You are cordially invited to the worst wedding of the century.Sydney Evans is no stranger to hard work. It’s the one constant in her life. And with no family or friends to speak of it’s been easy to pour everything she has into her career as general counsel for Blackstone Holdings. She wants for nothing. Until her boss offers her a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. All she has to do in return is … do in return is marry his good-for-nothing son.
Scott Blackstone used be a party whore. Pardon, party animal. He hasn’t been that guy in a long time though. Not since he moved to Wyoming, bought a failing cattle ranch, and turned it into a profitable business.
All is good. Until a phone call from his father threatens the quiet, simple life he’s built. Marry or lose everything. And to a woman who can’t stand him, no less. Well, Scott is not going down without a fight. He’s never going back to Manhattan. Not if he can help it.
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You Can Have Manhattan is a stand alone, contemporary, fake marriage/ marriage of convenience romance with a bit of enemies-to-lovers and my first ever read from the author. I must say, after reading this book, I am now looking forward to read her other works next. Her story telling has a way of gripping you until you finish the story, fall in love with her characters so easily and brings that goofy smile to your face, like I did with You Can Have Manhattan.
Sydney loves the thrill and challenge that her position brings working as second in command at the Blackstone Holdings. After receiving a very sad news concerning her beloved boss, she was given a chance to take the reins to run the company but only if she agreed to marry the boss’ son, Scott.
Scott was once a party animal and a constant failure when it comes to relationships. Putting down his roots at Wyoming, there he found his redemption by building a name for himself by owning a very profitable cattle ranch. When his father threatened to disown him and take the very thing he holds dear if he will not marry Sydney, Scott reluctantly agrees.
I loved that the characters, the story to begin with, are so relatable and realistic; the sort of thing you would hear or encounter nowadays with these kind of people in the story. This is one of the factors that I love when reading a book. I loved the banter and chemistry that these two had and the slow build of their romance. I just couldn’t get enough of them! It was sweet, fun, with just enough drama and romance that spelled a great read for this girl. Overall, this is another must-read for those who love marriage-of-convenience romance. Highly recommend it!
“My wife hated me. Which was a real bummer because I was starting to really like her.”
Sydney has the career and financial stability she has always dreamed of. With a childhood and adolescence marked by mistreatment and abuse, as soon as possible she left the place where she lived and never looked back. She studied, struggled, and got a chance to prove her knowledge. And so, today she in no way resembles the scared girl of the past. As a key player at Blackstone Holdings, she owes this opportunity because the president himself, who welcomed, taught, and trained her to work with him. Frank is a mentor and a father figure. And when he makes one last request, as absurd as it sounds, she can’t deny it.
The name Scott Blackstone is synonymous with scandal. Playboy, party animal, womanizing and inconsequential. Scott enjoyed his youth, much to his family’s chagrin, until a fateful episode turned him into a serious man. Goodbye social life. Today he lives surrounded by mountains and cattle, isolated in a small rural town. The businessman in no way resembles the boy of the past.
Living in different worlds, Sydney and Scott have one thing in common: they hate each other. Maybe this hatred is the fault of a kiss exchanged a long time ago. Or maybe one sees the other the way they show themselves to the world, not as they really are.
But with Frank’s unusual proposal, the two will have to learn to live together. After all, this is what is expected of husband and wife. With hands tied, Sydney will try to get on with her life as best she can as she adapts to her new reality. And Scott will wage an epic battle with his wife, entitled to lies, false accommodation and silence treatment, all hoping to change her mind. But he lacked Sydney’s strength and determination.
With war declared, it is a matter of time before the weakest succumbs. But with both of them wanting something in return, whether it’s the CEO position for Sydney and the lands for Scott, and the absurd chemistry that is growing between them, this story will get entangled in more complicated ways. And unpredictable.
Loved the way Sydney was portrayed. She is strong, intelligent, knows her value, but at the same time spends no effort to help whom she likes, even if she puts herself in delicate situations. Everything she suffered molded her to the woman she became, and if Scott thought the conditions he presented her would make her crumble, he underestimated the woman he married. She was the best character without a doubt.
