Everything people think they know about the Zoric family is a sham. Even me. I thought I was trying out to be their newest model. Luka was auditioning wives. I just need the career boost. He needs good PR to salvage his playboy image. It’s a win-win – on paper. But since when has real life been simple? His jealousy makes me crazy. The control he maintains over my body is unacceptable. I really … crazy.
The control he maintains over my body is unacceptable.
I really shouldn’t be so turned on by it.
But there’s more to both me and my husband than meets the eye.
And it isn’t long before I’m wondering – which of us has made the bigger mistake?
Book One in the Convenience Series.
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She needs his connections while he needs her image. Problem is they don’t trust each other. She doesn’t trust him to be faithful while he doesn’t trust her to fulfill her contract with the modeling agency. Sham is an arranged marriage between a model and co-CEO.
The only thing on Brooklyn Moss’s mind is her modeling career while the only thing on Luka Zoric’s mind is sex. He’s a notorious bachelor and resident bad boy of Chicago. In order to keep his position within the family business he needs to rebrand his image.
His father was recently arrested bringing disgrace to the business. Brooklyn is the perfect candidate to sway public opinion.
This is the best way to experience a romance by listening to two of my favorite narrators Elena Wolfe and Sebastian York. They offer the best performance of dirty words and salacious sex scenes. They make a great team alternating between Brooklyn and Luka’s character.
This a dual performance. Sham is an unabridged audiobook. This story is better served in audiobook format. The more I listen to audiobooks the more spoiled I become. I gravitate towards audiobooks rather than reading. I still prefer investing in both the ebook and audiobook so I can follow along.
Sham is book 1 in the Convenience series. The Contract is book 2 and The Ruin is book 3. This three book trilogy is entirely about Brooklyn and Luka.
Our marriage is a sham. I’m the first to admit it. Only privately, of course. Notorious playboy Luka Zoric needs a wife, and the good PR it brings. I just need the career boost being his top model will give me. It’s a win-win–on paper. But since when has real life been simple? I wasn’t sure that I was going to like this book when I first started reading it, the characters were so selfish and self centered.
Brooklyn is so shallow and will do anything to be famous, and I mean anything, even putting up with her husband flirting with other women and treating her like trash. I mean don’t get me wrong their sexual chemistry is very hot and the sex even hotter, but the characters were just horrible to each other. Now in saying that, the story line was amazingly interesting, engrossing and very addictive, it was like watching and waiting for a train wreck to happen in anticipation and I loved it, now onto book number two in the series.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
What a beginning for a series!
That cliffhanger though…
Brooklyn and Luka met 5 years ago but nothing really developed from it.
Jump forward and their second chance encounter is full of angst, anger but red hot chemistry.
Will their arranged marriage turn up for the best or will secrets and not talking come between them…
I can’t wait for book 2 to find out what happens!
#audiobookobsession #audiobookobsessionreviewer
Conflicted
Where to start!?! So here’s my problem, I like the story. I like the playboy bachelor forced to marry to help fix the family rep and business. I like Luca. I like Luca more than Brooklyn and that’s my problem.
I think Stella Gray wants you to feel comfortable or at least side with Brooklyn in this tale as old as time. And yet, I can’t. I don’t like her at all. Her back and forth wishy washy convictions make me angry. Her declaration of love (even if only to herself) seems half assed compared to her betrayal. I think its just because I don’t understand her head space. Gray makes sure to convince the reader this is Brooklyn’s shot and she’s going to take it but I can’t seem to appreciate the lengths Brooklyn is willing to go.
I do however need to know what happens. so while I think Brooklyn deserves everything coming to her, I hope Luca gets his HEA.
Cliffhanger
Audio Review
3 stars!
This is started out strong. I loved the connection between Brooklyn & Luca immediately. They had intense chemistry and I was excited to see where the story would lead. Unfortunately the beginning is where the strongest qualities of the story ended. The rest of the book was more controlling behaviour of Luca trying to control Brooklyn’s actions. Telling her where she could and couldn’t go. I am sure the intention was the possessive alpha male wanting to keep his woman to himself but again he keeps her at arms length for the majority of the book and I was missing the connection that I felt in the beginning. I was surprised that the marriage doesn’t take place until the end of the book and the drama that ensues during their wedding night was predictable and lack luster.
As always I enjoyed Sebastian York and Elena Wolfe’s narration. There voices exude passion and emotion and that fact is what kept me engaged in the story.
4 star Review The Sham (Convenience #1) by Stella Gray
AUDIO REVIEW:
Stella Gray is a new author to me. Narrated by Elena Wolfe and Sebastian York, they did justice to the storyline and I found them easy to listen too and they really brought the story to life for me. This is the first book in the Convenience trilogy and be prepared this ends in a cliff hanger so you have been warned.
From start to finish Stella Gray wove together a story that drew me in and kept me hooked. This was an entertaining, at times humorous story with secrets and was steamy.
Audio review:
The Sham (Convenience, Book 1) is told in dual pov and does end with a bombshell of a cliffhanger (audio). A new author, new series to me with a fake, arranged marriage trope. I loved the composition of the narrative and found the prologue intriguing. The characters are complex as well as compelling. The ending just…….
I need audio two when available.
Narrated by Elena Wolfe, Sebastian York with more chapters told from Brooklyn’s pov. Elena narrated most of the story with Sebastian only narrating four chapters and the prologue. Elena portrayal of Brooklyn is exactly what I would expect. Her inflection was on point. She enveloped all the right emotions. Sebastian York personified the character of Luka. Together this dual narration fit the narrative.
A entertaining listen.
This is the first book in the Convenience Series. This Series is interconnected with the Arranged Series, Stefan (Luka’s brother) and Tori’s story. I loved this first part of Luka and Brooklyn’s story. They are both intriguing characters. They know each other from the past, and they share a sizzling hot chemistry. The supporting characters are great. The story is fast-paced, and ends with a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to listen to the next installment in the Series. Elena Wolfe and Sebastian York did an amazing job with the narration, as always. Looking forward to listen to the next book in the Series.
The Sham
Convenience, Book 1
By: Stella Gray
Narrated by: Elena Wolfe, Sebastian York
Fast paced, exciting and steamy, Stella Gray has another winning series on her hands! I can tell from this first book we are in for a fantastic ride. Luka needs to fix his reputation in order to make the family company more respectable. What better way than to get married? With his pick of any model he wants, he chooses Brooklyn. Brooklyn has been looking for her big break and several years ago was offered that chance in a quick hook up with Luka. Now is her real chance. Marry him and soar to the top. But could it be that easy? Talk about off the charts chemistry. These two have it in spades. Luka is definitely an overprotective alpha and Brooklyn is a smart, ambitious woman. Will they find out they are a good fit or is this all a sham? Leaving us on a cliffhanger that has us anxiously awaiting the next in the series, Gray has captured my attention and her characters have my heart!
Elena Wolfe and Sebastian York are amazing as always. These two have a rhythm that flows and the chemistry makes the story. They make the storytelling sound easy and the characters alive!
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Wow this is going to be a hot sexy 2second chance romance even though their marriage is arranged. This is a very raw read that will have you needing the second book fast. I read this first book in a sitting as it’s very steamy read.
Luka and Brooklyn’s story, this is a trilogy about an arranged marriage, it starts about the character’s pasts and how they get to the arrangement. It all flows at a great pace and has you reading it until you get to the end and then you will start begging for more. I can’t wait to find out what happens in the following books, this book will hook you from the start.
Luka is trying to salvage his families name after what his father did and decides that getting married will hopefully help shift the narrative in a favorable way so he holds auditions for a possible wife at his agency without the models knowledge, enter Brooklyn. Luka & Brooklyn have a past that makes her the clear winner so he gives her his proposal, she marries him for image and he will give her the career she’s always wanted but it’s never that easy is it lol. Can’t wait for the next one
Our heroine, Brooklyn, is an aspiring cover girl model. Our Hero, Luka, is a cocky playboy who is trying to clean up his image to help save the reputation of the modeling agency he and his brother own, after their father almost tanks it with a scandal. Luka holds an open call audition in search of the “right” model for a two year project…as his wife! Brooklyn and Luka have a past history which created distrust and anger on her end so she struggles with her decision on whether to take the “job”. These two have a magnetic chemistry that stirs up some real feelings, but each are also holding secrets from the other which creates doubt. Since this is the first book in a trilogy, it does end on a cliff hanger. I can’t wait to see if their roller coaster continues to rise or whether it comes crashing down!
I really liked the Arranged Series so I was super excited to see we get to back to that world for Luca’s story. Stella did not disappoint with the first book! I was sucked in from the start! It’s told mainly from Brooklyn’s POV with Luca’s sprinkled in throughout the book.
Luca has been trying to clean up his partying playboy image but it’s not enough. His brother suggests he get married to get some positive press for him and their business. Brooklyn has a history with Luca and it’s not a good one. She is sure he doesn’t remember when she “auditions” to be his wife. He does which is why he chooses her.
The chemistry between them is crazy hot and it’s only a matter of time before they are steaming up the sheets. Some where along the way, the lines blur and it no longer feels fake. Brooklyn has a secret and is torn on what to do. She makes her choice at the start of their honeymoon but it’s too late. Luca finds out. It ends there and I am dying to know where they go from here!!
So The Sham is the story about Luka the messed up brother we met in the first set of books by Stella Grey (The Deal, The Secret, and The Choice) which was the story about his brother. Now we are getting Luka.
Although a lot has happened to Luka and he is now cleaned up and making better choices, that does not mean that the business is doing better. So what they need is, the face of the business to get married and make it look like it is clean living from here on out.
To do that Luka finds Brooklyn (again), she ends up being the one that kind of got away three years ago. Now they are married and have some major issues to get through. Lies, deceit, twist, and turns, and lack of trust makes this book one to read.
When two people get married for the wrong reasons but find their chemistry is too much to not take advantage of, what will be the outcome? Two more books to go!
My Rating: ****
Type: Series. Book1
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Marriage of Convenience
Narration: Dual POV
Primary Characters: Luka and Brooklyn
Source: Courtesy of Author/ Publisher – ARC
I had met Luka in the “Arranged series”. Even though I didn’t like him much in the first 2 books, he was intriguing enough in the last one. This story is about Luka and Brooklyn with a bonus of meeting Tori and Stefen on some occasions in this book.
After shady dealings and image of KMZ going in drain, Stefan and Luka are working hard in Danica Rose modelling agency (former KMZ) by renaming the brand and image of the company. However, Luka’s former playboy image is making it hard for them. Stefen comes up with marriage option for Luka but he doesn’t want to be tied.
Brooklyn is a model and looking for a big career shift. She thinks a contract with DRM modelling will give her that and attends the interview even if she is aware that Luka may be present. She has a brief history with Luka, even though she is not able to forget him she is ready to ignore that for a modelling shift. However, interview turns out to be totally different than her expectation.
As blurb says, they enter into a marriage of convenience where she gets a career shift and Luka can clear his image. But their sham of a marriage is not as easy as they initially thought. Feelings and jealousy gets involved and they don’t seem fake anymore. Watching these two crush on each other in secret and try to maintain the deal between them was quite entertaining.
Will they be able to uphold the deal? Will they be able to get past their feelings for one another?
It was fun connecting back with Tori and Stefen for few brief moments. Emzee was lovely. Mateo was intriguing, let’s see what author has in store for us with him. Plot moves in steady pace. Writing style is simple and good. This book ends with cliffhanger.
Overall, this book has secrets, emotions, drama, and chemistry which makes it an entertaining read. If you are looking for entertaining marriage of convenience book then you can pick this up.
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book in exchange for honest review.
Check out my other reviews: https://meander23.com
SHAMtastic EXPLOSION!
I flipping loved it. The chemistry was hot and undeniable. The drama was intense. If I wasn’t riding the edge of my seat needing to turn the pages I was shaking my head with a shitty grin lovin all the excitement drama and unexpected twists that had me screaming Noooo and the cliffy that had me wanting to throw my kindle across the room. It’s amazing well written with plenty of feels and humour and I definitely want more.
This is Book 1 of the Convenience Series.
This is the story of Luka & Brookyn. Luka is a playboy, but had to give it up and clean up his image for the modeling agency he and his brother run. His father is in jail for women trafficking using the women from the agency. Brooklyn is a model and goes to the agency for an interview. The interview isn’t what she thinks it’s about. Luka has to find a wife right away. That’s what the interview is for. It’s takes a while, but she agrees to become his wife. They had a one-night stand three years ago, and neither one of them forgot the other. It was an awesome experience. Emotions are high, bad and good. The attraction is off the charts. It’s push and pull until they marry. Everything seems to be great between them, until Luka finds something big about Brooklyn. Then, there is a cliffhanger. This is an awesome book and I loved it. I can’t wait for the next one to come out.