I enjoyed this story, however I felt the ‘marriage of convenience’ and ‘step-brother’ tropes were a bit loose fitting once I got into the story. 

I honestly thought, going into the book that the marriage of convenience was going to be a big part of the story, however we get through the marriage and then poof it’s 6 months later. I expected…. More…? I actually found myself wondering if they were still married. 

Tbh the stepbrother thing was pretty much irrelevant, no one knew about it and that parent had passed away. There’s something else to that as well but I don’t want to spoil it.

Ryker is sweetheart, he really has always looked out for Lake. When he finds out Lake won’t be able to receive financial aid anymore he propositions Lake with the marriage of convenience to basically access the trust fund that Lake’s father left to Ryker instead of Lake. 

There’s definitely physical chemistry between the two. Ryker is having his bi-awakening and is going through all the emotions. 

Lake was definitely the grumpy to Ryker’s sunshine. Lake is constantly pushing Ryker away and keeping him at arms length, serious abandonment issues that one has and understandably so. Lake finally comes to his senses and wants to go all in with Ryker and then Ryker gets put through the wringer and tbh it was kind of refreshing, Lake getting a little taste of how he treated Ryker. 

It ends in a HFN, I guess there may be another part to their story but I don’t want to assume, however I do wish I had known before hand, i usually wait for both books to be out before reading. Overall I enjoyed this book I just wish the tropes played out more throughout the story. 
*arc review*