I want to start with the cover of the book: the man on the cover does not match the description of Isaiah. Isaiah has a goatee. Minor complaint, seems petty I know. It just rubs me the wrong way when the cover doesn't match the book, seems like a wasted cover. There is also no game action, so why is Isaiah in a football stadium?

The book itself read quickly. Isaiah's best friend is also his agent, so naturally the best friend uses that to get Isaiah laid. This time it was from a gorgeous Russian dancer named Victor. Victor was also a pretty good step-dad to Isaiah's son. So it just all flowed too easily. So Isaiah had to have an angst-fest the entire book about that. I was trapped. I loved it. I wanted more angst. I wanted more hurt-comfort type feelings. This book hit so many buttons for me. I can't believe I fell so hard into this book. It has been a few days since I finished and I am still happy with it.

I had a whole three issues with the book (outside of the cover):

There was a habit of Victor to repeat whatever was said before him. It was obnoxious, annoying, and didn't fit his character. It wasn't like he wasn't sure of a word because of a language barrier. It was him just being obnoxious. Thankfully that settled down throughout the book otherwise I wouldn't have liked Victor at all.
The book didn't delve far enough into the angst for me. I wanted more. I am hoping for so much more heartache and heart string pulling. I can live with this disappointment though because I just loved it all.
The sex was hot but condom and lube usage was off. The guys didn't use lube in the pool (pool water is not a good lube fyi), there were no condoms for all the blowjobs throughout the book, only anal sex had condoms (but any STIs were already shared so why was that included?), and magically they were both able to bottom with little to no prepping despite how large they were both said to be. So if I sit here and over analyze the sex, then boo. If I just let it be, then it was pretty damn well written and I enjoyed it.

HIS CONVENIENT HUSBAND is the first M/M book in the Love and Sports series by Robin Covington. While she has written a couple of short novellas in the M/M genre this full-length novella packs everything I’ve hoped from a longer book since the others have left me wanting more.

There is an ease to Robin Covington’s writing that allows for the characters to come to life and I especially enjoyed the diversity and the motive behind this couple coming together. In its own way, although fictional, the plot sheds some light on the hardship of acceptance in Russia, the perceptions around gay men in the NFL and the struggles of finding love after the loss of a loved one.

Isiah has always lived a quiet but open life as a gay NFL player, a husband and father. Doing his best to support his family has always been a priority and may be attributed to his slightly reclusive nature. Things take a bit of a detour when the likes of Victor come into his life; a one-night stand that was meant not to go any further turns into a marriage of convenience when Victor cannot obtain asylum.

The emotional struggle of the arrangement plays a toll on the development of the relationship, especially on Isiah’s part because in his own secret way, he has issues with how open and unapologetically loud Victor lives his life. Like any new relationship, Isiah and Victor face their fair share of challenges around individual perceptions of what it means to be a gay man and it starts to affect Isiah’s thirteen-year-old son.

Nothing gets me more riled up than when a partner, friend or anyone close, tries to quiet the spirit of an another human being and I will admit on more than one occasion Isiah drove me batty with his expectations of Victor. Granted these instances describe the challenges around a newly forming relationship with its own set of boundaries but while reading I couldn’t believe how much I supported Victor’s stance. I wanted more grovel from Isiah, much much more than what we are given but that may be my petty little ass inflecting judgment of sorts. But that is what Robin’s writing has the capabilities of doing to a reader.

Evan, Isiah’s son is a refreshing secondary character that portrays what I hope the future stands to gain in understanding diversity, acceptance and standing up for what doesn’t always conform to societal norms. If this series spans a few years down the road, I can see young Evan being a great YA hero…wink, wink!

To conclude, a true romance wouldn’t be complete without an HEA and great sex and this story delivered in a way that only Robin Covington can. I look forward to more tales in this series and highly recommend taking a chance on this new voice in the M/M sub-genre.

Title:  His Convenient Husband
Author:  Robin Covington
Publisher:  Entangled Publishing, LLC 
Series:  Love and Sports #1
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"His Convenient Husband" by Robin Covington

My Thoughts....

I found this novel a very interesting well written read that definitely kept my attention all the way till the end.  I found the main characters...Isaiah, Victor and Evan and Ian some very intriguing, well developed and believable giving the readers one good story.  Was this a gay read?  Yes! With the two main characters Isaiah [football player] and Victor [ballet dancer] both being from two different backgrounds it was quite interesting in how this author was able to give the readers a story that did connect quite well and bringing the son [Evan] into the picture really helped bring this story altogether.  Even though this was the second marriage for Isaiah [after having losing his former husband Stephen from a accident] will he be able to leave the past behind and start a new one with his new husband? Will Isaiah began to love again?   I will say that I didn't really care very much for Isaiah until toward the end where it seems like after a certain incident that involved his son maybe he got some sense in what was really happening in this whole situation.  Now, I don't want to spoil it ...just saying you will have to pick up this novel and see for yourself what all it is about and how this author will bring it all out in the end. I felt that this was a enjoyable story that in the end you will find out if these two will get their HEA.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
4.5 Stars

Robin Covington is a new-to-me author, and I was surprised how much emotion could be packed in so few pages. His Convenient Husband ran the full gamut of emotions for me, strumming my heartstrings from the beginning to the end.

Isaiah is a gay, widowed father, and an NFL player, who has to deal with the stressors of being in the limelight. He’s introverted, reserved, and doesn’t wish to be noticed – he’d rather stay in the shadows of fame, live his life and raise his son, and play football the game, not the media circus… but all of that changes when he meets his son’s idol.

Victor is a ballet dancer, with all the trappings that comes with it. He’s Isaiah’s total opposite, wishing to be the center of attention. Victor has a voice which cannot be denied, advocating for LGBTQ rights, especially in his home country.

Their attraction was incendiary from the start, but after an initial hook-up, the novel shifts into slow-burn territory. ANGST, and more angst – Victor seeks asylum on US soil but is denied, so starts the marriage of convenience trope, but it has much more depth and strife than others of its ilk.

Isaiah refuses to bring emotion into their relationship, forever mourning his late husband, terrified of loving and yet again losing them. Victor feels resentment as he competes with a ghost. While the couple is the perfect balance, Isaiah has a propensity to behave like a douche to push Victor away, and understanding and compassion only goes so far when you wish to keep your self-respect intact.

I highly recommend this title, especially to those who are fans of the author and MM romance.

His Convenient Husband was a well-written novella, giving a full spectrum of emotions from developed characters, and a complete story from start to finish.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
This is a well-developed, emotionally-packed novella. You are given a scenario that seems impossible, only to see how love can truly overcome the obstacles of life.

Isaiah and Evan have suffered an immense loss. They are still grieving to a point, but Isaiah, a NFL star, is trying to move on with his son, Evan, and Evan is just trying to figure out his place in the world.

When Evan goes with his dad to see Victor dance, all the rules go right out the window. There is an immediate attraction between Victor and Isaiah. However, due to an over-developed sense of devotion on Isaiah's part, their relationship becomes one of convenience.

Isaiah is shy and hates being in the limelight. He is also fiercely protective of his son. Victor is an activist and doesn't mind talking to the press about the horrible lifestyle that gay people in Russia have to endure.

When emotions run high, it limits their ability to communicate and see that love will help heal.

This novella was full of angst and emotion, but not in a cheesy way. I really enjoyed this.


Angie – ☆☆☆
This book really wasn't my cup of tea. The blurb sounded really good, I thought going into the book I would at least like it if not really enjoy it. Sadly, I didn't like it. I found myself skimming at times, I was hoping it would get better but it didn't. I couldn't stay engaged with the storyline or the characters. I usually connect with someone, anyone in a book, but this time I didn't. I can't even pinpoint why, I just know it didn't work for me. I am sure others will love it, I seem to be the minority when it comes to not liking this book.


Sarah – ☆☆☆
3.5 stars

Victor and Isaiah’s ‘marriage of convenience’ is actually plausible and Victor’s experience as a gay man in Russia makes the story timely and relevant.

I loved Victor and I really loved Isaiah’s son Evan. They are both passionate and vibrant and their artistic talents give them an instant connection. I loved Victor’s passion for dance and his fierce championing of gay rights. He is a wonderful leading man. Evan is an inspiring and original teenager and I’d love to read his YA or NA story.

However, I struggled to engage with Isaiah. He’s bland. For a man who was married to another man for some time, he is oddly closeted. And fearful. I would also expect most het parents to give their queer kids more support than Isaiah does as a gay man. By the end of the story, Isaiah was so hurtful towards Victor that while I wanted Victor to be Evan’s dad, I didn’t really want Isaiah for his partner.

Ultimately, I feel like the premise/blurb has more promise than the actual story provides. This is a low heat story – but it is also low romance. I know it’s a marriage of convenience, but I never felt like the relationship became anything more than friendly and convenient.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars of hotness

I really enjoyed this book – I love sports romances, but that the other protagonist is a ballet dancer, just added to the hotness. The descriptions of what Victor was wearing (usually not a lot) were super enticing – no wonder Isaiah found him hard to resist!

This is a story with considerable depth and so much more than I really expected. Isaiah is a good man, and in spite of great personal sadness, he immediately steps in with a solution – and the knowledge that resisting temptation will be difficult. His love for his son, and the pleasure in knowing how Victor treats him is beautifully written.

There was a lot of fun and humour too; their manager, Ian, was a funny guy and the perfect foil for the two of them. All in all, this book is a definite hit for me – I have been thinking about it all day!

I don’t normally talk about covers, but I have to mention this one. Because not only do we have a black male lead on the cover, but there’s that pronoun in the title. I saw the two paired together and immediately wanted to read it, not even caring particularly what it was about. Then I read that Isaiah is an NFL player and want transfered to need.

Let me say that my knowledge of the NFL wouldn’t fill a thimble. I’m British, so my exposure to US sports is pretty minimal. I do like sport and over here there are a growing number of professional sportsmen and women who are out, but none of them are in top level football (soccer). Although attitudes towards sexuality are changing and there are plenty of LGBT supporters clubs now, the shadow cast by Justin Fashanu’s tragic story is long, so I was interested to see how such a character would be represented in another high profile sport that praises masculinity so very highly.

But first let’s talk about characters. Because I loved Victor, the outspoken Russian ballet dancer who has never done a thing to hide who he is, and refuses to be silent about the abuses in his home country – particularly Chechnya, where he is originally from. He’s not the sort who goes looking for conflict, but neither will he back down from a fight or not make use of the platform he’s been given. I admired that about him, almost as much as I loved his more vulnerable side as a man who has never truly known family or love and longs for a real home of his own.

It’s that side that appeals so strongly to Isaiah, even as he tries to keep his distance because of the danger it poses to his heart. I liked Isaiah in general, he’s a good man, trying to do the best he can by the people he loves – particularly his son Evan – but at the same time I really, really hated the way he treats Victor. It’s a story told many times, of a person thinking they can protect their heart from future pain by never falling in love again. Except, of course, it’s not quite as easy as that and his reasons for keeping Victor at arms length were always pretty weak.

In fact Isaiah is pretty selfish when it comes to Victor and downright hurtful at times. He pushes him away and draws him in and says the nastiest things, because reasons! None of which were good enough and made me really dislike him in the second half of the book. I was also astonished at how naive he was regarding Victor’s outspokenness and how it related to Evan. I loved Evan. He’s strong and different, with gender-bending ways and a firm belief in who he is and the world he wishes he could live in. He’s great and I loved his relationship with both Isaiah and Victor. But at the same time, how could Isaiah be so naive about exposing Evan to bad stuff in the world? His son was very much himself long before Victor came along.

I’m also sceptical that Isaiah never experienced any sort of push back or homophobic abuse from his team or the fans before Victor. The man is out, quietly perhaps, but he was married to another man and didn’t exactly hide it. The idea that it’s Victor who causes tensions and problems to emerge where none had ever been before was just a bit too unbelievable for me. Then again, maybe that’s because I’m more familiar with UK football crowds and how toxic they can be.

On the whole, though, this is mostly enjoyable. There’s a lot of angst going on, but it’s fairly tepid with small conflict (legalities, what legalities?) and fast turns-around. It might have been nice if Isaiah hadn’t treated Victor so poorly at times, or if Victor had made Isaiah work a little harder for forgiveness, but the two of them together are both hot and sweet and I loved the family unit they formed with Evan and Isaiah’s mother. In fact it’s a pretty familiar marriage-of-convenience trope tale, just with added diversity and LGBT activism. It might not have quite lived up to my initial excitement, but I’d be interested to see where this series heads next.

¸.•*´¨)¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ ★Victor Aleksandrov was a walking wet dream...
(¸.•´ ★Isaiah Blackwell was temptation. Worse than sweets...

His Convenient Husband was a good read for me. An out footballer, not hiding...so perfect. Most sport stories I have read the athletes are closeted and eventually outed or retired then comes out. For Isaiah, he was still an active football player, widowed with a son who was going through his own search for his se*uality. Even if Isaiah was not shouting it from the roof top, there was barely any backlash. He was whom he was and wore his heart on his sleeves for his family.

Then he met Russian principal dance Victor, an out and proud activist who had no problem using his voice to defend the downtrodden especially in his home state. With instant and definite attraction, these two were soon married when Victor's visa was not renewed. A bit cliché and done to pieces, but Victor and Isaiah proved that they were compatible, exccept when it came to being vocal. 

Victor and his stepson, Evan's relationship was inspiring and the rest of the cast helped elevate the story. There was a storyline within the story, but eventually life became cohesive after some pull and push. I am glad these two made it work. You just have to read to see their struggles. Would I recommend this book? Er, yes. 

I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from Netgalley.

<i>A copy was provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review</i>

I wanted to care more about the characters than I actually did. I wasn't rooting for them as a couple. I didn't enjoy the romance arc, and thought the characterization was very thin. 

I requested this book because the blurb said Victor is gender fluid. Nothing in the text indicates that he is genderfluid. He's a femme cis gay man who does drag occasionally and never on page. The blurb has since been changed, and it no longer refers to Victor this way. As a non-binary reader, I was excited to read a romance with a genderfluid protagonist, and was disappointed that this book wasn't actually what the blurb indicated.

I thought Isaiah was a jerk, who also didn't feel realistic to me as a queer character. He is depicted like he magically went through life without ever experiencing any direct queer hatred, or witnessing any, he seems very clueless about the realities of being a queer person, which makes no sense at all, even for a masc queer football player. He cannot imagine what it's like for his femme queer husband who is an exile because of queer hatred, or his gender independent (and possibly trans and/or non-binary) bisexual teen child (who was my favorite character, by the way). 

I liked Evan a lot, and wished that I got to see Victor and Evan's relationship build; that felt like it needed more screen time. I wanted so much more for Evan than a parent like Isaiah who could not get even the most basic aspects of daily reality as a gender independent teen, and doesn't even try. It felt like this gender independent, possibly trans and/or non-binary character was there primarily to teach Isaiah about gender and being openly queer, and especially to further the romance plot. Evan's gender and queerness should be more than a plot device. Especially in a book that had a blurb misrepresenting itself as a story with a non-binary main character. 

I don't mind some fantasy in my romance if the story and writing sells it, but this story was the sort of fantasy that just didn't work for me; I couldn't buy it, couldn't suspend my disbelief.  The odd mixture of queer activism, experiences of queer hatred and bullying, and a completely clueless queer main character who cannot empathize with his queer family members pretty much at all...felt very off to me. It honestly felt like very little research went into the writing of this book. It made the story itself feel incredibly improbable. 

This is compounded by a marriage of convenience for immigration reasons arc that also felt very unrealistic, both because I didn't feel like Isaiah's actions and proposal were probable, and the actual references to the immigration process presented queer marriage as a route to citizenship as if it was simple and easy. It basically handwaved away any obstacles or difficulties the characters might have in this process. It also struck me as deeply unrealistic that they thought Victor could easily move to live across the country from his husband during the immigration process and it would be no problem. I am not an immigrant, so I cannot speak in more detail to the impact of this sort of simplified portrayal, but this is an issue that we need complex nuanced stories engaging with, and unfortunately this story is not that.

The moments when Victor was talking and thinking about Isaiah's Blackness and the contrast in their skin tones while they were having sex made me uncomfortable, especially as he was topping him sexually, which carries a potential power dynamic. That said, I'm a white reader, so I cannot speak to this issue in more depth. 

I was disappointed that we neither got to see much of the sports or the dance, or get details about the daily experience of being a dancer or an athlete. That was another reason I was drawn to the story. What I love about romances centering characters who are devoted to the arts or to athletics are those kinds of details, the way they illuminate character. 

Instead of being a window into who these two men were, it felt like these vocations were there to prop up the very simplified masc/femme framework in the story. It seemed like this line up of stereotyped opposites that we were supposed to fill in the blanks of, instead of getting deep or nuanced characterization: masc/femme, football player/dancer, het passing/queer activist. This made for a story that felt steeped in misogyny and femme hatred, deeply othered both Victor and Isaiah's kid for not being masc/being openly queer, and felt like it reproduced the queer hatred and heterosexism that the story seemed intended to challenge. This aspect of the story more than any other, made the book feel as if it was only written for an allo cis het audience. As a queer reader, this made for a difficult read.

I really wanted this book to be good. I was so excited to read it. And unfortunately, found it deeply disappointing, pretty much across the board. 

Trigger Warnings: Threat of death if character is unable to get asylum. Bullying, including physical violence. Queer hatred. Gender policing. Misogyny and femme hatred. Brief moment of diet talk and fat hatred.

Mixed bag.

From now on (until I find something else that amuses me) this is my mixed bad image of choice!

Go read that blurb and look at that cover. That cover is sit on face worthy, man. I'd scoop that cover model up and butter my biscuits. Consider my basement flooded, if you catch my drift. And I think you do.

The blurb is trope city (and I definitely don't hate on that). Between the cover, the blurb, I was stoked. So stoked, I ignored the buzz book potential and requested this sucker.

I tied on my reading bib and dived right into this sucker. And from the first chapter, something was off. SoI kept reading, because I'm stubborn and hopeful (what a combo) with books. I don't like to DNF and hope the author will turn it around.

His Convenient Husband is a mixed bag and I got mixed emotions while reading this. On one hand I got happy with certain things: the mention of LGBT issues and activism (hold that thought), interracial romance when the POC isn't written as a kink (I'm not a fan of that). However, there were issues as well: characters that said the right things but didn't back it up, telling rather than showing and not having a true grasp on either main characters' character. They could've been anybody.

Hence me:

The category romance (it's cracky fluffy on speed) is a fluff tale of a one night stand meets fake marriage. It was a meld of some of my favorite tropes. Chechen ballet dance Victor is world famous and out. The reader is told how much he stands up for gay rights, how he's loud and brash. (Not really) He applied for political asylum assuming he was going to get to stay in the States. On the world's worst set up through a shared agent, gay football player and widower, Isaiah invites the dance to his house since Isaiah's teen son is a huge fan of Victor (and Isaiah's agent wants them to get together)

So they do. Very hotly out in a pool, but I didn't see a connection between either guy other than insta-lust.

The time jumps weirdly in this where the one night stand meant something to both men. So when the political asylum falls through, Isiah offers to marry Victor to save him.

