The Marriage Bargain

Billionaire Games #1

by Sandra Edwards

Camille Chandler is a career-driven tabloid journalist who’s barely a year out of college and shouldering a mountain of student loans that are coming due soon. Her internship at Disclosure Magazine in Los Angeles is ending and she’s anticipating a permanent offer of employment with the publication. Camille’s plans for the future are right on track—until her boss sees a curious ad in the L.A. Trades. single actress for a temporary engagement abroad.

France’s mega-rich playboy Julian de Laurent is up to something and Camille’s boss expects her to find out what it is. Who knew the eccentric gazillionaire was looking to hire a temporary wife? When Camille refuses to take the gig—and secretly write a tell-all on the de Laurent family for the magazine—she’s fired and left financially destitute, forcing her to entertain Julian’s proposal for real. But what’ll happen at the end of the contract period after Camille has spent six months as the wife of a man she learns is capable of stealing her heart?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Ebooks, Amazon, Chick Lit, Fiction

244 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 5, 2010

About the author

NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY Bestselling Author Sandra Edwards writes award-winning romance in a variety of subgenres such as paranormal (mostly time travel and reincarnation), contemporary, and suspense. She lives in the U.S. (west coast) with her husband, two kids, four dogs and one very temperamental feline. Sandra's books often push the envelope and step outside the boundaries of conventional romance. For more info on Sandra's books, visit her website at sandrawrites.com.

Want to win a KINDLE FIRE? Sign up for Sandra's VIP list. She gives a brand new KINDLE FIRE to someone from her subscriber list EVERY MONTH. bit.ly/VK7lFP

Reviews

[Carrie Olguin · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Only read the first chapter before the logic errors and out-of-character issues got to me. Contemporary romance.

Here's the scoop:
Wealthy hero wants to hire an actress to be his wife for five years so that he does not have to be forced to marry a woman chosen for him by the head of his wealthy family.

Heroine is a reporter on undercover assignment to find out what the wealthy playboy is up to. She pretends to be an actress to meet him and hear the pitch. He offers her five million dollars to pretend to be his wife.

Okay, so here's some of what bothered me ane why I rolled my eyes and gave up.

Hero placed an ad for an actresses to play a part. Really? Placing the ad with his name (and I don't believe he'd be that stupid) would bring crazies to his door and he would know this. So if he placed the ad, he wouldn't have used his name. If he did use his name, he's just stupid and so I don't like him. And If he didn't use his name, then how did the heroine's editor know the ad came from him?

Also, why place an ad? If he's rich, all he has to do is have his man call talent agents, all hush hush, to find him what he's looking for.

Okay more problems with the heroine.
Heroine has been an aprentice for a magazine for three years. Her editor says the program is normally for only one year. If the heroine brings in this story, she will be given her own column. Really? An apprentice for three years (shich should only be one year) and the heroine still hasn't secured a position with the magazine? What kind of idiot is she for not walking away say like, uh, two years ago?

Heroine graduated from Stanford but figures if she loses this job she will have to take one waiting tables. Really? Graduated from Stanford but suited to being either an aprentice or a waitress? Even if she can't cut it as a reporter, she can certainly find a better job just based on her college degree alone!

The heroine is too soft hearted, to empathetic to write this story about this guy, with all those personal, possibly embarressing, details made public, oh, the humiliation she'd be responsible for. Really? And she wants to be a reporter? Girl, you need to rethink your career goals.

And finally, she refuses the hero's job offer, five years of employment with room and boared and a salary of five million dollars. And she doesn't have to pretend to be his wife. They will wed for real and divorce for real. He's not asking for trips into her bedroom. And she's not emotionally attached to anyone else.

She can still persue her career while married. And she wouldn't have to write the dreaded article. Yeah, I don't get her at all.

Sometimes I wonder about fictional heroines and their "saintly tendencies." Heaven forbid any romantic heroine might suffer from any of the seven deadly sins, except an excess of Pride.

For five million, she could apprentice with any magazine she wanted for the rest of her life and be a empatetic and sensitive a useless reporter for the rest of her life without starving. With the connections from her wealty in-laws, she could work for a btter magazine, or become a weather girl on TV (for which she's better suited).

[Melissa Portillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Marriage bargain by Sandra Edwards

I recommend this read to fans of Jennifer Probst and Melody Anne.

