The Convenient Bride: Destiny Romance

by Jennifer St. George

Sienna De Luca will do anything to save her family's hotel, and ruthless Italian businessman Antonio Moretti knows it. With problems of his own, he proposes a marriage of convenience and plans to use Sienna to secure his next business deal. But things don't quite go according to plan.

In keeping with her part of the bargain, Sienna travels to Venice to be with Antonio, who introduces her to a life of great luxury and opulence. As befits the fiancée of the famous Antonio, Sienna is given a new wardrobe of designer gowns and outfits and instructed exactly how to behave when out in public. Antonio thinks he can manipulate her at his will, but he soon realizes he has seriously underestimated Sienna, her intelligence, her skills, her courage – and her beauty. Unexpectedly, Sienna gets too close, and when she discovers his dark secret, Antonio's perfectly planned life begins to unravel.

The Convenient Bride is a fabulous romance set in a world of great beauty and luxury, portrayed in picture-perfect detail. Two opposing souls strike up a partnership in a deal that has overlooked one important detail: it involves a woman who knows her mind and her heart.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Contemporary

164 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 16, 2012

About the author

Jennifer St George is a best-selling romance author whose sexy stories feature courageous, career-minded heroines and strong heroes in glamourous international settings. Her debut novel, The Convenient Bride, was published in mid-2012 by Penguin's digital-first imprint www.destinyromance.com. The book won the prestigious NZ Romance Writers 2012 Clendon Award. Her next four novels, Seducing the Secret Heiress, The Love Deception (ARRA Awards finalist), The Billionaire's Pursuit of Love, Tempted by the Billionaire Tycoon, The Billionaire's Passionate Revenge (ARRA Awards finalist) and Wild For You are now available.

The Convenient Bride and Seducing the Secret Heiress were also released in print under the title Sweet Seduction - two great titles, one book.

And check out Jennifer's first self-publishing project - Hot Christmas Nights. Together with USA Today Best Seller, Rachel Bailey, Michelle Douglas, RITA nominee, Louisa George, Helen Lacey, Stefanie London and Kandy Shepherd, Jennifer has produce a Christmas Box set. The foreword is by USA Today Bestselling author Amy Andrews.

After spending the first 20 years of her career in corporate marketing and management consulting roles, Jennifer had the privilege of travelling extensively for her work. Some career highlights include launching Guinness beer in Russia; reaching 40 million people through a publicity campaign that ‘gave away’ a pub in Ireland, testing new cars on a speedway in Japan and launching the Ford Ka brand in Australia. She uses her travels as the basis for many of her stories' exotic settings. For example, The Convenient Bride which takes place mostly in Venice, was conceived during a trip to Italy.

Jennifer has a graduate business degree and completed an MBA where she was presented with the Rupert Murdoch Fellowship. She lives in the sub-tropical paradise of Byron Bay, Australia and is the immediate past Vice-President of Romance Writers of Australia and is the current Deputy Chair of the Byron Writers Festival.

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review posted at Books to Brighten your Mood

When I started reading The Convenient Bride, I really didn't know what I should be expecting from this novel, seeing there where no reviews for the book at the time. So I just relied on the premise of this story and on my gut feeling and I'm glad to say that I wasn't disappointed by this story in the least.

The Convenient Bride is your typical, romantic story featuring one of my favorite tropes in the genre, the one of the marriage of convenience (which seems to be in every romantic title I pick lately).

The story isn't anything fresh or really memorable, after all there are a number of similar books out there, but Jennifer St George manages to make her story stand out with her characters. Because the setting might be common, the story as well, but the characters are what makes this story stand out among all the other similar stories out there. I really enjoyed reading about both Sienna and Antonio.

The character development along with the author's ability to create perfect images of places and buildings in this book, is what makes The Convenient Bride a memorable story for me. Because the author chose to place her story first in Melbourne and later on in Venice and as far as perfect settings for a romantic story are concerned, this one, couldn't be any better. Add to that, the author's ability to create perfect images and I was just left amazed with all the scenery I was able to imagine through those descriptions.

