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My Review:Title: Contracted: A Wife for the Bedroom
Author: Carol Marinelli
Published by: Harlequin Presents
Release Date: October 23, 2007
Format: Paperback
Pages: 192
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2023 Backlist Reader Challenge, Lenoreo's 2023 Bookish Resolutions Presents, Lenoreo's 2023 COYER Chapter 2
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon
My rating:
Blurb:A marriage is forever, not just for convenience...
Hunter Myles: this Australian's worth billions and can buy any woman he wants!
Lily Harper: perfect for a convenient marriage and she needs Hunter's help!
Hunter's ring is on her finger, but Lily knows it'll only be there for twelve months. Soon, a year doesn't seem quite long enough. Lily has fallen in love with her temporary husband!
2 stars — Wow. The more I go back and read these old Harlequins, the more I notice just how toxic a lot of them are. Like, this one is chock full of a toxic hero that basically isolates his wife out of fear, and once she realizes it, she’s just like “awww, that changes everything!” Uh no. That boy needs HOURS of therapy. But I guess that’s not sexy enough to even mention in a passing sentence in the epilogue.
Does the author think she’s modelling a healthy relationship? Or do we go into these books knowing that we’re watching train wrecks, and not realism, and that’s kind of the schtick? When I read them 15 years ago, did I notice? I don’t know.
Here’s the thing. For as toxic as elements of this book were, it really is very easy to read. And it really is like watching a train wreck in some ways. Like, the guy has anger management issues, is arrogant, says hateful things to push the heroine away, and basically almost gaslights her at times. But, you know, he’s beyond gorgeous, and on the rare occasion he’s kind. Cue falling madly in love. And even rolling my eyes at all of that, I still finished it. Because it takes me a few hours, and it’s not hard and thought provoking.
Side note: Don’t even get me started on the evil ex who is somehow still the assistant and implies an affair when her boss is violently ill…but somehow no one mentions her finally getting fired in the epilogue either.
Basically, if you want “reality TV”, this book is for you. If you want healthy relationships/love with genuinely good characters, there is SO MUCH out there now…seek it out. You won’t be disappointed.
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