What do you think?
Rate this book
The Reluctant Hero
Divorce. The word just screams I’m giving up, doesn’t it?
Until you try to get one.
It’s that mountain that’s impossible to climb when you’re mad, broke, and out of options. Everything is falling apart. My self-defense class is a joke, my best friend isn’t really supporting me, and my newest job is complete misery. And then there’s the envelopes I’ve been getting. It’s the mystery no one has time for.
The longer it takes me to get this divorce, the more my anger issues start to build until the dam finally cracks under the pressure, and I start letting it out. It may be wrong but it feels so right.
I don’t want to be part of a mystery team with five gorgeous men—or do I?
When everything comes to a head, I have a decision to make.
What’s more important?
Getting a divorce?
Or beating down some bad guys with a baton?
I think you know which way I’m leaning.
Trigger Warning!
Violence
Gore
Explicit sex scenes
Emotional manipulation
Cursing
Anger issues
Psychopathy
Bullying
Obsessive behavior/Stalking
Tragic backstories
Mention of drugs
Sexual assault (Off Page)
*Recurring characters from previous books*
Until you try to get one.
It’s that mountain that’s impossible to climb when you’re mad, broke, and out of options. Everything is falling apart. My self-defense class is a joke, my best friend isn’t really supporting me, and my newest job is complete misery. And then there’s the envelopes I’ve been getting. It’s the mystery no one has time for.
The longer it takes me to get this divorce, the more my anger issues start to build until the dam finally cracks under the pressure, and I start letting it out. It may be wrong but it feels so right.
I don’t want to be part of a mystery team with five gorgeous men—or do I?
When everything comes to a head, I have a decision to make.
What’s more important?
Getting a divorce?
Or beating down some bad guys with a baton?
I think you know which way I’m leaning.
Trigger Warning!
Violence
Gore
Explicit sex scenes
Emotional manipulation
Cursing
Anger issues
Psychopathy
Bullying
Obsessive behavior/Stalking
Tragic backstories
Mention of drugs
Sexual assault (Off Page)
*Recurring characters from previous books*
767 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 13, 2024
12 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 14, 2024
The best way to describe the FMC is a rabid chihuahua. But unlike the FMC, chihuahuas have actual bite behind them.
This book was 200 pages too long, and the plot was so stalled for so long.
Author needs a very talented editor to help them with pacing and plot development. At one point, we read about the FMC living her life over a couple weeks (maybe a month or so); then, we get to hear about one of the MMCs living their life over that same time frame.
None of the MMCs had distinct personalities and giving one of them a southern drawl, doesn't qualify.
The most interesting person in this book is South and she just shows up randomly.
The Reluctant Hero also suffers from the "kitchen sink" sin i.e., everything was in this book except the kitchen sink. Billionaires, check. A bit of PNR, check. Psycho puppies, check. Hints of mafia, check. Sex trafficking, check. A secret society, check. Corrupt politicians and law, check. Murderous parents, check. Cheating spouses, check. Threats of sexual punishment for displaying a personality, check. OW drama, check.
There's numerous plot holes and in some places, decisions made by the author that just don't make sense.
One of the MMC's is Asian, so of course the FMC is called -Chan. I think the author watches too much anime.
This could have been so good, it had the bones to be, but do to the lack of editing, proper character development, no grovel by the MMC's and the serious lack of plot development made the book fall short of its potential.
This book was 200 pages too long, and the plot was so stalled for so long.
Author needs a very talented editor to help them with pacing and plot development. At one point, we read about the FMC living her life over a couple weeks (maybe a month or so); then, we get to hear about one of the MMCs living their life over that same time frame.
None of the MMCs had distinct personalities and giving one of them a southern drawl, doesn't qualify.
The most interesting person in this book is South and she just shows up randomly.
The Reluctant Hero also suffers from the "kitchen sink" sin i.e., everything was in this book except the kitchen sink. Billionaires, check. A bit of PNR, check. Psycho puppies, check. Hints of mafia, check. Sex trafficking, check. A secret society, check. Corrupt politicians and law, check. Murderous parents, check. Cheating spouses, check. Threats of sexual punishment for displaying a personality, check. OW drama, check.
There's numerous plot holes and in some places, decisions made by the author that just don't make sense.
One of the MMC's is Asian, so of course the FMC is called -Chan. I think the author watches too much anime.
This could have been so good, it had the bones to be, but do to the lack of editing, proper character development, no grovel by the MMC's and the serious lack of plot development made the book fall short of its potential.
December 14, 2024
Sooo good
I love every book in this series but this one is my favourite. No bullying, just people getting caught up in their damage. The spice is hot and the banter is hilarious.
I love every book in this series but this one is my favourite. No bullying, just people getting caught up in their damage. The spice is hot and the banter is hilarious.
January 4, 2025
Good...
I was really into this but the back third made this go from great to good.
Semi-spoilers ahead!
I almost DNF when the first I love you was said because it wasn't needed and makes no sense. She never got divorced, never truly addressed the issues that made her stay in an unhappy marriage and now is saying I love you to guys she's barely spoken to. It makes no sense and wasn't needed.
The book ends and she's spent more time with her new girl besties than with these guys except Jake. We still don't have any backstory on the ring, Mr. Matthias Sr and the various "teams". Gabe brought them all together but from what? Why them and not others?
This really needed to be a series or at least a dual. What's the deal with the semi-paranormal activity as well?!?! If this is going to be a standalone a lot of the buildup needs to go, the FMC needs to be more than an insecure and out of shape housewife to give the resolution more time to develop and play out.
It's not bad and I would read it again if it was more fleshed out
I was really into this but the back third made this go from great to good.
Semi-spoilers ahead!
I almost DNF when the first I love you was said because it wasn't needed and makes no sense. She never got divorced, never truly addressed the issues that made her stay in an unhappy marriage and now is saying I love you to guys she's barely spoken to. It makes no sense and wasn't needed.
The book ends and she's spent more time with her new girl besties than with these guys except Jake. We still don't have any backstory on the ring, Mr. Matthias Sr and the various "teams". Gabe brought them all together but from what? Why them and not others?
This really needed to be a series or at least a dual. What's the deal with the semi-paranormal activity as well?!?! If this is going to be a standalone a lot of the buildup needs to go, the FMC needs to be more than an insecure and out of shape housewife to give the resolution more time to develop and play out.
It's not bad and I would read it again if it was more fleshed out
December 17, 2024
*Not Mafia* Office Romance:
Where Rage can be a Superpower
Is it paranoia if you're right?
Amanda comes home to a ruined relationship and has to put life back in order. Finally ending up at a job that'll keep her eating something other than ramen and on point for affording that costly divorce, some highlighter happy time prompted by ex wife intuition gets her in the eye of the big boss. The *not mafia* big boss and his bodyguards. Wealthy family buying up property all over town. Constant lurking henchmen. Fancy suits and bloated egos. Yeah... Not mafia 👀 I guess their SUVs are white instead of black though. Nauseating photos, unknown names, and now a fear of flowers(?) has Amanda falling unwittingly into a mystery she tries desperately to steer clear of. What did her ex get her into? All she wants is a divorce!
Every time Amanda let that forgotten anger and rage out that her ex made her stuff down, to be perfect, to be the trophy wife, I screamed with her. It was cathartic to read about her and her unwanted adventure. She really did become the text book Reluctant Hero, and once she realized that innocent's were depending on her, she took up that baton and didn't put it down until the end and they were free.
The MMCs were a real treat to read about, they all had their baggage that Amanda recognized from the get go.
Gabe: the ice to Amandas fire, stone cold and unused to melting always sitting at the desk that won't leave her mind
Mikael: the big, silent bodyguard with shy looks and strong hands, his presence is one she can count on
Ace: the southern man, quick to anger, quick to love and fight for it, always ready to care for his woman
Cade: the jock, the pretty rich boy that doesn't understand when a woman won't fall on her knees for him, loves the spark in her eye
And my favorite, Jake: that pretty smile hides his vacant stare that Amanda saw through immediately, capturing his undivided attention,
✒️Highlighters
✒️Baton Twirling
✒️Plus size FMC
✒️Feminine Rage
✒️Mystery
✒️Action
✒️Banter
✒️Medium Heat
✒️MFMMMM
✒️And Easter eggs with guest appearances of other characters in Gina's world!
Where Rage can be a Superpower
Is it paranoia if you're right?
Amanda comes home to a ruined relationship and has to put life back in order. Finally ending up at a job that'll keep her eating something other than ramen and on point for affording that costly divorce, some highlighter happy time prompted by ex wife intuition gets her in the eye of the big boss. The *not mafia* big boss and his bodyguards. Wealthy family buying up property all over town. Constant lurking henchmen. Fancy suits and bloated egos. Yeah... Not mafia 👀 I guess their SUVs are white instead of black though. Nauseating photos, unknown names, and now a fear of flowers(?) has Amanda falling unwittingly into a mystery she tries desperately to steer clear of. What did her ex get her into? All she wants is a divorce!
Every time Amanda let that forgotten anger and rage out that her ex made her stuff down, to be perfect, to be the trophy wife, I screamed with her. It was cathartic to read about her and her unwanted adventure. She really did become the text book Reluctant Hero, and once she realized that innocent's were depending on her, she took up that baton and didn't put it down until the end and they were free.
The MMCs were a real treat to read about, they all had their baggage that Amanda recognized from the get go.
Gabe: the ice to Amandas fire, stone cold and unused to melting always sitting at the desk that won't leave her mind
Mikael: the big, silent bodyguard with shy looks and strong hands, his presence is one she can count on
Ace: the southern man, quick to anger, quick to love and fight for it, always ready to care for his woman
Cade: the jock, the pretty rich boy that doesn't understand when a woman won't fall on her knees for him, loves the spark in her eye
And my favorite, Jake: that pretty smile hides his vacant stare that Amanda saw through immediately, capturing his undivided attention,
✒️Highlighters
✒️Baton Twirling
✒️Plus size FMC
✒️Feminine Rage
✒️Mystery
✒️Action
✒️Banter
✒️Medium Heat
✒️MFMMMM
✒️And Easter eggs with guest appearances of other characters in Gina's world!
April 7, 2025
This book was so good! I loved all the twists and turns and how you got the view points from everyone for the critical moments! The FMC was one of my absolute favorites with a strong personality and execution of her plans!!
July 30, 2025
4.5 marked up - this was great fun, well written and laugh out loud funny. I haven’t read the earlier books in the series but this didn’t affect my enjoyment. I’m going to go back and read them now though!
May 19, 2025
New to me author. I usually shy away from the longer books as they have a hard time keeping my attention. That didn’t happen with this book. I blew through the first 600 pages in about 12 hours. And finished it up today. It was awesome!
The FMC was just perfection. She was flawed and funny, she really grew through the story. I wish I had read the other books before it but it wasn’t needed to make sense of everything. I’ll probably go back and read them.
Jake is of course my favorite psycho! You’ll understand after you read it. And Amanda’s parents are funny and cute together. lol. Def a good read and recommended!
The FMC was just perfection. She was flawed and funny, she really grew through the story. I wish I had read the other books before it but it wasn’t needed to make sense of everything. I’ll probably go back and read them.
Jake is of course my favorite psycho! You’ll understand after you read it. And Amanda’s parents are funny and cute together. lol. Def a good read and recommended!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews