When the Ink Is Dry
When in Manhattan, Book 1
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3 Months Free + $20 Audible credit
When the Ink Is Dry
Buy for $23.86
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Narrated by:
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Stephen Dexter
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Kasi Hollowell
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By:
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A.R. Rose
From author A.R. Rose comes a billionaire romance perfect for those who loved Gossip Girl mixed with tension, angst, humor, and spice.
What do alcohol, Paris, and a hot guy have in common?
Evidently, me.
The last thing I expected when I went to Paris on a work trip was to drink too much and end up legally wed.
What I really didn't expect was to wake up the next day and have no recollection of what happened.
Now, more than a year later, my husband has shown up in my penthouse foyer, waving our marriage license in my face, and demanding I step into the role of his wife.
The only person who can help me get rid of this little legal problem I've found myself in is Manhattan's most prestigious divorce attorney, Luciano Paladino.
Oh, did I mention my new attorney is also my best friend's brother?
My best friend's super grumpy, sinfully hot, older brother, who just so happens to hate me.
Lucky for him, he just needs to tell me where to sign and I'll be on my way.
So why is he looking at me like he wants to break every one of his ethical rules of conduct?
When the Ink Is Dry is the first book in the When in Manhattan series and can be enjoyed as a complete standalone. This book features high tension, laugh out loud moments, and cameo's from previous A.R. Rose books. Contains mature content. A complete list of content warnings can be found on the author's website.
©2026 A.R. Rose (P)2026 Podium AudioI could not put this book down. Something about the fake dating, forbidden love always locks me in. I loved Raina & Luciano together. I loved their friend group even more!
I Read this originally as an ARC earlier this week so I bought the audio yesterday and listened to it as well! I love this book and loved their story. Both the book and the audio is a must.
“It would be a conflict of interest for me to take you on as a client.” “Because of Vinnie?” No, because I want to fuck you six ways to Sunday.
Who doesn’t love a good fake dating romance?
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Another hit from AR Rose
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Luciano and Raina are everything I wanted them to be. A one night stand, a forgotten marriage, a fake engagement to her attorney? What could go wrong. The tension and chemistry between these two? Palpable and oozing off the pages. They definitely took me on a roller coaster ride with their banter, the angst, the ups and downs but I’m glad they were able to finally get it together.
I loved how Rose brought levity to their love story through their friend group and the text threds. Not to mention the spicy scenes. I need to take a ride in a convertible and be taken to church too. Great read. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
This is first time I listened to this narrator combo and I really enjoyed it. They brought the tension, the banter, the sass and grit.
Great listen on audio
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My biggest issue was the female lead. I found her difficult to connect with because she came across as immature, and entitled. The entire premise hinges on the fact that she gets drunk in Paris, somehow ends up legally married, and has absolutely no recollection of it.
Throughout the book, I struggled with her attitude and reactions. She frequently gave off "rich girl problems" energy, and many of the conflicts felt self-inflicted. One moment she desperately needs help untangling her marriage situation and seeks out Luciano, Manhattan's top divorce attorney. The next, she's pushing back against the very help she's asking for. It made her character frustrating rather than endearing.
A perfect example of this was when Luciano explained that although he wanted to be with her, he couldn't risk pursuing a relationship until her divorce was finalized and she was no longer his client. As a respected attorney, crossing that line could jeopardize everything he had worked for professionally. His position seemed entirely reasonable and reflected the reality of having professional responsibilities and ethical obligations. Yet her reaction felt less understanding and more like someone who was accustomed to getting what she wanted when she wanted it. Instead of appreciating the risk he was trying to avoid, the focus shifted back to her disappointment, which only reinforced my impression of her character.
Ironically, one of my favorite moments in the book was when Luciano put her in her place. During their flight to Spain, she insists she doesn't need a babysitter, and his response that perhaps if someone had been following her around she wouldn't have ended up drunk and married to a stranger perfectly summed up my feelings while reading. It was one of the few moments where the story acknowledged the absurdity of the situation.
As for the romance, I never fully bought into it because I spent most of the book annoyed by the heroine. Luciano was the more compelling character, and I found myself sympathizing with him far more often than with her. Unfortunately, he wasn't enough to save the story for me. The premise felt unrealistic, the central conflict felt manufactured, and the heroine's behavior repeatedly pulled me out of the story.
Overall, this book simply wasn't for me. If you enjoy wealthy-heroine romances with lots of drama and a marriage-gone-wrong premise, you may have a better experience. Personally, I found the heroine frustrating, the conflict difficult to take seriously, and the story ultimately not worth the investment.
Not for me
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