First comes marriage, then comes…love? Divorce? Let’s pretend this never happened … They say opposites attract and that couldn’t be truer when it comes to CeCe and Shep. But what happens when the two most anti-marriage people in the French Quarter start enjoying the act? CeCe I never planned on getting married. After my dad deserted my family the day before my tenth birthday, and I watched my … birthday, and I watched my mother fall to pieces over him, I decided it wasn’t worth the heartache. Then Shepard Rhys-Jones, who ghosted me two years ago, declares he needs to marry someone to claim his inheritance, and I drunkenly offer myself up as his wife.
He was the best I’ve ever had and now, he’s all mine… but only for the next year.
Shep
I never planned on getting married. It was one business transaction I had no desire to close. Yet, here I am… sitting in a bar in New Orleans… seriously considering making CeCe Calhoun my wife. If we can manage to stay married for a year, I’ll be one hundred million dollars richer and finally have the freedom to forge my own path, separate from the Rhys-Jones name.
She’s the only woman I’ve struggled to forget, and she’s finally mine. For now.
Is it possible for this fake marriage to be real?
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I’m not really a fan of the fake marriage trope. It just seems too unrealistic to me and they all seem to be very similar. But I’m glad I read this one. The beginning was fantastic, then it got a little slow for me. I think I wasn’t invested enough in CeCe. She was described well enough in the story to understand her motivation, but I just couldn’t really relate to her thought processes. She kept saying she needed a safety net, but what was her idea of a safety net? Having no one? I don’t get it.
So anyway, the story eventually got me hooked and once it did, I was all in, didn’t want to put it down. I was in love with Shep too. I was actually cheering when he did the thing that CeCe got mad about, and from then on I read non-stop. I think he was too hard on himself and CeCe was too hard on him as well. But there was nice growth for both characters and the ending and the epilogue were really great.
Favorite scene—when Shep met up with Theo. I won’t spoil it for you, but it was so well written, believable and impressive. I was also happy to witness major events in the lives of Carys and Maverick, and Avery and Shaw. Just name dropping those two couples would never be enough for me, so I’m glad that Jiffy and Kate included them. And last but not least, the reappearance of Jules. What a terrific character. So glad that he played a significant role, love his spunk and his drag speak.
Yes, I recommend this book for a classic romance read. You could read this as a standalone, but I think it would definitely enhance the story if Blue Bayou (book 1) and Come Again (book 2) were read first.
Somewhat of an enemies-to-lovers vibe! CeCe and Shep meet through the relationship of their mutual friends, and after chemistry continues to build up one visit, they feed into the temptation and spend a weekend with each other. Two years later, Shep has relocated to the same town CeCe lives in, and even though the pair haven’t been on the best of terms since that weekend, end up at the same party. When his grandfather unexpectedly dies, he returns home to find out that he is the only one in his family to inherit anything, with the stipulation that he has to get married first. Coming from the opposite side of the tracks, so to speak, CeCe is willing to help out a friend in need, and drunkenly volunteers herself. After eloping quickly and quietly, Shep brings CeCe to his family’s home and although tensions are high and feelings are obvious regarding their marriage, the pair seems to pull through. But as feelings continue to grow between them and the line from friends to more is crossed, the question remains on if either will get spooked and cause the demise of the budding relationship. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.