I wasn't sure what to expect with this book as I am new to this author, but after a slow first 40-50 pages I was engrossed and invested. I was grateful that the didn't jump into bed within the first few chapters be cause that would be super sleazy as she was 16. I enjoyed how the book moved along and was told from each point of view. It was well written and there was a story to flow, not just a series of sex scenes as something kitchen message happens. Very excited to read the next installment.

This was just okay for me. I didn't feel like their was any chemistry between the two MCs and didn't buy into the potential for any relationship beyond friendship. I think it would have been better if Jake hadn't known Ellie since she was a baby or if maybe he had been a bit older. The latter would have made it pervier (which is okay by me) and the former would have made it less incestuous.

If the other books are ever free on KU I might read them but as it stands, I'm okay with not going any further in the series.

2.5 I found this first installment of a 3-part modern day marriage of convenience rather flat, romance-wise. Sixteen-year-old Ellie loses her rancher father; to avoid having her placed in foster care, the 26-year old foreman of the ranch, Jake, offers to marry her (they live in Montana, which apparently thinks this makes sense). The two have been friends since Ellie's birth, and their marriage is decidedly not filled with sexual tension—until one day when Ellie catches sight of Jake in the all-together. The story ends with Jake rescuing Ellie from a snowstorm, and giving her a punishing kiss in his anger. A kiss that makes him aware that he's now attracted to Ellie, too (good thing she's turned eighteen by this point). I guess all the simmering tension will occur in part 2...

I literally got 1.5 hours of sleep because I binged the first 3 books of this series....

Overall rating: 4.5 stars

Hero: 3.5
Heroine: 4.5
Plot: 4.5
Writing style: 5
Secondary characters: 4.5
Character development: 4
--
Sex scenes: really hot (although not very frequent in the beginning)
Sensible subjects:

Spoiler

No

Love triangle:

Spoiler

No

Cheating:

Spoiler

No

HEA:

Spoiler

NA

(This review covers the first 3 books in the series - The Bride, the Wife and the Lover)
I found this book by chance, and although it may be a sensible subject for me (the heroine is 16y and the hero over 20y when the book starts), I gave it a go because the reviews were really good and all consensual. And it was a very good decision because I absolutely loved this book (and all in the Bride series for what matters).

The heroine growth was visible as the plot unfolded, she was strong, smart and very funny. Her love for the ranch and the country life was inspiring. She isn't afraid to fight for what she wants and that's something refreshing in a young adult character. The hero sometimes was a bit oblivious, but you end up loving him as well. The amount of drama was just the necessary to keep you hooked throughout the books of the series until you get the ending of Jake and Ellie story.
The writing is very good! I really don't know how this book doesn't have more reviews. Actually, for a moment, the author made me wanna be a rancher in Montana (and I'm totally a city girl)!

Elle is a 16 when her father dies unexpectedly, leaving her alone at a ranch in Montana. Her mother has died, there is no other family to step in. She doesn’t want to go to foster care and see the ranch fall into shambles until she turns 18.

Jake is the farmhand who has lived on the ranch for years, and he’s working to save up a down payment to buy back his family land his father gambled away. He’s known Elle for a long time, her father was a surrogate dad for him. Instead of having Elle leave town and go live with strangers, her lawyer suggests they get married, which would make her legally an adult, and then divorce when she turns 18.

This contemporary marriage of conscience was interesting. It’s a slow burn between Elle and Jake, Elle who is grieving but also learning to keep the ranch. Jake has a girlfriend, who isn’t very happy about the fact Jake got married (with good reason).


This is a short novella, so all three books in this series can be read at once to make it one long story. I think I would have preferred one long story instead of three short novels, but it’s still a cool story. No underage sex, just angst and slow burn.

These were decent books (read all 3 in one night since I have a well established issue with series), but there was a lot of unnecessary drama between the two main characters which rubbed me the wrong way.

In this book, I just couldn’t get over her being 16/17 and him being 26..yes, grand scheme of things 10 years isn’t a hug3 deal but there’s a big maturity difference there between high school and out of college.