To love, honor, and disobey. I didn’t mean to marry flashy billionaire Luca Leone one drunken night. He may be the hottest guy I know, but he’s still a total jerk. His sly smile, his huge bank account, and his incredible body just don’t make up for how cruel he can be.
Once our drunken haze wears off, he has a proposition for me. Stay married for two months, just until his ex’s wedding. And he offers something I really need: ten thousand dollars to save my family home. The only issue is that I’m forced to spend time with him, at his house and at his bar, often late into the night.
Soon our feisty arguments turn into the hottest hookups of my life. I can’t resist him. Once I get past his prickly exterior, Luca is just plain smoking hot. We are both hung up on our mutual pasts, not ready for the flame growing between us. But we are about to come face to face with the fire we’ve ignited...
It feels like it was written by someone who has faint memories of their 20s, forty years ago. Rife with cliched characters, over used descriptions, and tiny noticeable contradictions, it's just bad. Sometimes a good story line can help get beyond struggling writing... but this... there wasn't anything past the blech writing. Even if you ignore the writing, you're still stuck in an uncomfortable plot held together with fraying dental floss.
Out of touch, awkward writing, and generic cliches. (Don't play a drinking game with how many times the word blush is used. You won't make it out of the first couple chapters)
This was a cute read with a deservingHEA - my first book by Vivian, actually. OveralI enjoyed the plot and the characters but after 55% mark the h was a wee bit annoying for my taste and I felt often sorry for the guy. Without that and some of the unnecessary drama (from her part) it could have been easily a 4-star read for me. But I'm def keep an eye open for Vivians books from now on!!
One night in Vegas....Their walls come crumbling down...
Cate & Luca barely tolerate each other. And yet they find themselves married after a drunken night in Vegas.
They're both seeing each other differently after years of acquaintance. He's her best friend's big brother. She feels like he's been judging her since the day they met.
Luca is newly single. His ex is a shallow gold digging beatch. He doesn't quite know what to make of Cate. But she's a convenience when he finds out his ex is getting married. And he's invited.
In the time leading up to the wedding, Luca and Cate discover maybe there could be more.
Heat, tenderness, tension, more heat, manipulative delusional ex, friends, family, and many misunderstandings... But in the end, Luca & Cate are meant to be.
He breaks down the walls she has surrounded herself with and she gives him a new perspective.
Fantabulous. I love enemies to lovers.
I received a review copy. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I liked this book but Cate was just too annoying and imature sometimes. She and Luca argued for the most stupid things, like most of it wasn't necessary.
DNF’d at 35% - I am not cool with the way the hero treats her religion. I am not a Christian but I respect other people’s religion and it feels like it is a poor representation of atheists. Also, he hate kissed her and he knew she didn’t want it. That’s just not okay. I am sure the author is going to redeem the hero but I just don’t want to stick around and watch it.
Married to My Enemy was my first book I read by Vivian Woods and I really enjoyed it and plan to read more of her books. I was able to get an arc copy of this book and I fell in love with the two main characters Luca and Cate.
Luca and Cate grew up in two different worlds. Luca came from money but not the best home life with his parents. Cate grew up with doting parents but not very wealthy. Cate was friends with Luca's sister Luna and that is how the two met. Luca wasn't the nicest when he met Cate years ago because of her family life and that caused a riff between the two so they became enemies.
Something happened where they became married. It's funny how it happened, but based on the title of the book it was bound to happen. They have some downhill battles from there and it was really entertaining.
One think I loved about this book is that it was told from duel point of views from Luca and Cate. I really like to hear what they are thinking and the back and fourth between the main characters. At the end there is a bonus scene told by Luna for the next book. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Luca Leone is a first class jerk but hot and a billionaire. He is my best friends older brother who happened to bring us all to Vegas for her birthday. We got drunk and ended up married.
Once back home he made me a proposition that I couldn't turn down. Stay married for two months until his ex’s wedding and ten thousand dollars to save my family home. Luca offers me a job at his bar and wants me to live with him but that forces me to spend more time with him than I'm comfortable with.
Our constant bickering turns into some amazing sex. To bad we can't get along out of the bed. Besides his cruel personality I just can't resist his hands and mouth. We both have our issues that's got to do with our past but the flame that burns between us keeps getting hotter. How are we supposed to deal with the heat once the 2 months are over?
