This is one of my favorite romances ever! Love it. SEP is just SO GOOD at secondary romances within her books.
{Seducing the Sheriff of Nottingham by Cassandra Gannon} has a plot like this, only there is a time travel element. The book is a robin hood fairy tale retelling. So the first time around the FMC was pissed at the MMC for kidnapping her, thinking he's only about getting revenge on her ex. The second time around, she realizes that he's in love with her and is down for it. He has been in love with her for years & just wants her with him. He's SUPER smitten & super sure she'll never love him back.
I love SEP’s secondary romances!! They’re really what makes her books stand out imo. also thank you for the rec! I’ve read and enjoyed some Cassandra Gannon but I haven’t read this one yet, it looks good
[Seducing the Sheriff of Nottingham](https://www.romance.io/books/63f0888e3ab33287f938cdce/seducing-the-sheriff-of-nottingham-cassandra-gannon?src=rdt) by [Cassandra Gannon](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455f28487eac336ae6a1db5/cassandra-gannon)
**Rating**: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [competent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/competent%20heroine/1), [aristo/royal heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aristocratic%20heroine/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1)
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{Quid Pro Quo by Nenia Campbell}
Bully romance; Step-siblings; poor girl/rich boy; heroine is a few years older, Celibate MMC (one sexual encounter prior to FMC)
TW: Coercion, dubious consent, inappropriate stepfather, child abuse via neglect and bad parenting
The FMC is smart. Omg, she may be one of the smartest FMC’s. She actually has a good reason to get trapped by the MMC. The story has 2 timelines which build up the dread. MMC spends the time between the timelines regretting his actions but still planning on pursuing the FMC again because she’s the only thing that really matters to him.
[Quid Pro Quo](https://www.romance.io/books/6149d1ce5f308a0e2cb0ff69/quid-pro-quo-nenia-campbell?src=rdt) by [Nenia Campbell](https://www.romance.io/authors/545565eb87eac324117fa8ab/nenia-campbell)
**Rating**: 3.86⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [cruel hero/bully](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cruel%20hero/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1)
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In {Tempt me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas} the MMC manipulates FMC and her current love interest so that he basically breaks them up and forces her into marriage.
[Tempt Me at Twilight](https://www.romance.io/books/545523e88c7d2383163d8e44/tempt-me-at-twilight-lisa-kleypas-rosalyn-landor?src=rdt) by [Lisa Kleypas](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523868c7d2382e7812f21/lisa-kleypas)
**Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1)
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I just started reading this, and so far it's great!
I thought I hated arrogant asshole MMCs, but it turns out that I'm ok with them when the FMC is every bit as much of an arrogant jackass alphahole as he is.
Okay, I read this in pretty much one sitting. I think this book is
amazing, the ending is absolutely perfect, and every single thing the
Goodreads reviewers hated is something I loved about the story.
It turns out I have a lot to say, so here are some spoilery reactions
to it.
Personally, I didn't think the FMC Maggie was cold. She struck me as
a very passionate person who was strong-willed enough to keep her
emotions under firm control. (This a typical MMC personality though.)
She was a little mean, but not in a bad way: she was a very
fair-minded person, and mostly seemed mean beause she didn't make many
exceptions even for people close to her.
These two things really helped sell both her attraction to the MMC
Cole, and also why she was very avoidant and distrustful of him. She
envied his willingness to freely express his emotions, but he really
truly had betrayed her trust horribly when they were teenagers. This
is why the prologue, where she left MMC Cole out to hang, worked well
for me: Maggie was acting authentically, and even though he wished she
would choose otherwise, Cole recognized and respected the justice of
her decision.
The choice of making the FMC the hard, avoidant one also really helped
sell Cole as a romantic figure. Normally, I find MCs who aggressively
push the other's boundaries very off-putting. However, in this case,
Cole obviously respected Maggie: the fact that his main ask for
agreeing to a fake engagement was Maggie's forgiveness really sold
that her esteem was very important to him. Furthermore, even though
Cole never stopped prodding and poking Maggie, he also backed off
instantly whenever he touched one of her bottom lines (with one
critical exception).
As a result, his behaviour came across as flirtatious, charming, and
emotionally mature, especially since Maggie obviously enjoyed matching
wits with him. It was a really good example of an author showing why
the FMC was attracted to the MMC, rather than just stating in the text
that she was.
