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Contract Brides #10
Vacancy: Wife of Convenience
Colly Gillingham is in a bind. Not only has she been evicted from her home, but she also needs a job -- and fast! So seeing an advert for a senior secretary at Livingstone Developments, Colly jumps at the chance....
The moment Silas Livingstone sees Colly he knows she's exactly the woman he's been looking for. There's only one vacancy that Silas is advertising now -- and that's for a wife of convenience. Will Colly take him up on the offer...?
The moment Silas Livingstone sees Colly he knows she's exactly the woman he's been looking for. There's only one vacancy that Silas is advertising now -- and that's for a wife of convenience. Will Colly take him up on the offer...?
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 2005
17 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Steele
339 books113 followersJessica Steele was born on May 9, 1933 in the elegant Warwickshire town of Royal Leamington Spa. She has two super brothers, Colin and George, and a lovely sister, Elizabeth. She was a delicate child and missed a lot of school. In fact, she left school at aged 14, when she was diagnosed as having tuberculosis. At 16, she started work as a junior clerk. In 1967, Jessica married with her husband, Peter and within a very short space of time they had moved from her hometown to the lovely area where they now live. Their house is built into the side of a hill, and has beautiful views over more hills and valleys. Her brothers and her sister are very close and she has plenty of nephews and nieces to make up for the fact that she and her husband have no children of their own. Both she and her husband are more than a little dog-oriented, and their current dog is a Staffordshire bull terrier named Florence. Florence is gorgeous. She loves everybody but, since she is 40 pounds of dynamite and would hurl her boisterous self at everyone she meets - given half a chance - she has to be restrained (as much as possible). She is fun.
Her husband spurred Jessica on to her writing career, giving her every support while she did what she considers her five-year apprenticeship (the rejection years) while learning how to write. She published her first books in 1979. Jessica has tried using a typewriter, but it just doesn't work for her. She is much happier writing in longhand, and in actual fact has a dozen or so fountain pens filled and ready to go at the start of any one session. A friend has a secretarial agency and, after deciphering Jessica's writing, returns an immaculately typed manuscript. To gain authentic background for her books, she has travelled and researched in Greece, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Hong Kong, China and Japan.
Her husband spurred Jessica on to her writing career, giving her every support while she did what she considers her five-year apprenticeship (the rejection years) while learning how to write. She published her first books in 1979. Jessica has tried using a typewriter, but it just doesn't work for her. She is much happier writing in longhand, and in actual fact has a dozen or so fountain pens filled and ready to go at the start of any one session. A friend has a secretarial agency and, after deciphering Jessica's writing, returns an immaculately typed manuscript. To gain authentic background for her books, she has travelled and researched in Greece, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Hong Kong, China and Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 15, 2020
"Vacancy: Wife of Convenience" is the story of Colly and Silas.
Talk about boring!
Sweet heroine is kicked out of her home after her father's death by her young stepmother, after being their unpaid help for all her life. She is forced to find a job, and meets the hero who has a secretarial post advertised. Instead, he offers her a marriage of convenience in name only, and desperate to avoid homelessness, the heroine accepts. They then proceed to lead separate lives, where things start going right for the humble heroine. But things get complicated when she continues dating OM, kissing them and having a relationship, until details of her marriage are leaked..
Honestly, loved the hero- kind, caring and generally humorous. The heroine was self righteous and independent- but also a cheater. If the roles were reversed and the hero did this in a book, I'd call him out too and that is exactly what the heroine did despite being in "love" with the very nice hero. I have to accept, I skimmed the last 30% of the book because I felt grossed out.
Unsafe
1/5
Talk about boring!
Sweet heroine is kicked out of her home after her father's death by her young stepmother, after being their unpaid help for all her life. She is forced to find a job, and meets the hero who has a secretarial post advertised. Instead, he offers her a marriage of convenience in name only, and desperate to avoid homelessness, the heroine accepts. They then proceed to lead separate lives, where things start going right for the humble heroine. But things get complicated when she continues dating OM, kissing them and having a relationship, until details of her marriage are leaked..
Honestly, loved the hero- kind, caring and generally humorous. The heroine was self righteous and independent- but also a cheater. If the roles were reversed and the hero did this in a book, I'd call him out too and that is exactly what the heroine did despite being in "love" with the very nice hero. I have to accept, I skimmed the last 30% of the book because I felt grossed out.
Unsafe
1/5
April 8, 2015
3 1/2 Stars ~ Colly is a 23 yr old who upon her father's death finds herself about to be homeless when his very young widow and sole inheritor wants her out. Finding herself with little funds and no real job skills (as she'd kept house for her father) Colly hunts the want ads. There's a position for a multi-lingual secretary at Livingstone Engineering, and Colly is hopeful that her four languages and typing skills will be enough. But on the day of her interview, the department head she's to meet with is unavailable, and she finds herself being interviewed by none other than the CEO, Silos Livingstone. Silas firstly offers his condolences regarding her father, in the engineering world her father was very much respected. Quickly Colly realizes that she's out of her league when it comes to the job, and she apologizes profusely for wasting Silas' valuable time. Silas manages to draw out from her that she's been left forgotten in her father's will and that all his wealth, house included, has gone to the money grabbing young wife.
There's something about Colly that appeals to Silas and he wants very much to be able to help her, and he tells her that she may fit in with another job but that he has to work out the details and will meet with her later in the week. Silas has just learnt from his father that his grandfather, the founder of Livingstone Engineering, has decided to alter his will, and that the company shares will be given to his cousin, Kit, unless Silas were to find himself a wife, and then the shares would be split. Silas knows that should the control of the Company fall into Kit's hands it would surely sink, and so he proposes a marriage deal, one that will benefit Silas and Colly. Silas would see that she had sufficient funds to get the training or advanced education for whatever career she chose and a place to live, and Silas would have the peace of mind that when the time came for his grandfather's death, he'd be able to prove his own marriage.
What is supposed to be a secret marriage, with them living apart and living their lives as if they'd never met, soon turns into something more. These two are fated from their beginning to get under each other's skins, Ms. Steele gives this surprisingly delightful romance a rather humourous tone. There's no angsty moments or evil misunderstandings, just a sweet love story of two people who are perfect for each other but not wanting commitments to anyone. Love has a habit of encroaching most unexpectedly, and Silas and Colly are lead on a merry dance that was fun to read. Ms. Steele started her writing career about 40 years prior to the publishing of this love story, and perhaps that accounts for the vintage Harley feel to this one.
There's something about Colly that appeals to Silas and he wants very much to be able to help her, and he tells her that she may fit in with another job but that he has to work out the details and will meet with her later in the week. Silas has just learnt from his father that his grandfather, the founder of Livingstone Engineering, has decided to alter his will, and that the company shares will be given to his cousin, Kit, unless Silas were to find himself a wife, and then the shares would be split. Silas knows that should the control of the Company fall into Kit's hands it would surely sink, and so he proposes a marriage deal, one that will benefit Silas and Colly. Silas would see that she had sufficient funds to get the training or advanced education for whatever career she chose and a place to live, and Silas would have the peace of mind that when the time came for his grandfather's death, he'd be able to prove his own marriage.
What is supposed to be a secret marriage, with them living apart and living their lives as if they'd never met, soon turns into something more. These two are fated from their beginning to get under each other's skins, Ms. Steele gives this surprisingly delightful romance a rather humourous tone. There's no angsty moments or evil misunderstandings, just a sweet love story of two people who are perfect for each other but not wanting commitments to anyone. Love has a habit of encroaching most unexpectedly, and Silas and Colly are lead on a merry dance that was fun to read. Ms. Steele started her writing career about 40 years prior to the publishing of this love story, and perhaps that accounts for the vintage Harley feel to this one.
April 22, 2015
This was well done, but I prefer her vintage collection. They have more tension, more asshatery and good grovels. This hero was way too nice. ; D
June 16, 2011
This is the story of Colly and Silas. Colly has been left homeless and penniless after her fathers death and him leaving everything to his avaricious wife. Colly has no job or work experience after dedicating her life to taking care of her father before he married again. She meets Silas when she applies for a job at his company, for which she is grossly unsuitable for. Silas is sympathetic when she breaks down and explains her situation.
Silas has recently learned that his grandfather has changed his will to specify that unless he is married Silas will not inherit the family business he has worked so hard for. Silas offers Colly a marriage of convenience, they will live separate lives and Colly will be provided with a flat to live in and an allowance. As they begin spending time together as friends both their feelings for one another begin to grow.
This is a really sweet romance, and beautifully written with some fantastic witty dialogue between the characters. Unfortunately certain elements of the story just didn't work for me. The story was set over a long period of time, and the two characters sometimes went months without seeing each other and for their love to develop in this time it seemed a little unbelievable. Silas's seasons for a marriage of convenience is pretty standard stuff (ie will conditions) but to keep it a secret was a bit strange, what was he going to do, turn up at his grandfathers death bed and say "oh by the way, I have been married for X number of years", it didn't really seem plausible.
I did like Colly as a character though, I really empathised with her feelings of being lost after living a sheltered life, and she was a warm and very like-able character.
Like I said, this is a very sweet romance, however I did find it just a little bit boring.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
Silas has recently learned that his grandfather has changed his will to specify that unless he is married Silas will not inherit the family business he has worked so hard for. Silas offers Colly a marriage of convenience, they will live separate lives and Colly will be provided with a flat to live in and an allowance. As they begin spending time together as friends both their feelings for one another begin to grow.
This is a really sweet romance, and beautifully written with some fantastic witty dialogue between the characters. Unfortunately certain elements of the story just didn't work for me. The story was set over a long period of time, and the two characters sometimes went months without seeing each other and for their love to develop in this time it seemed a little unbelievable. Silas's seasons for a marriage of convenience is pretty standard stuff (ie will conditions) but to keep it a secret was a bit strange, what was he going to do, turn up at his grandfathers death bed and say "oh by the way, I have been married for X number of years", it didn't really seem plausible.
I did like Colly as a character though, I really empathised with her feelings of being lost after living a sheltered life, and she was a warm and very like-able character.
Like I said, this is a very sweet romance, however I did find it just a little bit boring.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
September 1, 2015
i absolutely love this one ! this definitely tops my list of favourites ! the hero was dreamily caring, such a wonderful man dat my heart bled while reading. the heroine was really a naive girl, barely out of school. silas was cradle-snatching but he took infinite care of her and helped her out of her most difficult situations. he always tried to understand the situation instead of jumping to conclusions/misjudging colly.
January 27, 2021
Quite dull. Not fun. The couple barely spends time together. We needed the stepmom to come in and try to mess stuff up and be a villain but we had nothing. Just a boring mess. Skip.
April 30, 2022
This vacancy wife book was very... vacant. The trope was obvious and obv that's I picked it up in the first place, but the dialogue was rambling and almost pedantic. No one talks like that in real life. The usual chemistry, hijinks, and I was just glad when it was over cz I had no connection with their HEA. HEA, and they haven't consummated their marriage despite being married throughout - a MOC of course. Safe.
hq-to-read
July 8, 2022Colly Gillingham is in a bind. Not only has she been evicted from her home, but she also needs a job -- and fast! So seeing an advert for a senior secretary at Livingstone Developments, Colly jumps at the chance....
The moment Silas Livingstone sees Colly he knows she's exactly the woman he's been looking for. There's only one vacancy that Silas is advertising now -- and that's for a wife of convenience. Will Colly take him up on the offer...?
The moment Silas Livingstone sees Colly he knows she's exactly the woman he's been looking for. There's only one vacancy that Silas is advertising now -- and that's for a wife of convenience. Will Colly take him up on the offer...?
June 29, 2019
Sweet MOC story. Nice hero. The story was a bit flat.
May 8, 2020
Marginally better, but a totally naive woman, annoyingly so....
July 20, 2020
Příběh je chatrný.
Najednou je do něho zamilovaná, aniž by s ním strávila víc než pár minut? Jen tak?
ji/jí - s. 46
čárka - s. 104
Najednou je do něho zamilovaná, aniž by s ním strávila víc než pár minut? Jen tak?
ji/jí - s. 46
čárka - s. 104
April 18, 2021
Me gustó! Una lectura bastante ligera ✨
December 6, 2023
This is low on Jessica Steele’s Yoda-speak, low on tension, low on plot, story and romance. Blah.
I prefer Yoda-speak with some angst and good characters to semi normal syntax and bland.
I prefer Yoda-speak with some angst and good characters to semi normal syntax and bland.
March 20, 2015
does anyone find the "marriage contract" in this book was extremely weird ? No?
i'll shoot straight to the point. this was a long read, with slow pace of romance. tbh, i enjoyed reading this, until my brain cant accept some part of the plot that i found it too absurd.
at first i really really and i meant it, really like Colly. she was strong, cool, calm and really wants to buid her life and begone from her bitchy stepmom. she wants a career, she want to go on and continuing her school. she met silas when she was about to be kicked out of her house by her stepmom. she was left nothing by her father. so she need a job. she then got an interview in livingston co. where she met silas again and he help her after he offered her a marriage in contract. she then agreed coz she assure him that she was just like him, that she didnt interest in marriage.she wants career! she wants to learn something new! she wants to enjoyed the world! and bla bla bla. but then before we even reach in the middle of a whole book, her charcater start to blurr. i didnt recognized her anymore. im confused, coz i felt like the colly that we got introduced first as a strong cool wants to live her life and want a career are gone! here come the annoying, irritating, whishywashy colly that often get on my nerves bcoz of her feeling towards silas. she knws what she's got the first time she agrred to silas's term of being marriage. but then she wants more and she often snaped at silas bcoz she hope him to feel what she felt, but she also didnt want to, but she wants to. argh!
and then the next thing is, do please explained to me, their marriage contract, they both married, got certificate, then they was supposed to never met again and had their own way, but silas said that they WILL NOT BE DIVORCED??? huh? and whats more stupid was, colly's response to that. she said "oh no. marriage is the last thing on my mind. i want career! so i dont mind being married just in paper. coz i dont want to be married. and what? we cant divorced? for a life time? then we never have to see each other again? sure! i dont ever want to marry anyway". ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME??? this is absurd! so then where was her strong will to find a job? NONE! she's back to work at the galerry. how come someone who being able to speak german-french-spain-and i forgot the other laguage., cant even find a job instead of beng back to work again at the galerry???? she can be an interpreter! a language teacher! anything! but the plot was shallow.
im loosing my patient as i reach the end. i really want to put this book down half of the story. mainly bcoz colly was super irritating. but then again, once i read, i need to finished it. there you go.....
i'll shoot straight to the point. this was a long read, with slow pace of romance. tbh, i enjoyed reading this, until my brain cant accept some part of the plot that i found it too absurd.
at first i really really and i meant it, really like Colly. she was strong, cool, calm and really wants to buid her life and begone from her bitchy stepmom. she wants a career, she want to go on and continuing her school. she met silas when she was about to be kicked out of her house by her stepmom. she was left nothing by her father. so she need a job. she then got an interview in livingston co. where she met silas again and he help her after he offered her a marriage in contract. she then agreed coz she assure him that she was just like him, that she didnt interest in marriage.she wants career! she wants to learn something new! she wants to enjoyed the world! and bla bla bla. but then before we even reach in the middle of a whole book, her charcater start to blurr. i didnt recognized her anymore. im confused, coz i felt like the colly that we got introduced first as a strong cool wants to live her life and want a career are gone! here come the annoying, irritating, whishywashy colly that often get on my nerves bcoz of her feeling towards silas. she knws what she's got the first time she agrred to silas's term of being marriage. but then she wants more and she often snaped at silas bcoz she hope him to feel what she felt, but she also didnt want to, but she wants to. argh!
and then the next thing is, do please explained to me, their marriage contract, they both married, got certificate, then they was supposed to never met again and had their own way, but silas said that they WILL NOT BE DIVORCED??? huh? and whats more stupid was, colly's response to that. she said "oh no. marriage is the last thing on my mind. i want career! so i dont mind being married just in paper. coz i dont want to be married. and what? we cant divorced? for a life time? then we never have to see each other again? sure! i dont ever want to marry anyway". ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME??? this is absurd! so then where was her strong will to find a job? NONE! she's back to work at the galerry. how come someone who being able to speak german-french-spain-and i forgot the other laguage., cant even find a job instead of beng back to work again at the galerry???? she can be an interpreter! a language teacher! anything! but the plot was shallow.
im loosing my patient as i reach the end. i really want to put this book down half of the story. mainly bcoz colly was super irritating. but then again, once i read, i need to finished it. there you go.....
Read
July 27, 2011After the death of her father, Colly is faced with no job, no training, and soon, no home. Applying for a job she meets Silas and they enter in to an arranged marriage in name only for the advantage of both. Little does Colly know, but love enters in to alter everything.
A nice story.
A nice story.
November 8, 2014
Never have I been so bored with a cliche book before. The whole story, while cliche, was initially fun but the characters just kept talking and talking over the same things again and again. Do not read this if you're looking for a fun light read, because this book is a hurdle to read since its so repetitive and boring. I don't even know why I finished it, I guess I'm too lazy to find a new book.
July 5, 2017
It seemed to me too naïve a heroine and too naïve book as a whole. To me it sounded more like a draft than finished work. It could have been good but lacked in some crucial parts, IMO. Evil young stepmother, dashing hero, grandpa with strange requirements or else they all looked like paper dolls cause the depth was lacing in their image.
July 4, 2017
What a nice, sweet hero!
January 9, 2015
(M&B) A sweet formatted story
June 26, 2015
run of the mill, 80s/90s m&b....
good read for 2 hrs...maybe less
good read for 2 hrs...maybe less
January 31, 2024
2/5
Harlequin jakich wiele.
Harlequin jakich wiele.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews