Indecent Proposal

Boys of Bishop #4

by Molly O'Keefe

Alternate cover edition - ISBN13: 9780345549051.

Perfect for readers of Susan Mallery and Rachel Gibson, Molly O’Keefe’s gritty and sensual tale of passion and politics features the brother of the heroine from the author’s beloved novel, Never Been Kissed. He’s a driven man who refuses to be distracted—until he meets a beautiful bartender who just may change his life.

With his chiseled jaw and his thick blond hair, Harrison Montgomery was born to lead. Four generations of Montgomery men have served the state of Georgia and now he’s next in line. Harrison, though, is driven to right wrongs: namely to clean up the political mess left by his father’s greed and corruption. But Harrison must first win his congressional bid, and nothing can get in his way—not even an angel who served him whiskey and gave him a shoulder to lean on and a body to love for a night. Problem is, she’s pregnant. Scandal is brewing and there is only one solution: marriage.

Damage control? Ryan Kaminski can’t believe that a cold, calculating political animal now inhabits the body of the emotionally vulnerable stranger who’d given her the most unforgettable night of her life. Really, she doesn’t want anything from Harrison, except to be left alone to have her baby in peace. But Ryan is broke, jobless, and essentially blackmailed by Harrison’s desperate family to accept this crazy marriage deal. For two years, she will have to act the role of caring, supportive wife. But what is Ryan supposed to do when she realizes that, deep in her heart, she’s falling in love.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Marriage Of Convenience, Politics, Adult, Adult Fiction

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 30, 2014

About the author

This author is also published under: M. O'Keefe.

Molly O'Keefe has always known she wanted to be a writer (except when she wanted to be a florist or a chef and the brief period of time when she considered being a cowgirl). And once she got her hands on some romances, she knew exactly what she wanted to write.

She published her first Harlequin romance at age 25 and hasn't looked back. She loves exploring every character's road towards happily ever after.

Originally from a small town outside of Chicago, she went to university in St. Louis where she met and fell in love with the editor of her school newspaper. They followed each other around the world for several years and finally got married and settled down in Toronto, Ontario. They welcomed their son into their family in 2006, and their daughter in 2008. When she's not at the park or cleaning up the toy room, Molly is working hard on her next novel, trying to exercise, stalking Tina Fey on the internet and dreaming of the day she can finish a cup of coffee without interruption.

Reviews

[Jonetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on The Book Nympho

Quick summary
Harrison Montgomery has worked his entire adult life for this moment in his political career, running for a Georgia congressional seat. He's running the race of his life, trying to outdistance himself from his father's sordid political record, only to create his own scandal because of a weak moment. That moment involved Ryan Komanski who didn't even know who he was.

The heart of the story
Ryan only intended to provide a moment of solace to Harrison that night they spent together. She didn't even know his last name so even if she'd wanted him to be part of her pregnancy it wasn't a possibility. Harrison's jaded experiences with women dashed all his good memories from his night with Ryan and the indecent proposal was formed.

What I loved
Harrison and Ryan. I had mixed emotions about him before this story (good guy who got his sister saved but seriously flawed when he pushed her to help his campaign). His story is pretty incredible...one moment I loathed him and the next I wanted to give him a hug. Who knew this guy was so interesting and complex? And Ryan. She might seem tragic at first but then you get to see her wonder. This story had me off balance from beginning to end and my emotions were soaring the entire time.

The bottom line
I hate to see this series end because of stories like this! Yes, we've all read storylines involving surprise pregnancies resulting in tepid marriages but this one stands apart from the rest. It's gut-wrenching, funny, thought provoking and romantic. Harrison and Ryan are so finely crafted you'll walk away feeling as if you'd always know their hearts. *sigh* What's next Ms. O'Keefe?

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

[Mahima · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book with a strong plot but failing characters.
It has a really really good start. I swear I read one third of the book in one sitting, the beginning was that good!
But in the second half things started to decline. Plotting, characters' behaviour and my interest 🙄.

The second half felt very different from the first one. It had very little to none emotions involved (except if you call handling scandals together an emotion). The point is that until Harrison's career wasn't 100% involved this book felt different but the moment author devoted herself to his political career, their almost non existing chemistry/ love life sucked. TBH these MCs didn't really have any romance or spark in them, there.. I said it out aloud!

