She just wanted to claim her inheritance. What she got was a husband… old drama between the former R&B singers is just the tip of the iceberg.
The Secrets, lies, and a crap ton of cash spilled on her lawyer’s conference room table all come with terms and conditions. Xeni must marry before she can claim the estate that will set her up for life and her aunt has just the groom in mind. The ruggedly handsome and deliciously thicc Scotsman who showed up at her aunt’s memorial, bagpipes at the ready.
When his dear friend and mentor Sable Everly passed away, Mason McInroy knew she would leave a sizable hole in his heart. He never imagined she’d leave him more than enough money to settle the debt that’s keeping him from returning home to Scotland. He also never imagined that Sable would use her dying breaths to play match-maker, trapping Mason and her beautiful niece in a marriage scheme that comes with more complications than either of them need.
With no choice but to say I do, the unlikely pair try to make the best of a messy situation. They had no plans to actually fall in love.
**This is a stand alone romance that can be read along with RAFE: A Buff Male Nanny. It features a woman sick to death of her family’s sh*t and a plus-size Scotsman who just wants to make sweet, sweet music. And love.**
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Loved this novel that so deftly handles grief, love, and family drama, plus smashes together the “if you want to inherit my money you have to marry someone” and the “arranged marriage” tropes for a delightful read that will leave you with that great romance endorphin high. A perfect romance smore: fluffy romance and rich, sweet sexy time sandwiched between realistic and engaging topics.
I absolutely loved Xeni and Mason’s journey to love! Mason was essentially made for Xeni (I mean, it’s even part of the plot!) and Xeni’s journey to allowing herself to be vulnerable and loved was something that completely resonated with me. To me, this story was a lovely take on the “marriage of convenience” trope, even if the circumstances of the take weren’t so lovely. There are some loose ends (get it?) regarding Xeni’s feelings about the family secrets that involved her or what happens between Mason and his father, but not between the love Mason and Xeni feel and share. I loved this couple. I laughed, became teary, and had that schmoopy feeling I need to have when delving into a romance nearly from the first page to the last. If you loved RAFE, definitely give XENI a go. Get your HEA on!
You deserve happiness. You deserve to read Xeni. It’s heartfelt, steamy, funny and full of great representation. Just go.
Ok this book was super sexy, but also sweet and thoughtful. I loved seeing Mason and Xeni open up to each other during their forced, temporary marriage. Truly, this book was everything.
Such a unique story. And amazing (bisexual!) characters. Xeni was much more relatable than I expected after reading Rafe. I expected her to be more outgoing and confident. She still was, compared to me, but was also nervous at times and interested in finding a relationship with a deeper connection. I was also happily surprised to find a romance couple that didn’t want kids. That is so rare (in books), but so refreshing.
Um… this book was unexpectedly kinky. There’s lot more kinky sex than in the previous book. I also want to point out that this book was NOT insta-lovey. (cause ya girl was worried that it would be lol) The fact that this book is an arranged marriage mixed with friends with benefits and the two main characters built a bond from that is beyond me.
I can’t exactly pin point why I thought this book was okay and not as good as the previous one. Not to mention I was fucking half listening to the audiobook on hoopla (OOPS). So I guess you can say that I was semi bored with this book personally, but I would still recommend to those that love a good kinky romance with an interracial couple. XD
4.8 Stars
“Mason I think you’re super cute.”~Xeni
“If I could only match your beauty” he managed to say.
(How sweet was that? I absolutely had to write it down)
Go listen to the audiobook now!
This book is so good and fun. Xeni and Mason are a match made in heaven and OMG Mason is so hot and his Scottish accent is just aaaarrrghhhh! I melt every time I loooooved it. Xeni is just fabulous as she put it (love her) and let’s not forget how hot/steamy this book is. This was my first book by this author and I can say it won’t be my last. just go listen to the audiobook you won’t regret it and if you like accents as much as I do and witch stuff you will love this book. They understand each other and are open about their sexuality and their wants too (they are both Bi) if I remember correctly but Mason is. Their energy just matches. There was a part about abortion too and I feel like this book had a pint of everything to it. (did I just say pint? Yes, I did) whatever. That epilogue though
Unadulterated Joy!
Xeni stole her way into my heart in Rafe while Mason grabbed my attention in Sanctuary so the two do then them together in an arranged marriage…I. AM. HERE. FOR. IT!
But even as excited as I was, I wasn’t not prepared for how much I ended up loving this book. From Xeni’s tough and confident exterior masking a woman who’s still trying to figure it out to Mason’s GIF text responses and absolute sweet heart despite rejections from loved ones, I am so in love with these two! And let’s not forget the box of fun, the rings, the chair and letters! When I finished this book I was filled with such joy and satisfaction!
We need more romances that feature open and honest discussions about past sexual hurts and pregnancy choices as well as those that normalize bisexuality in both the heroine and hero!
Now comes the debate of which Rebekah Weatherspoon master piece I’m going to read next!
After reading Rafe a few days ago, I was in dire need of not only reading more from this author, but finding out more about Xeni. And I LOVED this. The connection between Xeni and Mason. The communication. The body rep I’ve always wanted. The bi-rep I desperately needed. And this got STEAMY. Not to mention it also handles grief and family drama in such a low angst kinda way, I couldn’t help but stay up until 4am to finish this.
Super sweet and super hot!
What a delightful surprise this book was! I adore the marriage of convenience trope, and this one was so well done! Fun and sexy and so very heartwarming! If you’re looking for a low angst, lightweight read look no further! I loved Xeni and Mason!
I got to sit and read XENI by Rebekah Weatherspoon this weekend and found myself crying out of happiness/cuteness/horniness about a dozen times.
XENI is a marriage of convenience romance, with a bisexual, bad-ass heroine and a bisexual, plus-size Scottish hero. Seeing two bisexual main characters made this bisexual girl’s heart so so so so happy!
Both characters are mature, respectful of each other’s emotional boundaries, swoony, funny and silly, and really, really care for one another and their family members (biological and ‘found’).
Their romance was sweet and aching and tender and hot-hot-hot-hot (there is pegging!) I felt like I was being hugged the entire time and was grinning from ear to ear.
This book has some extremely tender moments about grief (involving the loss of the heroine’s aunt) that I related to wholeheartedly. But overall, it’s a story that is candy-crunchy-sweet-and-fluffy, with well-rounded characters I was rooting for from page 1.
Cannot recommend it enough!
¸¸.•*¨*•Minor spoilers alert•*¨*•.¸¸
Format read: Unabridged Audiobook via LAPL
Format owned / collected: Autographed physical book (via The Ripped Bodice bookstore)
Narrated by: Antony Ferguson
Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins
Release Date: 03-10-20
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Cover Gush: Gah, I love this cover so much that I caved and bought an autographed copy just so I could look at it on my bookshelf.
Ratings
Performance by Antony Ferguson He was great! I have zero complaints and wouldn’t hesitate to re-listen to this audiobook.
Story
I enjoyed their romance a lot although it didn’t topple my very favorite novel of this author which is still Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny (Loose Ends, #1).
Xeni was actually my very first novel featuring bisexual main characters, and I feel as if I know a little bit more about bisexuality on a more real level now. The twist for Xeni and how she processed it seemed very realistic. I loved the group chats with her female friends.
Mason’s unique friendship with the now deceased Sable was a cool way to bring him into Xeni’s life. Bravo, Sable, you sneaky woman! Mason’s dad was admittedly not at his finest with his reaction and actions to Mason’s career and love life.
Overall
The epilogue was such a lovely bonus. I love finding out how the couple are navigating their lives later on in their HEA.
Between this and Rafe, Weatherspoon is quickly becoming one of my favorite contemporary authors. Her characters are all real, flawed human beings, which is refreshing in a sea of novels with “perfect” characters.
Xeni and Mason took my heart and I don’t even want it back. This book was sexy and heartfelt and had me both LOLing and crying. Marriage of convenience meets an interesting take on secret baby (no kids in this book!). Big bearded Scottish hero who’s totally a gentle giant. Badass heroine who’s totally a witch and also just trying to grieve her aunt as she navigates complicated family dynamics.
It doesn’t seem like this book would be a comfort read with the grieving bits, but it 100% is. Definitely pick this up if you need a hug in book form (and then to get all hot and bothered because this book is HOT).