Dreamland Billionaires #2
KU e-book, Storytel Audiobook
Author: Lauren Asher
We are back with the Kane brothers dealing with the “tasks” their grandfather left for them to finish before receiving their inheritance. Declan’s is to get married and produce an heir. A monumental task for someone who doesn’t date. When the last “applicant” fails to show up for the surprise engagement party, Iris, his trusted assistant, steps up to the plate and says she’ll marry him. He’s reluctant at first, but he has no other options other than go with her offer. They thought it was a business transaction, a friend helping a friend… Yeah, right…
I’m conflicted about these books, Why? The first thing is how one dimensional the heroes seem to be. Declan is basically Rowan 2.0. The brothers’ personalities are so alike I felt this one was “Book 1 reimagined”. Iris is also the sunshine to the grumpy just like in book 1.
I loved the marriage of convenience aspect of this and how they figure out they’ve always had feelings for each other that they couldn’t recognize due to their own personal trust issues. (Seriously, this whole family needs intensive therapy…)
I was also a bit disappointed about the representation. I loved the fact that Iris being Black doesn’t play in the war between Declan and his father, but her dyslexia and her asthma felt like plot props to make the hero look good in most instances.
It was an okay book. I enjoyed it. I liked it better than the first, but I seriously don’t get the hype. I’m interested in the third brother, Cal, as he’s very different from his brothers!
NOTE: Although I love the narrators picked, the audiobook was a no for me. The FMC was badly miscast (it’s a “SebYou does a teenager” kinda situation here.) Plus, the technical issues (background noise, breath sounds and mouth noises soooo loud) are cringy if you have earphones on. 🙁
