4 Pinkies Up...aka 4 stars!

Million Dollar Marriage is the second book in the Million Dollar series by Katy Evans, but the story can be read independently from the first book. This book is classic love/hate, opposites attract, unsuspected love all wrapped up into one adorable story.

Nell and Luke are polar opposites. She’s a PhD afraid to leave school and enter the real world. He’s a bad boy turned bar owner with a rocky past. But they’re both in debt, and they both let their friends talk them into auditioning to become reality TV stars in order to earn some quick cash.

The book starts off a little cheesy. I wasn’t totally sold from the get go. But, as I went on the journey with Nell and Luke watching them make impossible decisions on the fly, watching them both find their true selves in the middle of chaos, and watching the sexual tension build over the course of 2 weeks in book time…all in the name of a million dollar payday; I became totally hooked, holding my breath waiting to see how their story was going to end.

Luke oozes sex and charm (swoon!) Nell is a fierce woman under all of her insecurities (ROAR, girl!) And the two of them together are hilarious, adorable, frustrating, and absolutely entertaining to read. I would totally watch their reality show if this was real life!

This is the second book in the Million Dollar series by Katy Evans. These each can be read as a standalone. I will admit book 1 for me was not the greatest and I was not sure I would come back for the rest of the series. I AM SO HAPPY I DID. I LOVED MILLION DOLLAR MARRIAGE! This is a story that I have never seen before, think The Amazing Race mixed with The Bachelor and Married at first sight . Penelope " Nell" Carpenter, is very set and comfortable in her studious ways. Nell, owes $500.000 in college loans and has not job. While Luke, is $500,000 in debt with the bank for bad mortgages his grandfather took out. With both of them needing the money, they are willing to do almost anything to get the money. HELLO REALITY TELEVISION! Going on a whim with her roommate Nell, is sure she will not get picked. Luke, on the other hand is sure he will be a contestant.
The story takes off pretty much immediately, when Nell and Luke are paired together. You see the plot take shape and it pulls you right in . It had me laughing and hooked from the jump.
Nell and Luke, are strong in their own ways and are sure they can win this thing hands down. His strength and her brains, no problem. But when the catch is revealed, can they both go through with it for a chance to be debt free and start a new life?
This story is exciting and fun to read. The chemistry is very present and you can feel the sexual tension. Will Nell, ever loosen her grip on keeping her prim and proper ways? Can Luke, show Nell that he is more than a playboy and a muscle head?
This is a definitely a print purchase for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

Nell Carpenter is in need of money. Her time as a professional student has caused her to have a huge amount of debt.
Luke Cross is in need of money. His grandfather's bar that he now owns is barely getting by.

Each of them hear about the reality TV show, Million Dollar Marriage, and decide to audition in hopes of winning the cash. Nell is an intellectual,shy and doesn't watch television. She has no idea what she is getting herself into. Luke is a former addict and a little rough. She makes it past the first audition as does Luke. They are matched up on the Amazing Race-like game show, because they are opposites. It's couples against couples where the last couple to complete a challenge is eliminated.

I enjoyed Nell (or Penny as Luke calls her) coming into her own. She starts out as a timid, shy introvert. (She brings a textbook to the audition!) Luke was into her from the start and Nell just had to see that and believe that someone like him could truly fall for someone like her. Opposites do attract.

This was a quick, easy read, if a little predictable. I enjoyed this second installment by Katy Evans.

4 1/2 tres magnifique stars! This is a super fun story with characters you can really get behind from the get-go. I really enjoyed the first book in this series but I liked this one even more. I like Katy Evans writing style a lot! Luke and Nell are about as opposite as you can get, but when forced to be a team in a reality show, they find out how much that really doesn’t matter. I was cheering this couple on from the beginning and totally enjoyed going through their adventures with them! Loved the epilogue so much!!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This book is funny, sexy and just freaking fantastic!!! I love Luke!!! Nell is a smart girl but not very likeable till Luke comes into her life. Attraction + adventure = intense relationship. I found myself yelling a the book the way I yell at the tv when I’ve watched the amazing race.
I’m not a huge reality tv fan and probably would never participate in one unless I had Luke as my partner.


Another fantastic read by Katy Evans

Luke is a owner and bartender at a bar. He finds himself having business financial problems and trying to figure out how to pay the bills. Nell is going for her doctorate degree and is incredibly smart but doesn’t really have a outside life away from studying. Now student loans are piling up and Nell needs to figure out her next plan. There is a new reality show offering a million dollars is this the answer to both of there problems or is this a big disaster waiting to happen and end up with people getting hurt

Million Dollar Marriage takes place in a reality show in which single and adventurous people sign up to get the opportunity to earn one million dollars.
Nell and Luke sign up but they couldn’t be more opposite..you know what they say about opposite attraction!
This a sweet, sometimes comical,feel good romance.
~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 4/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 4/5
Secondary Characters~ 4/5
The Feels~ 4/5
Pacing~ 4/5
Addictiveness~4/5
Angst~ 4/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 4/5
Theme or Tone~ 4/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 4/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 4/5
Originality~ 4/5
Ending~ 4/5
Book Cover~ eye catching
Series~ Stand-alone
Source~ Kindle eBook - ARC for honest review
Would I read more from the author? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes

Million Dollar Marriage is the story of Luke and Nell, two people who are worlds apart. She has a lot of degrees and loves studying and is a perfectionist, while he owns a bar and is a carpe diem kind of man. Both need cash to pay a debt, so they decide to partecipate in the selection of a new reality show called like the title of the book. Like the characters also say in the book, it's like a crossover between The Amazing Race and The Bachelor, because Nell and Luke have to get married and pass some tests and whatnot in order to win this race and win the million dollar to split in half.

When I read the premise, I found it very interesting. I like plots where two people who are like the sun and the moon are paired together and end up liking each other, but I didn't exactly love it here.

The excitement died after the first chapter, because Nell, the female protagonist, was unbearable. Not only she's immature and annoying, she also has prejudices against everything and everyone, and in every chapter she repeats some offences and is contradicting herself. Her personality doesn't seem to change much after a good portion of the book, and it's upsetting when this happens, because in these types of romances it's normal for the characters to be spineless but in the end they should (in most cases) change a bit. Well, the "heroine" of this book keeps being annoying until the end, and made me want to roll my eyes and throw my Kindle away several times. In comparison, Luke was a bit better, but still incosistent as a character. I'm sorry, but I didn't find any chemistry between them, nor the romance believable.

To conclude my review, I'd say that this would have been better with the main female character less annoying and with less predictable storylines, because there was a portion of the book (especially the moments where Nell and Luke have to find clues and things like that to win the game) where the story was funny and active. I'm sorry that I didn't enjoy this as much as I wanted to, but these are my honest thoughts.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance.

superrrrr cuuuute! I loved the characters and their romance was so swoon worthy! Also a great and fun premise! A solid romance comptemporary!

Million Dollar Marriage is book two in the Million Dollar Series but it can certainly be read as a stand-alone, it’s a fast paced entertaining fun adventure that captivated me from the first page.
Luke Cross and Penelope “Nell” Carpenter both need money and they need it quickly so when they see a sign up for a new reality show called Million Dollar Marriage neither of them hesitate after all getting married to a stranger is just the means to an end.......
Luke and Nell are total opposites he is a high school drop out who wants to live life to the fullest and she is the girl that always has her nose stuck in a textbook, could this sweet sexy hero bring out the adventurous side of the academic heroine and what happens when they both find out that there are more important things than money....guess you need to read the book to find that out.
This book has all the feels you want and expect in a great read, it’s entertaining, it’s an adventure, it’s funny and it will have you laughing a lot and off course there’s the chemistry which is off the charts but it wouldn’t be a Katy Evans book without some angst and this book has just the right amount. Looking forward to more from the Million Dollar Series.

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

Katy Evans is an automatic one-click for me. I absolutely loved her REAL series, so I was excited to snag an ARC of this one! Luke and Nell compete on a game show as a married couple in hopes of winning one million dollars. They despise each other in the beginning but learn to work together and depend on each other. Really good characters and I loved the storyline. Would absolutely recommend this book to a friend.

If you love opposite attracts, cute and fun reads then look no more. Million Dollar Marriage is such a fun read. I love Nell (Penny) she is your somewhat lacking in inner confiedence, a book worm and just all around wondeful. Luke is what can i say he brash and just has this sexy way about him. He will make you swoon. I love the fight between Nell and Luke. They couldn't be anymore opposite if you tried but yet somehow they really work. You feel the slow building of chemistry as the challenges they face go on. I love the strength that both Nell and Luke bring to the competition. This was absolutely fun to read. You get pulled in from the start and simply fall in love with Luke and Nell. Go one click this one today.

4 1/2 "million dollar" stars!

Wow! I really enjoyed this book. I may have watched a little reality television myself in the past, so I found the premise of this book to be a clever one. When Luke and Penelope are matched up on the show, it's obvious that they couldn't be more different. Of course, this makes it even more fun when they are so attracted to one another...I LOVE a good "opposites attract" book and let me just say....this one was ah-mazing! They both initially auditioned for the Million Dollar Marriage show because they are in extreme debt but what they find is so much more.

Luke knows he's athletic, social and good-looking. He's not short on confidence whatsoever. Penelope (Nell) knows she is intelligent but she's insecure about most everything else. They each have themselves stereotyped without realizing it. I loved how they showed each other that they were each so much more. Penelope helped Luke to realize he was smart and he helped her to feel beautiful and become more outwardly confident. They balanced and complimented each other naturally. It was fun watching their relationship develop, especially as they both tried to resist it. The only time it saddened me was when their insecurities took over, like when Luke didn't feel he was good enough or when Nell didn't trust she would be enough for a "guy like Luke."

Ms. Evans did a great job of taking a relationship built on the goal of winning for money and let it naturally evolve into one where love was everything.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Only Katy Evans can surprise me like this! Million Dollar Marriage was completely different from anything I have read by her. And yet it is so brilliant in it's crazy, creative and exceptional qualities. A romance set in the deceptive and manipulating world of reality tv show, it creeps slowly in your heart and before you even know, you are under the hypnotic spell of Katy Evans.

Penelope Carpenter and reality tv show belong to two different planets. She is a genius academician who appreciates classical music and fine things of life. When the stupid student loan compels her to sign up for a cheesy , gimmicky and celebrity reality show called Million Dollar Marriage, she has never ever thought she will have to endure someone like Luke Cross. A gorgeous, sinfully sexy and dirty man with even dirtier mouth and impossible sex appeal. Now they are "partners" and they can't stand each other. The unpolished, uncivilized, arrogant and cocky bastard is driving Nelle nuts! Or is it the attraction she is desperately trying to deny?


This story was a refreshing take on romance. There was no love at first sight, no dating, no normal or usual things you read in romance. It was about building trust and partnership in real world scenerio. As Luke and Nelle navigates and tackles the challenges, they forge a bond stronger than any conventional relationship. Their initial goal may be the money but they gradually realizes nothing is more important than true love. And Katy Evans is going to make your world go upside down at the end. Nelle can be a little bit wound up and annoying because she was not giving any appreciation for Luke's help. But Luke will break her down eventually and that's the sweetest thing to read. It was a full on adventure I had with this unlikely couple. The chemistry was spot on and oh so seductive! I laughed and cried and swooned. And the drama was absolutely captivating and kept me hooked up till the end.

Opposites attract was given a whole new level of significance in Million Dollar Marriage by Katy Evans. It was emotional. It was sexy. It was insane and mindblowing in a crazy way. It was an epic and phenomenal ride all over the world with the most extraordinary emotions and nuclear hot passion!

Received ARC for Honest Review

"I don't think the Million Dollar Marriage crew could've picked a couple that is more wrong for each other. But maybe that's just what they wanted."

Truthfully, I am a fan of the author and didn't even read the synopsis, she's an auto-click author for me. But, that being said, she still manages to amaze me with her talent. This story is definitely an #OppositesAttract for sure. You can't get more opposite than nerdy, socially awkward Nelle and the sexy, muscled, and tattooed life-of-the-party Luke. Which I'm sure is exactly why they were both chosen as contestants for the reality TV show, right?

This sweet and funny slow-burn story had me grinning nonstop as the couple faced each challenge with determination. They started out wanting the million dollars and ended up wanting each other. But, is it just because they are being thrown together and forced to be a team, or will their connection last longer than the show? Are his feelings real or is he just playing a part for ratings?

I think my favorite part of this tale is that the producers forced the shy geek to come out of her shell by enforcing rules she had to follow. She had to stretch her comfort zone in order to comply. She had to learn to stand up for herself and to fight to win. And if she does win, what will she do with him? What a problem to have, huh?

He didn't pull back, constantly pushing her to discover her inner strength. Refusing to hide from the way she made him feel he taunted her with it. "I'm a man. You stop turning me on, baby, and maybe I'll stop being turned on."

Prepare to melt into a puddle of goo, it's that good. I'm still smiling...sigh.

I went into this book completely blind and was really sucked into the premise of the story line. I was a little worried that the reality show aspect would be cliche and played out, but I actually really enjoyed it. I struggled a bit with Nell's character at the start of the book but really enjoyed her and Luke together and loved that in their case, opposites seemed to attract and they were kind of two halves of a whole, complementing each other. In didn't hurt that Luke was the total package.

I found the plot to be very engaging and I read the book in one sitting as I wanted to see where the story was going to lead. I was definitely pleasantly surprised in how much I enjoyed this read and would definitely recommend it!!!

So much better than the first book of this series! I really enjoyed this one. (Unlike the the first that I DNF). Overall this was a cute and funny read. Something light and breezy to put a smile on my face. My main complaint was that Penny annoyed me a fair amount of the time. While I get why she is the way she is, I found it to be overdone and eye role inducing at times. Despite that I would recommend Million Dollar Marriage.

3.5 Stars

After reading the blurb about Million Dollar Marriage, I was intrigued. The idea of two people who both need money marrying for television ratings is a plot idea that I like. And while I liked both Luke and Nell enough, I did have trouble feeling their chemistry.

The writing was done well, and the characters were developed, although I wish I had connected with them more. I will certainly consider more books by Katy Evans!

This book has it all. Romance, reality, you name it. Nine "married couples" at the chance of $1 million dollars. Not your normal married couples, complete strangers. Total opposites. Can they get through their challenges together or be eliminated. Luke is amazing. A guy without a high school diploma paired with Penny a college graduate with her doctorate. But you know what they say opposites attract. Each needing the grand prize to pay off debt. Penny has her student loans and Luke has multiple mortgages for the bar that his grandfather left him. Penny is a woman who is quiet and keeps to herself. She doesn't have many friends. Not very close with her parents either. Luke, a fun guy who is outgoing and never wants to settle down. The challenges they go through keeps you rooting for them over the other couples. Each challenge bringing them closer together and closer to that grand prize. But through those challenges trusting each other and depending on each other becomes more important.

This book was an amazing and fantastic read. Risking elimination with each challenge has you on the edge of your seats. Penny and Luke find themselves in last place most of the race but they never give up. They truly become a couple. It may have started out with two complete strangers but it ended with a trusting, loving couple. One you cannot help root for to grab the grand prize as well as each other.

Million Dollar Marriage is like a cross of Amazing Race and the Bachelor. I have got to be honest, I am usually not a fan of shows like these, but have seen them a dozen or so times. Million Dollar Marriage was quite intriguing. It kept my attention, and the scenes were done with great detail so my imagination was quite vivid. So huge props to this author for great attention to detail. Million Dollar Marriage was actually a lot different than I expected, but the chemistry and development of the story was on point. There was also an amazing amount of character development as well. It was wonderful to see confidence grow within each character as time went on. Overall this was a really good read.

Nell is smart, like super smart. She is dedicated in pursuing her own way in life. She is not a social butterfly and prefers the attention else where. She loves books and classical music. She is quite and reserved.

Luke was raised on the toughest streets in Atlanta, and has not always chosen the best course of action in his life, but is dedicated to making the best of his life now. He is friendly and relatable, and has a great sense of determination.

When Nell and Luke are presented with an opportunity to fix their financial status', these two forces must come together to make the unimaginable happen.

* I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK