What do you think?
Rate this book
Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded
From best friends…
Isobel’s friend Alex Richardson has the ultimate playboy lifestyle, flitting from one long-legged woman to the next – why would he want short, curvaceous Bel? To red-hot lovers! Now, though, Alex needs a convenient wife – and Bel is his first-choice bride!
Shocked at his proposal, Bel has doubts about his crazy plan. Then Alex gives her a taste of just how hot they can be together, leaving Bel begging him to finish what he started – on their wedding night!
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2008
3 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Kate Hardy
930 books263 followersKate Hardy is the award-winning author of more than 100 books for Harlequin Mills & Boon and the Georgina Drake cozy crime series for Storm. Her novel 'Breakfast at Giovanni's' won the RNA Romance Prize in 2008, 'Bound by a Baby' won the RNA RoNA Rose in 2014 and ‘A Will, A Wish, A Wedding’ won the RNA Liberta Books Shorter Fiction award in 2021. She's been shortlisted six more times for the award, as well as for two Romantic Times awards.
She lives in Norwich in the east of England with her husband, two grown-up children, springer spaniels Archie and Dexter, and too many books to count. She's a bit of a nerd who loves cinema, live music, the theatre, ballet, history and cooking, and adores anything Italian. She loves doing research, particularly if it's hands-on and means experimenting with cooking. Reviewers say that her books are full of warmth, heart and charm - and also that you'll learn something new and interesting from them!
Kate also writes bestselling local history books under the name of Pamela Brooks.
She lives in Norwich in the east of England with her husband, two grown-up children, springer spaniels Archie and Dexter, and too many books to count. She's a bit of a nerd who loves cinema, live music, the theatre, ballet, history and cooking, and adores anything Italian. She loves doing research, particularly if it's hands-on and means experimenting with cooking. Reviewers say that her books are full of warmth, heart and charm - and also that you'll learn something new and interesting from them!
Kate also writes bestselling local history books under the name of Pamela Brooks.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 19, 2017
H and h were friends.
The h was married and suffered a couple of miscarriages so her husband left her for another woman who could carry his babies full term, the jerk.
The H's plan in life didn't include a wife and children but turns out he needed to be a settled down man for his dream job so a MOC with the h made sense.
The h gets pregnant and H is really happy to become a daddy but while he's away she miscarries again. He is supportive and amazing so they realize they love each other and it's discovered what went wrong in her previous pregnancies.
The h was married and suffered a couple of miscarriages so her husband left her for another woman who could carry his babies full term, the jerk.
The H's plan in life didn't include a wife and children but turns out he needed to be a settled down man for his dream job so a MOC with the h made sense.
The h gets pregnant and H is really happy to become a daddy but while he's away she miscarries again. He is supportive and amazing so they realize they love each other and it's discovered what went wrong in her previous pregnancies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2010
This is one of those faux Harlequin Presents; it was originally published in the "Modern Heat" line, though I would have guessed "Medical Romances," because there's a fair bit in it about pregnancy and miscarriage. (And the information is accurate -- another sign it's not a real HP! ;-) ) This is a rather nice friends-to-lovers story, but I read Presents for the drama, so I wasn't thrilled.
June 16, 2011
This is really a 3 star story, but I succumbed to the temptation to bump this up to 4 stars as I read the "Enriched Edition" via Adobe Reader. In this way I could hyperlink to the blue words they had coded. It was kind of neat to listen to Etta James singing in the background while the characters did too.
Otherwise it was a standard story of friends to lovers, with some miscarriage problems; otherwise not as much drama as the usual Harlequin Presents. Alex wants the chief archaeologist job so he needs a wife; his sister’s divorced best-friend, Isobel, looks right for the role.
February 28, 2012
4 Stars! ~ Alex is a gorgeous archeologist who's had a very adventurous career and several acclaimed television programs to document those adventures. But he's turned 35 and he's feeling like he should be setting down some roots and for that he needs a wife. Only Alex doesn't believe in love. The perfect wife for Alex is his best friend, Bel. Actually, Isobel is his sister's best friend but she's always been the friend he's called first to share an achievement or ask for a place to bunk out for a bit. Isobel had a crush on Alex when she was a teen but that quickly passed as the two went on to school and the beginnings of their careers. Isobel married and when her marriage failed, she'd vowed to herself never to fall in love again, that her career was enough. So when Alex proposes a marriage of convenience, Bel is shocked. Especially when the thought of marriage to Alex suddenly creates a sexual awareness that had not surfaced before. Alex is determined to prove to Bel that the perfect marriage is one without the "falling in love" stuff and that their friendship and newly found sexual sizzle is more than enough to make a successful match.
I just adored Alex from the get go! He's lead a playboyish lifestyle, but is very serious about wanting more in his life. I loved his determination, not only in his pursuit of Bel but in proving to himself that he was able to settle down. Bel shows the world that she's a strong independent woman but beneath that lies a fear that is slowly eating at her. The scene where she opens up to Alex is a poignant one.
Ms. Hardy shows us that best friends can indeed become lovers of the everlasting kind. There are a few heartwrenching moments but our hero proves he's much more than an Indiana Jones adventurer and that he's got the heart to be the hero Bel deserves. This is a lovestory that will touch your heart.
I just adored Alex from the get go! He's lead a playboyish lifestyle, but is very serious about wanting more in his life. I loved his determination, not only in his pursuit of Bel but in proving to himself that he was able to settle down. Bel shows the world that she's a strong independent woman but beneath that lies a fear that is slowly eating at her. The scene where she opens up to Alex is a poignant one.
Ms. Hardy shows us that best friends can indeed become lovers of the everlasting kind. There are a few heartwrenching moments but our hero proves he's much more than an Indiana Jones adventurer and that he's got the heart to be the hero Bel deserves. This is a lovestory that will touch your heart.
September 18, 2010
As far as romance novels go, this little book had everything I look for. It was hot, yet not erotic. It had a great storyline that you actually cared to follow. The characters were well rounded and easy to relate to. I really enjoyed this one!
March 8, 2015
Marriage of convenience turned more, with an infertility side plot. I could have done without that part, frankly, but the slow realization from both the hero and heroine as to exactly what they felt for the other one was kind of great.
September 1, 2023
https://celebrityreaders.com/2023/08/...
3.5 stars — Hmmm…I just read 2 books by Ms. Hardy in a row and there were some marked similarities, most notably the archeology/history touches and the pregnancy issues. I wonder if all her books have those components, or if I was just unlucky.
Now, saying all that there were some elements I really enjoyed in this one. You could really feel the connection between Isobel and Alex from their years of friendship, and so I believed the feelings they developed. Was it kind of a stretch on Alex’s end about avoiding love? Eh, kind of. But fine, people have different reactions.
In general I liked them both as characters. As with the other book, they both had moments that just made me roll my eyes (Alex steamrolling Isobel, Isobel wanting Alex to change). But there were some fun/cute moments too (the proposal, the wedding).
I think I’ll take a break and try a different author next though, just because they’re feeling a bit cookie cutterish (more than just normal Presents cookie cutter) to me.
3.5 stars — Hmmm…I just read 2 books by Ms. Hardy in a row and there were some marked similarities, most notably the archeology/history touches and the pregnancy issues. I wonder if all her books have those components, or if I was just unlucky.
Now, saying all that there were some elements I really enjoyed in this one. You could really feel the connection between Isobel and Alex from their years of friendship, and so I believed the feelings they developed. Was it kind of a stretch on Alex’s end about avoiding love? Eh, kind of. But fine, people have different reactions.
In general I liked them both as characters. As with the other book, they both had moments that just made me roll my eyes (Alex steamrolling Isobel, Isobel wanting Alex to change). But there were some fun/cute moments too (the proposal, the wedding).
I think I’ll take a break and try a different author next though, just because they’re feeling a bit cookie cutterish (more than just normal Presents cookie cutter) to me.
July 3, 2021
I wanted to like however heroine had a miscarriage during story and I just do not like that at all in a book (I understand that she then went on to have a healthy daughter but I don't like to read about miscarriages). I thought hero was a nice guy however heroine worrying about miscarriage and not having kids was the whole book, I felt that she could have saved so much time worrying and just get tested and find out for sure. P.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2021
Where’s the Prince/billionaire? Where’s the nanny/personal assistant/downtrodden waitress? Not to be found here. Some other problems people may have with the book are the lack of insta-love. Also, these lovers don’t scream at each other or irrationally keep secrets. It’s just a very nice friends-to-married lovers story.
May 13, 2019
A really good romance with likable characters.
January 30, 2023
ok story
August 7, 2010
Let me get this out of the way the tittle doesn't fit the book at all. This book was about two friends who grew up together getting married so Alex could get this dream job. Isobel had been married before to a man that didn't love her and walked out on her. After the marriage they come to see how much they really do love each other but it takes something heartbreaking to get it out in the open. I was sobbing my heart out for them. I think KH did a fantastic job with this book and I had never even heard of antiphospholipid syndrome before so I learned something from this book. It touched close to my heart because of my own infertility issues and I'm so glad that she wrote a book about that kind of heartbreak.
