The CEO's Contract Bride

Nine days before her wedding, Gwen Jones learns her fiancé, Steve Crenshaw has suddenly disappeared. He has also cleaned out her bank account as well as ripped off the client’s money from the company he worked for. Left with no money to pay the mortgage, Gwen has no option but to either sell her home, or try to get help from Steve’s boss Declan Knight, the owner of Cavaliere Developments. Gwen is aware how much he hates her, believing she is the reason Renata, his fiancée and her best friend is dead. As if she hadn’t felt guilty enough they had spent one torrid, unforgettable night together, trying to get over Renata’s death. The intensity had scorched them both so much they had ignored each other whenever possible since.

Declan has to marry to claim his inheritance, time is running out, so Gwen’s predicament is the ideal opportunity for him. They agree to marry and show a united front in public, and a “hands off” situation when out of the public eye. When he finds it will take more than a ceremony to convince his family this is true love, it becomes harder each day to pretend.

THE CEO’S CONTRACT BRIDE is an interesting tale with some interesting characters. The mix of hot passion being denied, along with guilt that they fancy each other, makes for a riveting plot. The hero and heroine are colorful characters, and the readers will be drawn to them and their predicament. The change of groom brings humor to the problem and especially for the chief bridesmaid. There is a very good flow, leaving the reader in no doubt about what is going on.

The hero is a charmer, and seems to take everything in his stride, making the heroine uncomfortable and adding to their conflict. He knows it will take more than a piece of paper to belong to his newly contracted bride, and the tension is high. The dialogue moves the story along well and the flow is excellent throughout. The settings are described in a way that the mind picture is vivid, bringing in sights, smells and sounds. A very refreshing romance, with just the right amount of sexual contact for this plot’s premise. For this reviewer, Ms. Lindsay is an author to watch out for on the book shelves.

March 2007