Marriage Claws by Paige Cuccaro

Marriage Claws Reviews

• 
  Lakshmi C

  What didn't work for me :
  ( I never start with this one but I need to get this off my mind )
  
  Jack Pensione
  
  He starts out as a nice, reasonable guy but you dig deeper and learn he's a jerk of epic proportions.
  
  “If you don’t like it, then you take over as head of the family and make your own rules,” Frank said.
  “Get off the damn throne and I will.”
  “Find a mate and you’ve got a deal.”
  
  Jack wants to be the next Alpha, makes some promises and proposes a marriage of convenience. This sounds like fun but....
  
  1 Jack fails as a future Alpha
  He isn't decisive, sharp or good at planning. He can't even spot his enemies till its too late.
  
  2 Jack fails as a love interest
  This guy could blow a girl's self esteem to smithereens but luckily our girl Kate is self aware and sorted.
  
  Because of Jack you're not invested in the romantic or paranormal aspect.
  The book lost 2 stars here :(
  
  What worked for me :
  
  1 The writing style
  Inspite of the problems I liked the light, flowing style and didn't struggle to finish the book. I would have enjoyed this with a better male lead & the premise was interesting.
  Definitely giving this author a second chance.
  
  2 Kate
  Kate was a smart girl with big dreams and a bigger heart. She's trying to fix her own life and is supporting her entire staff as well.
  She's a caring sister and baker.
  She's really funny at times, was optimistic and open to new possibilities.
  
  I can’t let them be deported. They’re gonna send them back to Mexico—”
  “We’re from Cuba.”
  I have to save them. It’s my fault. I have to adopt them.” My head slipped out of my hands and smacked the counter. I stayed where I landed.
  “Kate,” George said.
  “I have to adopt both of them because they’re brothers. You can’t separate brothers.”
  “Kate.”
  “But I’m too young to be their mommy.”
  
  “What sort of grown woman wears Snoopy nightgowns?”
  “The kind of woman who values comfort and a good night’s sleep.” I raised my chin. “And has outstanding taste in cartoon characters. Obviously.”
  
  3 stars for the writing, Kate and her crew.
• 
  Sissy's Romance Book Review

  'Marriage Claws' by Paige Cuccaro is the story of Jack Pensione and Kate Affetto.
  Kate is a hard working women who has taken care of her most of her life. Now she is running a restaurant where she has him working and a few other people she has collected that need her.
  Jack helps run his father's business and wants to take over it along with their Wolf pack. But his father nor the pack would want a single man running the show. So when the company buys the building that Kate has her restaurant Jack thinks to offer her a deal. Kate can keep the restaurant if she pretends to be his wife for a while. They strike the deal but they both thought it would be easier to have this pretend relationship but its harder than either thought. Kate learns to that Jack isn't a normal person that he is a wolf shiftier but that doesn't seem to stop her feelings for him.
  "My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
  
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• 
  Rê

  
  
  3 “Billionaire Werewolves” Stars
  
  ARC via NetGalley.
  
  Thank you, Swerve!
  
  Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for paranormal romance to be a thing again. Seriously. Bring back the vamps and werewolves and everything else.
  
  And I think… I think it’s slowly happening. At least in the adult category.
  
  I’ve been recently approved for three adult paranormal romance books on NetGalley these past few weeks, and since Marriage Claw was the one with the closest publishing date, I immediately started on it. That’s how much I’ve been dying to read a paranormal romance.
  
  Marriage Claws had a few elements that instantly attracted my attention: billionaire alpha (and no, I don’t mean CG kind of billionaire alpha), hard-working MC, a little bit of hate to love and fake relationship, and (obviously) werewolves.
  
  The story started out really well with Kate and Jack going head to head because they wanted different things: she wanted to keep her restaurant and he wanted her to clear the space she was occupying so he could continue with his condo expansion plan. The supernatural elements were already present, but Kate was oblivious to the whole thing—until Jack proposes a deal: marry him and he’ll let her keep her restaurant. But marrying Jack means entering a world she didn’t even know existed.
  
  Up until Kate agreed to marry Jack I was really into the story and anxious for the supernatural elements to come into play. The problem is the supernatural side of the story didn’t live up to my expectations. I thought Kate gave in and accepted Jack’s true nature a little too fast. I wasn’t a fan of how Kate reacted to her brother’s involvement in the story. And I wished Jack had been a more asserting alpha. In the end, I thought there was something lacking to make the story extra special.
  
  I liked how the author added a twist here and there on the werewolves mythology, bringing in new elements or rewriting old ones. I also enjoyed reading about Kate and Jack falling in love.
  
  Most of all, I liked seeing this title out there because it could be a sign one of my favorite genres is coming back to life.
• 
  Kat

  Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read and review Paige Cuccaro's newest book. What an interesting shifter romance. We start off with Kate, an independent young woman who runs a diner and has been battling with millionaire Jack, the mogul who's bought her building and is trying to evict the diner if they can't come up with a hefty new rent. They're both fairly independent characters, and we soon find out that Jack needs to find himself a bride if he wants to assume his position as Alpha wolf. You can imagine where things go from there.
  
  Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
  
  Please excuse typos. Entered on screen reader.
• 
  Tonya

  This was the second of my NetGalley binge this weekend and was immensely satisfying. It confirms once more (if there was ever any doubt) that I'm firmly Team Furry--any good, romantic werewolf will push all my buttons in all the right ways.
  
  The fact that Kate Affetto stands up to her very Alpha suitor, Jack Pensione, and has her own goals and dreams, sets this apart from your standard, run-of-the-mill damsel in distress story. I loved the fact that the author acknowledged the fairy tale elements of this tale and stood them on their head. Cuccaro unfolded layers of motivations and backstory for all the main players in a way that felt real and allowed me to enjoy Kate's ride toward true love.
  
  The only element that was a little thin was Marcus' piece of the story. Alexia was an easy antagonist to hate, but there were small holes in that bit of the plot that made the resolution easier than it should have been.
  
  On the whole, though, this was highly entertaining and well worth my time. I really hope there are follow-on stories in this world with these characters, because Cuccaro's world-building was enticing enough to make me want to return.
• 
  Jeannie Zelos

  Marriage Claws, Paige Cuccaro
  
  Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
  
  Genre:  Sci-fi and Fantasy
  
  Well, I'm a bit puzzled by the "debut" tag. I recognized the name and when I looked it up found I've read and enjoyed some of her other stories, especially the Hellsbane series.
  So - debut?? 
  Anyway, its a decent read, fairly light but great for those times you want a bit of supernatural, bit of Pack hierarchy and some sexy romance. 
  
  I really liked Kate, hard worker, loves her business and the people she's taken in while running it. She's the sort who sees beyond the obvious, who really cares about supporting her friends, and her staff have become just that. Her younger brother works in the diner too, and she's more a mum than a sister to him.
  So when a company takes over the building and wants her out so they can turn the space into housing, she digs her heels in. She won't be able to afford anywhere else, she's been here five years and only just begun to show a decent profit, moving means going back to those early years all over again while they build up trade.
  Its just not do-able and yet neither is leaving her friends in the lurch. 
  
  Then Jack comes in, son of the guy who's bought the place, and he has a solution.
  He needs a wife, so he can take over as Alpha of his Pack. He can't exactly tell Kate that though, so explains it as a family business.
  His suggestion, they marry, he takes over, then he gives her the diner and they divorce. Jack's made it clear there's no love, no emotions and he doesn't want the glossy girls who just want his name and position, he wants a straightforward, no attachments deal.
  At first she can't bring herself to do it. Jack's always pictured out with leggy, stick thin, glossy models and she just isn't. She knows making it look real will be hard work, and then...well, she's always believed marriage is special, a one time only thing and she's not sure she can cheapen it this way.  Losing the diner and letting down her brother and freinds isn't an option though so she agrees, knowing its for a few weeks only. 
  Life has some suprises in store though. 
  
  I enjoyed this story, got so cross at Jack at times, but understood his reactions. I liked the Marcus angle, and loved, loved Alexia, I do so love a character like hers. 
  That angle could have been even stronger for me, I think characters like her add so much to the drama and jealousy. 
  
  It made for a fun read, its not a deep, dark, intense supernatural romance, but one that's more lighthearted, has moments of humour among the dramas, lighting the deeper emotions that develop between Jack and Kate.
  Its a great escape for a summer read. 
   
  Stars: four, fun plots, sassy female lead, sexy male leads and some sensual fun and games. 
  
  ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers
  
• 
  Ellen

  Marriage Claws is a fun, sexy, and entertaining paranormal romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. The female lead in the story is Kate Affeto, who has had a hard life, but has made the most out of it while she raised her brother. She now operates The Sweet Spot, her restaurant, and employees not only her brother, but also a variety of other characters who have become like family to her. Her romantic interest in the story is Jack Pensione, the oh so very hot billionaire whose company has purchased her building, and is currently trying to get her out of the building to convert her area into a gym. Of course, Kate is determined to do everything in her power to prevent this, the only problem being that when she gets in Jack Pensione's presence, she turns to goo and has a hard time remembering who she is, much less what she wants to say.
  
  Jack is not only a hottie, he's also a werewolf, and he is very attracted to Kate, despite his determination to keep that atttraction under wraps. The company he works for is a family business and his father is the head of company and also the current alpha of the pack. He's also pushing Jack to take his place and meet the requirements necessary in order to do that...namely he needs a wife. He strikes a deal with Kate which serves both of their purposes, only Kate has yet to find out who, or should I say, what, Jack and his family really are.
  
  As events unfold, the circumstances become even more complicated, resulting in something neither Jack nor Kate ever thought they would be ready for. Then when the situation turns dangerous, and enemies within the pack threaten not only Kate, but the family they both have come to love, things really get interesting and intense. Marriage Claws is a paranormal romance that entertaining, romantic, and suspenseful.
• 
  Julianna

  Rating: 3.5
  
  Marriage Claws by Paige Cuccaro was a light read for me. Don’t get me wrong, it had everything from an Alpha shapeshifter to great chemistry, but I felt that the situation were delivered lightly instead of showcasing the important they were to the characters. Kate Affetto, is a passionate woman who cares deeply for her little business and the people that have entered her life. She’s loyal and a mom figure to her younger brother. So, when the dinner is in jeopardy, she’s willing to make a deal with a beast. However, she didn’t know that billionaire hotshot, Jack Pensione was also a werewolf. Or that his bites could be more deadly than you’d expect.
  
  If you enjoy supernatural genre, with an sexy alpha along with romance then you should checkout Marriage Claws. 


  
  Reviewed on Behalf of Once Upon An Alpha
  **ARC for an Honest Review**
• 
  Heather andrews

  Kate can make things kinda awkward, but I don't think Jack minds, "his smile brightened, amusement glinting in his eyes. “So you’re saying I stink pretty?” I liked this book, I fell in love with the characters.
• 
  Deborah

  Kate is a hard working single gal who has taken care of everyone in her life including her younger brother.  She owns a restaurant and all of her adopted family work there.  When Jack Pensione is renovating her building and is not renewing her lease, she's panicking. She doesn't have the money to pay for it outright, but she also doesn't want her "family" to be without jobs.  Jack offers her an alternative.
  
  Jack is set to take over the family empire. He belongs to a pack of werewolves and he is due to take over as alpha. Unfortunately, the pack is old fashioned in the respect of wanting the pack leader to be mated.  Jack looks to Kate to solve two problems in one agreement.  She marries him and help him get to be the alpha he wants, and she gets her restaurant paid in full. The deal is set.
  
  Kate clearly bit off more than she can chew when she agreed to Jack's deal.  There is the insane attraction amongst them they both are trying so hard to fight against, and the bit that Jack is indeed a werewolf. Wha What?? Kate was embroiled in the family drama before she even had a chance to meet everyone! She never knew this world existed and although she's very open-minded, she's very overwhelmed! She does seem to accept Jack rather quickly though. I liked how the author used some historical werewolf background to justify in her head what she was learning. Everything was a whirlwind of emotion, it boggled my mind!
  
  Even though we know how this story will go, I loved how Paige Cuccaro takes us on a rollercoaster of a ride! Drama and back stabbing and love...
  
  There's tales being told all around, some true and some lies, and we don't know what is what! I especially enjoyed the wolf battles! They were wonderfully written!
  
  Overall I liked the story and read it straight through! Although I felt Jack needed to be a stronger alpha at times, he was believable.  All the characters seemed like a misfit of society, in one way, shape, or form, and they banded together to call themselves a family. Kate felt their successes laid firmly on her shoulders.  I liked how she grew to realize she didn't have to control everything, and they could spread their wings a little and fly too! 
  
  Marriage Claws was well worth my time reading!  I will watch for other books by Paige Cuccaro! I liked her characters and hope to see them in other books!
  
  4 Stars/3 Flames
  
  This book was gifted to me for an honest review.  The review and ratings are solely my opinions.
• 
  Krista

  3.5 stars
  
  I loved the idea of this story. And, it even started out strong. Kate was a great heroine. I loved her diner and its group of quirky staff. I really liked Jack as well - he was the perfect blend of aloof and interested. And the constant wolf-isms that he kept dropping was kinda funny.
  
  But, I dunno - at some point in the story, it just started to fizzle. Jack went from being this interesting, charismatic guy to kind of an asshole and treating Kate like crap. And Kate went from being this strong, independent woman to putting up with Jack's attitude for far too long. In addition, the pace of the story just seemed off, starting around halfway through. It felt rushed and I wanted a lot more details and backstory and world building than what I got.
  
  So, I'm kinda bummed. I feel like this author has a lot of potential, but this book just isn't quite there yet.
• 
  All Things Urban Fantasy

  Review courtesy of
  All Things Urban Fantasy
  
  “If you marry me I’ll save your business” is a tried and true Harlequin Romance trope. I’ve seen it done with restaurants, bed and breakfasts and even an auction house. Usually, the big reveal is that they can be attracted to each other and still hold differences of opinion. This time, the reveal has a bit more fur and fang.
  
  Kate and Jack are perfect in their roles: he’s a business tycoon with a serious chip on his shoulder, and she’s an independent woman who tends to pick up strays. There was some of the werewolf “fated mate” mythology happening, but they definitely fought it tooth and nail.
  
  The sex scenes were remarkably hot. I’ve read a lot of paranormal romances, and after a while you start to gloss over the sex scenes, especially if they’re repetitive. MARRIAGE CLAWS managed to keep them entertaining throughout.
  
  My only issue is with the timing of some of the characters’ decisions. Kate and Jack have a disagreement (they have a few, but one big one), and they leave it for way longer than seemed reasonable. Kate also takes a really long time to get with the werewolf program.
  
  These delayed reconciliations caused a bit of a drag in the final quarter of the book, but don’t let it deter you from reading this intelligently written, exciting book. It has just enough sweetness and telegraphing to make romance readers happy, and a solid enough mythology to interest urban fantasy readers looking for something slightly fluffier for summer reading.
• 
  Cee

  *I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
  
  I decided to pick this book up because it seemed charming and light. Turns out, I got exactly what I planned on.
  
  I almost want to call it cozy-- a cozy PNR, if you will. We have a loyal and caring heroine, a sexy rich alpha, quirky side characters, and a blossoming romance. Mostly the same as other werewolf stories, but I did find the way to turn a werewolf quite interesting. Disbelief factor? "Oh, usually werewolves are attracted to humans since we are different species..." Yet, we see two werewolves fall for humans....
  Then, "Don't worry about protection, we can't spread anything between us because different species, etc." So, can she not get pregnant? I feel like that would be another cause for alarm....
  
  Over-looking the over problems, it was a decent book to read. Nothing complicated or shocking-- this is a good in between book or something light and quick to read. Not something I'd highly recommend, but I wouldn't tell someone not to read it either. It was a fun little read and just what I needed at the moment.
• 
  Vania Nunes

  About the plot when I read the blurb: I would not normally read this kind of story. I'm tired of the "billionaire" men (by the way, where are so many billionaires in books? Someone must have stolen mine because I have not yet found any... just saying...) But suddenly, there is an interesting point. This is not any kind of book because it has Fantasy.
  Jack is part of a pack, he's a shifter. So, this bossy alpha side is totally compatible.
  
