Tech heiress Maddie Moss pretends to be engaged to Jack Daly, her family’s worst enemy, so her brothers don’t lose ownership of the family business in Shannon McKenna’s The Marriage Mandate: A marriage of convenience romance, Dynasties: Tech Tycoons #2. With a bit of mystery/suspense, the novel is an intriguing enemies-to-lovers/fake relationship romance.

I’ve been a huge McKenna fan since Behind Closed Doors. However, the Marriage Mandate is my first mainstream romance by her, and while it’s not as dark as her usual romances, it’s still just as emotionally intense. I love that her characters form these intense emotional bonds/connections that at first appear so at odds and adversarial that it doesn’t seem like there’s any way for them to work things out to be together. As usual, McKenna’s story is suspenseful, steamy, romantic, and sexy, with a well-structured mystery. But it isn’t too difficult to figure out once Maddie starts piecing the evidence together.

Maddie’s controlling grandmother wants her grandchildren to marry and have families. She, therefore, requires each of them to be married to keep the ownership of the family company. While Maddie doesn’t necessarily need or want to inherit the company, she doesn’t want to deprive her brothers of it. So, to convince her grandmother to release her from the requirement, she chooses the last man acceptable to her—Jack.

Her brother’s ex-business partner, Jack, was convicted of being a thief and spy for stealing from—and sabotaging—their company and betraying his partner and Maddie’s family. But Jack is innocent and convinced he was set up. To solve their problems, Maddie and Jack make a deal for him to fake date her and be her pretend fiancé in exchange for her doing something for him, forcing Maddie to question everything she believed and thought she knew about Jack.

I love the development of Maddie and Jack’s relationship. It went from zero to one hundred in a hurry, for sure. They connected deeply and became attached quickly. But it’s understandable and not surprising from Maddie’s viewpoint since she had been harboring a crush all these years. It’s remarkable how hard and fast Jack fell for her, however. I enjoyed the initial scenes between Jack and Maddie. One of my favorite parts of the novel is Maddie’s exploration of her sexuality with Jack and how he makes her feel when he kisses and touches her. McKenna beautifully develops and evolves their relationship from adversaries to friends to lovers with steamy, emotionally intense, and intimate banter, interactions, and love scenes. I also love that Maddie is a genius/numbers geek who is a whiz at finding connections, seeing patterns, and getting financial numbers to make sense. It’s cool. The diversity in ethnicity among her siblings is also quite fascinating.

At first, I was hopeful that Jack confessing the secret he’s keeping would not come between Jack and Maddie after so deep into the novel—considering how close they became. And when things fell apart, I knew it would be painful, and it was. While I understand the intensity of emotion behind Maddie’s family’s anger towards Jack, I couldn’t understand why no one would be motivated to look deeper into the sabotage to at least try and discover why he would do something like that before believing he was guilty. Nevertheless, McKenna’s resolution of the mystery behind that, Maddie’s dilemma with her grandmother, and Jack and Maddie’s relationship are thoughtfully worked out. I can’t wait to read the other books in the series.

The Marriage Mandate: A marriage of convenience romance is a fast-paced, intriguing steamy, angsty, sexy, and emotional enemies-to-lovers/pretend relationship romance.

Advanced review copy provided by HARLEQUIN - Romance via Netgalley for review.

Madelyn Moss's grandmother Elaine blackmailed all her grandchildren; they have to be married before they turn 35 (30 for the women), or she will sell her controlling shares to her brother, Jerome. Knowing it would be a huge disaster if Jerome takes control of MossTech, they need to do what their grandmother wishes.

Since the word was spread, Maddie has a long list of greedy candidates behind her. To avoid them, she chooses bad boy Jack Daly to be her fake fiancée, so she could get rid off her grandmother's marriage mandate. The catch? There are two, actually: 1) Jack was her brother Caleb's former business partner (and their company BioSpark ended bad nine years ago and they became enemies since then) and 2)Maddie had a crush with Jack years ago. He agrees, on one condition. She have use her forensic accounting skills to dig through BioSpark's data to discover the truth behind their fallout. As the sexual tension between them grows, both Maddie and Jack's feelings starts to change things and beliefs, altering their unorthodox situation. Would this fake marriage be Jack and Maddie's solution...or will it gets things worse?

Maddie is tired of her grandmother wanting to put golden chains on her, calling the shots of her life. That's why she feels rebellious about the Moss matriarch's mandate to get married. She wants to break free and have her own forensic accounting company. But her idea to maker Elaine think she's engaged to Jack bring risks. Risk of falling in love, to be exact. Also, Maddie doesn't believe in Jack. For her—and the whole Moss family—Jack is a liar, a traitor and a criminal. Everything is against him; even all the evidence points at him as the one who cause the BioSpark fallout. Of course, Jack took the worst part as this "proof" sent him to jail nine years ago (fortunately he was out of jail six moths later due to some technicalities that ruined the case). Only that he's not the bad boy everybody thinks he is. In fact, he's a man very honorable who was accused and sentenced for a crime he didn't commit. Now, he wants to clear his name not for the money or his own reputation, but for his former best friend. Jack wants Caleb to know with strong evidence that he didn't sold him, betraying their friendship.

And there's their mutual attraction. Since the first time they set their eyes to each other, sparks fly in all possible directions, making the reader understand why these two are great together. Not only their backgrounds are somewhat alike—they're both lost their parents at a young age—but their strong determination of doing things right and their waves of chemistry in their interactions made their romance credible and viable. My only complaint is there were scenes so pink colored for my liking.

I like the fact that in this book most of the scenes are solely Maddie and Jack's because with the BioSpark situation the focus of the book could be easily deviated. That leaves us with the secondary characters—the Moss family—doing their roles outside of Maddie and Jack's bubble on the majority of the scenes. Although this is a standalone book and you can read it without reading book 1, I suggest to catch up book 1 of the series before reading this story to have full perspective (Caleb's version) of the events that put Jack in jail.

Book 2 of Dynasties: Tech Tycoons has a really good story with well written dialogues, a solid argument and a great ending. Also I have to highlight Ms. McKenna's research work and how they explains technical topics in a simple way so the reader could understand it. That said, I missed some a more consistent pace at the beginning of the book. But generally the author achieved her goal: leave the reader wanting for more of the series.

Good enemies to lovers romance with a bit of mystery. Time is running out for Maddie to comply with her grandmother's demand that she marry before she turns thirty or lose the family company. Maddie is smart, independent, stubborn, and in no mood to comply. Deciding to pick someone so outrageously unacceptable that her grandmother will have to relent, Maddie discovers the perfect partner. A fellow guest at the wedding she's attending is Jack Daly - her family's sworn enemy and her schoolgirl crush.

Jack and Maddie's brother Caleb were best friends in high school and college. They started a business together that was poised to make billions until Jack was accused of selling company secrets to the competition. The company crashed, and Jack went to prison, though he was let out early on a technicality, and Jack's reputation was ruined. He's slowly getting it back, but it is a painful process.

I loved the first meeting between Jack and Maddie. He noticed the beautiful woman across the room but didn't realize it was Maddie until a few minutes later. She'd changed a lot in nine years, from a teenager to a woman. On the other hand, Maddie recognized him right away. She was horrified to discover that they were both in the wedding party. They did an excellent job of avoiding each other at the rehearsal dinner, but Jack later rescued her from an overzealous suitor. I enjoyed seeing Maddie make her proposal to Jack, though I ached for him and the hurt he felt. I loved his counteroffer - use her forensic accounting smarts to help him prove that he was set up.

The chemistry between Jack and Maddie was evident from the start and made their fake engagement believable to those who saw them. Maddie certainly raised a firestorm of reactions when their relationship went public. But a funny thing happened on the way - Maddie discovered that she really liked Jack. He's kind, intelligent, and sensitive. I enjoyed their banter and seeing them get to know each other. It doesn't take long for them to give in to their attraction, which opens the door to stronger feelings. I loved seeing Maddie's belief in Jack's innocence grow.

But trouble looms when Maddie receives information that looks very bad for Jack. Then her family gets into the act. I must say that they made me angry with their willingness to cut Maddie out of their lives rather than trust her judgment and her abilities. I ached for both when Maddie's doubts came back, driving them apart. Jack's pain was tough to see. Luckily, something in Maddie still believed, and her brain kept working on the problem. I loved her "light bulb" moment and its results. The truth didn't surprise me, as I'd had suspicions earlier, but I loved watching the fallout. I hurt for Maddie and Jack, who both believed the other wouldn't want them any longer. I loved the ending and seeing the joy they both felt. I also laughed out loud at their discussion of her grandmother's plans.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved reading marriage-of-convenient novels, so I was excited when I found out about this book. I ended up enjoying it a lot.

This book swept me away! The beautiful love story of Maddie Moss and Jack Daly. What better way to get back at your family than to marry the enemy. This book has spice, drama and a.cute love story. The recipe for a great romcom. Be sure to get this book. I couldn't put it down.

Her grandmother insists that Maddie must marry if she wants to keep her job in the family company. So Maddie gets fake engaged to Jack, the one man her Gran will never approve of. In return for Jack’s cooperation, she agrees to prove he’s innocent of destroying her brother’s company. Will the search for secrets lead to love?

This is a satisfying romance with a nice mystery subplot. Jack lost so much because of the false allegations against him. I appreciated how Maddie fought for him despite her doubts at first. This short novel carries a lot of punch.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

*scroll to the bottom for content warnings*
Trope: head of family gives ultimatum for inheritance, fake dating
Book description accuracy: accurate
General review: This was...weird? It is #2 in the series about the Grandmother's Marriage Mandate. You don't see the mandate given, it's the aftermath for the 2nd grandchild (the h) so I don't understand why book 2 has the title. And the ultimatum trope is a common one, especially for a series, and you usually get to see the mandate happen from each character's perspective. I felt cheated of that with this one. Yes, this can be read as standalone because you get a brief explanation but I still missed the dramatic scene. As far as the rest of the story goes, I felt like I was experiencing whiplash. Night 1, h hates H until she sees a chance to use him to her advantage. Morning 2, they agree to be fake engaged. By the next weekend they're exchanging I love yous and h is professing to stand by H's side while they prove his innocence. H is very emotional that week in between and you see the highs and lows- drastic highs and lows. I struggled reading his internal dialogues. Amd what really bothered me was the "oh she can do forensic accounting maybe she can figure out what multiple other professionals couldn't/I don't know Jack this isn't my area of expertise it's scientific data not numbers. Don't worry I trust you baby/BAM she finds an extra security tape that no one could find NINE YEARS BEFORE". Come ON! I knew the ex was shady long before it came to light and it was annoying to wait to be proven right. AND not a single mention of trauma from being in jail for 6 months, just the trauma of being falsely accused. This book barely scratches the surface of any topic it covers including love.
The story of both their relationship and proving H's innocence took so many leaps it felt disjointed and I was overall disappointed with the book. I know McKenna was tied to a word count here but this could have been handled better- even by her, I've enjoyed her writing in the past.
Angst style: family meddling
POV: 3rd person, both H & h
Relationship stage reached: engagement
Epilogue? No
Content warnings: insider trading, false accusations, going to jail, foster care, judgemental family
I received an ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.

This is the 2nd book in the “Dynasty Tech Series”. This is a forbidden mystery romance. This is my first time reading a book by this author and I totally enjoyed reading “The Marriage Mandate”. Maddie is the baby of the family and her grandmother has a marriage mandate that she and her brother must follow in order for them to get the family tech company or it will be handed over to their uncle. Maddie is independent and has amassed her fortune on her own. She really doesn’t want to run the family business. Maddie’s brother Caleb and Jack Daley were business partners and best friends until someone planted information branding Jack as a thief and a traitor. Jack and Maddie secretly crushed on each other when they were younger. The two see each other at a mutual friend’s wedding and talk having a grand ole time. Maddie comes up with an idea for Jack to be her fake fiancé. In return Jack asks for help in clearing his name since Maddie is a forensic accountant and good at her job. The two embark on a world wind fake affair drawing the attention of her family and friends. In actuality Maddie and Jack are really good together with great chemistry and make an awesome couple.

Will Maddie and Jack’s relationship go from the fake fiancé zone to the real things, who framed Jack, I knew who the culprit was, can you guess before Maddie finds the evidence to clear Jack, will Caleb and Jack get pass their differences, will Jack accept Caleb apology, will Jack and Caleb continue with their business partnership, will Maddie’s family approve of her and Jack’s relationship and what about the grandmother will she forget about her marriage mandate?

I received an ARC via NetGalley and Harlequin Desire and I’m leaving my review voluntarily. Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Desire.

Maddie Moss’s grandma has gave her till her 30th birthday to marry or she could lose her families company. With her birthday only three months away and Maddie wanting to marry for love she and her grandma are at a standstill but in walks Jack, her brothers ex best friend and ex partner. nine years ago Jack’s reputation and friendship with Maddie’s brother Caleb was ruined. Jack knows he was set up,so him and Maddie come up with a deal if he be the villain in her story she’ll be the hero in his. I enjoyed reading this book. It was the first one I ever read by this author.

Although I somehow missed reading the first book in this series, Ms. McKenna did make it possible with enough backstory to read this latest work as a standalone, and while I much prefer Ms. McKenna's lengthier novels, this one had her signature steaminess, was interracial, and had plenty of drama as well, and although I'm not a fan of anyone forcing someone to marry someone "suitable," I believe that in angst alone, this one-sitting novel earned a 4-star rating.

Maddie Moss is one of the heirs to the Moss fortune--but in order to get her share of that, she must marry before her 30th birthday. She has a couple of half-brothers, and a domineering matriarch of a grandmother, who has issued the mandate and who holds the purse-strings. The brothers are allowed to marry by age 35, but not Maddy. If she fails to fulfill the conditions of the mandate, the company will be turned over to an uncle, who will probably sell it and keep the cash, leaving her brothers with nothing. But Maddy isn't seeing anyone, and the bachelors at the pre-wedding party she's attending are hot on her trail, since aside from them wanting the beautiful young woman, they have dollars signs in their eyes and Maddy just isn't interested, that is until she spots one of the groomsman, Jack Daly, her brother's former best friend, now his hated enemy, and someone she crushed on in her teens.

Nine years have passed, and Jack has spent time in prison for selling out the brilliant idea which was the foundation of the business he and Maddy's brother, Caleb, worked so hard on, and took so long to develop. Instead, a rival company came out with a very similar product before the two friends did, made billions on it, and Jack and Caleb's business tanked. All signs pointed to Jack being the sellout, but he never stopped proclaiming his innocence or insisting he was framed. Freed after 6 months in prison due to a technicality, his career and reputation in shambles, he is persona non grata anywhere near the Moss family.

Maddy's friend, seated with her at the party, suggests that in order to have the marriage mandate lifted, she should get involved with Jack, someone her family loathes, and her overbearing grandmother might lift the mandate just because Maddy's choice of mate is so objectionable. After a surprising hot kiss on the beach with Jack, Maddy, a forensic accountant, agrees to help Jack prove his innocence, and he agrees to pretend to be her fiancé, and so they begin their faux relationship which doesn't stay faux for long, as the heat between these two characters is off the charts.

So, does Maddy discover that Jack was framed, or was he guilty all along? And what will happen when Maddy, who is trying to prove his innocence, is confronted by what appears to be solid proof that he did exactly what the police and the Moss family believed all along? To find out, you'll just have to read this sexy and emotional page-turner for yourself. I'm happy to recommend it.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.

When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect book to snuggle up with on any day.

I received this arc in exchange for an honest review. I’m giving this book a 2 star. It’s a forbidden romance but the stakes weren’t high enough. They fell in love right away, maybe 25% in. This book moved way too quickly. It didn’t feel like a forbidden romance. It was obvious that he didn’t betray his best friend. And he forgave them so easily after nine years of them absolutely hating him and shunning him. They accused him of a crime that 1. Ruined his reputation in his career choice and 2. Made them hate him. They were his only family, so why would he commit that crime? The ending didn’t pay off at all and the love interest and her brother “made up” in the most anticlimactic way.

First off forcing someone to get married is ridiculous; no matter the age! The grandmother's reasoning was a guilty conscious which made it worse and if I was Maddie Moss, I would have been out for blood too. In walks Jack Daly, Maddies childhood crush and family pariah. Jack is good looking and tainted enough for Maddie to parade around with and send her family into cardiac arrest. Maddie and Jack embark on a journey to seek out the truth, along the way they fall in love and are broken apart by lies. We find out that the people closest to you are the ones that will hurt you the most.