February 11, 2011
This was a decent book but no where near did justice to some of the serious issues approached in it. But then again, what can you expect from a Mills & Boon book?
I started thinking they were ok, but the more I read the less taken in I am by them. It seems to me like they have a small handful of plots that they pass around and get other people to re-write. Not to mention that all but one M&B books that I have read have been between 185 and 187 pages long.
As a first read from Mills & Boon, or if you're an avid fan, you'll enjoy this book.
If you're like me, you'll find it somewhat boring because its the same old story with a different writer trying to make it new.
I started thinking they were ok, but the more I read the less taken in I am by them. It seems to me like they have a small handful of plots that they pass around and get other people to re-write. Not to mention that all but one M&B books that I have read have been between 185 and 187 pages long.
As a first read from Mills & Boon, or if you're an avid fan, you'll enjoy this book.
If you're like me, you'll find it somewhat boring because its the same old story with a different writer trying to make it new.
December 19, 2009
The only reason I read this book was because of the ridiculousness of the title. I mean, how can you resist a book called "Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded"?? It's impossible, I say! And now I see that the author has other books with titles just as sporffleriffic. "One Night, One Baby"? "Surrender to the Playboy Sheikh"? "Playboy Boss, Pregnancy of Passion"?
Oh yes. I must read these books!
In reality, the book wasn't bad, but the plot was horribly thin. Standard Harlequin stuff.
Oh yes. I must read these books!
In reality, the book wasn't bad, but the plot was horribly thin. Standard Harlequin stuff.
August 26, 2010
I like the writing style. But never saw the point of the story. I didnt really feel for the characters or what their story was supposed to really be. Just seemed like standard story with nothing special with a HEA. I dont really feel like the characters grew at all or even really what they wanted. And the title so doesnt work.
August 10, 2010
This is not a book I would have chosen to read. I received it from Tell Harlequin and will be reviewing it for them eventually. The story was ok, not that great.
August 12, 2010
I received a review copy of this book from Tell Harlequin.
May 26, 2011
Beautiful story!
April 25, 2017
2.5
Alex is a world-class archaeologist who is trying to get a job that requires commitment. He's done with love and romance and wants a sensible, level-headed relationship, so he asks his long-time friend Bel, to marry him. She's been married before and isn't so keen on a loveless marriage, but she really likes Alex and is tempted by the thought of having sex with him.
This had some good points, as in the really in depth bytes of history and the medical aspects which tells me that the author really did her homework when writing this. Alex and Bel had a pretty great friendship and a really easygoing relationship, and I like a friends-to-lovers romance. Unfortunately, they were a little bland - they had chemistry, but not a very spicy, sexual kind. In fact, their first time together was a touch awkward, especially since they just decided to give sex a try to see if they were compatible. They also didn't have much in the way of drama or really all that much emotion...except for Bel, who had a lot of sad emotion given her attempts to get pregnant. And that really is what did me in for this story. I was liking it, if not loving it up to their marriage and all, but once Bel started trying for a baby and it came down to hoping she didn't have a period that month and fretting over whether she'd ever get pregnant... for me, it kind of sucks the romance out of the story because the focus is no longer on the couple so much as it is on the longing to have a baby.
Alex is a world-class archaeologist who is trying to get a job that requires commitment. He's done with love and romance and wants a sensible, level-headed relationship, so he asks his long-time friend Bel, to marry him. She's been married before and isn't so keen on a loveless marriage, but she really likes Alex and is tempted by the thought of having sex with him.
This had some good points, as in the really in depth bytes of history and the medical aspects which tells me that the author really did her homework when writing this. Alex and Bel had a pretty great friendship and a really easygoing relationship, and I like a friends-to-lovers romance. Unfortunately, they were a little bland - they had chemistry, but not a very spicy, sexual kind. In fact, their first time together was a touch awkward, especially since they just decided to give sex a try to see if they were compatible. They also didn't have much in the way of drama or really all that much emotion...except for Bel, who had a lot of sad emotion given her attempts to get pregnant. And that really is what did me in for this story. I was liking it, if not loving it up to their marriage and all, but once Bel started trying for a baby and it came down to hoping she didn't have a period that month and fretting over whether she'd ever get pregnant... for me, it kind of sucks the romance out of the story because the focus is no longer on the couple so much as it is on the longing to have a baby.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews