3/5 stars It was a fun take on the married at first sight idea. I didn’t love how he was instantly remarking her physical attributes. I also thought the juxtaposition between the smut and the talk of God was a bit jarring.
Quick listen and the narration was incredible.

I enjoyed this book, it was cute and quick. It features an arranged marriage service that puts like-minded people together and I really like that concept. I also enjoyed both the male and female narrators of the audiobook. However, there were some things I didn’t like. The FMC decides to marry a stranger without telling her baby daddy, which I thought was a huge issue. This lack of communication from the adults leads to a third-act breakup. The MMC is also a bit egotistical, which I didn’t find appealing. I understand that these books are quick reads, so I’m not going to be too critical, but these issues did bring down the rating for me. I do enjoy the black love aspect of the books in this series and I plan to read more of Monica Walter’s books because the spice was on point! Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I listened to this audiobook all in one sitting! I loved the FMC & MMC from the start. Their chemistry was off the charts! The book is based on an interesting arranged marriage concept that worked exceptionally well for these two. There was an unexpected issue that came up, threatening their relationship, but the book ended in a happily ever after. The narrators were both great & added a richness to the overall experience.

As someone who is in their 30’s and seeing how arranged marriages are becoming something more and more people are considering in American culture. Especially after shoes like Married at First Sight. This story really is a beautiful tell of how an arranged marriage can be a match made in heaven. Giselle island Gentry’s arraigned marriage couldn’t hav been more perfect, maybe with out the father of Giselles children interfering but otherwise there is no way these two couldn’t have been more perfect for one another. I literally couldn’t stop the audio as soon as I started. I loved that the characters are in their 30’s and they both are direct in what they need and want in their lives. I can’t wait to listen to the rest of the of the Arranged marriage series. . Thank you Dreamscape and Monica Walter for allowing me to read this ARC.

I was invested in this story from the beginning. I loved Gentry from the moment he entered the scene. Giselle worked my nerves a bit with her naivety when it came to Clayton. I liked how the author explored how Giselle let her toxic trait influence her actions to the point she was willing to walk away from Gentry. Having Giselle's mother, who is a psychologist, call her out on it in a therapeutic way was refreshing to see.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had an advanced listener copy from Dreamscape and I think the narrators did a good job. Benjamin Charles is always a joy and I think this was my first listen from Reina Mystique. The story was good; the chemistry was easy to grasp from Gentry and Giselle. I think Gentry was extremely patient with Giselle because she had too many chances to get her situation under control. Clayton really did the most and I think Giselle didn’t expect his behavior. But, this was a perfect example of why communication is so important. The spice between Gentry and Giselle was hot and I am glad they got it together in the end.

My rating is 3.75/5

I enjoyed the story enough as I love the concept. I’m not a fan of instant love however I do like how this is written. The interview process and hearing their answers is a nice addition.
The one thing I didn’t like was way Giselle allowed Clayton to manipulate her. This was cringy at best how she was allowing him to dictate her relationship with her husband. It was clearly all about him and she was too blind to see it. His reasoning for the craziness didn’t match the actions. He clearly wanted her.

The audio narrators make this enjoyable. Both narrators are faves and I’m glad they brought this story to life.

"Passion" by Monica Walters, narrated by Benjamin Charles and Reina Mystique, left me underwhelmed. I went into it with high hopes, intrigued by the concept of Arranged Hearts and the promise of a high success rate in pairing couples. Unfortunately, the story didn't quite live up to my expectations.

Giselle King, a dental hygienist who's achieved financial stability, decides to take control of her love life after years of fruitless dating. Her longing for a perfect man leads her to an arrangement with a service called 'Arranged Hearts ', which promises a high success rate in pairing couples, hoping it will bring her the love she's been yearning for. Similarly, Gentry Fleming, a veterinarian tired of superficial relationships, also turns to Arranged Hearts in search of a devoted wife.

While the premise of 'Passion' had potential, the execution fell flat. The chemistry between Giselle and Gentry felt forced and lacked the genuine spark that makes a romance truly captivating. Their often predictable and clichéd interactions failed to surprise or engage me in their journey.

The narration by Benjamin Charles and Reina Mystique was decent, but it couldn't compensate for the lacklustre plot. They did their best with the material, but the story needed more depth for their talents to shine through.

Additionally, the drama that unfolds in their relationship feels contrived and unnecessary. Instead of adding tension or excitement, it only served to highlight the weaknesses in their connection. Giselle and Gentry's impatience and quick decisions, if portrayed as a result of their deep-seated fears and insecurities, could have made them more relatable and likable, and their character growth could have been more robust.

Overall, "Passion" didn't leave a lasting impression on me. The idea of Arranged Hearts was intriguing, but the story could have delivered more emotional depth and authentic romance. It's a two-star read for me, one that I wouldn't be inclined to revisit.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the chance to listen to this book.

What I like about the book:
I love the cover. The premise of the book is cute and adorable, married at first sight. I liked how both families were accepting of the whole “ marrying a person you don’t know” thing. I loved how they reconciled and overcome the issues while she was going through her custody battle.

What I didn’t like about the book:
I didn’t really like the Gentry character, just something about him rubs me the wrong way. I also didn’t love the way he mentioned sex so much as if that’s all there is to a relationship or marriage. I didn’t like how Giselle kept bowing down to her father’s kids when she knew in her motherly instincts she wasn’t wrong to have found love. Also the male narrator, he just sounded overly dramatic.

Overall I’d rate this audiobook a 4. It was very cute, it just had a few quirks.

DNF @13%
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Audio and ALC in exchange for an honest review.
I don't like the main male character because he's an arrogant asshole. I can't take his arrogance for one chapter which was his first chapter. The FMC seems good but I don't want to see her with him. It seem like a good premise with the arrange marriage concept but I can't stand the MMC for one chapter. I'm out.