But the Convenient Bride isn't just a perfect setting. Is how two people for almost opposite worlds fall in love and how through that love they help each other overcome their fears.

Because if you consider how small a novel this one is, the way Antonio's character developed until the end of the story is just amazing!

And up until the last two chapters of this book, I was quite certain that it would be a solid 5 star review. But, the last two chapters where just not consistent with how great a book this one could really be. The easy way everything wrapped up in the final two chapters sort of destroyed the awesomeness. Everything was just settled way too easily for my taste.

All in all, The Convenient Bride is a novel all fans of romance should watch out for, one I really enjoyed both for the story and the writing style and if not for the easy way everything wrapped up in the end, it would almost perfect! As it is, it is definitely worth your time and I will certainly watch out this author from now on.

[Nas Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Convenient Bride

THE CONVENIENT BRIDE by author Jennifer St George is released by Destiny Romance.

Antonio Moretti came to repossess a hotel for defaulting on his mortgage payment. But when he met the owner's daughter, sparks flew.

For his personal reasons he makes a proposition to Sienna De Luca for a marriage of convenience. She strikes a deal to get back her hotel after one year. It was a marriage of convenience only. But can they deny their growing awareness of each other? And what would happen when Siena discovers Antonio's secrets?

THE CONVENIENT BRIDE is a lively contemporary romance with a sexy, gorgeous hero you will swoon over and a strong heroine whom you'd love. Author Jennifer St George brought this sparkling tale of unexpected and chance encounters turning into red-hot passion. It is humour with steamy sensuality and heart tugging pathos. Highly recommended.

[Desere · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new author to me but as always I love to give all a fair change and so when the opportunity came to read I grab at it.

The book was a real page turner, the characters just screamed at me ,they were so real. And the author packed vivid emotion combined with loads of hot passion into one excellent read.

The author's stunning story of love,secrets and a large dose of blazing hot passion was simply put ......FABULOUS !

I loved how the author used superb characterization to bring her characters to live for me as reader.

The dialogue was fresh,fun and new,unlike some of the other more established author I have read this author offered a new take on the marriage of convenience and just made the entire read a whole lot of fun and I found myself laughing out loud more than once.

Well done Jennifer ,I very much look forward to more.

5/5 star review

[Bernadette Rowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This debut book from Jennifer St George has a beautifully authentic Venetian setting. I loved its exotic places and the fact that the hero took it all for granted. Sienna continually surprised Antonio who had been bored by the women in his life. She was down to earth, family-oriented and beautiful- a genuine Aussie with Italian roots. I really enjoyed this story and can't wait for Jennifer's next offering.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great short read. I loved the characters. I liked that Sienna was a strong woman and didn't just do as told and challenged Antonio. His character did have some growing to do which he did of course. The steam level was hot without being too graphic. I love these kind of stories-millionare needs wife to close a deal and eventually falls in love. Overall I have recommended this book to friends and will be reading it agian.
Recieved via netgalley in exchange for honest review.

[Dana Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer, your story really resonated with me. I love that your hero, Antonio, who comes across sometimes as extremely cold and clinical became worthy in the end. And Sienna, who was a beautiful innocent in such a worldly setting...*sigh! This story had all the elements of a great romance. Can't wait to delve into your next book!

[Sheryl C. Nash · Rating 4 out of 5]

VERY GOOD DEBUT, THROUGHLY ENJOYED IT.

Proper review to follow...

