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Scandal, Inc #1
The Billionaire's Marriage Contract
The last thing Amy Haven needs is a husband. She already has an eccentric aunt who moved in and shows no signs of leaving, a sister who’s pushing for a promotion, and a caseload of the nation’s most charismatic and scandal-prone men. As one of DC’s top political fixers, she barely has time to sleep, never mind find a man.
Billionaire playboy Ethan Cole needs a wife. To change his image and seal the deal of a lifetime, Ethan needs to become a family man… fast. So he turns to the one woman he thinks is up for the job: Amy. After all, they’ve always had great chemistry, and she knows his secrets better than anyone… well, most of them, anyway.
What starts off as a simple business deal quickly snowballs into something much more. As passions flare and sharp words fly, Amy and Ethan find that maybe their marriage is more than just convenient.
Billionaire playboy Ethan Cole needs a wife. To change his image and seal the deal of a lifetime, Ethan needs to become a family man… fast. So he turns to the one woman he thinks is up for the job: Amy. After all, they’ve always had great chemistry, and she knows his secrets better than anyone… well, most of them, anyway.
What starts off as a simple business deal quickly snowballs into something much more. As passions flare and sharp words fly, Amy and Ethan find that maybe their marriage is more than just convenient.
179 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 26, 2013
336 people are currently reading
768 people want to read
About the author
Avery James
26 books68 followersRomance writer. Avid reader. Former political junkie. Proud mom of two young tykes and a pup named Buckets. Living out my HEA in beautiful coastal Rhode Island.
Life’s too short to take yourself too seriously. I write the kind of romances I like to read, sassy, fun and sweet, with Heroes who know what they want, and Heroines who aren’t afraid to be themselves.
Life’s too short to take yourself too seriously. I write the kind of romances I like to read, sassy, fun and sweet, with Heroes who know what they want, and Heroines who aren’t afraid to be themselves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
May 2, 2015
I didn't finish the book. Got so turned off by the heroine I lost interest. To make a long story short, Amy marries Ethan as part of a business arrangement. They fly out to meet with the owner of the business Ethan wants to purchase, their sole objective to sell the idea of Ethan being a happily married family man. As soon as they land Ethan is called home on business and leaves Amy there to schmooze their host. It's the host's son who picks her up and hits on her. He doesn't care if she's married or not. He has a reputation as a bad boy and likes to live up to it. He takes her to a bar, still hitting on her, and she actually contemplates taking him up on his offer. This is where the author lost me. This woman prides herself on her integrity. She works at cleaning up scandals for other people, Ethan included, so why would she want to participate in one of her own? The author takes the decision out of Amy's hands by having Ethan miraculously show up at the last second. It was out of character for Amy to marry Ethan in the first place when she had a rule against getting involved with a client. That you could get away with because apparently they were attracted to each other from the time they first met and he was paying her ten million to pose as his wife. But the other? I didn't see the necessity for it at all and it ruined the book for me.
November 20, 2013
It didn't hold my interest for long.
May 4, 2018
DNF 55%
Couldn't hold my interest.
Couldn't hold my interest.
October 2, 2015
Thank God for free books, cause this is not one I would have purchased. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't totally terrible but it was OK to read. you know what I'm going to call it the perfect holidays book, one you don't have to think about but easy to read.
The blurb of this book had me pretty well hooked. I love a good billionaire romance , add a marriage contract and a smart ass female lead and it is almost guaranteed to be a great read. This had all the connections to make that happen but just fell a little short for me.
Ethan Cole needs a wife to get his new contract finished but with a history of being a "playboy" he turns to old "friend" Amy Haven to help him out with his problem.
Amy us more than a little shocked with Ethan's request abs knowing nothing comes for free, she makes a deal with him, marriage for $20 million. Taking the deal a wedding is completed and their honeymoon is a nightmare from the very beginning. Ethan must leave Wyoming immediately after they arrive and return to DC for a life or death company issue, this leaves Amy with the owner of the company Ethan wishes to aquire.
Amy is taken in by owner Hank and his son Logan but she is only taken by the man she shouldn't stand but she cannot get Ethan out of her mind.
A marriage that should have been simple, mutual dislike should make this an easy job. But feelings are never that easy to turn on and off. Very quickly Amy discovers the man she really wants to hate is the man she is falling in love with.
See even writing this review I can't find the reason it didn't thrill me. I think I just wanted more chemistry in the pages.... more hot sexual tension! So I'll leave it as good for a freebie.
