Earned

Earned is a high‑stakes romance with a good, old-fashioned dose of forced proximity. Elena and Adrian are pushed to work together while being thoroughly distracted by each other the entire time. Elena is snappy, snarky, and instantly likeable. Adrian starts off stoic but gradually opens up. Elena's warmth against Adrian's stiffness in their banter creates a fun contrast, and the ending left me curious about what comes next.

The writing feels self‑edited, with a handful of grammar slips and a few incorrect word choices. Nothing deal‑breaking, though. Just the occasional line I had to reread for clarity. One odd slip: the sentence “He didn’t look nervous. He didn’t look bored. He looked like the reason other people got nervous.” appears twice in chapter one, only a few lines apart.

Despite the little hiccups, it's an enjoyable read with a charming duo and a final tease that sets up for the next book nicely.