Neil McClain is the screw-up, the one everyone hopes will win but expects to lose. He wants to live a better life, one that his late mother would be proud of, but his belief in himself is weak. Sage Moniba is in need of a major miracle or she’ll be forced to give up the only life she’s known. Neil is searching for freedom from the demons of his past.Sage is in desperate need of help. Could it be … need of help.
Could it be that what each one needs resides in the other?
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Marriage of Convenience?! Yes, please!
Neil has worked hard to rebuild his life but is he ready for love? Sage desperately wants to remain in the only home she’s ever known but is she ready for a fake marriage?
I really appreciate the explorations of depression and addiction as well as seeking counseling and the power of love. I also loved that Sage wanted to learn from Neil about his passions and he wanted to support hers. And their book club *swoon*
But we can’t forget the National Treasure that is Uncle Lee Chester and finally getting to meet Aunt Lou!
This family is now one of my all time fave fictional families!
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Style: African American Romance
Story: 3/5
Enjoyment: 4/5
Dark Level: 0/5
Sexual Level: SEX-CITINGLY GOOD
Triggers: Yes
Violence: No
Male: Protective & Loyal
Series: Book 4
Pages: 210
Audio: GOOD (f/m)
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
STORY:
I have to say, I’m surprised by Neil. He has a little temper, and not so much in a bad way, but in a sexy manner. He was the woke brother. I was very interested in his thoughts and philosophy on certain subjects. He is recovering from substance abuse, and watching his recovery and growth with Sage was emotional and spiritual. I really love the way they author connected them, it was amazing to see. Sage needed a green card to stay in the country and with Jo and Bridgette trying to help, they came up with the solution of the only remaining McClain brother to help Sage. Very good story telling. I got sucked in and felt sad I was on the last book.
The only thing I didn’t like was the way Neil handle his situation with his ex. I mean, it was the climax of the story, but I felt that storyline could have gone in other directions. Nevertheless, I still found satisfactory in the storyline.
SEXUAL CHEMISTRY:
So Neil was a freak back in the day. He needed to throw some of that freakiness on Sage. Their sex scenes were still good, no complaints.
SECONDARY CHARACTERS:
Listen to the audio, so might not get the spelling of the names correct.
Uncle Lee – What am I going to do without Uncle Lee’s advice?!?
McClain family – I love seeing all the family from the previous books in this one. Especially the ending, seeing all and how far they have come.
Sage’s family. Really enjoyed her family as well and seeing some of her culture.
Gavin -Sage’s ex, he is poop, yuck.
It would be crazy if the author gave us another book with Ella, Everett’s daughter and Leland’s wife, Kim, her older son got together years later.
OVERALL:
A good series to binge read or listen. Family and sex mix with drama.
TRIGGERS: Neil’s past of substance abuse.
****I don’t equate these stories to real life. It’s about personal taste and what you would or want to tolerate with the books you read. I know we all have different opinions and preferences with what we read. I based my book reviews on my preferences and what I like, and while these preferences may not be the same for others, I hope this review was still helpful.
Dang, this is the most epic amazing series ever! These Characters have lots of up and down, but being there for each other, supporting one another no matter what is phenomenal…..I enjoyed this series a lot and I’m very happy I took my friend’s advice on reading them……
Favorite Saying In This Book For Me Is One, It Speaks To My Soul…….
“I love you with my mind, body, and soul. I will always love you”
I don’t know how Ms. House does it, but every book I get more and more invested in her characters and I never feel like I have enough time with them. I need more and more and more.
Neil, twin of Nolan, and the McClain brother always getting into something, has decided to pull his life together and leave all the nonsense behind. Sage, makeup artist to many, is having an issue big enough to disrupt her life. When it looks like all hope is lost, those McClain brothers have a plan–that involves Neil–and he ain’t trying to hear none of it. Until something changes his mind.
Entering into a marriage of convenience, Neil and Sage are very mature about it. Considering they’ll need to be around each other for a few years, they decide to make the best of it and be friends. Of course that changes at some point, but I’m not spoiling any of it.
Neil and Sage were so amazing. Both having issues with love in their pasts, but a strong sense of family and history of the Black experience. They’re destined to be together, and I loved this story more than I thought I might. Lots of great surprises that endeared Neil to my heart right along with his brothers. This series was my first of Alexandria House, and it certainly won’t be my last. I love the way her writing feels like a lot of what I grew up near and around. The extended family is so awesome, and there’s a surprise appearance at a family function.
I Love The McClains
I have never been so happily surprised by a new (to me) series and a new (to me) author…The McClain brothers are hot, dirty talking, alpha men who love their women and their families….
Her characters are smart and funny and so hot!!! There’s not a lot of high angst…But there’s so much love and relationship development…You will fall in love with the whole family…
This is Neil’s book…Nolan’s twin…Neil is a bookstore owner…a music composer and he’s fresh out of rehab and changing his life….Sage, his sister-in-law’s friend, is about to be deported, and she needs a husband…Neil needs someone who really loves him…..They could both get what they want…
And Uncle Lee Chester….He’s worth the price of the whole series…I mean I’ve never laughed so hard about any word as I did the word “Click”….Don’t ask…..Just read the book…
I’m sad I have no other McClain brothers books to read…Now, I have to search Alexandria House on Amazon…I really love her writing..And the book covers are hot!!
Neil will forever be my favorite McClain brother. He was complex and he loved hard.
I listened to the audio book. I am in tears. Uncle Lee Chester does it EVERY time. That man is hilarious!
I think some people would try to categorize this book as an instalove story, but it didn’t feel like that at all. I didn’t think of it in that way. Granted, Neil and Sage didn’t know each other when they decided to marry, but it seemed right. More to Neil than it did to Sage. Neil was the spiritual brother. That sense of spirituality carried on throughout the entire book.
Neil and Sage both had a ton of baggage. I loved that when Neil made that commitment, he stuck to it and did everything in his power to make it work, to love Sage.
I could almost feel Sage’s desperation. I mean, really, the lengths she went to to get her triflin’ ex to marry her so she could stay in the country. Then to have him still reject her. It was sad that she had so many crappy relationship that she had no expectations of being loved or treated well.
Neil did a couple of questionable things. Not so much that his actions were question, but more that he didn’t share the info with Sage before or after he made those moves.
I think this might be my favorite of the series. I didn’t know how I felt about Neil from previous books, but I was firmly in his corner for this one. He showed the strength it took for him to turn his life around. The book showed how he and Sage complemented one another. How their relationship grew and developed.
I loved that it showed a strong black man standing solidly with his wife, even through her own doubts about herself. I loved her independence and strength in regard to pursuing her business interests. It was nice to see her husband being concerned about her safety.
I didn’t want this book to end.
I never thought complicated was a virtue, but after diving into the pages of Neil & Sage’s story I’m all the way in .
Alexandria House has provided the perfect escape with her brilliance. & the bonus? Neil McClain, he is dark, enticing, funny, deep, fyne, decisive and just .
Share the love and hook your road dogs up, they won’t be disappointed, this, ‘I promise’ thee .