The Devious Husband by Catharina Maura is a contemporary romance novel with a marriage of convenience trope. This book follows the story of Sierra Windsor and Xavier Kingston. When Xavier notices Sierra’s attention on another man, he decides to make a move. Xavier offers the Windsors a deal they cannot refuse in exchange for marrying Sierra. I was excited about this story because the rapport between Xavier and Sierra had been teased in the previous books.
Xavier and Sierra have a lot of history together. They are rivals as heirs of their respective families and often clash over projects. Xavier has adored Sierra through their pranks and rivalries. When another man enters the picture that Sierra is paying attention to, Xavier decides to do something about it. After discussions and debates with the Windsor family, Sierra and Xavier’s marriage is arranged. Their banter is entertaining and witty, and it shows the chemistry these characters have from the start.
Sierra and Xavier’s romance begins in a predictable way for the enemies to lovers trope. Sierra realizes there is a lot more to Xavier than she had imagined. Beneath his easy-going and charming personality, there are other deeper layers that are not exactly morally good. Xavier understands Sierra a lot more than she expected because he has secretly liked her for a long time. There are many unsaid things about their shared history that I would have loved to know. Nevertheless, their romance is filled with simmering tension and angst. Both are headstrong, and I think they could have communicated better.
The narration of the book is in a dual point of view, which offers an insight into character motives. I understood where their actions and reactions were coming from because of the perspective shift. Xavier shows growth as the story moves ahead. His worries and his behaviour are, in a way, justifiable, but they could have been handled better by him. Sierra does have a character arc, but she was already established well enough in the previous books. This story showcases her personality in a relationship with Xavier and her future. I enjoyed reading the witty banter between Sierra and Xavier; it also adds to their romantic moments.
Overall, I think The Devious Husband by Catharina Maura is a strong finish for the Windsors series. This contemporary romance with a marriage of convenience hits all the marks of a good romance book. Although I wish we got more backstory for Sierra and Xavier, since they have known each other for years. I think it would have added more depth to their romance and character development. I have enjoyed reading this series.
*Click on the book cover above to get a copy.
Books and blues 