Cold Hearted Casanova by L.J. Shen is book Three in the Cruel Castaways Series. This is the story of
Daphne "Duffy" and Riggs. Daphne grew up poor and has been working her way of that life style. When she catches Riggs in a bad position she ends up blackmailing him. Riggs is a billionaire who is also a playboy. But they have entered into an agreement but can they stay in that agreement or will feelings start to take over? Enjoyed this author's writing.

Cold Hearted Casanova is book three in the amazing Cruel Castaway series by L.J. Shen.
Book three was just as amazing as the first two!
I love Shen’s writing! She definitely knows how to hook the reader with her sharp writing and amazing characters.
I adored Riggs and Duffy. Their chemistry was outstanding and their personalities just shined on the pages.
If you haven’t read her work yet you really need to.
Even the Sinners of Saint and All Saints High series are freaking phenomenal!

Thank You NetGalley and Montlake for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶/5

Tropes:
-age gap
-marriage of convenience
-slow burn
-billionaire romance


Favourite Quotes:
“Which meant I had an engagement to propose to a complete stranger. It was either that or going to Alaska. And I sure as hell wasn’t going to Alaska.”
“And she smelled good. Not fruity and seductive like the women I stumbled into bed with. More like . . . drywall.”
“Your chest did not constrict, Riggs Bates. You probably just had a minor heart attack or something.”
“She’s not single, Einstein. She’s married. To you.”
“Nobody says things like that to my wife and keeps their teeth to repeat them.”

Review:

Full disclosure, this is the first book I’ve read in this series so keep that in mind while reading this review (I will be adding the others to my never ending TBR). I finished this one in a day but got very close to DNFing early on when I realized how the MMC was introduced. I found both of the main characters super enjoyable. I loved that Riggs was equally enamored with Duffy’s fun quirks (and really who doesn’t love a good laminator). I also loved how playful they both were and the banter between them. I didn’t enjoy that Riggs used his past manwhore tendencies as a weapon to try to prevent them both from catching feels. Duffy wasn’t shy to admit that her main goal in finding a partner was ensuring financial stability after experiencing poverty in her childhood. This still caused a lot of tension with Riggs, who for all intents and purposes was lying to her about a lot of things. I think communication could have been better between them but it did add to the drama and plot. The spicy scenes I kept wishing were more descriptive and heartfelt. Also like I mentioned in the beginning, this was my first book in this series so I haven’t read about the characters from the previous books before. That being said I felt like they were underdeveloped and very 2D when reading this as a standalone. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend picking it up (maybe after reading the first two in the series).

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Cold Hearted Casanova" by L.J. Shen is a captivating fake marriage romance that kept me hooked from start to finish. As someone who enjoys this trope, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the characters and the witty dialogue that Shen effortlessly weaves throughout the story.
Riggs and Duffy's reluctant engagement sets the stage for a compelling and sometimes tumultuous relationship, filled with sparks and tension. Despite their initial distaste for each other, their undeniable chemistry pulls them closer together, blurring the lines between fake and real.
Shen's writing style is engaging and immersive, making it easy to become invested in the characters and their journey. While the romance leans towards the darker side, it adds an intriguing layer to the story that kept me turning the pages.
Overall, "Cold Hearted Casanova" earns a solid four stars from me.

NetGalley arc

I loved this book. It was funny and the characters were great. I think the characters are complex and easy to hate but you grow to love them. The chemistry and the banter were perfect.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

The way I am obsessed with this book and this series. The banter, the flirting, the fighting? Amazing. The perfect ending to this series and I wish it could’ve been longer

ɪ ᴡᴀs ʙᴇɢɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟɪғᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀ ᴡᴀʏ ᴏғ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ, ɴᴏ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴡʜᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ.

This book (𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘴) surprised me in the best of ways.
I thought I knew everything I was going to say before I even finished reading - before I even got to the part where everything changed. I wanted to talk about how sweet and unexpectedly funny, and easy-going their story was... until they knocked me on my ass. This book pulled every emotion from me imaginable. But mostly, it broke my heart.
In just the first two chapters, I was giggling so hard - they’re hilarious! The banter, their quirks, their differences. They're polar opposites, but they fit.
This book truly was bittersweet. The last of a series and just filled to the brim with so much love. I adored all of the cameos - each one of these men, so very different, but wholesome just the same. I loved Riggs & Duffy and every single part of their journey. 
Coldhearted Casanova is live nowwww – and trust me, you don’t want to miss it!
I’m not going to go too much into detail as not to spoil, but I will leave you with some of my absolute fave quotes!

ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴀʟᴋ ᴅɪʀᴛʏ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ, ᴡɪғᴇʏ.

ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴏғғ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʙʟᴏᴏᴅʏ ᴄʟᴏᴛʜᴇs ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ.

ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ɪғ ᴄᴏʀʀᴜᴘᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ɢɪʀʟ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ɪs ᴍᴏʀᴇ ғᴜɴ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴛᴀᴍɪɴɢ ᴀ ʙᴀᴅ ᴏɴᴇ.

ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋɪss ᴀ ᴍᴏᴜᴛʜ ᴀɴᴅ sʜᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ᴜᴘ sᴏ ᴇǫᴜᴀʟʟʏ.

ɴᴏ. sᴀʏ ᴍʏ ɴᴀᴍᴇ.

ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴋɪɴɢᴅᴏᴍ ᴏғ ᴛᴀᴋᴇᴏᴜᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ᴍɪᴅɴɪɢʜᴛ ɢɪɢɢʟᴇs ᴡᴇ’ᴅ ʙᴜɪʟᴛ ɪɴ ᴍʏ sʜᴏᴇʙᴏx ғʟᴀᴛ.

sʜᴇ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ᴊᴜsᴛ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅ; sʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ɪɴ ᴍʏ ᴠᴇɪɴs ᴛᴏᴏ. ᴀ ᴘᴇʀᴍᴀɴᴇɴᴛ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏғ ᴍʏ ᴅɴᴀ. ᴀ ғɪxᴛᴜʀᴇ ɪ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ɢᴇᴛ ʀɪᴅ ᴏғ. sʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴsᴜᴍᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ sɴᴀᴋᴇ ᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ ɪᴛs ᴘʀᴇʏ, sᴡᴀʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ.

ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪ sᴀᴡ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴘᴏᴘᴘɪɴs, ɪ ᴡᴀs ᴀʟʟ ʏᴏᴜʀs.

While this book wasn't for me personally, I can see the appeal for certain romance readers and will recommend it to customers (and other LJ Shen titles as well).

My main critiques of this book are ultimately down to personal taste. I found the plot a little too out there, and the protagonists annoying.

"Sorry to disappoint, ladies, but I'm about to become a taken man." Taken hostage, more like.

Cold Hearted Casanova is an angsty romance by L.J. Shen. It features Duffy and Riggs, which are briefly mentioned in the previous two books. This book can easily be read as a standalone, I jumped in and had no difficulty reading it. First off, I loved Duffy and Riggs, their characters were witty and super entertaining to read. Also, I absolutely adore how L.J. Shen does the alternating chapters between the fmc and mmc! I stayed up until 3am binge reading this book, I couldn't put it down. The hospital scene had tears streaming down my face, but then like 2 pages later I was laughing. Quite the emotional turmoil but I loved every second of it. If you enjoy angsty romances, this is just the book for you!

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

Well, its in the title...

Riggs is certainly no hero. More villain than not, he is bound to have an STI/STD, as he lacks any discernment in his hook ups. In fact, the whole premise of this book is he is caught banging a married news presenter. Her assistant catches them in the act (ew).

Duffy has the balls to blackmail the billionaire with the S addiction.
Props for that. Her motivations are questionable: to marry well and to stay in the states. So, whatever it takes. Who ever it takes? Her taste in men are definitely questionable.
But a deal is struck and you know these two are gonna race to the bedroom.
They kind of are a match.

Absolutely adored this marriage of convenience ! The blurb is pretty self explanatory but when you read the pages of this book and get to know the characters you’ll root for them both! I loved the was the story evolved and even the little shocker ( for me, anyways) I was not expecting that.. I loved the way the author described the last moments. Thank you to NetGalley , the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and express my thoughts on this book. I’ll definitely be re-reading this

MY FAVORITE OF THIS SERIES SO FAR!!

This has been one of my favorite Shen series and Riggs & Daphne OWN my heart!
Their chemistry SPARKED like something akin to a sparkler LOL I love them so much!

I cannot wait to listen to this story via audio!!

I've been waiting for Riggs' book, and it really lived up to all of my expectations! The idea of a convenient marriage between two people so that one can stay in the country is one that I've always loved watching in movies (think The Proposal or The Green Card) and now I know that it works even better in book form.

Duffy is one of those characters that you aren't sure if you like or not. She is looking to marry well and to stay in the US and has now gotten to the point that she's desperate. Learning more about Duffy and the things that have happened in her life were what changed my mind about her, and I love those kind of transformations that happen. Riggs is in his element quibbling back and forth with Duffy, and their chemistry are out of this world!

Couldn't be a more perfect ending to this series, and it's just another amazing read from LJ Shen!

Thank you to NetGalley and to Montlake for providing me with an ARC of this book.

When Duffy Markham meets Riggs Bates, it's not love at first sight. He's sleeping with her married boss. Who's desperate for Duffy to keep quiet about what she saw. And who begs Riggs to help.

When Duffy realizes this is a man who can help her out of her dilemma (she can't stay in the states, her job is ending and her boyfriend has flown to Nepal to "find himself"). So she blackmails him. Riggs needs a wife for reasons of his own, so he agrees.

Riggs, though, is keeping a very big secret from Duffy. He's a billionaire. He knows she only wants to marry someone who can take care of her. The last thing he wants is for her to find out she did marry someone rich. The lengths he goes to keep her in the dark!

These two were just... like a cat and dog. They did not perfectly match up, and the sniping between the two was so funny. Duffy cares about looks, station. Riggs could care less. I enjoyed them both. Duffy knew what she wanted, and honestly, good for her. I loved watching the change in both.

This was a slow burn, the two of them definitely not seeing eye to eye. When they slowly came to respect and care for each other, I loved it.

I love billionaire marriage of convenience books, they hit every time. I also love the twists of Riggs hiding his wealth, it makes the story more emotional and you know that there will be heartbreak. However, where the heartbreak comes from was left field and had me crying multiple times. Riggs and Duffy have an amazing friendship/early marriage, they quickly connect and fall in love fast, but everything else takes a little more time and honesty for them to work long term.

The 3rd party relationships really make this story amazing, they help you feel immersed in the world and you develop feeling and connects with every character not just the main two. I devoured the entire last third of this book so much happens and I just wanted to know more constantly!

When I saw a new book by LJ Shen was coming I immediately wanted it! As per usual, this one features another great book boyfriend you’ll love and a heroine you can’t help but root for! I very much enjoyed the story of Riggs and Duffy - sweet, angsty, fun, and of course some steam! I very much recommend!

Both Duffy and Riggs find themselves in a difficult situation. Riggs has been found doing something he should not be doing, and Duffy must marry in order to remain in the United States. Duffy is set on escaping her childhood poverty and marrying into a wealthy family, so when the chance presents itself, she uses blackmail to get what she wants. Riggs is not what I expected. He is loaded. Damn rich, but he doesn't brag about it. In fact, he goes to great lengths to hide the fact that he is made of money.

Forced to spend so much time together, their hatred for each other slowly grows into heated chemistry and intense sexual tension, and they can't help but let those feelings consume them both.

The way he gradually becomes more and more involved with Duffy was amazing. His emotional growth was brilliantly written and explained. This book was a complete package of humorous, spicy and emotional. I loved Riggs's connection with Duffy; he's such a complicated guy. I also didn’t expect to have tears in my eyes during the end! It was an emotional rollercoaster.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cold Hearted Casanova took a while for me to really get into. The first 25% was slow. I’m not a huge fan of marriage of convenience or gold digger plots. But LJ Shen has a way of making you love her couples that she writes about. I’ve only read the first book of this interconnected standalone series. I don’t think they need to be read in order without receiving spoilers. Overall I did enjoy cold hearted Casanova

Riggs and Duffy= swoon! I will admit that in the beginning Duffy was hard to connect with as she was portrayed as such an outward gold digger. Even the acknowledgment from Riggs that said she was a gold digger made their connection hard to believe at times. However, Riggs also fought his own demons, and together the two of them broke all the rules and found partnership.

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

•LJ you dropped this 👑 ,here’s to the queen of enemies to lovers
•Duffy and Riggs banter is GOLDEN
•”I forgive you,” IFYKYK my soul. Literal tears.