Sweet story. Loved the back and forth between the couple. Also loved them having real life issues as well as wonderful resolution.

While the premise is fantastic and the FMC is a well developed character. This leaves a lot to be desired.

Repetitive and exasperating, this is almost a tit for tat story where the same situations are repeated over and over, yet there is SOOOOO much communication about how this instalove, arranged marriage is so strong and they will weather any storm but two seconds later someone for their past shows up and they need time to process it. Even though the other person reassured them that they want to be with them. Once or twice is fine but at 68% it’s all this story is and I’m not compelled enough to finish.

However, this is a great premise with a promising start but it just didn’t pan out for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio arc. Right away we find out this is a marriage at first sight of Dakota and Mariah due to a matchmaking service that is called Arranged Hearts. It’s first person which I love more than third and right off the bat the writing is really fun and the banter between Mariah and her friend is funny and witty. I love that this follows a little older more mature woman at age 37 which is kinda refreshing to me. There is some insta love but I really like the uniqueness for me because of the multicultural romance aspect to it. I haven’t read much of those. This book has been giving me so much giddy feels ever since the beginning, I love the female narrator more than the male, Mariah’s narrator just fits the character so much! I feel like she comes to life. To me this explores deep connection between two people and getting to know one another and it’s a heartfelt story for both characters and we get to know them very well and both of them go through internal conflict and there’s deep connections with family ties too. I had tears throughout and I loved it! Highly recommend.

While Tension is admittedly insta-love, a trope I detest, I chose request to read Tension because it took elements from reality TV that the masses really seem to enjoy and made something that is taboo in the same society—arranged marriages—seem cool, fun, safe, and exciting. C. Monet is a great storyteller and created characters who not only had their own lives and goals, they also acted their age and had normal processing and conflict resolution skills. While I didn't like the ending very much, I overall enjoyed the first book in this series and look forward to the next.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing an ALC!

4 ⭐️s
3 🌶️s
🚨 audiobook pub date: 8/6/24

The Tension was definitely there.

I had a fun time with this one. I really enjoy that these characters are immediately attracted and are 100% in for this. So interesting that Mariah was the baby of the family, and how her family interacted with her. Also enjoyed that Dakota was a very real MMC, and that his issues were addressed. We love a man who will go to therapy.

Overall, it was a great read. The narrators did a fantastic job and made the experience even better. A very good car ride companion.

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

Apparantly I am in my arranged marriage era. This book just hit all those notes I love about insta love, insta lust, insta marriage. This is how it needs to be done. I hope I can get access to the rest of the books in the series.

Two imperfect people finding out how to make a forever together.

Narrators were great.

This is my second book of the series and I’m in love! I related to these characters, I loved that Mariah was old school and independent. Dakota was the perfect fit for her because he allowed her to be independent but he was a take charge husband that ensured his wife wanted for nothing. I also enjoyed that this union wasn’t perfect and the couple had to work on their insecurities to find love. The ending was the perfect HEA! Lastly, the narrators did a great job with bringing these characters to life.

Quick Summary: An arranged marriage romance

My Review: Tension by C. Monet is a 2024 release from Dreamscape Media. It is listed as a multicultural romance.

About the Book: Two strangers who are looking for a partner meet and marry blindly. Despite there being an instant attraction and mutual interest expressed, the new partners have to learn what it means to be in a marriage. When secrets, past relationships, and emotional trauma interrupt their flow, a seemingly insurmountable obstacle may very well be the thing that breaks them apart.

About the Narration: This audiobook was narrated by Dylan Ford and Simone Rothschild. What stood out to me with their character interpretations was the strength with which they conveyed the messages in the book. I believed the emotion, tension, and angst were real.

My Final Say: This novel presented with an interesting concept - that of going into a sacred union, sight unseen. It was unreal and yet the experiences the couple faced were very much realistic. The opposing perspectives on family structure, expectations, and values was nicely written. The back and forth between religious talk/actions and non religious talk/actions threw me for a loop quite a few times; it seemed odd. In a way, I suppose that shows growth. Both characters went from raw to rare over time. At the end of the day, it was a good read.

Other: Readers who prefer down home, in your face, keeping it real ships, this one is for you.

* Tension would be a fantastic book club read. There is so much for thought.

Rating: 3.75/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 👍


Thank you to the author, to the publisher (Dreamscape Media), and to NetGalley for sharing an ALC of this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have submitted on this work are my own.

I really enjoyed listening to the love story of Dakota and Mariah. I was skeptical at first since they were "married at first sight." However, the author did a good job of explaining why each character resorted to a matchmaking service and showed the development of their relationship. There are some instalove vibes going on. However, the story includes how they develop their actual relationship and how they had to backtrack to build certain aspects of their relationship since they started out married. I enjoyed the female narrator, but the male narrator's voice was monotone. I recommend this book to romance fans.

Thank you Netgalley and dreamscape media for the free ALC.my opinions are being left voluntarily. I am loving this series and can't wait for the next book.the plot the story the characters are so well done for shorter book loved the narration loved the spice love lovr love!!!

5/5☆

Genre: Romance
Format: 🎧
ARC/ALC/BETA:ALC
Series: Y (standalone)
Rating: 5⭐️
Series rating: N/A⭐️
Publication Date: 8/6/24

This arranged marriage is not your typical love story, but rather a journey of self-discovery and overcoming past wounds.

The slow-burning romance between Dakota and Mariah is beautifully written, gradually building in intensity as they navigate the challenges of their unconventional marriage. The tension between them is palpable.

#ReadWhatYouGot #Librarybook #Audiobook#KindleUnlimited #ImmersionReading #HonestReview #PersonalLibrary #BOTM #arc #alc

OMGGG, I absolutely loved ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️this book. This fairytale story is what most people dream of. The love and bond that these two strangers formed was unreal. The way that they loved on each other was so heartwarming.

Overall the story was ok. I was not a big fan of the way Mariah acted towards Dakota. She was classic independent woman and have to be in control
Completely. She kept things and was overly dramatic. I didn’t really like he to be honest. Dakota was ok. I enjoyed his character as he also had flaws but he talked about us issues. I’m still trying to understand how they marched.
It wasn’t a bad sorry but definitely not my favorite either. I’d tell people to read it to form their own opinion.

The narrators were new to me. The female
Narrator was pretty good. The male narrator read straight in as it was sometimes hard to decipher when another person was speaking. But I still liked him.

I love this series it so relatable and I love the way each couple has worked through their issues. The narrators were amazing can wait to check out the next one in this series

Tension by Author C. Monet
Genre: Romance
Spice: 1🌶
Rating: 4.25 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
TW: None
Troupes: Arranged Marriage

This was my first time reading this autbirs work and I will gor sure be rwading more. "Tension"was truley a heart warming story that gives you hope and teaches some of life's most valuable lessons.

Mariah and Dakota both have it all yet are looking for someone to share it with. They both come from pasts that have been challenging an may have caused trauma. They separately sign up for a arranged marriage service called Arranged Hearts and They are both super excited for what is to come.

It was quite refreshing as I could yell early on that they would be perfect for one another. Literally the Ying to each others yang. Mariah is so use to being independent and having her own space that she wasn't even prepared for a real man to come in and sweep her off of her feet.

Sand with Dakota. He has it all and is so use to doing that he doesn't take time to think about the why or what ifs. So they most definitely complimented each other well. This may be the book that forces me to put myself back on the market knowing there is hope for something good.

I thouroughly enjoyed this urban romance and to be quiet honest I haven't read something so refreshing in a while. I kept waiting for something bad to happen. In reality we sometimes expect the bad so much that it becomes a rain cloud.

Thank you C. Monet for this beautiful story and reminding us that some thing are not too good to be true and to keep looking forward to the good. I rated this a 4.25/5 stars.

𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
4.5 🌟
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𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 :
•black romance
•arranged marriage
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Tension! Tension! This is my second time reading this book along with the audiobook version.
The female narrator did a good job bringing the female character alive. The male narrator was just ok, I don't think his voice fit the male character. But overall, this is a great read, and I highly recommend it. Quick read.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Aug.6
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook for my honest review.