The blurb of this book had me pretty well hooked. I love a good billionaire romance , add a marriage contract and a smart ass female lead and it is almost guaranteed to be a great read. This had all the connections to make that happen but just fell a little short for me.
Ethan Cole needs a wife to get his new contract finished but with a history of being a "playboy" he turns to old "friend" Amy Haven to help him out with his problem.
Amy us more than a little shocked with Ethan's request abs knowing nothing comes for free, she makes a deal with him, marriage for $20 million. Taking the deal a wedding is completed and their honeymoon is a nightmare from the very beginning. Ethan must leave Wyoming immediately after they arrive and return to DC for a life or death company issue, this leaves Amy with the owner of the company Ethan wishes to aquire.
Amy is taken in by owner Hank and his son Logan but she is only taken by the man she shouldn't stand but she cannot get Ethan out of her mind.
A marriage that should have been simple, mutual dislike should make this an easy job. But feelings are never that easy to turn on and off. Very quickly Amy discovers the man she really wants to hate is the man she is falling in love with.
See even writing this review I can't find the reason it didn't thrill me. I think I just wanted more chemistry in the pages.... more hot sexual tension! So I'll leave it as good for a freebie.
February 21, 2015
This is a super cute story that I couldn't put down.
Amy's life is dedicated to her company. She helps people avoid and get out of scandals.
Ethan is a Billionaire who has enlisted the help of Amy, more than once.
Ethan has the opportunity to buy a company that will make him even richer than he already is, but there is a problem, the current owner of the company wants to sell to someone who's family oriented. This is a huge problem for Ethan because he isn't even seriously involved with anyone. Ethan knows that he needs someone to agree to be his wife, someone until he can acquire the company and there is only one person that he can trust to do the job, Amy. The one person that he has become dependent upon to get him out of trouble. He knows that asking Amy is a long shot because she is a straight forward business woman that won't stand for any of his schemes.
Amy never gets involved with her clients personally. She refused to get caught up in their problems and scandals but, when Ethan proposes a contractual marriage and offers Amy an obscene amount of money, she agrees to the proposal only after Ethan agrees to the amount of money that she asks for. Amy doesn't trust anyone, especially a client that has been in the tabloids more than once. The last thing that she needs to to start having feelings for Ethan, so she's determined to keep the arrangement strictly business.
I recommend this book to anyone looking for a Swoon Worthy novel.
Amy's life is dedicated to her company. She helps people avoid and get out of scandals.
Ethan is a Billionaire who has enlisted the help of Amy, more than once.
Ethan has the opportunity to buy a company that will make him even richer than he already is, but there is a problem, the current owner of the company wants to sell to someone who's family oriented. This is a huge problem for Ethan because he isn't even seriously involved with anyone. Ethan knows that he needs someone to agree to be his wife, someone until he can acquire the company and there is only one person that he can trust to do the job, Amy. The one person that he has become dependent upon to get him out of trouble. He knows that asking Amy is a long shot because she is a straight forward business woman that won't stand for any of his schemes.
Amy never gets involved with her clients personally. She refused to get caught up in their problems and scandals but, when Ethan proposes a contractual marriage and offers Amy an obscene amount of money, she agrees to the proposal only after Ethan agrees to the amount of money that she asks for. Amy doesn't trust anyone, especially a client that has been in the tabloids more than once. The last thing that she needs to to start having feelings for Ethan, so she's determined to keep the arrangement strictly business.
I recommend this book to anyone looking for a Swoon Worthy novel.
September 1, 2013
I made it to 65% and was just done. I'm sure others will like it but I just couldn't stomach them any longer. Ethan nearly single handedly ruined the name Ethan for me, I've always loved that name. The only man with any morals was Hank and he was 70. Ethan came across as manipulative to me. He arranges situations to get the outcome he wants. When he came back from Wyoming saying that they hadn't completed the deal, leaving out the part where he asked Hank to wait until Amy fell in love with him before they completed the deal, and she would have to spend more time with him, I wanted to hit him. But when he said he thought that Amy and Aunt Vi should move in with him, I knew I had to stop reading before I broke something!
Then there was Logan, the competition. I just can't have any respect for anyone who would deliberately seduce a married woman. I just don't get how an intelligent could fall for either of these characters.
Not for me but I'm sure others will enjoy it.
Then there was Logan, the competition. I just can't have any respect for anyone who would deliberately seduce a married woman. I just don't get how an intelligent could fall for either of these characters.
Not for me but I'm sure others will enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2015
This book follows Amy Haven and Ethan Cole. Work and family is Amy's priority so she doesn't really have time for her personal relationship but when Ethan 'proposed' a business deal that she couldn't say no to, be her wife until he strike a deal with an influential man in exchange of a very good amount of something, her life gets more complicated.
It was really sweet and fun. A real page-turner; I literallly couldn't put it down. It was however, cliché. The basic 'billionaire offers a girl something she couldn't say no to.' But no matter how I put it in the cliché category, I can't help but love every scene. The story's not that heavy it almost feels like an adult fluff.
What I adored with this book is that the characters are adult; they do not make rash decisions, they contemplate everything before doing something (unless under the influence of alcohol, of course). They're developed really well.
It was really sweet and fun. A real page-turner; I literallly couldn't put it down. It was however, cliché. The basic 'billionaire offers a girl something she couldn't say no to.' But no matter how I put it in the cliché category, I can't help but love every scene. The story's not that heavy it almost feels like an adult fluff.
What I adored with this book is that the characters are adult; they do not make rash decisions, they contemplate everything before doing something (unless under the influence of alcohol, of course). They're developed really well.
May 17, 2015
I'm sorry
This book started off well.... We all see that the female protagonist was a hard-butt, but when the leading male character confesses his love to her and how he's been in love with her for years she only can think about the fact that he lied about the reasons behind his asking for marriage... okay I get it, it drags the story out more... but she is unnecessarily mean, bitter, and neurotic. I think he should have dropped her. As for the author (you) not saying the story isn't good. But you could have made the Logan crisis more drawn out instead of their love troubles. It made her seem crazy and less attractive when she first seemed to be very strong and independent. And as for her thing for knowing things ahead of time-- it's called a surprise, did she really have such a poor childhood that she doesn't know what a surprise is. Nice work though
This book started off well.... We all see that the female protagonist was a hard-butt, but when the leading male character confesses his love to her and how he's been in love with her for years she only can think about the fact that he lied about the reasons behind his asking for marriage... okay I get it, it drags the story out more... but she is unnecessarily mean, bitter, and neurotic. I think he should have dropped her. As for the author (you) not saying the story isn't good. But you could have made the Logan crisis more drawn out instead of their love troubles. It made her seem crazy and less attractive when she first seemed to be very strong and independent. And as for her thing for knowing things ahead of time-- it's called a surprise, did she really have such a poor childhood that she doesn't know what a surprise is. Nice work though
January 26, 2016
I would have given more stars but a few glitches stopped me from doing that - Amy is an owner of a firm that deals with scandals day in and day out. She's also considered mature beyond her age, but she is shown falling for a playboy's tricks after being warned by her husband (even though it is a contract marriage). She is playing the part of his wife and did not act like one, knowing it could be a problem! Also, the way she handles when she realizes her husband is going to divorce is quite funny! They could have handled her characterization better ... otherwise, the story was a great one and Ethan is a great man.
April 12, 2015
I started out liking the characters and the book. However, as the book progressed I became more and more frustrated with the author's predictable choices regarding the characters. This is another one of those books where the characters don't talk to each other, but their chemistry and hot sex make everything OK. Aargh!
September 4, 2013
Sweet story with lead characters I took to right away and supporting characters I loved to see the leads interact with. The mystery of what exactly happened in Chicago all those years ago was KILLING ME but the resolution doesn't disappoint. Perfect summer reading.
February 13, 2017
A sweet book but what I really disliked was why Ethan cut off from Amy for so long without any good reason. It bugged me a lot. Why would anyone stay away from a person if they loved them so much. Everything else was perfect.
February 25, 2015
The story was promising, but between the stupid wishy-washy main character, bad writing and horrible editing I barely finished it.
May 28, 2020
High powered Amy Haven and billionaire playboy Ethan Cole have a history that they have never resolved. Now Ethan, who is a client with Amy's firm, needs her help and proposes a "pretend marriage" to her. He needs to seem like a family man in order for a business transaction to be accomplished. She definitely doesn't want to get involved with a client, but afterall, he needs her help and he is her client. So Amy agrees and off they go to Wyoming pretending to be happily married. Things get complicated (don't they always) and they both realize that there's something going on with their relationship and maybe they should explore it beyond "the deal getting done in Wyoming." Ethan is a character that you will like and Amy, despite her angst and desire to be self sufficient, is someone the reader will enjoy because she is very vulnerable. You will love her Aunt Violet, who is definitely a product of the 60's and 70's, along with Hank, the Wyoming owner of the company that Ethan wants to buy. Will Amy and Ethan own up to their feelings for one another or let their second chance at happiness slip away. A fine story that you can finish is a couple of hours and look forward to other books that might be written for some of the peripheral characters.
February 21, 2018
When I chose this book I found myself wondering why. Then I thought it was due to the cover photo, you see my favourite colour is yellow. Then I got into the book and realised that sometimes we don't know what is good for us. This is the first time I have read anything by this author, I think the storyline is so much like reality. The characters are so true to life my heart went out to them and it showed how even the smallest of lies can have a catastrophic effect on life. Also that true love can overcome anything. Thank you Avery for such an entertaining read.
October 10, 2018
The characters were all kind of annoying, the plot very predictable. While I expected a very cliche read and was in the mood for that, it still didn't work for me. It just read like a poor fanfic, and it could have been so much better.
November 3, 2018
Scandal, Inc Book 1
This is the first Avery James book I've read. Not all that exciting but if the next book is listed in KU I'll commit to the next book. I don't care for third person dialog. The sex scenes were very dry so don't plan on getting all hot and bothered.
This is the first Avery James book I've read. Not all that exciting but if the next book is listed in KU I'll commit to the next book. I don't care for third person dialog. The sex scenes were very dry so don't plan on getting all hot and bothered.
December 19, 2019
Crazy in a good way
When your living your life , sometimes what you do or think is not always as it is. This is a story about honestly, truth, and the way you find down a long road. Just watch the road signs and you find forever love. I enjoyed this journey
When your living your life , sometimes what you do or think is not always as it is. This is a story about honestly, truth, and the way you find down a long road. Just watch the road signs and you find forever love. I enjoyed this journey
November 8, 2022
Yummy Colleagues to Friends to Lovers
The Bilkionaire’s Marriage Contract covers quite a few popular tropes fake marriage, workplace romance, friends to lovers, and maybe enemies to lovers too. However you choose to categorize it, it's a yummy good read. I recommend it!
The Bilkionaire’s Marriage Contract covers quite a few popular tropes fake marriage, workplace romance, friends to lovers, and maybe enemies to lovers too. However you choose to categorize it, it's a yummy good read. I recommend it!
June 10, 2024
Love Love Love Love
I Loved this novel.it was romantic, exciting, breath taking, & it made you seem like it was you in Amy’s shoes. Perfect. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series…….
I Loved this novel.it was romantic, exciting, breath taking, & it made you seem like it was you in Amy’s shoes. Perfect. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series…….
October 3, 2017
Good read
Fun book to read. Enjoyed the characters and story. I am looking forward to reading more books in the series.
Fun book to read. Enjoyed the characters and story. I am looking forward to reading more books in the series.
December 24, 2018
I didnt finish this book. I did not like the premise.
May 28, 2020
Tale twisted contract
Very good. It had me intrigued.
Took one and a half day to complete the entire book. Recommended for people who like happily ever after.
Very good. It had me intrigued.
Took one and a half day to complete the entire book. Recommended for people who like happily ever after.
December 10, 2020
The book started very good, but from the middle to the end I skipped pages to finished.
March 30, 2021
Awesome
Amy is as tough as nails and love her character. Ethan is very interesting charming . Both characters I love them together but most i love love Aunt Vi
Amy is as tough as nails and love her character. Ethan is very interesting charming . Both characters I love them together but most i love love Aunt Vi
June 16, 2021
Lᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ 📖 ❤ , ᴍᴜsᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅ....sʜᴏʀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ sᴡᴇᴇᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅ...
Lᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ .....✍
Eᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀɴᴅ Aᴍʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ❤ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍ..
Lᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ .....✍
Eᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀɴᴅ Aᴍʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ❤ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍ..
June 11, 2015
This was a fun read about a marriage of convenience. When we first meet Ethan I figured he would be the predictable rich guy who pretends to be good and become good because of his love for a good woman. Either that or he would be the reformed bad boy who cleans up his act for her only to make a mistake he ultimately needs forgiveness for. But I was wrong and thankfully Ethan was not either of those.
