Spin-off Saturdays: On Saturdays, I will review a series that is a spin-off series. It is recommended that you read the original series first in order to get the most out of the spin-off series. Here is this week’s offering:
Convenience Series is a spin-off of the Arranged Trilogy
SERIESous’ Top Picks: Must Read Author
Series: Convenience, Zorics #2
This is a spinoff of the Arranged Trilogy; and it has a spin-off called the Charade Trilogy
Author: Stella Gray
# of Books: 3 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Heat Rating: Hot
Point of View: First Person, Alternating
Publication Date: May – September 2020
Source & Format: Kindle Unlimited—eBook
WARNING: If you have not finished the original series, this review may have spoilers!
My Expectations?
After reading The Arranged Trilogy, I was eager to see Luka redeem himself a bit and grow as a character. He didn’t leave a real positive impression but given the events of that book, I knew that there was more to his character than those brief encounters.
How Does It Compare To The Original?
–Great Physical Chemistry Between the Leads–
There is no denying that these two are drawn to each other. I though they had a great physical chemistry throughout the series. Plenty of heated moments!
Compared to The Arranged Trilogy though it did take me the whole series here to see why these two were a good fit whereas in the previous series, I saw that bond and connection of partnership immediately. These two had to work for it and I’d say that by the end they certainly did.
Anything I Didn’t Like?
–Lacked the Suspenseful Plot–
One thing I really loved about The Arranged Trilogy was the blend of dramatic suspense present in the plot. Despite this series taking place immediately after the events of that series, that plotline has dissipated and takes a back seat to the drama of the relationship between Brooklyn and Luka as they try to make their fake romance real.
–Disconnect Between Luka’s Character–
I went into this series expecting something very different for Luka based on the epilogue of The Arranged Trilogy. There, it was implied that Luka was getting close to one of the agency’s models who had a young child. And I was really interested in watching that story unfold; where the playboy gets tamed by the family life as they try to keep up appearances for the agency. However, there is no mention of that women at all and I’m not sure what the reasoning was omitting it. I didn’t mind Brooklyn as the heroine – she just wasn’t the story I was expecting so it took me until the second book to get onboard.
Also, a lot of Luka’s character building happens off-screen, prior to the start of this series and I really wanted to see that happen in real time. I wanted this to be his redemption from start to finish and not just his extended HEA.
Series Rating: 3/5
The Sham 3/5 | The Contract 3/5 | The Ruin 3.5/5
This was not the story I expected or wanted for Luka. But had I known that going in, I probably would have enjoyed it a touch more. However, the flow of the plot, romance and characters throughout the series felt disjointed to me so it isn’t my favourite Stella Gray series.
Read if You Like: fake relationships, contemporary romance
Avoid if You: want more suspense
- Pretend We’re Over by Ella Miles
- The Dumont Diaries by Alessandra Torre
- Cruel Series by K A Linder
Synopsis for The Sham (from Goodreads):
Our marriage is a sham. I’m the first to admit it. Only privately, of course.
Notorious playboy Luka Zoric needs a wife, and the good PR it brings.
I just need the career boost being his top model will give me. It’s a win-win–on paper. But since when has real life been simple?
His jealousy makes me crazy.
The control he maintains over my body is unacceptable.
I really shouldn’t be so turned on by it.
But there’s more to both me and my husband than meets the eye.
And it isn’t long before I’m wondering–which of us has made the bigger mistake?
