Genres: Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance

Tropes:

Enemies to Lovers, Fake Relationship, Forced Proximity, Hero - Bad Boy, Hero - Possessive, Marriage of Convenience, No 3rd Act Breakup

Pleasantly surprised by this one. The first 20% or so was a REAL slog, to the point where I was kind of worried this would end up being a DNF for me. But once the actual plot starts, the story really picks up.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the spice was very well written–everybody stays in character with lots of sexy banter. (I hate it when characters suddenly do a 180 during sex scenes and abruptly start acting or talking in a way they haven’t demonstrated before.)

My only complaint about this book is perhaps not a fair one, which is that it would benefit from an editor. The issue isn’t spelling and grammar as much the actual writing. The first 20% relies VERY heavily on telling the reader everything, with almost no showing. 

Even the details that are supposed to carry some emotional weight like the heroine’s deadbeat dad (which of course impacts her willingness to jump into relationships) is described in a very matter-of-fact, almost distant way to the reader. This is a tricky line to walk for any writer, especially an indie one, but if Archer had been able to close that gap, this would have been a five-star read for me.

Ages:

Both characters are adults in their 30s.

Cheating:

None

Other OM/OW:

None. The hero gets a little jealous/possessive at times, but neither dates anyone else, and any mention of past partners is kept vague..

Separation:

None. I would describe this as not having a 3rd act breakup.

Triggers:

Some mention of heroine's deadbeat dad who abandoned her as a child. Doesn't get too descriptive.

HEA/HFN?

HEA, married (for real) by the end. No mention of pregnancy or kids.