[Venetia Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

A contemporary short romance dense with emotion, conflict and wonderful places in Italy! A great debut.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following on my journey through Penguin's new line of Destiny Romances, I bring to you Book #3 in my reading "The Convenient Bride" by australian author Jennifer St. George. This book spans between Melbourne and Italy as we meet hoteliers Sienna DeLuca - the Plaza Hotel in Melbourne as been in her family for hundreds of years but now due to debt she has landed herself in an unfortunate situation and her families legacy is about to be brought my multi-millionaire Antonio Morletti - a worldwide famous owner of hotels scattered all around the globe yet he can't get his hands on the one hotel he really wants. With Sienna , practically begging to do anything to save the hotel and Antonio needing to prove to the hotel owners of the Villa in Italy that he wants to buy , that he's not a playboy enter into a contract of a fake marriage. As we can imagine these fake marriages don't always mesh well with the emotions of both parties, no matter how hard they deny it and try and stick to the whole line of "Im doing this because I have to and I am happy pretending".
When each party gets too close to discovering each others closest and guarded secrets and trust flies out the window - will both parties be able to keep up the charade or will they realise that they have actually developed "real" feelings of love for the other ?
In a way this reminded me of the Christian themed novel by Jenny B. Jones "Save the Date" which follows a similar storyline.
Fast and easy to read , The Convenient Bride by Jennifer St. George offers the romance that normally features in Mills and Boons and tales like this but for some reason , her writing seemed to captivate me as all I can say is that unlike the Mills and Boons fluffiness of romance novels - I have found that the Destiny Romance line has depth in their stories which makes the readers like me hook into more.

[TashNz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so lucky to win this fantastic debut stoy by Jennifer St George over at Cherie Le Clare's Blog (who by the way is a fan.tas.tic Kiwi author).

The Convenient Bride is a story as devine as the cover!

Sienna has no choice but to accept Antonio Moretti's proposal - a marriage of convenience proposal. She is instantly whisked away from Melbourne, the only home she's ever known, into Antonio's wealthy, first class and upscale world in Venice. Sienna has Italian roots but she's like a fish out of water in Antonio's world. Sienna and Antonio are as opposite as you can get and I love how they grow in each other's company.

I was captured by Sienna's thoughts and personality and I loved her ability to chip away at Antonio's tough exterior. Antonio is the the complete opposite to Sienna and yet so similar, he's as passionate about his family and Sienna is about hers. He has the world at his feet and yet his world is solitary. His only family has been shamed by what the media is saying about him. It was so moving when he opens up to Sienna even my heart ached for him.

I was so enchanted by Jennifer St George's A Convenient Bride. I too was whisked away to Venice. I was transported by the rich descriptions to a world far far far away from my own. A beautifully woven story that I will read again and I will definitely be looking forward to reading Seducing the Secret Heiress.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Convenient-...

[Michelle ♥ The Romance Vault ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in opulent surroundings thats choc full of wealth and posh hotels, this is a quick and quite engaging read. I got drawn into Sienna's and Antonio's story and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Maybe it's because I am a sucker for Billionaires and their wicked ways of doing things that's portrayed in books, maybe it's because I love an European flavour, but one thing this book did actually have depth and emotions. Yes it's predictable but it's written in a way you can't help to get drawn in.

[Leisl Leighton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This might be Jen's first book, but you can't tell. I really enjoyed it. Finished it in one go. It was an easy read and predictable in the kind of good way that this kind of romance book should be. THe romance was a little slow at the start, but then, the when they fired up, the burn was good and really made me want them to get together.
Jen does the OS locations really well. I've been to Venice and I could see it all again so clearly.
A really great read. Bring on more.

[Rowena May O'Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book and a timely read I'm thinking considering it is set in Venice and the wedding of George Clooney was happening around the time I was reading this book. Just loved the characters Sienna de Luca and Antonio Moretti in this story and I was brought to tears as the characters evolved and we learned their story. This was a beautifully written story and I was hooked right from the very beginning and read it in one day, which is rare for me.

[Mary Costello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books where you get entirely absorbed in the dream. I particularly enjoyed the jaunt to Venice and the imaginative encounter with the high life. Worth reading for the architecture alone; but there's also a romance that's a lot of fun.

[Marimarime · Rating 4 out of 5]

3-4 stars,I was expecting more considering previous reviews,though it's fairly good and quick read at times it feels rushed and shallow?!

[Shona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read.