  Kate is the hardworking woman who manages a diner and has a brother to look after. She receives an ultimatum. Either pay the required amount (millions she does not have) or vacate the space.
  But there comes a new option: marriage. It would be convenient and Kate could keep her diner in the bargain.
  But the plans are wrong when the two begin to feel a strong attraction.
  
  The problem here is that Kate gets carried away by the feeling she has for Jack, but Jack begins to act like an ogre idiot.
  
  Interesting plot but has been lost throughout the narrative.
  
  3 stars
  
  ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange of an honest review
  
• 
  Judy

  3.5 stars on this one.
  
  Kate has a diner and her employees have become her family. They get along great and they are all hard workers. But, their jobs are in danger when rich owner of the space, Jack tells her that she'll have to move out of her space or come up with $3 million dollars.
  
  Jack is CEO of his family business. He also happens to be a werewolf! He approaches Kate at her diner and tells her she needs to move out or pay up. He also offers her another option of marrying him so he can become Alpha of his pack and he'll save her diner.
  
  Will Kate take his offer?
  
  This was an interesting story and although I am not a fan of paranormal, parts were very exciting and had me on the edge of my seat. I think if you're a fan of paranormal then you may enjoy this book.
  
  Reviewed on behalf of Once Upon An Alpha
• 
  S

  I went back and forth with my enjoyment of the book. Sometimes I was reading and couldn't put it down; other times it took me hours before I went back to it. I think my problem was that sometimes the heroine would have traits that didn't fit her character (or maybe what I thought it should be). This is a woman whose dad walked out on her on her eighteenth birthday, leaving her to raise her brother. To me she should be less naive than she was at times. I enjoyed the final conflict, but the epilogue/final chapter fell short for me.
• 
  Teresa

  3.0 stars
  
  This book took a slightly different approach to "shifter" behavior than most I've read. I did enjoy the H/h and the bad guy had the right blend of ickiness. Not a bad read.
• 
  Izzie d

  I found the hero selfish and he stayed away too long when he made his choice. Didn't like him at all.
• 
  Angel Hatfield

  Kate felt she was close to a panic attack and it was jack Pensione’s. He was known as the Prince of Wall Street. He was trying to to lock the door of Kate’s diner for good. The arrogant business mongrel only arrived a few minutes ago and already Kate couldn’t think straight. Kate thought dear God why does he have to keep coming around pestering her. There is nothing on earth that would convince Kate to give up on her diner. She had owned The Sweet Spot diner for five years now. . Even with her lease coming up due. Jack wanted her to come up with three million dollars to but the space or close down her shop and vacate the spot. Jack was the most eligible bachelor in NYC. Than Marbella said Jack had his eye on her. The he watches Kate, the way he stares when you walk away. You'd think the man suspected you of smuggled gold in the backside of your slacks. Jack’s father told him to get married and than he could take over the company. Otherwise he wanted the diner shut down. Kate had been taking care of her younger brother George since she had graduated from HS at seventeen. That was when their father decided his responsibility to his kids had been fulfilled. And he could “finally live his life.” Kate was only four years older than George but felt more like his mother, the only mother he had ever known. Than jack was in the diner and asking Kate if she would marry him that would make him CEO and he would save her diner for her. Jack said it would be strictly business he didn’t want to marry someone he had a romantic relationship with. When Jack took her hand electricity shot up her arm and she knew he felt it too. That had to be understood from the start that romance would be out of the question. Kate had to move in with jack to make it appear real. Than jack told he was a werewolf and told her about them.
  I loved the book. It was a great paranormal read. I loved Jack and Kate together and how they interacted. I also loved how Jack wanted to change some of the protocols of the pack. I loved the different take on how a human is turned and than connected to each member of the pack. I loved the plot and pace. I found nothing to criticize in this book. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I highly recommend it.