Wow this book is amazing and I totally loved it. Robin Covington is one fantastic and brilliant author and her books just get better with each one. I really loved this one and all I’m going to say is you have to get a copy of this book it’s that fantastic. Would totally recommend

A wonderful, enjoyable read that left me feeling all smooshy with love.

His Convenient Husband was a fun take of the marriage-of-convenience trope featuring a NFL player and an out-and-proud ballet dancer. It’s a quick-read full of angst, but not much in the way of romance until close to the end.

What really stands out from this book is the angst, which I didn’t expect at all. I mean, there’s this structure to romance novels, isn’t there. It goes: the love interests meet, fall for each other or resist but then fall for each other, spend a few chapters in bliss, and then something happens to break them apart, but then they realise they love each other in the end. That didn’t really happen here and while there was a part of me that resisted this change of genre – this is an actual study of literature, by the way: the formulas of genre – there was also a part of me that enjoyed it, too. But – the angst was just too much for me in the end.

I had a love-hate relationship with Isaiah: I thoroughly adored his relationship with his son, Evan, and how he supported Evan as his son discovered different multitudes of his sexuality and identity, but unfortunately that wasn’t enough to make me actually like him. I just found his excuses to stay away from Victor quite irksome and repetitive, and his treatment of Victor was … distasteful. I completely understand his reservations, I just think they could have come across better or perhaps developed differently.

Victor, on the other hand, I adored. He was this vibrant, defensive, protective man who wanted a loving family for himself. He was incredibly vocal about the issues facing LGBTQ people in Russia, and I learnt so much from him. I also loved his growing relationship with Evan, and how Evan looked up to him. By the way, Evan really needs his own book – that kid was beautiful.

The plot was slow - but I love slow stories … if there is something to keep me invested in, which I found lacking here. A slow book can be a fantastic book if the reader is looking forward to something. I wasn’t – I just wanted to finish the book.

Overall, I found His Convenient Husband to be an average novel, and it did have a few issues that affected my overall enjoyment of the book. However, I would recommended it if you’re looking for something fast, full of angst, but eventually hopeful.

Two things initially drew me to this book:

1. The synopsis. (Though when I requested it, the blurb said that Victor was a genderfluid ballet dancer.) I probably would have requested the book even if the blurb hadn’t said that Victor was genderfluid, but it was definitely the thing that made me smash that request button on NetGalley.

2. The cover. Few books feature a person of colour on the cover. And especially sports/football romance are so white, it’s just ridiculous. But His Convenient Husband has an afro-american NFL-player AND he’s on the cover. Two things that made me all the more excited to read this book.

In the end I had mixed feelings about this story. Partly because I had expectations based on the blurb, and then I got something different. As I mentioned above, a previous version of the blurb said that Victor is genderfluid. But he’s not. He’s an effeminate gay man who likes make up and to wear androgynous clothes. I was really looking forward to read a book with a genderfluid character, that when I didn’t get that I was a bit disappointed. I realise though that someone who picks the book up when it releases won’t have the same expectations and therefore won’t be disappointed by not having a genderfluid MC.
One thing I absolutely loved about His Convenient Husband, was that it just drew me in. I love it when a book can excite me right from the beginning. The writing was engaging and flowed really well. If it weren’t for my job I would have definitely read this in one sitting. In the blink of an eye I was almost halfway through the book – I couldn’t wait for my lunch break so I could read more of it! The chemistry and first attraction between Victor and Isaiah is palpable and I found the side characters vivid and fascinating. I loved Isaiah’s agent – and Evan, Isaiah’s son is just amazing. I really hope that one day he’ll get his own story because he’s so fierce and has got SO much charisma; I’d just love to read more about him.

I really liked Victor, he is, apart from Evan maybe, definitely my favourite character in this story. I loved his outspokenness and was definitely rooting for him to get his happy end. I was hurting with him Isaiah on the other hand was (sometimes) a really frustrating character. I do like him, and I believe that his isn’t intentionally hurting anyone around him. I understand and appreciate that he wants to protect his son. It’s fantastic that Evan is his first priority – as he should be in this arrangement! BUT Isaiah really has a problem to just listen, sometimes.
His son is 14 years old and definitely will make stupid decisions. And Isaiah can’t protect him from everything. Especially because Victor technically is Isaiah’s husband and therefore Evan’s step-dad, even if it’s just out of convenience, but Isaiah can’t expect his 14 year old son not to be inspired by Victor or try to be a bit more like him. Even more so because I feel like Isaiah should realise that his son is possibly genderqueer. At the very least gender non-conforming Evan loves to wear dresses and to experiment with make-up. And he’s done this even before Isaiah and Victor met.