The bad/jerk/hot boy and The good/virginal/shy girl is now a classic trope in romance books, but what really matters is how the characters develop and how is their story.
I love how the book is light and easy to read and the balance between the funny/steamy/hot moments is perfect. Another thing that seemed perfect to me was that Luca and Cate knew each other and felt a mutual attraction, it was not all in an instant.
Read in a day! A nice, short enemies to lovers 🫶🏻 I really enjoyed this read and liked how the author gave us detail about Luca and Cate’s relationship prior to the storyline. Both characters were multi-dimensional and showed character development ✨
• enemies to lovers • fake marriage • he falls first • billionaire romance • dual POV
I was really put off by the significant internalized misogyny of the author. Also extremely disappointed in the degradation the male protagonist put the female protagonist through…the author had an opportunity to do something really spicy with the religious aspect of the story and it was a total flop.
Luca is easily distracted, “God, I hope not. Because I’m going to have trouble paying attention to anything that doesn’t involve your legs, your **ts, and your ***.” I liked this book, I liked Luca.
I tried, I really did. Luca was a huge horse’s hiney, Cate was a pouty brat. Through a drunken night in Vegas, they find themselves married. He is still a horse’s hiney. She is still a pouty juvenile. The story was unappealing, and uninteresting. But the thing that finally made me give it up, was the writer’s consistent misuse of I/me. How can a professional writer not understand basic grammar? Or at least hire an editor who does? For future reference, if you will simply remove the first name in a sentence, the correct choice becomes clear. You’re welcome. I sincerely hope it helps in the future.
The abrasive heat between them set this couple on fire!
Opposites absolutely attract in this best-friend’s-older-brother, enemies-to-lovers romance from Vivian Wood, and I just loved it. We all know that if you rub two sticks together furiously enough, they WILL ignite, and, Cate and Luca bore their animosity against each other with furious enthusiasm. They continually rubbed each other the wrong way, and seriously, they were hot!
Cate and Luna had been friends since middle school, and Luca’s first very derogatory comment upon meeting her, immediately offended Cates sense of family and independence that he would dare judge her so badly when it was apparent her family was far less wealthy than theirs. She calls him out on damn near every opinion he dare voice in her presence, and it seemed that they would never cut each other a break, but move to cut each other’s legs out from under the other!!!
Both of them have great values, however, and an innate sense of integrity, and both think the world of Luna, so when Luca treats Luna and her two best friends, Cate and Harper, to a trip in Vegas for her birthday, he takes his two mates and business partners as well. And while Luna found herself a hot man to spend the evening with, it seemed that her brother and best friend found each other in the morning – married!! Among the extremely sexual hotness that Ms Woods is renowned for, are some stand out romantic moments that I just loved. Luca is not only hot as all hell, and rich, he’s been deeply hurt and only shows his vulnerable side occasionally. Neither Cate nor Luca remembered their wedding, so when the wedding photos arrived, I absolutely loved his reaction at how they turned out.
Throw in some piece of work parents, a hippy grandmother, and the cray-cray ex-girlfriend, and you have a well-rounded romance novel that I couldn’t put down. Vivian Woods has done it again. Another 5-star book that I highly to all who love hot-hot books in these tropes.
And you know that hot man that Luna spend the night with in Vegas? Well he disappeared, and now shows up in the next book!!! Bring it on, Ms. Woods, because I can’t wait 💖 💖 💖 💖
Luca wants to help his sister Luna celebrate her birthday in style so he and his two buddies and Luna and her two best friends are headed to Vegas. He knows that it will mean he will have to spend time with Cate, one of her friends, but he would do anything for his sister.
Cate has been friends with Luna for years but the same can’t be said for Luca. From their first meeting his condescending attitude sparked her fiery personality and every conversation they have consists of arguments rather than conversation.
After a few drinks too many Cate and Luca now find themselves married. Luca wants to use the situation to his advantage so he convinces her to stay married for two months. Let the fun begin! Not only are Luca and Cate great characters but the cast of secondary characters enhance the story as well. Hot chemistry, humorous banters and all the feels as two people realize that some mistakes can be the best thing to ever happen to you.
Married to my Enemy was just flat out a fun story to read. I am a huge fan of Vivian and this was just an example of her writing talent.
