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Marriage by Contract #2
The Wrong Bride
One Shotgun Wedding + One Wrong Bride = One Big Mess
Duncan Archer doesn't do relationships. He prefers buying a date over buying dinner for a date.
One night in Paris, he is set up to believe that the daughter of a French mob boss is his paid date. When she ends up pregnant, there's no way out but marriage. First, Elsa is carrying his child. Second (or maybe first?), her father has a gun to his head.
Now, the eternal bachelor is expecting a baby, dealing with a violently criminal father-in-law, and coping with parents thrilled about becoming grandparents.
And his new bride? She's sweet, strong, and surprisingly captivating. He can't get enough of her both in and out of bed. She says she's in love with him. He's behaving like he's in love with her and he doesn't even know what that four-lettered word means. She's scaring the life out of him.
Old habits die hard and in his attempt to protect his heart, Duncan doesn't trust Elsa and does the one thing she begged him not to.
Too late, Duncan realizes that the wrong bride is actually the right wife. If he can't win Elsa's trust back, he could lose the two most important people in his life, his wife and their child.
The Wrong Bride is a billionaire, surprise pregnancy, marriage of convenience romance. It's a complete standalone and features:
✔️ Shotgun wedding
✔️ Marriage of convenience
✔️ Surprise pregnancy
✔️ Forced proximity
✔️ Billionaire romance
✔️ Mafia adjacent
✔️ Age-gap (10 years)
✔️ Set in Paris
✔️ No cheating
✔️ Complete standalone
Duncan Archer doesn't do relationships. He prefers buying a date over buying dinner for a date.
One night in Paris, he is set up to believe that the daughter of a French mob boss is his paid date. When she ends up pregnant, there's no way out but marriage. First, Elsa is carrying his child. Second (or maybe first?), her father has a gun to his head.
Now, the eternal bachelor is expecting a baby, dealing with a violently criminal father-in-law, and coping with parents thrilled about becoming grandparents.
And his new bride? She's sweet, strong, and surprisingly captivating. He can't get enough of her both in and out of bed. She says she's in love with him. He's behaving like he's in love with her and he doesn't even know what that four-lettered word means. She's scaring the life out of him.
Old habits die hard and in his attempt to protect his heart, Duncan doesn't trust Elsa and does the one thing she begged him not to.
Too late, Duncan realizes that the wrong bride is actually the right wife. If he can't win Elsa's trust back, he could lose the two most important people in his life, his wife and their child.
The Wrong Bride is a billionaire, surprise pregnancy, marriage of convenience romance. It's a complete standalone and features:
✔️ Shotgun wedding
✔️ Marriage of convenience
✔️ Surprise pregnancy
✔️ Forced proximity
✔️ Billionaire romance
✔️ Mafia adjacent
✔️ Age-gap (10 years)
✔️ Set in Paris
✔️ No cheating
✔️ Complete standalone
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2024
About the author
Maya Alden
28 books404 followersWith a background in literature and a heart filled with hope, Maya pours her emotions onto the pages of her novels, capturing the essence of true love and the power it holds to transform lives. Combining unforgettable characters, sizzling chemistry, and heartfelt emotions, Maya's stories will whisk you into a world of passion and enchantment.
Maya invites you to join her on a journey of love, laughter, and happily-ever-afters that will leave you with a sigh and a smile.
Maya invites you to join her on a journey of love, laughter, and happily-ever-afters that will leave you with a sigh and a smile.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
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September 23, 2024DNF at 70%
Sooo I know I said I’ll never read Maya’s books again…. I lied.
This is the dumbest MMC like ever😭 this man is in his thirties and he’s so clueless it was a TURN OFF😭 .
“I don't know what the fuck it means to love a woman,”
“Elsa, I don't know what it means to be married.”
Whenever he fucks up he pulls the “I don’t know how to..” card😭 it was sooo annoying , like what do you actually KNOW ??.
And there was a scene where he let his agent friend scare her and he just stood there watching, mind you this is his PREGNANT WIFE.
“For Christ's sake, Elsa, I said I was sorry," I yelled.
"You need to work on your apology, Duncan."
I shook my head. This wasn't going to be my life. I wasn't going to be one of those men who fought with their wives; be part of a couple that bickered. Fuck no!
"You're lucky to get an apology, ma douce," I told her calmly, and her eyes filled with confusion. "I do what I want to do and when I want to do it. If you don't like it, that's your problem, not mine."
"You're seriously saying this to me?" she whispered.
"Yes. I'm not in the market for a nagging wife," I retorted coolly. "That's not the kind of marriage I want.”
Yeah maybe this will work for someone else I just don’t like this type of MMC.
Sooo I know I said I’ll never read Maya’s books again…. I lied.
This is the dumbest MMC like ever😭 this man is in his thirties and he’s so clueless it was a TURN OFF😭 .
“I don't know what the fuck it means to love a woman,”
“Elsa, I don't know what it means to be married.”
Whenever he fucks up he pulls the “I don’t know how to..” card😭 it was sooo annoying , like what do you actually KNOW ??.
And there was a scene where he let his agent friend scare her and he just stood there watching, mind you this is his PREGNANT WIFE.
“For Christ's sake, Elsa, I said I was sorry," I yelled.
"You need to work on your apology, Duncan."
I shook my head. This wasn't going to be my life. I wasn't going to be one of those men who fought with their wives; be part of a couple that bickered. Fuck no!
"You're lucky to get an apology, ma douce," I told her calmly, and her eyes filled with confusion. "I do what I want to do and when I want to do it. If you don't like it, that's your problem, not mine."
"You're seriously saying this to me?" she whispered.
"Yes. I'm not in the market for a nagging wife," I retorted coolly. "That's not the kind of marriage I want.”
Yeah maybe this will work for someone else I just don’t like this type of MMC.
October 3, 2024
"Boring! They have sex once, and she gets pregnant. She lies to him about who she really is, but apparently, that doesn't matter. And they're both totally fine with a shotgun wedding. I liked Duncan in the first book, but here... he's so dull, like he has no backbone. I was really looking forward to this book."
November 14, 2024
Let me preface these complaints by saying Alden is my favorite romance author currently. Her books are getting better and better. This book is VERY MUCH worth a read as this author’s storytelling is so talented.
Spoiler alert 🚨 (or personal note for me to remember the book)
The premise of this one is silly, but I’m an Alden fan so I have it 3.5 stars rounded up. There was very little angst and I found it a little boring, honestly.
Spoiler alert 🚨 (or personal note for me to remember the book)
The premise of this one is silly, but I’m an Alden fan so I have it 3.5 stars rounded up. There was very little angst and I found it a little boring, honestly.
