Mating of Convenience

Second Chances, Book 1

By: Ann-Katrin Byrde

Narrated by: John Solo

Money problems? Marry your best friend!

Nathan and Raphael were friends first, then lovers, then...nothing when Raphael left to pursue his dreams of becoming a tattoo artist. But only one year after Raphael makes it out of his small-town home, bad news descends on him. His useless father has gotten their family into debt so deep , it would take 1,000 years to dig them out. With his siblings on the brink of becoming homeless, Raphael turns to his estranged but wealthy grandmother for help and receives a deal: If he settles down and marries, he'll free his siblings of the debt.

When Raphael asks Nathan for a favor - to enter a marriage of convenience - Nathan agrees. After all, he's doing it so he can start his own pet shop, right? Wrong. Nathan just can't say no to the man who used to be his best friend - the man he's still secretly yearning for, even as he's doing his best to hide that fact. After all, he knows better now than to fall for Raphael again.

Haunted by the loss of their past relationship, Raphael regrets breaking Nathan's heart. Scars from the past are never easy to heal, though, and the more time he spends with his new husband, the harder it gets for Raphael to deny the sparks that Nathan ignites in him. Except, this is just a pretend relationship, isn't it?

While this audiobook is part of the Oceanport Universe, knowledge of that series is not required to enjoy this story.

©2018 Ann-Katrin Byrde (P)2019 Ann-Katrin Byrde

great extension of a loved series

I love how the offspring of the oceanport series is coming along. all the kids are growing up and it amazing to see how they are developing and who they are meeting.

Reunited

I like how these two men are being reunited but the biggest thing they need to learn to do is actually communicate with each other. Once the air is cleared they can truly start over. I loved the audio narration. I am so glad to see Oceanport's next generation get their chance to fall in love.

Loved it all!

Not only was the story a great retelling of an old classic "fake-marriage" trope, the narration was great!!
I think the narrator did excellent giving each character their own voice and really putting feeling into it! The part with Raph at the end had me laughing out loud!
The story really was great and the couple adoringly awkward! I love how the Alpha seemed more submissive and the Omega more dominant!

Mating of Convenience

When Nathan and Raphael were younger, they seemed to have it all. The two went from friends to lovers but a scare sends Raphael running to the city and away from Nathan. Some time later Raphael finds himself returning to town and to the alpha he ran from. Circumstances have Raphael turning to Nathan for help but what will he say? Will Nathan look past the hurt and follow his heart or is it too late?

I really enjoyed seeing Nathan and Raphael reconnect. The two are good for each other and make a great couple. As the two spend time together they begin to open up and become closer. Their marriage may not be based on truth, but their feelings are, and it begins to be hard to hide them. Raphael and Nathan’s story is a beautiful romance and is a sweet story about following your heart. I enjoyed the banter and the love between the two. No matter what they support each other and always will no matter if they are together or not. The author has filled their story with lots of angst and emotions that will pull on your heartstrings. Narrator John Solo does a wonderful job of bringing these men to life and I was quickly lost in their world.

Raphael and Turtle

Raph and Nate are pretty good - have their endearing moments seem awfully dense at several points in the story which makes me rate it where it as - it's like communication is a third language - and the alpha omega thing seems to just play a societal hierarchy thing - there are no other real manifestations of what that means - are they wolves? just men that are omegas can become pregnant, it's a bit confusing. But, in the end I enjoyed it.