Contract Bride by Susan Fox ... QC #72

Reviewed by Katherine-eHarlequin on February 26th, 2008, 9:37pm

by Susan Fox

Format: Print Books

Series: Harlequin Romance

4 Stars! ~~~ You’ll need a hanky for this one!

Contract Bride by Susan Fox

Harlequin Romance # 3764 – September 2003

To Have and To Hold theme

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When Reece Waverly’s wife died tragically leaving him with an infant son, his own mortality stared him in the face. It became urgent for him to protect his son from his in-laws, so he proposed to his wife’s best friend. Leah Gray had loved Reece from the time she was a shy and unloved seventeen year-old. Watching him fall in love and then marry her best friend had been almost unbearable. But it was her love for them both that allowed her to keep her feelings hidden. She’d jumped at Reece’s proposal, to be a part of him, to be a mother to his child, to finally belong to someone. Only after a tension filled year, she’d come to the conclusion that Reece would never be able to love her and that he probably regretted their hasty marriage. So when she offered Reece a divorce she was stunned when he refused and announced that they would have a real marriage.

You’ll need a hanky for this one. Leah is tormented with guilt; she’d betrayed her best friend by being in love with her husband. And she feels that her pain now for the lack of any personal caring from Reece is her just punishment. Reece realizes that the shy gentle woman, who has cared for his son and his home, has gotten absolutely nothing from their loveless marriage and he hopes it’s not too late to fix that. These are two tortured souls who finally reach out and take some happiness for themselves. This is an emotional story that will stay with me for some time.

Excellence: Very Good ~ Steaminess: Romantic

My Totals = 26 ~ Harlequin Imprint = 26 ~ Other Publisher = 0

Mini-Challenge ~ One Thing Leads to Another

• Expecting His Love-Child by Carol Marinelli
• The Surgeon’s Miracle Baby by Carol Marinelli
• The Surgeon’s Meant-To-Be Bride by Amy Andrews
• The Italian Count’s Baby by Amy Andrews
• The Italian’s Chosen Wife by Kate Hewitt
• The Firefighter’s Chosen Wife by Trish Wylie
• The Firefighter’s Fiancé by Kate Hardy
• Fiancé Wanted Fast! by Jessica Hart
• The Blind-Date Proposal by Jessica Hart
• A Whirlwind Engagement by Jessica Hart
• Here Comes the Bride by Rebecca Winters and Jessica Hart
• A Bride Worth Waiting For by Cara Colter
• A Bride Worth Waiting For by Caroline Anderson
• The Australian’s Housekeeper Bride by Lindsay Armstrong
• The Millionaire’s Marriage Claim by Lindsay Armstrong
• A Marriage Worth Waiting For by Susan Fox
• Contract Bride by Susan Fox

KatherineT-eHarlequin ~ Book Challenge Host
I'm a Harlequin Addict, and I'm proud of it! ~ Quiet Canadians Blog