Enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, forced to marry due to a will - lots of tropes in here. It falls a bit short because the H is a bit cold and a bit mean to the h. Annika must marry her father's heir to preserve her family's legacy and Ranieri must fulfill his mentor's last wishes to ensure his place in the company. What starts out as a convenient marriage turns into passion. The main issue I had was that Ranieri did not like Annika as she was, a little messy, not sophisticated and only seemed to notice her after he dressed her up how he liked. I found him arrogant, egotistical ( he announces how he is amazing and she is not for example) and shallow. Not sure what the h sees him because he doesn't appreciate the h for who she is.

In Willed to Wed Him, unconventional heroine Annika finds herself in the impossible position of being forced to marry Ranieri, CEO of her family's company, if she wants to continue to run her own business and continue the family legacy to which she is deeply committed. Although she starts the book as a bit of a hot mess, Annika truly blossoms as a result of the marriage and her close bond with her husband. Fascinating and nuanced characters as well as a tightly drawn plot make this a fantastic read.

If Annika wants to keep her family legacy, and Ranieri wants to keep his job as CEO of her father’s company, the two must marry. Those are the terms of her father’s will. Forced into a marriage of convenience, will these two opposites find love?

Annika’s free-spirited approach to life grates on rigid Ranieri. To learn to live together, they have to overcome the baggage from their past and learn to compromise. This is an intense and satisfying read.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

First, I'll admit to two things--I'm definitely a fan of Caitlin Crews' novels, but I'm definitely not a fan of the forced-to-marry trope, although, considering the animosity between the two main characters (Annika Schuyler and Ranieri Furlan) as they are first introduced, and the fact that I ended up quite enjoying their relationship and personalities because of the way Ms. Crews developed these two characters and plotted this novel, I ended up enjoying their story much more than I thought I would at the beginning, and I'm therefore giving it 4 stars.

Annika is the last surviving member of her multi-billionaire family. Her father was injured in an auto accident, in a coma for 5 years, and has finally passed on without waking. After his accident, and before he fell into a coma, he'd made his protégé, Italian-born, Ranieri Furlan, the de facto CEO of his company, the billion-dollar Schuler Corporation. To say that Annika's relationship with Ranieri has always been strained is putting it mildly. He's always made it clear that he disapproves of everything about her, considers her a walking disaster--clumsy, messy, unkempt, not stylish or polished, and not good enough to share the air he breathes. He's snide, sarcastic, and rude to Annika, has been since he first met her when she was just 16, and he also thinks he's the best looking, smartest, and most desirable man on the planet--clearly, many of the stunning female sophisticates he squires around would agree, but I found him beyond obnoxious, and wondered why Ms. Crews made him quite so loathesome.

Meanwhile, Annika has been running and curating Schuyler House, once the home of her wealthy forebears, and now both her home as well as a popular New York museum, and it's a position she loves, so you can imagine her reaction at the reading of her father's will, one which states that she must marry Ranieri within the month, stay married to him for one year, or else lose her beloved Schuyler House and all it entails. If Ranieri fails to fulfill his part of will, he'll lose his position as CEO of the company, something that seems not too terrible to this descendant of Italian royalty, who is already an extremely brilliant and already uber-wealthy man.

Surprisingly, although Annika tries her best to get Ranieri, who plans to fulfill her father's wishes and marry her, to back out of their "get married of else" relationship, she fails, and the wedding she didn't want to the man who's been her nemesis, takes place, and that's when this novel, and the relationship between these two seemingly mismatched characters really takes off, and to tell you more would ruin it for you, so if this review has made you at all curious about how Ms. Crews made the latter half of this novel such a satisfying read, you'll just have to read it for yourself. I recommend it.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.

Sparks fly in this contemporary arranged marriage!

Annika's father left her what she wanted most in his will - as long as she marries the man her father left the company to. Ranieri is more than capable of leading the Schuyler Corporation and he's more than a little embittered that he has to marry his mentor's daughter to keep his well-earned position. She's going to try to get him to back out so she still gets her family's museum, while he's determined to make sure every bit of the year they have to stay married goes exactly according to his foolproof plan.

I loved how Annika's ingenious methods of malicious compliance worked beautifully to emotionally unseat Ranieri, and I enjoyed watching him get knocked off his high horse almost as much as she did. I loved the delicate dance that ensued, forcing both to admit, at least to themselves, the depths of their attraction and feelings for the other. I especially adored his very Darcy-like proposal, and the way she stood up to him was exquisite.

There are no closed doors in a Caitlin Crews romance, but as steamy as their intimate moments were, their emotional confrontations were even more raw and exposed. Annika is able to get to the root of his cold, cold heart and make him face the reasons why he's kept himself so aloof. Their HEA was perfect, and the years-later epilogue gave life to their enduring future.

This is a terrific story and I highly recommend it. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

After 5years, the h’s father dies. In his will, he leaves his company to the H. And his home and family museum to his daughter. The problem is that they must marry to inherit, which neither wants to do. Eventually their issues are resolved and live happily ever after.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Presents for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. One of the things I really enjoy about Harlequin books-is that they are a quick read. I can be another world for an hour or two. They don't take me days to read. This book was no different. I really liked the main characters Ranieri and Annika. I didn't actually understand some of the plot-like why they didn't fight the will but ok. They had great chemistry and I guess her dad did know best. His family on the other hand was horrific. I did enjoy the book, it made me laugh a couple of times. Probably not very realistic but fun to read. 4 stars

Willed to Wed Him is a nice addition to the group of Caitlin Crews' authored Harlequin Presents. It was fun and I liked it. Now, could it have been better? Yes. I think that, comparing to other Presents novels written by Crews, it could have been steamier and there could have been a bit more angst. There could have also been a little bit less internal monologue and more back and forth between the main characters.

