Between Love and Loathing
Hardy Billionaire Brothers #2
By Shain Rose
*Can be read as a standalone*
TheStory
Billionaire architect Dominic has to deal with the quiet wallflower, Clara, due to a will stipulation in Clara’s deceased father’s will. The stipulation: Clara and Dominic collaborate on designing a bakery within the resort in order to secure her inheritance.
Clara is vibrant, colorful, and meek. Dominic is muted, monochromatic, and forceful. The two butt heads over everything but in order to fulfill the will and get good press for the resort and bakery, the two enter into a fake relationship. As the two fake date but real sleep together, the difference between fake and real becomes harder and harder to tell apart.
TheReview
Right off the bat, it’s easy to tell that Dominic and Clara truly cannot stand each other. So while being a fake relationship book, it’s also got enemies-to-lovers vibes. They are complete opposites. Dominic really is a dickwad and Clara really is a meek little shrinking violet. However, Clara is annoying as all get out. I truly, deeply do not care for her as a character at all. She grows throughout the book but I found the dichotomy of her quiet demeanor so at odds with her squaring up all though about relationships and Dominic’s demands.
The storyline is good - the enemies-to-lovers combined with the fake relationship. The twist that comes in the third act was actually a good one to follow. Some of it was a little disconnected but nothing that can’t be looked past.
The ending was super cute. But the “love and loathing” was BEAT TO DEATH. My goodness. It’s very weird how much Dom emphasizes his “hating to love” someone.
It wasn’t in my favorite romance reads but it was decent. I still enjoyed reading it.
P.S. The nicknames? Little Fighter - Ew, Cupcake - Aww
TheRating
Storyline: 3/5
Characters: 2/5
World Building: N/A
Spice: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Overall: 3/5
Hardy Billionaire Brothers Series
Between Commitment and Betrayal
Hardy Billionaire Brothers #1
Between Love and Loathing
Hardy Billionaire Brothers #2
Between Never and Forever
Hardy Billionaire Brothers #3