Mega rich and with the world at his feet Julian De Laurent seems to have it all accept the one thing he needs, a wife! His father has arranged him a marriage to a woman he could never see himself with, and so Julian does the only thing he can and places an ad in the newspaper for an actress to play the role of his wife. If he already has a "wife" his father can't possibly force him to marry another.

Camille is a intern for a gossip magazine she's sent undercover to pose as an actress to get the dirt on Julian de Laurent, a sexy French business mogul only to find out he's in need of a wife. When Camille refuses to write the story and abuse Julian's trust her boss fires her. Now broke and in need of a job would it be so hard to pretend to be a wife for 6 months and 5 million dollars? How can she possibly resist Julian for that long with out becoming attached?

It was awesome to see somebody as rich as Julian need Camille who was essentially poor, not only need her but learn something from her. While money seemed to be the most important factor at the start of their relationship that quickly changed... And gave me the warm and fuzzies!

While the plot was some what predictable I thoroughly enjoyed this read! The characters where developed nicely and the comical sexy chemistry between Julian and Camille was sincere and sweet. I loved the added mix of the jilted ex, the best friend and the play boy brother it made for a great balance of flirtation, anger and damn right bitchy behavior.

I loved how the book was set between France and LA... Oh the life of the jet setting mega rich!! Ms Edwards has a winner on her hands I can't wait for bk 2

[Megan’s Endless Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked where the book was heading in terms of plot. I liked how it started out and how the emotions were incorporated in the book. I think that the author brought into life an interesting story idea and succeeded in making the story come to life. The flow of the book was nice and I didn’t get whiplash from the changing scenes.

Camille was a character who stood by their morals until they were threatened. I didn’t like how easily she gave up on some things and how she was willing to toss aside her morals just because she was threatened. Then she didn’t come clean to Julian on why she accepted his proposal and that made me a little irritated. Besides these minor annoyances I truly enjoyed the rest of the book reading from Camille’s POV mostly.

Julian was a character that sometimes surprised me with his thoughts and actions. I got a little annoyed with him when he claimed to love Camille, and then when presented with some discriminating evidence, switched to angry Neanderthal. I felt that in some arts of the book he switched moods too easily and fast. Otherwise he was fun to read about and I like his character.

Overall the book was a fun read without getting too emotional. I do hope to read more books by this author in the future and will be on the lookout for them.

**** I received this eARC from NetGalley.****

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was just ok.

[Romancing the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Rachel
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

I snagged this book because it immediately caught my attention. I love books that have arranged marriages thrown in to a contemporary timeline.

Our heroine, Camille, is a very strong female lead. She’s beautiful, courageous, independent, and stands up to authority including that of her boss, very early on in the story. I liked that she was a beautiful, vibrant girl who was willing to go against the grain. Honestly, her response at the beginning was not at all what I thought it would be. I don’t want to give it away, but it made it easier to fall in love with her. As I read her story, I honestly I don’t know if I would be as forgiving or nice as she was, but she took everything very well, and in the end earned Julianne’s respect and, yes, his love, because of it.

Julianne is a typical arrogant hero and of course in true reader fashion, I fell for him–HARD! He’s devastatingly handsome, confident, and knows what he wants. He reminded me a bit of a grown up Edward Cullen. Hands down, the author wrote great character development. I could see him in my mind and although he was a little arrogant, I liked that his confidence overshadowed what could have been a spoiled conceited character. It was a very fine line, but I think the author did a good job.

The love scenes were tastefully done. They were steamy without being erotic which is exactly what I like. At times, I was sitting on the edge of my chair in suspense and thankfully everything was resolved in such clever way that I only bit off two of my nails and exhaled in relief. I liked that everything was tied up neatly at the end, but I wish that I would have been able to see what happened with the family. There was minor swearing and sex. Overall a great read!

[Jonetta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Camille Chandler answered Julian de Laurent’s ad placed in the L.A. Trades for a refined actress while working undercover as a reporter for a tabloid magazine. Her boss sent her to find out what the French billionaire playboy was up to. When she discovered he was looking for an actress to portray his wife for six months to thwart his father’s efforts to get him into an arranged marriage, Camille tells her boss she wants no part of the scheme to write a tell-all on the family. She’s promptly fired, blackballed and facing financial ruin. Desperate, Camille decides to meet with Julian on her own and consider the offer.

What began as pretty light hearted fare turned into an interesting story. I liked Camille for her simplicity and grace, even though she lacked polish it was hard to believe she was an honors Stanford graduate (why intern for a tabloid?). Julian was hard to dislike with his impeccable manners and style, even though it was often tough to read him emotionally because of the veneer. There was a lot of repetition in the beginning that made the story more tedious than it should have been but about 1/3 of the way in, I was into the game Julian and Camille were perpetrating on his family and the romance that eventually blossomed between the two.

I enjoyed the story, enough that I’ve already purchased the next book in the series. There are a wealth (pardon the pun) of interesting characters in this series that I’m intrigued by and want more. I could also sense something sinister at play with the patriarch of the family, which baited me even more. I’m rating it 3.5 stars.

[Phaedra Seabolt · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do if you had the opportunity to marry a rich and famous person with the agreement that in six months the marriage would be dissolved AND you would become a multimillionaire? Me personally, if I had no other relationship ties, I would so do it. Camille Chandler is put in this exact situation with only one other stipulation. She answers to the wife-seeking ad in order to get a scoop for her magazine. Her dream is to write a column for some prestigious magazine. The problem came when her boss told her to accept the marriage proposal only to get the story and to back out of the arrangement the day before the wedding. Camille has way too much heart to do something so cruel just for a story. However, her boss sees that as an unforgivable flaw for a reporter. Camille quits her job as she is being fired and finds herself blacklisted. Now what should she do?

Camille finds herself agreeing to a marriage of convenience just to keep herself off the streets and to pay her bills. She doesn't expect to actually enjoy having the extra money. She doesn't expect to be attracted to Julian with a fever she doesn't know if she can deny. She also doesn't expect to be competing for his affection with the woman his father intended him to marry. What will happen over the next six months is a mystery. It's a unique story that will have you questioning what you would do to survive. It's very well written with great character development that will leave you wanting to read more of Sandra Edwards's works.

Read More reviews at Identity Discovery Blog.

[Tonileg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julian de Laurent is a rich French dude and I'm not sure that Camille is the brightest bulb in the box because she just believes everything he says without doing her googling!
Camille is an Stanford educated writer and she is sent out to get a story on Julian but then refuses to complete it because it involves her getting married to Julian for six months.
For five million dollars, it is well worth six months posing as Julian's wife to his family and friends.
I did see the obvious romance for what it was and not some deep complicated commentary on modern society. This was a fun light read and totally leaves you with a good taste in your mouth.
But did Camille have to be a virgin?! It really didn't matter because Julian wasn't one and he didn't even notice the first time they made love or any other time in the story. That part could have been dropped and instead a scene where they are getting to know each other added, because it was a bit quick!
Kindle freebie and about 200 pages
3 stars

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Marriage Bargain, is what I would term, as a light, easy, stress-free read.

Camille is a reporter, who is pushed by her boss into applying for a position seen advertised for a single actress to work in an extended job abroad, in the L.A. papers.

She meets your stereotypical tall, dark and handsome, European playboy Julian de Laurent, and is made an offer she wants to refuse. Unfortunately due her initial reaction to refuse and risk losing the biggest tell all scoop on the de Laurent family, she is fired from her job, making her re-evaluate her options.

Can she stick to the contract, can they both walk away at the end without having developed any feelings for the other. Well I am sure you can guess the answer, there are a few twists and turns on the plot, but it's not going to blow you away. I would put this story firmly in the Mills & Boonesque category, enjoyable enough but I doubt I'll remember it once I have started reading something else.

Oh and the constant use of "Cherie" got really, really annoying.

ARC provided by Netgalley for the above honest review.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful, it begins with Camilles interesting interview for hire to pose as a wife for six months in return she'll get payed three million dollars. Obviously, Julian is some hot French guy, spoiled filthy billionaire who opposed his father choice of bride for him, and he wanted to stay single. So, he went to America,and hires Camille as his pretend wife so that his father would leave him alone. Though their supposed "pretend" became real, and gets complicated because Julian ex-girl wanted Julian for herself no matter what.......well we know what happened in the end.......a happy ending of course :)

[Sofia Lazaridou · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Julians line "I aim to please" I could not het out of my mind that this is like a wanna be Fifty Shades. And this is so not like the Shades. It is more like The Marriage Bargain. After some dissapointments in the book department this was better and got a whole star because I did not guessed what will lead our couple to a break up. It was good. I am not sure about Camille's friend who seemed to be a *hore and the best bestie Camille could get.

[Anni · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ridiculous plot at the beginning. Unfortunately it continued to the end

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Marriage Bargain; Billionaire Games, Book 1 is by Sandra Edwards. This is a cute book and one which is easy to read quickly. It doesn’t have a lot of twists and turns so that you have to pay close attention. Instead it is one which can be read with little attention and it is still good.
Camille Chandler is a tabloid journalist who is sent by her boss to answer an unusual ad in the L.A. Trades. “Wanted: Single actress for an extended gig abroad” The ad isn’t too unusual; but the writer is. Julian De Laurent is a mega-rich French playboy who is constantly surrounded by lovely women. Why would he be advertising like this? Camille is sent by her boss to find out more about this.
Julian is frustrated. He needs a regal actress to fill this role. His standards are high but those of his father will be higher. He needs to find someone who looks and acts like she had been groomed to be the wife of a rich man. As he is about to give up, Camille walks in. She is perfect; but when she finds out what the job entails, she turns him down.
When she goes back to her office, her boss gives her an ultimatum. She takes the job and writes a tell-all about the family or looses her job and any chance of getting another one any time soon. When she loses her job, she goes back to Julian. He has to help her. She decides to accept the job without the intention of writing anything about it. However, she doesn’t’ tell Julian what had happened. Was that a mistake?

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read with love found and lost between two people. Camille left her job but needed one desperately. She answers a newspaper add for an actress to pretend to be in love with billionaire Julian De Lauent and be engaged for 6 months. Julian wanted his dad off his back about marrying someone Julian didn’t want to marry. He was willing to give a lot of money to do this part time job. Little did the two of them realise that they became very attracted to each other and each having feelings which the other who didn’t know about. The book goes into a lot of how much money Julian has and how little Camille had. But did their pretending last? Did something happen that could end it all?

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

First Line: Julian de Laurent had lost faith in his plan.

If I was not on a mission to finish all the books in my Kindle library, off work for a few days with nothing to do, and a fast reader I would never have made it to the end of this novel. How fake-marriage-turning-into-real-marriage ever became a contemporary romance trope I will never know, but this version added nothing to the genre. The book description indicates that it was written by a USA Today and NYT bestselling author. My guess is that this is an early novel and that she has gotten better over time, because I cannot see this book, basic and un-inspiring as it was, winning any awards.

[CB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for a challenge otherwise I really don’t think I would’ve ever picked this up. It did end up being all right when I wasn’t even expecting that. I liked how the FMC had the comebacks for the shit people in the MMCs life. The spice wasn’t spicing for me because I personally didn’t get much chemistry between the two characters. Also there were a lot of just huge nos like all the eating misogynistic views.
2.5/5

[Sam Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third time's a charm

This story was delightful
However
It was clearly lacking key elements that would cause it to be realistic.
Very new age fairytale, right down to the part where nothing really gets resolved.

[Macy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story that is exactly what you think it would be. Formulaic and yet very sweet. That said, the narration for the female characters would be laughable if not so awful. Male characters great.

[Christie Omo · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I could round up to 3.5, I would. It was a good story, but was lacking something. The twist at the end was a much needed piece to keep the reader. I don't feel like it was a waste of time, but I do not feel compelled to read the next one in the series.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous

I like the easy read. It may be simple but the book is amazing. It is moving and has a dream like quality that any girl could hope for.

[Cynthia Donahey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty Woman

This book reminded me way to much of Pretty Woman with Julia Roberts. It definitely was an enjoyable read. Anxious to see what happens to Andre and Tasha

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amusing and Lovely

Great amusing reading i have enjoy it very much it touched deep my emotions i felt lifted through the air with the growing love of this pair

[Lucy (why do I bother to read chicklit) · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s cliche after cliche marriage of convenience turned real but what really disturbs me is: why does she need to be a virgin???? Stanford graduate, journalist in LA and still Virgen? Oh, please!

[Michele Lombardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review

This book's story progression was very well written. It felt like a real timeline. I would recommend this author and her entertaining style

[Barb Chansky · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story was pretty poorly written; the premise was OK for a romance novel, but the final execution leaves much to be desired...really, no great character development at all

[Joanne Levy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy fast reading. Entertaining but the ending was predictable.

[Ragini · Rating 1 out of 5]

What shit is this.

[cheryl doerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

This is a awesome book I loved it. I was hooked from the beginning. I recommend this to everyone. Totally awesome

[Adelatte · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good story

[LaVerne G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Enjoyed reading this…waiting to read the next one now that I’m finished with this one…hope the next one is just as good…