★★★★★

I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very solid 4.5-star read for me, rounded up to 5.

What stood out most wasn't even the story itself. It was Lily Manning's writing. Every now and then you come across an author whose prose simply flows, and this was one of those books. I found myself so immersed in the writing, the dialogue, and the characters' inner monologues that, at times, I paid less attention to the mechanics of the suspense plot.

The fake marriage trope was executed really well. Adrian and Elena had fantastic chemistry, and I especially enjoyed their internal monologues. They added depth to both characters and made it easy to understand not only what they were doing, but why they were doing it. Their growing relationship felt natural and believable, making the slow burn well worth the wait.

My only reservation concerns the suspense storyline. At some point, I realized I wasn't entirely sure what Adrian and Elena were actually looking for or how the investigation fit together. Whether that was because I was so captivated by the writing or because the suspense plot became a little too intricate, I'm not entirely sure. Either way, it occasionally pulled me out of the story.

That said, the romance, the chemistry, and especially Lily Manning's writing made this a thoroughly enjoyable read. I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series and can't wait to spend more time with these characters.

If you enjoy romantic suspense with a convincing slow burn, excellent chemistry, and beautifully crafted prose, I highly recommend giving this one a try.