September 22, 2024
These are my favourite type of guilty pleasure romance reads - drama, grovelling, a little danger. I love it. This is a shotgun wedding of convenience after an accidental pregnancy. The daughter of a mob boss, Elsa wants nothing to do with that world. Her solution? Get rid of her V card so she can’t be married off by her father. After one night with Duncan, her father forces him to marry her after learning about her pregnancy. So more like a marriage of inconvenience. There is so much push and pull, trust and commitment issues. It’s growing pains and grovelling. I enjoyed it, couldn’t put it down!
September 22, 2024
This books needs a good editor! It feels sloppy and fast. Too many missing words. Too many wrong words used. Sentences that are incomplete and don’t make sense. The story line was boring and weird. I couldn’t take anything seriously. I did a lot of skimming toward the end because I just couldn’t make myself hold interest.
November 13, 2024
I enjoyed the first half of this book.
It’s a decent read just lacked the emotion on the betrayal and grovel like her other recent releases.
It’s a decent read just lacked the emotion on the betrayal and grovel like her other recent releases.
September 21, 2024
My rating: 4 stars
What I loved: I absolutely love a good betrayal….. I mean who doesn’t ;) with redeeming H. I really liked Duncan(H). Yeah he messed up but him learning to love and be what Elsa(h) needed was sweet. The way Elsa stood up for herself was great especially making Duncan earn her trust back. Lastly, I’m glad Dom redeem himself.
What I didn’t like: I didn’t like how Elsa’s father just brushed off the attempt kidnapping. I felt that was odd especially what kind of man he was.
***Major Spoilers/ Details/Triggers: h’s dad is a bad guy who is trying to marry her off. h refuses to marry the guy, decides to take her friends place as an escort. H hires her and h loses her v card. Three months later h finds out that she is pregnant. When she tells her father, he finds out who the father is and demands they get married. H agrees to marry if not the h’s father will kill him. H doesn’t do relationships (only escorts) and has a hard time trusting and opening up. They get married and H ignores the h. h wants a real marriage. When h cooks and asks the H to talk, H agrees to try and they have a great wedding night. The next day the H leaves and tells her he is away on business when in fact he is hiding at his hotel room. h finds out and goes back to her place. H’s brother talks some since into him and H goes to the h. H and h decide to make the marriage work and H moves in with the h. When a friend that the H help before tells the H that he believes the h got with the H because her father asked her too, he thinks he can’t trust her (the h’s father had been wanting to did business with the H’s family). When the father demands they have a party to announce they are married, they reluctantly agree. h asks H to promise to not leave her or use her like her father. H agrees. At the party the H leaves the h to socialize for work and the guy that her father promise the h to confronts her, making threats. One of h’s friends saves her and H doesn’t like that the h knows him. Again the H’s friend tells the H that the h is in with the dad and the friend, who is a weapon dealer. The friend doesn’t believe the H is the father. He tells the H that he needs the h to plant a bug in the friend’s house since she goes to visit the friend’s father. H tells the h to come to his office and lets his friend interrogate and threaten her if she doesn’t plant the bugs. h looks at the H but he doesn’t step in, H breaking his promise. h tells him no and tells the H she is done with the marriage and to stay away from her. The H’s friend realizes he was wrong and the H realizes that he messed up. H goes to the h to apologize and h said she is done. H, after being told by the h’s friend and brother that he is an idiot who is in love with his wife, decides to right his wrong and earn his wife’s trust back. After a few hiccups, h and H work things out and get their HEA.
Final thoughts: I enjoyed this book and I definitely will go back and read the brother’s book.
What I loved: I absolutely love a good betrayal….. I mean who doesn’t ;) with redeeming H. I really liked Duncan(H). Yeah he messed up but him learning to love and be what Elsa(h) needed was sweet. The way Elsa stood up for herself was great especially making Duncan earn her trust back. Lastly, I’m glad Dom redeem himself.
What I didn’t like: I didn’t like how Elsa’s father just brushed off the attempt kidnapping. I felt that was odd especially what kind of man he was.
***Major Spoilers/ Details/Triggers: h’s dad is a bad guy who is trying to marry her off. h refuses to marry the guy, decides to take her friends place as an escort. H hires her and h loses her v card. Three months later h finds out that she is pregnant. When she tells her father, he finds out who the father is and demands they get married. H agrees to marry if not the h’s father will kill him. H doesn’t do relationships (only escorts) and has a hard time trusting and opening up. They get married and H ignores the h. h wants a real marriage. When h cooks and asks the H to talk, H agrees to try and they have a great wedding night. The next day the H leaves and tells her he is away on business when in fact he is hiding at his hotel room. h finds out and goes back to her place. H’s brother talks some since into him and H goes to the h. H and h decide to make the marriage work and H moves in with the h. When a friend that the H help before tells the H that he believes the h got with the H because her father asked her too, he thinks he can’t trust her (the h’s father had been wanting to did business with the H’s family). When the father demands they have a party to announce they are married, they reluctantly agree. h asks H to promise to not leave her or use her like her father. H agrees. At the party the H leaves the h to socialize for work and the guy that her father promise the h to confronts her, making threats. One of h’s friends saves her and H doesn’t like that the h knows him. Again the H’s friend tells the H that the h is in with the dad and the friend, who is a weapon dealer. The friend doesn’t believe the H is the father. He tells the H that he needs the h to plant a bug in the friend’s house since she goes to visit the friend’s father. H tells the h to come to his office and lets his friend interrogate and threaten her if she doesn’t plant the bugs. h looks at the H but he doesn’t step in, H breaking his promise. h tells him no and tells the H she is done with the marriage and to stay away from her. The H’s friend realizes he was wrong and the H realizes that he messed up. H goes to the h to apologize and h said she is done. H, after being told by the h’s friend and brother that he is an idiot who is in love with his wife, decides to right his wrong and earn his wife’s trust back. After a few hiccups, h and H work things out and get their HEA.
Final thoughts: I enjoyed this book and I definitely will go back and read the brother’s book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2024
I liked the first one in series. This one was a lot of unsaid feelings and a lot of exaggerated love towards the h. I mean it was really OTT. She had a BFF guy who could kill for her and die for her, a BFF escort, a super mother in law, a perfect brother in law, a criminal friend who saw her as a sister. She was sooo amazing 🤣
I mean, i get it, as an author you will want your heroine to be loved but in real life no one is that perfect. It cel like a cult for the heroine. Dnf at 60% because I just couldn't stand how everyone enamored with her
I mean, i get it, as an author you will want your heroine to be loved but in real life no one is that perfect. It cel like a cult for the heroine. Dnf at 60% because I just couldn't stand how everyone enamored with her
September 22, 2024
This was so boring what a waste of potential story.
September 2, 2024
This was a fantastic read! I absolutely loved Elsa’s character. She was incredibly strong and knew her self-respect. I liked how she didn’t take any shit from anyone, cared deeply for the people she loved, craved love and family and simply wanted a peaceful life.
Duncan, the male lead, was a character we first met in Damian’s book, and I was thrilled to finally read his story. Elsa's father forced him to get married at gunpoint after she became pregnant, although he would have still married her since he liked her and she was pregnant, but struggled with his feelings due to his trust issues, and f up and did something that Elsa hated the most, especially knowing she was pregnant, and it made me so mad.. However, he did realized his mistake at that exact moment, and it became clear that he truly loved her.
Their relationship was filled with some ups and down but beautiful and cute moments too, making it a delightful read overall.
We were finally properly introduced to Dean, and I am very excited to read his book next. Additionally, two new amazing characters, Dom and Vincent, were introduced, and I am eagerly looking forward to their stories. One of the most iconic character in the book is def mother Marcella. I absolutely love her chaotic and badass nature!
Note: I received an ARC of this book. This does not affect my opinion or review.
Duncan, the male lead, was a character we first met in Damian’s book, and I was thrilled to finally read his story. Elsa's father forced him to get married at gunpoint after she became pregnant, although he would have still married her since he liked her and she was pregnant, but struggled with his feelings due to his trust issues, and f up and did something that Elsa hated the most, especially knowing she was pregnant, and it made me so mad.. However, he did realized his mistake at that exact moment, and it became clear that he truly loved her.
Their relationship was filled with some ups and down but beautiful and cute moments too, making it a delightful read overall.
We were finally properly introduced to Dean, and I am very excited to read his book next. Additionally, two new amazing characters, Dom and Vincent, were introduced, and I am eagerly looking forward to their stories. One of the most iconic character in the book is def mother Marcella. I absolutely love her chaotic and badass nature!
Note: I received an ARC of this book. This does not affect my opinion or review.
November 12, 2024
Quick and entertaining
It was great fun getting to know Elsa and Duncan. Their relationship starts in a very unconventional manner, giving them a pretty rocky start. There are many similarities to Elise and Damian from book one.
Setting this story in France with many scenes in a bakery was a great choice. This book adds a criminal element not present in book one, but didn’t match the angst of the first book in my opinion.
When Duncan messes up, Elsa stands firm in her choices. To his credit, Duncan gives Elsa the space she needs and slowly makes amends. It was an enjoyable read without being as emotionally draining as the first book.
It was great fun getting to know Elsa and Duncan. Their relationship starts in a very unconventional manner, giving them a pretty rocky start. There are many similarities to Elise and Damian from book one.
Setting this story in France with many scenes in a bakery was a great choice. This book adds a criminal element not present in book one, but didn’t match the angst of the first book in my opinion.
When Duncan messes up, Elsa stands firm in her choices. To his credit, Duncan gives Elsa the space she needs and slowly makes amends. It was an enjoyable read without being as emotionally draining as the first book.
September 21, 2024
You are going to love Elsa, Duncan you are going to want to kil. I’d like to point out it why we read these books so it is ok 😀.
If you have read the previous books, and I suggest you do they are amazing, you already know Duncan. Duncan does not do relationships just sex, so you can imagine his dismay when not only does he have to get married but he is also doing to be a father.
Elsa is sweet and caring until Duncan does the one thing she begged him not to do. She is strong confident and done with Duncan. Commence the grovel. This is a great addition to the series.
If you have read the previous books, and I suggest you do they are amazing, you already know Duncan. Duncan does not do relationships just sex, so you can imagine his dismay when not only does he have to get married but he is also doing to be a father.
Elsa is sweet and caring until Duncan does the one thing she begged him not to do. She is strong confident and done with Duncan. Commence the grovel. This is a great addition to the series.
October 26, 2024
2.5 stars
it was fine. i just got bored tbh
it was fine. i just got bored tbh
November 10, 2024
Duncan and Elsa🩷🩷
September 4, 2024
I received the ARC of this book for an honest review.
What a amazing story, Maya is a wonderful author and her books always capture my attention.
This book was no different, I found Duncan a little different from her other male characters but not a bad one, Elsa is sweet and funny. Were there moments when you wanted to punch Duncan in the face? Yes. Often, but I like books like that.
The spice was so good! 🔥
Dom? 😾
Elsa? 🥰🥰
What a amazing story, Maya is a wonderful author and her books always capture my attention.
This book was no different, I found Duncan a little different from her other male characters but not a bad one, Elsa is sweet and funny. Were there moments when you wanted to punch Duncan in the face? Yes. Often, but I like books like that.
The spice was so good! 🔥
Dom? 😾
Elsa? 🥰🥰
September 21, 2024
I always look forward to Maya Alden's new books. She did it again. She writes characters you root for. There is a gut punch moment. Good amount of grovel and the right amount of heat. Duncan and Elsa's story had me staying up late to finish it in one night. Keep 'em coming Maya. I see this on my list of books to re-read whenever I'm in a book slump.
I received an ARC of this book. This does not affect my opinion or review.
I received an ARC of this book. This does not affect my opinion or review.
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October 3, 2024I just can’t with this book, maybe the author too.
How can someone write up something so bad because every character is really terrible.
I hate Duncan more than Damien. He only has one excuse for his shitty behaviour and that is he doesn’t know how to love or what love is. Babe, Darling … it’s okay if you don’t know what love is but DO YOU KNOW HOW TO BEHAVE LIKE A DECENT HUMAN BEING ??
The way he said some things … OMG !! They got on my nerves !!!
- He only likes fucking Elsa and nothing else. NOTHING ELSE.
- He never trusts her. Accuses her of conspiring with her father to have sex with him & then getting knocked up by him. He thinks it’s all their conspiracy against him. STFU MF !
- His wife is nervous and tells him that she needs him to be with her at the party. She gets threatened by a bad guy. He sees she’s upset and instead of asking what’s wrong he says he doesn’t want a nagging wife. He doesn’t want a clingy wife. You my guy would stay single forever.
- OMG ! My eyebrows hit my hairline at this point : “You're lucky to get an apology, ma douce," I told her calmly, and her eyes filled with confusion. "I do what I want to do and when I want to do it. If you don't like it, that's your problem, not mine.”
“A peaceful one, Elsa. Not one where you're needy and clingy. You live your life, and I live mine."
I had not done a good job telling her about my boundaries, and I should have. I'd just been mesmerized by the honeymoon period, that's all. Now that was over, and the real marriage where my wife yelled at me and made me lose my temper had begun. I wasn't going to allow that.
"Peaceful?" she shook her head in disbelief.
"Yes."
"By that you mean that I shut up when I have a problem with you, don't you?"
"Yes," I said sternly. "That would be much appreciated. You have a problem with me. I can't solve that for you.”
People, just know that these lines are from one scene only and this asshole says such things for the entirety of the book.
- He also lets a guy insult his wife, threaten his pregnant wife, threatening to take away her baby from him & put her in jail. He sits there silently when all that is happening. Can I just slap this guy ?? Please !!
- and after every fight they have sex. Which is the main point of this book.
This scene below is after the above incident. They breakup and meet at the ultrasound. This is what he does….
“He lingered for a long moment and then stood up. He looked at my breasts and groaned. "They've become darker." He put a finger on a nipple, and my whole body swayed, not away from him, but closer to him.
"Stop, Duncan," I said softly because I was having trouble speaking. “I miss you." He leaned his head and took a nipple in his mouth. I gasped, my legs going weak. But his arms were around me, holding me. He then kissed the nipple and suckled the other and kissed it, too.
He straightened. "Alors, ma belle.”
This girl doesn’t have a backbone.GIRL STAND UP FOR YOUR SELF !!!
I DNF’ed it at 72%. I was thinking about DNF’ing it long before. I’m not reading this series anymore. I’m probably not reading maya Alden book again.
How can someone write up something so bad because every character is really terrible.
I hate Duncan more than Damien. He only has one excuse for his shitty behaviour and that is he doesn’t know how to love or what love is. Babe, Darling … it’s okay if you don’t know what love is but DO YOU KNOW HOW TO BEHAVE LIKE A DECENT HUMAN BEING ??
The way he said some things … OMG !! They got on my nerves !!!
- He only likes fucking Elsa and nothing else. NOTHING ELSE.
- He never trusts her. Accuses her of conspiring with her father to have sex with him & then getting knocked up by him. He thinks it’s all their conspiracy against him. STFU MF !
- His wife is nervous and tells him that she needs him to be with her at the party. She gets threatened by a bad guy. He sees she’s upset and instead of asking what’s wrong he says he doesn’t want a nagging wife. He doesn’t want a clingy wife. You my guy would stay single forever.
- OMG ! My eyebrows hit my hairline at this point : “You're lucky to get an apology, ma douce," I told her calmly, and her eyes filled with confusion. "I do what I want to do and when I want to do it. If you don't like it, that's your problem, not mine.”
“A peaceful one, Elsa. Not one where you're needy and clingy. You live your life, and I live mine."
I had not done a good job telling her about my boundaries, and I should have. I'd just been mesmerized by the honeymoon period, that's all. Now that was over, and the real marriage where my wife yelled at me and made me lose my temper had begun. I wasn't going to allow that.
"Peaceful?" she shook her head in disbelief.
"Yes."
"By that you mean that I shut up when I have a problem with you, don't you?"
"Yes," I said sternly. "That would be much appreciated. You have a problem with me. I can't solve that for you.”
People, just know that these lines are from one scene only and this asshole says such things for the entirety of the book.
- He also lets a guy insult his wife, threaten his pregnant wife, threatening to take away her baby from him & put her in jail. He sits there silently when all that is happening. Can I just slap this guy ?? Please !!
- and after every fight they have sex. Which is the main point of this book.
This scene below is after the above incident. They breakup and meet at the ultrasound. This is what he does….
“He lingered for a long moment and then stood up. He looked at my breasts and groaned. "They've become darker." He put a finger on a nipple, and my whole body swayed, not away from him, but closer to him.
"Stop, Duncan," I said softly because I was having trouble speaking. “I miss you." He leaned his head and took a nipple in his mouth. I gasped, my legs going weak. But his arms were around me, holding me. He then kissed the nipple and suckled the other and kissed it, too.
He straightened. "Alors, ma belle.”
This girl doesn’t have a backbone.GIRL STAND UP FOR YOUR SELF !!!
I DNF’ed it at 72%. I was thinking about DNF’ing it long before. I’m not reading this series anymore. I’m probably not reading maya Alden book again.
September 27, 2024
This book started out so well but ended up being such a disappointment. The H, Duncan, was an absolute a$$hole and the h, Elsa, was a spineless doormat.
1. Right from the start, Duncan used his “inexperience” with relationships to excuse his nasty attitude and treatment of the Elsa.
“You’re lucky to get an apology.”
“I do what I want to do and when I want to do it. If you don’t like it, that’s your problem, not mine.”
“I’m not in the market for a nagging wife.”
“Not one (a marriage) where you’re needy and clingy. You live your live and I live mine.”
“You have a problem with me. I can’t solve that for you.”
“We have an arrangement … or didn’t you forget that?”
After he said all those hurtful things to her, SHE came to HIM and tried to smooth things over.
2. After Duncan broke his word to Elsa and tried to use her to plant listening devices in Vincent’s apartment, Duncan said about Dom, “I almost lodged my fist in his face several times that afternoon when he ruined my marriage a week ago.” Seriously? Dom didn’t ruin your marriage, Dumba$$. You did that all on your own.
3. Yet another book where, instead of supporting the h when the H betrayed her, her friends thought they knew better and tried to force her to spend time with him.
4. I really hate it when, after the H betrays the h, she tries to take partial responsibility for his betrayal. Elsa said, “Maybe I should have checked with Duncan to make sure he understood I wanted a real marriage. Looking back on all the conversations I never had with him, I realized just how much I messed up too.”
5. After all the times that Duncan had betrayed Elsa, he barely apologized to her. All he had to do was come to her doctor’s appointment and cry a few tears and she had already forgiven him. She said, “This doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you, Duncan." and then she thought to herself "All lies!”
6. And then, of course, Elsa had a minor crisis with her pregnancy and allowed Duncan to move in with her, sleep in the same bed and bulldoze his way back into her life.
7. After everything Duncan had done and said, Elsa still felt guilty for being upset with him. “I wanted to give in, I really did … I knew it hurt him – I could see it – and I wished I could be more flexible, more forgiving.” “I hated that I didn’t trust him. Hated hurting him.”
8. Predictably, Elsa almost got kidnapped and everything was forgiven.
DNF
1. Right from the start, Duncan used his “inexperience” with relationships to excuse his nasty attitude and treatment of the Elsa.
“You’re lucky to get an apology.”
“I do what I want to do and when I want to do it. If you don’t like it, that’s your problem, not mine.”
“I’m not in the market for a nagging wife.”
“Not one (a marriage) where you’re needy and clingy. You live your live and I live mine.”
“You have a problem with me. I can’t solve that for you.”
“We have an arrangement … or didn’t you forget that?”
After he said all those hurtful things to her, SHE came to HIM and tried to smooth things over.
2. After Duncan broke his word to Elsa and tried to use her to plant listening devices in Vincent’s apartment, Duncan said about Dom, “I almost lodged my fist in his face several times that afternoon when he ruined my marriage a week ago.” Seriously? Dom didn’t ruin your marriage, Dumba$$. You did that all on your own.
3. Yet another book where, instead of supporting the h when the H betrayed her, her friends thought they knew better and tried to force her to spend time with him.
4. I really hate it when, after the H betrays the h, she tries to take partial responsibility for his betrayal. Elsa said, “Maybe I should have checked with Duncan to make sure he understood I wanted a real marriage. Looking back on all the conversations I never had with him, I realized just how much I messed up too.”
5. After all the times that Duncan had betrayed Elsa, he barely apologized to her. All he had to do was come to her doctor’s appointment and cry a few tears and she had already forgiven him. She said, “This doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you, Duncan." and then she thought to herself "All lies!”
6. And then, of course, Elsa had a minor crisis with her pregnancy and allowed Duncan to move in with her, sleep in the same bed and bulldoze his way back into her life.
7. After everything Duncan had done and said, Elsa still felt guilty for being upset with him. “I wanted to give in, I really did … I knew it hurt him – I could see it – and I wished I could be more flexible, more forgiving.” “I hated that I didn’t trust him. Hated hurting him.”
8. Predictably, Elsa almost got kidnapped and everything was forgiven.
DNF
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2024
One passionate night with wealthy business man Archer led to much more than the innocent Elsa had planned. First, she fell in love with the man who treated her tenderly as claimed her innocence. Then, she discovered that she was gifted with an unexpected souvenir from that very passionate evening. Last, but not least, she found herself married to Archer, at her mafia boss father’s insistence. Now the two must find away to make the most of the situation they find themselves in…newly married with a baby on the way. It quickly becomes an advance and then retreat situation while both try to sort out their tumultuous emotions, what they expect from each other and where or how they see their relationship going. Just when they seem to make real headway, Archer’s distrust, fears and general ignorance of how a relationship works, sends everything between them into chaos. It happens time and again, leaving Elsa distraught, confused and tired of hoping that their marriage could be a successful love match. Will he ever get it right and admit his feelings to his wife before he loses her?
I have to say Archer is his own worst enemy. Even after witnessing the love and connect in his brothers and his parent’s marriages, he refuses to believe in love. He would rather believe a disgruntled, world weary operative than his own eyes, ears and heart. Elsa keeps showing and telling him she loves him, and shows him the simpler life she enjoys rather than his much more privileged life, yet he still refuses to trust her. I admire Elsa for her optimism, her strength of will to carry on wth or without him, and her determination to make her business work without her father’s influence. Fortunately for Archer, Else also has a warm heart and the capacity to forgive, though she does make Archer work for it. The addition of a bit of danger and suspense into their story makes this book even more engrossing. I loved the dynamics in Archer’s family, the way the tease, goad, advise and support each other. I also loved their easy acceptance of Elsa and the baby to come.
I won’t hesitate to recommend this angsty and engrossing book.
I have to say Archer is his own worst enemy. Even after witnessing the love and connect in his brothers and his parent’s marriages, he refuses to believe in love. He would rather believe a disgruntled, world weary operative than his own eyes, ears and heart. Elsa keeps showing and telling him she loves him, and shows him the simpler life she enjoys rather than his much more privileged life, yet he still refuses to trust her. I admire Elsa for her optimism, her strength of will to carry on wth or without him, and her determination to make her business work without her father’s influence. Fortunately for Archer, Else also has a warm heart and the capacity to forgive, though she does make Archer work for it. The addition of a bit of danger and suspense into their story makes this book even more engrossing. I loved the dynamics in Archer’s family, the way the tease, goad, advise and support each other. I also loved their easy acceptance of Elsa and the baby to come.
I won’t hesitate to recommend this angsty and engrossing book.
September 7, 2024
✨ Wow, just wow! Maya Alden has truly outdone herself with The Wrong Bride! From start to finish, I was utterly mesmerized by the beauty of this story. Maya’s ability to craft such a perfect blend of heart-pounding tension, deep emotional connection, and steamy romance is nothing short of extraordinary. Duncan and Elsa's relationship is the kind that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. Elsa is such a powerhouse—strong yet tender, fiercely protective, and utterly lovable. And Duncan... what a journey he goes on! Watching him slowly unravel the walls around his heart and fall head over heels in love with Elsa was simply magical. His struggles felt so real, and Maya has this incredible talent for making even the most flawed characters endearing. The setting, the plot twists, the slow burn of trust, and Duncan's ultimate redemption were woven together with such grace and care—it truly made me believe in the power of love against all odds.
What I love most about Maya's writing is her ability to bring out every emotion in the most genuine way. She takes you on a ride—one minute your heart is racing, and the next, you're sighing with happiness. And the SPICE! 🌶️🔥 Oh my, Maya knows how to write chemistry that makes you melt, yet it's always deeply connected to the story’s emotional core. Elsa and Duncan’s love wasn’t just about passion; it was about growth, trust, and finding home in each other.
Maya, you have an incredible gift. Your characters live and breathe in a way that is so rare to find in romance today. Every page of The Wrong Bride feels like a labor of love, and as a reader, I am beyond grateful for this masterpiece. You’ve given us a story that is not only unputdownable but one that makes us believe in redemption, true love, and the beauty of imperfect people finding their perfect match. To say you nailed it would be an understatement—The Wrong Bride is truly unforgettable. Please keep giving us these heart-shattering, soul-healing stories, because the world needs more of your magic! 💖
October 16, 2024
Ok if you remove how Pollyanna kind he FL is, and how unbelievably forgiving she can be even if she keeps getting hurt, then yes this book is for you.
I really wanted to read a story that had an easy flow, not too much angst and this book would have actually been perfect except for the fact that she’s borderline TSTL.
Our ML who only sleeps with escorts, through her own shenanigans, divests herself of her virginity. Why? Her papa who she didn’t really grow up with but she seems desperately trying to be a good daughter, wants to solidify his evil empire by giving her to his arch nemesis henchman. And evil henchmen only want virgins. Anyways she falls pregnant and papa basically calls for a shotgun wedding. She wants to make this real though and falls in love with him for literally no good reason because he can be kind at times and gives good D.
I’m less upset with the Ml because I felt like he could actually grow as a character and a man. However, he time and times allows his jealousy, suspicion, and the US government convince him that she’s basically papa’s whore trying to get into his chastity belt. Then in clarity he realizes he’s wrong because she starts to weep. But the. He wakes up and rinse and repeat. This guy doesn’t learn. And for some reason everyone believes they should be together because well… she’s pregnant. Never mind that ML has not protected her, defended her or believed her. Well… only in between the sheets since well… she’s a jezebel during the day.
We are only on chapter 23.
I want to finish this but dang. There’s only so much stupidity from both sides that I can take. At least the mom isn’t a raging B in this book. Everyone seems to forgive our hapless hero relatively quick and there’s no goddang reason to.
Make no mistake. I love instant love but I love supportive partners and trust more. I need to pause this book and I hope the next brother has seen how literally awful his brother is and doesn’t become the same sad sap that can’t make up his mind.
I really wanted to read a story that had an easy flow, not too much angst and this book would have actually been perfect except for the fact that she’s borderline TSTL.
Our ML who only sleeps with escorts, through her own shenanigans, divests herself of her virginity. Why? Her papa who she didn’t really grow up with but she seems desperately trying to be a good daughter, wants to solidify his evil empire by giving her to his arch nemesis henchman. And evil henchmen only want virgins. Anyways she falls pregnant and papa basically calls for a shotgun wedding. She wants to make this real though and falls in love with him for literally no good reason because he can be kind at times and gives good D.
I’m less upset with the Ml because I felt like he could actually grow as a character and a man. However, he time and times allows his jealousy, suspicion, and the US government convince him that she’s basically papa’s whore trying to get into his chastity belt. Then in clarity he realizes he’s wrong because she starts to weep. But the. He wakes up and rinse and repeat. This guy doesn’t learn. And for some reason everyone believes they should be together because well… she’s pregnant. Never mind that ML has not protected her, defended her or believed her. Well… only in between the sheets since well… she’s a jezebel during the day.
We are only on chapter 23.
I want to finish this but dang. There’s only so much stupidity from both sides that I can take. At least the mom isn’t a raging B in this book. Everyone seems to forgive our hapless hero relatively quick and there’s no goddang reason to.
Make no mistake. I love instant love but I love supportive partners and trust more. I need to pause this book and I hope the next brother has seen how literally awful his brother is and doesn’t become the same sad sap that can’t make up his mind.
September 22, 2024
This is a case of it's ME, not the story, but I'm so bummed to rate this one so low. Maya is my go-to for lovely angst. This story though, was just so tame and boring that I kept trying to stay awake while reading it. I kept waiting for something angsty to happen, some kind of heartbreaking situation, maybe a pissed off asshole Hero being cruel or another escort blaming this Hero for her pregnancy too. But NOTHING happened.
What did happen was OTT ridiculous. This heroine decides to pretend to be an escort to get rid of her virginity? Seriously? She knows no other dudes who could have sex with her, huh?
And this mega rich billionaire Hero who only bangs escorts, knocks up this virginal escort 🙄 and just totally believes the kid is his when he discovers this woman is pregnant.
The rest of this story is just these two trying to figure each other out. And it's boring AF. This is the tamest, more boring story Maya has ever written. Maybe she was intentionally shooting for just a sweet boring story like every other author out there writes these days, and I just missed the memo?
September 24, 2024
4.5 stars
Mood Readers: If you're in the mood for wealthy American businessman loner who marries a lovely French baker, daughter of a mob boss, after a ONS accidentally gets her pregnant... and while he tries to be kind, and he is very attracted to her, and she is a sweet, hard-working woman who wants nothing to do with her criminal father... they don't really know each other well, and he lets his suspicious nature and his paranoid CIA friend get into his head and makes a grave mistake (not cheating), destroying her trust in him. And she asks for a divorce. Which he doesn't want, but now he must work even harder to win her trust and forgiveness back, especially before the birth of their daughter... and before her father's criminal machinations put her in the crosshairs of a dangerous plot.
This H isn't as awful as some previous MA Hs, he's just emotionally stunted and used to being alone. Romance is an alien concept to him, and he finds himself married to a beautiful, pregnant stranger very suddenly (at the insistence of her Glock-holding father), so he has some growing pains to overcome. The new wife is younger, sweet but firm when it comes to protecting herself and her unborn daughter. The tables are turned when she becomes suspicious of him after the stunt he pulls with his CIA buddy... there's a lot of work there to be done.
After his grave error in judgement, he gets advice from his sisters-in-law on how to win his wife back; even his parents and brothers are horrified at his behavior. He does a great job of becoming the man his wife and daughter need him to be. I was rooting for this couple because I saw his potential from the beginning.
The secondary characters are interesting in their own right, and the suspenseful plot (regarding the criminal gangs threatening the couple) keeps the tension till the end. This was a very sweet lightly dark romantic suspense story.
Mood Readers: If you're in the mood for wealthy American businessman loner who marries a lovely French baker, daughter of a mob boss, after a ONS accidentally gets her pregnant... and while he tries to be kind, and he is very attracted to her, and she is a sweet, hard-working woman who wants nothing to do with her criminal father... they don't really know each other well, and he lets his suspicious nature and his paranoid CIA friend get into his head and makes a grave mistake (not cheating), destroying her trust in him. And she asks for a divorce. Which he doesn't want, but now he must work even harder to win her trust and forgiveness back, especially before the birth of their daughter... and before her father's criminal machinations put her in the crosshairs of a dangerous plot.
This H isn't as awful as some previous MA Hs, he's just emotionally stunted and used to being alone. Romance is an alien concept to him, and he finds himself married to a beautiful, pregnant stranger very suddenly (at the insistence of her Glock-holding father), so he has some growing pains to overcome. The new wife is younger, sweet but firm when it comes to protecting herself and her unborn daughter. The tables are turned when she becomes suspicious of him after the stunt he pulls with his CIA buddy... there's a lot of work there to be done.
After his grave error in judgement, he gets advice from his sisters-in-law on how to win his wife back; even his parents and brothers are horrified at his behavior. He does a great job of becoming the man his wife and daughter need him to be. I was rooting for this couple because I saw his potential from the beginning.
The secondary characters are interesting in their own right, and the suspenseful plot (regarding the criminal gangs threatening the couple) keeps the tension till the end. This was a very sweet lightly dark romantic suspense story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2024
💘 Billionaire Romance
💚 Marriage of Convenience
💘 Age Gap (10 years)
💚 Found Family
💘 Surprise Pregnancy
💚 Virginia FMC
💘 Check TW ⚠️
🗺 Plot: 4/5
🌎 World Building: 4/5
📔 Cover: 5/5
💁🏻♂️ MMC, Duncan: 4/5
💁♀️ FMC, Elsa: 4.5/5
🌶 Spice: 2/5
♥️ Pulls at heart strings: 4/5
📄 Page Turner: 4/5
🫣 Angst: 3/5
🤍🖤 Dark: 1.5/5
🔚 Ending: 5/5
⚠️ Triggers: 2/5
🥰 Overall view: 4/5
🫶🏼 HEA: Yes
✖️ Multiple POVs: Yes
🤥 Cheating: No
🎭 OW/OM Drama: Not when it came to jealousy, please see below for further explanation
🥉Third Act Break Up: No
This is NOT my first book by this author.
OW drama for me in books is when the MMC does something that either causes jealousy on purpose or accident. The only ow drama that I saw as far as jealousy goes was he spoke with a woman who looked like a model but that was it so I wouldn't call that OW drama. But even without the OW drama I loved this story.
I loved Duncan, he was completely clueless as love goes and romantic relationships but thankfully he finally lead with his heart and that lead to our HEA.
Maya always writes interesting FMCs and they always are nice and don't like drama and they always rise up and become a stronger version of themselves and Elsa was no different. I loved how motherly she was even while pregnant and I loved seeing that mama bear come out after Dom's questioning.
I also LOVED the setting of this book, the city, the language and Elsa's occupation was just all the cherry on top for me with this book!
Maya's books are always a good time for me and I very much enjoy them!
💚 Marriage of Convenience
💘 Age Gap (10 years)
💚 Found Family
💘 Surprise Pregnancy
💚 Virginia FMC
💘 Check TW ⚠️
🗺 Plot: 4/5
🌎 World Building: 4/5
📔 Cover: 5/5
💁🏻♂️ MMC, Duncan: 4/5
💁♀️ FMC, Elsa: 4.5/5
🌶 Spice: 2/5
♥️ Pulls at heart strings: 4/5
📄 Page Turner: 4/5
🫣 Angst: 3/5
🤍🖤 Dark: 1.5/5
🔚 Ending: 5/5
⚠️ Triggers: 2/5
🥰 Overall view: 4/5
🫶🏼 HEA: Yes
✖️ Multiple POVs: Yes
🤥 Cheating: No
🎭 OW/OM Drama: Not when it came to jealousy, please see below for further explanation
🥉Third Act Break Up: No
This is NOT my first book by this author.
OW drama for me in books is when the MMC does something that either causes jealousy on purpose or accident. The only ow drama that I saw as far as jealousy goes was he spoke with a woman who looked like a model but that was it so I wouldn't call that OW drama. But even without the OW drama I loved this story.
I loved Duncan, he was completely clueless as love goes and romantic relationships but thankfully he finally lead with his heart and that lead to our HEA.
Maya always writes interesting FMCs and they always are nice and don't like drama and they always rise up and become a stronger version of themselves and Elsa was no different. I loved how motherly she was even while pregnant and I loved seeing that mama bear come out after Dom's questioning.
I also LOVED the setting of this book, the city, the language and Elsa's occupation was just all the cherry on top for me with this book!
Maya's books are always a good time for me and I very much enjoy them!
September 27, 2024
Quite easy and quick reading. This time the hero is not completely abhorrent like her usual heroes.
He has issues but he’s a peach compared to some others.
But the book has a lot of inconsistencies.
He and the heroine meet accidentally, she pretends to be an escort to have sex with him because he only has she’s with escorts (!!!).
Two months later they’re forced to get married by her father because she’s preggo and her father is a mob boss.
The hero has trust issues, among other issues. So he thinks that she might have trapped him on purpose and he makes some wrong choices.
He leaves her for weeks.
Then he comes back.
He lets one of his friends, an American spy (yeah… I know, I know) blackmail her into helping them because one of the thugs she’s friends with could be planning a new devastating weapon.
She is angry and leaves the hero because he wants to use her just like her father did.
A bit of groveling.
Reconciliation.
Her father is a nice man to be a mob boss.
There’s thankfully no abusive scenes and no violence. I’m not into mafia or violence.
It could be 2.5 stars and I wanted to be nice so I rated three because I wasn’t upset with the content.
The hero has only sex with escort because he has some kind of issues with defining and expressing his emotions and feelings, I know this might be disturbing for some, but he was not unpleasant and this suited him, so everyone was ok.
Celibate after meeting heroine.
He has issues but he’s a peach compared to some others.
But the book has a lot of inconsistencies.
He and the heroine meet accidentally, she pretends to be an escort to have sex with him because he only has she’s with escorts (!!!).
Two months later they’re forced to get married by her father because she’s preggo and her father is a mob boss.
The hero has trust issues, among other issues. So he thinks that she might have trapped him on purpose and he makes some wrong choices.
He leaves her for weeks.
Then he comes back.
He lets one of his friends, an American spy (yeah… I know, I know) blackmail her into helping them because one of the thugs she’s friends with could be planning a new devastating weapon.
She is angry and leaves the hero because he wants to use her just like her father did.
A bit of groveling.
Reconciliation.
Her father is a nice man to be a mob boss.
There’s thankfully no abusive scenes and no violence. I’m not into mafia or violence.
It could be 2.5 stars and I wanted to be nice so I rated three because I wasn’t upset with the content.
The hero has only sex with escort because he has some kind of issues with defining and expressing his emotions and feelings, I know this might be disturbing for some, but he was not unpleasant and this suited him, so everyone was ok.
Celibate after meeting heroine.
September 17, 2024
ARC review: The Wrong Bride
Okay, first things first, I’ve read *almost* all of Miss Maya’s books, but let me tell you—no MMC has ever made me want to throw a punch more than Duncan. Seriously, he had me ready to toss my Kindle across the room multiple times. But now that I’ve ranted, let’s dive into the real tea.
Elsa? Absolute sweetheart! She’s cute, independent, and wants zero mafia drama in her life (as she should). The girl believes in earning her own money, and I am *here* for it! Duncan, though? Ugh, his insecurities and downright foolishness made him hurt Elsa so many times I was literally cheering when she finally said she wanted a divorce. YES, Elsa, choose *you*, girl!
Duncan was the ultimate alpha-hole, and he trusted the wrong people (*side-eyes Dom*—who, by the way, is a total sweetheart spy, what a plot twist!). And oh, he so deserved all the consequences. Honestly, Elsa should’ve made him grovel *more*, but I’ll forgive her for being a gem.
The plot? *Chef’s kiss*. Accidental baby, a splash of mafia drama, and surprise cameos from Damian and Emilia, who are actual couple goals! Plus, Emilia’s pregnant?! My heart melted. Now, I’m counting down the days for Dean’s story!
In short: sassy alpha-hole MMC, sweet but strong FMC, plot twists galore, and spice that’ll keep you turning the pages. Miss Maya, you’ve done it again!
Okay, first things first, I’ve read *almost* all of Miss Maya’s books, but let me tell you—no MMC has ever made me want to throw a punch more than Duncan. Seriously, he had me ready to toss my Kindle across the room multiple times. But now that I’ve ranted, let’s dive into the real tea.
Elsa? Absolute sweetheart! She’s cute, independent, and wants zero mafia drama in her life (as she should). The girl believes in earning her own money, and I am *here* for it! Duncan, though? Ugh, his insecurities and downright foolishness made him hurt Elsa so many times I was literally cheering when she finally said she wanted a divorce. YES, Elsa, choose *you*, girl!
Duncan was the ultimate alpha-hole, and he trusted the wrong people (*side-eyes Dom*—who, by the way, is a total sweetheart spy, what a plot twist!). And oh, he so deserved all the consequences. Honestly, Elsa should’ve made him grovel *more*, but I’ll forgive her for being a gem.
The plot? *Chef’s kiss*. Accidental baby, a splash of mafia drama, and surprise cameos from Damian and Emilia, who are actual couple goals! Plus, Emilia’s pregnant?! My heart melted. Now, I’m counting down the days for Dean’s story!
In short: sassy alpha-hole MMC, sweet but strong FMC, plot twists galore, and spice that’ll keep you turning the pages. Miss Maya, you’ve done it again!
September 18, 2024
This is one of Maya Aldens sweeter stories. It is set in Paris, France (and being from europe myself, I loved a book based in Paris) and is about Elsa and Duncan.
We met Duncan in The Wrong Husband, and although not necessary for the story, I would recommend reading that book first because of references to Duncans family that makes more sense if you read that first.
Elsa is the daughter of a mafia boss and in her desire to be free of her father, she tricks Duncan into thinking she is an escort so that he will sleep with her. Unfortunately things do not go quite to plan and she ends up pregnant and her father forces Duncan to marry her.
Now before you think ill of Elsa, she was more than ready to raise this child by herself as she is a baker with her own successful bakery so she would have no problem doing it on her own.
At first Duncan is not sure what to do and how to feel and sometimes you just want to slap some sense into him, but when it comes down to it, he really is a sweet man.
Elsa is a lovely woman who just wanted to get out from inder her father and be happy.
I recommend the story and gave it five stars because the story is sweet, hard to read at times, has an element of suspense, has a touch of mafia involvement and I love a redemption story.
We met Duncan in The Wrong Husband, and although not necessary for the story, I would recommend reading that book first because of references to Duncans family that makes more sense if you read that first.
Elsa is the daughter of a mafia boss and in her desire to be free of her father, she tricks Duncan into thinking she is an escort so that he will sleep with her. Unfortunately things do not go quite to plan and she ends up pregnant and her father forces Duncan to marry her.
Now before you think ill of Elsa, she was more than ready to raise this child by herself as she is a baker with her own successful bakery so she would have no problem doing it on her own.
At first Duncan is not sure what to do and how to feel and sometimes you just want to slap some sense into him, but when it comes down to it, he really is a sweet man.
Elsa is a lovely woman who just wanted to get out from inder her father and be happy.
I recommend the story and gave it five stars because the story is sweet, hard to read at times, has an element of suspense, has a touch of mafia involvement and I love a redemption story.
September 22, 2024
I cannot say it enough, Maya Alden is a new-to-me author this year that I am obsessed with. If she writes it, I will read it. Her newest release, The Wrong Bride is part of her Marriage by Contract series, however, can be read as a standalone. I will say I loved the first book and highly recommend it. Here we have a marriage of convenience, age-gap, billionaire with a surprise pregnancy romance with betrayal and grovel and I devoured it.
Duncan Archer does not do relationships. He loves his life as it is now and has no plans to change it. Then Elsa enters his life and turns everything upside down. Elsa wants to defy her father’s wishes of an arranged marriage to one of his cohorts, so she decides to lose her virginity by pretending to be Duncan’s paid date. They shared and instant connection and steamy chemistry, but it was one night, right? Imagine their surprise when she ends up pregnant.
Duncan loves his family and is a good guy but does not believe in love or relationships. He is determined and protective, even if he is lost on how to handle Elsa. Elsa is smart, kind and beautiful. She wants to raise her child with Duncan but is not sure she can trust him. Can they make it work? I loved their journey as they spend time together and learn more about the other. But when Duncan makes a wrong choice, can Elsa ever forgive him? I devoured this romance and highly recommend it!
Happy reading!
Duncan Archer does not do relationships. He loves his life as it is now and has no plans to change it. Then Elsa enters his life and turns everything upside down. Elsa wants to defy her father’s wishes of an arranged marriage to one of his cohorts, so she decides to lose her virginity by pretending to be Duncan’s paid date. They shared and instant connection and steamy chemistry, but it was one night, right? Imagine their surprise when she ends up pregnant.
Duncan loves his family and is a good guy but does not believe in love or relationships. He is determined and protective, even if he is lost on how to handle Elsa. Elsa is smart, kind and beautiful. She wants to raise her child with Duncan but is not sure she can trust him. Can they make it work? I loved their journey as they spend time together and learn more about the other. But when Duncan makes a wrong choice, can Elsa ever forgive him? I devoured this romance and highly recommend it!
Happy reading!
September 21, 2024
What happens when a man who is so opposed to relationships that he sticks to escorts, ends up married to a pseudo mafia princess? Well if that man is Duncan, he panics. And by panics, he runs, hides, and avoids. Duncan has met his match with Elsa, despite being younger, she is determined to give her unborn child the life she wanted. So when Duncan makes bad decisions, she isn’t a pushover and demands he steps up. She also is unrelenting in her desire to protect herself and her baby. This makes for a sweet give and take between the two as she pushes Duncan out of his comfort zone. The people around both Duncan and Elsa try to steer him in a better direction but old habits die hard. Since Duncan thinks he is a man who is incapable of love, he is his own worst enemy. But Elsa doesn’t back down and I love that about her. This book is a great romance, but that mafia “adjacent” element rears its ugly head and gives this book a little intrigue. I loved Duncan and Elsa’s story, they are more perfect for each other then either of them even realizes. If you want a book with an unconventional beginning to a forced marriage, with a little intrigue and a lot of steam, this is a great pick.
September 19, 2024
Wow! I really enjoyed this one. It starts immediately off with a marriage and then backtracks to fill in the backstory of a one night stand between a commitment phobic billionaire and a virgin mafia daughter leading to a baby on the way. There's a lot of unexpected things with this fast paced story that made it different and fun to read. The Archer brothers, specifically Dean, played a large role in this one and he was the quite comical younger brother. The mafia connections added a layer of complexity, mystery, and adventure. The love story with Duncan and Elsa was complicated and hard earned at the end. Elsa is a strong FMC and really understands who she is which is admirable. Yes, Duncan gave her several moments of doubting herself, but I liked how she kept true to who she was. Duncan, as the MMC, who doesn't love it when the guy messes up and then needs to grovel to get their woman back. He was super sweet once he figured out how badly he messed up.
A very layered book with good drama, solid friendships, and food references that will make you want to go to Paris.
A very layered book with good drama, solid friendships, and food references that will make you want to go to Paris.
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