Sergio Jones was on the verge of elevating his career from actor to director when a scandal broke out threatening his business and the financing of his film. In desperate need to clean up his image and salvage his career, Sergio considers an opportunity that would change his life forever.
Michaela Robinson was the definition of independent and stubborn. The mere thought of needing help from anyone made her go ten times harder, leaving her burned out, and alone. When Michaela's roommate abruptly ended their lease, she left Michaela with the task of finding a roommate, while juggling graduate school, an internship, and part-time work. At the risk of losing everything, her beloved uncle, Michael, gave her an ultimatum that would change her life.
Sergio and Michaela promised to help each other rebuild their lives. But what happens when their wedding vows mean more than having job security and financial stability? Will Sergio and Michaela learn how to love, honor and cherish each other? Find out in, The Vow.
I love a good marriage of convenience story, but I didn't feel the development in this romance and didn't end up loving the story. Michaela's parents passed away and she has a relationship with her uncle that they're still working on. She is currently in school and struggling to provide for herself while keeping up with her work. Sergio is about to get his big break as a director when his ex leaks a sex tape and threatens his career. Michaela's uncle suggests Sergio and Michaela get married to fix his image and give her stability. What was interesting about this marriage of convenience is that it's not a fake marriage; they enter the agreement with the understanding they are actually getting married and will be together forever (at least that's how I read it). This normally happens in historical romances, but it felt odd in a contemporary. We also entirely skipped over them falling in love. They already feel something for each other when they go into this agreement, but then we skip to their wedding and miss out on those important dates and moments that would have made me believe that they were in love. Then, the second half of this book is just them happy and married and learning to live together. I guess I need more tension and conflict in a romance before the HEA, so I was more bored for the second half of this book. Unfortunately, it just wasn't my cup of tea. But if you like a book with low angst, you might enjoy this one more than I did.
I really liked how there was no major conflict in this book. Like if you want a book that shows you the development of a relationship and their very happy moments, pick up this book. No third act breakup, no angst. It was a romantic story filled with very sexy moments!
Michaela needs money and a place to stay. Sergio needs a wife. So they decide to go into a marriage of convenience for a win-win result! But then Sergio is like "what if we can be more than friends?" and things take off!!! I loved the easy relationship these two had, plus the healthy communication between them. No secrets!!! When they had something that could potentially upset the other one they were clear on it, you know "hey this is what's happening" and they resolve it instantly. I loved that about them. No miscommunication trope! Sergio and Michaela were very real with each other and wanted this union to work.
I also really like how family-orientated this book was. Mike and Denise were amazing and I'm so happy Michaela could be once again be close to her uncle. Michaela's parents passed away years ago, and tbh Mike is the only family member left in her life. I'm so happy that this marriage of convenience also provided her closeness to people who actually care about her. And now, her life is filled with people every day! Michaela deserves all the happiness in the world.
Michaela I’m so glad you came around because you were making life harder! Grief will make you do the craziest things including pushing remaining loved ones away or turning to unhealthy habits. Both Michaela and Sergio chose unhealthy habits to deal with their grief. It took some unfortunate events and a conniving uncle to bring these two together and it was magical. Of course there were road blocks but that made their journey more real because they had to figure it out. Til death do us part is something they were adamant about and nothing stopped them for being the best friend/lovers to each other. Very light read and swoon worthy moments! Definitely recommend this book!
I loved Sergio and Michaela together, all the more because there was no third act breakup, they were just growing together and surviving Sergio's little scandal.
The only flaw is that we didn't get to see them falling in love, one minute we knew they were acquaintances, almost friends, and then when they both agreed to the marriage it didn't take long for them to act all lovey dovey. So just that jump bugged me a bit, everything else was fine.
i know i love a book when i can re-read it with no issue. the vow is a good book to cuddle up with when you want a fluffy, wholesome romance with the right amount of spice.
michaela + sergio’s love story unfolded at a beautiful pace. mick really someone she could lean on and feel safe enough to rely on. sergio needed someone to see he’s not the person he was five years ago. they needed each other to ground one another. i enjoyed every bit of watching these two fall in love. the way they poured into each other was so pure.
The Vow was an easy going love story. I loved how there were no major conflicts between the characters. Michaela hit a financial roadblock while studying for her master's degree. She has a hard time asking anyone (including her uncle) for help. A leaked sex tape with an ex threatens to derail Sergio's new movie. Uncle Mike convinces them getting married to help Sergio's image gives them the help they both need. The engagement helped Sergio and Michaela reestablish their past connection and ignite their attraction to one another. I really enjoyed this couple's love journey because, there was no struggle to it. They were able to fall in love organically with no drama or angst. Now, Azra did try to start some mess but, Sergio shot that down real quick. The Vow was an endearing romance. It was disgustingly sweet and gave me all the weekend black movie feels.
Loved this silky smooth marriage of convenience, morphing into a real love story.
Poor Michaela finds out a week before her best friend/ roommate gets married, that she needs to quickly find somewhere else to stay.
New film-maker, Sergio, is caught up in a revenge-porn situation when his ex-flame's boyfriend releases a sex tape of them, accusing them of cheating ON HIM!!! Sergio's investors are about to back out of his film if he can't clean up his image.
So Michaela's uncle and Sergio's assistant put together an instant wedding that turns into so much more! But will it clean up the mess or start a new one?
I really enjoyed the development of Sergio & Michaela’s relationship….this was a relationship that started as an arrangement that would definitely benefit both parties….Oddly enough they already had a mutual attraction for each other…their marriage of convenience turned into HEA.
I enjoyed the story Sergio and Michaela were a great balance for each others. I just wish we got the development of Michaela and Sergio. We got little details on how they fell inlove and intimate interactions. I wanted more detail. Towards the end it was beautiful to see how they loved each other.
This was such a sugary sweet romance between two beautiful, Black characters. Sometimes, you just need a palette cleanser without much conflict and a heavy dose of adoration.
As lofty as this love story was, it also wasn't corny. I appreciated Serg and Michaela's love for one another and the fact that there was no "struggle" attached to it. Michaela was loved simply for being who she was, not because of anything she had done.
With that being said, I do wish D had gone a little deeper into the relationship Sergio had with his ex. It was nice that he wasn't dragging her name through the mud, which some would do based on what had been done, but I was interested in hearing her side of things, too.
But, this was just enough for a nice long car ride.
3.5 stars for me! While this was a sweet unproblematic story, it left me wanting more. Let me start with the things I enjoyed. I liked Michaela and Sergio. They both seemed to be at a turning point in their lives. Michaela was a loner trying to prove that she was Ms. Independent due to mishandled grief. She pushed away from family who loved her, not wanting to come across needy. She was a hard working, intelligent, beautiful introvert that was flailing. Sergio was working on rebuilding himself and his reputation. His talent went untapped for years as he drowned in grief. They had so much in common that it made sense that they would be compatible. He was hard working, talented, and handsome trying to find his way. Both of them were figuring out how to move forward without their most impacting loved ones. The characters back story was shared, but character development was too quick for me. It lacked passion. I'm not saying drama was needed, but I needed to be able to feel the love jump off the page and that wasn't the case for me. It was like bam we love each other vs. experiencing how they interacted on dates together. Moments that left their heart racing. It was a sweet read, but I definitely needed more.
The Vow is a marriage of convenience novella. Sergio, a former actor/now producer, needs a cleaner PR image. Michaela needs money and somewhere to stay. Her uncle (who is also a famous actor and Sergio’s mentor) pushes them to marry and they do. They realize they like each other a lot, get married and have their HEA.
There wasn’t much else in this book. Even though it was a novella, I didn’t feel like there was enough development. Some scenes felt very rushed and disconnected. Also, there needed to be another editing pass through because there were a lot of grammar things that kept popping up.
Also, having Sergio’s grandma be called “Big Mama” just didn’t work for me😂. It was really cringe but I’m sure that’s just my personal preference.
TROPES: marriage of convenience; black romance; instalove; famous/rich hero
TRIGGER WARNINGS: grief due to death of loved ones
A marriage of convenience turns into a true love. This read was so homey, it just made me smile.
Sergio Jones a child actor turned director was on the verge of losing everything he worked for. Michaela Robinson us the definition of independent and stubborn, an unexpected event leaves her in a bind looking for a place to live.
Sergio and Michaela agree to help one another rebuild their lives. Sergio was intentional from the beginning, he wanted Michaela to feel comfortable and he was so thoughtful. Mick really did get herself a good man. These two fell for each other almost immediately but it felt so natural. Their love just felt pure and meant to be.
If you’re looking for a fluffy soft black love story, this is the book for you.
WHY DO I NEVER LOOK AT PAGE COUNT FIRST??? This is a novella. I don't like romance novellas bc the short format rarely works for me.
Case in point, this is a marriage of convenience story that I would have enjoyed if the characters had a slow build of emotions. But, it's basically insta love once they decide to get married and I wasn't feeling it.
It also had a lot of telling instead of showing.
Overall, this was enjoyable enough to finish, but the structure did not work for me. But, this is a short and quick read that is low stakes (no angst) and if you're into novellas you might like it!
