In high school, I was in love with Hunter Ness, but he friend-zoned me. Time passed. I grew up. He went to prison. And now he’s going to be my husband for a year. There are reasons. He’s not going to be a real husband. Just a practice husband so he can have a job and a place to live and I can finally experience parts of life I’ve only read about before. We’re just friends, and I’m helping him out. friends, and I’m helping him out.
But still… He’s way too sexy, and he knows me far too well. It’s hard to remember he’s not the real thing. But I’m going to stay smart. I’m not going to fall for my ex-con husband who only sees me as a friend.
I hope.
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It’s tough to move away from the past when every step finds you within the same place. Hunter and Sam had a destiny. They were meant to be together, but life kept getting in the way. Practice Husband is a chance to start over for two people who never seemed to get it right. Hunter is so much more than his sordid past and with a helping hand from a valued friend, he has a chance to move away from the chains of prison and into the light of the real world. Sam is a bit naive, but her beautiful heart is a treasure just waiting to shine it’s value. What began in heartache became an inspiring tale of hope and salvation.
Hunter and Sam have been friends since high school. When he’s released from prison and needs a place to stay and a job and she needs something that will push her outside her comfort zone, they decide to get married. Just for a year.
This book had heat and humor. There was nothing fake about Hunter and Sam’s marriage and watching them figure it out was so entertaining. I finished this book in one sitting. I missed the first book in this series but I’m definitely adding it to my TBR.
*This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*
I am hooked on the Trophy Husbands Series after reading both Part Time Husband & Practice Husband by Noelle Adams. Each novella length read in this series provides us with the journey for one of ‘Pop’s’ granddaughters as she tries to appease his need to see each of his granddaughters married. Of course, it not as easy as Pop’s would want since his granddaughters won’t agree to Pop’s choice for their perfect husband. Although each granddaughter tries to teach their grandfather a lesson and while Pop’s happy his granddaughters’ decided to settle down & marry, he isn’t happy about each granddaughters’ choice of a husband. As Pop’s sees it, the choice is not ideal & the Trophy Husband is the total opposite of the stable husband Pop’s would choose. In the 4.5-Star book Practice Husband, follow along on Sam & Hunter’s journey…..Sam & Hunter know their friends and have been for a long time, as Hunter takes his role as a Trophy Husband is this thing more than a friendship, more than a contract to help a friend out? Could they have more than friendship or is it feelings as in romantic feelings and the beginning to falling in love? Can this once friendship turn into an actual marriage after the time limit of their ‘marriage contract’ expires? Noelle Adams knows how to pack a punch in the romantic, but oh so hot & steamy, read Practice Husband! Definitely Recommend adding all the books of the Trophy Husbands Series, Practice Husband & Part-Time Husband, to your Kindle library! I can’t wait for the next book in this series to read what’s in store as Pop’s last granddaughter picks her ‘Trophy Husband’!
This story is pleasant. It’s so delightful how the story is mostly about them and their relationship developing. They are so charming and erotic. Great ending too.
I really liked Hunter! He is adorable and likable and always been there for Sam. They just fit together. And loved loved loved when we find out about the tattoo. They were so similar in personality and insecurities than they thought. It’s adorable. Loved it.
Sam has always been the good girl. She never ruffles feathers and always does what she thinks is expected of her. Her grandfather is pressuring her and her sisters into marriage. Having a harder time pushing him back, she decides to take matters into her own hands by offering a school friend in need of help a proposition.
Hunter has recently been released from prison. Having Sam as a friend is very important. She offers him a place to live and job if he marries her for a year. She just wants Pop off her back for awhile, but Hunter has a couple of conditions himself. Sam has to live life and take a few chances. Always being so proper, he wants her to just let go. He definitely has his work cut out for him, because Sam is settled in her ways.
Oh I felt for Sam! So caught up in doing the right thing, she doesn’t know what SHE wants! I really enjoyed Hunter opening her up to new experiences. I felt he could have been a stronger hero, but he was right for Sam in the end.
Noelle Adams is the queen of contract marriage troupes and this one is a solid read! The characters are real and likeable. Their faults are easily common to anyone. I loved seeing their ups and downs and figuring a way to live their lives together the way THEY wanted.
I also love Sam’s sisters! They have their own stories and it is good to see where they are during this book! Definitely looking forward to the next book in this series!
I voluntarily reviewed this book that was gifted by NetGalley. The rating and review are solely my opinions.
Too predictable story and characters. Not Noelle Adams’ best work.
Over-stated simplicity of “Plot” and the characters are viewed as stupid.
3.5 stars–PRACTICE HUSBAND is the second instalment in Noelle Adams’ contemporary, adult TROPHY HUSBANDS erotic, romance series. This is perpetual college student Samantha ‘Sam’ Greyson, and Hunter Ness’ storyline. PRACTICE HUSBAND can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.
Told from first person point of view (Sam) PRACTICE HUSBAND follows the marriage of convenience between former high school friends Samantha ‘Sam’ Greyson, and Hunter Ness. Years earlier Samantha Greyson was Hunter Ness’ high school tutor but along the way Hunter began to rebel against his father’s demands, and two years ago Hunter found himself in prison for committing a white collar crime. Having kept in touch while in prison Hunter seeks out Samantha in the hopes of finding a job with her grandfather’s company but finds himself on the outside looking in when the old man refuses to accept a former con with no place to live. To alleviate Hunter current predicament as well as getting her grandfather off of her back, Samantha offers up a marriage of convenience in the hopes of forcing her grandfather to accept Hunter for the man he could be. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Hunter and Sam, and the potential fall-out as issues of trust and miscommunication force our couple in different directions.
Samantha Greyson is a bit of a nerd; a bookworm who has no idea about what she wants, or where she wants to go including thoughts of employment or future career. Having lived vicariously through her love of romance novels, and the love affairs between the heroes and heroines, Sam is desperate to experience everything and more but in reality Sam is frightened of it all. Comparing her newfound love life with that of a romance novel pushes Sam to overthink about the who, how, what and why of her sexual fantasies and married life. Hunter Ness struggles with issues of trust-from his father’s rejection to the probably that his wife is unhappy with his direction in life. Misinterpretation of events will force Hunter and Ness to look at their long-term goals including whether or not their marriage will become a permanent fixture.
The relationship between Hunter and Sam is a marriage of convenience wherein our couple barely know one another aside from their high-school tutoring sessions, and Sam’s twice weekly letters while Hunter served his sentence. Having thrown themselves into a marriage within days of Hunter’s release, our couple struggle more so than most newlyweds as it pertains communication, love and issues of trust. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
Samantha’s colorful and equally troubled sisters play secondary and supporting roles including Melissa Greyson, and her husband Trevor Bentley (Part Time Husband), their sister Chelsea; as well as their demanding and uncompromising grandfather who pays the bills, controls the purse strings, and owns the business from which everybody works.
PRACTICE HUSBAND is a story of embattled family relationships, and a struggling couple whose direction in life is part fantasy and part reality. Each chapter begins a reference or scene from a classic novel as our heroine continues to compare her life to that of fictional characters. The premise is entertaining and engaging; the romance struggles in the face of mistrust and miscommunication; the characters are intelligent, wounded and flawed.
Sweet read with a happily ever after.
Whew, that moment when Sam realises that Hunter is man. All man.
In this second stand-a-lone book about the Greyson sisters and their trophy husbands, it’s career student/book nerd Sam’s turn to marry when Pops, starts making noises about getting married and having children, like all good women should. She’s the good girl, the one who never argues, who never makes a fuss, and always does what’s expected of her. And now she thinks she’s missing out on experiencing life.
There is someone who can help her out, and she in turn will help him get back on his feet. Hunter Ness, the gorgeous boy she had a crush on in high school who friend zoned her, and, after his 2 year stint in jail, they’re still friends, and he’s even more gorgeous now that he’s a man. Trouble is, Pops will only help out ‘family’, not friends, so Sam decides to fix that. If Pops wants her to have a husband, and he’ll help out family, then she’s killing two birds with one stone. Hunter, in turn, is going to help her get out and about in life.
Noelle Adams writes books that absolutely smoulder. I loved the passion and intensity of hidden feelings between Hunter and Sam in this friends to lovers romance. And, it was totally completely romantic. Not only is the story great, but there’s plenty of smouldering heat between these two that really puts some spice in those pages!!! Did I also mention that Sam is a book nerd?? She happens to love hot romances, and when they try some romantic moves between the shower and the bedroom, I had to laugh when things don’t work out as smoothly as they seem to in the books, and Hunter’s, erm, swinging appendage gets in the way!
Noelle Adams books are always a welcome read, regardless of whether they are light-hearted or angst ridden. The Practice Husband isn’t angsty, but I’d put it at intensely romantic with a side of heat. 5 Stars, ‘cos this is exactly what I wanted to be reading right now.
Amazingly sweet romantic story to make you swoon and smile!
Sam(antha) has been in love with Hunter since she was fifteen years old. He was the handsome football player in need of an English tutor and she was willing to help him succeed. All it took was one session and she had the biggest crush ever! She is so painfully reserved and is scared to reach out for what she wants. Her life is just books and studying. She is too scared to attempt anything else.
Now, years later and after a lot of obstacles, she is there again to help him after his stint in prison. Those two years he paid have derailed his life completely. Disowned by his family, Hunter only has one steady friend he can rely on- Sam! What better way to help him get a job in her grandfather’s company than to temporarily marry him. This will give him a place to live while he works hard and gets back on his feet.
All that remains is for them to survive one year of this temporary marriage. He promises her in return, he will help Sam spread her wings and begin to live her life completely. So, how far will he take her?
I loved this book! Do not miss it!
I am voluntarily reviewing this book. Thanks to the publisher for sharing a copy with me.
Reread:
I love this book so much! Sam and Hunter were so perfect together. While Sam’s insecurity regarding Hunter’s feelings provides some angst, I’d forgotten that this author writes Hunter in such a way that it was obvious he was struggling with the relationship as well. This time around, I was much more aware of the angst added due to him. Knowing how this ends did help to ramp up my emotions more this time around, overall, feeling much more angsty than my initial read.
Original Review:
Sam has always been the good girl, the perfect girl, the smart girl. When her grandfather continues to pressure her into marrying, and an old school friend needs help after being released from prison, she takes her first rebellious step. For one year, Sam and Hunter will be married. He will have a job with her grandfather’s company as well as a place to live and she will have a practice husband. Unfortunately, one of Hunter’s conditions is that she learn to take risks and open herself up to life. Easy, right?
Poor Sam. She was just so caught up in her method of staying safe, never rocking the boat or trying new things. Hunter has quite the challenge on his hands to pull her from her sedate lifestyle but her desire to experience hot sex is an enjoyable endeavor. I hurt for her inability to step out of the world she lived in and loved Hunter for pushing her limits although never running roughshod over her in the process.
Hunter was so kind and gentle and so very determined to be and do whatever was necessary to fulfill his side of the marriage bargain. I worried that he might lose himself in the process. However, it was his own past that held him captive. Without his point of view I was completely clueless regarding his true issues and emotions. Was he all in or just abiding by the outline he and Sam had set at the onset of their arrangement?
This was a great read, written in clean precise prose that never gave way to repetition or unnecessary details and introspection which resulted in a fast pace. The characters were so real and their conflict completely human. Despite Sam’s love of fiction she was living a new life, not that of a fairy tale, but one that consisted of all the pain and joy that could be expected in such a relationship. I loved watching this couple as they struggled together and independently.
The steam level is relatively high, the secondary characters mostly consisting of the heroine’s family, two which have their own stories. I would’ve liked to have seen what the future held for Hunter in regards to his own past issues but the epilogue was otherwise absolutely perfect.
Overall, an extremely enjoyable read and one I’d especially recommend to those who like a hero who rides the line between alpha and beta.
4.5 Stars!
This one has become my favorite Noelle Adams book (so far).
I enjoyed the writing style of this story, it was sweet and sexy with some humor and angst thrown in for good measure.
Sam – the forever student, insecure, slightly geeky…LOVE her! She needed a little push to open up and do all the things she has wanted to do and Hunter was just the perfect man for the job.
Hunter – I really liked him from the beginning, with his bad-boy look, but sweet, fun-lovin’ heart. He is truly what a best friend should be. I loved how he paid attention and read through the lines with Sam, he drew her out of her box in a way that felt real, not forced for the story.
Pops is a trip, he makes me want to scream. Let’s just say that I am glad that he is not my Grandfather! I love that it was Sam, his favorite to surprise him in this one. Can’t wait to see what Chelsea has in store….