Do you believe in love at first sight? Me neither. Why? Because I know how much love costs. Money can't buy it, because you pay with your heart. But you can buy a list of secrets that will help you make even a sworn bachelor fall hopelessly in love with you. My name is Madison Hall, and I’m the most popular marriage broker in New York. But this story isn’t about me. It's about revenge that made Olivia Lambert come to my office. I sold her everything I knew about Leonel Cohen. I never sold men’s secrets for revenge. But in this particular case, it was worth it.
A love story that was never supposed to happen. Two poles apart that will collide and make the air between them burn. They have no idea how fast hate can become something different…
Another romantic comedy from the USA Today & International bestselling Author Diana Nixon.
USA Today & International Bestselling Author Diana Nixon writes sweet and spicy romance reads. A Master of Law in the past and a forever book addict, she knows how to weave plots that will keep you hooked from start to finish. Her stories can be funny or tragic, but her characters are strong, rebellious, and passionate about everything they do. When Diana isn’t busy writing, she spends her time reading books or watching historical dramas. A mom of two, she can’t live without coffee and chocolate, and she believes that writing is the best cure for everything that can be healed with words.
Her books have been published internationally, in seven languages: English, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, French, and Portuguese.
Diana Nixon is the founder of the literary magazine Inks & Scratches.
This book took me by surprise. I read the first book in this series, Cole. And I expected something similar. But this book feels so different, in my opinion it is way better than the first one. This book feels complete and finished. I missed that a bit with Cole. But even though this is quite a short book as well, it is a fantastic read from start to finish. If you want to read a great romance novel with a happily ever after, this one is for you.
The book is about Olivia who takes care of her three year old niece. Her sister Winter showed up three years ago with a little baby girl named Bella. She was devestated by the loss of the father of Bella. And still is not well. So Olivia is taking care of Bella. Winter refuses to tell who the father is. One day Olivia finds a photo of Winter and the father, she googles the image and finds out it is Leonel. He is a famous divorce attorney. She has a law degree as well and takes on the job as his assistant. Her goal is to break him down. To hurt him like he hurt her sister.
But while working there she realizes he isn't the bastard she thought he was. Of course she still despices he left her sister AFTER Bella was born. But she also sees a good side of him. They have a great chemistry and know how the push each others buttons. I loved the chemistry, the kisses, the longing. I felt it in my gut and was fully immersed in this beautiful love story!
Throughout the book there are clues of what actually happened between Leo and Winter. So I did expect the end a bit. But nonetheless I still loved it. And I was still so satisfied with the ending.
I love that this series contains no cheating. No backstabbing, no I purposely hurt you. It is a book that brings a huge smile on your face and makes your heart beat a bit faster.
Nayeli - per RFS . «Non lasciare che ti faccia questo, ragazzina.» Mi girai al suono del sussurro di Molly. «Cosa?» «Se sente la tua debolezza, ti mangia viva.» Ugh! «Sembravo davvero così stupida?» «No, ma giuro, potevo sentire quanto avevi paura di incontrarlo. Non fargli pensare che non sei abbastanza coraggiosa da sopportarlo. A Leo piacciono le sfide. Meglio essere una sfida per lui, che arrenderti senza combattere.» (Tratto dal libro)
Olivia è una ragazza determinata e animata dall’odio nei confronti di un avvocato che ha abbandonato sua sorella e la sua neonata alcuni anni prima.
Compra delle informazioni su di lui, si fa assumere nel suo studio, e quindi cerca un modo per vendicarsi.
Leonard nota subito l’atteggiamento di sfida e la sicurezza della sua nuova assistente che, a differenza delle donne comuni, non cede al suo fascino magnetico: proprio questo attiva il suo istinto predatorio e rende l’obiettivo di conquistarla il suo unico scopo. I continui battibecchi e il saper resistere alle sue avances anche molto spudorate fanno sì che Leo si prenda una cotta tremenda per Olivia.
Non vedevo l’ora di sentire Liv. Per la prima volta nella mia vita, mi sentivo come un cucciolo, che guaiva al suo proprietario perché gli arruffasse il pelo. Molto virile, lo so. (Tratto dal libro)
È un romanzo bollente, perché anche se inizialmente negate, in seguito tra i due scoppiano scintille. Prima di cedere all’attrazione fortissima Olivia deve superare diversi conflitti interiori, ad esempio il senso di colpa nei confronti della sorella che ancora si sta disperando per il padre della sua bambina. Tra le due ragazze comunque il rapporto non è idilliaco, cosa che la libera almeno in parte da qualche sorta di solidarietà fraterna. Olivia, inoltre, sente di dover odiare un uomo che ha vigliaccamente abbandonato una figlia, eppure non riesce a vedere nell’avvocato affascinante che tanto la attrae la medesima persona descritta da sua sorella.
