An Offer From Mr. Wrong by Niobia Bryant – Navigating Family Secrets, Steamy Moments, and Tropes Galore

I read the previous book The Rebel Heir, in the Cress Brothers series, and I’m here for another drink. If you remember, we were introduced to Lincoln in the last volume, and I wanted to know what would happen after the family drama of the previous volume. So Lincoln tries to bond with his stepfather and younger siblings in New York. His first mission? I’m looking for a private detective who turns his world upside down. But there was a twist. As pressure from her family mounts, she invites the investigator to pretend to be her girlfriend.

Now let’s get to the heart of the matter. This book has some issues with the time jumps. It felt like there was some very important drama going on off the page and I only heard part of it. There are many stories about what happened in the intervening days, weeks and months. For example, we rarely see Bobby and Lincoln together. Because before you know it, they’re best friends and we’re wondering how that happened. Instead of saying that they are already in a relationship, it would be better to see how their friendship grows. I love the steamy scenes between Lincoln and Bobby, but I wish there was more balance. It felt like their relationship was given too much attention and other aspects were underdeveloped. For example, Lincoln turned down an opportunity to bond with his new family, which seemed strange given the entire purpose of the visit.

The family dynamic is also somewhat confusing. Everyone in Lincoln’s hometown knows that he is the son of a famous chef, except his father. It’s hard to believe that a celebrity chef’s family keeps such a big secret. The book took a bit of a turn due to many obstacles in a short period of time. The big deal, divorce, usually happened a few months later. I was scratching my head trying to find my confidence. Ultimately, this book falls into all-too-familiar tropes: secret heirs, grumpy/sunny people, fake encounters, unexpected deaths, and hidden illnesses. Juggling so many metaphors can be difficult, and in this case it didn’t quite land.

In the end, the Rebel Heir didn’t stop me. Despite the interesting moments and interesting premise, the show left me wanting more. If you like metaphorical roller coasters and don’t mind throwing a few punches in the story, give it a try. But it was disappointing for me. Have fun reading!