I loved Ryan the most in the whole story. She's the kind of heroine which keeps me hooked in a book, though the same can't be said for Harrison. He's a confused personality who sometimes doesn't know what should be done or not and on other times he's confused about his own self at the age of 32 after spending 10 years building the career he's now following ( no judgements here).

All in all an average book with political drama. However drama out-passed the romance here.

[Michelle [Helen Geek] · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is actually available for pre-order -- release is late September.
Here is the Amazon pre-order link: http://www.amazon.com/Indecent-Propos...


FULL REVIEW posted 08/05/2014

Finished 08/02/2014

Overall Rating = 5 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 4 / 4 / 5 = 4.5 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 5 Stars
Character Development = 4.5 Stars
Story Appreciation = 10 Stars
Ending = 5 Stars
Worth the Chili = 5 Stars -- [$5.99 w/pre-order on Amazon]
Smexy [HEAT] Rating = Moderate
368 pages

I stumbled across Molly O’Keefe last year completely by accident. She soon became one of my “go to” authors. I love her stories and her characters. This one is her best so far and she has had some really kick ass books.

What I loved about Indecent Proposal:
1 – I love a “marriage of convenience” story. They are pretty predictable, but I love them. What made this one stand out is Ryan Kaminski.

2 – Ryan Kaminski has cajones the size of boulders. She came from the school of hard knocks. She was raised in a tough polish neighborhood in Phillie. She loved her family, but has made some mistakes that hurt them and they don’t love her as much back. She hasn’t had a man in years. Then, in walks “Ken Doll”. He sits at her corner of the bar. She gets to know him a bit. He is a beautiful man and is having a bad day. A bad week and she wants to help him forget a little. Why him? Why now? Because …

She wasn’t always loveable, but I liked that about her. She has a maturity and an honesty you rarely find in the books you read anymore. She doesn’t lie to herself. She knows she’s a “fuck up”, but she’s trying. She really is and she’s good with where life has put her.

3 – Harrison [aka Harry, aka Ken Doll] – I liked him in previous books. Boy, when you first meet him here you fall madly deeply in lust with him. He is politely feral. They have their night and then he is gone. It has to be that way. When he comes back into the Ryan’s life – we hate him. He is a right bastard. Not a thing about him to really like. Then we remember how he was with Ashley and we know something is happening. We want to see how it comes about. The tension around these two is palpable. You could cut it with a .. know what I mean?

4 – All the backstory dynamics. We don’t have a simple read here. There are stories within stories and we love it. I just love that Molly O’Keefe writes for the intelligent side of her readers. She gives us romances but doesn’t feel that just because you read romance you are simple or require things dumbed down. She gives us a bit of complexity to the story to hold our interest. She doesn’t play games with her cast of characters and she provides mature characterization. Really beautiful. Why I’ll read ANY book she writes.

This worked for me on so many levels. I really found nothing to fault. Maybe the title is a bit overused, but it works. The cover is pretty typical for the atypical romance read – but it works. I’ll read this series, especially this story, over and over again. I love that it makes me think and how it makes me feel.

Two in one week. I've only had a few "first reads" as 5 Stars this year and have had two in one week. You really must plan to give this book a shot.

Happy Reading!

ARC provided by the author and Random House LLC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
08/02/2014
*** 5 Stars ***
FULL REVIEW TO BE POSTED CLOSER TO SEP 30, 2014 pub date.



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Guess what? I have a SQUEE worthy moment ... READY?? I got an ARC!! YEAH! Diving in RIGHT now. This VERY minute. Stay tuned. I love these books and am sure I'll just love this. Hope so anyway.

THANK You Ladies [you know who you are :)] -- you MADE my day!

*****************************************************
I'm super bummed !! My ARC request was declined :(

I've read the other three as ARC's and am so b u m m e d ...

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quote: I am my own damn Prince Charming.

Harrison Montgomery lives what seems to be a charmed life but no ones knows the extent of the dysfunction that thrives beneath the surface of his picture perfect family. When he announces he’s running for congress, he never imagines a one night stand will come back to haunt him and possibly ruin everything he has worked for. His entire political future rests on a woman who may not want anything to do with him.

The one time Ryan Kaminski, a down on her luck bartender and part time model, breaks the rule of no employee/customer fraternization, she ends up with more than she bargained for. Fired, sick, and broke her brother Wes takes it on himself to let Harrison know that he left Ryan with a sizable parting gift and needs to take responsibility. Ryan is shocked by the cold calculating man who blackmails her into marrying him. Married to man she doesn’t know and a family that hates the sight of her, Ryan just needs to play the loving supportive wife for two years. But nothing in the contract she signed says anything about what to do if she falls in love.

Unplanned pregnancy, political scandal, and two very different people provide the platform for Molly O’Keefe’s fourth installment in her Boys of Bishop series-Indecent Proposal. While you don’t have to read the series in order, each one can stand on its own with a single hero/heroine romance and resolvable conflict, we do get sightings of previous couples and advancement in their lives. Readers may want to read Never Been Kissed to gain some back story on the hero of this book-Harrison Montgomery.

Molly O’Keefe has a definite gift of slicing through the artifice and getting to the heart of the matter in an engaging and receptive manner. Her stories offer a refreshing take on modern romances; giving us bittersweet love stories that don’t offer us a convenient happily ever after but more of a hope that with work, this relationship has all the necessary ingredients to survive.

Marriage of convenience , opposites attract, and unexpected pregnancy aren’t new tropes in romance but in O’Keefe’s deft hands, they become a visual feast for the senses as she expertly builds and refines her world and the dynamically flawed characters who live there. O’Keefe doesn’t write easy. She doesn’t minimize the emotions or situations in order to make the story easier for her characters or the readers. Life can be painful…but it can also be triumphant, vibrant, and well worth the journey you undertake to get to the prize. Lucky for us, O’Keefe understands that.

An emotionally convoluted storyline gives a poignant look at abuse, family, and the pain that comes from both. Politics and the ugliness that can reside behind the scenes plays a heavy part in the storyline and the protagonists’ relationship. O’Keefe sends a powerful message in her examination of being true to oneself regardless of the consequences.

Read the rest of my review at Smexy Books.

[Sunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW:

This is my second Molly O’Keefe book and I’m starting to see a pattern emerge. This author writes emotionally complicated, complex stories with no easy answers. This one is a beauty.

Harrison Montgomery has known all his life that he was destined for public service. As a legacy politician, all of his focus has been to enter into politics following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. When his fathers indiscretions come to light, it makes Harrison even more determined to clear the family name and restore it’s legacy.

Ryan Kaminski comes from a working class background. She experiences fleeting fame as an “it” girl for a cosmetic company when she was young. But now, after a failed marriage, she is fiercely making it on her own without many attachments and not much care.

These two souls collide and it is one exquisite, genuine, life-changing moment for both of them. Neither expected it to be repeated, but as it turns out Ryan becomes pregnant and they enter into an unusual agreement.

This story has many layers. First, is the original enounter between Ryan and “Henry”. It is pure bliss. You can almost feel the essential nature of the encounter. Second, is the after-effects of the bargain. Ryan rises to the challenge and finds something of herself in portraying a fiance of a political candidate. Third, is what happens after everything falls apart. It is both painful and uplifting.

I really enjoyed the characters. I love that Ryan is a realist. “In Ryan’s reality, everything had a price. No pleasure came without sorrow. No joy without despair. Her honesty is refreshing and her courage to take chances, while keeping a steady head is admirable.” She is strong and strong willed. Based on her past experiences, she learns not to hope, but make your own reality. I admire how she finally finds her voice, something she lost after her divorce. For her, overcoming and starting new means coming to terms with the past.

Harrison is battling to maintain his family’s legacy and his own future. He is struggling under the weight of expectations from his family. He is driven to do the right thing, but sometimes what is right is to follow your heart and not outside expectations. Watching him come to that conclusion and fight for his own desires is heart-lifting. When his heart comes back to the right place, he is a hero to me.

There are also strong secondary characters. Wes, Ryan’s brother, certainly has a hidden past and surely, Molly O’Keefe is destined to give him his only story. Right, Ms. O'Keefe? Wallace Jones, is the smart aleck campaign manager with terrible ties. One of the most memorable is Patty Montgomery, Cruella de Vil has nothing on her. But as we learn more about her, it becomes apparent that she is more and has more heart that she lets on. Hmmm, she is deliciously harsh and I hope we see her in future books.