When things blew up, I just needed way more groveling on Isaiah’s part to believe him and that he was actually in it permanently. Whenever something happened, Isaiah would just blindly make Victor responsible for it – completely disregarding that Evan is his own person, with his own decisions and mistakes to make. Evan was inspired by Victor, who continued to speak out about the situation for gay men in russia. And Isaiah knew this when he married Victor. He knew it! So throwing Victor’s activism in his face whenever things didn’t go the way Isaiah wanted them to, really annoyed me.

Nevertheless – even though Isaiah is thick-headed and stubborn, I still really enjoyed this book. I can’t wait to read the sequels in this series and to see Victor, Isaiah and Evan again. Recommended!

I loved Victor, the Chechnyan ballet dancer was an absolutely delight and he pulled this book up for me from an otherwise much lower rating.
Isaiah was not at all sympathetic and for the vast majority of the book I actively disliked his character. The way he treated Victor was awful and, while I understood he had what he felt were valid reasons, the constant push pull as he kept offering up hope made me really angry.
Evan is fabulous as well, I;d love to read about him when he grows up and I'd love to find out more about both Ian and Adam. The world setting worked well as a backdrop too.
There was some epic level groveling from Isaiah which went a long way to bringing him up a few notches in my eyes and I loved the epilogue.

Wow! What a fun, hot read!! Loved every moment of it and loved how the son played such a key role! Hope to see more of this series!

Viktor's only hope of staying in the states was Isaiah. A chance meeting saved his life. Isaiah had the love of his life. His loss was something that was felt each and every day. All it was supposed to be was granting a favor. Saving someone from the life they would endure if they returned to a country that was against the choice to be with the one you loved. Their love would save the other.

His Convenient husband is about Isaiah-a widowed single father/openly gay NFL player and Victor, Russian born ballet dancer/gay activist. The two meet at the theater, as they are both represented by the same agent. And Isaiah's son is infatuated with Victor.

Victor is only in the US on a work visa, which, when it does not get renewed, his very SHORT friendship he has with Isaiah leads to a marriage of convenience. The two barely know each other and if I am being honest, the relationship felt like a bit of a struggle to me. Victor had no problem being who he was but Isaiah held himself back for fear of the repercussions from the league and he team-even though they knew he was gay.

This is a short story and quick read. I gave it three stars because Isaiah and Victor were just ok for me.

An NFL player and a Ballet superstar will rock your world. This M/M is smokin' hot and is sure to satisfy that next book craving. If you haven't read a book from Robin she has an entire backlist of #mustread books to select from!

His Convenient Husband was a good story over. Isaiah and Victor were great characters and the storyline was well developed. I did find the angst a little frustrating at times but not enough to ruin the enjoyment of the book. I look forward to reading more by this author

Sexy characters, with a good storyline and plot. Covington knows the genre.

** spoiler alert ** A departure from what I usually read by this author, I was intrigued by a M/M marriage of convenience story. The story started out good, but took a turn that ruined it for me.

I don't care if a book is M/M or M/F - I don't like cheating in a book. Period. Some can argue that that's not what happened with Victor in the nightclub, but it's how I felt. Making the situation worse is he threw it in Isaiah's face and the truth of that night was never explained or resolved between the two of them. It took away from the story for me and I lost interest in seeing the HEA at that point.

I love this author and will continue to read her books, but this was not one of my favorites.

Let's get married."...."What did you just say?" "Let's get married. We can go to Vegas and get it done, then you can't be deported." Oh yes - classic story, with a wonderful twist! Dancer, Victor Aleksandrov is at risk of being deported back to Russia. As an outspoken gay man about human rights, among other things, being deported is not just an inconvenience. It is a possible death sentence.

Isaiah Blackwell, star NFL player, is definitely attracted to Victor. But he's not looking for a relationship. Particularly with someone as outspoken as Victor! Isaiah has caught feelings for the man, there is no denying that. So the prospect of marrying Victor to keep him in the country sounds practical enough. But as the story goes, we know (and hope!) that true love will prevail!

This story if fantastic! It pulls you in with the passion and locks you in with the inevitable love! I really enjoyed the additional dynamic of Isaiah's son playing a part in bringing the two together.

I enjoyed the cameo by Mick Blackwell from Robin Covington's Playing the Part! Also, one of my favorite books!

I enjoyed this story. When I read the blurb, I thought I’d probably like it, but I didn’t expect to become as engaged in it as I did. I’ve read other stories with the same or similar titles and they were all as expected—light, fluffy, romantic, marriage of convenience turned serious and leading to a HEA. On the one hand this was that. But on the other, the characters were well-developed, particularly Victor Aleksandrov, ballet dancer and LGBTQ rights supporter. Because of his outspoken advocacy and his derogatory comments on the treatment of homosexuals in his home country, he needs to remain in the US. If he doesn’t, he’ll be killed. It’s as simple as that.

Isaiah Blackwell, pro football player, widower, and father of a fourteen-year-old artistic and genderfluid teen is not interested in any more than a hookup, so when he’s sees the opportunity to sleep with the gorgeous dancer, he seizes it. Interestingly, they both share the same agent. (Somehow I doubt that would be the case in real life. Sports agents and artists’ agents are likely completely different in who they know and what they do to secure the best for their clients. It was little things like this that kept my rating from going higher.) Because they share the same agent, and he’s friends with both men, he acts as the catalyst to bring the two together. When Victor is denied asylum by the US, it’s Isaiah who offers to marry Victor so he can stay.

I found both main characters to be very personable and I particularly liked Victor, who knew his own mind and remained true to his beliefs and feelings. Isaiah was quite childish in his need to keep Victor in a separate component of his heart. Dragging out the old trope of giving him his own room because the master bedroom belongs to the widower and his ghost (whose picture is on the nightstand by the bedside!); and encouraging him to be a part of the family but excluding him from decisions involving the child just didn’t cut it here. His self-inflicted angst was too much for me, as well. I’m not a big fan of a character repeating the same actions and thoughts over and over and over again. Too much wallowing in pain that’s totally not necessary.

The ending was sweet and what I had expected. Without giving details on that, I can say that I may have read something similar in the sixties. In fact, as I write this review, it occurs to me that the whole story felt a little old-fashioned. With apologies to all if this comes out as sexist: it felt like a light, fluffy, ladies’ romance of yesteryear, dusted off, and then revised to include today’s social issues (including a genderfluid child) and with Victor inserted as the “ballerina” who fell in love with the football player.

So if this kind of sweet romance is your thing, by all means try this one.

My apologies, my thoughts are all over the place when it comes to this book. I will just say that Robin Covington has crafted a story that everyone MUST read. His Convenient Husband is an amazing love story, but it is also a call to action to raise awareness of the injustices and atrocities not only at home, but abroad. It's about choosing to staying quiet or using your voice to shine a light in dark corners where evil lives.

This book has struck a chord deep in my heart and the next time I see Robin Covington, I am going to hug her neck and thank her for this beautiful story.

My rating? Not enough stars in the galaxy.

Over the years I have expanded my reading to encompass many different genera. Through this I have learned a very important thing; although romance in all shapes and sizes are there for our entertainment, I have discovered that I often learn a lesson or two while reading them. His convenient husband gave me a little bit of a different perspective on the dynamics of a relationship between the two main characters and their teenage son. This is a work of fiction, but it made me think and that is never a bad thing.

I enjoyed the story and all of the characters, but I especially enjoyed the unique relationship between Isaiah, Victor and their teenage son and reading about the different experiences that they go through because of their lifestyle. Yes this is a gay romance, but it is so much more.

I was happy to request to review this amazing story through NetGalley.

Not sure I can agree with anyone who thought this was more than a 3 star story.

Isaiah is a pro-footballer, widower, and single dad to an awesome kid named Evan. Victor is a supposedly Russian, gender fluid ballet dancer with a loud and outspoken passion for LGBTQ+ rights and it's that outspokenness that is the problem for he is unable to return home and has to apply for asylum, which he does not get. Ian, the manager for both these talents pushes them to meet and Isaiah offers to marry Victor to keep him in the U.S

I loved Victor for the most part. He is strong in his personality and very strong and kindhearted. Isaiah on the other hand was not my favorite an that arts as soon as they meet. This story is an insta-love if I ever saw one. I abhor those for the most part. Sure we see the chemistry and attraction, but the fact that they both jump into bed with each other as soon as the book starts even though they are both relatively high-profile celebrities irked me.

Then, once they get married, oh my gosh, Isaiah is a jerk. He has a kid from his previous marriage, Evan, and he wants Evan to grow up and not be affected any by of his or Victor's spotlight life. For someone who is supposed to know his kid is like Victor he sure does not, and when Evan gets in trouble he is way out of line with Evan and Victor. Not once do they really act like a true couple or a married couple. I admit the beach, and the consummations were nice, but the way Isaiah is so harsh with Victor, even though Isaiah is out regardless of how demonstrative is unreal. It's not like Isaiah is still in the closet and protecting himself from public and professional backlash since he was previously married. I felt like even if he's more private he should have been more accommodating and sensitive to the needs of Victor and Evan, and he wasn't.

Also, I've read many convenience relationship stories and I always expect immigration in them. It was odd that there wasn't anything about that. Or even the possible threat of someone from Victor's old life coming after him. I felt like their relationship can't even be called a relationship because it seemed to be mostly sex, with no character, story, or emotional depth for the most part.

This is the first book I've read by this author and the writing style agreed with me because I finished it, but the execution of the story needs work.

This title was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review

3.5 Stars

His Convenient Husband very much ticks the Harlequin romance feeling for me. Marriage of convenience to avoid deportation is a plot that we've read - perhaps - hundreds of times before. What differs is the author's way of weaving the tale and Robin Covington's hits the spot with the likable characters and not overly drama in this book.

Relayed alternately from Victor and Isaiah's POVs that allow readers into their thought and feeling, this book touched on LGBTQ current issues; such as concentration camp in Chechnya, gender-fluid, the label of queer - whether or not one could passes as straight in society - etcetera without being preachy. It's a heartwarming story about second chance and new beginnings with not a little help from (nosy but well-meaning) friends and family.

I like the portrayal of characters, a pair of opposites personalities from different background, each with chips on their shoulders. The chemistry between the men is of the chart and rather instant. But their refrains - not letting their actions being led by their nether regions - are more than compensate for the swift start of their relationship. The heat-meter is quite tall, though I say the steamy scenes are strategically spread across twenty-two plus chapters.

Enriching the story are interesting supporting characters; Evan, the couple's friends and non friends. Even the narration about Isaiah's late spouse do not irritate me (tbh, I find it easier to get riled by Isaiah's vapid act or treatment of Victor). I have a hunch Isaiah's two best friends would tell their own stories (in their own books) in the foreseeable future.

Overall the plot in His Convenient Husband is rather predictable, just like the expected grand gesture nearing the end. But I take it in place for the much needed groveling, considering the number of times Isaiah's yo-yoing with Victor's heart. This is the second Robin Covington's MM book that I read and her writing style's clicked with me. In fact, I think I'm gonna look up Playing the Part, the book starring Isaiah's cousin from a few years back.


Advanced copy of this book is kindly provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Fake" marriage, or marriage of convenience is not a trope you see often in the MM romance world. But you should. After marriage was finally declared legal by the Supreme Court, it opened up a whole new world! So this was my first book with the trope and I hope it won't be my last.

Isaiah is a widower with a teenage son. He is also an NFL player in his off season. His incredibly artistic son gets to meet a world renowned ballet star from Russia. Sparks fly but neither can or want to commit. So after one night, they move on. Until Victor is denied political aslyum for his outspoken views on how gay men are treated in Chechnya. On a whim, Isaiah proposes, but says they have to stay platonic so that he doesn't risk getting hurt again.

We all know how that goes. So, yes, it was predictable there. But the story and leading up to the HEA were still a good read.

Even though both Isaiah and Victor have high profile, demanding careers, the focus is on them as a couple and on Isaiah's son. While this could have been a much longer book by adding more story to their careers, I liked that they didn't. That way more of the story could focus on them and be character driven.

I expected more angst, and it would have been welcome. I didn't really feel Isaiah's pain at being a widower, but that is just me. I expected backlash from his son Evan about the relationship, but he was totally welcoming. And while Victor was outspoken, again I thought there would be more immediate repercussions.

So while there was a lot of "could have beens" in the story, I still really enjoyed it. The subject could have been dark but the author kept it light. Seeing Isaiah and Victor live together while dancing around their feelings was fun. And I really loved Evan- Isaiah's gender fluid son.

There was tons of representation- which is a very cool thing. Victor is described as gender fluid, but I didn't see that. Wearing a bit of make up doesn't gender fluid make.

Ultimately, this was a nice story to read. I probably won't remember it in a few weeks, but I don't regret reading it.