So most of the time things that happen in Vegas stay there. But not for Luca and Cate. Can you just imagine being married to your nemesis!!! Cate is the sweet catholic girl and Luca not so much. So she wants to get a divorce as quickly as possible but Luca has a deal for her. One she cannot pass up. Living together opens their eyes to the person that they thought they knew. What happens when enemies become lovers?
I cannot say how much this read was fun!! The banter between them was entertaining. But there is a lot going on in the story. A message that one should not judge a person until you really get to know them, because first and even second impressions may not always tell you about a person.
I would highly recommend this story, and as always Vivian writes a story with a meaning. Definitely give Married to my Enemy a try, I believe you will enjoy it, just as I did!!
This was a great enemies to lovers story and I loved Cate which is rare for me cause the heroines usually annoy me but no matter how atrocious the hero is I like him lol. Luca was beyond arrogant but all he really wanted was someone to see him, the real him but little does he know that is Cate. After one drunken night leads to a proposition she can’t really refuse these two get much more then they bargained for
This may be one of my new favorite enemies to lovers read! Luca nad Cate's story was amazing! I loved how perfect for each other they were - even if they couldn't see it! Sweet, funny, and oh-so steamy! LOVED!!
Cate De Rose and Luna have been friends since high school. Harper, another good friend of theirs, is a friend from college. The three of them, along with Luca and his two besties, Bradford and Owen. He’s always shown animosity toward her from the first moment they met when he picked up Luna and her from the mall. He pulled up in his too-expensive car, arched a brow, and uttered the words that would come to define their relationship.
“Honestly, Luna. This is who you think you should be bringing home? God, remind me to count all the silver when she leaves.” Her whole body was filled with shame. He was an ultra-rich older playboy, and she was the girl whose family just scraped by. Cate has known Luna for nine years, since the first day of high school. And that is the only reason she didn't cancel going on this trip to Vegas. She almost refused when Luca texted her an invite for this weekend. An all-inclusive weekend, all airfare and hotel already paid for?
Luca is the parent figure Luna’s never had. Not that they're dead or anything, not at all. No, they are very much alive, just self-absorbed a-holes who just think about themselves before their children. However, Cate’s parents soon after he meets her; she loses her parents to a car accident and must go live with her grandma. Losing her parents, her home, and her way of life all at once. Her grandma runs a commune for seniors. Cate doesn't begrudge her life plight; it just is.
But, what she did to protect herself and adhere to the lifestyle she believed her parents would have wanted for her. She leaned hard on her Catholic faith to keep her safe from having to get too close. I believe it was a way to keep herself shielded from truly getting submerged in a relationship. For fear it would be out of step with her faith, so why even bother? Then Vegas happened. She wakes up married to Luca and doesn’t even remember. And Lica’s pissed off at her as if she did something wrong all by herself.
Why is it wrong again? Right, they were both drunk, so they say. But Vegas has a law: they are not allowed to marry people who are wasted. He gets dressed and bolts, and she cleans up and ends up back at the girl's place. Now it's Monday, and she’s at home, and he’s at work talking to his lawyer, who is telling him he can draw up the paperwork, but it will take time. But there are a few options for annulment; he will need to tell him which one before he can proceed. But then his ex, Madisyn, shows up to give him a save-the-date card because she’s getting married.
She tells him, I’d give you a plus one, but we both know you’re still not over me. He tells her, Oh, but I will need one for my wife. Madisyn is like, Great! So, you won’t mind if she stops by before the wedding to meet his little woman to make sure she won’t try to stop my wedding. Not a problem. Then, Cray-Cray leaves, and he melts down. The guys tell him to ask his wife to help out. He says the way he left things, she probably hates him. So he goes to her and offers to pay her to go to the wedding with him, then doubles it if she moves in with him.
Although I enjoyed this book for all the angst and hotness between these two, throughout this story, I did like that when Luca got upset or felt insecure, he lashed out at Cate. But she was always there for him. Worth the read, though.
I am loving all of Vivian's books and this one was up there as well.
So, Married to My Enemy starts off with an "accidental" marriage between Cate De Rose and Luca Leone. These two have had a hate/enemies relationship since the first moment they met. Having had a weak relationship between Leone's parents and himself, he despised Cate over not realizing the specialness she had with her own loving family. Once they figured out they were indeed married, Luca took the opportunity to use this to his advantage. Madisyn, his cheater ex-fiancee, invited him to her new wedding thus leading Luca to rub in her face of his new wife, Cate. From here on, Cate's and Lucas's "fake" relationship bloomed into a firey and adoring relationship, including the slight tumbles that occurred.