Scott unfortunately didn’t win me. He is a grown man and could have turned down the offer. His disrespect for Sydney, his lies, and what he does in the end, made me loathe him. I didn’t forgive and I don’t think she should have forgiven him. He never had a relationship with his father, never cared, and the drama he created in the final part makes no sense. He was sadistic, mean and selfish. He destroyed the one thing he would know would hurt her: her career.
The book is well written, the plot is interesting, all the trouble she goes through was funny though tragic and the dogs were cute. But she should have ended the book single. Better single than with a bad company. I saw no redemption in Scott.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest Review *
A new author to me and boy did she make a fan out of me. A fantastic arranged marriage of enemies to lovers that is full of sexual tension, emotions and heart.
Sydney Evans is an amazing woman. She has worked hard for everything in her life, her mantra….I’m a thriver not a survivor. She is loyal to one man, her boss, Frank Blackstone, who has groomed her to take over his company. So when he tells her she must marry his son, her loyalty and her compassion agrees. Scott Blackstone is a playboy turned cowboy. He’s running a ranch in Wyoming and is content and happy to be away from NYC. But when his father says he must marry Sydney or lose the ranch land he loves, what choice does he have?
Sydney and Scott start off on the wrong foot or I should say Scott sets out to make Sydney miserable. But over time, these two grow on each other and start to develop real feelings. But a secret that Sydney holds could bring down the house of cards. Only time will tell if these lovers will go back to enemies once the secret is out.
I loved the progression of this story. It was filled with animosity, friendship, hilarious moments, heartfelt moments, sexy tenderness and a fabulous epilogue. Parts of this story were heavy weighted but the author showed how thriving from your past can be done. I will say that I loved the secondary characters. They were great compliments to both Sydney and Scott.
Overall, a great read for lovers of enemies to lovers troupe. I thought the added part of an arranged marriage was fitting to these enemies. A story that entertains and puts a smile on your face.
A perfect story for the saying don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Both Sydney and Scott have preconceived ideas about the other, but after his father tricks them in to marriage that changes. With a few things and a couple of lovable dogs I loved following their story and found the book a joy to read.
P. Dangelico has become a “must read” author for me over the last year, but fake/forced marriage storylines are very hit-or-miss for me, so I went into this a little skeptical.
And then, I proceeded to lose an entire day of my life because I didn’t want to spend a single second away from Sydney, Scott, and their crazy addictive chemistry.
Holy Hannah this was good stuff. It moved very quickly, and yet I never felt like I was being cheated out of anything. My heart leaped on board the minute it met our growly alphahole hero, and it stayed fully engaged for the rollercoaster ride that ensued. And in the end? It was greatly rewarded for its troubles. It hurt so good.
From the aptly named title to the sparky, charged banter, to the unexpectedly lovable characters (Sydney, in particular, was a fantastic surprise with all kinds of emotional depth), to the wonderfully sweet ending, You Can Have Manhattan is the full package. This book cemented Ms. Dangelico’s status as a must-read author for me. Another fantastic hit! ~ 4.5 Stars
Are you a fan of the marriage of convenience trope? If so, then pick up a copy of You Can Have Manhattan by P. Dangelico. This gem is wonderfully written and the characters are well defined. I formed an immediate connection to corporate attorney Sydney Evans, and Scott Blackstone, a Wyoming ranch owner that used to be a worldly playboy. Their feelings for each are tangible and their time together is scorching hot. Sydney and Scott’s love story is replete with longing, angst, and a bit of drama. I truly enjoyed reading this book and I recommend it highly. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would.
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
You Can Have Manhattan is the latest novel by P. Dangelico and I loved it. This marriage of convenience, enemies-to-lovers story held my interest from beginning to end and had me hooked on these characters. Scott and Sydney butted heads from the start but their chemistry was undeniable and their banter had me amused. They were both flawed well-developed characters, strong in their own right who gave as good as they got and I was really rooting for them throughout the novel. Their story was a slow burn and I enjoyed seeing them fall for each other however their back-story, while giving us a good understanding of these characters will touch your heart. The plot was well-crafted and will evoke a range of emotions from you. You will love this story. This page-turner was a fantastic read and I would highly recommend it to all lovers of contemporary romance.
I received a review copy before release for an honest review.
