Review on 'Between Commitment and Betrayal' by Shain Rose 💍

Amazon Link: https://amzn.eu/d/fOc2yt0

Author: Shain Rose

Format Read: Paperback Pages: 407

Publication Date: 23rd March 2023

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.shainrose/ Author Website: https://shainrose.com/

Content Warnings:

Explicit sexual scenes, Drinking, Violence and mentions of Sexual Assault

Review:

Did I enjoy this book? Yes!

Did I also want to throw the book across the room multiple times a day? Also Yes.

I once again got this book from The Works and this was only because the entire series was there. And I can never say no to a series! Apparently, it is big on TikTok - but like many of the books that I have bought - I have never personally seen it promoted on there, so this made no initial reason to buy it. However the reasons for purchasing, being that the cover designs are matching, and the books are in a series was enough for me. Weak, I know! ☹

It follows the journey of Declan and Evie's love through the will stipulations of her late father. Evie has been estranged from her dad since she was 6 years old, and now at 24, is running from her past straight to her dads to hide. His business partner, Declan, is her boss and the absolutely untouchable billionaire, which for her is how it has to stay. When her father passes away suddenly, they are thrust into a marriage of convenience where they have to stay together for a year if they both want to see anything to do with their inheritance. Her dad is holding hostage what they both hold dear; the HART studio for him and her mum's home and yoga studio for her. They must survive this year, but the tension is too much, and they begin to fall in love.

I have a love-hate relationship with Declan Hardy, the MMC in this novel. I think he truly loves her and would do anything for her but there are moments, especially at the beginning, where I think he is a bit ignorant and a jerk. I understand that he has a 'rags to riches' story, but he is becoming obsessed with trying to lead her but telling her to not control everything. Like every other chapter he states that he thinks she should basically “loosen up” and “stop her rigid routine”, when she a very good and clear reason as to why she was that way inclined. It's also the fact they have a certain kind of relationship – i.e. sexual – until he finds out about her past, and then instantly feels regret for how he has sometimes acted. Shouldn't he just have realised that some of the things he was doing wasn't appreciated e.g. the manhandling by throwing her over his shoulder. In the end, I suppose I mostly saw him as a protective being as he broke up with her to try and be with each other outside of the forced will but there was still moments where he irked me – especially at the beginning.

Don't get me started on her late father, Carl. (I'm going to get started BTW 🤗). He not only had the stupid excuse for leaving her at 6, because he believed "she was better off without him", but he then blackmailed her into marrying his business partner –  by holding her mum's yoga studio over her head – just so he could stop her from dating someone else. I also didn't think this man could get any worse but THEN I heard the stipulations they had 3 months into the relationship and that sent me off the rails. I don't want to spoil what it was but it was disgusting that he believed he could have that much power over her life even 😂. when he was dead. It just goes to show the rich white men having power beyond the grave The worst thing was that the lawyer and other people were thinking that he was trying to do what was "best for her", but in my opinion there was much better ways.

I liked that Evie had her stepsister, Clara, to lean on and they had a good relationship. It was even better to see them together because her stepmother and other stepsister were basically the devil incarnated as they were horrible people. Whenever they talked, they just made me think of the evil stepfamily in Cinderella and then it made me question how the sweet, and lovely Cara came out of that toxic household.

Anyway, though Declan went about it in an insane way, by saying he wasn't in love with her - when he clearly was - it was actually a decent idea to separate them to let them learn for themselves if they actually wanted to be together. Without the will over their heads. He still tried to look after her when they weren't together and then in a drunk stupor admitted his real feelings for her and showed her the adorable letter he had written for her.

In the midst of all their drama there, was also her past sneaking up on her with her ex-boyfriend getting out of jail for being a psychopath. When I tried to list the evil from this book, I decided her ex and then her dad. Powerful men in her life trying to take control. But don't worry her husband-of-convenience-to-real-husband takes down her ex when he comes to her house to have a "chat". Doesn't end well for him – the ex, not the husband 🤭 – and to be honest that doesn't bother me one bit.

In the end, this book had me on a real rollercoaster and especially had me thinking about what type of traits in fictional men that I like and dislike. But all in all, it was a spectacular read that had me invested from the get-go. That's all I really ask for when reading a book. I want to feel all the emotions and be involved in all of their stories – even when I want to throw the book. And this one let me do that. I do think you should read it – at least to have the experience when you want to throw it and then instantly pick it back up. :)

Until the next chapter,

#BellesBookBabble