3.7 stars, rounded up tp 4.

Rating 4.25 but had to give it a five for the second half and the epilogue was fantastic.

The first thirty percent of this story is tough going, well for me it was. A lot of dialogue inside their heads and telling of history of how they became aquatinted and connected. But I promise if you hang in there and get to the forty percent mark it picks up and takes off. It will be worth it.

Annika and Ranieri are connected through their father and his company/business. Ranieri came into Annika's life at around 16 years of age. Ranieri came to take over her fathers company and become CEO, Annika's father wanted to step down from his duties. Ranieri was beloved and vastly successful in the business world. Annika's father was in a car accident and for five years he was in a comma. We open with both Annika and Ranieri at the reading of her fathers will. And both where blindsided when the were informed that her father requested that they marry. If Ranieri wanted to keep the company and if Annika wanted to keep her beloved museum, the Schuyler house.

As I stated at the beginning, there is a lot of background and history that get's put out there in the beginning. I think it's needed to understand their relationship at the beginning and how each views the other. So with being said I want to state that the hero comes across like a jerk and you won't understand why he is the way he is till later on in the story. And Annika is absolutely perfect, I mean perfect for Ranieri. She pushes his button's and does it so well. She is a quirky and sweet, but strong and determined. Ranieri is controlled, alpha male. He like everything in its place and everything to look and behave perfectly. You will learn more about that later in the story. Now Annika lets him have his control and goes along with his program but has her moments of payback. As they agree to marry and stay married for one year.

These two slowly begin to soften and let down their walls as the wedding approaches. They compliment each other and bring out the good in each other as well. I will have to say that Caitlin Crew did a beautiful job on writing the wedding day and how these two interacted and the change that started to take place in their relationship.

The day of their wedding forward their relationship evolved and changed. They begin to open up and talk about their past and feelings. But Ranieri had a lot of baggage because of his parents. We learn they could win the worst parent award easily. And because of his past relationship with his parents and their parenting style, Ranieri is a by product of that lovely childhood.

Annika begins to understands why Ranieri is the way he is. And we learn a little more about Annika and her quickness and her reason for dressing the way she does.

Again from the point of the wedding day forward this love story blossoms. We get a heartfelt and deep emotional love story. And the best part, icing on the cake, was the epilogue. Boy does Caitlin Crew write a beautiful epilogue.

I wrestled with the rating on this at one point as I was reading I thought at 3.5 rating but as the story progressed it made up for and definitely upped this rating to a 4.25. But because of the epilogue I had to rate it a five star and not four.

So definitely recommended but with the warning of the beginning be a bit rocky and thought. At least for me it was. I think it could have been written a little smoother or differently. But all I forgiven as you delve in a little further into the story.
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Quick Summary: An angsty and conflicted relationship moves toward a forever kind of love

My Review: Willed to Wed Him by Caitlin Crews was a tug-of-war romance between two people who were in their feelings for one another, even as they both, for a time, tried to deny it. This story presented R, the tough as nails leading man who sought to keep himself shielded from deeper emotions and feelings, and A, the shy, innocent who was brave enough to reveal her true heart and needs.

Rating: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher, and to NetGalley, who provided access to an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I find Caitlyn Crews writing very humorous. Make me laugh out loud at some of the strange and quirky situations she thinks up for her characters. WILLED TO WED HIM is no exception. From the very beginning I had a huge grin, practically wringing my hands in anticipation of just what folly Caitlyn Crews has up her sleeve for the two lead characters of WILLED TO WED HIM. I am quick to admit she didn’t fail me.
Two most ill suited to ever be considered a couple are faced with a legal ultimatum that neither can easily dismiss. Get married, to each other, and life remains as status quo. Don’t and your world is about to undergo a rather drastic change. So what would you choose.
Both characters hold each other in distain, maintained a distance whenever tangible. Now with the passing of her father, Bennett Schuyler, Annika is truly astonished by the callous disregard for her feelings at the reading of his will.
So two strong willed, stubborn adults will vie for top positions in their lives. For some reason Annika’s father willed her to marry the one man who spent most of his time spouting some intentionally insulting remarks in her way. He bashed her looks, lack of social graces and character. Ranieri Furlan seemed to derive some odd pleasure picking on his boss’s daughter.
After both of them gnashing their teeth at the prospect Annika and Ranieri decide to marry. Albeit with lots of rules, lack of expectation and candidly no joy. Annika’s friends were very vocal about their feelings toward her decision to marry Ranieri. Bold enough to mention that his side of the chapel was filled with business associates while Annika’s were friends. Another notice that their lives couldn’t be more different. But Ranieri was certain he would mold his new wife into what he felt was appropriate. Terrible word. And hurtful. But Annika quickly realized he didn’t know any better. And she was just as stubborn and determined to follow the plan. Magnets. Totally repelling each other. Until they don’t.
Pure Caitlyn Crews magic. Annika is a joy to meet, another strong, caring woman created by Caitlyn Crews. Ranieri is a distrustful, arrogant, caustic man – equally entertaining. Through some thoughtful and humorous dialog the author concocts a rather intriguing story sometimes filled with angst and other times just plain fun. In WILLED TO WED HIM we get to know and finally understand what make these characters tick. An adventure of sorts. Enjoyment from start to finish.