La-Shauna F. (SHADY) reviewed Married by Contract (Texas Cattleman's Club: Fathers and Sons, Bk 3) (Harlequin Desire, No 2845) on + 1266 more book reviews
Started off good then just derailed. Never quite picked up back.
Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Good book. Rosalind flew from Australia to Royal to see if she could win back the man she broke up with six months earlier. To her dismay, she discovered that Drake had moved on and was engaged to someone else (An Heir of His Own). So when the sparks flew between her and TCC member Gabe, she had no problem giving in to them. One unforgettable night together and Ros flew on to New York to find buyers for her clothing line. A few weeks later, she's on the way back to Texas to tell Gabe he's going to be a father.
Gabe wants a wife and child but doesn't want the messy emotions of marrying for love. He even went so far as to hire a matchmaker to find him a woman who would accept his conditions: a marriage of convenience; she gets a settlement when they marry and complete access to his money for as long as they are married. If the woman leaves the marriage, Gabe receives full custody of the child. So far, he has no takers on his proposition.
When Ros tells Gabe her news, he immediately proposes they get married, using his contract. Ros will get the cash infusion she needs for her business, and Gabe will get the child he wants. Though the plan is for a paper marriage, the chemistry between them is too strong, and they give in immediately. Gabe freaks out at the depth of the connection he feels with Ros and suddenly pulls away, going from hot and heavy to cold and aloof overnight. Ros knew quickly that she would have trouble with an emotionless marriage.
I liked watching their relationship develop. These two people are opposites in so many ways. Gabe doesn't believe in love; Ros does. Gabe is a country boy, and Ros is definitely a city girl. Gabe is super-protective, and Ros is very independent. Gabe's childhood with a father that cheated on Gabe's mother and paid little attention to Gabe added to a relationship where his ex also cheated on him, leaving him determined to protect his heart. He'll save all his love and care for his child; after all, he knows very well what not to do. But Gabe has difficulty keeping his mind from thinking about what it would be like to have a real marriage which only makes him more determined to fight his feelings.
Meanwhile, Ros is determined to show Gabe what he's missing. But no matter what she does, he keeps pushing her away. The one time she managed to break through his barriers, she made the mistake of whispering her feelings when she thought he was asleep. He wasn't, and the next morning's fallout was devastating for her. I cheered when she stood up for her own needs and flew back to New York.
I felt Gabe earned every bit of his misery, especially when he kept fighting his feelings. It wasn't until an unexpected conversation with his father that he realized what an idiot he was. I cheered when he went after Ros. His emotional confession at the end warmed my heart and gave me hope for their future. I especially liked seeing him admit what a selfish jerk he'd been. I hope to see them reappear in future books so I can see how they are doing.
Gabe wants a wife and child but doesn't want the messy emotions of marrying for love. He even went so far as to hire a matchmaker to find him a woman who would accept his conditions: a marriage of convenience; she gets a settlement when they marry and complete access to his money for as long as they are married. If the woman leaves the marriage, Gabe receives full custody of the child. So far, he has no takers on his proposition.
When Ros tells Gabe her news, he immediately proposes they get married, using his contract. Ros will get the cash infusion she needs for her business, and Gabe will get the child he wants. Though the plan is for a paper marriage, the chemistry between them is too strong, and they give in immediately. Gabe freaks out at the depth of the connection he feels with Ros and suddenly pulls away, going from hot and heavy to cold and aloof overnight. Ros knew quickly that she would have trouble with an emotionless marriage.
I liked watching their relationship develop. These two people are opposites in so many ways. Gabe doesn't believe in love; Ros does. Gabe is a country boy, and Ros is definitely a city girl. Gabe is super-protective, and Ros is very independent. Gabe's childhood with a father that cheated on Gabe's mother and paid little attention to Gabe added to a relationship where his ex also cheated on him, leaving him determined to protect his heart. He'll save all his love and care for his child; after all, he knows very well what not to do. But Gabe has difficulty keeping his mind from thinking about what it would be like to have a real marriage which only makes him more determined to fight his feelings.
Meanwhile, Ros is determined to show Gabe what he's missing. But no matter what she does, he keeps pushing her away. The one time she managed to break through his barriers, she made the mistake of whispering her feelings when she thought he was asleep. He wasn't, and the next morning's fallout was devastating for her. I cheered when she stood up for her own needs and flew back to New York.
I felt Gabe earned every bit of his misery, especially when he kept fighting his feelings. It wasn't until an unexpected conversation with his father that he realized what an idiot he was. I cheered when he went after Ros. His emotional confession at the end warmed my heart and gave me hope for their future. I especially liked seeing him admit what a selfish jerk he'd been. I hope to see them reappear in future books so I can see how they are doing.
