply not expanded upon (the H’s addiction and the h’s grandmother, for example). This distracted from the story and reduced the star rating.
I did love the Cinderella vibe with the Hero jetting the heroine off to New York, and with him providing financial backup to her business. But guess what? Even though he provided the financial means to save her biz, she succeeded because she brought her brains to the table, and I just loved that. It’s always nice to read a story about a career woman that’s out there working hard and making things happen. Sometimes that’s an anomaly in romance-land, so it’s always refreshing to find books with this element.
Overall, a solid three star read. I will definitely read books from this author again, as I mostly did enjoy myself here.
August 7, 2019
Deliciously Funny and Romantically Steamy!
Donna Alam has a special gift for writing romantic comedies and To Have and To Hate is another example of that gift.
The main characters, Olivia and Beckett, reminded me somewhat of Katherine and Petruchio of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew fame. Olivia is in financial need for her matchmaking app and has turned to a financial investment group. Beckett is a part of this group. He proposes that if she marries him for six months he will make all her financial problems go away and he will take sole ownership of the investment group.
They battle, its tug of war, it’s a game of wits and words. Oh did I mention this takes place in London? There is so much passion they exude it’s like their foreplay to them. She agrees to six months of marriage. Will it last, or will one of them walk away?
I loved, loved, loved this story. It was written in such a way that to me there was a rhythm to how it flowed from chapter to chapter.
I’m definitely recommending this book for your reading enjoyment and pleasure.
I received this ARC from “Bad Boy Update” for my honest review so I’m leaving this for your consideration. Peace.
Donna Alam has a special gift for writing romantic comedies and To Have and To Hate is another example of that gift.
The main characters, Olivia and Beckett, reminded me somewhat of Katherine and Petruchio of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew fame. Olivia is in financial need for her matchmaking app and has turned to a financial investment group. Beckett is a part of this group. He proposes that if she marries him for six months he will make all her financial problems go away and he will take sole ownership of the investment group.
They battle, its tug of war, it’s a game of wits and words. Oh did I mention this takes place in London? There is so much passion they exude it’s like their foreplay to them. She agrees to six months of marriage. Will it last, or will one of them walk away?
I loved, loved, loved this story. It was written in such a way that to me there was a rhythm to how it flowed from chapter to chapter.
I’m definitely recommending this book for your reading enjoyment and pleasure.
I received this ARC from “Bad Boy Update” for my honest review so I’m leaving this for your consideration. Peace.
August 8, 2019
I am a sucker for an alpha billionaire romance and in this story I loved that the heroine wasn't necessarily a damsel in distress- she being a business woman. What I couldn't stand was the idea of her waiting around for a guy (OM)for 5 years ?!?!. Her personality to me did not match, she was take charge of her life type of person but ONE so called "honorable" MAN (OM again) turned her to this teenage girl. She behaved the same way with the H as well. She has no sense of authority whatsoever even her intern does not respect her. Listen sister, there is no way your going to make it in the business world especially with that WALK ALL OVER ME attitude !!! The H was also a fool. (*EYE ROLL*becomes billionaire but cannot handle making sensible life decisions.He is close to 40 and should have more maturity.) The ending did not make the cut for me either. I will however say that there were a few funny moments in there and the cover was HOT!
August 8, 2019
There are times Beckett has no problem stating what he wants, ‘what I want is you. In here, in that bed behind you, in the other bed, against the chair. Did you see the dining table?’ I nod dumbly, my lashes fluttering, though not for effect as he adds, ‘I want you there, too..." Olivia is a feisty little thing, ‘that depends. Are you going to get to the point sometime soon?’ I liked this book, I loved Beckett.
January 6, 2020
I admit the cover hooked me. In the words of a certain fish in Finding Nemo “I feel so ashamed”. Although I do read the synopsis and it did state a fake marriage and I’m down with that trope, because as us romance readers know that always leads to real. Only I’m not sure apart from the sex there was anything real. From his POV he really liked her sass, unpredictability etc. but he never opened up. Or we were never told about it. The last pages were an abrupt aboutface with no explanation or epiphany.
The heroine on the other hand...so she has an inheritance, spends it all on a business startup. She is struggling financially and won’t be able to keep the business going unless she gets an injection of funds. Shark tank style. Only her pitch goes no where because apparently it never was.
We are told she is smart, has this great app but only needs money so she can keep doing what she is doing. Only what is she doing? She allows her staff too much fluff time, has no clue what the hero means when he asks questions and is basically inept at running it, hence the reason why it’s going under. Solution? Get married to the rich guy. Best decision she’s made. But why is it the business suddenly has success? I don’t understand because all the things she did after the marriage she could have done before? Anyway, there are things that happen and are written into the book that ultimately are left unexplained but somehow completely relevant at the time....
The friend group of his that are not really friends
The reason why the marriage had to take place in the first place (after years of saying no to seeking his shares the guy sells but-not for the reason we would think but because he wants to leave his wife - a wife who was at the party eye fucking her husband?)
The weird vibe left unexplained between this guy, wife and the hero at the party. Why state something and not explain why it was written into the story?
The first marriage is never discussed
The come to Jesus moment where the hero explains his back story to the heroine
So, it then feels like an incomplete book. Was there some other book I should have read prior to understand the hero? What happened to make him change his mind in the last pages of the book. .. so many unanswered questions.🙃
The heroine on the other hand...so she has an inheritance, spends it all on a business startup. She is struggling financially and won’t be able to keep the business going unless she gets an injection of funds. Shark tank style. Only her pitch goes no where because apparently it never was.
We are told she is smart, has this great app but only needs money so she can keep doing what she is doing. Only what is she doing? She allows her staff too much fluff time, has no clue what the hero means when he asks questions and is basically inept at running it, hence the reason why it’s going under. Solution? Get married to the rich guy. Best decision she’s made. But why is it the business suddenly has success? I don’t understand because all the things she did after the marriage she could have done before? Anyway, there are things that happen and are written into the book that ultimately are left unexplained but somehow completely relevant at the time....
The friend group of his that are not really friends
The reason why the marriage had to take place in the first place (after years of saying no to seeking his shares the guy sells but-not for the reason we would think but because he wants to leave his wife - a wife who was at the party eye fucking her husband?)
The weird vibe left unexplained between this guy, wife and the hero at the party. Why state something and not explain why it was written into the story?
The first marriage is never discussed
The come to Jesus moment where the hero explains his back story to the heroine
So, it then feels like an incomplete book. Was there some other book I should have read prior to understand the hero? What happened to make him change his mind in the last pages of the book. .. so many unanswered questions.🙃
August 8, 2019
4.5⭐
I loved this one! There's nothing more exciting than reading marriage of convenience trope with lots of witty banters and lots of angst!
Olivia is in of financial need for her matchmaking app and has turned to a financial investment group. She thought her long time crush, Luke would help her set the pitch meeting up and help her get the company to invest. Little did she know, Luke has his own agenda going with this.
Beckett is a part of the investment group and he sees through Luke and decided that he would help Olivia with her company. But not for free. He proposes that if she marries him for six months he will make all her financial problems go away and he will take sole ownership of the investment group. Oh yes, Beckett was 39 years old, which she came to only know when they got married😅
From the very beginning, Olivia despises Beckett. But if he's the only one who can help her pay her workers' salaries and keep her company floating, then she could keep her end of bargain right?
I loved how they have these witty banters. Even though at first I didn't really get their banters because it usually ends up deviating from what they were talking about. I loved how their relationship progresses even when both of them tried not to let the "temporary marriage" get into their head and involve feelings.
I just wish we could get more of Beckett's past history, why was he a divorcee, his past addiction, and I wish the ending could be longer. But other than that, everything's perfect and I recommend this to anyone who loves this particular trope!
ARC was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this one! There's nothing more exciting than reading marriage of convenience trope with lots of witty banters and lots of angst!
Olivia is in of financial need for her matchmaking app and has turned to a financial investment group. She thought her long time crush, Luke would help her set the pitch meeting up and help her get the company to invest. Little did she know, Luke has his own agenda going with this.
Beckett is a part of the investment group and he sees through Luke and decided that he would help Olivia with her company. But not for free. He proposes that if she marries him for six months he will make all her financial problems go away and he will take sole ownership of the investment group. Oh yes, Beckett was 39 years old, which she came to only know when they got married😅
From the very beginning, Olivia despises Beckett. But if he's the only one who can help her pay her workers' salaries and keep her company floating, then she could keep her end of bargain right?
I loved how they have these witty banters. Even though at first I didn't really get their banters because it usually ends up deviating from what they were talking about. I loved how their relationship progresses even when both of them tried not to let the "temporary marriage" get into their head and involve feelings.
I just wish we could get more of Beckett's past history, why was he a divorcee, his past addiction, and I wish the ending could be longer. But other than that, everything's perfect and I recommend this to anyone who loves this particular trope!
ARC was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2020
Mega insta-love (or lust? I don't know anymore) and the heroine is so immature. She's 27 but doesn't act her age. She's always late even when she already tried not to be (her words not mine). She babbles like an overexcited teenager that can't stop gushing about Justin Bieber. Being in her mind pained me. And the story itself is very unrealistic. They met one day and by the second meeting the hero already proposed and then within a few days the heroine accepted and then the next day they're already flying to New York to eloped. Wtf? And during the honeymoon (which only lasts 3 days) there's already some kind of feelings developed. Just not my style.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2019
This book came out of nowhere. I just stumbled it from a post in a book group I was in. Then long story short, I was totally hooked and enchanted with this book. The story is not your typical arranged-marriage trope, I know because I read a gazillion of them. It’s a breath of fresh air and I found myself grinning from ear to ear after finishing it. Donna Alam earned an instant fan in me. I decided to binge-read her books because she is that good. One-clicking her books right tf now. Bye!
August 28, 2019
2,5 ⭐⭐⚡
August 8, 2019
One of the things I love about Alam’s books is the humour, my giddiness and falling in love with the hero. This book does not disappoint.
Olivia and Beckett were a dream to read. Olivia is looking for an investor to for her company when she stumbles and falls at Beckett’s feet. Another chance meeting sees her going to dinner with him. Then another meeting sees him proposing marriage and an investment into her company that’s just about to go into the black, and he needs a wife for a business deal and he’s set his sights on her.
From the offset, these two throw barbs at each other constantly and is definitely foreplay to them. They are witty, clever and I found myself laughing at them many times.
Olivia is one of my favourite heroines I’ve read in a long time. She’s smart, sassy, knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to speak up to Beckett who often needs brought down a peg or two.
Now Beckett, he’s moody, controlling, demanding and the type of hero I love. While reading, although he has commanding ways and others may think he’s a bully, I seen a vulnerable man who was also a romantic and loved every minute of being married.
We know Alam brings humour but she also brings the heat, and boy does she go for it in this novel. Olivia and Beckett had sexual tension pouring out them and were all hot and delicious, they couldn’t keep their hands of each other! 🔥
This was the perfect easy read with little drama and an easy flowing story that kept a smile on my face while I devoured it in one sitting. I cannot recommend it enough for any romance lover out there.
*An ARC received for an honest review*
____________________
Overall Ratings;
First Sex Scene @ 51%
POV - Duel
Hero - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heroine - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Story - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Angst - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Chemistry - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Olivia and Beckett were a dream to read. Olivia is looking for an investor to for her company when she stumbles and falls at Beckett’s feet. Another chance meeting sees her going to dinner with him. Then another meeting sees him proposing marriage and an investment into her company that’s just about to go into the black, and he needs a wife for a business deal and he’s set his sights on her.
From the offset, these two throw barbs at each other constantly and is definitely foreplay to them. They are witty, clever and I found myself laughing at them many times.
Olivia is one of my favourite heroines I’ve read in a long time. She’s smart, sassy, knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to speak up to Beckett who often needs brought down a peg or two.
Now Beckett, he’s moody, controlling, demanding and the type of hero I love. While reading, although he has commanding ways and others may think he’s a bully, I seen a vulnerable man who was also a romantic and loved every minute of being married.
We know Alam brings humour but she also brings the heat, and boy does she go for it in this novel. Olivia and Beckett had sexual tension pouring out them and were all hot and delicious, they couldn’t keep their hands of each other! 🔥
This was the perfect easy read with little drama and an easy flowing story that kept a smile on my face while I devoured it in one sitting. I cannot recommend it enough for any romance lover out there.
*An ARC received for an honest review*
____________________
Overall Ratings;
First Sex Scene @ 51%
POV - Duel
Hero - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heroine - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Story - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Angst - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Chemistry - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 9, 2019
ONE INDUBITABLE EXPERIENCE!!!
Hold on tight! You get it all with this riveting bad boy. One chaotic ride with a bounty of swirling emotions bursting into play front and center. Dealing with all the trials and tribulations, along with a few twists and turns catapults this little jewel together sleek, shiny and tight. An impressive storyline and gripping plot with all the frills, spills and a good dose of humor wraps this baby up for one fun filled adventure. A multitude of hapless surprises and a bevy of daunting events that take you on the ride of your life. The main characters chemistry is intense and palpable. The characters traits and qualities are well balanced and blended with enough spice to add flavor to the mix. 100% spot on with amazing scenarios that are so colorfully described its like you're living it with them instead of on the sidelines. Fabulous job Donna, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
Hold on tight! You get it all with this riveting bad boy. One chaotic ride with a bounty of swirling emotions bursting into play front and center. Dealing with all the trials and tribulations, along with a few twists and turns catapults this little jewel together sleek, shiny and tight. An impressive storyline and gripping plot with all the frills, spills and a good dose of humor wraps this baby up for one fun filled adventure. A multitude of hapless surprises and a bevy of daunting events that take you on the ride of your life. The main characters chemistry is intense and palpable. The characters traits and qualities are well balanced and blended with enough spice to add flavor to the mix. 100% spot on with amazing scenarios that are so colorfully described its like you're living it with them instead of on the sidelines. Fabulous job Donna, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
July 3, 2020
'To Have and Hate' is a standalone, fake-marriage romance by Donna Alam.
This book was....nice. It's just that I had high expectations when I started this book but this book didn't reach them.
Firstly, it took too much of time for Bekett to convince Olivia to marry him, about 50% of the book was done at that point. I also think Olivia forgave him very easily every time he messed up and also acted as a doormat at times.
There was sexual attraction between them, but it was all superficial for me and I couldn't connect with the characters. Usually I enjoy books in this trope but this book gave me no feels... nothing...nada.
Even though this book didn't work out for me, it won't stop me from future reads by this author.
Enjoy! x
This book was....nice. It's just that I had high expectations when I started this book but this book didn't reach them.
Firstly, it took too much of time for Bekett to convince Olivia to marry him, about 50% of the book was done at that point. I also think Olivia forgave him very easily every time he messed up and also acted as a doormat at times.
There was sexual attraction between them, but it was all superficial for me and I couldn't connect with the characters. Usually I enjoy books in this trope but this book gave me no feels... nothing...nada.
Even though this book didn't work out for me, it won't stop me from future reads by this author.
Enjoy! x
Displaying 1 - 30 of 429 reviews