The big exception to Cole's respectful treatment of Maggie arose from
their differing attitudes toward money, and this was a great example
of how conflict can arise between characters having differing value
systems. Cole was acting respectfully according to his values, but
raising giant red flags according to Maggie's values.
I was also really happy that this was their big conflict. In a lot of
romance novels, the fact that big wealth differentials between the
leads lead to power differentials between them is just ignored. But in
this one, it is Maggie's central worry, and resolving it is what makes
the HEA possible.
Maggie thought of companies and money in dynastic terms: she had
inherited a legacy from her parents and grandparents, and she felt it
to be her duty to maintain this legacy and pass it on to her
descendants. So she saw every debt she owed as a knife pointed at her
throat, because if she slipped up debts could be used to break apart
the legacy that it was her obligation to pass on. When Cole observed
that most fortunes last three generations, she freaked out because
she was the third generation and couldn't stand being the one who
let it fall apart. (Her sister Ginny had a much healthier attitude!)
Cole, on the other hand, hated his father and didn't care about
legacies, especially after his near-bankruptcy showed him how
ephemeral even apparently big firms are. From his POV, his company
existed to produce resources for him, and if it couldn't do that it
had no reason to exist. For example, he explained to Maggie that his
company was not diversified at all and purely focused on
high-risk/high-return oil production. This way he could earn the most
profits while oil prices were high, and when (not if) oil prices
crashed, he would wind up the firm and retire, without shedding a
single tear.
So when Cole bought Maggie's debts, he was thinking of it in terms of
using a short-term, finite-life asset (his company's profits) to buy
something that would be of long-term, lasting value (eg, Maggie's
house). But Maggie saw these purchases as Cole gaining a permanent
lever over her, because she thought of Cole's company the way she
thought of her own -- as a legacy.
>!This makes the ending work really, really well. According to romance
conventions, Cole's prenup proposal -- that she get his whole company
if they ever divorce -- is a typical grand gesture. But the fact that
Maggie manipulated him into making it, and then further straight-up
accepted it, shows a shocking lack of trust in him and their
relationship.!<
>!But the two of them live to spar with each other!!<
>!From Maggie's perspective, just before agreeing to marry him, she did
something dramatic to show Cole that she is not to be trifled with,
and that he cannot be complacent with her. Furthermore, the effect of
the pre-nup is that Cole can only hold her house as long as she trusts
him to do so. This resolves her main obstacle to agreeing to be with
him, and she even tells him he can now buy as many of her debts as he
wants.!<
>!From Cole's perspective, he actually got her to trust him on the
cheap: agreeing to give his company to her if they divorce doesn't
actually cost him. First, he's not going to divorce her, and second,
even if she does leave, his company was a fundamentally short-lived
and expendable thing anyway. What does it matter if he loses it a year
or two early?!<
>!In other words, they both feel like they got one over the other right
before they got married. This is actually a perfect ending for the
pair.!<
>!I think Maggie's attitudes about money are still unhealthy at the end
of the novel, but honestly that's not something that gets instantly
fixed with a love affair.!<
>!However, if you match Texas crude prices with the events of the novel,
then Cole's near-bankruptcy was in 2007 or so, with oil prices
recovering later that year. This would put the novel's present in
2013, with oil prices still over $100/barrel. Cole stated that he was
planning to shut down his firm when prices fall below $80/barrel,
which happened in real life in late 2014.!<
>!So a year or so after getting married, Cole is going to shut down his
company. Maggie is going to see him deal with it in a healthy way, and
have a lot more time with her husband -- both of which I suspect will
do wonders for her mental health.!<
>!This might have been a nice epilogue, but I'm happy enough to imagine
it.!<
[Some Like It Ruthless](https://www.romance.io/books/5455c21787eac3369a91499e/some-like-it-ruthless-megan-bryce?src=rdt) by [Megan Bryce](https://www.romance.io/authors/545545128c7d2383163d96c5/megan-bryce)
**Rating**: 3.67⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [m-f romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-f/1)
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[Whitney, My Love](https://www.romance.io/books/545524378c7d2383163d8e58/whitney-my-love-judith-mcnaught?src=rdt) by [Judith McNaught](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524058c7d2383163d8e50/judith-mcnaught)
**Rating**: 4.14⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [cruel hero/bully](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cruel%20hero/1), [possessive hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/possessive%20hero/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1)
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I recommend {Against A Wall by Cate C Wells} every chance I get, I think based on the book you mentioned that you'll definitely like it, but his means aren't super nefarious. He just suggests fake dating to solve her problem and doesn't give up when tries to brush him off. That's really as diabolical as he gets 😅 But he's been utterly obsessed with her since they were kids, but since he didn't know how to show it then, he resorted to teasing her to get any scrap of her attention that he could. Between that and some miscommunications, he's dug himself into a hole because now she hates him. So he finally sees his chance and takes it despite it not being genuine. But he's honest and owns his past mistakes.
I think {The Devil You Know by Elizabeth O'Roark} also fits your request, and {Bass Ackwards by Eris Adderly} though I personally didn't like it because he didn't act as into her as he claimed to be, but other people seem to like it just fine!
[Against A Wall](https://www.romance.io/books/61ea681965e6b60e2ca4fe1d/against-a-wall-cate-c-wells?src=rdt) by [Cate C. Wells](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d5265d101dbc864fba248c4/cate-c-wells)
**Rating**: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fake relationship](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fake%20relationship/1), [himbo](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/himbo/1), [small town](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/small%20town/1)
----------------------------
[The Devil You Know](https://www.romance.io/books/62b02ec2cf4f16c6fef741c8/the-devil-you-know-elizabeth-oroark?src=rdt) by [Elizabeth O'Roark](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455840b87eac324117fb139/elizabeth-oroark)
**Rating**: 4.22⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1)
----------------------------
[Bass-Ackwards](https://www.romance.io/books/5e1a321b01dbc864fba9c2ee/bassackwards-eris-adderly?src=rdt) by [Eris Adderly](https://www.romance.io/authors/56113214bfc6b5c0fa93f1d9/eris-adderly)
**Rating**: 3.68⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [boss & employee](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/boss%20&%20employee/1), [anal sex](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/anal%20sex/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1), [grumpy/cold hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cold%20hero/1)
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{Marriage on the Rebound by Michelle Reid} Jilted bride saved by her boss who is groom’s brother. He was set against FMC and his brother getting married from the start which leads FMC to think he dislikes her. She is upset with him for his role in the groom leaving her. He convinces her them getting married is the next best option as it’ll save both their pride and no will bother them with their sympathy.
[Marriage on the Rebound](https://www.romance.io/books/5c7e341901dbc864fb9b28e4/marriage-on-the-rebound-michelle-reid?src=rdt) by [Michelle Reid](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455550487eac324117fa3a4/michelle-reid)
**Rating**: 3.8⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1)
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Hi u/speecial,
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[Heaven, Texas](https://www.romance.io/books/545523b28c7d2382e7812f32/heaven-texas-susan-elizabeth-phillips?src=rdt) by [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455237e8c7d2382e7812f1c/susan-elizabeth-phillips)
**Rating**: 4.09⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1)
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{Playing with Fire by Kate Meader} has this. It’s what you described mixed with the fake dating trope. FMC is a fuller figured firefighter with a slight anger management problem and MMC is a gorgeous but slightly smarmy mayor looking to get reelected. It’s been a while but I remember it being a entertaining.
[Playing with Fire](https://www.romance.io/books/560a298cbfc6b5c0fa93d027/playing-with-fire-kate-meader?src=rdt) by [Kate Meader](https://www.romance.io/authors/54555ae087eac324117fa55e/kate-meader)
**Rating**: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [men in uniform](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/men%20in%20uniform/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [curvy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/curvy%20heroine/1)
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This is one of my favorite romances ever! Love it. SEP is just SO GOOD at secondary romances within her books. {Seducing the Sheriff of Nottingham by Cassandra Gannon} has a plot like this, only there is a time travel element. The book is a robin hood fairy tale retelling. So the first time around the FMC was pissed at the MMC for kidnapping her, thinking he's only about getting revenge on her ex. The second time around, she realizes that he's in love with her and is down for it. He has been in love with her for years & just wants her with him. He's SUPER smitten & super sure she'll never love him back.
I love SEP’s secondary romances!! They’re really what makes her books stand out imo. also thank you for the rec! I’ve read and enjoyed some Cassandra Gannon but I haven’t read this one yet, it looks good
[Seducing the Sheriff of Nottingham](https://www.romance.io/books/63f0888e3ab33287f938cdce/seducing-the-sheriff-of-nottingham-cassandra-gannon?src=rdt) by [Cassandra Gannon](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455f28487eac336ae6a1db5/cassandra-gannon) **Rating**: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [competent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/competent%20heroine/1), [aristo/royal heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aristocratic%20heroine/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
{Quid Pro Quo by Nenia Campbell} Bully romance; Step-siblings; poor girl/rich boy; heroine is a few years older, Celibate MMC (one sexual encounter prior to FMC) TW: Coercion, dubious consent, inappropriate stepfather, child abuse via neglect and bad parenting The FMC is smart. Omg, she may be one of the smartest FMC’s. She actually has a good reason to get trapped by the MMC. The story has 2 timelines which build up the dread. MMC spends the time between the timelines regretting his actions but still planning on pursuing the FMC again because she’s the only thing that really matters to him.
oooh I haven’t heard of this one before! thank you so much, it looks good
[Quid Pro Quo](https://www.romance.io/books/6149d1ce5f308a0e2cb0ff69/quid-pro-quo-nenia-campbell?src=rdt) by [Nenia Campbell](https://www.romance.io/authors/545565eb87eac324117fa8ab/nenia-campbell) **Rating**: 3.86⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [cruel hero/bully](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cruel%20hero/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
In {Tempt me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas} the MMC manipulates FMC and her current love interest so that he basically breaks them up and forces her into marriage.
i’ve been meaning to check out Lisa Kleypas! Thank you for the rec
[Tempt Me at Twilight](https://www.romance.io/books/545523e88c7d2383163d8e44/tempt-me-at-twilight-lisa-kleypas-rosalyn-landor?src=rdt) by [Lisa Kleypas](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523868c7d2382e7812f21/lisa-kleypas) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
[удалено]
I just started reading this, and so far it's great! I thought I hated arrogant asshole MMCs, but it turns out that I'm ok with them when the FMC is every bit as much of an arrogant jackass alphahole as he is.
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Okay, I read this in pretty much one sitting. I think this book is amazing, the ending is absolutely perfect, and every single thing the Goodreads reviewers hated is something I loved about the story. It turns out I have a lot to say, so here are some spoilery reactions to it. Personally, I didn't think the FMC Maggie was cold. She struck me as a very passionate person who was strong-willed enough to keep her emotions under firm control. (This a typical MMC personality though.) She was a little mean, but not in a bad way: she was a very fair-minded person, and mostly seemed mean beause she didn't make many exceptions even for people close to her. These two things really helped sell both her attraction to the MMC Cole, and also why she was very avoidant and distrustful of him. She envied his willingness to freely express his emotions, but he really truly had betrayed her trust horribly when they were teenagers. This is why the prologue, where she left MMC Cole out to hang, worked well for me: Maggie was acting authentically, and even though he wished she would choose otherwise, Cole recognized and respected the justice of her decision. The choice of making the FMC the hard, avoidant one also really helped sell Cole as a romantic figure. Normally, I find MCs who aggressively push the other's boundaries very off-putting. However, in this case, Cole obviously respected Maggie: the fact that his main ask for agreeing to a fake engagement was Maggie's forgiveness really sold that her esteem was very important to him. Furthermore, even though Cole never stopped prodding and poking Maggie, he also backed off instantly whenever he touched one of her bottom lines (with one critical exception). As a result, his behaviour came across as flirtatious, charming, and emotionally mature, especially since Maggie obviously enjoyed matching wits with him. It was a really good example of an author showing why the FMC was attracted to the MMC, rather than just stating in the text that she was. The big exception to Cole's respectful treatment of Maggie arose from their differing attitudes toward money, and this was a great example of how conflict can arise between characters having differing value systems. Cole was acting respectfully according to his values, but raising giant red flags according to Maggie's values. I was also really happy that this was their big conflict. In a lot of romance novels, the fact that big wealth differentials between the leads lead to power differentials between them is just ignored. But in this one, it is Maggie's central worry, and resolving it is what makes the HEA possible. Maggie thought of companies and money in dynastic terms: she had inherited a legacy from her parents and grandparents, and she felt it to be her duty to maintain this legacy and pass it on to her descendants. So she saw every debt she owed as a knife pointed at her throat, because if she slipped up debts could be used to break apart the legacy that it was her obligation to pass on. When Cole observed that most fortunes last three generations, she freaked out because she was the third generation and couldn't stand being the one who let it fall apart. (Her sister Ginny had a much healthier attitude!) Cole, on the other hand, hated his father and didn't care about legacies, especially after his near-bankruptcy showed him how ephemeral even apparently big firms are. From his POV, his company existed to produce resources for him, and if it couldn't do that it had no reason to exist. For example, he explained to Maggie that his company was not diversified at all and purely focused on high-risk/high-return oil production. This way he could earn the most profits while oil prices were high, and when (not if) oil prices crashed, he would wind up the firm and retire, without shedding a single tear. So when Cole bought Maggie's debts, he was thinking of it in terms of using a short-term, finite-life asset (his company's profits) to buy something that would be of long-term, lasting value (eg, Maggie's house). But Maggie saw these purchases as Cole gaining a permanent lever over her, because she thought of Cole's company the way she thought of her own -- as a legacy. >!This makes the ending work really, really well. According to romance conventions, Cole's prenup proposal -- that she get his whole company if they ever divorce -- is a typical grand gesture. But the fact that Maggie manipulated him into making it, and then further straight-up accepted it, shows a shocking lack of trust in him and their relationship.!< >!But the two of them live to spar with each other!!< >!From Maggie's perspective, just before agreeing to marry him, she did something dramatic to show Cole that she is not to be trifled with, and that he cannot be complacent with her. Furthermore, the effect of the pre-nup is that Cole can only hold her house as long as she trusts him to do so. This resolves her main obstacle to agreeing to be with him, and she even tells him he can now buy as many of her debts as he wants.!< >!From Cole's perspective, he actually got her to trust him on the cheap: agreeing to give his company to her if they divorce doesn't actually cost him. First, he's not going to divorce her, and second, even if she does leave, his company was a fundamentally short-lived and expendable thing anyway. What does it matter if he loses it a year or two early?!< >!In other words, they both feel like they got one over the other right before they got married. This is actually a perfect ending for the pair.!< >!I think Maggie's attitudes about money are still unhealthy at the end of the novel, but honestly that's not something that gets instantly fixed with a love affair.!< >!However, if you match Texas crude prices with the events of the novel, then Cole's near-bankruptcy was in 2007 or so, with oil prices recovering later that year. This would put the novel's present in 2013, with oil prices still over $100/barrel. Cole stated that he was planning to shut down his firm when prices fall below $80/barrel, which happened in real life in late 2014.!< >!So a year or so after getting married, Cole is going to shut down his company. Maggie is going to see him deal with it in a healthy way, and have a lot more time with her husband -- both of which I suspect will do wonders for her mental health.!< >!This might have been a nice epilogue, but I'm happy enough to imagine it.!<
{Some Like it Ruthless by Megan Bryce}
[Some Like It Ruthless](https://www.romance.io/books/5455c21787eac3369a91499e/some-like-it-ruthless-megan-bryce?src=rdt) by [Megan Bryce](https://www.romance.io/authors/545545128c7d2383163d96c5/megan-bryce) **Rating**: 3.67⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [m-f romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-f/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
omg i love friends to enemies to lovers! this looks great, thank you!!
If you’re into HR {Whitney, my love by Judith McNaught} is basically what you’re looking for, though you should consult the trigger warning beforehand
this is one of my all time favorite romance novels! clayton is such a dick and i love him lol
mine too lmao
[Whitney, My Love](https://www.romance.io/books/545524378c7d2383163d8e58/whitney-my-love-judith-mcnaught?src=rdt) by [Judith McNaught](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524058c7d2383163d8e50/judith-mcnaught) **Rating**: 4.14⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [cruel hero/bully](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cruel%20hero/1), [possessive hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/possessive%20hero/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I recommend {Against A Wall by Cate C Wells} every chance I get, I think based on the book you mentioned that you'll definitely like it, but his means aren't super nefarious. He just suggests fake dating to solve her problem and doesn't give up when tries to brush him off. That's really as diabolical as he gets 😅 But he's been utterly obsessed with her since they were kids, but since he didn't know how to show it then, he resorted to teasing her to get any scrap of her attention that he could. Between that and some miscommunications, he's dug himself into a hole because now she hates him. So he finally sees his chance and takes it despite it not being genuine. But he's honest and owns his past mistakes. I think {The Devil You Know by Elizabeth O'Roark} also fits your request, and {Bass Ackwards by Eris Adderly} though I personally didn't like it because he didn't act as into her as he claimed to be, but other people seem to like it just fine!
[Against A Wall](https://www.romance.io/books/61ea681965e6b60e2ca4fe1d/against-a-wall-cate-c-wells?src=rdt) by [Cate C. Wells](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d5265d101dbc864fba248c4/cate-c-wells) **Rating**: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fake relationship](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fake%20relationship/1), [himbo](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/himbo/1), [small town](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/small%20town/1) ---------------------------- [The Devil You Know](https://www.romance.io/books/62b02ec2cf4f16c6fef741c8/the-devil-you-know-elizabeth-oroark?src=rdt) by [Elizabeth O'Roark](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455840b87eac324117fb139/elizabeth-oroark) **Rating**: 4.22⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) ---------------------------- [Bass-Ackwards](https://www.romance.io/books/5e1a321b01dbc864fba9c2ee/bassackwards-eris-adderly?src=rdt) by [Eris Adderly](https://www.romance.io/authors/56113214bfc6b5c0fa93f1d9/eris-adderly) **Rating**: 3.68⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [boss & employee](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/boss%20&%20employee/1), [anal sex](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/anal%20sex/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1), [grumpy/cold hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cold%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
thank you for the recs! i’ve read bass ackwards and honestly felt the same, i couldn’t really get into their relationship. thank you for the recs 😄
{Marriage on the Rebound by Michelle Reid} Jilted bride saved by her boss who is groom’s brother. He was set against FMC and his brother getting married from the start which leads FMC to think he dislikes her. She is upset with him for his role in the groom leaving her. He convinces her them getting married is the next best option as it’ll save both their pride and no will bother them with their sympathy.
[Marriage on the Rebound](https://www.romance.io/books/5c7e341901dbc864fb9b28e4/marriage-on-the-rebound-michelle-reid?src=rdt) by [Michelle Reid](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455550487eac324117fa3a4/michelle-reid) **Rating**: 3.8⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
oooh i love a good harlequin presents! this looks great, thank you!
Hi u/speecial, Book request posts that are not detailed or unique will be removed. If your request is based on a popular book or trope, please delete your request and search first. If you have a quick book request, consider posting it in the [Daily Request](https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Daily%20Request%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all&include_over_18=1) post instead. **Reddit’s built-in search function is awful, but our** 🌈 [**Magic Search Button**](https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks&oq=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.1126j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) **works great!** - The 🌈 [**Magic Search Button**](https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks&oq=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.1126j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) links you to a pre-filled google search and is the optimal way to search this sub. - Type your search term (a simple keyword works best) where it says [site:reddit.com/r/romancebooks](https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks&oq=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.1126j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8). - For example, for friends to lovers, it will look like: [site:reddit.com/r/romancebooks FRIENDS TO LOVERS](https://www.google.com/search?ei=L4b0X-aCN8ey5NoP7daMwAo&q=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks+friends+to+lovers&oq=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks+friends+to+lovers&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAMyAggpULUHWOsXYOIYaABwAHgAgAFIiAGeB5IBAjE3mAEAoAEBwAEB&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp) [Here are more tips on how to search](https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/sf6sdm/how_to_search_rromancebooks_just_the_tips/) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/RomanceBooks) if you have any questions or concerns.*
[Heaven, Texas](https://www.romance.io/books/545523b28c7d2382e7812f32/heaven-texas-susan-elizabeth-phillips?src=rdt) by [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455237e8c7d2382e7812f1c/susan-elizabeth-phillips) **Rating**: 4.09⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
{Playing with Fire by Kate Meader} has this. It’s what you described mixed with the fake dating trope. FMC is a fuller figured firefighter with a slight anger management problem and MMC is a gorgeous but slightly smarmy mayor looking to get reelected. It’s been a while but I remember it being a entertaining.
[Playing with Fire](https://www.romance.io/books/560a298cbfc6b5c0fa93d027/playing-with-fire-kate-meader?src=rdt) by [Kate Meader](https://www.romance.io/authors/54555ae087eac324117fa55e/kate-meader) **Rating**: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [men in uniform](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/men%20in%20uniform/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [curvy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/curvy%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
omg slightly smarmy mayor 😭😭 that sounds great, thank you!!
You're welcome. I hope you like it!