The Devious Husband

by Catharina Maura

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The Devious Husband is a steamy and angsty enemies to lovers arranged marriage romance. It features a strong-willed heroine who doesn't fear her nemesis, the one who would eventually become her husband. This couple with the slow burning tension brewing between them will frustrate you with their actions but will also have you rooting for their happily ever after.

"The Devious Husband" is the sixth installment in the Windsor series, yet it stands alone. Having had prior experience with the author's work, I held high expectations for this book. Regrettably, it fell short of those expectations. This book included what I detest most in a romance story: miscommunication. Moreover, there was no justifiable reason for this miscommunication, exacerbating the situation.

The first half of the book focused on the tension between the hero and the heroine. They constantly antagonized each other constantly. Yet, post-marriage, their relationship began to soften. The change wasn't immediate, but over time, they found themselves genuinely enjoying spending time together. However, the situation deteriorated when an individual from the hero's past emerged with intentions to harm the heroine and spilling dangerous secrets about him.

Miscommunication surfaced once more. The hero began to mistreat the heroine, claiming it was for her protection. When he realized his error, he was forced to grovel to gain her forgiveness. Now I don't mind groveling, but in this case, it seemed excessive. There were moments when I doubted whether they would stay together. Most of the negative events could have been prevented if they had simply communicated as the adults they ought to be. Physical attraction drove their relationship, and the absence of an emotional bond made their romance feel inauthentic.

The secondary characters captivated me, particularly the hero's sister's story. Despite my disappointment with The Devious Husband, I remain curious about the direction the author will take with her story. As such I am not ready to give up on the author as yet.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading