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The Last Minute First Lady
WHAT’S ONE ITSY, BITSY, LITTLE LIE?
Cassian Anders will be the youngest governor in Illinois history... If he wins.
That’s all everyone seems to talk about these days. Jolie Coldwell isn’t one of them. As a journalist, her priorities comprise digging up dirt on crooked politicians and local cover-ups. When her latest exposé on a congressman lands her in hot water, her days are reduced to covering the senior center’s casino night.
Unexpectedly, news breaks: the on-air investigative segment needs a replacement. This promotion advance could her career.
She needs a breaking story. She needs it now.
The road to office is ruthless compared to the courtroom. Without warning, Cassian Anders’ popularity rating falls, threatening his position on the ballot. He will do whatever it means to secure votes. Now, not only is he engaged, but he’s getting married to his non-existent fiancée...
He’s never relied on luck, but when a convenient but unorthodox wife falls into his lap? He makes her a deal.
He needs a wife. He needs it now.
Will Jolie and Cassian be able to fool the public long enough? Can she handle the public poking around in her past, one she would rather keep under wraps... Above all, can she be a model first lady or are they destined to be a scandal?
The Last-Minute First Lady is a steamy marriage of convenience romance. Perfect for readers who love outrageous in-laws, honeymoons to Napa Valley, and crooked politicians. This novel contains cursing and sex scenes, and intended for audiences 18 years and older.
Cassian Anders will be the youngest governor in Illinois history... If he wins.
That’s all everyone seems to talk about these days. Jolie Coldwell isn’t one of them. As a journalist, her priorities comprise digging up dirt on crooked politicians and local cover-ups. When her latest exposé on a congressman lands her in hot water, her days are reduced to covering the senior center’s casino night.
Unexpectedly, news breaks: the on-air investigative segment needs a replacement. This promotion advance could her career.
She needs a breaking story. She needs it now.
The road to office is ruthless compared to the courtroom. Without warning, Cassian Anders’ popularity rating falls, threatening his position on the ballot. He will do whatever it means to secure votes. Now, not only is he engaged, but he’s getting married to his non-existent fiancée...
He’s never relied on luck, but when a convenient but unorthodox wife falls into his lap? He makes her a deal.
He needs a wife. He needs it now.
Will Jolie and Cassian be able to fool the public long enough? Can she handle the public poking around in her past, one she would rather keep under wraps... Above all, can she be a model first lady or are they destined to be a scandal?
The Last-Minute First Lady is a steamy marriage of convenience romance. Perfect for readers who love outrageous in-laws, honeymoons to Napa Valley, and crooked politicians. This novel contains cursing and sex scenes, and intended for audiences 18 years and older.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 22, 2022
149 people are currently reading
5141 people want to read
About the author
Tinia Montford
6 books194 followersTinia (TUH-NEE-YAH) Montford is a Pisces who’s a sap for romance, especially when there’s (tons of) kissing. Loves eighties sitcoms and will consume anything with chocolate. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in English and Graphic Design.
She is a world traveler having climbed a volcano in Nicaragua, scaled Angkor Wat in the blistering sun, and roamed the Acropolis of Athens. Oh, she also dabbles in short stories occasionally.
If you can’t catch her writing, you can bet she’s overindulging on poke bowls, listening to the same four songs, or chilling with her adorbs doggie.
She is a world traveler having climbed a volcano in Nicaragua, scaled Angkor Wat in the blistering sun, and roamed the Acropolis of Athens. Oh, she also dabbles in short stories occasionally.
If you can’t catch her writing, you can bet she’s overindulging on poke bowls, listening to the same four songs, or chilling with her adorbs doggie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 356 reviews
December 22, 2022
i like jolie and cassian but i wasn’t too much in love them as a couple, the first 30% of the book they didn’t really interact much and at some points this book felt more like a chicklit than a romance because we spent so much time in their personal lives. i just feel like i needed more moments with them as a couple over all but i think the writing in this book was really good though and i had fun reading this. as a book it was good but as a romance it was okay.
December 14, 2022
something you need to know about me is marriage of convenience/arranged marriage is my jam. if i get a whiff of two characters on the verge of entering into a marriage with no intentions of falling in love with one another babyyyyyy i come running because i love watching them make a liar out of each other.
so when i jokingly commented on a teaser video about the last minute first lady, i was not expecting to get an ARC out of it but boy am i glad because i thoroughly enjoyed this book.
fun fact, i graduated with a degree in journalism in 2021. i worked as an editor at my college’s newspaper and i even interned at CNN for a week (covid hit the very next week 🥴). i say all this to express how much i enjoyed AND related to jolie’s character. from her career in journalism down to her strained relationship with her mother. she stressed me out a bit but homegirl was so passionate i couldn’t even be mad. none of her motives were self serving. she truly wanted to make the world a better place through her work. there were a couple parts that got to me because it felt like she couldn’t catch a break but my girl prevailed.
even though cassian was enamored by jolie from the first time he laid eyes on her, she quickly became a thorn in his side. just like jolie, cass had some moments where i wanted to shake him to bring him back down to earth. the thing i loved most about cassian was his unwavering desire to rectify wrong done to his loved ones. there were points where i felt like he was becoming blinded by his desire for revenge but i think that’s what made him human. also, the groveling he did when he effed up?! book men need to take notes because whew. i loveeeeee a sincere apology.
while i very much enjoyed this book, i do wish we got a smidge more romance between jolie and cassian. there were points where it felt like they had moments off page in order to include more back story about cassian’s campaign and jolie’s expose but also, that’s could just be me being greedy. i’m a lover girl, i can’t help it.
so when i jokingly commented on a teaser video about the last minute first lady, i was not expecting to get an ARC out of it but boy am i glad because i thoroughly enjoyed this book.
fun fact, i graduated with a degree in journalism in 2021. i worked as an editor at my college’s newspaper and i even interned at CNN for a week (covid hit the very next week 🥴). i say all this to express how much i enjoyed AND related to jolie’s character. from her career in journalism down to her strained relationship with her mother. she stressed me out a bit but homegirl was so passionate i couldn’t even be mad. none of her motives were self serving. she truly wanted to make the world a better place through her work. there were a couple parts that got to me because it felt like she couldn’t catch a break but my girl prevailed.
even though cassian was enamored by jolie from the first time he laid eyes on her, she quickly became a thorn in his side. just like jolie, cass had some moments where i wanted to shake him to bring him back down to earth. the thing i loved most about cassian was his unwavering desire to rectify wrong done to his loved ones. there were points where i felt like he was becoming blinded by his desire for revenge but i think that’s what made him human. also, the groveling he did when he effed up?! book men need to take notes because whew. i loveeeeee a sincere apology.
while i very much enjoyed this book, i do wish we got a smidge more romance between jolie and cassian. there were points where it felt like they had moments off page in order to include more back story about cassian’s campaign and jolie’s expose but also, that’s could just be me being greedy. i’m a lover girl, i can’t help it.
December 27, 2022
Political romances might just be my new favorite trope and this one was FANTASTIC!!
This was a steamy, dual POV, marriage of convenience between tenacious reporter Jolie who is fighting for a promotion at work, and an ambitious, big-hearted lawyer Cassian who is running for Governor of Illinois.
I loved the premise for this story, the subtle Obama parallels, the strong main characters, the emotional depth, the political intrigue and the complicated family relationships.
Perfect for fans of other political romances like Gia de Cadenet's Not the plan or Jasmine Guillory's Party of two. Plus the cover for this indie romance was EVERYTHING! Another stunning piece of artwork by Leni Kauffman!!
I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was a steamy, dual POV, marriage of convenience between tenacious reporter Jolie who is fighting for a promotion at work, and an ambitious, big-hearted lawyer Cassian who is running for Governor of Illinois.
I loved the premise for this story, the subtle Obama parallels, the strong main characters, the emotional depth, the political intrigue and the complicated family relationships.
Perfect for fans of other political romances like Gia de Cadenet's Not the plan or Jasmine Guillory's Party of two. Plus the cover for this indie romance was EVERYTHING! Another stunning piece of artwork by Leni Kauffman!!
I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 13, 2023
офіційно: я обожнюю політичні романи! що я люблю ще більше? офісні романи, коли герої не залежать одне від одного!!
мене непокоїв той факт, що Касіян почав розслідувати справу в майже 40 років, через 20 років після аварії. звісно, що не завжди є ресурс і можливості для такого рівня розслідування, але прям двадцять років, а потім дивуватися, що складно щось знайти? враховуючи кількість роботи й організації різних фондів, чомусь не віриться, що він не зміг заплатити за детектива ті ж п'ять-десять років тому, коли справа ще була свіжою
він просто залежний від розв'язки, постійно на телефоні, і, незважаючи на те, що всім, крім нього, абсолютно байдуже на аварію, повертається до неї знов і знов
в усьому іншому - досить мила, одночасно з цим гаряча історія (упускаємо той факт, що я ридала як скажена 1/3 книги і все ще не можу заспокоїтися)
мені сподобалася Джолі, її історія успішної жінки-журналістки, яку вона змогла побудувати самостійно, вириваючись з бідного дитинства і аб'юзивних стосунків з рідними. сильна, мужня, стійка. на її місці я уявляла Кобі Смолдерс, уж надто мені жінка нагадувала Робін Щербацьки з «Як я зустрів вашу маму»
ну і ще не менш важливо, що для героїв була важлива їх кар'єра, вони не намагалися кинути її заради стосунків, а навпаки розвивалися, щоб зуміти подолати проблеми, нічим не жертвуючи. АЛЕ це швидко минуло і вони обидва поставили роботу вище за родину, так що без невеликої (політично великої) драми все ж таки не обійшлося ;)
коротше, якщо вам подобається історія про чоловіка, який неправий, але готовий понести відповідальність за свої дії і про жінку-кар'єристку, яку все життя зраджують, але вона все одно йде уперед, то читайте! відтепер одна з моїх улюблених історій
мене непокоїв той факт, що Касіян почав розслідувати справу в майже 40 років, через 20 років після аварії. звісно, що не завжди є ресурс і можливості для такого рівня розслідування, але прям двадцять років, а потім дивуватися, що складно щось знайти? враховуючи кількість роботи й організації різних фондів, чомусь не віриться, що він не зміг заплатити за детектива ті ж п'ять-десять років тому, коли справа ще була свіжою
він просто залежний від розв'язки, постійно на телефоні, і, незважаючи на те, що всім, крім нього, абсолютно байдуже на аварію, повертається до неї знов і знов
в усьому іншому - досить мила, одночасно з цим гаряча історія (упускаємо той факт, що я ридала як скажена 1/3 книги і все ще не можу заспокоїтися)
мені сподобалася Джолі, її історія успішної жінки-журналістки, яку вона змогла побудувати самостійно, вириваючись з бідного дитинства і аб'юзивних стосунків з рідними. сильна, мужня, стійка. на її місці я уявляла Кобі Смолдерс, уж надто мені жінка нагадувала Робін Щербацьки з «Як я зустрів вашу маму»
ну і ще не менш важливо, що для героїв була важлива їх кар'єра, вони не намагалися кинути її заради стосунків, а навпаки розвивалися, щоб зуміти подолати проблеми, нічим не жертвуючи. АЛЕ це швидко минуло і вони обидва поставили роботу вище за родину, так що без невеликої (політично великої) драми все ж таки не обійшлося ;)
коротше, якщо вам подобається історія про чоловіка, який неправий, але готовий понести відповідальність за свої дії і про жінку-кар'єристку, яку все життя зраджують, але вона все одно йде уперед, то читайте! відтепер одна з моїх улюблених історій
February 11, 2024
Jolie is a journalist who works at a news station and Cassian is a lawyer balancing running his own firm with his campaign for Governor of Illinois. When Jolie discovers that Cassian has lied about having a significant other they come to an agreement that will help both of their careers when they agree to marry.
I started off really enjoying this one. There was good banter between them and I felt for both of them when it came to their career aspirations and motivation. But part of the fun of marriage of convivence is slowly watching their guard come down. And at times it felt like we were told more than we were shown that because the author had a side plot with Jolie's family that hated her. At times it also felt like the author was drawing inspiration from Barack and Michelle or rather the idealized version of them. If there more levity and more time was spent with the couple together this would've been a higher rated book for me. The ending felt somewhat of a chore to finish.
I started off really enjoying this one. There was good banter between them and I felt for both of them when it came to their career aspirations and motivation. But part of the fun of marriage of convivence is slowly watching their guard come down. And at times it felt like we were told more than we were shown that because the author had a side plot with Jolie's family that hated her. At times it also felt like the author was drawing inspiration from Barack and Michelle or rather the idealized version of them. If there more levity and more time was spent with the couple together this would've been a higher rated book for me. The ending felt somewhat of a chore to finish.
December 17, 2022
Rating: ⭐️⭐️.75 /🌶️
Tropes: grumpy/grumpy, fake marriage, marriage of connivence, found family,
TW/CW: 18+, racism,
Representation: black romance, black politicians
Thoughts: **I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review**
This book gave me Being Mary Jane vibes and I’m HERE FOR IT!!
overall this book was okay, but didn’t wow me. There was a lot of things missing. We learned a lot about the characters and their pasts and family situations. But barely saw any romance between them and when we did it fell flat because there was no foundation for it.
Tropes: grumpy/grumpy, fake marriage, marriage of connivence, found family,
TW/CW: 18+, racism,
Representation: black romance, black politicians
Thoughts: **I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review**
This book gave me Being Mary Jane vibes and I’m HERE FOR IT!!
overall this book was okay, but didn’t wow me. There was a lot of things missing. We learned a lot about the characters and their pasts and family situations. But barely saw any romance between them and when we did it fell flat because there was no foundation for it.
