MF
Third person
Billionaire
Tell me to stop
Insta-love

Rating: 3/5 - I enjoyed this book but it isn't one that I will reread
🌶️: 1/5 - a couple explicit intimate scenes

TLDR: potato chip book - you can't read just one page

This book was addictive. And I'm not sure why. There were troupes that I normally don't love (insta-love, relationship based purely on physical attraction) but I devoured it anyway. If you're looking for a no surprises, addictive read, this is it.

He's a tough nut to crack...

Aristophanes is greek, through and through. Of course he's damaged, so when Nell tells him she's pregnant, he demands marriage but he keeps pushing her away emotionally, while they definitely get along in the bedroom. He's hard to like and Nell is pregnant with twins. Its a bumpy road for them.

Aristophanes is a man who thrives on control and values precise time management. So when Nell accidentally disrupts his meticulously planned day with her clumsy fall, he’s irritated—but also intrigued. He plans to patch her up and send her on her way, but fate has other ideas. Her surprise pregnancy with his twins throws his perfectly ordered life into disarray once more. Watching him struggle to keep his control while falling deeper for Nell was a delight. Their chemistry is sizzling, their story is entertaining, and I thoroughly enjoyed their happily-ever-after.

Ok so, Nell I liked. She was feisty and damaged, but willing to put in the effort. Ari (still can’t use his full name) was damaged and arrogant as all get out. I feel like this could have been a good story if it had been more fleshed out instead of surface level. I like Ashenden’s other works, but this one felt flat to me.

This book would make more sense if it were a weird sci-fi romance where our FMC falls for a robot and wonders how she got pregnant. Our MMC is one of the worst I have ever read. He drones on and on about how smart he is and his intelligence and how he must have meaningful intelligent discussions before having sex for his body because he must take care of the “vessel” that houses his mind…seriously can’t make this up.

Our poor less intelligent (as constantly pointed out) FMC crosses his path and for some reason agrees to sleep with him because he berates her for ruining the evening of sex he had planned so she needed to put out. Just ick. Then she decides to treat him like her preschool children and nicknames him Bear after one of the naught kids and then keeps calling him that! What?!

These characters are awful and the romance is completely unbelievable. The story lacks cohesion as well since the doctor restricts her in one sentence to rest and the next he’s jetting her all over the world. That’s just one example. Also still trying to figure out how she was raised by her aunt and uncle with 4 kids, but they never wanted her as a sixth child???

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow. This is such an epic lovestory and we have an MMC here that one dreams about. This beautiful specimen of virility and male beauty of an MMC loves his women that are educated and established with “important” careers like Professors, CEOs and what not because he likes deep conversations before he f***s them. Yep, isn’t he a dreamboat?

*Angelina is the first OW....

“Angelina was scheduled to join him for the night, as per his instructions to his personal secretary. She was tall, blonde, elegant, a professor of literature at an elite American college, and in Melbourne for a conference.

He had a revolving schedule of lovers, women who wanted only a night and nothing more, and he liked to make sure he had at least a couple of evenings each week with one in whichever city he was in at the time.

Sex was necessary and it helped him let off steam, but he didn’t prize it above anything else he had scheduled. It was a bodily requirement that he paid attention to as he paid attention to every bodily requirement in order to keep himself in optimum health.

He was looking forward to the evening, because he liked Angelina. She was cool, fearsomely intelligent and could more than hold her own in conversation with him. She was also uninhibited in bed and he was very much looking forward to that as well.

Beauty was not a requirement in his lovers, but intelligence was mandatory. Chemistry, too, was vital. His time was expensive and if he’d put aside the time for sex, then he wanted it. He also required that it should be as pleasurable as possible for all concerned.”

---
So after this lovely thought, he runs into FMC who slips and falls on the pavement and he is instantly lusting after her but at the same time he says he wants more from his partners than just sex. He wants “deep conversations first before he satisfies his body’s need for sex” and apparently FMC is not it because first he mistakes her for a call girl and then later on when he learns she is a school teacher, he doesn’t find it as important as the careers all his OW have to satisfy his need for deep conversations. Dude! Where would you be if not for school teachers? Lol.

So he leaves FMC in the Hospital and goes to meet the OW where she tries her best the poor girl to turn him on but the dude is so distracted by the FMC that he lost his mojo and can’t get his d**k to work. Oh NO! But folks, don’t worry! OW doesn’t give up. Because “she kisses him and runs her hand down the front of his trousers but he didn’t get hard. Even when he kissed her back and slid his palm down her spine, touching her skin… He felt nothing. His body wanted sex, but not with Angelina”. So alas folks, the dude is not getting any from OW but don’t worry. Doormat FMC to the rescue!

Then we have him going back to FMC to tell her how angry he is at her for ruining his night of sex with OW because he is lusting after her! How DARE She!!
So what does the idiot FMC do? Of course they have sex.

Then 3 months go by since his ONS with FMC and we learn how the poor fool has been doing his best to get it on with several OW but his d**k is just not working. Say it isn’t so man!!!
He is yet again about to go meet with another OW for a night of sex when FMC interrupts to tell him she is pregnant. Oopsie Daisey.

And of course, yet again, he has to tell FMC how she once again interrupted his night of sex with OW so she has to put out instead.

Now if you are wondering, what about the FMC Paula? Welllll.... See in our HPs we expect to read about our virginal FMCs, but not so the case here folks because apparently this one put out for her HS BF and the sex wasn’t good. So before she meets the fool MMC, she had been dating OM for a month or so but wasn't having sex with him and because OM was getting frustrated at her, she decided to finally put out that night but alas, poor girl got dumped instead and left to dry. It’s over girl!

So folks, if you are looking for a deep meaningful romance here, mosey along ‘cause this is not it.

Safety:

OW/OM Drama; None. All the OW never show up on page. We learn about them through MMC’s POVs
Cheating: YES. I consider it cheating when after MCs meet and have feelings for one another (even if it’s attraction) that he ends up trying to have sex with several OW.
HEA: Yes. Marriage with twins and another on the way.

Great storyline! I enjoyed reading this in my downtime. The chemistry between the two was relatable and the drama was juicy enough to keep reading. Excellent story,

As a fan of this author, and her Harlequin books, I grabbed this ARC when I saw it on Netgalley, and settled in. The author’s skill is evident as she expertly introduces these flawed, damaged men to us, captivating us with their stories and adding them to our collection of intriguing characters.

Aristophanes always maintains control. Being skilled at managing his time is something he values, so when Nell clumsily falls and disturbs his carefully crafted agenda, he becomes annoyed, but curious. Handling her injuries and sending her on her way is what should have happened, but we know it didn't! Because her unexpected pregnancy with his twins sends his carefully constructed world into chaos, yet again. I enjoyed witnessing his futile attempts to maintain control, all the while succumbing to his growing affection for Nell. Their connection is steamy and fun to read, and I enjoyed their HEA.

I highly recommend this author and her other engaging works. I can’t wait for her next release. I am leaving my review voluntarily.