Book review: The Temporary Wife, by Catharina Maura

The Windsors #2

Luca & Valentina

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In this second book of this series, we get the second Windsor sibling, Luca, who gets his turn at an arranged wedding.  He accepted his fate, reluctantly, but he has issues.  Luca has been working with Valentine for eight years.  Although initially, he resented that his grandmother placed her to work with him, after years of rife, rejecting her, trying to fire her, suspecting her of being his grandmother’s spy, now he can’t work without her. Through the years, he’s learned she’s his most trusted and competent employee.  

However, as soon as his grandmother announces his chosen bride, Valentina resigns and throws Luca’s world upside down.  His solution: marry her, against his grandmother’s wishes and against his family’s usual customs.

Same as The Wrong Bride, this book was just as fascinating and a riveting page-turner.  Both Luca and Valentina are fascinating.  You know they have been in love for a long time, but were in denial.  Valentina has severe trust problems, a product of her mother’s negative and constant advice.  

The story is long and convoluted, as dramatic as the previous one, full of steam, full of family antics, and a scheming grandmother.  I don’t always appreciate the grandmother’s meddling although most of the time she means well.  There’s a secret regarding Valentina, very surprising, and Luca’s reaction, very romantic.  I enjoyed this book as much as the previous one, and loved seeing Raven and Are’s story from the perspective of Luca and Val.  Loved the angst and the steam, found it super romantic and just as yummy dramatic as the previous one.  

Purchase links

https://hi.catharinamaura.com/luca

About the author 

Catharina Maura is a USA Today and Amazon #1 bestselling author. She writes angsty, fast-paced contemporary romance novels that break your heart before they lead you to a hard-won happily ever after.

Cat lives in Hong Kong with her husband and a dozen houseplants that all have names. When she isn't daydreaming about future characters, she's exploring the world and seeking out new adventures. 

You can find Cat's socials and latest updates here: https://hi.catharinamaura.com/bio

Publisher's Note: Each book in the Windsors series features a different Windsor sibling, and as such, each book can be read as a standalone. The Temporary Wife contains a guaranteed happily-ever-after and no cheating.