I was in such a book hangover this week, it felt like nothing was going to pull me out of it – until I got 5 minutes into this twisty, suspenseful ride. The blurb really doesn’t do it justice; there’s a whole lot going on in this dark and delicious romance. I absolutely LOVED the transformation in the characters and their journey from start to finish, and looking back it’s easy to see the ways this new-to-me author was setting up the dominos. I knew very little about the story going in, and that kept me on my toes the whole way through. I truly had no idea where the story was going to take me, but I had a great time with these characters. They’re multi-faceted and layered, with a romance that’s complex, angsty, and definitely a little messy. It takes some familiar tropes from mafia romance and spins them on their axis for an entirely new experience. It’s also a true romantic suspense with a subplot that I was actually invested in, so that made for a sleepless night as I stayed up bingeing this addictive read. I loved it!
The story follows Landyn (23), a woman whose father has promised her to the cartel. While Landyn has never been involved in that side of his life, she’s aware that her dad isn’t the best guy – but she never expected him to sell her out like this. Forced into a marriage she definitely doesn’t want, Landyn is shocked when her fiancé is shot at the altar… and things just get crazier from there. Suddenly, Landyn is married to another stranger, and this one is even more complicated than the last. He’s warm one minute and cold the next, and it’s giving Landyn whiplash. Because there might just be a nice guy underneath the cool facade, and she’s not sure what to do with that. As the two navigate the complexities of their new marriage and try to figure each other out, they development a connection that neither expected… and that might just be the death of them both.
So I’m going to mention a major element that’s not in the blurb, but we find out almost immediately – Landyn’s new husband is an undercover agent. He’s a good guy masquerading as a bad one, and his only chance of survival is keeping up the ruse. That means falling for his new wife is out of the question, and it adds a VERY interesting layer of tension to the story. I’ve never read one quite like this. Landyn finds herself softening towards the man she thinks he is, but she doesn’t have the full story, and that’s sure to cause some problems along the way. I really loved that it constantly surprised me, and Asher does a fantastic job of playing with tropes and making them her own. It’s darker and significantly more suspenseful than anticipated (LOTS of triggers in this one), but that also made it a more dynamic read. Every time I thought the romance was developing too quickly or the story was veering in the wrong direction, Asher proved that she knew what she was doing. Her writing was a little rough at times, but the foundation of the story is wholly engaging. I loved going on this journey, and I had such a great time. And now my book hangover begins anew, lol!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3SeJwpr
Blurb:
From USA Today Bestselling author Brynne Asher…
An arranged marriage, forced-proximity, thrilling romantic suspense.
I’m nothing but a payment, bartered to the most powerful cartel in the northern hemisphere and forced to marry a man I do not know.
My father sold me to save his own skin. He might as well have ushered me to the gates of hell.
The Marino family is sadistic. If rumors are true, they’ll own me, use me, control me, and strip me of every freedom I’ve taken for granted. I’ll be a shiny new toy in a dark and deadly underworld.
So when my husband drops the bomb that our arranged marriage is only a means to an end, I realize there’s something worse than merely being a possession.
My stupid, stupid heart.
In the end, the last thing I expected to do was fall in love.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3SeJwpr
About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling Author Brynne Asher: writer of romance, lover of caffeine and cocktails.
Brynne lives in the Midwest with her husband, three children, and her perfect dog. When she isn’t creating pretend people and drama, she’s running her kids around and doing laundry. Brynne thrives on skincare and online shopping while being fabulous in her favorite ratty pajamas.
Sign up for Brynne’s newsletter, it’s a spam-free zone: http://eepurl.com/gFVMUP
Follow Brynne on the Freakybook: https://www.facebook.com/brynneasherauthor/
Join Brynne’s author group, where humans are nice and cows are cool: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BrynneAsher
Follow Jeeves on social media!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Jeeves Reads Romance 