I absolutely loved this book! The characters were relatable and captivating. I appreciated that they even though they were both successful in their respective roles, they had both been unsuccessful when it came to dating the traditional way. Being married at first sight and seeing them have such an amazing connection was beautiful. This book had the right amount of spice and depth. The narrators for this book really added to the story and made it come to life. Looking forward to reading and listening to the other books in the Arranged Hearts series.

I had a decent enough time.

I really enjoyed the concept of Arranged Hearts, even if it marriage off jump. I appreciated that he was a simp for her from the beginning as well. I know instant attraction isn't always the best, but I apprecaite that this was done well.

The narration was really well done, and I really enjoy Benjamin Charles and Reina Mystique. They did their thing.

I think my issue is with plot. I know that there are some really relaxed parent agreements and everything, but I had a harder time with Gabrielle and they way custody was handled with her kids. But I know that was mostly a me thing, and that overall the story is a nice escape from real life.

Thank you to Dreamscapes and Netgalley for an early audio copy.

I wanted to love this SO MUCH because that cover is stunning and the whole premise sounded really fun but I’m so disappointed that I really didn’t enjoy it. I did however really like the narrators on the audio book - they were incredibly easy and enjoyable to listen to and did a fantastic job of bringing the story to life.

There was a note at the beginning to say that this story would be very dialogue heavy which I didn’t notice or mind but I did find it very description heavy and way too wordy. I think this book needed another edit because there were just too many unnecessary words and descriptions, for example ‘I kissed him/her on the lips’ was mentioned an unbelievable amount of times which could have been ‘I kissed her/him’ because the ‘on the lips’ is implied.

I also think Giselle was way too good for Gentry. She was kind, independent, a lovely mother and empathetic but Gentry was egotistical, arrogant, had a mad wandering eye and honestly, was pretty selfish. My last point is that the spice was so odd - I really don’t want to hear about how engaging in oral sex was like eating a good chicken neck or any body part being digested and regurgitated.

I would recommend it if you love an insta-love story, a whole lot of drama and an arranged marriage vibe.

Passion by Monica Walters is a captivating and heartwarming romance.

Giselle and Gentry are so well-developed and relatable, and I found myself rooting for their love story to unfold in the most perfect way possible.

What I loved most about this book was the unique concept of Arranged Hearts and how it brought Giselle and Gentry together. Their journey towards finding true love was filled with twists, turns, and obstacles that kept me on the edge of my seat. The chemistry between the two characters was palpable, and I couldn't help but get swept away by their love story.

Thank you @dreamscape_media @authormonicawalters @netgalley

Thank you Netgalley and dreamscape media for the free ALC.my opinions are being left voluntarily. I loved this and wanted kore and kore gladness part of a series I know I'm gonna gobble them all up. I liked the arranged marriage part and romance was hot. I'm not miscommunication hut this books was so so good.

I recommend this to those that enjoy romance

5/5☆

Loved this book it was so relatable and sweet if you like married at first site this is the book for you

I like how the story explains why the characters are insta-lovey, and it was one of the few instances that I actually understood & liked the insta-love trope. However, all around, this book was just alright. I think the author’s writing style just wasn’t conducive to my reading preferences, but I didn’t hate her writing. It was just too simplistic. I also liked the main characters, but I wanted a little bit more from them. For instance, I really wanted to know more about Giselle’e car accident and any PTSD that came from it. I also wanted a bit more of a backstory for Gentry. I liked this book, except for Clayton. I hate that guy.

Deliciously campy, over the top, and super steamy!

I do enjoy arranged marriage stories in contemporary romance books. I love seeing each authors take on such a unique dynamic.
I love getting to know these really dynamic characters and their unique relationship. I kinda know of friends that would try this dating company lol.
Nonetheless it gave me all the dramatic vibes from a tyler perry movie, with some super steamy scenes.

This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Monica Walters, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley.

This audiobook is narrated by Benjamin Charles and Reina Mystique. I'm unfamiliar with both of the narrators. They did a great job. Mr. Charles has a deep sexy voice that suited the character well.

This book is part of The Arranged Hearts Series by multiple authors including the novels: Allure by Iesha Bree, Tension by C. Monet, Surrender by Kimberly Brown, Desire by Kay Shanee, and Embrace by Mya.

This starts with content warnings and I always appreciate that from an author. This can easily be read as a stand-alone if the reader doesn't want to commit to the entire series.

The basic premise of this novel is the love interests are connected by a dating service that arranges meet your spouse at the altar marriages. I used to watch the TV show, "Married at First Sight" so I was super excited to read a romance novel with the same premise. This flew through the arranged part and got right to the marriage. Giselle is a single mom with 2 children. She survived a major car accident and decided to have children with a best friend rather than wait for marriage. Gentry is a veterinarian with his own practice who likes thick and curvy women. He likes Giselle on sight.

The couple seem to have instant chemistry but the action of the book is focused outside of their relationship. Romance is a genre rife with tropes and the trope used to cause friction in the relationship between Gentry & Giselle felt a bit tropey. I fully bought and liked them as a couple, just the nonsense romance trope went on a tad too long for my tastes. This was very spicy and I'd definitely read another novel by this author.

Thank you to Monica Walters, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞s: July.30
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 :
•arranged marriage
•single mom
•instalove
•black romance

The narrator did a great job and highly recommended the audiobook. This story will take you on a rollercoaster ride. Loved this book from start to end. I'm not a fan of instalove trope but I am glad I was able to get the ALC or this book.



Thank you, Netgalley, and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook for my honest review.