This is an awesome story. It features two wonderful characters who are placed in a very difficult place and they have to make decisions based on that. In a way it features two tropes, marriage of convenience and also hate turning to love tropes.
Sydney and Scott have known each other in passing for ten years. He once made a pass at her and it did not go over well. Since then he has become a useless playboy and Sydney kinda hates him.
One day her boss who she loves and who is Scott’s dad tells her he is dying and wants her to marry Scott so the company can stay in the family and she will replace him as CEO. However she cannot tell Scott that his father is sick.
Scott is now turning over a new leaf and lives in a ranch in a small town. He is a playboy but more of a small town playboy. He does not want to get married and certainly not to Syd. However his father threatens him and so they end up hitched.
This is when the fun really starts as the two start to really get to know the other. This was my absolute favorite part of the story. However Syd still cannot tell Scott about his father and when it comes out it is very shocking.
I loved Scott for 80% of the story but then he becomes a jerk and he is pretty awful. I loved that Syd is no pushover and she makes him work for things. She really was an absolutely wonderful character inside and out and made this story so great.
P. Dangelico really brought her ‘A’ game to this one. You Can have Manhattan is a kind of an ‘enemies to lovers/ 2nd chance romance’. Scott Blackstone met Sydney over ten years ago when he was all about partying the night away and being the ultimate playboy. Sydney wasn’t impressed by him in the least. Their one amazing (if she’s being honest) kiss left its mark, and then she left hers. On his manly parts lol. It ended badly and neither had a good word to say about the other afterward.
Fast forward a decade and the pair and roped into getting married by Scott’s father, whom Sydney works for.
Neither are willing at first. Sydney tries her best to be a proper wife, but Scott is just an a** of a man. I wanted to like this guy, heck, I wanted to love him but at the start, it was really hard not to hate him. I knew from the teasers he was going to be a standup guy eventually, and he does have some redeeming qualities that he puts forth with his life now, just none that were directed Sydney’s way. I felt truly sorry for her, especially as she was giving him the benefit of the doubt.
I’m happy to admit to being wrong though. Scott did come through in the end. The brooding, hunky cowboy left his mark on Sydney. Their chemistry was scorching hot and even though they fought like cats and dogs, their banter was sexy enough to steam up my glasses. I loved this story by the end and feel like starting over again.
I am so much in love with You Can Have Manhattan by P. Dangelico. It won my heart with the amazing characters, stunning story telling and the absolutely brilliant range of emotions!
Sydney is the city girl. She has so many admiring qualities. She survived a traumatic childhood and built herself as a strong, smart and successful business woman. She doesn’t back down from any challenges. But when her mentor and father figure asks her to marry his son Scott for the sake of the company’s future, she hesitates. Because the last image of Scott she had in her mind is of an arrogant, selfish, self centred , party loving bad boy. So when she meets Scott in middle of a cattle ranch in Wyoming , she is in for a surprise. But when both sides are unwilling for marriage, the hate and resentment will run wild. Only they have sizzling hot attraction too.
I loved Scott. Yes I admit he is an asshole initially as he doesn’t want anything to do with his father’s company and doesn’t appreciate being blackmailed. So he tried all kind of jerk moves to make Sydney leave. But when he accepts he actually likes and wants her, that caring and protective side of this sexy, cocky and charming man melted me. Their chemistry was sizzling hot. Like electrical charges flowing through them. The story will have lots of twists and turns. I could not put it down. The slow burn and angsty emotions were so amazing. There was drama. There was heartbreak. There was sweet and swoonworthy moments. My heart shattered when the big misunderstanding tore them apart and let few tears of relief when they found their HEA. The secondary characters were beautifully written.
You Can Have Manhattan by P. Dangelico was special to me because of the very real, honest and intense emotions. I connected to the story instantly and my heart is still aching for Sydney and Scott! A must read Contemporary Romance of 2019.
Received ARC for Honest review
**5 + stars**
You ever read a book and immediately after finishing it want to start it all over again? This is a true rarity for me and exactly what happened here. A Top 10 Favorite of all time on my list, and definitely my favorite book of 2019! This was incredible, stunning and so perfect.
