The Reason I Married Him

This is book 2 in a series, but I had no idea until way in the book. I like that you can read this book as a standalone as well.

The story follows Wyatt, a thriller author that is highly self-confident and is sense of humor is tremendous; and Aubree, the town's grump who had a difficult childhood that shaped her insecurities and low self-worth. It all starts with Wyatt needing to marry right away - after he is left practically at the altar - due to a legal requirement in his grandfather's will to inherit his cabain. It specifically stated that it would go to the first of his grandchild that got married and Wyatt is willing to take marriage as a business transaction to keep the cabain from his cousin Wallace. So he comes up with a plan with the help of his friend Lauren, and the best option is Aubree, a girl who shares the ownership of a farm that was owned by Aubree's late sister Cassidy and her husband (and Wyatt's brother) Clarke who also passed a few years ago.

The banter between both characters is great, it's got the Grumpy-sunshine trope but reversed (she is the grumpy and he is the sunshine), it is a "rivals to lovers" with forced proximity situation where they need to work together to get what they each want with all their heart, but will end up getting what they both needed the most in an unexpected turn of events.

The plot is hilarious and very enjoyable, and I especially LOVED Ethel. I can picture her pretty clearly as the annoying-former-Broadway-performer-turned-into-town's-inn-owner-and-main-source-of-gossip pretty well. And all her scenes are killingly funny.

If you read the first book, you'll have recurring cast bc it is the love story between Hattie (Aubree's younger sister) and Hayes, and they play a big part in the plot for this book as well. If you're like me and didn't read that book that's fine as well because this book gives context where is needed about events in the previous book so it reads as a standalone if you're only interested in Aubree and Wyatt's storyline.

So my rating is 3.75 stars mainly due to the following points:

- I would have liked more conflict between Wyatt and Wallace, it was sold as a big issue all the way through but once it was presented it didn't feel as huge as it could have been, same with Cadance

- I see where Aubree and Wyatt's insecurities come from, but everyone knows what happens when two people do not talk to each other, and having feelings for each other but not opening to each other when it is evident for everyone and also they are to marry became a bit eye-rolling for me but that is just personal opinion because I really become annoyed when people do not communicate... the writing was great, though

-There's a point in which there are sex scenes, but like one after another after another, and I do enjoy good spice but these were very repetitive and the pacing became odd. Suddenly I felt like it became THE focal point when the focal point should have been how Aubree was starting to gain confidence and feel seen, worthy of love, and experience new things in her life that she never thought existed. So I kind of got lost between all that overly explicit spice scenes that to me didn't add much to the story

All in all, I had a lot of huge laughs, some deep moments and I felt related in many ways to multiple characters. To me it was very enjoyable and has become one of my cozy reads now.

• Marriage of Convenience
  - Opposites Attract
  - Enemies to Lovers
  - Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
  - SmallTown
  - Slow Burn
  - One Bed
  - Burlesque Club!