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29/04 - just saw we're getting a new duet audiobook w bonus content in July and the narrators are Stephen Dexter and Emma Wilder.

I love Stephen Dexter no issues there but why would you replace Callie Dalton!!! Emma Wilder makes her FMCs whinyyyyyy (no offence) and vanessa has a lot of internal monologue that needs to be done right!!! It's like I'm personally being punished.

—â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä�

This book creeps up on you. One day it is lying on your shelf harmlessly and the next thing you know, it has sunken it's claws into your heart.

I'm going to add quotes and commentary to my original post. You can scroll downwards to read it.

Original Post

Let me tell you a story.
Once upon a time, i was a stupid fucking idiot.

I started reading romance in October of 2021 but i exclusively read books with cartoon covers and I was not very keen about reading this one but then on the first of December 2021 for some reason i decided why not?

So i did and I devoured this book. This book had me smiling, giggling and rolling on the bed. It had me gasping and biting my lip. It had me on edge the entire day. Yes. I read it in a day. I couldn't put it down.

This is a long ass book version of the pride and prejudice hand flex. The angst, the slowwww burn. I can't even. It's too good. And i loveeeee Vanessa. I loved that though she was a pushover, she had a spine too.

I think i love Vanessa more than Aiden cause why not.. she's perfect, sir, She. Is. Perfect.

I've read this book tens of times since. I've probably highlighted every piece of dialogue between Van and Aiden. I've highlighted every look, action, twitching of mouth ever. And
I'll randomly read and giggle to myself. I always have such a big smile when reading, listening or talking about this book, i seriously can't even.

I use it's audiobook as the background score for my life when I've nothing else going on(actual definition of comfort book). I used to only listen to audiobooks with casts and this one has got narrator deepening her voice for Aiden's, Zac's and other characters part but yea i don't mind it much either. That's how much I love this book. I play my favourite bits and smile myself to sleep.

It's not really a review as much as it is me gushing about the book but seriously man i wake up everyday and choose it as my favourite book in this genre. Hands Down.

And i read wait for it and hands down for their cameos. I'll do anything for their bits and pieces, really. I love these characters like they're are more than ink on paper. I really can't believe they're just ink on paper.

And the best part about it being marriage of convenience w a millionaire. Vanessa wasn't dirt poor, clumsy, jobless and down on her luck. She was thriving in her business, going on dates and taking care of herself after she quit her job. I liked that very much. I like heroines that are not so much of a disaster.

I love Vanessa.
Thank you.

And if the author needs an A+ kidney/liver etc in exchange for a bonus scene, shoot me a dm, same username on Instagram.

End of Original Post

Reread Update

The 'my wife' energy this book exudes is just OBSCENE. Like, please control yourself. This isn't HBO. (Honestly, if you have recs, I'd love them.)

I like how the fuck up and groveling was non-romantic. Makes it easier to swallow.

That stubborn, strong chin tipped up, that full, masculine mouth flattening, and he blinked. “You don’t have a few minutes for me?�
I swallowed hard and fought the urge to fidget under his gaze. “No. I have a lot of work to do,� I repeated, looking at that familiar face evenly.
The lines that came over his forehead settled the emotion he’d been fighting with a second ago. Shock. He was shocked for what was more than likely the first time in his life, and that gave me a boost of strength and confidence not to waver under his glare.


“I want you to come back.�

“I kept expecting you to come back after a few days, but you never did.�

“Come back.�

His gaze was locked on me like his pupils were all-knowing lasers capable of emotional manipulation.

“I don’t want someone new. I want you.�

“Do you need something?� The words were out of my mouth before I could stop myself, damn it.
Sure enough, Aiden nodded, still standing there in the hallway between the door, and the rest of my place. “You.�

“N´Ç.â€�
â€Ô¨±ð²õ.â€�
Good grief. “N´Ç.â€�
“Yes,� he insisted.

“You’re the only person I would want to do this with me.�

“Could you get my girl a coffee?� He knew what he was doing. He had his role down to a T.

