A social experiment: Be matched up with a perfect mate, stay married for six months and then decide to stay together or part ways. And yes there is a monetary prize. What could go wrong?

Their requests and reality don't exactly match up. Asia dreamed of a sweet, stable, clean cut potential family man. Talon hoped for a tall, knockout blonde who wanted him not his fame or reputation. What they got was the total opposite. They are very different in appearance, views on sex, and lifestyles.

There are some initial skirmishes, fight or flight responses, and hurt feelings. But they both agreed to this crazy experiment for a reason. To have a chance they will need to have faith, open their eyes, and trust. It was fun to listen to their banter and see their slow burn of chemistry build.  This story was a good representation of the power of inner beauty and how sometimes what you want is not always what you really need. 

I loved Talon. He often spoke before thinking or was unfiltered, could be sarcastic or even rude at times, and he surely made some mistakes. But underneath he was also vulnerable, sweet, protective, and craved love. He had everything he ever dreamed of but no one to really share it with. His commitment to the idea was so heartfelt.  I found him to be adorable, yet hot. 

And Asia was cute, poor, sensitive, insecure, but was also not a doormat and had a big heart. She lived a pretty solitary existence and her life has been so different from his. This was like a Cinderella experience for her but it came with more challenges and fears.

This takes two people, throws them together, but we see them appreciate, laugh, grown and love. But they also have many ups and downs.  She has serious abandonment issues and insecurities, He has has own issues and problems. Just when they think they are moving forward, they are tested in various ways. Some times small tests and some that are life changing. Their communication is not exactly open and healthy and they have a tendency to be reactive and further complicate things. I liked that it was not insta-love and they had to work for it and traverse serious challenges.

It was at times light-hearted, funny, and sexy, and also emotional, heartbreaking, and downright frustrating. The second half was angstier and more turbulent. I really felt for the characters even when I wanted to smack them. I liked that there were some surprises and it was not totally predictable. I really felt for both Talon and Asia and thought they made a good match. But they were in a crazy situation of doing everything backwards.

I enjoyed the dual points of view and it was critical for understanding due to their communication issues. The whole background of the social experiment was interesting. I liked spending more time with Storm, Evie, Vandal, Lukas, and Rayne. I wanted to throttle brother Mikah and friend Finn. There are definitely some more stories brewing with the side characters.

I enjoyed this installment of this series and feel like each book so far has had a unique vibe and feel. This story was an unconventional idea, had well developed characters, plot twists, and challenges. It was funny, emotional, sexy, sweet, angsty, and frustrating, but worth the ride. I am looking forward to more books in this series.

ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. 

Marrying a stranger as a social experiment sounds like an exciting adventure, until reality hits and the man at the end of the altar is the exact opposite of everything Asia was looking for a man. And worse? She is not what he was looking for either.

Neither Asia nor Talon are successful at relationship. Asia has abandonment and attachment hangups, no one sticks with her. Talon can’t shake his reputation and stardom to know if a woman really wants him for him or for what he can do in the sack.

Marrying a stranger sounds like the perfect solution for both of these characters. But living as husband and wife for six months sounds easy enough, until it becomes their reality.

From the initial meeting, the wedding night, and attempts at joining their lives together, these two had a crash course in relationships and intimacy. From the beginning there were misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and thoughtless comments. But what’s to be expected when one finds oneself married to everything they are trying to avoid?

I loved Asia’s desire to maintain her independence, in spite of finding herself married to a rock star. She was hesitant to jump into his world, but slowly started making small influences on his look and his habits. They may have been polar opposites in life experiences, but they had some surprising commonalities when they chipped beyond the surface.

The Valentine family as a whole is so supportive of each other, and Talon is one of the few single brothers left, so there are plenty of people around to offer advice and help. I love this family. Between his mom’s influence on the study, and everyone’s interest in settling the single brothers down, the support and love are evident. There are more stories simmering behind the scenes that are asking for their own books to share. 

This was a great, well paced story with plenty of drama, angst, and learning. Talon was equal parts light, easy read and emotional roller coaster. Normally I like the conflict to come from outside the relationship, but with the premise as it is, the internal conflict throughout this book is perfect for the couple. There is so much they each have to figure out about themselves, about supporting a spouse, about communicating wants and needs.

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

I have a passion for the bad boys, those covered in tattoos, sexy smirks, ripped jeans, fast cars, motorcycles and of course, the sweet girls that try to tame them and win their hearts. My debut series, Ashes & Embers, follows the lives of rock band members as they find, and sometimes lose, the loves of their lives.

Born and raised a Jersey girl, I now reside in beautiful New Hampshire with my husband and our multitude of furry pets and spend most of my time writing, reading, and vacuuming.