A review by the_discworldian
One Night Wife by Ainslie Paton
4.0
Popsugar 2022 Reading Challenge: A book with a misleading title
So, this book is basically: Leverage, but make it romance.
Me reacting to this idea
There's a lot of very satisfying material here. I have never wanted a romance hero to be real before, but I wanted Cal Sherwood (or more accurately, his entire family and their mission) to enter the real world IMMEDIATELY. A family of con artists fleecing wealthy and horrible people and using the money to fight climate change and fund community health clinics?
I didn't get quite as much of the con artistry as I would have liked, but that's because this is, at heart, a romance novel and so the focus has to be on that central relationship. By and large, it works. Finley is a slightly impulsive young woman who has a tendency to run when things get tough. Cal is a dedicated CEO of a family business empire that just happens to be legally shady (and his parents - Mom especially - are marvelous). The details are what make the story good: the "she's sick and he takes care of her" trope is taken to a different level when instead of having a cold or flu the heroine is suffering from horrible period symptoms; the heroine loves Marilyn Monroe but instead of just thinking about the image she's an encyclopedia of Marilyn Monroe quotations; the hero considerately offers to have the heroine text his photo and details to a friend before they enter a hotel to (not, it turns out) hook up. Every rich person they encounter is revoltingly believable, which makes it all the more satisfying that Finley uses her skills to get them to fund her charity.
My one complaint came in the third act, with the Moment of Truth.
So basically, don't come in expecting Leverage, but if you like the theme of the show you might very well enjoy One Night Wife. You figure it out.
So, this book is basically: Leverage, but make it romance.
Me reacting to this idea
There's a lot of very satisfying material here. I have never wanted a romance hero to be real before, but I wanted Cal Sherwood (or more accurately, his entire family and their mission) to enter the real world IMMEDIATELY. A family of con artists fleecing wealthy and horrible people and using the money to fight climate change and fund community health clinics?
I didn't get quite as much of the con artistry as I would have liked, but that's because this is, at heart, a romance novel and so the focus has to be on that central relationship. By and large, it works. Finley is a slightly impulsive young woman who has a tendency to run when things get tough. Cal is a dedicated CEO of a family business empire that just happens to be legally shady (and his parents - Mom especially - are marvelous). The details are what make the story good: the "she's sick and he takes care of her" trope is taken to a different level when instead of having a cold or flu the heroine is suffering from horrible period symptoms; the heroine loves Marilyn Monroe but instead of just thinking about the image she's an encyclopedia of Marilyn Monroe quotations; the hero considerately offers to have the heroine text his photo and details to a friend before they enter a hotel to (not, it turns out) hook up. Every rich person they encounter is revoltingly believable, which makes it all the more satisfying that Finley uses her skills to get them to fund her charity.
My one complaint came in the third act, with the Moment of Truth.
Spoiler
I was really hoping that, especially with so little left of the book, Fin would surprise Cal by accepting the revelation of his familiar criminal empire with a big "so what?" The moment when she takes all of his money for her charity is great and consistent, but the "by the way, here's the truth about me" and "oh no I've been lied to and betrayed" story beats were just so. Expected.So basically, don't come in expecting Leverage, but if you like the theme of the show you might very well enjoy One Night Wife. You figure it out.