An arranged marriage neither wants, but both soon crave… from USA TODAY bestselling author Naima Simone! Manipulated into a marriage of inconvenience, until one sizzling kiss changes everything… Devon Cole must marry Cain Farrell or lose everything. But she can never let her billionaire husband-to-be know why she agreed to her father’s dangerous machinations. Just as she’ll never know … machinations. Just as she’ll never know her father is blackmailing Cain to tie the knot, too. What kind of marriage can Devon even expect from a man with such cold eyes…and such hot kisses? She’s about to find out.
From Harlequin Desire: Luxury, scandal, desire–welcome to the lives of the American elite.
Billionaires of Boston
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Eeek, Naima Simone is back with a marriage of convenience story! You cannot go wrong with Naima’s books. Curl up with a glass of wine and this book – it’s gonna be a good night!
You know I love marriage-of-convenience stories, and this one will have you turning the pages until the end!
CONTAINS SPOILERS:
I wanted to like this book, but there were so many plot points that made no sense. So the book starts out at Cain’s father’s funeral where he learns that he has two illegitimate brothers, and in order to keep the company, they have to work at the company for a year. In addition, he has to live in the family house for a year. He doesn’t want to have anything to do with the house, since that was where his father was emotionally and physically abusive to him. Next, Gregory Cole comes to visit him with a marriage contract signed by his father that Cain will marry Gregory’s daughter. Apparently Gregory had an affair with Cain’ mother and had pictures, texts, etc. Here is the first plot point failure: why would Cain’s father care enough that his ex’s name was dragged through the mud? So now we have an engagement of inconvenience plot line. Devon is Gregory’s daughter and she is as good as Gregory is evil (I seriously expected him to twirl a moustache and tie someone to the railroad tracks). She works with underprivileged youth at a community center, and her father threatens to get the funding yanked if she doesn’t comply. Both of Gregory’s evil blackmail plot could have been eliminated with a small amount of discussion. Another problem I had was the two secret brothers. Obviously they will have their own books in the future, but other than a couple of paragraphs in the first chapter and two sentences at the engagement party, they are cyphers. Then at the eleventh hour they have a big “come-to-Jesus” moment with Cain about how he and Devon look at each other, so it must be love. Seriously, how would they know? And my last point is that Cain isn’t very likable. I can understand why he was a miserable person, given how his father treated him, but we weren’t given any glimpse of a warm heart underneath. He could have interacted with his mother, or his brothers to humanize him, but they are barely mentioned. I loved the idea of this book, just not the execution.
Vows in Name Only is the first book in the Billionaires of Boston series and it was a wonderful start to the series. It was a short book but did not feel rushed. The pacing was perfect, and it was easily a book that can be read in one sitting. The characters were interesting and easy to connect with. Devon Cole was being forced to marry Cain Farrell by her father or she would lose everything she cared for. Cain thought his father could never hurt him again after his death, only to learn of his half-brothers and his father’s will. Along with that, he was being blackmailed into marrying Devon, so how can he trust anyone? He feels betrayed when he learns who Devon is and vows to make her regret marrying him. Can they overcome blackmail and betrayals for a future together?
I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading the future books in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Oh man I am such a sucker for a juicy marriage of convenience story and Naima Simone’s books never disappoint!
This was such an emotional storyline. It was well written and so heartfelt. The characters are well developed and the background information provides just the right amount of story connection.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Highly entertaining, sexy, fun and emotionally thrilling journey filled with engaging charters, witty dialog, heart racing twists and exciting passion. Was an edge of your seat roller coaster from beginning to end.
Deliciously modern forced marriage!
Cain and Devon are being forced into a marriage neither wants by their truly awful fathers. But rather than go along meekly and endure the cruel machinations of her father and the even more cruel of I want you but I don’t vibes of her “fiancé,” Devon stands up for herself and wins the day!
I’m very excited about these Farrell brothers, hello Achilles!, and this new series by Naima Simone! Her use of humor, sensuality, and heart crafts stories that have me turning the pages, fanning myself, and sniffling back my tears all at once!
I adored this book! The writing was very descriptive and drew me right into the story. Definitely some up and down moments that made me wonder how they would work things out. Highly enjoyable book. Cannot wait to read more by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
So much drama lends to a great story. Entertaining characters that bring their own secrets and twist to the story. Good dialogue and interaction between the characters. There are characters to love and to not like so much in this story. Good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Cain and Devon are both forced into their arranged marriage by their manipulative and horrible fathers. Cain has been on the receiving end of his father’s abusive behavior since he was a child and resents that even after his death his father still manipulates him by forcing to marry after he signed a contract with Devon’s father, in addition Cain has to stay in the house of horrors where he grew up for a year. Devon’s father blackmails both Cain and Devon into the marriage for his own personal gain.
