Jack and I, we did everything backward. The day he lured me into his office-which was also the first day we met-he proposed. You’d think a guy who looked like him-a bit cold maybe, but still striking and very unattainable-would only ask the love of his life to marry him, right? You’d think he must be madly in love.Nope. It was me he asked. A complete stranger who had never even heard of him. A … of him. A stranger who had been dumped by her fiancé only weeks before. You’d think I’d laugh in his face, call him insane-and a few other names-then walk away as quickly as possible. Well…I did all those things except the walking away part.
It took him only minutes to talk me into a business deal…erm, I mean marriage, and only days for us to officially tie the knot. Happiest day of my life. Magical. Pop the champagne… Not. It was the worst day. Jack Hawthorne was nothing like what I’d imagined for myself.
I blamed him for my lapse in judgment. I blamed his eyes, the ocean blue eyes that looked straight into mine unapologetically, and that frown on his face I had no idea I would become so fascinated with in time.
It wasn’t long after he said I was the biggest mistake of his life that things started to change. No, he still didn’t talk much, but anyone can string a few words together. His actions spoke the loudest to me. And day after day my heart started to get a mind of its own.
One second he was no one. The next he became everything.
One second he was unattainable. The next he seemed to be completely mine.
One second I thought we were in love. The next it was still nothing but a lie.
After all, I was Rose and he was Jack. We were doomed from the very beginning with those names. Did you expect anything else?
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Gah, this book was everything! The slowest of burns with the most delicious chemistry and the cuttest love story. Both Jack and Rose were adorable characters that I just adored to pieces. I love how they were both sarcastic, how playful Rose was with him and their banter was so freaking cute and funny.
Also, I loved following Rose on her journey to fulfil her dream and just watching all the love and hard work she put into creating the cuttest coffee shop, I wish it were a real place I could go visit, and I would to find sitting on table near the bookshelf being all cute and lovy dovy.
Marriage For One is one the cuttest books you’ll ever read. The story of these two is unique and just so heart warming. Their marriage starts off as just a business transaction but in no time as they get to know each other they starting lowering their walls and magic starts to happen, one scowl and smile at a time. I just cannot express how much I loved Jack and Rose. They are just so darn special. My heart is theirs atm. Ella created such a beautiful beautiful story here. Jack and Rose show you just how family doesn’t have to necessarily have the same blood, and how one can change when they meet the right person, the one who makes their world brighter and just more meaningful.
I’m gonna stop here otherwise I’ll just start gushing about how much I loved everything about this story again. It is definitely my new favorite fake relationship romance. Jack Hawthorne *le sigh*
Rose and Jack tugged on my heartstrings the whole way through. Jack offers a solution to a predicament that her uncle put her in. He appears cold and emotionless, but still waters run deep. There is so much churning below the surface and Rose slowly cracks his shell. Just by being her self. But he is hiding a pretty big secret that will ruin everything.
Rose is adorable. I laughed at how she loved watching Jack roll his sleeves up. Arm porn at its best! And the smile tally at the end of her chapters was great.
This just missed 5 stars for me though. I felt like there was a lot of repetition that could have been trimmed to make this a slightly shorter read.
This just wasn’t for me. The beginning of the story felt out of place, and I didn’t really like the way the story flowed. I didn’t like Jack right from the start. I’m not sure what it hurts to actually have a conversation with somebody, but Jack was the definition of aloof. I liked Rose. She was doing what she needed to do to try to start a business. This story is very much a slow burn. These are not my favorite types of stories, but I can enjoy them if done well, but I didn’t really like this couple enough to stay invested. This was a first for me from this author, but I would read her again.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.
What a story this turned out to be!! It did start out a little slow for me, and I was like ok hurry it up already. But I knew the good part was coming. I think it was just the beginning of the story that was a bit slow. Towards the middle it started to pick up some and get a bit more interesting when his secretary kept hinting at something and Josh kept calling Jack.
Rose and Jack meet under difficult circumstances and Rose is hilarious throughout what is going on. I love that she will have a full on convo with Jack with him sitting there, and not saying anything. LOL!
I didn’t like Jack AT ALL in the beginning and he started to grow on me. I loved that Rose called him out on things.
Talk about a rollercoaster of emotions!!! So many things happen to Rose, but she keeps a positive outlook on things and even with Jack that has the emotions of a knot on a log!
I really enjoyed how the story played out and things came together for her in the end, and for Jack too. I came to love him towards the end. Took me awhile but I got there. I really loved that Rose kept track of how many times Jack smiled. LOVED IT!
Some of my fave quotes from the book:
1. He unbuttoned his cuffs and my gaze dropped to follow his movements. This again? – Me too Rose, Me TOO!!!! #ARMPORN
2. “With that husband of yours you could get pregnant just by him looking at you, so I’d say watch out.” – I love Rose’s friends.
3. “If you stop, I’ll kill you in your sleep, Jack Hawthorne. Don’t you dare.” – I laughed so hard at this, cause this is something I’d say! LOL!
4. “Your complements. I do live for them.” – Rose loves the complements that Jack gives her.
NO SPOILERS!
I absolutely LOVED Marriage For One! Ella Maise blew me away with the unique and addicting storyline and characters, and I loved her writing style. I fell so hard, SO HARD, for Jack, Rose, and their amazing and unforgettable slow burn love story, and I can’t wait to devour more from the incredibly talented Ella Maise!
The storyline was fantastic. I’ve never read anything like the plot for Marriage For One. The marriage of convenience trope is one of my favorites, and I loved Ella Maise’s twist and spin on it. It was unique, fresh, entertaining and addicting, and I couldn’t get enough. I fell head over heels in love with Jack and Rose’s love story, and was captivated from beginning to end. I loved every moment of their slow burn romantic journey, and was extremely happy with the conclusion.
The characters completely stole my heart. I fell so freaking hard and fast for Jack and Rose. Jack and Rose, especially Jack, were unlike any characters I’ve come across, but I fell madly in love with them and their story. I loved Jack and Rose’s personalities, their sizzling chemistry together, and how their relationship progressed throughout. Jack was a tough one to crack, but the more I got to know him, the more I loved him. He was swoon-worthy in his own way, and I loved him dearly. The same went for Rose. She wasn’t as difficult to decipher, but I loved her dearly as well. I loved reading the book from both Jack and Rose’s point of view, and all of their banter and interactions with each other. Jack and Rose were EVERYTHING, and completely captured my heart. I loved them so much and will never forget their love story.
Marriage For One was a unique, sexy, swoon-worthy, slow burn MUST READ standalone contemporary romance, and I would HIGHLY recommend it! Ella Maise created something so incredibly special and unique with Marriage For One, and I absolutely loved Jack and Rose’s love story with all of my heart! I cannot freaking wait to devour more delicious love stories from Ella Maise!
Ella Maise did it again with this emotionally charged, witty, thoughtful and romantic story!
Jack and Rose…as doomed as their Titanic counterparts? It seemed so.
Broody Jack who never smiles and quirky, talkative Rose are strangers and definitely don’t pair well together, but they end up saying “I do” anyway. It’s a marriage of convenience, which appears to allow them both to get what they want. I was intrigued knowing there was more going on that met the eye! Their banter is incredibly entertaining…his side of it grumpy, her side funny and cheerful. As feelings grew and unfortunate things happened, the fake marriage started to feel real. The marriage didn’t seem so doomed and they were no longer strangers, but lies never stay buried, especially when there’s people who didn’t want to see them happy involved.
Oh that slow burn sizzled for a very long time, but when the fire was lit…just wow!
This story had a very different feel to it and the characters were fascinating to get to know. I fell in love with Jack and Rose and was totally invested in their happily ever after!
Ella Maise is a new to me author, but I am a sucker for “fake relationships that become real” so I was quickly hooked on Marriage For One.
Jack is our grumpy, serious Hero and Rose is our optimistic and stubborn Heroine. The real beauty of this story is the fake relationship between Jack and Rose and how it slowly evolves into something real. Jack tried so hard to resist and stay professional and he literally couldn’t stop himself from falling for Rose. And Rose? She’s a strong and independent character that is so easy to relate to.
There are secrets that Jack has; the foreshadowing gave me anxiety. What happened? Will it ruin them?? Alas, you must read to find out.
Marriage For One was a wonderful, slow-burn of a romance. I was instantly gripped by these characters and invested in their happily-ever-after.
One of my favorite books of the year so far!
“The number of times Jack Hawthorne smiled: zero”
Told from a dual POV, Marriage For One is a beautiful love story about two very different people who engage in a marriage of convenience. Jack comes across as cold, grumpy, and prickly yet his little gestures speak so much louder than his surliness and lack of words. I could not help but love him. Rose is hard-working, independent, talkative, and a bit of a smarty pants – basically the type of woman that I would love to be friends with. The two make an unlikely couple but they are absolutely perfect together. I really enjoyed watching the budding romance between these two. I found myself laughing at certain parts and I was very curious about Jack’s big secret. Marriage For One is an entertaining slow burn romance that moves at a good pace, has likable, well-developed characters and may be my favorite book by this author to date!
3.5 Stars
It’s a little peculiar how this story begins.
A meeting with a stranger then boom marriage being offered.
Jack and Rose (yes just like the movie) are strangers who get married as a business proposal. An unlikely pair, she’s quirky and he’s stoic. I do however like the two of them together.
Jack is not exactly the warmest person you will ever meet he’s very serious but his heart in the right place.
They suit each other quite well. They belong to each other and no one else. I find this story to be very romantic and sweet.
This is my first book by this author and I’m surprised how quickly it sucked me in. I love arranged marriage romances and this is definitely up there with my absolute favourites.
I couldn’t get enough of Rose and Jack. What starts out as two strangers entering a loveless marriage turns into so much more. This is very much a slow burn romance but boy is it worth it.
I admit I fell fast and hard for Jack. He’s cold, abrupt, grumpy but unbelievably sweet. He has an aura, a confidence and determination that is extremely attractive. He’s not the most talkative person out there but the more I learnt about him the more he had me swooning. Rose is also very easy to like. There’s a quiet confidence about her but there’s also a more timid side. She’s not afraid to put herself out there but at the same time she’s not a doormat. It’s very rare I adore the female characters in books but Rose is a sweetheart and I loved everything about her.
Marriage For One is everything a slow burn romance should be. It has a fantastic storyline that made me want to pull an all nighter just to see how it ended, characters that made me love them more with each page that I read and an unlikely connection between two people who shouldn’t work together but somehow do. This may be my first book by Ella Maise but it definitely won’t be my last.
I know I’m reading something special when I start ranting and raving to my book besties about the incredible story I just started reading. This was the case with Marriage For One, a beautifully written, emotional, Slow Burn romance that will be on my #TopRead2019 list. I loved everything about this story, told in dual POV, and the amazing main characters had me either laughing or tearing up, all the way to the wonderful and happy ending. It’s always a good sign when you hug your kindle, after finishing an unforgettable romance! Is it too soon to reread it? Asking for a friend.
“Please tell me this is real. What I’m starting to feel for you…what I think we have. Please tell me it’s real and I’m not just imagining it.”
Rose Coleson had felt unwanted most of her life. When she became an orphan, at nine, she’d been taken in by father’s wealthy half-brother, Uncle Gary. Her aunt, Angela, and cousins had made Rose feel like she was an unwanted and unwelcomed guest in their family. And proving her point, her fiancé had broken up a few weeks ago, for no reason.
Rose had dreamed of owning her own coffee shop, and had managed to save money to do so, ever since she started working at one, when she was eighteen years old. She had signed a contract with her uncle to rent a space in a building he owned on Madison Avenue and pay a small amount of rent for two years, and had already purchased the equipment. That was before Gary and Angela had died in a car accident. And Rose found out Gary had left the building to her future husband. One who didn’t exist.
“I might not be what you wanted or needed, but you got me anyway. I’m right here.”
Jack Hawthorne was a partner at the law firm that had represented Gary Coleson. He was aware of the stipulation in Gary’s will, and set up an appointment to make a deal with Rose, one that would prevent her from losing her life savings. All she needed to do was marry him, and he would be the new owner of the building since the will didn’t mention Rose’s future husband by name, and she could continue her plans to rent the space. He explained all this to Rose, who was dumbfounded by this cold and unemotional stranger. What Jack didn’t tell her was he had a reason for making this strange proposition, and it had nothing to do with the building, and everything to do with Rose.
“I think you’re nothing but bluster sometimes, and I also think I might have gotten the better end of the deal by marrying you.”
There’s so much more to tell, but you’re going to have to discover it on your own! I loved the interaction between Jack and Rose, as she slowly chipped away at his armor, and ‘watching’ them fall in love had me sighing throughout the story. Jack had his own lonely background, that he slowly revealed to Rose, and was the reason he was so standoffish. The things one does for love!
“I’d be anything and everything she would want and need me to be.”
Where to start this review I have no idea because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who is thinking about reading this book. First I will say HELL TO THE YEAH read this book because it has all the feels and i loved every minute of it.
I first have to say that the book cover was what caught my attention. Then I read that blurb and said I have to read this book when it comes out because it is going to be the bomb! And let me tell you I read this book in one sitting because I could not put it down. I told my husband your cooking tonight because I have a new book boyfriend and he is calling me.
Jack and Rose are an amazing couple. Jack is cold and guarded for reasons that are legit and Rose is loving and caring and she doesn’t give up. You want slow burning romance then this is the book for you. There is nothing insta in this book and I loved how Ella started them out and built them to what they ended up being. THIS IS A MUST READ BOOK!!!!!!!!!!
Eeeeekkkkk!!! This book!!
I already knew after reading the first chapter that this book will be emotional and I haven’t been disappointed. Marriage for One is a slow burn romance. It’s heartfelt and beautiful and believe me when I first saw how long and big this book is, I was really shocked, but the whole time I was reading it never felt anything but perfect! It never felt dragged out or anything. The whole book was just balanced right with the storyline and getting to know the characters and everything that’s happening. The whole storyline of Marriage for One is just utterly beautiful!
Marriage for One is incredibly written and OMG these characters!!!! I’m so in love with them! Jack and Rose just stole my heart immediately. And JACK!!!!! I’m so in love with him. He’s closed off, secretive, grumpy and frowny… gawd his frown!! Ella Maise definitely created a sexy main male character there. And then there’s Rose… oh sweet Rose! She’s so sweet, caring, confident and even sassy. She’s just such a lovely and funny person.
Jack and Rose… together they just made my heart beat faster. All the interactions between those two, starting with the wedding, the coffee shop and every little touch and look – the tension between those tow was just over the top! And I totally looooovvvveeeddd it!!!!
This is definitely one of my favourite books this year! And I’m really excited to read what Ella Maise has up her sleeve next!
Marriage For One by Ella Maise is the story of Jack and Rose.
Rose always wanted to open a coffee shop and she was set to marry but all that came to a end. Then Jack offers her a business deal that will help both of them….neither really needed rescuing both were strong characters. Of course this marriage of convince head in the directions of other similar stories but this author kept me engaged. I enjoyed Rose for her playfulness and for Jack who of course was the strong silent type never letting himself free….but with Rose she slowly made him want more.
I hope to read more books but this author. Loved it.
Rose and Jack don’t have your typical marriage, their’s is one more of a convenience, then one founded on love. They met and married in a matter of days, solely for the purpose of helping each other out, with the agreement that there would be no feelings, love or anything of the sort. They promised to be each other’s person for two years, then go their separate ways…. it sounded easy enough.
But somewhere along the way, after falling into a comfortable routine, attraction began to take hold and feelings found there way in… now they must decide if this is the forever kind of thing, or stick to their little deal.
Marriage For One is a slow burn romance that will keep you entranced from beginning to end. Once I met these two I didn’t want to let go of them, they seeped into my heart and held on tightly as I read their beautiful story. This isn’t your normal romance story, it’s a slower paced marriage of convenience story, one that builds a solid relationship starting from friendship and building up to a romance. So with that being said, you have got to have a little patience when you read it, there’s no insta-love, or steamy action right off the bat, it’s actually more of a natural progressing relationship. I really enjoyed this story, it had a lots of emotion to stir up the feels, a few unexpected surprises, and a moody hero that completely stole my heart! I highly recommend you get your hands on this one, it’s certain to leave your heart happy!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
What a lovely, incredible book. I’ve let myself savor it’s beauty for the last couple of days before I thought about what to put in the review. I read it slowly and devoured every bit of it.
Jack is a surly yet kind business man who has a false facade that makes him come off as a demanding, somewhat grumpy man. But at the heart of it, he’s a sweet soul who only wants what’s good for the only person in his life he’s ever let in. And that’s Rose.
Rose is tough. She hasn’t had it easy, but she doesn’t keep her from accomplishing her dreams, from conquering her goals and her new husband. It doesn’t just happen. It marinates in both of them until neither can deny the feelings that are developed.
I can’t stop thinking about these wonderful characters that Ella Maise has created, she’s reached inside of them and shown us their secrets, their insecurities, and their love for one another.
I’ve read every book Maise has to offer and devoured each one, finding appreciation in them all and reading in awe at her amazing ability to bring the characters to life.
Marriage For One by Ella Maise is different from most books set in this trope. It’s a fake marriage yes, but only one of the participants knows the whole truth of why they are pretending to be man and wife.
Jack Hawthorne is a lawyer who out of the blue, asks Rose Coleson to marry him. He says it to protect her investment in the coffee shop she was about to open. But, was it. Jack plays his cards close to his distant, broody and very hard chest. Rose has only one option and that’s to become Jack’s fake spouse. But, it’s not long before playing house starts to get real… for both of them.
Jack may seem like he’s pretending to be a good husband, but on the inside he wants nothing more than to have Rose all to himself… for real.
Rose just wants to live a simple life and get her coffee shop up and running. She wasn’t prepared for Jack to come into her world, never mind set it on fire. He’s aloof, and a bit of a workaholic, but so is she. They make an odd pair, but it’s one that works. Jack’s true self slowly emerges along with the smiles that Rose craves to see gracing his ruggedly handsome face.
This was quite a slow burning romance with a sexual chemistry that was allowed to build over a period of time, and when it was let loose, it was scorching hot. I really enjoyed how they came together and seeing Jack come out of his hard-nosed shell under Rose’s sweet and guileless encouragement.
A lovely story with some heartfelt moments mixed in with a few romantic moments that will tug at your heartstrings. Well worth a read. One-Click today.
A story like Marriage for One by Ella Maise is the reason I read romance. For the pure unparallel bliss. For the unadulterated overdose of happiness. For the soft swoony and overwhelming feeling in my heart. Ella Maise has given me such passionate joy in this story.
The plot is very simple. A fake arranged marriage romance. But Ella Maise has created an amazing story around and beyond the theme. Jack Hawthorne and Rose’s marriage started as a forced deal and as a matter of convenience. They started the journey backwards. From fake marriage to friendship to true love. And the genius masterstroke is in the way the author narrates the journey.
It is a good old truly hardcore romance. Jack is perfection. He is serious, grumpy, brooding and apparently no fun. But when he leaves his tough guy appearance he exposes this soft ,caring, emotional side. And the whole package is so amazing! Rose is his exact opposite and I just love her bubbly, cheerful, sassy, smart, funny and friendly personality. Ella Maise’s storytelling is elegant, captivating and mindblowing good. It is a long book but I finished it fast because I could not stop reading. It was increadibly sweet and deep. I was breathless with the epic feel of the romance so often.Every encounter, every subtle progression of the relationship, every crazy smile,every kiss, every defining moment and every heartwarming emotion was brought to life beautifully by the author. It is not angsty per se. But I spent last 20% on verge of tears and emotional breakdown.
I had this crazy swoony smile on my face all through Marriage for one. Even when I wanted to cry with the heartbreaking turns, my heart was happy and full. This satisfaction is priceless. The awe inspiring heart-rending moments stretched forever through the book. Ella Maise has written an unforgettable romance.
Received ARC for Honest Review
I love slow burn reads because I know that when the main characters finally get together it will be explosive but this book made me not want them to get together because I knew that if they did, things would start happening and then the book will end. I so DID NOT want the book to end. I wanted to see what Rose would do next to get Jack to smile and how many times. I wanted to see him lose his frowns with her quirkinesses. The negotiations at the end gave me all the feels!
This book. It killed me in the best possible way. It is the mother of all slow burns, gradually showing the relationship between the two main characters develop piece by sweet, agonising piece.
Jack and Rose’s relationship started backwards. They married out of necessity, then began to get to know each other. Slowly, gently, they circled each other, dropping facts and insights into themselves like breadcrumbs. As a reader I gobbled up each one, desperate to know what motivated them.
Jack is as complicated as Rose is straightforward. He has many layers to him, all hidden by a gruff, cold exterior. Yet it is his uniquely isolated personality that makes him so appealing. You want to get to know him, to break down his barriers and see the passion that undoubtedly lies beneath.
Rose is open, honest and unassuming. She is singularly focussed on opening her own business but is aware of the promise she made to Jack. Desperate to stay on his good side at first, she delights in prodding and provoking him in a bid to get him to open up.
The story, the characters, everything about this book is exquisitely crafted and stays true to itself from beginning to end. I found myself falling for these characters and everything they endure just adds to the feeling of rooting for them. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.