It starts with a very believable setup to a marriage of convenience trope between enemies. Sydney is one of my favorite characters ever. She had a really horrible childhood, and is strong, resilient and has such an incredible attitude about everything. Scott is not who Sydney thinks he is. She thinks he’s an entitled, party boy and he definitely was when she first met him. But, they haven’t seen each other in years, and he is now a responsible grown up. I am obsessed with this couple! Their chemistry, their banter, the pranks was so dang good! They’re both keeping major secrets from each other that will change everything. There were so many layers to this book and I felt ALL the feelings.
I could not put this book down! I don’t want to leave this couple and this world at all. Seriously, you NEED this book in your life!
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I adored this contemporary romance from P. Dangelico. There was humor, wit, depth, chemistry and lots of love. The whole story, from start to finish, just really felt warm and hopeful even through the heavy elements. The setting was amazing and I loved the backstories. I devoured the book in one night fully immersed in the journey of these two interesting and fun characters.
The story is told from dual points of view and I enjoyed getting both characters insights. It worked really well for the progression of the story. The excellent writing flows perfectly and keeps moving forward never stalling or lingering which kept me completely absorbed. The feeling of understanding and knowing a character intimately without undo detail and explanation, with knowing the pain of their lives and seeing them flourish despite it, again without dwelling on it, is a testament to great character development and storytelling. I very much appreciated Dangelico’s insistence on a hopeful story despite circumstances of the past. The whole book felt organic and honest.
Dangelico gives readers an escape into a relationship seemingly doomed from the start but brimming with possibility anyway. With an arranged marriage/ememies-to-lovers trope setting the tone, this author provided a unique, heartfelt, and positive message in her story. I’d love to get more of these two or the other wonderful characters in this world. A must read for contemporary romance lovers!
The title for P. Dangelico’s brand new enemies-to-lovers romance didn’t quite make sense until the fourth chapter in this stand-alone. When it was mentioned the first time, it fit snuggly into place. You can have Manhattan was later spoken by the person I least expected and not with hearty enthusiasm. We all know the proverbial saying, ‘leopards never change their spots’…well, in this case, the author has got home to her readers that you can turn your life around and become a better person.
I found the story a tad slow to start off with but then it dawned on me why the author had set the pace she had. A solid foundation was necessary to understand the ins and outs of her protagonists’ unhappy pasts so when it did pick up, I found the book difficult to put down. In fact, I couldn’t turn the pages of the last few chapters fast enough. Danglelico gives her readers a rough ride and I loved it!
I really liked Scott Blackstone; nonetheless, he hadn’t left a good impression on Sidney Evans years back and now she’s in his terrain under the most peculiar of circumstances. To say she’s confused by his persona would be putting it mildly. And not does he feel she’s invading his space but surprise, the woman he thought he knew had long gone!
Sydney is my kinda a women, hard-working and ambitious, she’s got the chance to become CEO of the law firm where she’d dedicated her working life. But there’s competition and strings attached, and saying no doesn’t come into the equation for reasons to be divulged.
The question in Scott and Sidney’s story is if a truth held back becomes a lie. Just when they seemed to be on the same wavelength, everything comes crashing down, and it was no fault of their own. Scott can’t see further than his nose and is dreadfully cruel to Sidney. She; however, showed me her elegance in a situation I never thought she’d be put in.
Dangelico’s offering is original, relatable, even understandable. When I finished the book, I had a strong feeling her protagonists were manipulated, which makes their story so much more interesting. I loved the ribbing between them, the banter flows freely and I have to admit that some touching moments had me in tears. Not forgetting the abounding steaminess that’ll most likely fog up your glasses or your Kindle screen!
The secondary character development is spot on and keeping my fingers crossed that one of them will get their story. Lots of smiles and sighs of relief when everything panned out just how I wanted it to and my recommendation. If I were you, I’d jump in headfirst without reading the blurb as you’ll be in for more than one surprise. Bravo Dangelico!
This is only the second book by P. Dangelico that I’ve read, and now I’m going back to one-click all her previous books. You Can Have Manhattan had me hooked from the title alone. Throw in the incredible cover and blurb, and I was a total goner!
The author has the rare ability to connect readers emotionally with the story line. This delectable enemies-to-lovers romance not only gives you the angsty and witty batter these characters are so clearly good at, but it’s also equipped with raw, heartfelt, and conflicting emotions that will turn you into a sobbing mess while you devour a pint of ice cream.
Scott and Sydney were fire, simple as that. Their complicated relationship was a slow-burn of snide comments, underhanded behaviors, and prejudice towards each other. But it was the heat and burning attraction that neither could deny that morphed into red-hot, wanton desire and passion. Both characters are strong and driven with respect to their careers, but it’s their unique, scintillating, and emotional connection that truly sings from the pages.
You Can Have Manhattan is a sexy, captivating, and touching romance. It tells the story of how two very different and independent people learn to trust and experience life to its fullest, and that a life without love is no life at all.
I love a good reformed bad boy story because when said bad boy changes its usually only his philandering ways and not his attitude so when I saw You Can Have Manhattan’s blurb, I figured why not. I had never read P. Dangelico before but I’m always down to read someone new to me.
For the most part, I enjoyed this combination enemies to lovers /marriage of convenience tale. Sydney is your typical overachieving, hard work no play New York lawyer. She devotes all her time and energy to Blackstone Holdings. She is good at what she does and he boss (and father figure) appreciates her to the point that he wants her (not his son, Scott) to run his company when he dies. Which is imminent. Mr. Blackstone tells Sydney the only way that can happen is for her to marry his son but she can’t tell Scott he is dying. Off Sydney goes to Wyoming. Scott was a party boy with a grudge until he decided to man up and stop his destructive ways. He took a failing ranch and through hard work made it successful again. He doesn’t like Sydney, has no intention of marrying and shows that while he may be done with drugs and alcohol, he is still an obnoxious little boy at heart.
Here comes the good with the not so good. The not so good is that while Sydney and Scott are good characters there were little details that threw me. For instance, Sydney had no clue about the ranch. You would think that the top lawyer for the company would have known something about it. She is relegated to a small cabin, Scott tells her that he lives there and it takes her three weeks to figure out he is lying. Scott says he is a reformed asshole but he sets out to hurt Sydney as much as possible to get her to leave. The first 35% of the book, I really didn’t like Scott and couldn’t connect with Sydney.
Now for the good. The second half of the book, once Sydney and Scott stop fighting each other gets quite good. The characters open up about themselves and their lives, making for a much more engrossing read. The conflict while heartbreaking is resolved in a very real way.
Overall this is a good read with a sweet happily ever after.
„This thing between us was irrational and without a doubt doomed to end badly, and yet there was no reasoning with chemistry.”
P. Dangelico decided to write a story with one of my favorite tropes and she totally slayed me! I can’t properly express how much I loved this book. The author mixed arranged marriage with enemies to lovers and then she spiced it up with angst and so much sexual tension that I was worried that my Kindle will burst into flames at some point. Holy hotness, to say that this book was steamy is the understatement of the century! Sydney and Scott’s story shows perfectly that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Life is full of surprises and you can find happiness in the most unexpected place. Even if you’re not looking for it.
Sydney is an excellent lawyer in a business world dominated by men. This woman, despite bad experiences and rough upbringing, is tough as nails, hard working and loyal to the bone. Her loyalty combined with the offer she couldn’t refuse resulted in agreement to marry her boss’s spoiled playboy son, who left really bad impression during their last encounter years ago. Scott is renowned trustfund brat, ladies man and a loser. Well, he used to be before he left the city, cleaned up his act and settled on the cattle ranch in Wyoming. But if he wants to keep living in peace he needs to meet his father’s demands and marry the Ice Queen. Because that’s exactly what he thinks about beautiful Sydney. When aversion collides with staggering chemistry sparks start to fly. What started as a constant banter turns into unrestrained lust. Time spent together showed them what’s underneath the facade and the attraction increased even more. But can something what was supposed to be a business deal turn into real marriage? Can Sydney and Scott’s feelings last when the loyalty is tested?
