⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. This fake marriage of convenience was anything but convenient right from the start.

On a normal day, Emmaline Darling isn’t a car thief. She’s just a simple girl who runs a bookstore and adores cats. But when she’s stranded in the desert and needs to get away from her dangerous ex-boyfriend, she picks her only option: swiping the keys to a famous football player’s Lamborghini and speeding away. Football star Graham Harlan is in chaos. First he took a hit on the field that left him with a near-death experience, and now he’s promised his brother he’ll get married to secure the family inheritance. Trouble is he isn’t even seeing anyone. Then a mystery woman steals his car. With his usual stubbornness, he tracks her all the way to Manhattan and gives her an ultimatum: marry me or I’ll press charges. Her choice is obvious, only neither of them expect the sparks that ignite between them. As the end of their arrangement looms, will Graham take a chance on love or let his darling walk away forever?

MY THOUGHTS

Emmy and Graham had an outlandish start and they both tried very hard to hide their pain from each other behind snarky and sexually charged banter. Despite their adamant stubbornness to admit their growing feelings for each other, they stuck together and supported each other. Following their relationship development was fun and riveting, even though the reasons for their fake marriage were a bit feeble. I loved their families and friends, even the evil Holden and Divina, who both played integral parts in the story.

The book dealt with the dangers of recurring concussions in football in a realistic and believable manner. I don’t know much about it, but I was drawn in by Graham’s struggle and his loved ones’ feelings about it.

These two snuck into my heart and stayed there. I can recommend this if you like steamy romance that also deals with some difficult issues. See what other readers are saying on Goodreads.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: December 5, 2023
Sensuality Rating: Hot
Tropes: Fake Marriage, Marriage of Convenience, Sports Romance