To resist, to be strong, to be what exactly?

Synopsis

She thought she was securing her future.
He’s turning the page on her past.
To save her legacy, she’ll say ‘I do.’ To expose the truth, so will he.

Cora
Inheriting my late father’s publishing empire is all I’ve ever wanted, except there’s a catch—marry a husband within the year to secure my claim.

Enter Sterling Montgomery—a charming new employee offering the perfect solution: a marriage of convenience. But the more time I spend with him, the harder it is to remember this isn’t real.

Can I secure my future without losing my heart?

Sterling
Blackwell Publishing is my target. Vengeance for my mother, served ice-cold. One fake marriage proposal later, I’m in. But with every touch my plan unravels.

Cora is my temptation, my impossible choice—gorgeous with fierce mind and intoxicating vulnerability. I came to burn her world to the ground. Instead, I’m the one in flames.

But when the smoke clears, will anything be left?

My review

Cora has been trained to take over her father’s publishing empire. Now the time has come, and Cora hasn’t ever more than ready. However, what she didn’t count on, is that her father put a stipulation in his will. So now Cora must figure out how to find a husband in just a few months, or lose what is her right. Under slight pressure, she decides to join her best friends to a night out, in Protocol. Even if she isn’t in the right mood to participate what Protocol is known for, to please her friends, she just goes. There she meets Sterling, the Dungeon Master of the night. And despite her initial thoughts, something just ignites. But what Cora doesn’t know, is that Sterling just secured a job at Blackwell Publishing, part of his mission to avenge what happened to his mother. He wants to bring down the people that hurt his mother. When he realizes that the woman he just met, is the daughter of the man he despises the most, can he go on with his plan? And one fake proposal later, does he still want to burn the place down, even if it’s him in flames for the woman who won’t let him in?

The Protocol Series is a special kind of series. You are into it, or you are not. It can be that it’s not your cup of tea, and that’s okay. For me, it was clear from the first book that I was in for it, even if some things weren’t my thing. But not completely liking every little bit in a book doesn’t mean that you cannot enjoy the bigger picture and the journey the characters are going through.

Luckily for me, there wasn’t one bit I didn’t like in this book. On the contrary, I loved every bit of it! Well, whenever it concerned the sparks between Cora and Sterling, and their journey. Because the story of Cora’s father and Sterling’s mother made my blood boil…

What I absolutely liked, was the power and strength that emanates from Cora. Not only is she a strong woman careerwise. She knows that she wants to run Blackwell Publishing, and she knows how she wants to run it. Even if the stipulation in her father’s will may jeopardize her plans, she isn’t someone that gives up easily.

Yet we also see a vulnerability in Cora. Because losing her father, her hero, hit harder than she would have thought. And beside this strong woman, we see a young woman mourning, trying to find her strength back.

I was happy for her that she has a few friends. Her friends may not count a lot in number, but even in friendship it is a fact that quality matters over quantity. And her friends may be different in character, yet there is a bond that nothing can break. Only the best kind of friends can bring you out of the dark with some gently and not so gently persuading.

Despite Protocol being what is it, even for me, the rather not so experimental kind of girl, Protocol feels like a safe haven. No matter what you are into, or what you aren’t into, Protocol is the place that accepts you, doesn’t judge you for who you are.

The place is exactly what Cora needs right now, even if she doesn’t want to participate, and she just want to ‘be’.

It’s often that when there are very strong main characters, when the ‘action’ takes place, they are more submissive, wanting to let go of the control. And that is what I loved about Cora, because who she is on the outside, is who she also is on the inside. She never gives control out of hand, she needs to be in control all the time. She is the domme in this book, and I was curious, eager even, to read who would be able to satisfy Cora.

Sterling initially didn’t seem to me to be the right man. But that is all my fault, as I am not so known in this specific world, and it seemed strange to me that a Dungeon Master like Sterling could be the sub that Cora is seeking.

But Sterling is not just a normal sub. It felt to me that he takes the role that is needed. He feels what is needed and he adapts to it. He is the kind of person that gives.

However at the same time, he is also very protective… He wants to avenge his mother, who has been hurt in the past and is still carrying that burden.

I could understand his mission, and I admired him for it. But when he meets Cora, we see a change in him. He still wants to pursue his plans, but Cora makes him question it. Because he knows that going for revenge, will be hurting Cora in the end.

It was easy to devour this book, and that is not only because of the spice. But because we see how two characters find each other, while they shouldn’t. We see a Cora forced to going along with a fake proposal, to gain what should be rightfully hers. But we also see a Cora that has closed off her heart for too long, and slowly is letting Sterling in. We see how sometimes no matter how short of a time you know someone, how they can impact your life, and that no matter how scary it can be in such a short time, that person may be what you need.

We see also a Cora devastated learning some truths. But also a Cora wanting to do the right thing. While by her side is a loyal Sterling, with struggles and dilemmas of his own.

This book captures reality perfectly, at least that is what I think about it. Because it’s not easy to open up your heart to someone new. It’s difficult to let someone in when you have to be this strong, independent person. But the right person can come and will not only be able to bring down those high walls, but will also be able to bring joy in your life. And even succeed in things that you normally achieve only on your own by showing patience and determination to get the wished outcome (wink – wink 😊) .

Las had extremely high, almost impossibly expectations to reach. But once again she achieved them so easily! And for that, she has my unconditional love and appreciation, as she is able to write sexy stories, strong characters, journeys that touch you and yes, even teach me a few things 😊.