Marriage of Convenience – Talk Nerdy Book Blog

Fervent Yet Vexing: The Boss by Melanie Moreland

By Sarah

In 3-stars, ARC, Book Review

November 1, 2021

F

The Gist: A dark romantic suspense novel that boasts a sweet romance yet proves vexing with its double standards.

Series: Men of Hidden Justice, #1*

Release Date: October 14, 2021

Synopsis

Men of Hidden Justice
Because love can bleed into the darkest heart

Terrified and on the run, I was lost.
He found me.

I witnessed his crime and he gave me a choice.
Marriage or death.

I never expected to love him.
But the choices were never really mine.

Could this avenging angel of death ever love me back?
His touch consumed me.

Did my heart stand a chance?

Previously published on Book+Main and in Take Me To Bed Collection. New added content for a complete romantic suspense experience.

Ending

HEA with Epilogue

Representation

No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Suicide attempt (on-page)
• Gun violence
• Murder
• Reference to child pornography and sex trafficking
• Attempted murder
• reference to/discussion of abusive romantic relationship
— Heroine’s stalker is an ex-boyfriend of 6-months
*** there’s no physical abuse in the MCs relationship. However, there are some scenes that can be off-putting for some:
—— the couple have a discussion after a heated argument where the Hero mentions he stayed away because he was angry, feeling out of control and scared he would’ve physically lashed out:
—— Heroine is unable to leave the house without Hero’s permission because he has enemies.
• Reference to kidnapping

Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions

• No cheating
• No OW/OM drama
• Does have the Hero pushing the Heroine away
• No separation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Format: eARC

Rating: 3-stars

*Each book in the series is Standalone

Note: I received The Boss from Melanie Moreland’s team in exchange for an honest review.

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Sweet Yet Anti-climatic: A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova

By Sarah

In 3-stars, Book Review

December 30, 2020

S

The Gist: A standalone epic fantasy loosely based on the mythology of Hades and Persephone, and while an enemies-to-lovers romance that has its sweet parts, the lack of world-building, endearing characterizations and number of plot holes made the novel quite anti-climatic.

Series: Married to Magic, #1*

Release Date: November 6, 2020

Synopsis

Perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses and Uprooted, this stand-alone, fantasy romance about a human girl and her marriage to the Elf King is impossible to put down!

The elves come for two things: war and wives. In both cases, they come for death.

Three-thousand years ago, humans were hunted by powerful races with wild magic until the treaty was formed. Now, for centuries, the elves have taken a young woman from Luella’s village to be their Human Queen.

To be chosen is seen as a mark of death by the townsfolk. A mark nineteen-year-old Luella is grateful to have escaped as a girl. Instead, she’s dedicated her life to studying herbology and becoming the town’s only healer.

That is, until the Elf King unexpectedly arrives… for her.

Everything Luella had thought she’d known about her life, and herself, was a lie. Taken to a land filled with wild magic, Luella is forced to be the new queen to a cold yet blisteringly handsome Elf King. Once there, she learns about a dying world that only she can save.

The magical land of Midscape pulls on one corner of her heart, her home and people tug on another… but what will truly break her is a passion she never wanted.

A Deal with the Elf King is a complete, stand-alone novel, inspired by the tales of Hades and Persephone, as well as Beauty and the Beast, with a “happily ever after” ending. It’s perfect for fantasy romance fans looking for just the right amount of steam and their next slow-burn and swoon-worthy couple.

Ending

HFN but the extended epilogue shows it’s a HEA (you can access the extra scene through the back of the ebook or on Elise Kova’s website)

Representation

No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Parental neglect
• Themes of isolation and abandonment

Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions

• No cheating
• Does have OW/OM drama (kind of)
– The Heroine was in love with her childhood best friend, but he turns out to be an asshole. And, apparently, she wasn’t “in love” with him but loved the idea of him? (There’s kissing *before* the Heroine meets the Hero)
– The Hero tried to date/court *his* best friend 3-4 years ago; she’s currently the Hand of the King. They both agreed they were better off friends. Their relationship didn’t progress past kissing but apparently, that attempt made them closer as friends.
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Format: Kindle Unlimited

Rating: 3-stars

*Each novel in the series is Standalone

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Dramatic and Passionate: The Favor by Suzanne Wright

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Book Review

October 14, 2020

D

Series: Standalone

Release Date: October 13, 2020

Synopsis

Vienna Stratton knew she only had herself to blame. You didn’t let yourself become indebted to a man like Dane Davenport, no matter how badly you needed his help. As his personal assistant, she was very aware that the globally successful CEO was ruthless and unforgiving.

Of course, if she’d known he’d request that she be his wife for twelve months, she’d have hesitated in accepting his help. Because what she’d learned from Dane was that the devil wasn’t ugly and terrorising. He was seductive and captivating. He hummed with whispers of temptation – the temptation to sin and surrender, to let him brand and possess you. He awakened every need and fantasy you had.

He could even make you love him.

Ending

HEA with Epilogue

Representation

• BIPOC supporting character
• Supporting character with dissociative identity disorder

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Parental abandonment
• Parental physical abuse of their child
• Inference of child sexual abuse
• Physical abuse and bullying by Foster Sister towards Heroine
• Blackmail
• Suicide of parent
• Death of parent due to cancer

Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions

• No cheating
• Does have LOADS of OW and OM
— One of the OW is currently the Hero’s sister-in-law, so you can imagine how that goes.
• Does have both the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• No separation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Format: Kindle

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

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The Wedding Night by Kati Wilde

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Book Review

February 22, 2019

T

Series: Standalone

Release Date: February 5, 2019

Synopsis

When an opportunity to take everything from the powerful family who destroyed his mother’s life falls into Caleb Moore’s lap, he needs help from the one person with more power and money than they have — business mogul, Audrey Clarke. The trick is getting her attention. So he approaches the infamous ice queen with an unusual proposition: marriage.

The odds of a snowball surviving in hell are better than the chances of a rich, classy lady like Audrey Clarke marrying a mechanic from the wrong side of the tracks. He only hopes that she might consider a business partnership when she’s finished laughing at his marriage proposal.

He never expects her to say yes — or that the ice queen could burn so hot. Because Audrey Clarke isn’t cold at all. And if Caleb’s not careful, the only thing he’ll give her for Christmas…is a broken heart.

Ending

 HEA

Representation

• Main character is on the Aspergers spectrum
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
And doesn’t address fatphobia

Possible Triggers: Yes

• No OTT sad parts
• Heroine was physically abused by her mother when she was a child (off-page, memories)

Safety Rating: Safe

• No cheating
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does Not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Format: Kindle

Rating: 4.25/5 stars

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Iron and Magic by Ilona Andrews

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Book Review

August 9, 2018

I

Series: The Iron Covenant

Release Date: June 26, 2018

Synopsis

No day is ordinary in a world where Technology and Magic compete for supremacy…But no matter which force is winning, in the apocalypse, a sword will always work.

Hugh d’Ambray, Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, Warlord of the Builder of Towers, served only one man. Now his immortal, nearly omnipotent master has cast him aside. Hugh is a shadow of the warrior he was, but when he learns that the Iron Dogs, soldiers who would follow him anywhere, are being hunted down and murdered, he must make a choice: to fade away or to be the leader he was born to be. Hugh knows he must carve a new place for himself and his people, but they have no money, no shelter, and no food, and the necromancers are coming. Fast.

Elara Harper is a creature who should not exist. Her enemies call her Abomination; her people call her White Lady. Tasked with their protection, she’s trapped between the magical heavyweights about to collide and plunge the state of Kentucky into a war that humans have no power to stop. Desperate to shield her people and their simple way of life, she would accept help from the devil himself—and Hugh d’Ambray might qualify.

Hugh needs a base, Elara needs soldiers. Both are infamous for betraying their allies, so how can they create a believable alliance to meet the challenge of their enemies?

As the prophet says: “It is better to marry than to burn.”

Hugh and Elara may do both.

Ending

 HFN

Representation

• BIPOC supporting characters
• Supporting character is either deaf or mute and communicates through ASL

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Violence (Blood and gore)
• Murder

Safety Rating: Not Safe

• Kinda cheating
– Hero sleeps with an OW after marrying the heroine (even though it’s a relationship of convenience)
– Even though the Hero and Heroine were married, they weren’t in a relationship. Nor did they care for each other.
• Does have descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
– The heroine walks in on the Hero sleeping with the OW
– The hero also considers sleeping with the heroine’s lady’s maid but dismisses the idea.
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does Not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Format: Kindle

Rating: 4.25/5 stars

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The Contract (The Contract, #1) by Melanie Moreland

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Book Review

March 8, 2018

T

Series: The Contract

Release Date: May 24th, 2016

Synopsis:

A tyrant by day, a playboy by night. That is the reputation that precedes Richard VanRyan. He lives life the way he wants, no concern for the opinion of others. He cares for no one, is completely unrepentant, and he has no desire to change his ways.

Katharine Elliott works under Richard as his PA. She despises him and his questionable ethics, but endures all the garbage he sends her way, because she needs the job. Her end goal is far more important than the daily abuse and demands she tolerates from her nasty tyrant of a boss.

Until the day, he asks her for something she never expected. A new role with a personal contract — fiancée instead of PA.

What happens when two people who loathe each other, have to live together and act as though they are madly in love?

Sparks.

That’s what happens.

Can the power of love really change a person?

Will they survive the contract?

What do you do when the one person you hate the most becomes the one person you can’t live without?

Ending

 HEA

Representation

No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia

Possible Triggers

• Heroine’s parents died when she was young
• Heroine had a traumatic experience in foster care until she met her guardian
• Heroine’s guardian has dementia and dies of old age
• Hero was neglected as a child… resulted in him being an Asshole

Safety Rating: Safe

• No cheating
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a brief separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 4.25/5 stars

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Blue Lines (Assassins, #5) by Toni Aleo

By Sarah

In 2-stars, Book Review

March 24, 2014

B

Series: Assassins*

Release Date: December 9th, 2013

Synopsis:

Opposites do more than just attract in Toni Aleo’s latest Nashville Assassins novel about a very bad boy and the good girl he can’t resist.

The instant Piper Allen sees Erik Titov, she wants him—wants his rock-hard body, sure, but the strength and mystery that lies behind that superstar hockey jock demeanor, too. So when he sidles up to her at a bar and slinks his arm around her waist, she’s lost. What follows is the wildest night of her life . . . followed by inevitable heartbreak the next morning. And then, a few weeks later, a very big surprise: two blue lines on a pregnancy test.

Only a check to the head could make Erik fall for a nice girl like Piper. But since their crazy-sexy night together, he’s been trying to forget about her alluring body by falling into bed with every woman in Nashville, and it’s not working. So when Piper shows up at his house with a baby-bomb to drop, it doesn’t take much for Erik to suggest the nuclear option: marriage. While it’s supposed to be all for show, the second they say “I do,” the ice between them starts to melt into sizzling steam.

Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: Taking Shots, Trying to Score, and Empty Net.

Ending

 HEA

Representation

No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia

Possible Triggers

• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Objectification of women
• No OTT sad parts

Safety Rating: Not Safe

• No cheating
• Does have OW/OM drama
– The Hero wanted to sleep with the Heroine’s (horrible) twin in past books
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
– The Hero was not celibate during his separation from the Heroine; they met up again 6+ months later.
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

*Each novel in the series is Standalone

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