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Fortune's Children #4
Stand-In Bride
Stand-In Bride by Barbara Boswell released on Aug 23, 1996 is available now for purchase.
They called him America's most eligible bachelor, but high powered executive Michael Fortune didn't want a wife. So he offered his faithful secretary, Julia Chandler, a surprising proposition: become his pretend bride—for a price. Then the world would think he was married, and he could get back to business. Michael never questioned why unassuming Julia agreed to his outlandish charade. Or what would happen once their convenient engagement became a passion-filled affair…producing an unexpected heir to the Fortune dynasty.
They called him America's most eligible bachelor, but high powered executive Michael Fortune didn't want a wife. So he offered his faithful secretary, Julia Chandler, a surprising proposition: become his pretend bride—for a price. Then the world would think he was married, and he could get back to business. Michael never questioned why unassuming Julia agreed to his outlandish charade. Or what would happen once their convenient engagement became a passion-filled affair…producing an unexpected heir to the Fortune dynasty.
251 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 23, 1996
8 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Boswell
122 books45 followersBarbara Schroeder was born on 28 October 1946 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, USA. She worked as nurse, before she married William P. Boswell, a attorney, and they had three daughters.
She has been a longtime romance novel fan, becoming hooked on the romances by Harlequin back in the mid-‘70s when she was home with her three small daughters. When the youngest reached school age in 1983, she wanted something to do with her extra time. She thought about going back to nursing, but didn't care to deal with hospital shifts. She'd often made up stories in her head and/or continued the stories that she'd read, so it seemed like a fun idea to try to write a story of her own. It took a lot more effort and organization than the loosely strung-together scenes she'd run through her mind, but she was right about the fun part! She enjoyed the whole process and wrote a story that she knew she would enjoy reading. She sent it off and was thrilled when it was accepted! It was even more exciting to see her name on the book cover. Some 50-plus books later, it's still a thrill to see her name on the book and it's still fun to make up stories — at least most of the time!
Barbara gets her ideas from everywhere but especially from reading, which she loves to do. Sometimes, just a sentence in a newspaper or a magazine will spark an idea to develop into a romance. Other times, she'll be inspired by another romance novel and she will try to put her own spin on a favorite old plot. Barbara believes that we all have our preferences — she's always been partial to the "secret baby" story line. That, plus the "marriage of convenience" and class or family conflicts are some of her particular favorites.
Her three daughters are all grown up now, and she and her husband are the proud grandparents of a beautiful little grandson. They also have three cats who seem to think that they are the rulers of their house. They are terribly spoiled, and they just might be right.
She has been a longtime romance novel fan, becoming hooked on the romances by Harlequin back in the mid-‘70s when she was home with her three small daughters. When the youngest reached school age in 1983, she wanted something to do with her extra time. She thought about going back to nursing, but didn't care to deal with hospital shifts. She'd often made up stories in her head and/or continued the stories that she'd read, so it seemed like a fun idea to try to write a story of her own. It took a lot more effort and organization than the loosely strung-together scenes she'd run through her mind, but she was right about the fun part! She enjoyed the whole process and wrote a story that she knew she would enjoy reading. She sent it off and was thrilled when it was accepted! It was even more exciting to see her name on the book cover. Some 50-plus books later, it's still a thrill to see her name on the book and it's still fun to make up stories — at least most of the time!
Barbara gets her ideas from everywhere but especially from reading, which she loves to do. Sometimes, just a sentence in a newspaper or a magazine will spark an idea to develop into a romance. Other times, she'll be inspired by another romance novel and she will try to put her own spin on a favorite old plot. Barbara believes that we all have our preferences — she's always been partial to the "secret baby" story line. That, plus the "marriage of convenience" and class or family conflicts are some of her particular favorites.
Her three daughters are all grown up now, and she and her husband are the proud grandparents of a beautiful little grandson. They also have three cats who seem to think that they are the rulers of their house. They are terribly spoiled, and they just might be right.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 29, 2018
"Stand-In Bride" is the story of Julia and Michael.
When Michael Fortune is named as the most eligible bachelor and businessman, he is hounded by women and media from all sides- something that affects the company's trade- and infuriates his uncle. To escape the harassment, his sister comes up with the plan of a pretend engagement- and who better to do it with than his ever efficient secretary Julia.
