Book Review: The Temporary Wife by Catharina Maura

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

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Oh hey bookworms, are you back and ready for more of the craziness that is the Windsor Family? Because our favorite family is back with oh so much more drama. You thought marrying your fiance’s little sister was bad? Well, our friend Luca here is about to marry his secretary!

Luca runs the financial end of Windsor Enterprises and Val is his girl Friday, his secretary that was assigned to him by his grandma 8 years ago. Things get turned on end when Grandma Anne announces that it’s Luca’s turn to get married to someone who is completely wrong for him.

If you haven’t yet picked up the first book The Wrong Bride, I highly recommend doing so before diving into this one. You can read my review here. While each book in the series can stand alone, the story lines and character arcs make much more sense when read in order. Plus, if you’ve read any of the author’s other series, you’ll enjoy spotting the familiar faces that make cameos throughout the books.

The Temporary Wife picks up shortly after the events of the first book, with a bit of overlap to set the stage. Luca has had his secretary, Valentina, by his side for eight years, and their bond has only grown stronger over time. However, with his older brother Ares now married Luca’s own situation becomes more complicated. The Windsors’ formidable matriarch, Grandma Anne, traditionally arranges all the family marriages. After allowing Ares to get engaged for love and dealing with the consequences, she’s determined to take control again. Even though Luca and Valentina are clearly perfect for each other, Grandma Anne has already chosen someone else for him. The story unfolds as Luca and Valentina attempt to navigate the challenges of going against Grandma Anne’s iron will. Specifically by getting married. Luca appears to believe that if he’s already married Grandma Anne can’t marry him off to someone else.

I won’t give away too much because this story is best experienced without spoilers. But trust me when I say it’s absolutely phenomenal. The characters, especially Valentina, are compelling, and the chemistry between her and Luca is electric. Valentina’s strength and resilience make her a standout character, and the way the author brings their relationship to life is truly exceptional.

The author’s writing shines throughout the series, creating a world of powerful men—billionaires who run Windsor Enterprises, a conglomerate with vast interests across media, real estate, and tech development. Then there are the women who bring them to their knees. With five brothers and one sister, the series promises six books, each focusing on a different sibling. Luca and Valentina’s story was the one I was most eager to read because their dynamic just feels so right. We caught glimpses of them in The Wrong Bride, and it’s clear that Grandma Anne knew exactly what she was doing when she placed Valentina in Luca’s orbit eight years ago, despite her lack of experience and status as a college dropout. As the story develops, we discover that Valentina’s ties to the Windsors go far deeper than just her position as Luca’s secretary.

As always, read it for yourself and tell me what you think!

RED HOT READ ALERT: this book is sexy sexy. Don’t be fooled by the pretty cover this book is a scorcher.

BONUS: All the books are in Kindle Unlimited!

One sale now, you can grab your copy here.

And don’t forget to check out the rest of The Windsor Series, I promise you won’t be disappointed. Stay tuned for reviews!

Book One: The Wrong Bride: Ares and Raven’s Story

Book Three: The Unwanted Marriage: Dion and Faye’s Story

Book Four: The Broken Vows: Zane and Celeste’s Story

Book Five: The Secret Fiancée: Lexington and Raya’s Story

Book Six: The Devious Husband: Sierra and Xavier’s Story

The Wrong Bride by Catharina Maura

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

This site contains affiliate links to products. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links

For the love of all that is Jerry Springer, Maury Who’s The Daddy, Sally Jessy Raphael I’m really not sure what I just read. All I know is that I freaking couldn’t put it down! Holy Smokes!

OK let me back up. This whole year has been one big, long, extended reading slump for me. I catch a spurt, then my fire goes out. I blame growing a human at the old ass age of 36, but whatever. ANYWAY, I was bored in the doctor’s office, scrolling through the book of face, and an advertisement for this book came up. Pretty cover. Intriguing blurb. In KU. Add to list. And then I read it all in one sitting.

Raven has been in love with Ares Windsor since, well forever. He’s her best friend’s older brother and she’s very much been ingrained in their family. The Windor’s have an old tradition of arranged marriages, and originally the plan was for Raven and Ares to be married. Too bad he’s always loved her older, perfect, sister Hannah. Are’s Grandmother, the matriarch of the Windsor bunch agrees to let Ares and Hannah have their love match. UNTIL EVERYTHING FALLS APART AND GOES BANANAS!

I’m not going to give much away because this book is chock full of twists, turns and surprises. I literally could not put it down, all the while muttering wtfffffff over and over again. Just when you think everything is hunky dory, Maura manages to rip the carpet out from under you. I’m so excited for the rest of the series, which promises 6 more books, one for each of the Windor siblings. Up next is Luca and Valentina, but I’m really excited for Sierra (Raven’s best friend) and Xavier. You guys, she sends him a fish bomb! (I’m going to need to hear more about this and how exactly one makes a fish bomb….) Their story promises to be an excellent Enemies to Lovers book, one of my favorite tropes. It also looks like this is a spin off from Catharina’s other series, Off Limits. Silas and Alanna are two of Raven’s friends, and it appears the already have their own book.

So, I’ll BRB while I go devour the Off Limits Series

BONUS: All the books are in Kindle Unlimited!

One sale now, you can grab your copy here. You can also preorder the next book in the series Luca & Valentina’s story here.

Tropes hit: Forbidden Romance, Arranged Marriage, Friends to Lovers, Billionaire Romance, Sister’s Best Friend, Best Friend’s Brother

RED HOT READ ALERT: this book is sexy sexy. Don’t be fooled by the pretty cover this book is a scorcher.