You would potentially go to jail (should anyone finds out about a fake marriage) and if the person who was denied gets married the next day, I would expect this country's immigration agents to flag the fuck out the entire thing and personally fly Victor back to his country.

But no mention of worry. In fact the couple blab to friends and family it's a fake marriage to keep Victor in America. After searching high and low to see if this was an alternate reality, no such thing. Unfortunately, I've read this plot written stronger with defined repercussions earlier this year.

The pair have really no connection. Consider me crossing the bridge leaving reality.

The secondary characters are used heavily to tell the read how much the two can't take their eyes off each other, how much of an activist Victor is. This is a pet peeve of mine, using secondary characters to get the romance and plot across.I liked that the author had a character bring up social issues, I just wish it didn't read like a suit being put on to look cool.

Besides the info dump and heavy telling, I think I figured out what the main issue of the story was: the characters had the potential to have depth. I've read fluffy romances where the main characters have difficult backgrounds and still make some impact.

The first half of the story was weak. It wasn't until the last third where the story gained some ground but I wasn't invested in the characters. They talked a good talk but I'm not buying what they're selling.

Funny thing is, even if the characters were hovering the two dimensional mark, the sex scenes were rocking. Hence my mixed emotions. If this was pure erotica - 3.75-4 Hearts easy. I read a lot of erotica, the smut was pretty good: dirty talk, outdoor sex (pool/porch), some possessive inclination, rimming, lots of oral. Nice.

Alas, this is a romance and the meh characters have to be counted in my rating.

And a few times Victor rubbed me the wrong way with his view on being different or gay due to wearing makeup. I expected a different stance from him. It's more than just makeup. This could be from me reading better written activists in previous romances.

Eh, he tried. And I'm looking for depth in a fluff piece. So I'll just wrap this up now.

Loved the tropes, not a fan of the execution or characters. But I liked the sex and the premise potential.

This face sums it up just about right.

I'm not going to write this author off either. There were a few moments when it wasn't so bad. There were other sports characters that have lead potential. The author is not a newbie to writing romance, but still fairly new in writing MM. The intimate scenes (sexual and non sexual) didn't read awkward or like used to be MF. I've read worse, so it's a step in the right direction.

I might try something else from this author.

Maybe, if I'm in the right mood.

Ugh, mixed bag.

*smh*

Victor is a dancer, Isaiah a football player. Isaiah stays out of media is widowed and is raising his son. Victor is all over the media fighting for gay rights in his country. When he is not granted asylum Isaiah steps in and decides to marry him for convenience. 
I found the story to be lagging in some spots, and right to the point in others. It was not what I would usually expect from a M/M book. 



** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

When I saw the blurb for His Convenient Husband, I was pretty excited to read it. I couldn’t wait to read Isaiah and Victor’s story and see how they fall for each other. What I ended up with was a huge disappointment to me.

The plot for His Convenient Husband was simple. Isaiah is still getting over the death of his husband when he meets Victor, a ballerina. Victor has applied for asylum in the United States. He is a gay activist in Chechnya*. Being gay in that country is dangerous. Lesbian and gay people are being purged. Victor is afraid that he will be on the next list because of his activism. When Victor is denied asylum, Isaiah does something that surprises himself. It also surprises friends and family. He marries Victor to keep him safe. The only thing, Victor isn’t exactly the fade into the woodwork kind of guy. He is out, proud about it and not about to tune it down. When Victor’s activism starts affecting Isaiah’s professional and personal life, he is faced with a choice. Either love Victor for who he is or let him go.

I mentioned in the first paragraph that I was disappointed by His Convenient Husband. The main reason I was so disappointed was because of Isaiah. While he was a good man and a great father, he wasn’t willing to open himself up to love again. But that wasn’t even the problem I had with him. The problem I had, and the reason I gave the book the review I gave it, was that he was cruel to Victor. He said and did such cruel things and Victor took it until he couldn’t take it anymore. It left a bad taste in my mouth. Every time Isaiah even though he was getting close to Victor, he did or said something to drive him away. Made me go “WTF” several times during the time while reading.

I loved Victor. He was what Isaiah needed, even though Isaiah was doing his best to keep him at arm’s length. He put up with so much from Isaiah. Much more than I would have, to be honest. I would have left long before he did. I did like that he was shown as being human. I mean, he meant to cheat of Isaiah at the club and had second thoughts. What I enjoyed was the positive influence that he had on Isaiah’s son, Evan. Evan, who is genderfluid, learned how to stand up for himself from watching Victor. See, Victor is an activist in his home country of Chechnya. That country is purging gay and lesbians. Victor is doing everything within his power to bring attention to that and it rubbed off on Evan. So yes, it is safe to say that I liked Victor much more than I liked Isaiah.

The sex between Isaiah and Victor was hot. The sex grew hotter and hotter as the story went on. Even when Isaiah and Victor were relieving themselves, it was hot. My feelings for Isaiah aside, the sex scenes were very hot with Victor. I did like that later in the book, they were starting to get more emotion driven….even if Isaiah was fighting it.

The end of the book was actually very nice. I liked the dressing down that Isaiah got from Evan. I did a double fist pump and went “You go, boyfriend“. I also liked the epilogue. I don’t know if Isaiah and Victor would make it as a real-life couple. I give them a 45% chance with hopes that Isaiah does some major changing.

Like I said above, His Convenient Husband disappointed me. The male romantic lead, Isaiah, couldn’t get his head out of his butt to see what he had and almost lost it. He also was cruel to Victor. What saved this book from being a 2-star review was Victor and the hot sex scenes.

Will I reread: No but I will read other books by the author

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Sex and language

I would like to thank Robin Covington, Entangled Publishing, Indulgence, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review His Convenient Husband.

All opinions expressed in this review of  His Convenient Husband are mine.

I received no compensation for this review.

**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**

What is happening in Chechnya is a very real thing. The world needs to speak out against the purging of the gays and lesbians of this country and let their leaders know it will not be tolerated.

Such a beautiful love story! I don't usually read MM but if this author were to write the phone book, I would buy it every single time because every single book that I have read of hers has been fabulous. That being said, I walked in not really knowing what to expect. What I got was a story that truly touched my heart. Every once in a while you come across a story that warms your soul and His Convenient Husband is one of those books for me. I understand that love is love but the love that these two characters had for one another was one that I have read rarely. With every roadblock that they had in their way, nothing in the end was important as the love that they had for one another. In today's times, that is the biggest take away that I have here... love is love is love and in the end, the people who love you unconditionally through your life are the most important things in your life. Everything else is just noise.

This is a book that you should not miss. Not because it is a MM story but because it is one of the most beautiful love stories that I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

This one was delightful... 

'His Convenient Husband' is about what could happen when a man who has everything loses the love of his life...his forever after meets a man who's still looking for his.

Raising his son and playing professional football in the NFL has probably been what's gotten Isaiah Blackwell through the past three years since his beloved husband Stephen was taken from them. What Isaiah's not ready for is the attraction that he feels towards the sensual, gender fluid, outspoken and confident ballet dancer Victor Aleksandrov whose stance on Russia's treatment of gays has put his life in jeopardy if his request for asylum in the United States is denied and he is forced to return to his homeland.

Isaiah may not be out and proud but he's not hiding in any closets either. He really just wants to play football and raise the son that he and Stephen adopted. While someone like Victor may not be his type, he can't deny the pull of attraction that he feels and after spending a passionate night with Victor, Isaiah learns that Victor has been denied asylum he does what any decent man would do...he proposes...a marriage of convenience.

I really enjoyed this one it ticked more than a few boxes for me. I loved Victor, he was simply a wonderful character that worked beautifully in my mind. I can't say that I thought he was perfect but he was wonderful. To me he was neither brash nor loud. He was confident and outspoken, he believed in his cause, having gotten outside the borders of Russia he felt that he had a duty to speak out about the treatment of the LGBTQ community in Russia but he truly did this with style and finesse. Sadly at the end of it all though Victor was outspoken about what he believed in and Isaiah played for the NFL and was a man who like to keep a low profile on his private life and his priority was to give his son as normal of a life as possible out of the limelight.

While Isaiah's intentions were admirable what he failed to factor in was how amazing his son was. Evan was definitely a favorite in this story. He was an amazing human being and if the author ever decides to give us Evan's story...maybe a few years down the road in his life...sign me up and consider me there.

Along with Evan the other secondary character in this book whose story I would totally be on board for was Isaiah's best friend and agent Ian Carmichael...this man is begging to be struck by lightening. His idea of a long-term relationship means he paid for the hotel for a long weekend. He's British, he's snarky and calls a spade a spade but at the heart of it all he wants the best for the people he cares about. 

What starts as a marriage of convenience to keep Victor from being deported quickly becomes a quagmire of emotional landmines for both of these men as their attraction grows and real life intrudes bringing with it some much unwanted attention that leads to misunderstandings and leaves both men frustrated and hurt.

I really enjoyed this and the only little niggle that I had was the ending. It was good I just needed it to go a little further...I wanted a little more of this sexy as hell couple but as I said it's only a little niggle because we were definitely left with these men in a good place...this one was a HEA to be sure but still, I'm greedy I want more.

This is the first bromance that I’ve read and I have to admit that I chose it because of the author rather than the blurb. I’ve read quite a few books by Robin Covington and thoroughly enjoyed them all.

This one has some great characters in it and they are brought to life within the pages of the story but I didn’t like aspects of Isaiah’s attitude and I felt so much sympathy for Victor. Evan is brilliant, so well portrayed! There are also some scenarios that just didn’t quite gel for me but it is still an enjoyable read.

I requested and received a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.