Review from website Escapology Reviews
escapologyreviews.com
Amy is a strong, smart, stubborn and successful woman who runs her own business getting playboy billionaires, like Ethan, out of trouble and averting scandal. So when Ethan comes to her with a business proposal of marriage, everything it turned upside down for Amy. The line between business and pleasure blurs and what was once a straight talking friendship becomes something neither one is in control of.
Ethan and Amy were a great match wit for wit and right from the start I found myself invested in this story. I actually took this book on holiday with me and every time I tried to put it down I would be hit with another twist or turn that would keep me reading for another chapter. It's a thoroughly enjoyable light read which has a mixed bag of funny, crazy, caring and eccentric characters without whom this book wouldn't work. The story wasn't 100% perfect and Amy did some things which I found really annoying at one point but this is a perfect holiday read. Would I recommend this to a friend? Yes.
Review By Brienne Dubh @ Escapology Reviews
Review from website Escapology Reviews
escapologyreviews.com
Amy is a strong, smart, stubborn and successful woman who runs her own business getting playboy billionaires, like Ethan, out of trouble and averting scandal. So when Ethan comes to her with a business proposal of marriage, everything it turned upside down for Amy. The line between business and pleasure blurs and what was once a straight talking friendship becomes something neither one is in control of.
Ethan and Amy were a great match wit for wit and right from the start I found myself invested in this story. I actually took this book on holiday with me and every time I tried to put it down I would be hit with another twist or turn that would keep me reading for another chapter. It's a thoroughly enjoyable light read which has a mixed bag of funny, crazy, caring and eccentric characters without whom this book wouldn't work. The story wasn't 100% perfect and Amy did some things which I found really annoying at one point but this is a perfect holiday read. Would I recommend this to a friend? Yes.
Review By Brienne Dubh @ Escapology Reviews
January 9, 2015
This book was... am somewhat what I was expecting, but at the same time it didn't
So there is Amy and Ethan, and apparently they had a history, she created his image and after some time she ended up believing it herself.
He is a billionaire hence the name of the book and he is deeply in love with Amy since a night they spend in Chicago.
To me this book lacked some sort of drama, something that was truly challenging for both characters or one, so that we could see a growth within them by the end of the book, but nothing really happens, is just two adults that give in to their love, and that is it.
It is kind of a good book but is not great, I would not read it again or recommend it.
So there is Amy and Ethan, and apparently they had a history, she created his image and after some time she ended up believing it herself.
He is a billionaire hence the name of the book and he is deeply in love with Amy since a night they spend in Chicago.
To me this book lacked some sort of drama, something that was truly challenging for both characters or one, so that we could see a growth within them by the end of the book, but nothing really happens, is just two adults that give in to their love, and that is it.
It is kind of a good book but is not great, I would not read it again or recommend it.
January 31, 2015
When I started reading this book yesterday, my first though was "I read it already somewhere". But then it came to me - my friend told me about this book, and on end she added "You will love it!". I was sceptic. In most cases, when it comes to books, we agree to disagree :)
But this time she was right! I love aunt Vi. Thinking about her makse me smile, and even if every other things was negative (but it isn't in my eyes) you shoud really read it. Sometimes I laughed so hard, my roommate thought I was crazy (I'm not saying, that I'm not :P).
Ethan's proposition seems out of blue, but in reality it isn't. From start there are signs that somethin was beetween him and Amy in the past. Love makes people blind, eh?
It's easy to read and if you have time - do it, you won't regret.
But this time she was right! I love aunt Vi. Thinking about her makse me smile, and even if every other things was negative (but it isn't in my eyes) you shoud really read it. Sometimes I laughed so hard, my roommate thought I was crazy (I'm not saying, that I'm not :P).
Ethan's proposition seems out of blue, but in reality it isn't. From start there are signs that somethin was beetween him and Amy in the past. Love makes people blind, eh?
It's easy to read and if you have time - do it, you won't regret.
April 22, 2015
Definitely worth the time to read. Power struggles in relationships are becoming very common as men and women want to be respected for who they are. When in a relationship things change and become more about pleasing the other person. It can cause people to lose their inner identities. It makes them feel lost and out of control. This story displays that feeling very well and no matter how she tried to explain herself he just didn't understand. She also had fears about actually having such deep feelings for someone else. He was only trying to please her the way he knew how. Relationships require learning and teaching and communication is a big helper but you have to be willing to listen as well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews