GRR Reviews Acting Married (The Married Series Book by Victorine E. Lieske

Acting Married is a good addition to the author's Married series, but it somehow feels not quite as fulfilling as her other books.

Tara McDermott is a maid for the Hollywood Bad Boy Rick Shade. She had been burned by a dick husband Josh who ended up as some bit actor in Hollywood who only left her with a daughter and bitter memories. Tara just wants to settle the legal bills and move back to mid-West where things are simple. Rick Shade has a bad boy reputation, but he's a softie inside. When his publicist told him he needs to settle down to land a better role, he quipped "I should marry the maid"... And surprisingly, his publicist agreed. Rick promised a marriage of convenience with Tara... they can divorce a year later, and they need to go out to feed the paparazzi every once in a while. In return, Rick will pay off Tara's debts and leave her with a nest egg to start over. But as the two pretended to date, then got married for real, Rick and Tara realized just how good they are together... but each carried shame from their pasts... Rick for letting a girl he had loved go for his career... and Tara for entering into this "fake" relationship and allowing her daughter to be attached to Rick. When the secret was outed, will they stay... or break each other's hearts? And what happens when Josh comes back?

Somehow, the threat from Josh just seems really lame, and came really really late, and the book doesn't quite feel as polished as her earlier volumes. The "forced to marry" schtick is getting a little old, and "maid to billionaire" is an old schtick. Combining them without some new schtick like other volumes left me a bit underwhelmed.


Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: A billionaire need his single mother maid to marry him to help his image, and he'll help settle her with $$$ but when they fell in love for real... would that ever work?

Tropes: maid, hot for boss, single parent, marriage of convenience, scars, triangle, blackmail

Overall Rating: 4/5