Julia had suffered the initial attraction to Michael, but now believes she is over it..until he coerces her to be his fake fiance. As both battle with crackling chemistry and insane lust, Michael's perception is colored by the past with his gold digging mother and ex fiance- while Julia's is plagued with a disabled sister's responsibility.
Can our loving heroine thaw the cynic hero's exterior?
Engaging read with witty banter, hot sex and intriguing secondary characters. I wish Michael would have groveled more- but even then he wasnt THAT mean so it was pretty acceptable.
SWE
4/5
When Michael Fortune is named as the most eligible bachelor and businessman, he is hounded by women and media from all sides- something that affects the company's trade- and infuriates his uncle. To escape the harassment, his sister comes up with the plan of a pretend engagement- and who better to do it with than his ever efficient secretary Julia.
Julia had suffered the initial attraction to Michael, but now believes she is over it..until he coerces her to be his fake fiance. As both battle with crackling chemistry and insane lust, Michael's perception is colored by the past with his gold digging mother and ex fiance- while Julia's is plagued with a disabled sister's responsibility.
Can our loving heroine thaw the cynic hero's exterior?
Engaging read with witty banter, hot sex and intriguing secondary characters. I wish Michael would have groveled more- but even then he wasnt THAT mean so it was pretty acceptable.
SWE
4/5
March 20, 2010
Título em português: Dublê de Noiva
Tradução: Renata Telles
Sinopse: Aos 29 anos, Michael Fortune é eleito o solteiro mais cobiçado da América. Mas ele não está disposto a se casar, muito menos a enfrentar as inúmeras pretendentes que surgem a todo instante em seu caminho. Por isso, para despistar as mulheres à beira de um ataque de nervos, Michael decide fingir que está noivo de Julia Chandler, sua assistente. Mas a farsa acaba tomando rumos imprevistos quando ela fica grávida. Agora, Michael, que achava ter encontrado toda a paz do mundo, tem um herdeiro a caminho!
Tradução: Renata Telles
Sinopse: Aos 29 anos, Michael Fortune é eleito o solteiro mais cobiçado da América. Mas ele não está disposto a se casar, muito menos a enfrentar as inúmeras pretendentes que surgem a todo instante em seu caminho. Por isso, para despistar as mulheres à beira de um ataque de nervos, Michael decide fingir que está noivo de Julia Chandler, sua assistente. Mas a farsa acaba tomando rumos imprevistos quando ela fica grávida. Agora, Michael, que achava ter encontrado toda a paz do mundo, tem um herdeiro a caminho!
March 8, 2017
I enjoyed it, both the romance itself as well as the background family story arc actually, quite tempted to read the whole series. I really liked this a lot till the halfway mark, then I really got fed up with the misogynistic pig of a H that seems to be totally intractable in his attitude towards our h as well as a not too satisfactory grovel scene at the end.
Our h is pretty great actually, while she is not totally to our H, she does have some sense and did try her best to resist our attractive H. She's gentle, sweet and diplomatic yet with a mind of her own she isn't afraid of voicing when it concerns her private life, as well as a very strong will to overcome all the obstacles life's thrown at her.
As for our H, while he is actually pretty great when he's with our h, and it's very obvious to us readers as well as nearly everyone around them that he's totally crazy about her, for the majority of the book, due to his pretty traumatic childhood and past experience, he was a bit emotionally stunted and refused to see what's in his face and heart. I really agree with the h when actually cheered for her when she finally got fed up with him and wrote him off, saying she doesn't want to know him. He really deserves it as I can understand his not knowing what he was feeling, I could not understand nor forgive the hurtful and vitric things sprouting out of his mouth, especially when like the lawyer said, he had known our h for over a year already. I tried really hard to be sympathetic towards him given the fact that he was actually sweetly clingly towards our h and could hardly be apart from her for even a few hours, I still got very mad at all the same cynical monologues in his head halfway through.
Would have given it a 4 if we were given a better grovel scene. I felt it should have been longer, while the length is good dialogue wise and they are all speaking the right words to me, I felt a bit unsatisfied still as we're not given much information concerning their reactions or thoughts. I really feel I would have been impacted more if we actually see how freaked out our H was and how hurt and unmoved our h is feeling (actually we did have a bit of our h's, just not much input from our H). I also would have liked our H to be left hanging for a bit longer before he is given, even though we already know he totally knew he messed up 1 sec after his grand insulting speech. Yep vindictive me not feeling he has suffered enough, unfortunately, to make this a more enjoyable read for me.
But other than that, it's still very enjoyable.
Our h is pretty great actually, while she is not totally to our H, she does have some sense and did try her best to resist our attractive H. She's gentle, sweet and diplomatic yet with a mind of her own she isn't afraid of voicing when it concerns her private life, as well as a very strong will to overcome all the obstacles life's thrown at her.
As for our H, while he is actually pretty great when he's with our h, and it's very obvious to us readers as well as nearly everyone around them that he's totally crazy about her, for the majority of the book, due to his pretty traumatic childhood and past experience, he was a bit emotionally stunted and refused to see what's in his face and heart. I really agree with the h when actually cheered for her when she finally got fed up with him and wrote him off, saying she doesn't want to know him. He really deserves it as I can understand his not knowing what he was feeling, I could not understand nor forgive the hurtful and vitric things sprouting out of his mouth, especially when like the lawyer said, he had known our h for over a year already. I tried really hard to be sympathetic towards him given the fact that he was actually sweetly clingly towards our h and could hardly be apart from her for even a few hours, I still got very mad at all the same cynical monologues in his head halfway through.
Would have given it a 4 if we were given a better grovel scene. I felt it should have been longer, while the length is good dialogue wise and they are all speaking the right words to me, I felt a bit unsatisfied still as we're not given much information concerning their reactions or thoughts. I really feel I would have been impacted more if we actually see how freaked out our H was and how hurt and unmoved our h is feeling (actually we did have a bit of our h's, just not much input from our H). I also would have liked our H to be left hanging for a bit longer before he is given, even though we already know he totally knew he messed up 1 sec after his grand insulting speech. Yep vindictive me not feeling he has suffered enough, unfortunately, to make this a more enjoyable read for me.
But other than that, it's still very enjoyable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2017
Michael Fortune jengkel namanya termasuk 10 bujangan yg paling diimpikan. Utk menghentikan teror dari para wanita yg haus pada dirinya, Kristina (adik Michael) merancang pertunangan palsu, dan yg terpilih sbg sang tunangan palsu adalah Julia, asisten Michael.
Julia adalah type gadis sederhana dan kolot dalam penampilan. Dia tidak menyangka harus tampil sbg tunangan palsu si boss yg anti pernikahan dan misoginis ini. Demi uangnya utk perawatan adiknya yg direhabilitasi, Julia bersedia tampil di depan publik sbg tunangan Michael. Tapi apa daya Julia ketika cinta datang tiba-tiba menghampirinya? Bisakah dia melumerkan hati Michael yg dingin dan sarkastis tsb?
Novel ini riuh dgn scene-scene yg mirip opera sabun. Tapi banyak diselingi dgn narasi angst dari sisi Julia. Cinderella complex syndrome mendominasi keseluruhan cerita. Sayangnya konflik utama justru baru terjadi 90% storyline, jadi terkesan digampangkan saja eksekusi ceritanya. Untungnya endingnya lumayan memuaskan.
Julia adalah type gadis sederhana dan kolot dalam penampilan. Dia tidak menyangka harus tampil sbg tunangan palsu si boss yg anti pernikahan dan misoginis ini. Demi uangnya utk perawatan adiknya yg direhabilitasi, Julia bersedia tampil di depan publik sbg tunangan Michael. Tapi apa daya Julia ketika cinta datang tiba-tiba menghampirinya? Bisakah dia melumerkan hati Michael yg dingin dan sarkastis tsb?
Novel ini riuh dgn scene-scene yg mirip opera sabun. Tapi banyak diselingi dgn narasi angst dari sisi Julia. Cinderella complex syndrome mendominasi keseluruhan cerita. Sayangnya konflik utama justru baru terjadi 90% storyline, jadi terkesan digampangkan saja eksekusi ceritanya. Untungnya endingnya lumayan memuaskan.
December 31, 2023
This book had a lot of potential, but the author failed because she emphasized all the wrong aspects of the story. Boswell wrote an interesting relationship that I could actually get behind in the good bits. Unfortunately, Boswell spends far too much time on the fake-relationship hijinks and the delusional accusations of manipulation/betrayal. Boswell could have even included all of those elements if she had extended the book to feature in-depth scenes where the characters were building up their emotional relationship. Instead, she just skimmed over that part (the best part of romance books!) in a few paragraphs of narration. What?
Additionally, Michael should have had to do far more groveling to get Julia back. The way the story stands, I don't believe that Michael turned on a dime and changed his toxic thought patterns that quickly. Unless he has some serious therapy, he is inevitably going to end up hurting Julia again. His demanding won't-take-no-for-an-answer approach to getting Julia back already does not bode well. Also, by not including more Michael groveling, Boswell was giving up a potential goldmine for the story. The dynamic of Michael trying to rebuild the trust in their relationship after breaking it would have allowed even more exploration of the emotional connection between the two characters.
Obviously, Boswell was able to make me care about the characters if I am this disappointed by the book. So that is one point in the book's favor. But it could have been so much better. To be honest, I felt like I read the first half of good a romance book that then had a rushed, stunted ending pasted onto it in place of the real second half of the book.
I would not recommend this book for others to read unless they want to be similarly infuriated like myself. Or maybe not - maybe you won't mind. The book does have decent sex scenes and lots of fake relationship scenes (one of my least favorite romance tropes but I know a lot of people like it).
Additionally, Michael should have had to do far more groveling to get Julia back. The way the story stands, I don't believe that Michael turned on a dime and changed his toxic thought patterns that quickly. Unless he has some serious therapy, he is inevitably going to end up hurting Julia again. His demanding won't-take-no-for-an-answer approach to getting Julia back already does not bode well. Also, by not including more Michael groveling, Boswell was giving up a potential goldmine for the story. The dynamic of Michael trying to rebuild the trust in their relationship after breaking it would have allowed even more exploration of the emotional connection between the two characters.
Obviously, Boswell was able to make me care about the characters if I am this disappointed by the book. So that is one point in the book's favor. But it could have been so much better. To be honest, I felt like I read the first half of good a romance book that then had a rushed, stunted ending pasted onto it in place of the real second half of the book.
I would not recommend this book for others to read unless they want to be similarly infuriated like myself. Or maybe not - maybe you won't mind. The book does have decent sex scenes and lots of fake relationship scenes (one of my least favorite romance tropes but I know a lot of people like it).
December 30, 2021
Predictable, but I still enjoyed it.
December 16, 2023
Quarto volume da série Família Fortune.
História completa com romance e mais informação em torno da família. Indispensável para quem quer acompanhar toda a saga.
História completa com romance e mais informação em torno da família. Indispensável para quem quer acompanhar toda a saga.
October 26, 2024
A cute brain candy read for when you don't have a lot of time!
June 12, 2014
cool story, drove me nuts at times but still enjoyed it
April 19, 2014
This might actually be patient zero for my fake dating/engagement/married love. I'm not saying it is. But I'm not saying it isn't either.
July 4, 2014
This got so hard to read the further along it got. It was so annoying and the ending was utter rubbish I barely read it.
April 20, 2017
Leído el 01/09/2010
Acerca de Los Fortune 04 - El Amor Tenia un Precio
--Stand-in Bride
Él le hizo una sorprendente proposición
Decían que era el soltero más codiciado de Estados Unidos, pero el ejecutivo Michael Fortune no necesitaba una esposa. Así que le hizo una sorprendente proposición a Julia Chandler, su fiel secretaria: que se hiciera pasar por su prometida. Así todo el mundo pensaría que se había casado y él podría volver a sus negocios con total tranquilidad. Michael nunca se preguntó qué habría llevado a Julia a aceptar tan descabellada proposición, ni qué pasaría cuando su fingido noviazgo se convirtiera en un apasionado romance... y de él naciera un inesperado heredero
Acerca de Los Fortune 04 - El Amor Tenia un Precio
--Stand-in Bride
Él le hizo una sorprendente proposición
Decían que era el soltero más codiciado de Estados Unidos, pero el ejecutivo Michael Fortune no necesitaba una esposa. Así que le hizo una sorprendente proposición a Julia Chandler, su fiel secretaria: que se hiciera pasar por su prometida. Así todo el mundo pensaría que se había casado y él podría volver a sus negocios con total tranquilidad. Michael nunca se preguntó qué habría llevado a Julia a aceptar tan descabellada proposición, ni qué pasaría cuando su fingido noviazgo se convirtiera en un apasionado romance... y de él naciera un inesperado heredero
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews