DEBRA WEBB is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 170 novels, including reader favorites the Finley O'Sullivan and Devlin & Falco series. She is the recipient of the prestigious Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Romantic Suspense as well as numerous Reviewers Choice Awards. In 2012 Debra was honored as the first recipient of the esteemed L. A. Banks Warrior Woman Award for her courage, strength, and grace in the face of adversity. Recently Debra was awarded the distinguished Centennial Award for having achieved publication of her 100th novel.
With more than four million books in print in numerous languages and countries, Debra’s love of storytelling goes back to her childhood when her mother bought her an old typewriter in a tag sale. Born in Alabama, Debra grew up on a farm. She spent every available hour exploring the world around her and creating her stories. She wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t until she spent three years working for the Commanding General of the US Army in Berlin behind the Iron Curtain and a five-year stint in NASA’s Shuttle Program that she realized her true calling. A collision course between suspense and romance was set. Since then she has expanded her work into some of the darkest places the human psyche dares to go. Visit Debra at www.debrawebb.com.
Debra Webb's "Contract Bride" is a fast and entertaining story with an evil villain and nonstop action. On her wedding day, Dr. Jennifer Ballard's fiance orders her killed, forcing her to go on the run. She turns to the Colby Agency and Agent Ethan Delaney for help. Jennifer has no identification and can't prove who she is. Ethan doesn't know whether to believe her story, or if she's trying to use the agency to cause trouble for the Ballards' pharmaceutical company. Can she convince him to help her save her and her father from her fiance's evil plan before it's too late?
It's interesting. I had many more problems with "Contract Bride" than Webb's other books this year, yet I enjoyed it more. Like most of Webb's heroines lately, Jennifer does some very stupid things for a woman who is supposed to be a genius. Her uncle bursts into her dressing room, shot in the back, and tells her not to trust her fiance. What does Jennifer do? As soon as her fiance comes in, she thinks, "Oh, he'll help us!" She's the kind of woman who complains the hero is driving too fast when he's trying to outrun the killers chasing them. He's trying to save your life. Why are you complaining? Ethan is worse. He's sexist and rude. He keeps referring to the much younger Jennifer as a little girl at the same time he's lusting after her. It's a little weird and off-putting, and gives his attraction an almost perverted feeling.
The story was still good enough that I got past the characters. After that opening prologue with Jennifer thinking her murderous fiance is going to help her, I thought I was going to hate this book. Surprisingly I enjoyed it a great deal. There are a number of satisfying twists and turns. The book moves faster than the author's last few, like "Personal Protector" and "Physical Evidence." The constant action makes for a fun read. Jennifer may be stupid at times. She's also tougher and less of a victim than most of Webb's heroines. She shows a good amount of determination and courage. By the end she seems more like a full participant and equal partner in the action than someone waiting around to be saved. "Contract Bride" is told with Webb's usual gritty tone. She has a unique, almost mainstream voice. That helps heighten the suspense.
If I hadn't had so much fun reading the story, I probably would have gotten hung up on the annoying things the characters sometimes did. Other readers may not be able to do the same. For me, Contract Bride was a fun read.
Empezó bien, continuó más o menos y terminó peor... No era mala la idea sin embargo no creo que la autora haya sabido manejarla, poca descripción de personajes y sin duda le falto desarrollo, mostró detalles poco creíbles y muy apresurados. 2.5 - 3 ⭐️
Es una historia con una trama bastante distinta a todo lo que he leído. Tiene mucha intriga y también romance. Los personajes son interesantes también y diferentes. 💜🩷💜
Loved their story - even though he didn't believe her at first, and it seemed like He was more annoyed by her. She still got to him, especially after her asking him to show her how to make love. He realized he'd be the only one that ever got to see her this way!
I love this series and feel like I get to know the characters personally thru Ms Webbs writing!