A Review of Tempting Fate by Z.L. Arkadie

This is the second Z.L. Arkadie contemporary romance I’ve read, this time with an interesting trope (enemies to lovers). For starters, the book is divided into three parts: 1 – High School Crush, 2 – A University Night and 3 – The Plan. This provides context of the longstanding family feud between the Groves and the Valentines – two wealthy families in the tech industry. 

Let’s meet Paisley Grove, a high school software designer who has won several awards and now on her way to the prestigious Albrecht Institute of Technology in Boston on a full scholarship. Not having lots of friends because she’s new to the high school, she’s thrilled to be invited to a party the night before graduation. Breaking her rule of not drinking, she accepts a drink that is spiked and is nearly sexually assaulted. Fortunately, Hercules Valentine (“the most stunning and enigmatic boy” she has a huge crush on) comes to her rescue. She wants to thank him at graduation, but he doesn’t show up due to a family emergency. After that, they go their separate ways to different colleges. 

Fast forward to college and Paisley Grove bumps into Hercules during her junior year but he doesn’t recognize her. She has lost weight and wears a blunt cut hairstyle a far cry from the mounds of hair she wore in a ponytail most days in high school. She gets butterflies and they part ways until they bump into each other again while she’s out at a restaurant with her roommate. This time, Hercules is drunk (still doesn’t recognize her) and offers to take her to his brother’s penthouse for a non-committal hook up. Paisely relishes every moment with him. 

After college, Max, Paisley’s brother convinces her to pose as Lark Davenport to infiltrate Valentine Technology Innovations (VTI) and retrieve a missing code from their brain server. Paisley is torn because she doesn’t want to betray Hercules, but she’s loyal to her family. The challenge now is to avoid Hercules and the ache in her heart for him long enough to complete her mission. 

Overall, this was a quick and fun read. I enjoyed the storyline and the forbidden romance between Paisley and Hercules amidst a family feud. At times, I wished Paisley would confront Hercules about her true identity and her feelings for him instead of constantly ruminating in her head. Despite a few confusing sections, the intrigue kept me hooked. Unfortunately, the book ended on a cliffhanger, leaving me eager to read the next installment to discover what happens with Paisley Grove/Lark Davenport as she navigates her job at VTI while resisting the allure of Hercules. Good read! 

Rating: 3 stars 

Some of my favorite lines: 

“What’s your name?” he asks.

My eyes expand. What was the name Eden gave me?

“Tabatha.” Or am I Glory?

“Tabatha, do you still want to come up?”

“Yes,” I whisper like the wind.

“Okay, but I can’t promise you more than tonight. And it’s not personal. I just can’t, you know?”

Oh boy, do I know. “Okay.”

Here come his lips. When our mouths meet, the kissing takes on a different form. Our smooching is soft and sultry. It’s as if we’re rolling around together on a bed made of clouds, unable to quell our lust.