We’ve all been there before: wanting something—or someone—we can’t have. Whether it’s a decadent slice of chocolate cake that will blow a diet, the too expensive yet oh-so-cute shoes that cost more than an entire paycheck, or the drool-worthy barista who whips up this morning’s macchiato…the point is, we can relate.Meet Charli. A slightly awkward, forever single twenty-eight-year-old woman who … woman who definitely wants what she can’t have.
Enter Oliver. A thirty-eight-year-old executive chef who can’t stop thinking about his quirky co-worker, even though he’s engaged. Life is about choices, and saying “yes” to one person means saying “no” to another. But what if Charli and Oliver have been saying yes to the wrong people?
The timing isn’t right. The place isn’t right. But is it ever?
They say if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Charli and Oliver just may set the kitchen on fire.
The Work Wife is a standalone romantic comedy. Equal parts cocky and self-assured, a pinch of awkward sprinkled with a dash of sass, topped with a whole lot of sizzlin’ heat, you’ll love this laugh-out-loud romance by best-selling author CJ Martín.
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C.J. Martin did a Wonderful job! Loved Charli and Oliver from the beginning! The work wife was so much fun to read! The cute quirky things that only your significant other would know is how I would describe Charli & Oliver’s relationship. So much desire to be more…and that’s just the beginning! I definitely recommend this book!
Holy chemistry! I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book with so much chemistry between two characters without them touching each other!!
I’m sure there will be people who won’t enjoy this book because of the situation we find our main characters in at the beginning. One is engaged…but seems to be just kind of “meh” with the relationship and is staying for reasons that kind of make sense but aren’t good enough reasons to stay (to me anyway). Then he meets that one person that just makes everything else disappear. So what does he do? Nothing—for over a year. He soon realizes he needs to wake up and grab life by the horns or he’s going to lose out. Then we get to the really fun stuff!! There’s no actual (physical) cheating so don’t worry about that!
This book is downright amazing and I loved it! Too often we read books that are “too good to be true” but this one screams real life as far as the build up and relationships go. I literally could not put it down I once I started reading it.
Grab this book! You’ll be glad you did.
I thoroughly enjoyed THE WORK WIFE by C.J. Martín. The story was highly engaging and I finished it in one sitting.
Charli and Oliver are a fabulous couple. It’s been a long time since I’ve read about a couple whose attraction is this intense, this devoted and this loving: they truly are a perfect match. The magnetism between them is incredible; they are sizzling hot when they come together. Among all this they are so down to earth; Charli and Oliver are relatable, sincere and genuine.
Let’s not forget that Oliver is engaged, people! I know this might be a turn off for readers but I didn’t find it so at all. I think the author did a first-rate job in showing the turmoil of two people who are struggling to fight the attraction between them. They are imperfect as any person is yet Oliver and Charli had definite ideas of where the line never to be crossed was and when they found themselves wavering, they were adult in their response.
The writing flowed effortlessly for the most part but there were several times I was jolted out of the story due to errors. The book needs another round of proofreading.
This was the first C.J. Martín I’ve read and I’ll definitely be looking out for other works by the author.
4.5 stars
I absolutely loved this! I was offered an ARC prior and had to turn it down because of my hectic writing schedule, but then a trusted blogger friend messaged me raving about it, so I made time. I’m so glad I did. I couldn’t love Charli and Oliver more. The Work Wife is set in a high-end restaurant and the kitchen sizzles with their chemistry. The premise may be heavy, but the feel is light and romantic with the perfect amount of humor and angst and a swoon factor that’s off-the-charts. It’s a little forbidden-y, a little friends-to-lovers, a little unrequited love. If you’re looking for an all-around perfect romance that will leave you grinning, this is the one!