«Prima di andare, voglio che finisci il tuo pranzo», insistette. «Non voglio che tu svenga sulla strada di casa.» Le sue premure mi irritavano. E mi commuovevano allo stesso tempo. Dannazione. Non volevo che fosse così buono, così perfetto nelle sue imperfezioni e testardaggine. (Tratto dal libro)
Naturalmente, proprio sul più bello, i nodi vengono al pettine. Leonard si sente tradito quando scopre che la ragazza di cui si è innamorato è entrata nelle sue grazie con scopo vendicativo, e da quel momento tira fuori tutti i lati “bastardi” del suo carattere: testardo, orgoglioso, vendicativo, arrogante, punitivo, una vera e propria tigre arrabbiata. (P.S. ho letto che le tigri sono gli animali più vendicativi al mondo. In effetti, se sono imparentate con i gatti, non risulta difficile pensarlo!).
Ma sappiamo tutti che questo suo atteggiamento infantile, aggressivo e maligno nasconde un uomo innamorato che è stato ferito, destinato prima o poi a riemergere.
Per la prima volta dopo anni, sentivo che nella mia vita mancava qualcosa. Possedevo tutto ciò che avevo sempre desiderato. Tranne che non avrei mai pensato di aver così tanto bisogno di qualcuno nella mia vita da non riuscire a smettere di pensare a lei. (Tratto dal libro)
Non voglio svelare ancora di più in merito a quello che riguarda il passato della sorella e della figlioletta, che comunque è un punto di aggancio per far incontrare i nostri due protagonisti e per mantenerli a distanza nel momento in cui lei inizia a provare emozioni, che poi si risolverà con un ottimo escamotage portando la storia su risvolti più felici e positivi per tutti.
Ho anche ordinato del tè al miele per aiutarla a rilassarsi dopo l’udienza.» Si avvicinò alla porta e non riuscivo a staccarle gli occhi di dosso, non importava quanto odiassi tutto ciò che significava avere un retrogusto di miele in bocca. Anche se qualcuno glielo avesse spalmato addosso, avrei leccato volentieri ogni dannata goccia e ne avrei chiesto ancora. (Tratto dal libro)
Tra le cose che più mi hanno catturata c’è il modo in cui questo avvocato arrogante, magnetico, esplicito e spudorato conquista l’interesse di Olivia; come lei lo sfida pur essendone attratta, e viceversa il modo in cui lui crolla ammaliato nella sua rete per il semplice fatto che lei riesce a tenerlo lontano.
Le sue labbra erano gentili, ma ferme, nel dare e nel ricevere. Stavo per dirgli che non potevo dargli quello che voleva. Poi di nuovo, gli avevo già dato quello che voleva, e anche di più. Non sapevo cosa mi incantasse, ma la beatitudine inebriante che usciva dalle sue labbra raggiunse in ogni piccolo angolo del mio corpo e della mia mente, e la accettai. (Tratto dal libro)
Intrigante è anche il conflitto interiore di Olivia che si fa sempre più grande man mano che si innamora dell’ex di sua sorella, in teoria totalmente off-limits, e padre assente di sua nipote, motivo per il quale lei dovrebbe ferocemente odiarlo. Eppure la persona che ha conosciuto non corrisponde ai fatti che conosce, Leo non sembra il tipo di uomo che abbandonerebbe una bambina e che scaricherebbe le sue responsabilità, e per quanto abbia un carattere particolarmente difficile, risulta anche una persona facile da amare. C’è quindi un mistero da chiarire.
Mi prese il viso tra le mani e mi baciò profondamente. «Resta con me, Liv.» «Io non vado da nessuna parte.» «No, intendo… resta con me per tutta la vita.» (Tratto dal libro)
I love this author's books so I was excited to come across an ARC of this book! Is there such a person who matchmakes potential marriage couples? Where is she and how much does she charge? Anyway, her number 1 biggest pain in the neck, conceited player is Leo. He's a divorce lawyer, go figure! We all have that line of thinking of the ruthless no limits non-emotional divorce attorney. Unfortunately, Leo meets his match in all ways and boy are these two sparking hot sparks!! Get ready for a page turning matchmaking adventure!
Olivia goes into this thinking she is protecting someone, a very noble cause to start with. The way that her and Leo make sparks fly is undeniable. But Leo is not the man he tries to let other see and Olivia is just the one to get under his skin. Just when things start to go right they go pear shaped and then..... You really have to read this to see what happens next because it was totally unexpected and I was shocked, I did not see it coming. This just made me want to rush through even faster to see what happens next and it was so worth it. I am loving reading this authors work.
I received a copy of this in exchange for this to read, my honest opinion.
Matchmaking at its finest! This book grabs you from the first chapter and you will not be able to put it down! Olivia is out for revenge but realizes it may backfire. Leo is the divorce lawyer that has seen so many failed marriages he know without a doubt he will never fall in that trap. Little Bella will capture your heart from the first page you meet her in! This is a slow burn romance that will have you in tears!
What an amazing story full of chemistry and emotions! As usual, Diana never stops surprising her readers bringing all the heroes that we will love forever... all the feels ♥️♥️♥️
Mistaken assumptions fuel this sweet enemies to lovers story. I enjoyed the constant tension between Leo and Liv and the not quite teasing relationship between the two. The character of the precocious 3 year old Bella adds a whole extra level of charming to a book that makes a perfect beach or apres-ski read.
This book is hot! You have a sexy cocky lawyer (ladies I'm sure you'll fan yourself over) and lots of raw passion and sexual tension between Leo and Olivia. A roller coaster ride of feelings of hate to love and a what a twist in the story!
This series keeps getting better. I really really enjoyed Leo and Olivia. Olivia had her mind convinced that Leo was the enemy thanks to the one and only picture she had that clues her in on just who Bella’s father is. Bella is Olivia’s whole world. She is just trying to get what Bella’s deserves and that is a better life and that requires money. So why not make her father Leo pay for his dirty little secret. Leo doesn’t know what he is in for when he meets Olivia but he sure thinks he is up for the challenge. I loved how Olivia was out for revenge but got more than what she was ready for. This was a cute story about mistaken identities and secrets. I must be honest and say that here were a few things that I didn’t really like and took me out of the story. I didn’t particularly enjoy how at times the dialogue involving Bella just didn’t fit her. I know there are some pretty smart and grown 3 year olds but there was just something that kinda disconnected from Bella. I did enjoy the growth of the characters. I really enjoyed how Olivia helps Leo see things in a different way. A way he was sure could never be and that helps him come to some important realizations. All in all it’s a quick and cute read and am excited for the next which is Oden.
Olivia is raising her niece Bella while her sister is in rehab getting the help that she needs. During this time, Olivia comes across a picture of her sister Winter, and a man that she is sure is Bella’s father. After doing a reverse image search she finds a name, Leonel Cohen. Olivia gets a job working as his assistant where she plans to eventually confront him but Leo turns out to be different than she was imagining him to be.
This was a cute story about mistaken identities and secrets. There were a few things that took me out the story such as some of the dialogue and the fact that 3 year old Bella speaks with a diction, maturity, and understanding that I feel does not fit with that age, regardless of how intelligent she may be. I did enjoy the growth of the characters and that Olivia helps Leo to see things in a different way and come to some important realizations. All in all it’s a quick and cute read that gives a nice respite from a lot of the more emotionally wrenching and sometimes depressing books that I’ve read lately.
Olivia Lambert has come into Maddison Hall's office to buy everything she can about Leonel Cohen but it was not for love but for revenge. This is not something she would normally do, but it will result in a love that was never supposed to happen by two poles that start off apart but eventually collide to make the air between them burn. Hate is going to morph into something very different.
I loved this story which was very much like a comedy of errors in some ways and just a beautiful love story in others. At the centre of it all was a child who was loved but not by the people who should have been there for her. I loved how supportive Leo was of Olivia even though they might not have started off well. Her fire and spark were the reasons that she gained his respect and taught him to see situations from another viewpoint - something which is critical for all lawyers. Easy to read and understand. Contains mature content. Some great surprises at the end and some real moments that will leave you with a lump in your throat!
The romance in this story was heartwarming. The back stories and the way these two came together are melded perfectly together for a great read. All three books in the series are great - I got a real buzz from reading them as I laughed and sighed and maybe had a wee tear or two.
THIS BOOK OMG WAS WAS EVEN MORE AMAZING I DID NOT SEE THAT PLOT TWIST COMING IT REALLY DID SHOCK ME AND THE SEXUAL TENSION BETWEEN OLIVIA AND LEO WAS SO AMAZING I LOVED EVERY BIT, it was was such a good read, so excited for the next one in the series this book has just made me swoon even more.
You know my love for Diana's books, this one is no exception. However, I think I know Diana so well that I'm not even surprised to find out what she has in store for us. I was talking about the story with my husband when I was really at the beginning of the book, like the 4th chapter and at one point I said, "I know what's going to happen » On this he answers me you will tell me if you were right when you finish the book. And bim, I was right, maybe I should investigate more 😊