When the FMC Bee drunkenly and spontaneously quits her job and moves back to her hometown she doesn’t know what she is going to do with the rest of her life. While staying with her brother she reconnects with his best friend her long time crush Sebastian who is in the middle of trying to buy a house that he can’t afford. Together they decide to help one another out.
The book includes:
• Brothers’ best friend
• Dual Pov
• LQBTQIA+ representation
• No third act breakup

This book also includes potentially triggering topics and content so check trigger warnings before going into reading it.
The book itself was a sweet romance and had some very good spicy scenes however as far as the overall book went I don’t think it was for me.
Some of the aspects I enjoyed was how well handled the more serious topics in the book were discussed and thought-out including childhood abuse, alcoholism and falling out of friendship. I also think Brees character was relatable in how shy she was as a person and how crippling that feeling can be.
On the other hand, the plot moved along at a very strange pace and the writing seemed almost choppy. The way the relationship evolved for the main characters seemed unrealistic and confusing. I didn’t feel particularly invested in the book and it felt more like a chore to read it.
Overall I think the book was okay and maybe better suited to someone else.

Ghostwriter Bee is secretly working on her own novel but has hit a creative block and moved back to her hometown. On an impromptu trip to the bank with her brother’s best friend Sebastian, she offers herself up to him as a co-owner of the house he wants to buy so that he can qualify for the loan. She’s got a long-time crush on him, but can totally handle being a quiet unobtrusive housemate. Except that Sebastian also has a crush on Bee and doesn’t stand for her hiding in her room all day long. He tries very hard to break her out of her comfort zone, including maybe starting a physical relationship, which he wants to be the real deal and she wants to keep secret in case it doesn’t work out. Bee has a lot of growing to do within this book to get to the “settled down” phase that Sebastian is looking for. Flirty, steamy, funny story with Sebastian being the most supportive partner ever.

Dani McLean's novel Mortgage of Convenience is a brother’s best friend romance between Sebastian Wolfe, an ex-stripper, and Bee Montgomery, a ghostwriter.

To be honest, I was confused for the most part of the book. Not because of particular situations, but rather because Sebas and Bee were moving at a very rapid yet slow pace.

But I must say that I am in need of a Sebastian Wolfe in my life. I mean he was the most perfect book boyfriend. He literally had tattoos, long hair, and was a plant daddy. 

Although the cover was adorable and the tropes were fantastic, I didn't find this book to be as enjoyable as I would have hoped.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Set The Mood Publishing, and to the author, Dani McLean, for providng me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.*

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

This was certainly a spicy romance with great themes. It has some mature content, so I am posting the author’s list of content warnings at the bottom if anyone wants to see it, but I loved this mature romance. Some of it might not be your cup of tea. People have pasts that affect their futures and their relationships. And I love romance novels that consider that and take traumas into account, it improves the experience for me.

The main characters are totally fun and relatable. Bee is a woman who is trying. She has pushed for her dreams and challenged herself, but struggles to translate her success to her personal outlook and communicate with others. She is also in a stage of personal transition where she needs support. Sebastian comes into the picture and truly is that support for her. He does not take over her life, rather they blend and grow together. As the summary states, she is now facing how to promote herself and be confident enough to share this personal work. She doesn’t think there is anything wrong with herself or want to become a new person, she simply recognizes that something is holding her back and she asks for help to reach the best version of herself and fully pursue her dreams.

Sebastian certainly has trauma in his past, but he is in therapy and has a support system that loves him. He knows what he wants and how he feels, but he is so good about respecting boundaries and not pushing Bee too fast while still respecting his own needs. He is also trying his best and wants to be his best version, fighting against toxic masculinity and

There are always the elements in a romance novel that make it sing. And in this book, they trill for sure. I liked the little lines and comments in the book that make the vibe clear. The details on the coffee shop the characters visit and Sebastian’s growing adorable love of horticulture and pop culture mentions. All come together to round out the environment surrounding Bee and Sebastian. Plus, McLean put clear effort into trying to avoid onedimensional side characters while keeping most of the focus on Sebastian and Bee. We get background information on all of them and hear conversations that include them. So I’d rank that a solid effort to round out the side characters, though it’s not totally a success. Plus, one of the side characters (I’m really trying not to be spoiler-y) is actually my favorite character in this book and he embodies a personal dream of mine.

There are many types of relationships we have throughout our life. Not all of our relationships are good or lasting. And knowing when to step away from something or someone is challenging. I love that a major theme in this book is being honest about what’s healthy or good for you. The focus is definitely on healthy communication and becoming your best self. The spice is fun and hot, but the healing in this book is definitely what made me really enjoy it.
Content warnings from the author’s website:
Discussion of bisexuality and bi-erasure of a male-identifying character
Multiple explicit sex scenes
CNC (Consensual Non-Consent) in the form of Somnophilia (skip chapters 27 and 28 if you don’t wish to read this scene)
Kink discussion of the above
Semi-public sex (skip the end of chapter 19 if you don’t want to read this)
Swearing (freely and frequently)
References to past childhood trauma, including emotional abuse, and parent w/ alcoholism
Anger management
Sober MC and overconsumption of alcohol (by the non-sober character)
Toxic friendship

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion

Let’s give 3 stars to be kind but really this was a 2.5 star book.

Honestly, I think this had so much potential, the premise was unique and not something I had ever read. I think in romance novels, you tend to suspend your disbelief for some of these things, but this one was kind of out of left field.

Your brother’s best friend gives you a ride home, but you stop at the bank on the way because he has an errand and you join his mortgage meeting and then offer to become a co-owner out of literal nowhere.

I think this book had some really cute moments, but for the most part, it was very disjointed. I would even use the word choppy, since came out of nowhere, and it almost seemed like words were missing at times.

And the steam, it was just a little too cringe for my liking…. I wanted it to be over asap and that’s not a good sign.

Anyway, cute cover, but I don’t think I’ll be diving into this author’s work anytime soon if this is what I’m going to get.

Bee: What an adorable read. I loved Bee’s growth. (Also, was she based on me? I’m Bee w/a widows peak? Hehehe) But really, I loved the dynamic between Bee & Seb and loved how they not only balanced each other out but made each other better. There were some parts of the story that could have been left out but it wasn’t too big of an issue for me. Overall, cute read!

Nik: Well I loved this plot line. Buy a house together and fall in love? Is this not every 30 year olds dream? Love that the MMC is older and knows what he wants. That is exactly what I want to read all the time now. I loved seeing Bee come out of her shell and gain confidence while Seb was with her every step of the way. There was a little confusion with all the characters but I loved the epilogue so much.

Mortgage of Convenience by Dani McLean was a fun read with a refreshing take on the of-convenience trope. I took me a little longer than usual to get into the story but Bee and Sebastian quickly grew on me and I enjoyed watching them develop their relationship and their relationship with others over the course of the novel. I struggled a bit with the flow of chapters, occasionally feeling as if I had accidentally skipped scenes, but this allowed me to pace myself. I really liked the exploration of growing out of friendships and really related to that thread of the story. Overall, a good read and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to read an ARC of Mortgage of Convenience through NetGalley.

#MortgageofConvenience #NetGalley

Such a good read! The dual POVs, the spice, the questions on what’s going to happen. I couldn’t wait to finish it and see if she actually got what she wanted.

This was a very wholesome story that also touched on some tough topics like alcoholism, childhood trauma, friendship break-ups, imposter syndrome, and so many others. I feel like the way they were handled was well done and realistic without overshadowing the primary storyline or taking over the emotional journey.

Bee is a delightful character and I really loved getting to follow her experience with taking a leap of faith and the rollercoaster that followed. It really demonstrated the reality of imposter syndrome in my opinion.

Sebastian’s journey was the heavier one, emotionally, for me. I think he demonstrated a common inner turmoil that a lot of people with similar experiences both in childhood and adulthood can relate to and identify with.

Overall this was a pleasant read!

Bee. The shy, quiet girl who moved clear across the country to chase her dream. Or so everyone thinks, in reality she needed a clean break from her overbearing family.

Sebastian. The cool & calm former male stripper who’s got confidence in spades. But nobody really knows how hard he’s worked to be so calm, cool & collected.

Bee's content with her job as a ghost writer. She tells herself it's no big deal she's never published her own work. But secretly, she'll always want to see her own name on a cover. Then, after a night of too much wine she drunkenly emails her agent her top-secret debut novel. Terrified that she won't cut it as a real writer she moves home. While she's crashing at her brother's she runs into his best friend Sebastian. Turns out she's not so over her schoolgirl crush on him like she though. When Seb needs help to achieve his dream of becoming a homeowner she's suddenly volunteering to co-buy. After all, she still needs a place to live. Plus, maybe he can teach her how to be confident so she can actually pull off this book. It's win-win, what could go wrong?

I really liked Bee & Seb together. Bee comes off as so reserved, but really she's not used to letting others see the real her because others always spoke-up for her. It was sad to see how bright she could shine on her own but then dulled when around her loved ones. When others weren't looking, she was adventurous & fun, but she always reverted to girl too scared of disappointing her family. I loved watching Seb help her understand that she didn't have to hide. He showed her that her happiness mattered.

The slow burn in this book was gold! Who knew shaving could be so damn hot!!! The number of times they *almost* & then when they finally give in it didn't disappoint. I will say that I wasn't as engrossed once the slow burn paid off though. After the initial hook-up I read the rest of the book at a slower pace. I still really enjoyed the book; it just didn't have me as hooked after that.

I also enjoyed the bestie break-up. Most books show the FMC with sisters or a life long best friend. Realistically, a lot of friendships fade after high school & watching Bee's & Morgan's friendship unravel was refreshing. I really appreciated that part of the book.

Plus, I unlocked a new level of feral with all the times he lifted her onto the counter. Not even in a sexual way, just because she needs to sit. IDK why this made me lose it, but damn if I didn't every time he did it.

If you like brother's best friend where he falls first & HARD then be sure to add this one to your TBR.

This book was a fast-paced slow burn if I had to describe it. Physically, the relationship was a slow burn, but romantically, it seemed fast paced and I would’ve liked to see the FMC resolve more issues before romantically leaping. I understand this is a forced proximity, friends to lovers, brothers best friend trope, but I didn’t jive with it. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t page turning, captivation either.

Things I liked:
•LGBTQ representation
•Ending a long-time friendship that no longer served one party and inhibited the FMC’s growth
•The support from the MMC—“I’d rather rip my own heart out than keep her from hers.”
•The cover is adorable

Things I disliked:
•Lots of redundant dialogue
•The FMC lacks confidence and has a grocery list of insecurities and it honestly doesn’t even grow by the epilogue even though the MMC supported her and tried to motivate her throughout the story
•I didn’t feel the chemistry in the writing

Thank you Net Galley, Victory Editing NetGalley and Set The Mood publishing for providing me with an ARC to read and review.

Did I mainly request this ARC because I'm full on obsessed with the cover art? Abso-frickin'-lutely!

Mortgage of Convenience is a dual POV romance following Bee, a ghost-writer returning to her hometown for some much-needed focus time to write her first novel published in her own name, and Sebastian, Bee's brother's best friend. And they are both secretly in love with each other.

It's been years since Bee has spent any real time with the Sebastian, and yet they buy a house together in order to both get on the property ladder. And proceed to live together as roommates. But given that they are both deeply infatuated by the other, they don't stay 'just friends' for long.

Once I got past the poor understanding of mortgage applications and how long buying a house actually takes, I found the writing to be a little bit choppy and the dialogue a touch basic. Perhaps it was the inner mologue that killed it for me, because I found we were spending a lot of time in the characters' heads rather than having a real description of the setting.

What I did love was the exploration into sobriety, the discussion of biphobia, and the difficult conversation of growing up and out of friendships. All of these are important topics that I don't come across in books too often, and I really appreciated it as a reader.

Tropes:
↠ Age Gap
↠ Brother's Best Friend
↠ Bisexual MMC
↠ Dual POV
↠ Mutual Pining
↠ No Third Act Breakup
↠ Consensual Non-Consent

Thanks to netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Full review below.
This was so horny and not in a good way. It was really meh and I didn't like the characters that much. The worst thing about this book though is the smut scenes, they were so disgusting to say the least. The only redeeming fact about it is that I liked bee, I related to her a bit, other than that this was terrible.

This was cute, sweet at times in fact, the characters had a decent chemistry.

However, there was more telling rather than showing in terms of the writing.

Furthermore, I feel like they got together way too quickly and it got spicy… and felt kind of insta-love/insta-lust even though they’ve known each other for years. This type of writing/plot doesn’t appeal to me personally.

This book would appeal to an audience who likes easy, straightforward romance, with many spicy scenes mixed into it. I just felt like there was something lacking from it which is why I can’t give it a higher rating. 2.5 stars !

This book was so cute! I really enjoyed reading it. It's definitely not life-changing but I did have a good time with it.

Give me alllll the books with no third-act breakups!! I was living for the way Sebastian and Bee loved each other.

This was a super fun spin on the "convenience" trope and I definitely need a copy for the trophy shelf because I'd love to pick it back up when I need a fun, easy read with all of the following reminders:

-friend breakups are real and it's okay if they happen
-dreams are scary to chase, but trying and knowing is better than not
-it's okay to "crawl back home" in order to feel safe enough to chase said dreams

I'm really out here hoping and praying that Dani McLean will turn this into some kind of "Finding Home" or "Coming Home" series because I need to read more about Aiden!

Mortgage of Convenience is hands down one of my absolute favourite books.

Dani McLean takes the emotions and struggles of transitioning through your late twenties and thirties and spoke to my soul in this book!

Bee is an author who works as a ghostwriter. When she "temporarily" moves home to finish her own debut novel she is thrown back into her old life that doesn't quite fit her anymore.

Sebastian, Bee's older brother's best friend (swoon) is the boy who got away.

Through circumstances they end up buying a house together (because economy) and life for them both changes forever. Suddenly these independent humans have someone they can trust whole heartedly and as their relationship develops love blooms.

This book really hit home for me as she struggles with how her life has changed and trying to keep friendships alive. Bee's relationship with Morgan hit home hard as I have also been in the situation where a friendship has fizzled when alcohol became the driving force. It is something I wish I had read before this happened in my own life as it gives real insight and perspective into feelings and your right to change.

Overall this book was a pleasure to read. A brother best friend, relationship of convenience romance with spice and a warming message to accept and love yourself for who you are and a reminder that those who truly love you will never hold you back.

Dani McLean's first full length novel and it was masterful!! I was dying to get my hands on this dual POV, forced proximity, older brother's best friend, roommate romance from the second I saw the gorgeous Ink and Laurel cover and it absolutely did not disappoint!

Steamy and full of great emotional depth, I loved both main characters soo much! Bee is a ghostwriter finally taking a chance writing her own novel and Sebastian is a bisexual, ex-exotic dancer slash bartender who's been saving for years to buy his own house. When he comes up short at the bank, Bee offers to co-sign on the mortgage and thus begins a beautiful friends to lovers relationship.

Aside from the romantic relationship, this book also delves into Bee's toxic friendship with her childhood bestie who continuously puts her down and only wants to party and drink, while Sebastian is struggling over whether he can reconcile with his formerly emotionally abusive father.

This book delivers on ALL the feels, is sure to get your heart racing and make your toes curl and is perfect for fans of authors like Tarah DeWitt or Katie Golightly. I voluntarily read and reviewed an early digital copy and all opinions are my own.

oh my heart, i don’t think that there’s anything about this book i didn’t absolutely adore. All of the characters are so well done, their relationships. their personalities. chef’s kiss 🤌🏼

Bee is such a good representation of all of us ladies from 25-30 who just have no idea what they’re doing. Who we are. Where we need to be. What we want. Who we want around us. all of it. I have never felt more validated by a character ever.

I actually hated Morgan. When she continued to bash Bee down because she wasn’t wanting the same things Morgan was wanting anymore - no. Just couldn’t handle that. I think we’ve all been in a friendship of that nature - and you just realize that it’s time to split.

SEBASTIAN. i adore him. from his plant and animal planet obsessions to his full heartedly love of just being himself and pushing Bee to just be herself. He is just the biggest softy ever - adored him.

I wanted more Aiden. I feel like i can tell i will adore him too.

1000000000/5. 100% my favorite book by this author! Would recommend over and over!

I hate the use of parentheses it was weird and off putting. It read like role-play. And girl hate in 2024 is wild.