January 4, 2023
HE IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AND SHE’S A NEWS REPORTER SHE DOESN’T LIKE HIM MUCH BUT ONE DAY THEY ENDED UP AT A PUBLIC PLACE AND SOMEONE TOOK A PHOTO OF THEM TOGETHER AND MADE IT PUBLIC AND THAT LOOKED BAD FOR HIM BECAUSE IT WASN’T THE FIRST TIME HE WAS ‘SEEN’ WITH A WOMAN SO THEY DECIDE TO START A MARRIAGE FOR CONVENIENCE, SHE NEEDS HELP WITH A STORY SHE IS WORKING ON AND TO GET A PROMOTION AND HE NEEDS TO CLEAN HIS ‘BACHELOR IMAGE’ AGAINST THE MEDIA TO GET PEOPLE ON THEIR SIDE
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I swear so many things are happening on both sides and I liked the realistic bits we got on this book, while some things frustrated me that he said/did i still enjoyed it a lot because i understand that was necessary for the plot
I would say i needed to see more scenes of them together developing their feelings because i love reading that type of scenes with details of small gestures of them, we got to see a lot of them working on their careers to achieve what they wanted in life separately but I’m a sucker for romance and I wanted more of that and we got very few but still I’m easy to please so I liked it anyway 🫶
It was a fast read also easy too specially if english isn’t your first language because it doesn’t have multiple non common words so this is a great book if you recently started reading ☺️
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I swear so many things are happening on both sides and I liked the realistic bits we got on this book, while some things frustrated me that he said/did i still enjoyed it a lot because i understand that was necessary for the plot
I would say i needed to see more scenes of them together developing their feelings because i love reading that type of scenes with details of small gestures of them, we got to see a lot of them working on their careers to achieve what they wanted in life separately but I’m a sucker for romance and I wanted more of that and we got very few but still I’m easy to please so I liked it anyway 🫶
It was a fast read also easy too specially if english isn’t your first language because it doesn’t have multiple non common words so this is a great book if you recently started reading ☺️
December 29, 2022
5⭐️
3🌶️
Tina does it again! Every book of hers just keeps getting better and better. I love them all so far. She surprises me and completely enjoys the story. I don't often come across such a good writing style that really drags me along.
This was A spicy, steamy, dual POV between reporter jolie and Cassian who is running for governor.
the bond between cassian and jolie was very strong pretty quickly and the chemistry between the two was great! the story of jolie and her past really touched me. jolie is a strong woman who has fought for what she wants. cassian has experienced something intense with his parents and is having trouble letting go. together these two make a perfect duo as friendship and in relationship
Tinia is one of my fav writers! I love her work
3🌶️
Tina does it again! Every book of hers just keeps getting better and better. I love them all so far. She surprises me and completely enjoys the story. I don't often come across such a good writing style that really drags me along.
This was A spicy, steamy, dual POV between reporter jolie and Cassian who is running for governor.
the bond between cassian and jolie was very strong pretty quickly and the chemistry between the two was great! the story of jolie and her past really touched me. jolie is a strong woman who has fought for what she wants. cassian has experienced something intense with his parents and is having trouble letting go. together these two make a perfect duo as friendship and in relationship
Tinia is one of my fav writers! I love her work
December 22, 2022
“You’re my never ending thought. I think about you all the time, and I count down the hours till you come home to me” 😭 I received an ARC for this lovely book that I was so eager to read and it did not disappoint! I love marriage of convenience but sometimes I feel like it’s been done so many times but this was so different I love the political aspect of it! I loved seeing two educated strong black characters like Cassian and Jolie. Jolie was such a relatable character to me. The fear of being so vulnerable to give your love to someone is something that not only I but I feel like a lot of people can relate to. They were both such great characters to read and I love their dynamic! I was giggling and kicking my feet seeing their love story progressed and it was so freaking good!! I love when a man falls first and harder and Cassian is my new book boyfriend cause he was so charming ahhh! Also the spice was too good YALL!! I also loved how this book also talked about racism in the workplace, grief, absent parents, etc. i also appreciated all the side characters and how important their roles were in the story to progress. I felt like this book was so well written and I was blown away!!! It’s the end of 2022 but I can confidently say that this has been one of my favorite books I read this year! I am a fan of Tinia and I am eager to read anything else she puts out!!!
December 22, 2022
Black romance, fake dating/marriage, hot heads, politics, scandals, corruption, abandonment, family lies, and much more! This book was such a great read! I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book and I was so excited to read it! I didn't know what to expect but I finished this in one day!
Jolie, an investigative reporter with BALLS! I really liked her a lot! Cassian, an ambitious lawyer soon to be governor and I loved that there were so many other side stories going on in the book, not just about their relationship but the inner works of their careers.
There is definitely some heavy content around abandonment which was very sad at times.
I highly recommend reading this book when it gets released on December 22.
Congratulations, Tinia!!
Jolie, an investigative reporter with BALLS! I really liked her a lot! Cassian, an ambitious lawyer soon to be governor and I loved that there were so many other side stories going on in the book, not just about their relationship but the inner works of their careers.
There is definitely some heavy content around abandonment which was very sad at times.
I highly recommend reading this book when it gets released on December 22.
Congratulations, Tinia!!
January 6, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | “Emotions weren’t supposed to be involved in our deal. You’re not supposed to make me open myself up to you and confess things I don’t tell anyone. Or make me love your family.”
Content warnings: Workplace racism and harassment, corruption, estranged family, familial conflict, death of a parent, incarceration of a parent, alcohol use, and car accident involving extensive injuries. Know your triggers before you proceed.
...
Never would have thought a political romance was what I needed to start the year off right…but…YES. TO ALL OF THIS. A black political marriage of convenience romance where a beautiful, brilliant, and career-focused black woman journalist who doesn’t trust politicians and specializes in uncovering local coverups meets the gubernatorial candidate who is FINE and has big political dreams and a heart of gold. YES.
Overall, I thought the story was really strong. However, I wouldn’t describe the overall romance in the book as strong - the romance was very much giving sub-plot rather than main plot, which was surprising considering how this book has been marketed. Romance novels where technically the romance is more of a sub-plot or where the book technically qualifies as a slow burn - in order to keep me interested, I need two things: sexual tension and witty, biting banter. And TLMFL definitely gave both. The sexual tension between Cassian and Jolie from the first page was intriguing. Their banter - on point.
Montford gave us complex characters coupled with an exciting plot that unfolded at a good pace, extending the story outside Cassian and Jolie’s marriage of convenience. I love a good, strong, beautiful Black family rep and LOVED the Anders family. Especially Tisha and Edward. The way they supported Cassian (and, eventually, Jolie) but also cautioned him about how much he worked and how much he was letting revenge blind him - this was such a beautiful portrayal. UGH, so beautiful.
Sidebar: THIS ENTIRE BOOK GAVE UNPROBLEMATIC SCANDAL…well, some of the politicians in the book were very Scandal-esque…but Cassian gave unproblematic Fitz Grant, Jolie gave unproblematic Olivia Pope, and Paul felt like a tamer, much nicer, unwilling to resort to illegal methods but still mean, Cyrus Beene. Like I said, Scandal vibes. Also, I love a surprisingly filthy character, and that character in this book was Mr. Cassian because DAMN. Not the filthiest smut I’ve read or anything BUT…a surprise nonetheless. Love to see it.
Content warnings: Workplace racism and harassment, corruption, estranged family, familial conflict, death of a parent, incarceration of a parent, alcohol use, and car accident involving extensive injuries. Know your triggers before you proceed.
...
Never would have thought a political romance was what I needed to start the year off right…but…YES. TO ALL OF THIS. A black political marriage of convenience romance where a beautiful, brilliant, and career-focused black woman journalist who doesn’t trust politicians and specializes in uncovering local coverups meets the gubernatorial candidate who is FINE and has big political dreams and a heart of gold. YES.
Overall, I thought the story was really strong. However, I wouldn’t describe the overall romance in the book as strong - the romance was very much giving sub-plot rather than main plot, which was surprising considering how this book has been marketed. Romance novels where technically the romance is more of a sub-plot or where the book technically qualifies as a slow burn - in order to keep me interested, I need two things: sexual tension and witty, biting banter. And TLMFL definitely gave both. The sexual tension between Cassian and Jolie from the first page was intriguing. Their banter - on point.
Montford gave us complex characters coupled with an exciting plot that unfolded at a good pace, extending the story outside Cassian and Jolie’s marriage of convenience. I love a good, strong, beautiful Black family rep and LOVED the Anders family. Especially Tisha and Edward. The way they supported Cassian (and, eventually, Jolie) but also cautioned him about how much he worked and how much he was letting revenge blind him - this was such a beautiful portrayal. UGH, so beautiful.
Sidebar: THIS ENTIRE BOOK GAVE UNPROBLEMATIC SCANDAL…well, some of the politicians in the book were very Scandal-esque…but Cassian gave unproblematic Fitz Grant, Jolie gave unproblematic Olivia Pope, and Paul felt like a tamer, much nicer, unwilling to resort to illegal methods but still mean, Cyrus Beene. Like I said, Scandal vibes. Also, I love a surprisingly filthy character, and that character in this book was Mr. Cassian because DAMN. Not the filthiest smut I’ve read or anything BUT…a surprise nonetheless. Love to see it.
September 1, 2023
4.25 stars!
April 17, 2025
Cute story. I love a fake dating trope.
June 13, 2024
🎧🎧AUDIOBOOK REVIEW🎧🎧
I wasn’t wow’d but I wasn’t bored and overall, I liked it
I had the trifecta (not horses lol) of new-to-me with this story. Both author and narrator(s) were completely new to me so the fact that I wasn’t bored and overall I enjoyed my experience, speaks volumes. Do with that what you will.
The story had a high content of levity but also dealt with some “heavy” circumstances and it folded both pretty darn well. The story was respectful and realistic. I loved that both main characters were “strong” as individuals and enhanced each other as they grew closer. The story was sexy and flirty with a lot of depth to both the storyline and the characters.
My ears (lol) have nothing but good things to report on the narration by Myles Washington & J. Shani Michaels.
I wasn’t wow’d but I wasn’t bored and overall, I liked it
I had the trifecta (not horses lol) of new-to-me with this story. Both author and narrator(s) were completely new to me so the fact that I wasn’t bored and overall I enjoyed my experience, speaks volumes. Do with that what you will.
The story had a high content of levity but also dealt with some “heavy” circumstances and it folded both pretty darn well. The story was respectful and realistic. I loved that both main characters were “strong” as individuals and enhanced each other as they grew closer. The story was sexy and flirty with a lot of depth to both the storyline and the characters.
My ears (lol) have nothing but good things to report on the narration by Myles Washington & J. Shani Michaels.
December 28, 2022
Show of hands, who loves a good fake marriage/ relationship? *Raises hand* Hey, who doesn’t love a juicy story, am I right?
Cassian is a lawyer / politician running for governor, and Jolie is an investigative journalist, on her way to receiving a well-deserved promotion. They’ve got so many complications, getting married could solve all their problems, right? This book has all the makings for a good Thursday night drama series, the kind where everyone knows not to call or text you during that hour, and it’s all the topic around the cubicles the next day. You’ve got relationship drama, family drama, scandals, love, steamy sex, and mystery, a little “Please, baby, please!” What’s not to like?
The first chapter of The Last Minute First Lady pulls you in, the remaining chapters hold you hostage, barely allowing for snack / bathroom breaks. I wanted to read fast to see what happens next, but I also wanted to read slow to extend ending the book. This was my first read by the author, Tinia Montford, and it definitely will not be my last! She described the various locales to the point it made me feel like I wanted to travel there.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who’s like me, and loves a good read with lots of drama, laughter, a relatable plot and characters you fall in love / hate with, this book is for you.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Book Funnel, and am voluntarily providing an honest review.
Cassian is a lawyer / politician running for governor, and Jolie is an investigative journalist, on her way to receiving a well-deserved promotion. They’ve got so many complications, getting married could solve all their problems, right? This book has all the makings for a good Thursday night drama series, the kind where everyone knows not to call or text you during that hour, and it’s all the topic around the cubicles the next day. You’ve got relationship drama, family drama, scandals, love, steamy sex, and mystery, a little “Please, baby, please!” What’s not to like?
The first chapter of The Last Minute First Lady pulls you in, the remaining chapters hold you hostage, barely allowing for snack / bathroom breaks. I wanted to read fast to see what happens next, but I also wanted to read slow to extend ending the book. This was my first read by the author, Tinia Montford, and it definitely will not be my last! She described the various locales to the point it made me feel like I wanted to travel there.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who’s like me, and loves a good read with lots of drama, laughter, a relatable plot and characters you fall in love / hate with, this book is for you.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Book Funnel, and am voluntarily providing an honest review.
October 19, 2024
I am in the minority on this one. I expected this to be a light, cute read but for me it was not. I was put off by Jolie's overly aggressive, b!tchy attitude from the beginning. By the time we find out why she's that way it was too late for me to like her. As for Cassian, he just didn't do it for me. I did feel the chemistry between them.
December 19, 2022
I’d seen this book do rounds on twitter some time ago, so when I saw it while casually scrolling on BookSirens I all but tripped over myself to get it. Marriage of convenience is my weak point; combine it with a pretty cover and you got me hooked.
Cassian is a lawyer and politician running for governor and Jolie is an investigative journalist en route to a big promotion. Circumstances throw them at each other and getting married could just solve all their problems. Expect amazing chemistry, delicious smut, family drama, politics, revenge and even a little mystery solving.
This was amazing. It took me through the whole range from giggling, kicking my feet to literally bawling my eyes out. The chemistry between Jolie and Cassian was electrifying and the way their relationship played out so satisfying. The third act drama believable and not too much or too little, which I feel like is a tricky thing to balance.
The overarching storylines of Jolie’s past, Cassian’s work and revenge and the article gave so much life to these characters. Often I find that romance books tend to be very visual, in a sense that they feel like someone watching a romcom and then thoroughly describing everything they see on screen, without adding the necessary depth. Worldbuilding is a process that gets overlooked so often in this genre and I think that Tinia Montford showed great talent in the way she’s built and played out these storylines. It was all very purposeful in enriching the story and had me on the edge of my seat.
All in all I think the fact that I looked up the author and didn’t find a blue checkmark and millions of raving fans is criminal. Please read this book if you want an amazing time.
I got an advanced copy of this novel through BookSirens.
Cassian is a lawyer and politician running for governor and Jolie is an investigative journalist en route to a big promotion. Circumstances throw them at each other and getting married could just solve all their problems. Expect amazing chemistry, delicious smut, family drama, politics, revenge and even a little mystery solving.
This was amazing. It took me through the whole range from giggling, kicking my feet to literally bawling my eyes out. The chemistry between Jolie and Cassian was electrifying and the way their relationship played out so satisfying. The third act drama believable and not too much or too little, which I feel like is a tricky thing to balance.
The overarching storylines of Jolie’s past, Cassian’s work and revenge and the article gave so much life to these characters. Often I find that romance books tend to be very visual, in a sense that they feel like someone watching a romcom and then thoroughly describing everything they see on screen, without adding the necessary depth. Worldbuilding is a process that gets overlooked so often in this genre and I think that Tinia Montford showed great talent in the way she’s built and played out these storylines. It was all very purposeful in enriching the story and had me on the edge of my seat.
All in all I think the fact that I looked up the author and didn’t find a blue checkmark and millions of raving fans is criminal. Please read this book if you want an amazing time.
I got an advanced copy of this novel through BookSirens.
January 26, 2025
I am a HUGE marriage of convenience fan so this book was everything I hoped for. In this one we follow Cassian who could be the youngest governor in Illinois history, except he needs a wife. So he makes up a teeny tiny lie that’s he’s engaged to his non-existent fiancée. Enters Jolie, a passionate, beautiful and proud journalist who finds out his scheme. They decided to agree to stay married for a year and in turn Jolie could get the dream promotion she’s always wanted!!
This book has a lot of (family) drama which I love but also a lot of good discussions around privilege, race and opportunities. I loved reading about two black people fighting for their share of a well-deserved cake. The romance was a little bit on the back burner but I really enjoyed every single moment. I wish we had more domestic moments between the characters but it was a very satisfying book. Also it’s deliciously spicy!
Read this for:
🤎 marriage of convenience
🤎 journalist x politician pairing
🤎 forced proximity
🤎 black romance
🤎 drama for daysss
🤎 spicy scenes
This book has a lot of (family) drama which I love but also a lot of good discussions around privilege, race and opportunities. I loved reading about two black people fighting for their share of a well-deserved cake. The romance was a little bit on the back burner but I really enjoyed every single moment. I wish we had more domestic moments between the characters but it was a very satisfying book. Also it’s deliciously spicy!
Read this for:
🤎 marriage of convenience
🤎 journalist x politician pairing
🤎 forced proximity
🤎 black romance
🤎 drama for daysss
🤎 spicy scenes
December 22, 2022
“He didn’t want to be the same when they were done. He wanted to walk this city with her brand seared into his soul, long after she left him and moved on to better things."
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
💕 Tropes: marriage of convenience, forced proximity
📚 Synopsis: Cassian Anders is well on his way to becoming the youngest governor in Illinois history—but all anyone can seem to talk about his how he’s single. When he unexpectedly announces to a journalist that he’s engaged to be married, he needs to find a fiancé… stat. Luckily, journalist Jolie Coldwell shows up at just the right time.
✏️ Review: I had really high hopes for this book and I felt a little let down in the end. I really, really loved the loved the Michelle and Barack vibes of the book, and how Jolie and Cassian really challenged each other to be better people. However, I didn’t quite feel the buildup of the chemistry between them, and I feel like we missed out on a lot of the romance in favor of other parts of the story—which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just not what I was expecting! If you like your romance books to have a little bit more mess and look a little bit more like real life, then this is definitely the book for you!
⚠️ CWs: estranged family, death of a parent, alcohol use, car accident, incarceration of a parent, corruption, racism and harassment in the workplace
🌈 Representation: Black main characters
Final Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
💕 Tropes: marriage of convenience, forced proximity
📚 Synopsis: Cassian Anders is well on his way to becoming the youngest governor in Illinois history—but all anyone can seem to talk about his how he’s single. When he unexpectedly announces to a journalist that he’s engaged to be married, he needs to find a fiancé… stat. Luckily, journalist Jolie Coldwell shows up at just the right time.
✏️ Review: I had really high hopes for this book and I felt a little let down in the end. I really, really loved the loved the Michelle and Barack vibes of the book, and how Jolie and Cassian really challenged each other to be better people. However, I didn’t quite feel the buildup of the chemistry between them, and I feel like we missed out on a lot of the romance in favor of other parts of the story—which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just not what I was expecting! If you like your romance books to have a little bit more mess and look a little bit more like real life, then this is definitely the book for you!
⚠️ CWs: estranged family, death of a parent, alcohol use, car accident, incarceration of a parent, corruption, racism and harassment in the workplace
🌈 Representation: Black main characters
Final Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️
July 24, 2025
★ ★ ★ ★
╰┈➤ ❝I love you, Jolie. Don’t throw what we have away.❞
mood: down bad, happy, content
*.ೃ࿔⋆❀° REVIEW *.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
I’ve been in another huge slump & got inspired to read again due to Nicolandria from Love Island (hehe). This book was the biggest help getting back into reading. I couldn’t put my kindle down for anything.
I just admire Jolie being this strong character, who knows her worth. Like having Cassian grovel continuously at the end was chef kiss!! Tired of having men do the bare minimum. Grovel to her, her again, and the whole damn tv world. I know that’s right!! Whew imma need more of that asap no rocky. Though I’m shocked she let Aaron in after he been getting on my nerves all book and her mother. Actually her mom deserves to 1v1 beat down!
But amazing chemistry, story, and Damn just 10’s across the board.
Tropes:
→ Black Love
→ Third act breakup
→ Fake marriage
╰┈➤ ❝I love you, Jolie. Don’t throw what we have away.❞
mood: down bad, happy, content
*.ೃ࿔⋆❀° REVIEW *.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
I’ve been in another huge slump & got inspired to read again due to Nicolandria from Love Island (hehe). This book was the biggest help getting back into reading. I couldn’t put my kindle down for anything.
I just admire Jolie being this strong character, who knows her worth. Like having Cassian grovel continuously at the end was chef kiss!! Tired of having men do the bare minimum. Grovel to her, her again, and the whole damn tv world. I know that’s right!! Whew imma need more of that asap no rocky. Though I’m shocked she let Aaron in after he been getting on my nerves all book and her mother. Actually her mom deserves to 1v1 beat down!
But amazing chemistry, story, and Damn just 10’s across the board.
Tropes:
→ Black Love
→ Third act breakup
→ Fake marriage
December 22, 2022
4.5 ✨ “Emotions weren’t supposed to be involved in our deal. You’re not supposed to make me open myself up to you and confess things I don’t tell anyone.”
I love a good fake relationship trope and this one checked off all of my favorite things. Both characters had something to prove and whether they tried to downplay things, they needed each other to win. I loved Jolie- she was such an alpha female with enough wordplay to take down anyone. Cassian needed Jolie to balance him; he was all about business and getting revenge. I enjoyed getting to see Cassian and Jolie fall in love; the close proximity and one bed was also a good touch. It was spicy at times, too. I think the author did a good job mixing politics, gentrification, women in the workplace, and family secrets into a strong storyline. It kept me engaged and eager to see how things would turn out. I loved the way Cassian humbled himself and wasn’t above begging to get his wife back, it was cute.
I love a good fake relationship trope and this one checked off all of my favorite things. Both characters had something to prove and whether they tried to downplay things, they needed each other to win. I loved Jolie- she was such an alpha female with enough wordplay to take down anyone. Cassian needed Jolie to balance him; he was all about business and getting revenge. I enjoyed getting to see Cassian and Jolie fall in love; the close proximity and one bed was also a good touch. It was spicy at times, too. I think the author did a good job mixing politics, gentrification, women in the workplace, and family secrets into a strong storyline. It kept me engaged and eager to see how things would turn out. I loved the way Cassian humbled himself and wasn’t above begging to get his wife back, it was cute.
December 24, 2022
This was an absolute delight to read. The banter gave me life!! The first 30% was slow but it picked up after that. I'm a sucker for the marriage of convenience trope and this book delivered. I just wish there was a bit more romance in the book. The steam was excellent though!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 19, 2022
I received this book as an arc (advanced reader copy) and was so excited to get my hands on a black marriage of convenience story.
I’ll start with the things I loved, first off a black successful black couple with believable dialogue!!! Not a single conversation felt overly formal or scripted, and any slang felt inserted naturally. I also selfishly loved that Jolie wasn’t a 5’2” tiny girl that was obsessed with a tall guy. Gotta love tall girl representation lol
While this was a romance both main characters had well developed back stories that helped make their motivations make perfect sense. Those motivations also informed their personal goals throughout the book.
All of the supporting characters were also well developed and never felt unnecessary to the story. They were there right when they needed to be.
Now to some of the things I wished were different. While this was absolutely a romance, I wanted a bit more. Most of the fun of a marriage of convenience comes from being in situations that force you to be affectionate. I feel like this was missing that element and that build up to the moment where they both cave in and embrace each other. Tension!
Overall I think the story needed a bit more on page romancing (showing not telling) For example after a gala he has to take her dress off but we only learn about it in a quick throw away mention the next morning. I would have loved to read more of those moments building up to them coming together.
I really enjoyed the book overall and would read more by this author in the future. Jolie and Cassian were great introduction to her work and I can’t wait to see what else she does. :)
I’ll start with the things I loved, first off a black successful black couple with believable dialogue!!! Not a single conversation felt overly formal or scripted, and any slang felt inserted naturally. I also selfishly loved that Jolie wasn’t a 5’2” tiny girl that was obsessed with a tall guy. Gotta love tall girl representation lol
While this was a romance both main characters had well developed back stories that helped make their motivations make perfect sense. Those motivations also informed their personal goals throughout the book.
All of the supporting characters were also well developed and never felt unnecessary to the story. They were there right when they needed to be.
Now to some of the things I wished were different. While this was absolutely a romance, I wanted a bit more. Most of the fun of a marriage of convenience comes from being in situations that force you to be affectionate. I feel like this was missing that element and that build up to the moment where they both cave in and embrace each other. Tension!
Overall I think the story needed a bit more on page romancing (showing not telling) For example after a gala he has to take her dress off but we only learn about it in a quick throw away mention the next morning. I would have loved to read more of those moments building up to them coming together.
I really enjoyed the book overall and would read more by this author in the future. Jolie and Cassian were great introduction to her work and I can’t wait to see what else she does. :)
December 17, 2022
A little white lie never hurt anyone right??
Jolie and Cassian enter into a contract marriage for all the “right” reasons…it will help his campaign for Governor and help boost her career as an investigative reporter. But none of those reasons was LOVE. Out the gate I loved Jolie..she was fiery, spoke her mind and wasn’t scared to do what needed to be done. Of you ask me. Jolie was definitely a Sagittarius. Then there’s Cassian, wasn’t a fan of his in the beginning but he grew on me and I was rooting for the two of them throughout the story.
Jolies mom was trash and she deserves to never know happiness for how she treated her daughter.
I went into this thinking this was gone be a cute little love story with a Fake marriage they fall in love… the end. Nope this book had some of everything, There was Relationship Drama. Family Drama. Political Scandals. Love and Sex.
All in all it was a good love story with drama and meaningful messages.
I hope you guys check it out and enjoy it as much as I did
Jolie and Cassian enter into a contract marriage for all the “right” reasons…it will help his campaign for Governor and help boost her career as an investigative reporter. But none of those reasons was LOVE. Out the gate I loved Jolie..she was fiery, spoke her mind and wasn’t scared to do what needed to be done. Of you ask me. Jolie was definitely a Sagittarius. Then there’s Cassian, wasn’t a fan of his in the beginning but he grew on me and I was rooting for the two of them throughout the story.
Jolies mom was trash and she deserves to never know happiness for how she treated her daughter.
I went into this thinking this was gone be a cute little love story with a Fake marriage they fall in love… the end. Nope this book had some of everything, There was Relationship Drama. Family Drama. Political Scandals. Love and Sex.
All in all it was a good love story with drama and meaningful messages.
I hope you guys check it out and enjoy it as much as I did
September 23, 2023
Oh boy, this is gonna be rough to unpack. BRB.
Ok, its been a couple of days since I finished the book, and I went into this expecting a fake marriage/marriage of convieniance, enemies to lovers, and also some political manuevering. But, what I got was borderline Obama fan fiction, one side irritation to lovers, a petulant child who is supposedly am up and coming political journalist....you get the idea. I should add the caveat that I am politco with over 8 years of experience in national politics and from the Congressional Press Corps.
So, first - the positives. I really liked the general premise of the book. When it comes to American politics, the American electorate does not like bachelor politicians for the most part. They typically get a pass in Congress - but when that person goes for the executive (Governor or President), voters want to know that person will not be dating while in office and having pillow talk about someone who the voters are not aware of - and especially for male politicians, in the cishetero binary, the wife of the politician can make or break a campaign for the candidate. Often times the wife serves to soften the candidate, allow them to be approachable, and also champion the campaign in other ways that the candidate is not always able to do. So to have the genesis of the novel be that the candidate needs a wife to make him appealing to voters, and that is his primary focus, really worked for me to make the novel interesting compared to what is normally happening. The second is the chemistry between the two characters. I believed that they did not like each other at first (thought they could appreciate the physical attraction between the two) but it wasn't this one sided enemies to lovers, and that the chemistry between the two of them wasn't forced.
Ok, on to the bad and ugly. First, the FMC was such a conundrum to me. The author goes out of her way to tell us as the reader that she is some hotshot political reporter - and don't get me wrong, when Jolie is fully fleshed out to be that reporter, she does a great job. However, one of the first interactions that she has as a potential political wife she asks the candidate and one of his senior aides why he needs a wife. The thing is, to a non politico its a fair question. The problem is that everyone in politics (and those that follow it) know that while male politicians have it easier then their female counterparts, in general, male politicians that want to lead an executive office (whether that be Governor or President), the electorate generally wants to see the person married or in the process of getting married. Even now with the current GOP primary, much is being written and discussed about Senator Scott and his current bachelor status (and his supposedly secret girlfriend).
Second, it was how politicians were framed in the book, especially when it came to Jolie's perspective. It reminded me of the Sorkin (West Wing, Newsroom) POV of how politics is theorized to be: public service with honor and rules, with a healthy respect for the other side. The problem is that Montford and her own bias of politics and politicians was coming through in that Jolie was constantly trying to see what was the "gotcha" of Anders being a politician "like the rest of them" and it's like - all politicians are political, regardless of their raison d'etre of why they entered politics. Some have a great public persona, and are also great at playing by the rules that exist for their function. Others are not so great at it, and also fail to keep their public and private personas seperate. Her overall naive view of politics, and their intentionality was bizarre given what profession Montford had given her.
Third was the political scandals. Perhaps its grandiose and linear for the reader to grasp - perhaps its an allusion to how twisted politics can be when politicians don't have the right motivation (as was the reoccuring argument between Jolie and Anders) but the level of corruption and money changing that Montford went forward to assign the antagonist characters was a bit much, even for Chicago and Illinois, was a stretch that my brain could not let go.
Fourth, Jolie and Anders in their third act breakup. The breakup had to happen for this book, I accept that - Jolie needed to be sure that Anders would be there for her in ways her family had never been able to before, and Anders needed to learn that his wife was important and that he needed to have the right reason for runnig for this office. However, Jolie resistence to the (numerous public attempts) at groveling when Anders was seriously contrite and sorry, from using the debate stage to apologize to her, and then coming to her workplace, risking his campaign and his family image for her, for her to not forgive him simply because she was still angry, irritated me to no end for both of them. Like what is this teenage behavior in public? Peak embarrassment.
There are other issues, both big and small (Ma'am, why is your only comparison Barrak and Michelle??) but this is also a book that I really picked up because of the cover (Kaufman and her cover are are PEAK) and so I'm not too surpirsed that this did not pan out at all.
Ok, its been a couple of days since I finished the book, and I went into this expecting a fake marriage/marriage of convieniance, enemies to lovers, and also some political manuevering. But, what I got was borderline Obama fan fiction, one side irritation to lovers, a petulant child who is supposedly am up and coming political journalist....you get the idea. I should add the caveat that I am politco with over 8 years of experience in national politics and from the Congressional Press Corps.
So, first - the positives. I really liked the general premise of the book. When it comes to American politics, the American electorate does not like bachelor politicians for the most part. They typically get a pass in Congress - but when that person goes for the executive (Governor or President), voters want to know that person will not be dating while in office and having pillow talk about someone who the voters are not aware of - and especially for male politicians, in the cishetero binary, the wife of the politician can make or break a campaign for the candidate. Often times the wife serves to soften the candidate, allow them to be approachable, and also champion the campaign in other ways that the candidate is not always able to do. So to have the genesis of the novel be that the candidate needs a wife to make him appealing to voters, and that is his primary focus, really worked for me to make the novel interesting compared to what is normally happening. The second is the chemistry between the two characters. I believed that they did not like each other at first (thought they could appreciate the physical attraction between the two) but it wasn't this one sided enemies to lovers, and that the chemistry between the two of them wasn't forced.
Ok, on to the bad and ugly. First, the FMC was such a conundrum to me. The author goes out of her way to tell us as the reader that she is some hotshot political reporter - and don't get me wrong, when Jolie is fully fleshed out to be that reporter, she does a great job. However, one of the first interactions that she has as a potential political wife she asks the candidate and one of his senior aides why he needs a wife. The thing is, to a non politico its a fair question. The problem is that everyone in politics (and those that follow it) know that while male politicians have it easier then their female counterparts, in general, male politicians that want to lead an executive office (whether that be Governor or President), the electorate generally wants to see the person married or in the process of getting married. Even now with the current GOP primary, much is being written and discussed about Senator Scott and his current bachelor status (and his supposedly secret girlfriend).
Second, it was how politicians were framed in the book, especially when it came to Jolie's perspective. It reminded me of the Sorkin (West Wing, Newsroom) POV of how politics is theorized to be: public service with honor and rules, with a healthy respect for the other side. The problem is that Montford and her own bias of politics and politicians was coming through in that Jolie was constantly trying to see what was the "gotcha" of Anders being a politician "like the rest of them" and it's like - all politicians are political, regardless of their raison d'etre of why they entered politics. Some have a great public persona, and are also great at playing by the rules that exist for their function. Others are not so great at it, and also fail to keep their public and private personas seperate. Her overall naive view of politics, and their intentionality was bizarre given what profession Montford had given her.
Third was the political scandals. Perhaps its grandiose and linear for the reader to grasp - perhaps its an allusion to how twisted politics can be when politicians don't have the right motivation (as was the reoccuring argument between Jolie and Anders) but the level of corruption and money changing that Montford went forward to assign the antagonist characters was a bit much, even for Chicago and Illinois, was a stretch that my brain could not let go.
Fourth, Jolie and Anders in their third act breakup. The breakup had to happen for this book, I accept that - Jolie needed to be sure that Anders would be there for her in ways her family had never been able to before, and Anders needed to learn that his wife was important and that he needed to have the right reason for runnig for this office. However, Jolie resistence to the (numerous public attempts) at groveling when Anders was seriously contrite and sorry, from using the debate stage to apologize to her, and then coming to her workplace, risking his campaign and his family image for her, for her to not forgive him simply because she was still angry, irritated me to no end for both of them. Like what is this teenage behavior in public? Peak embarrassment.
There are other issues, both big and small (Ma'am, why is your only comparison Barrak and Michelle??) but this is also a book that I really picked up because of the cover (Kaufman and her cover are are PEAK) and so I'm not too surpirsed that this did not pan out at all.
December 26, 2022
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of the book.
*4.5. This was such a great read. I loved the premise of the story as someone with a degree in political science. I particularly liked how even though this was a romance their careers (politics & journalism) weren’t just in the background. It’s a pet peeve of mine when that happens and I liked how we not only saw them at work several times but it felt like their jobs impacted their lives and the story as well, which was very refreshing. The reason for them getting together I initially thought I wouldn’t buy into it but after I started reading the book, seeing as how Cassian is a black man in politics, I could definitely see the pressure leading him to get with the female charter as plausible and somewhat realistic in this day and age. I also loved how other issues like racism, gentrification, trauma etc were touched on and not in a careless way, in which they were randomly mentioned once. They were mentioned several times throughout and you could tell that they impacted the characters. I particularly liked the romance between both characters. I felt like I knew them and they felt like real people who I could see in a relationship. I often have issues with the conflict in romance books but I felt that this conflict was plausible and definitely understandable, particularly with the way both characters were written. While I loved several things I did feel at times a certain character was a bit too cartoonish as a villain, not to spoil anything but it’s a character that’s related to Jolie. I will also say I felt like the resolution of a certain relationship between Jolie and another character surprised me a little bit, I do think in the epilogue seeing the author mention them doing the work to rebuild that made it less jarring but I guess I would have liked a couple scenes seeing this work but I understand the book can’t be too long. Another thing I wasn’t a huge fan of was I felt like there were certain scenes that felt exposition heavy, in a cliche way. I understand that this information has to be given to the reader and other characters in the book in some way but I wish some of these scenes would hav been a bit less info dumpy. As my first arc overall this was a great read and I’m so happy I enjoyed it because I had high expectations and the author did not disappoint. Hopefully this becomes a series and I look forward to reading what else the author publishes.
*4.5. This was such a great read. I loved the premise of the story as someone with a degree in political science. I particularly liked how even though this was a romance their careers (politics & journalism) weren’t just in the background. It’s a pet peeve of mine when that happens and I liked how we not only saw them at work several times but it felt like their jobs impacted their lives and the story as well, which was very refreshing. The reason for them getting together I initially thought I wouldn’t buy into it but after I started reading the book, seeing as how Cassian is a black man in politics, I could definitely see the pressure leading him to get with the female charter as plausible and somewhat realistic in this day and age. I also loved how other issues like racism, gentrification, trauma etc were touched on and not in a careless way, in which they were randomly mentioned once. They were mentioned several times throughout and you could tell that they impacted the characters. I particularly liked the romance between both characters. I felt like I knew them and they felt like real people who I could see in a relationship. I often have issues with the conflict in romance books but I felt that this conflict was plausible and definitely understandable, particularly with the way both characters were written. While I loved several things I did feel at times a certain character was a bit too cartoonish as a villain, not to spoil anything but it’s a character that’s related to Jolie. I will also say I felt like the resolution of a certain relationship between Jolie and another character surprised me a little bit, I do think in the epilogue seeing the author mention them doing the work to rebuild that made it less jarring but I guess I would have liked a couple scenes seeing this work but I understand the book can’t be too long. Another thing I wasn’t a huge fan of was I felt like there were certain scenes that felt exposition heavy, in a cliche way. I understand that this information has to be given to the reader and other characters in the book in some way but I wish some of these scenes would hav been a bit less info dumpy. As my first arc overall this was a great read and I’m so happy I enjoyed it because I had high expectations and the author did not disappoint. Hopefully this becomes a series and I look forward to reading what else the author publishes.
June 6, 2024
4.5 Stars! Marriage of convenience…enemies-to-lovers…political romance…say no more, I’m there!
Thanks to the author, Tinia Montford, and the team at HomeCooked Books for providing me with an advanced audio review copy of this book. All opinions provided in this review are entirely my own.
Tinia is a new author to me and I’m glad I picked this up because I really enjoyed it. Cassian is running for the governor of Illinois. He finds his relationship status (or lack thereof) keeps being mentioned and discussed in the media and voters don’t seem to trust single male candidates. To boost his ratings and get everyone off his back about his relationship status, he accidentally mentions a (non-existent) fiancé. Now he has to find one, or else he will be caught for lying. Meanwhile, Jolie is a journalist who, although successful in her stories, seems to be finding it hard to climb up the corporate ladder. In order to be considered for a new promotion, she needs to find her next hard-hitting story. When she catches Cassian discussing his plans for a fake fiancé, they both decide to have a marriage of convenience that benefits them both; it helps his voter ratings, and she gets to write exclusives about him at her job. But as they start spending more and more time together, they find they don’t dislike each other as much as they originally thought.
This was really entertaining, and I really enjoyed it. I really fell for Cassian and Jolie. I found myself rooting for them both personally in their relationship, but also in their own personal and professional lives. I loved how we really got to know the characters individual; their hopes and their dreams, their past, and what makes them tick. We also, of course, got to see them develop romantically as well. Overall, a really enjoyable read.
Myles Washington and J Shari Michaels were both amazing at the narration. They created a world that hooked me from page 1, all the way to the end. Their voices portrayed the characters perfectly and in a way that was believable. I really enjoyed this duo and recommend the audiobook.
Thanks to the author, Tinia Montford, and the team at HomeCooked Books for providing me with an advanced audio review copy of this book. All opinions provided in this review are entirely my own.
Tinia is a new author to me and I’m glad I picked this up because I really enjoyed it. Cassian is running for the governor of Illinois. He finds his relationship status (or lack thereof) keeps being mentioned and discussed in the media and voters don’t seem to trust single male candidates. To boost his ratings and get everyone off his back about his relationship status, he accidentally mentions a (non-existent) fiancé. Now he has to find one, or else he will be caught for lying. Meanwhile, Jolie is a journalist who, although successful in her stories, seems to be finding it hard to climb up the corporate ladder. In order to be considered for a new promotion, she needs to find her next hard-hitting story. When she catches Cassian discussing his plans for a fake fiancé, they both decide to have a marriage of convenience that benefits them both; it helps his voter ratings, and she gets to write exclusives about him at her job. But as they start spending more and more time together, they find they don’t dislike each other as much as they originally thought.
This was really entertaining, and I really enjoyed it. I really fell for Cassian and Jolie. I found myself rooting for them both personally in their relationship, but also in their own personal and professional lives. I loved how we really got to know the characters individual; their hopes and their dreams, their past, and what makes them tick. We also, of course, got to see them develop romantically as well. Overall, a really enjoyable read.
Myles Washington and J Shari Michaels were both amazing at the narration. They created a world that hooked me from page 1, all the way to the end. Their voices portrayed the characters perfectly and in a way that was believable. I really enjoyed this duo and recommend the audiobook.
January 25, 2023
I love a good fake dating/marriage story and this one did not disappoint. The beautiful cover also caught my attention. The characters are brilliantly written. The plot is well described and the antics are hilarious. The author does a great job of developing characters with depth and wit.
Jolie is a tenacious investigative reporter with a promotion on the horizon Cassain is a lawyer running for Governor. When these two find themselves thrown together on multiple occasions, they quickly realize that getting married could be the solution. The chemistry between these two is palpable and I like them as a couple. Filled with family drama, politics, revenge, and spice this book will keep you turning the pages until the end.
I truly enjoyed this laugh out loud funny story of what goes wrong when two people agree to keep their feelings out of it.
Jolie is a tenacious investigative reporter with a promotion on the horizon Cassain is a lawyer running for Governor. When these two find themselves thrown together on multiple occasions, they quickly realize that getting married could be the solution. The chemistry between these two is palpable and I like them as a couple. Filled with family drama, politics, revenge, and spice this book will keep you turning the pages until the end.
I truly enjoyed this laugh out loud funny story of what goes wrong when two people agree to keep their feelings out of it.
December 22, 2022
It took me quite a bit to get into this book and I have to blame it on Ms. Jolie… let’s get into why.
I signed up for an ARC of this book to post a review for an indie author. This is the first book I’ve read by Tinia Montford and I’m looking forward to more.
Last Minute First Lady is clearly a fake dating love story, which I’m going to eat up every time.
Until a little pass the halfway mark I was not invested in Jolie and Cassian’s love story because I couldn’t really bring myself to care about Jolie. She wouldn’t open up at all and as a reader it made me kind of dislike her. Especially in comparison to Cassian who was not only fine, but an open book. But, that’s exactly the point. As we learn more about Jolie, her past, and her family life, we see why she’s so guarded.
Cassian and Jolie’s banter is top tier— but even better is the way she cuts his campaign manager up as they get to know each other. Although there are some quality spice scenes in this book, I wish there was more time for us to see Cassian and Jolie build there relationship and intimacy. There are so many other things going on in the plot with the election, and Jolie’s criminal investigation, it feels like something is missing to show when their connection became true and not just for show.
Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
I signed up for an ARC of this book to post a review for an indie author. This is the first book I’ve read by Tinia Montford and I’m looking forward to more.
Last Minute First Lady is clearly a fake dating love story, which I’m going to eat up every time.
Until a little pass the halfway mark I was not invested in Jolie and Cassian’s love story because I couldn’t really bring myself to care about Jolie. She wouldn’t open up at all and as a reader it made me kind of dislike her. Especially in comparison to Cassian who was not only fine, but an open book. But, that’s exactly the point. As we learn more about Jolie, her past, and her family life, we see why she’s so guarded.
Cassian and Jolie’s banter is top tier— but even better is the way she cuts his campaign manager up as they get to know each other. Although there are some quality spice scenes in this book, I wish there was more time for us to see Cassian and Jolie build there relationship and intimacy. There are so many other things going on in the plot with the election, and Jolie’s criminal investigation, it feels like something is missing to show when their connection became true and not just for show.
Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
December 2, 2024
First off, this book made me totally question my reading of ACOTAR because Cassian is pronounced two different ways in the two books. I listened to this one on audio and seeing the spelling of Cassian’s name was a jump scare for me.
This was an enjoyable listen that I read over the course of a travel day. I think that Cassian and Jolie were interesting characters who were certainly three dimensional. There were so many plot lines going on at once in this book. That is something I both like and dislike about it. It makes the characters have some meat on their bones, but it also makes for a busy story.
The chemistry between Cassian and Jolie was very interesting. I never truly read them as enemies, but the book has a rivals to lovers vibes.
Something I really deeply appreciated about this book was the focus on family. I feel like that can get lost in a lot of romances and I’m happy that family played such a key theme.
Overall, I would be really interested to explore more of Tinia Montford’s books!
This was an enjoyable listen that I read over the course of a travel day. I think that Cassian and Jolie were interesting characters who were certainly three dimensional. There were so many plot lines going on at once in this book. That is something I both like and dislike about it. It makes the characters have some meat on their bones, but it also makes for a busy story.
The chemistry between Cassian and Jolie was very interesting. I never truly read them as enemies, but the book has a rivals to lovers vibes.
Something I really deeply appreciated about this book was the focus on family. I feel like that can get lost in a lot of romances and I’m happy that family played such a key theme.
Overall, I would be really interested to explore more of Tinia Montford’s books!
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