I can’t tell you how much I loved this story. P. Dangelico created gripping storyline with perfectly unperfect characters and all of the emotions! There were many moments that melted my heart, some of them made me laugh, but there were also times that brought a tear to my eye. Both Scott and Sydney have experienced situations that shaped them into who they are today. Witnessing them opening up to each other was amazing and these intimate moments made me swoon. I adore how this author puts emotional depth into her stories. And let’s not forget about the level of heat! Despite the fact that this book is a slow-burn, P. Dangelico created such the feverish atmosphere that I needed to fan myself! I loved this story with my whole heart!
PS.
I know that You Can Have Manhattan is a standalone, but pretty please with cherry on top, could I get secondary characters’s stories? I’m obsessed with men who work on Lazy S Ranch!
Wow!!!!! What an amazing story. A 5 star page turning experience that had me hooked from the very first page read to the last one.
In order for Sydney to become CEO of a very high profiled company, she must marry the current CEO’s son, Scott. A womanizing, no class man.
This was an highly entertaining story with some funny bantering moments between Scott and Sydney. The were some gut wrenching moments too. It had it all in order to make this a captivating and addicting storyline.
Standalone told in a dual POV with an amazingly funny HEA. I strongly recommend this story.
You Can Have Manhattan is the perfect marriage of convenience/enemies to lovers romance. I was completely hooked on this story from the beginning. This was an emotional, slow burn, beautifully written story.
Sydney and Scott do not want to marry each other, however, they still go through with it for the business and for their passions. Scott tries to scare Sydney when she is on his ranch, but she is a fighter and makes the best of her situation. This only impresses him. She isn’t the woman he expected her to be.
I loved this book from the start. Sydney is an awesome heroine and the more the story went on the more and more I loved her. Scott, well I wanted to dislike him, but I couldn’t. Sure, he may have been a playboy in his past, but things have changed and he is no longer that person.
This story was truly fantastic and a MUST READ. I loved every single moment of this book from the tension, to the steam, to the heartbreaking moments, to the sweet moments and the adorable Romeo and Juliet.
You Can Have Manhattan by P. Dangelico
Frank Blackstone is a master manipulator and what he wants is to have his Scott, his son, and his general counsel, Sydney Evans, marry one another. His motives are suspect and since Scott and Sydney do not like one another to get them to actually tie the knot takes knowing just which buttons to push. A marriage of convenience that is not very convenient for bride or groom with quite a few issues to overcome is the basis of this story.
I have to say I found Sydney remarkable and strong and a woman to be admired. She was honest, gave of herself and never asked for much in return. She thrived in spite of her horrific childhood and truly impressed me. Scott, on the other hand, seemed rather immature for a man of 38. He had always been a bit spoiled and did what he wanted but seemed to be a bit better the past eight years…then again…when things didn’t go his way he really didn’t like it. Scott was almost as manipulative as his father and knew just how to strike where it would hurt the most.
There eventually was a HEA but only after the couple went through a LOT to get there. They did belong together but there were times I wanted to boot Scott to the curb…while other times I really liked him. In addition to the marriage of convenience, the ups and downs and all the rest there were a few characters in the story I would love to see books written about. Ryan and Drake were two that come to mind.
Did I enjoy this story? I did
Would I like to read more by this author? Definitely
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC – This is my honest review
5 Stars
5 Sunshine Stars
From the start I had a smile on my face. It’s a great set-up for an enemies-to-lovers, marriage of convenience romance. It was everything I wanted and more. It gave me a story and a couple to completely fall in love with and cheer on for that happily-ever-after.
There is so much more to Sydney Evans and Scott Blackstone than what you see on the surface. They don’t really know each other even though they have somewhat of a history. They both have secrets. They both have assumptions. Their attraction is undeniable. I loved their banter and vulnerability. It was the best of both worlds. I couldn’t wait to see them give into the intense chemistry.
Sydney’s background is hard to fathom. It hurt reading about it. But her strength and good nature were fantastic. She is a wonderful soul. Scott is such a hard nose and just so stubborn. I wasn’t sure he’d ever lighten up. That’s doesn’t mean i didn’t like him because I absolutely did. Watching him break down and give in to all that emotion was some of the best parts of the story.
The writing is stellar. The dual POV was perfect and the inner monologue gave so much insight. This story pulled me out of a reading slump. It was truly amazing. It gave me the feels from beginning to end. Get it on your TBR. I can’t recommend it enough.