Oh, what did I love this book in so many parts. I was hooked right from the start. The blurb first mentioned Victor is a gender fluid chararcter but soon this error was corrected and now it's right. Though Victor is not gender fluid he is wearing make-up, femine clothes and is a role-model for Isaiah's son Evan, who is a teenager who tends to be gender fluid (and would maybe label himself as an adult this way) but is still searching for his own terms in taking his own time and doesn't want to be labeled right now. It's such a great (on page) display of how a young character is having difficult times with the own identity.

I loved the premise of the book, the theme of the fake-wedding, the way how Victor is getting help from Isaiah because he is in danger in not being allowed to stay in the USA without the needed papers. A pretty unconvenient solution is given him by Isaiah, and it's an opener for a relationship which is, truth to say, full of heartache and slight drama. It is really heart clenching how we see Victor being actively standing up for the rights of the members of the LGBTQIA+ community, but also what it means to be in a "relationship", more, being married to a famous NFL football player who is surrounded by cameras nearly 24/7. Isaiah is the opposite to Victor, in his character and appearance; with being a football player he is full of muscles where Victor is delicate, a body made for the twists, the jumps, fluid in motion. Both guys know what it means to belong to a marginalized group: Victor as a Russian homosexual ballet dancer and Isaiah as a black pro-footballplayer, single parent and widower. Isaiah doesn't want in any case the unneccessary attention more than he has it already, especially not for this son who he fiercly tries to protect - and that's his most lovable but also weak-point and leads to a few flaws in his character.

The blurb says Isaiah is a widower and this part of the story is satisfying but pretty emotionally included. We see that Isaiah is still grieving, he is still in his thoughts with his passed away husband; he honors him in keeping him alive and be a good, caring father for Evan, his son. But although Stephen, Isaiah's passed away husband, is present in the book, he is an important part in the live of the three men. At the end it's well done how the problems are solved in the book.

Sometimes I've to admit I thought Isaiah was a bit too stubborn and had a limited view. He was often lead by his emotions, which leds to several dramatic and hurtful scenes, and it's pretty impressive how Victor is showing strenght towards him. He is truly a fitting partner but so different as Stephen - and it shows the reader that Victor is his own character and not a substitute, although Isaiah has a rocky path to get to this point.
I really liked the maturity and how vicious Victor was acting. I could relate to him more than to Isaiah, if I'm honest but both have their great moments and of course flaws. This makes the characters so loveable and believable. It gives the story also its spice and it's truly not an easy story; so many events to deal with.

The mentioned spice is also pretty present in the kinda "insta"-lust at first, but soon it's changed and both guys are enwinded in their deeper going feelings for each other.

I would have dropped the rating to 4 stars if the supporting characters weren't this great - because some of the drama was too dramatic :D - , therefore the whole book gets 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Evan is my secret hero in this book; for a teenager he is such a mature young man. He shows what matters for him (see my first paragraph), he is super lovable and I really wish we get his own book when he is older. I think he is one of the most unique side-characters I recently read in a book, and I enjoyed the parts with him truly. But also the other friends in Victor's and Isaiah's circle of people are adorable and I'm so happy to read there are two more books so far planned, one with Matt and the other with Ian. :)

The book is truly recommended, although the dramatic parts were sometimes a bit overly dramatic and especially Isaiah was a stubborn guy sometimes. :) The marvelous side-characters, mainly Evan, stole my heart and for the premise of the book, the topic of being in a fake-wedding it gets 4.5 out of 5 stars. Read it, because it has a lot of diverse characters included.

Review originally posted on my blog with added content on Mikku-chan / A world full of words

For a M/M romance, this book exceeded my expectations.  The chemistry was there and tangible, the development of a true and factual relationship took work.  The denial of political asylum moved forward a relationship that may not have occurred otherwise because Isaiah was too stuck in his previous marriage to be ready or open to a new, deep relationship.  

I definitely liked Victor, his character was basically what a lot of people see as a strong person, who is really a wreck on the inside, but fights for what is right; but when the potential consequences arise, they don't crumble, they just move forward with their head held high.  Many people see this as arrogant, but it is strength in a moment of weakness.  Victor definitely had a lot more strength to his character than originally portrayed.  He was a true underdog.

Evan is a piece of work, I personally am so glad my kids are grown and we didn't have to deal with half of the issues or concerns today's parents struggle through.  But I did like his interaction with his dad, Isaiah.  Glad that Victor and Isaiah finally made their inconvenient marriage a happy ever after.

This is the first book by this author I have read. I loved it. I loved Evan and how he doesn’t hide who he is. Isaiah is gay and out but is quiet and isn’t one to march in a gay parade. Victor is open about his sexuality and very outspoken about what is going on in his country with the LGBTQ community and how they are being treated. 
I liked how Evan stood up for what he believed and how he stood up for Victor when someone was being unfair to him. He accepted Victor right away and saw someone he was like in a lot of ways. 
Isaiah and Victor have chemistry. It’s undeniable how attracted they are to each other. Isaiah has loved and lost and is afraid to do so again. Victor wants things he never had. Isaiah has a good heart and marries Victor to protect him and keep him in the country. But there are rules and old feelings that keep them apart. 
I would love to see a book about Evan. 
Highly recommend this book. 
Received a copy from netgally for an honest review.

This was a fun, tropey, escape for a long weekend.  I like the large cast of supporting characters, and I am looking forward to hearing some of their stories.

Isiah was a likable character.  Though I can imagine there would be a lot of complications with being an out, married, NFL player, this book focuses much more on the love and developing relationship between Isaiah and Victor.

I really enjoyed Victor.  He is loud, brash, and yet vulnerable. I really wanted the HEA for Victor more than anyone else.

This is a fun forced-to-marry romance, and I think you will enjoy it as much as I did!

This book was recommended by some of my favorite authors and I feel like it needed more work.
I liked this book because I felt the narrative was unique, it had some time jumps that should not have worked but they did. The story was at times not believable all the way, the fast they marry so fast and easy and do not have issues with the government was a bit strange. Also that part was sort of glossed over and I felt it left too much open and unexplained or processed. I liked the fact they incorporated LGBT rights and a teen with gender fluidity. I felt like some parts were rushed, or simplified and it was at times annoying or frustrating. 
 Victor, Isaiah and Even are interesting complex characters that had their time to shine in this book but again, I felt like it was inconsistent and maybe like some parts were edited out and left gaps in the story.

I did like that their relationship took time to build and had hardships despite the obvious attraction between Victor and Isaiah. They are in a complex situation and I liked that they did not just get over those hardships within 2-3 weeks. That being said I still feel like there are parts that don’t fit in the story, fast shifts in character and plot line and it was a problem for me as a reader. I think the hardest thing about this book to me was that it had a message I did not relate to and felt was problematic. It seems from the way Victor's activism is portrayed that a gay man has to back up LGBTQ causes and be an activist. Because when Isaiah tried to distance himself from that he was "punished" by not having Victor, his son was mad at him because he was a "coward" and did not speak up publicly like Victor. After his son gets in a physical fight with other boys in his school instead of punishing him( for hurting other people, something there is no justification for unless you need to save yourself)  Isaiah ends up chastised by his son. He claims that because Isaiah appears straight he does not understand how queer men like Victor and Isaiah's son live and what they face every day. Now, I do agree to some extant but it sends a message that if you are gay and look gay you have the right to not only demand your rights (which is a good thing) but to also be violent about it if other people say offensive things about LGBTQ people. I feel that is a problematic message, it made Isaiah week and in the end he did not discipline his son because his son made him believe he is lacking for not being more active. It also suggests gay men who do not appear gay according to society stereotypes are some kind of "second class gays". I did not care for that part of the book, in the end making it so only when Isaiah spoke up publicly to Victor and became somewhat of an activist did he get him back. This narrative does not include gay men who do not want to be part of the activism, do not appear gay- therefore they do not know what it is to BE GAY. I am not gay myself but I found it offensive and a bit one-sided, and when you deal with these complex themes I think there needs to be better care and handling of them.

Living life as a gay man isn’t always easy. To have your life thrust in the spotlight by your occupation can be even more tricky. For Isaiah Blackwell - the reality of his sexual preferences have never been a secret. With a career in the NFL, Isaiah has always managed to balance a low key spotlight on his personal life. A welcome relief to the man that loves to keep his life private. 

What Isaiah never could have predicted was how one meeting could change his life. A Russian ballet dancer that has set the world on fire. Victor was seeking asylum from the atrocities for the LGBT in his former country. With a flamboyant appearance and a fluidity of his craft that mesmerizes everyone that has the pleasure to watch him dance, Victor is a force to be reckoned with. A far cry from the lifestyle that Isaiah is used to leading. 

The two athletes have one common factor. They both have the same agent. Ian is not your typical agent either. The boisterous Brit is full of himself, and always has his clients’ well being in mind. When Victor’s quest for asylum was denied, Ian called on Isaiah to bring the Russian from harms way. A trip to the bar to retrieve the dancer results in a plan to save Victor from the harm that awaits him in his home country. 

A quick trip to Vegas seals the deal, and the two unlikely lovers are now a couple. While things were merged with the best intentions, rules have been set forth to keep the couple from attachments that could impact their personal lives. The heat from their one night of passion still will not be ignored. Fueling a fire between two hearts that fight so desperately to keep a purely platonic relationship. With all things tempting, dipping a toe into the water will prove harder to keep fighting. Where will this relationship lead when their careers and family are on the line? 



First let me say…..Robin Covington has done it again!! A unique romance that defies the odds and pulls you into its grip with each page. These two characters were definitely a captivating couple. Isaiah was a successful NFL pro, amazing parent, and held the poise of a man who knows what he wants in life. Victor was the complete opposite. A flamboyant dancer with an air for speaking his mind about the underdog. Two very different men that cannot fight an attraction that few experience in life. 

The stubborn streak that both characters possessed added to the struggles in their relationship. A genuine heart felt union that explored the nuances of controversy, strong opinions, and finding that one true love.