My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it
He’s afraid of commitment. She yearns for a family of her own. How can they turn a marriage of convenience into happily-ever-after?
To Damian Vaughn, image is everything. As CEO of the family business and heir to a fortune, he lives his life above reproach, not wanting to repeat his father’s mistakes that almost brought the company to ruin.
Gabriela Romano has discovered she’ll never be able to bear children. Distraught and still recovering from surgery, she leaves for an extended vacation in the Azores Islands, far away from her family’s prying eyes and the constant reminders of what she’ll never have.
When social services drop off a baby they say legally belongs to Damian, he knows it’s not true, but the media will be quick to judge if the news leaks. Desperate to avoid a disaster, he takes his lawyer’s drastic suggestion and proposes to Gabriela, a woman he’s just met. She has her own reasons for accepting, and as long as she guards her heart, she’s confident she’ll be fine.
But as sparks start to fly, Gabriela begins to wonder—how can she turn this marriage of convenience into her happily-ever-after?
My Review
It can be difficult to pull off a modern marriage of convenience story since there are so many resources nowadays and marriage isn't really viewed as viable solution in today's society. Once I turned off my they-should-have-just-done-this thinking, I loved the story and the way Damian and Gabriela interacted and bonded over his daughter. I think if they had known each other just a little more prior, I wouldn't have had to suspend my disbelief. Anyway, the mystery of who Claire's father is as well as the blossoming romance with the right amount of tension kept me reading and it was lovely to escape into the settings of Portugal, New York City, and an estate in the country. The lives of Gabriela and Damian revolve around Claire and her schedule, which is totally realistic of a new baby. I liked getting to know Damian's mother and grandmother, and seeing the way Gabriela fit naturally into their lives. Some intrigue comes into play with Damian's public persona and company, and there is a surprising twist that I did not anticipate. A strong and enjoyable conclusion to the Romano family series!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
The Romano Family series follows the stories of the Romano cousins of northern Portugal as they find love and their Happily-Ever-Afters. Each book may be read as a stand-alone.
The Romano Family series follows the stories of the Romano cousins of northern Portugal as they find love and their Happily-Ever-Afters. Each book may be read as a stand-alone.
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