When forced to spend time together feelings towards each other start developing, but can Cain see the real Devon and not the illusion her father has let Cain believe?. The author has a great writing style allowing the characters to come to life and the reader starts caring about them, wishing and rooting for HEA outcome. I enjoyed the book and would recommend reading it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Billionaires of Boston Book One:
Cain Farrell meets Devon Cole at his father’s funeral and is intrigued by her. The next week Gregory Cole, Devon’s father meets with Cain. He reveals that he signed a marriage contract with Cain’s father for Cain and Devon to marry. Cain refuses but Gregory blackmails him. Now Cain is forced to become engaged with Devon who he believes is as conniving as her father. In reality Devon is also being blackmailed by her father into this marriage. She wants to be honest with Cain but she is afraid of what her father will do. This is a fun and entertaining story. The book captures your interest from the beginning. Cain Farrell & Devon Cole have undeniable chemistry. They find it difficult to resist each other. While reading you can’t help but hope that these two will find love and a real marriage. Cain also found out at the reading of his father’s will that he has two half brothers, Achilles Farrell and Kenan Rhodes. He is forced to work together with his brothers at his family business in Boston or lose the business because of what his father’s will states. He is not used to having family and finds it difficult to trust them. Achilles and Kenan support Cain and they let him know they have his back. Cain’s brothers want to support him and are trying to earn his trust which will take time. Devon may help him with this too if Cain can learn to trust. It will be interesting to see how Cain’s relationship with his brothers evolve. Can’t wait to read the next book in the series to see how the brothers interact and become one big happy family. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
You know a fake marriage story is bound to be a good story, but this one is a great one! The characters are well developed, easy to get to know and interesting. The story line pulls you in and holds you throughout the entire story. You can’t help but keep turning the pages waiting to find out how their story develops.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An amazing well written story. This engaging storyline had me addicted page after page with family secrets, blackmail, tempers, rebellion, attraction, deception and more. The characters are interesting, well developed and have undeniable chemistry, can’t wait to get more on the other brothers. I voluntarily read and reviewed this incredible ARC.
Wow, I loved this book! The tension, the sexual tension and the ways the passion sparks, what a wonderful way to tell a story about a fake engagement, forced by blackmail. This book is almost hot to the touch! Ms Simone certainly has her way with words!!
In this book two people are forced to a marriage neither of them wants, but they crave each other’s company.
Devon Cole must marry Cain Farrell or lose everything. But she can never let her billionaire husband-to-be know why she agreed to her father’s dangerous machinations. Just as she’ll never know her father is blackmailing Cain to tie the knot, too. What kind of marriage can Devon even expect from a man with such cold wolf eyes…and such hot kisses?
Absolutely loved the steam level!
I was quickly pulled in to the story of Cain and Devon who each are blackmailed in to marrying by Devon’s father. The two may have met innocently enough and felt an instant attraction, but after Devon’s father’s blackmail, there is nothing but suspicion and revulsion. But where there is hatred, can there be love? You have to read to find out and will read the book in one sitting!
Vows In Name Only is a favorite of mine, i could not put it down. Cain and Devon story is very different from a typical arranged marriage. Sad the levels Devon’s father would go to just to get his level of high prestige in society. Devon could careless about statuses and just wants to work at the community center which her father threatens if she doesn’t go along with the arranged marriage to Cain. Poor Cain has been a pawn to his father his whole life and now even from the grave he is still controlling him. I was happy to see him break free of that control and power he continued to give his father. He finally embraced his half brothers and got the love of his life after he almost screwed it up. His distrust for people almost cost him his happily ever after. Even after Devon told him why she was going along with the arranged marriage the very next day he still instantly thought the worst of her based on what her father said to him. I was highly disappointed and proud of Devon for walking away from him. However in the end they are happy. Looking forward to reading the next book so see how their love story continues as well as which brother is next to find love.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Oh, this had intrigue, angst, romance, passion, and a fake relationship that turns out to be exactly what Devon and Cain needed. Their chemistry is amazing and I loved the back and forth between them at the beginning when they didn’t know if they should trust each other. I loved seeing the relationships develop with Cain’s brothers as well.
Solid 4.5 star
Neither Devon nor Cain want to be entangled in the farce of an engagement but for entirely different reasons and this leads to a fiery and at times hurtful spar between both of them as well as Devon’s father Gregory. I liked how both Devon and Cain have gone through a lot due to family some harsher than others and longer and due to this there were times oh lord I wanted to shake Cain and tell him to actually look and listen to Devon to see the real her. This one is definitely a ride of emotions and feelings which has you turning the page and leaving you wanting to know more about Cain’s brothers!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Why yes, I am crying, why do you ask? Fierce and sexy and filled with so much emotion, this book is intense. And wonderful! But I do wish everyone involved had gone to get therapy, because oh man do they need it!