And he liked being called big guy!

“Look, everything is fine—� I started to say before he cut me off with a shake of his head.
“It isn’t. You don’t smile anymore. You haven’t called me big guy or given me hell,� he stated.
“I thought I annoyed you,�
“You do.� And there we went. “But I’m used to it now.�
Wait another second�.

The first “Shut up, Vanessa.� Wish i could read for the first time but given that i read this book atleast once a month and remember it by heart. Not happening.

“Mr. Graves, I can settle your visit with your assistant if you’d like to take a seat,�
“She’s my wife.�.. “Handle it for me, would you, Muffin?�

“Did you just call me Muffin?�
“I figured it was too soon to call you Dinner Roll.�

“Why did you call me your wife in there?� My voice sounded all weird.
That heavy-lidded, smart-ass gaze was as cool as a damn cucumber. “Why wouldn’t I?� � “You are my wife, and I don’t have patience for flirts,�

Mr. Congeniality right here was trying to give me advice on what I should do? Did that mean I should do the opposite?

He couldn’t be considered my sugar daddy if we were legally married, right?

I loved her foster dad. He had his priorities straight.

“You couldn’t have married someone who plays for Houston?�

The talk after the fight. 💖

"You always treated me as more than just the person who paid your check and I see that now. I’ve seen it for a while, Van. I’m not very good at this crap."
“I’m selfish and self-centered. I know that. You know that. I bail on people all the time.�
“I get it, you’re not that kind of person. You don’t go back on your word. I� I didn’t think you’d care if I didn’t go,� he said carefully.

And as much as he he ignored her and didn't care for her. He did know her in ways it mattered. It was essential for his survival, lol!

"I only wanted to make sure you made it back fine and you weren’t going to kill me in my sleep for flaking out on you."

See, he knows he's in a romance novel. He knows what he's doing.

“If someone messes with you, they’re going to mess with me, Van. I don’t want to hurt your feelings. I might not be good with this friend crap, but I’m not about to let somebody get away with hurting you. Ever. Do you understand me?�

This conversation 😂

“You’ve put some thought into this,� he said slowly.
“Of course I have.� He didn’t need to know I’d been plotting his murder then.

The next three sentences we shared between the two of us were going to be the last thing I thought about when I went to bed later that night.
“You’ve been with me for two years, but I figure I’m barely beginning to understand,� the big guy claimed, his expression solemn.
“Understand what?�
“I should probably be scared of you.�

This text conversation -

Aiden: Good luck? I’m not answering his calls.
Me: That psycho will come visit if you don’t.
Aiden: I know.
Me: You’re always at practice� Aiden: Have fun.

Another one

Aiden: Come to my game.
Me: I’ve gone to a few of your games.
Aiden: You’ve met me after a game five times.

When she goes to the match wearing zac's jersey so he gives her one with his name. And then threatens to take it back later. 😂

I haven't quoted much of Vanessa's and zac's friendship but it is one of the best male-female friendships in cr I've read.

I narrowed my eyes at him and he squinted his right back before I raised a shoulder and cocked my head to the side. “So are we eavesdropping or what?�

And it all started with Aiden not defending her and it resulted into this. I'll take it.

“I married someone who I’ve known for two years and who no longer works for me. She’s over age and so am I. I didn’t get caught with drugs. I didn’t get arrested at a strip club. I didn’t get into a fight. Don’t treat me like a child, Trevor. I don’t like it.�
“Don’t presume you know anything, because you don’t.
You don’t know anything about me, or Vanessa. And if she is pregnant, don’t make that fucking face unless you’re ready for the consequences.�
“She’s my wife, and all she’s ever done was watch out for me. Don’t go there, Trevor. You don’t want to go there, understand me?�

Oh his poor little heart. Why were you a little bitch then?

“Thanks for telling Trevor� what you told him,�
“Don’t thank me. I only said the truth.� � “You have no idea how terrible you make me feel sometimes.� � “You’re thanking me for defending you, Van. You shouldn’t have to thank me for something like that.�

I love my couple spending time together. Even if it's just hinted at. Slice of Life for life.

“You sure? You don’t mind if I keep you company?� I asked, a little more shyly than I would have thought.
That had him rolling his eyes, blowing out a breath, and shaking his head. “Stop talking and sit down.�
If Aiden thought it was weird when he came back and found me watching Wall-E, he didn’t say a word.
He also didn’t get up and go sit in the kitchen.

Nicknames go both ways.

He glared down at me. “What are you smiling at?�
I shrugged my shoulders and shook my head, trying to give him an innocent look. “Oh, nothing, sunshine.�

Aiden's phone answering skill - 💯

With a sigh, he grabbed it and looked at the screen. “It’s your mom.�
Oh shit. “Don’t—� “Hello?� the big guy answered, putting the phone to his face. “She’s busy.� I turned my head to see his lower lip slightly jutting out. “I’ll make sure to let her know.� By the amount of anger in his enunciation, that was the last thing he was planning on doing.

The elevator scene 💯

His lips moved in a way that told me he wasn’t particularly fond of ‘sunshine,� but most importantly, he knew I didn’t care that he hated it.


Halloween 💯

The fact that he was thinking strategy over an anime that I was so fond of got me pretty damn excited;

“A¾±»å±ð²Ô?â€�
“H³Ü³ó?â€�
“Why didn’t you tell me there weren’t little kids here?�
“You looked excited. I didn’t want to ruin it for you,� he admitted without a shy note in his voice.

The storm �

Desperate times called for desperate measures, and I wasn’t going to say no to the other half of my paperwork getting into my bed when I’d rather not be by myself.

Jealousy, jealousy. �

the other player, the super sexy one every female Three Hundreds� fan was in love with, gave me a hug.
I was going to have to tell Diana about it. She’d lost it when I’d told her I was doing some work for him.
Apparently, I must have had a look on my face that said exactly how attractive I found his teammate because Aiden was frowning when I reached him.

This book literally caters to my little romance reading, cold, dead heart and people ask me why i love it so much.

“Hey, would it bother you if I put up a tree for the holidays?�
“If it makes you happy, it wouldn’t bother me.�
I snapped my head up to look at him. “Really?�
“Yeah.� He snuck me a glance. “Stop acting like you’re shocked. You really think I would tell you no?�

“You don’t have to thank me all the time.�
“Shut up.� I used his line on him, earning me a head shake and a flash of a tiny grin in return from the man

“Vanessa—� I beat him to it. “Shut up.�
“I was going to tell you to stop saying sorry, but that works too.�
Did he just smile at me? Did he just smile smugly at me? I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t sure, but I was going to take it as a yes.
Yes, he had just smiled at me playfully.
“In that case…� “Shut up,� he finished for me.

This scene, special place in my heart.

From the first time I jumped to my feet to cheer on my brother, I could tell Aiden wasn’t prepared for what kind of fan I was.
By the beginning of the second half, he had started leaning away from me, fussing and whispering, “You’re scaring me,�
But it was the way he made his eyes go wide during halftime and pretend to shrink even further away from me that made me laugh.
“Who are you?� he deadpanned, which made me snicker.
“What? I was the same way at your game yesterday.�
Those black eyelashes hung low over his eyes. “Zac’s seen you?�
I nodded.
Aiden blinked. “I think I want my jersey back.�
I blinked back. “Tough shit, sunshine. It’s mine now.�

before I could react, before he said another word to me, he leaned forward, forward, forward and pressed his mouth just to the side of my mouth. A peck.

This entire chapter (22) was �amazing�

“I’m taking your love of MILF porn to the grave with me, don’t worry.�
He stared at me, unblinking, unflinching. And then: “I’ll cut the power at the house when you’re in the shower,� he said so evenly, so crisply, it took me a second to realize he was threatening me�

And drum roll � the best sentence in this entire book.. every other review has this. Romance readers every where were shook.

“Touch my wife again, and I’ll break every bone in your goddamn body.�

My boy's regret. I love it. Very good plot device.

“I’ve let you down too many times. I won’t do it again.�

A touch at the side of my jaw had me tipping my head back to look into those deep brown eyes.
Everything about him was serious and intent. “I know you think I wouldn’t care,� he said in that whisper voice that bled solemnness, “but I would. I do. We’re in this together.�
My mouth suddenly dry, I nodded. â€Ô¨±ð²õ.â€�
“Trust me, Van. Tell me. I won’t let you down.�
“You believe me, don’t you?�

“I guess the good thing is, you don’t have to spend it alone anymore if you don’t want to.� I’m not sure why I said what I said next, but I did. “At least while you’re stuck with me.�
“I am stuck with you, aren’t I?�

*Caters to me*

“It’s a long story.�
“I have time for you.�
“It’s a really long story,� I insisted.
“O°ì²¹²â.â€�

Be still my heart

Aiden licked his lips and pierced me with a brief look that had me frozen in place once again. It was the single sweetest, most eye-opening expression I’d ever had anyone directed at me.
“I’m starting to understand that you can always make time for the things that matter.�

“It’s for me?�
“Who else would it be for? My other wife?�

“You don’t ever have to worry about me not wanting you somewhere. Got it?�

“I’ll buy you a dozen jackets and winter boots, if that’s what you need,� he threw out there in a tone that was getting more amused by the second.
It made me perk up a little bit. “You don’t need to do that. You do enough for me as it is, big guy.�
His fingers drummed the steering wheel and he seemed to shake his head. “Van, I’ll buy you a jacket or ten if I want. We’re in this together.�

When he goes to visit her in Toronto🥺

Turning his wrists, he slid his hands down until we were palm to palm. “I just flew four hours to get here. Who else would I be here for?�
I loved this man.

Me too, Vanessa, me too.

“She’s mine.�

“There weren’t any flights last night, and I had to wait to talk to Zac so he could watch Leo; otherwise, I would have gotten here sooner,� he added.
“I really didn’t mean to guilt-trip you into coming.�
He shrugged. “You would never ask me to come, and I wouldn’t have if I didn’t want to.�

you caught a flight to come sit with me and be bored out of your mind for hours. You have no idea how much you’ve made my day—my month.
“You haven’t left me when I needed you. Why wouldn’t I do the same for you?�

This underlined bit makes me want to kill myself for where will I find someone like this but human version and not written by a woman version for me in real life?


Ooh and when she hugged her old friend from school. *smiles slyly* Aiden makes possessiveness and jealousy attractive.

And i lap up everything with lap stuff. So yeah excuse me while i drool here.

And I definitely missed the rough way he pressed his mouth against my temple before he turned off the light, plugged in a nightlight I had no idea he’d bought,

Aiden kissed me like he never wanted to stop. His hand gripped my hair a little tighter, as if I was planning on going somewhere when my death grip was just as vicious and demanding as his.

This eye opening conversation w Trevor.

“The last time I suggested we find him someone else, he said the first person that would go between the two of us would be me. Me.�

And when she asks him about and tells him she'd've stayed for a bit longer and he replies with

Aiden: I got you for longer, didn’t I?

Marathon day! �

“That’s my girl."
“I am?�
“The only one,�

After the race when he picked her up 🥺🥰

“That’s my girl. That’s my fucking girl.�
“What are you doing here?� I practically bawled into him.
“I missed you.�
“You what?�
His arms tightened around me. “I missed you very much.�
Oh hell.
“I had to come see you,� he continued on.
“You were here, and you didn’t tell me?�
“I didn’t want to distract you,� that low voice explained, his hand cupping the back of my neck. “I knew you were going to do it.�

“Are you kissing me?�
“Yes. I’m so proud of you.�

No love confession, read the book if you want to know.

And if i had any doubt about this book being the best.. it has my kink, somnophilia.

Bye.