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 and Convenience Trilogy
SERIESous’ Top Picks: Must Read Author
Series: Charade, Zorics #3
This is a spinoff of the Arranged and Convenience 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: February – May 2021
Source & Format: Kindle Unlimited—eBook
WARNING: If you have not finished the original series, this review may have spoilers!
My Expectations?
So I accidentally picked this book up first before I read the other Zoric titles and then quickly realized that I needed to back peddle. It’s unfortunate that that had happened because it did spoil a bit of what happens in The Arranged Trilogy but nothing crazy. Regardless, I was excited to see how this trilogy would wrap up once I got back to it!
How Does It Compare To The Original?
–The Male Enigma: Ford–
Part of the suspense to this story was the fact that I couldn’t get a solid read on Ford. He has only a handful of POV chapters so his motivations were never quite clear to me. Emzee is extremely open about her feelings and motives so it was an interesting contrast to have for the other lead. It made me keep reading though!
It also made me appreciate his character growth throughout the series. Because you mostly see him through Emzee’s eyes, it was great to see how his character evolution impacts their dynamic.
–Great Blend of Romance Tropes–
I loved the friends to more dynamic between Emzee and Ford. They have so much shared history and this innate understanding of each other that really enhanced their romance. I just adored watching them fall in love.
Anything I Didn’t Like?
–Disconnect Between Emzee’s Character–
Again, the Emzee we briefly meet in The Arranged Trilogy isn’t the same we get here; though she did get the benefit of a series in between to help set up this series a touch more than The Convenience Series had. Still, her relationship with Ford isn’t really mentioned–though her failed past romances are–so I felt like we missed an opportunity to just make her more consistent throughout the entire series rather than slightly disjointed.
Series Rating: 4/5
The Lie 4/5 | The Act 4/5 | The Truth 4/5
I think this series best highlights the journey of the Zoric family throughout these 3 trilogy sets: the drive to do anything for the people you love; knowing when to get rid of the toxic people in your life and finding love in unexpected places.
Read if You Like: fake relationships, friends to lovers
Avoid if You: dislike contemporary romance
- One for the Money by Skye Warren (Hughes Trilogy #1)
- Blurred Lines by Lauren Layne (Love Unexpectedly Series #1)
- Sincerely, Carter by Whitney G
Synopsis for The Lie (from Goodreads):
The world knows Ford Malone as the heir to a real estate fortune.
But to me he’ll always be my best friend.
The guy who saved me from my bullies back in school.
The man I’ve secretly loved for years.When he needs me to be his plus one at a family event, I agree without hesitation.
Imagine my surprise when he announces our engagement.
As usual, I’ll play along.
Nothing has to change except the way we behave–the way we touch–in public.
But his private touches change everything.Soon the crush I’ve hidden for so long is threatening to swallow me whole.
If I tell him how I feel, it could ruin our friendship forever.
But if I don’t, the lie will ruin me instead.