What I can say about this book is that it delivered heat and emotion. We could see how Cate's parent's deaths affected her in her life. Not having recent boyfriends, Luca's entrance into her love life was a new experience and a hard one as well. Having always had a hate/enemies relationship between the two, once they spent time together as a "fake" couple, sparks flew.
She’s taunting me. Daring me. She thinks that I won’t do anything?
Oh, she’s wrong. So damned wrong.
Wow, does it get steamy after this.
They soon get closer personally and emotionally. Their relationship gets tested at times but that's what I love about them. Although there were many obstacles in their way, Cate and Luca push through them all.
I LLLOVE hate to love relationships, they're my guilty pleasure. So no question here that I was gonna love Vivian Wood's Married To My Enemy. She adds so many real-life aspects into the book, like the effect of family deaths, struggles in the love/friends department, and most relatable to me, the constant/annoying/embarrassing/unintentional blushing that occurs 100% more than I want. It's refreshing to see how relatable Cate's life is to mine in some ways. Besides that, I also really enjoyed watching Cate's and Luca's lives chang from despising each other to loving.
*If you enjoyed this book, then another Vivian Wood book I enjoyed with a hot brooding male character and a strong female lead is Wild Hearts.
*** This was my very first Arc read, so this was pretty exciting receiving and reviewing an Arc!***
Luca Leone is a jerk but he is a damn good brother. He gives his sister an all expense paid weekend getaway to Vegas for Luna's birthday & her 2 BFF"s. They have all known each other for years. Cate- Luna's best friend since high school has never gotten along with Luca. He is arrogant, condescending, & the typical rich snob. He has bullied Cate over the years, from how she dresses like a Nun, to her goody goody behavior. He teases Cate that she is a saint for always doing good deeds. Such as Volunteering at the women's shelter.
Cate was a typical high school student who enjoyed dating, hanging out with her girl friends. She didn't care about others & only about her own shallow needs. Except when it came to her best friend Luna. That all changed when she lost her parents in a senseless accident to a driver who was texting. She then had to live with her grandmother.
The Loeone family has money but no family riches. While Cate, has had tragedy & doesn't take things for granted. She wants to succeed in life to purchase her childhood home. To keep the few happy memories she had before her parents died.
This weekend might be Luna's big party... But she wants her BFF to get out of her innocent, sheltered nun like existence. Instead go out on the town & have a good time. The first thing she needs to do is get Cate in a hot, sexy, slinky number. Then show her what it's like to relax, party & have some fun. Cate doesn't enjoy public venues, clubs, drink since her parents death. Well, that fun weekend of fun that Luna wanted Cate to have has come with a price.
Well Cate's drunken Vegas weekend for Luna's birthday turns into Love, Honor, and disobey. How the hell did I marry Luca Leone the hottest, sexiest jerk I know? He is the flashy billionaire who happens to be my Best Friend Luna's brother. His sly smile, large bank account, and his incredible body just don’t make up for how cruel & self centered he can be.
However once we are back home he needs my help for two months. His proposition... to stay married for two months, just until his ex’s wedding. He needs to show off that he is happily married to me to show face to the girl that has manipulated, him to get what she wants for years. But he offers something that I really need to keep my memories. Ten thousand dollars to save my family home. The only issue is that I’m forced to spend time, live in his mansion. As well as work at his bar. I can do that as long as we stay away from each other? Right?
Easier said then done! Our feisty arguments turn into the hottest hookups of my life. Once I get past his prickly exterior, Luca is just plain smoking hot I I can’t resist him. Unfortunately it doesn't help that we are both hung up on our mutual pasts. Seems like we each believed the other took it for granted on what they had. Which is why we fight hard not to face our growing flame between us. However we are about to burn with the fire we’ve ignited! Read what happens with this inferno of burning love!
Luca Leone, has just gotten out of a romance. His ex, the one he wanted to wed, left him. He's been in a horrible ever since.
Cate has been best friends with Luna for nine years, when they were in mid school. Luna is also Luca's little sister. Cate has known Luca for nine years. However, he’s never given her a second thought or glance. Luca has always thought Cate was not good enough to be friends with his sister. Just because she was a lower class than his family, he shouldn’t have been so judgements against her.
It's Luna's birthday and Luca has splurged on a group of the friends to go to Las Vegas, to go all out. Luna found herself a hot man to spend the evening with, it seemed that her brother and best friend - Cate found each other in the morning – married!!
Cate can't believe this has happened! She tries to get Luca to put the paperwork in for them to get an annulment, but, the lawyers keep saying it's not a simple task. Luca and Cate spend time together and are actually working in his bar together. Cate still can't stand him, but, with Luca it seems that he's growing soft on Cate. He likes her, but, Cate still won't admit her feelings about him.
Will Cate give into Luca? Will they be able to make their 'marriage' work? Will Luca be able to move on from his Ex?
I did receive a free ARC copy of this book. I am freely leaving an honest review.
I couldn't give this book 5 stars even though I absolutely adored this story. Enemies to Lovers type stories are one of my favorite, and this book was just that, the banter between these two had me lol and had something like the story line of the movie "What Happens in Vegas" which I also loved! The characters were great and easy to love, each one needs their own story (except Syn...ugh...hate her) that being said, there were minor editing issues which is a pet peeve of mine but not terrible (I'm not perfect either) the issue I had was the way the author repeatedly described the embarrassed emotions. It was repeatedly pointed out that "my cheeks turned red, her cheeks blushed, my cheeks got hot...etc) it got so annoying, it was distracting to the point that at 38% through the book I started counting how many times such a description was used...29 times from 38% to the end of the book...I kept rolling my eyes every time I came across the description. This won't keep me from reading the next book, but I hope the author refrains from over using emotional descriptions.
Where do I start? I liked this book but didn't love it. Nothing remarkable happens in this book that will have you thinking about it the next day. Cate and Luca hate each other. They get married in Vegas after a drunken night. Luca convinces Cate to stay married so he can suck it to his ex girlfriend who dumped him publicly, without even telling him she was going to.
I also felt like Cate's comebacks were a little weak, just like her. And I swear to god, everyone in this damn book blushes so easily, even the men. At stupid stuff. Also I wanted to know what was on that thumb drive that was forgotten about. Was kinda hoping we find out how they decided to get married in Vegas.
Also every time they have sex (without a condom the first two times and no mention of protection until the 3rd time) it reads like it's the first time all over again. The 3rd time they had sex should have been in place of the 1st time the had sex. It would have set the other sex scenes up better.
3.5 stars. A true hate to love. You could feel the animosity coming off of both Cate and Luca at the beginning of this book. A night in Vegas tears their whole world apart as the wind up married. It’s definitely not all roses, there’s so many thorns that block the path they have to walk. Deep down, if they would both let go of their pasts, insecurities and anger, they would see the care that they have and the love that’s beginning to grow. The attraction is there, it always has been and it becomes a huge part of their walk towards one another. The relationship is a battlefield only they don’t realize they’re fighting for each other. This was a good read. More complex than I expected it to be. The heat was nice. An enjoyable book overall.
I more or less DNF this. Though my version of DNF is skim through it for any bit of hope... There wasn't much or any. I had the strong feeling I've already read this book before. No idea why, it felt so familiar. But the plot was so generic and overused that's probably why.
It could have been something but with the lack of character development, focus purely on them boning and no future plans despite talks of future plans, there really wasn't a lot to take from this book. Even for a book I read out of pure boredom thanks to the Autumn flu bug. 🙃
Speaking of which, none of the cold weather clothes matched any of the times or temperatures mentioned and that annoyed the shit out of me. Hahahaha.
Choosing to DNF at 32% because I can’t take another minute and I value my mental health more than I value my commitment to finishing something that I’ve started.
Luca is an immature, insufferable dick who thinks he’s super fancy and rich but somehow $10k as a bribe for a butt ton of work on Cate’s part is too much? Get outta here with that.
And don’t EVEN get me started on Cate. Girlfriend has zero personality beyond not wanting to take charity and wearing frumpy clothes. She reminds me of the main character from A Walk to Remember but less likable. She’s: prudish, overly religious, frumpy, self-sabotaging and a crummy friend. She can’t read a room to save her life and she isn’t good at bickering with Luca.