Marriage of convenience

Tex Times Ten by Tina Leonard, A. Romance, #989, October 2003 (book 4- Cowboys by the Dozen)

The Never-Lonely Cut-N- Gurls Salon doesn't play fair and it was Cissy Kisserton's job to seduce bull riding cowboy for The Lonely Heart Salon across the street. Only she seduced the wrong Jefferson twin. She seduced Tex instead of Laredo. Tex's brothers tease about his roses that won't bloom and about his unmarried status. Maybe his brothers are right and he has intimacy issues. But Tex has promised his sister-in-law that he would help Cissy break her contract. She went to work for Marvella because she was taking care of her nine nieces and nephews and grandmother. A loophole is found right on page 1. If she was to marry, get pregnant or physically challenged her contract can be terminated. First Tex gives her the last two options, which she vetoes right away and then suggests she marry him.

Favourite scene (they are discussing the marriage option)

Tex took a deep breath "I'm suggesting you marry me."

The look on Cissy's face was priceless. Thank God he didn't have to much invested in the offer, or he'd be devastated. She looked like she'd just as soon become high priestess of the snake species.

"Okay," she said brightly "So we're back to me losing my toothbrush. Maybe I can go retro punk rock instead of totally bald. That might even be more effective__"

Book two in the Kings of California series. This is middle brother Travis’s story. I really enjoyed it. Travis needs a wife to fend off his biggest clients hints that he marry one of his daughters. Not wanting to risk his business dealings with this man, Travis plans to get himself a wife for a year. Who better than his friend, Julie, the former cooks daughter.

This is book one if the Kings of California series. I really enjoyed it. It was emotional and sexy. Adam King is the eldest of three brothers who each run a different part of the King Dynasty. Adam is determined to make the King ranch whole again. His brothers call him obsessed with his quest but Adam has set his mind to do this and nothing stops Adam when he’s set his mind to something.

Front Page Engagement by Laura Wright, Desire, #1885, August 2008 (book 2- Park Avenue Scandals)

Trent Tanford loved women. Some weren't too bright and knocking on the door of 12C instead of Trent's 12B. Since the women were knocking on Carrie Gray's door at all hours she dubbed them "Trent's Troops" After Trent's latest appearance in the paper, his father gave him an ultimatum "Marry and the president position is yours, but she can't be your usual bimbo"  His next door neighbour, Carrie seems smart. Only problem, he has barely spoken to her and she seems to dislike him. But when he has her investigated he finds out she is house sitting, has school loans and in need of money. Will Carrie marry for money?

***Warning may include spoilers***

Favourite scene- I couldn't decide on one. The banter between these two was hilarious.

Favourite scene (he buys her a bunch of new cloths because she just got a new job)

She says "I'm not one those girls who will act coy and refuse a lovely gift when she really wants to keep it."

"No?"

She shook her head "I love cloths, dude"

"Did you just call me dude?"

Another favourite scene (this one really had me howling, later she is talking about her ring. the ring is a her. she had his engraved because they decided that the marriage would be longer than the year)

"Ah yes" She cleared her throat and made it dramatic "A day, a year, forever. Damn I'm good." When he laughed, she looked at him "You haven't changed your mind about that, have you? The forever part?"

"You mean after watching you talk to your ring and call it a she?  Surprisingly no."

"Good man" grinning she reached up and slipped off his glasses "Make love to me."

"Shhh..."He was over her in seconds "Not in front of the ring"

Carrie giggled "That's cool. She likes to watch."

"Hmmm...." His mouth met hers "Kinky"

Berta Ruck wrote romances in the 1920s, and this delightful author was probably a favourite of Betty Neels's.  In this authentic period romance, Mrs. Clover Elphinstone (a widow who was never a true wife) coldly plans a marriage with war hero Harry Carmichael.  At first reluctant to accept her proposal of a marriage in name only, she dangles an offer of help with his aeronautical invention.  Harry is still reluctant, but as Clover wants someone to help her get rid of the annoying young men always buzzing around her looking for money for this or that, he agrees, only to discover that a sham marriage to Clover is not what he wants at all... 

4 Stars! ~~~ This is an intensely emotional, compelling lovestory... I read it in one sitting, and quickly went back to read it again!

Savage Obsession by Diana Hamilton

Harlequin Presents # 1588 ~ September 1993

.

Back Cover:

Wealthy rancher Mitch Ramsey had never given much of a second look to his neighbor Emma Davis, until an unexpected encounter led to a night of unbridled passion. Mitch figured their affair could be a discreet diversion, one they had both gone into with eyes wide-open.

Then Emma's father made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Marry Emma and Mitch would inherit what he had always coveted--the entire Davis ranch. But Emma was never to know....
 

Spoiler Warning: All my reviews contain spoilers to some degree. 

Favourite Scene:

To hell with their drinks. To hell with his vow to keep things platonic. He wanter her… now, with a single-minded determination that made him feel like a bull charging a red flag.... 

Before the sound of his door closing had finished echoing through the cab, he was on her. Reaching out, draging her across the vinyl seat and kissing her senseless. His hands were everywhere, groping, yanking, tearing her clothes away so he could get to her naked flesh. 

Back Cover:

To claim an inheritance, Texan tycoon Jake Thorne needed to find a wife and start a family…fast! And his shy secretary Emily Carlisle was the perfect choice. She wasn't after his wealth or power—and she had the sweetest, most tempting lips he'd ever tasted.

But when Emily learned that Jake had married her only for money, his quiet little kitten proved she had claws. To keep her from walking out on the marriage, Jake would have to convince his unwilling wife to fall in love with him.
 

Spoiler Warning: All my reviews contain spoilers 

Favourite Scene:

“All right, Jake, but if you’re lying again, so help me! Turn over. I’ll give you a quick massage.”

“Ahh, angel of mercy,” he said with such satisfaction, she wondered again whether he hurt at all, in spite of the bruises.

She looked at his bare back and drew another deep breath. “Where do you hurt the most?”

“I don’t believe you’ll massage me there tonight,” he answered.

Back Cover:

He must marry or lose control of his empire. But no ordinary wife would do for Australian tycoon Alex Valente. Emotional entanglements were to be avoided; physical attraction was essential.

Struggling designer Olivia Cannington certainly fit both of his requirements… most especially the latter. And she was in such desperate need of his funds, perhaps the beauty would even agree to the second part of his marriage ultimatum: give Valente an heir…within a year.
 

Spoiler Warning: All my reviews contain spoilers 

Favourite Scene:  (I always love a scene where, even when angry, the hero makes sure the heroine sleeps beside him)

And then her heart sank just as quickly when she remembered how fast he’d turned away. Angry, she got out of bed and made for the spare bedroom, where she tossed and turned some more. She must have fallen asleep eventually, for she awoke as the bedside lamp was turned on.

She groaned and pulled the blanket up over her head. “Turn the light off, Alex.”

He didn’t answer.

Suddenly the blankets were thrown back and she was being scooped up in his arms. Her eyes flew open. “Alex?”

A pulse leaped along the hard line of his jaw. “You’re my wife. You sleep beside me.”

Spoiler Warning: All my reviews contain spoilers to some degree  

Favourite Scene:

‘No talking,’ he insisted. ‘I have changed my mind. I am taking you to bed, in my room.’ He kept his finger on her lips as he continued, ‘Not to have sex with you; that can wait. I just want to hold you.’
‘W-why?’ she asked as soon as his finger moved away from her mouth.
His eyes held hers for seemingly endless seconds before he answered. ‘Because when I hold you I forget about my brother. I forget about my grief. I think of nothing except how you feel in my arms.’   

My Review:

Wow, this was a hugely passionate read.  I liked the conflict in it.  The heroine is a virgin impersonating her twin, who had a child by a rich man and wants to get paid off in return for giving up custody (the twins are quite different).  The heroine is appalled and doesn't want to let go of her neice.  She gets railroaded into marrying the hero, who is the uncle.