Wild Ever After by Rebecca Jenshak

This marriage of convenience romance is I think the swooniest of the series to date in the best way possible. This is Declan and Jade’s story, and when their book starts, we find Jade being dumped days before her wedding. Her job as a bridal magazine writer has her getting married to someone she’d been dating mostly in an attempt to further her career. But with her editor not much caring whom she marries, since it’s all being paid for by the magazine, Jade’s in quite the predicament. Cue all-around nice guy and hockey hottie Declan. He’s like a knight in shining hockey pads when he offers to step in to be the groom she needs to keep up the whole wedding charade. Then, what begins as an arrangement between friends winds up turning into more, but will the circumstances surrounding their nuptials and their pasts and insecurities be too much and ruin their chances at a HEA?

I love, love, LOVE these two together. The chemistry is palpable, but even better is Declan and Jade’s deeper connection. Both of them have dealt with less-than-ideal situations when they were younger, and the more they discover about one another the more bonded they are. Add in all the current issues they’re dealing with like navigating dating your spouse and you’ve got a book that I enjoyed from start to finish. It’s endearing and organic and witnessing their journey is absolutely satisfying.

Plus, Declan as the MMC? Umm yes please! He’s caring and charming and genuinely good, and he may be my new favorite hero from Jenshak (yes, maybe even more than Maverick). And Jade proved to be the perfect counterpart for his character. I’ll admit that in the first couple pages I was on the fence with her, but then I pretty much immediately came to absolutely adore her. She’s strong and driven and just has that spark that I seriously appreciate, and I wouldn’t want her character any other way.

If you’re looking for a solid romance that’s sweet but a bit complicated too, then you need this book. I assure you that Declan and Jade’s story will leave you smiling.