Yup, I pretty much stayed up all night cause I couldn't stop reading, lbvs. Can I Please Get A Follow Up On Sergio & Michaela🤞🏽🙏🏽👀?
Damn this book was so damn good...
Queen D. Rose really came through with this semi-friends to forever lovers story. I must admit the book stated off slow, but because I'm familiar with the authors work and know she's never disappointed me in the past I kept reading. The book really pics 30% that's when everything is put into motion. Sergio trying to get his life back on track for the last year after spending 7 years in a toxic relationship which only came about after he loss the only woman he ever loved and loved him back, his "Big Momma". That off and on again toxicship was bad for his acting career. Now his ex Alysiah new boo Doe decides to release a sex video of her and Sergio😳 which almost ruin the image he worked to rebuild and the deal he just signed. Michaela who's pretty much been s longer since losing birth her parents to a trig accident 10 years prior. Find herself in having to find a place to live after being informed by her bestie and roommate that not only is she getting married but her now fiancé suggested she not renew her lease🙄😒. Michaela Uncle Michael suggested Sergio get a girlfriend out get married in order to secure his future and keep his sponsors. He suggest his niece need the financial security and she'll be perfect for his image. Fast forward after they both agree his assistant TIA suggest they really get to know one another. After their first date they become inseparable 🥰. A month later they Wed and enjoy an amazing honeymoon. Sergio really outdid himself with the things he put into place on their honeymoon. Now let's address the elephant in the room that is Reyla the supposed bestie. Her fiancé his Doe bff and band Rey from the wedding etc. On top of the fact that she pretty much implied there was no way Sergio loved her enough to marry her. I say big time hater, but you be the judge. The way these two fell in love was magical. Sergio never forgot the first time he met Michaela and the weird of encouragement she gave him. The way she treated him, never judging him, only speaking life into, is what made Falling in love with her so easy. The were definitely friends above all else and that makes any relationship that much stronger. The way they supported each other, poured life into each other, nurtured each other, loved on each other🥰. The support they recieved from not only each other but, Tia, Uncle Michael & Auntie Danice was the best. I could not get enough of these two, like I hated the book ended cause I honestly wanted more. Hopefully and prayerfully we'll be blessed with a follow up🤞🏽🙏🏽.
This was a romantic and cute story! This is low on the angst and there’s no miscommunication to create conflict.
This is simply about two people, Sergio and Michaela who get married out of convenience for their own individual reasons. What starts as a fake relationship turns into something real very quickly. I really liked the characters of Sergio and Michaela. Sergio, is a good man and he was very sweet to the heroine. Michaela has gone through so much with losing her parents and trying to cope in the best way she can. I loved seeing her reconnect with her uncle as this is the only family member she has left.
Sergio and Michaela fell in love fast and even agreed to the arrangement with ease. I wanted more time of seeing them fall in love so this all happened a little too quickly for my liking. Overall, I liked how beautiful their love is, they acted like adults and handled any issues in a mature manner. Both of these characters have lost loved ones but they found each other at the end.
TW: Death of a loved one, Grief (I appreciate the author giving this note at the beginning of the novel!
2.75 Stars. (BW/BM). Kindle Edition 156 page novella e-book. Age gap. Marriage of Convenience.
Main characters: 1. Michaela Robinson, heroine, a collegiate graduate student and playright who has not gotten over the deaths of her parents. 2. Sergio Jones, the hero, a wealthy successful movie star and director who also is struggling with the loss of a parent, his support system. Sergio's image is taking a downward spiral due to heavy drinking and his inability to acquire and maintain a healthy relationship.
Marriages of convenience is one of my favorite tropes in romance novels; however, in this boring book there is no romance between Michaela and Sergio. They marry to improve Sergio's social image and to give Michaela a stable living environment. Michaela's uncle, who is also one of Sergio's best friends suggest their union of convenience relating how they both would benefit by marrying and that he's noticed a mutual attraction. Repeat the storyline does not show any chemistry between the two of them and nothing romantic occurs on the page; just the announcement that Michaela and Sergio are madly in love.
I normally love a marriage of convenience trope and I was intrigued by the fact that this was a contemporary MOC which is not all that common. However, it lacked tension and I couldn’t quite figure out how the two MCs went so quickly from having to get married (him, to save his reputation after an old sex tape got leaked and her for financial stability) to all of a sudden deciding they were in love and wanting make this permanent. It happened so quickly and also, there were so many things that happened off page and then were referred to in passing that deserved to have been actual scenes. I liked the premise but I just wish there had been a little bit more tension, which isn’t the same as having angst - I’m glad for the low angst, but I do feel like there could’ve been some time spent with these characters grappling with their growing feelings instead of just going from we HAVE to get married to declaring their eternal love for one another in the blink of an eye.
This was such a fun, cute, quick-to-read romance novella with the marriage of convenience trope! Sergio is an actor who gets swept up into a scandal and needs to save his reputation, and Michaela needs a new place to live and financial stability, and so they end up getting married. It's super low on angst, a little steamy, and really sweet, so if that's something you're looking for, check this book out!
Easy going nice story. Two people that knew each other in their past ended up needed a trusted partner at the same time. The person that they had in common Uncle Michael was about to help them re establish a connection. So glad that Reyla was able to get the wake up call she needed before saying I do.
This was a quick marriage of convenience and the beautiful way that it came together for Sergio and Michaela was *chef’s kiss* Despite them getting b/c Sergio needs to have a clean image & Micheala is in a financial bind which is the perfect setup for these two. Also, there is some steam 🔥🔥between these two.
I enjoyed this in the beginning but personally, the relationship developed way too fast for me (even for a novella). Nearly everything after their first date is summarized, all the way up until the ending.
It was jarring to read about that first date and then have the next paragraph or so be them . The attraction was undeniable but I wish there were more interactions between them before the wedding.
This is also marketed as a marriage of convenience and although there is technically a marriage of convenience, it doesn't include all the other elements that you'd typically expect from it (beyond the literal definition). After Sergio and Michaela decide to get fake married, she .
There were also some inconsistences (particularly with Reyla and Michaela's friendship) and any sign of angst is wrapped up very quickly, almost as if in an attempt to add angst for the sake of angst.
"Angst" being a loose term as there's little to no actual angst in this novella.
I personally didn't like the story after the fake marriage began but I did love the found family aspect + family relationships. I hesitate to give this stars on GR as some of my problems with it definitely feel like a “me” thing - esp considering my track record with novellas. I'd recommend this for anyone who just wants a quick, low-stakes read.
This is a 2 for 1 of The Vow and The Matrimony (book 2). Technically you can read them one without the other because they are both complete stories but you get a more robust HEA if you read them together!
The Vow is a complete story with a HEA but it’s the whirlwind of an arranged marriage, the honeymoon phase, a sigh of relief when their union solves a problem. The Matrimony will give you the HEA Sergio and Mick had to work for once they settle in and the monotony of life takes over. I really enjoyed the full journey from how the arrangement came together to the terrible twos and the reconnection. You got found family vibes, a whirlwind romance, some self discovery, and some marriage maintenance in less than 300 pages!
It all happens pretty quick but it doesn’t feel rushed or like anything is missing. I’d recommend it for when you want those soft love feels!
I loved this book!!!!! Everybody processes their grief differently and I think both Michaela and Sergio were facing the consequences of behaviors and decisions made while mired in grief. But at this point, all they could do was make the best of crappy situations and twist it for their benefit. Which they did in spectacular fashion! Uncle Mike was the best! And his idea of Sergio and Michaela marrying was timely and prophetic. Because clearly Sergio and Michaela were meant to be. I especially loved that they didn't hide their growing feelings. They let their intentions to make it real be known from very early on. This was a beautiful story and such a pleasure to read!
I wanted to rank this book higher. Truly. My Sister Girls recommended this author to me, and they’ve never steered me wrong. I went into this book with the bias of my closest friends, and as assumed, it didn’t disappoint. The Vow was a lovely read in the fact it portrayed one of my favorite romance tropes – marriage contracts. Pairing that with this being a Black love story, I enjoyed every minute of it. The reason I chose to give this book three out of five stars, though, is because it moved too fast for me. I only knew surface level things about each of the characters, and it felt as if there was no true moment to breathe because major event after major event happened at a spitfire rate. The characters see each other after years of not, they enter into a marriage agreement, they get married, the end. It felt rushed, but I suppose that’s because this was leaning towards a novella and page count could have been a contributing factor. This novella would have had much more of an impact if we’d spent some time with the characters and truly got to know them outside of their problems that lead them into the contract. It seemed as if the only true nuggets of information we received was that Michaela was homeless and had lost her parents, and Sergio was amid a scandal and still grieving his grandmother. The characters seem to fall in love with each other, but we don’t get to watch that too much. While their honeymoon shows us a deeper look into their feelings for each other, I wanted some of those feelings to have been presented before that moment. Being that everything was rushed at the beginning, the moment seemed to be anticlimactic. I believe this book should have been a full-length novel because the plot was interesting and we didn’t have a chance to really get involved with the happenings of the story.