IN A NUTSHELL:
Beautifully written and emotionally evocative, Indecent Proposal is a must read for anyone contemporary romance reader.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Ivy Deluca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan and Harrison meet when Harrison was in the middle of a personal crisis with his sister. They connect and have a glorious one night stand. Then she gets pregnant. Harrison, running for the House of Representatives, persuades her into marrying him for the baby and his career. Then, romance.

It’s All Good
-Great plot and pacing: It’s a standard trope, the marriage of convenience, but it’s Ms. O’Keefe’s way with drawing such vivid scenes with her words that captured my attention. This is a character driven story, a great blend of drama and some humor. Sometimes character driven tales can be slow-moving, but in this case, the way their lives, the campaign and secrets unfolded, the story kept a nice tension building throughout and kept me turning the page.

-Strong, complex leads: This seems to be a specialty of Ms. O’Keefe, but her heroines aren’t cookie-cutter damsels in distress. They make mistakes, they aren’t always instantly lovable and they are gloriously equal and active participants in their love stories. Ryan is no exception. Ryan is a fabulously flawed heroine. She’s made some huge mistakes in her life and paid for each and every one of them. The idea of a high school dropout and former model, being thrust into the thick of political campaign, was fascinating to watch.

As for Harrison, he is struggling to do what is right and sometimes gets it wrong, but his attraction and feelings for Ryan are unmistakable. His relationship with his parents are messy and really give a foundation for his character where you understand the choices he makes and the responsibilities he feels to be his own man. He had been introduced in an earlier book (which I haven’t read) but it seems to weave in well with that earlier story, without leaving me confused or wishing I’d read it first - I just wish I’d read it.

-Sexy chemistry between Ryan/Harrison: Harrison and Ryan’s first night was set up well and I believed that they were so attracted that they both took a chance with each other. The intimacy of their connection and the build towards to their love scenes was fantastic.

-Excellent secondary characters: all of the secondary characters, from Wallace, Harrison’s campaign manager to Nora, Ryan’s sister all serve the story but have their own motivations that are revealed that make them fascinating in their own right.

The Bottom Line
I can’t think of anything I don’t love about this story. I want to read it again. I can’t recommend Ms. O’Keefe’s writing enough and I think this may be my favorite book so far.

**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for a honest review**

[Jacqueline J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one on the whole. I thought that Harrison was a little unevenly written. First he's lonely, then he's a total ass when he is told that Ryan is pregnant, spewing all kinds of nastiness. Then he turns pretty darn beta and can't seem to stand up for himself. I loved Ryan though. Great character.

[Karina Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 I loved this book Stars!

When Ryan notices "Harry" across the bar where she's working she's instantly drawn to him, I mean who wouldn't be; thick blond hair, gorgeous eyes every girls dream. What happens next is pure lust, that and a faulty condom, Ryan finds herself in a bit of a predicament; she's pregnant.

Even worse, she doesn't even know his last name. So when she ends up in the hospital from dehydration with her brother Wes by her side the last thing she expects to see, is her very handsome one night stand in all his gorgeous glory speaking about his sisters successful save from captivity.

Ryan's in for a huge surprise when she realizes that "Harry" is Harrison Montgomery of the very wealthy very political Montgomery family in Atlanta. Not to mention he is in the middle of his very first campaign.

When Wes finds out and shows up at Harrison's house claiming his sister is pregnant; operation cover it up is started. With no money and a crumbling apartment in NYC its a no brainier that Ryan accepts Harrison's proposal of marriage not only to save his face but offer both her and the baby a financial stability she could never provide.

As an actress Ryan knows all about playing pretend, so with the help of HArrison's not to nice mother she is given the finest suits and attire to pull off being a political wife. What Harrison wasn't expecting was for her to be so good at her job.

"Mine too, because you were holding my hand. Because you are so beautiful in that suit. Because no one - not ever - has stood by my side."

I loved their banter back and forth between one another. Ryan was such a strong amazing character I was seriously in awe of her. One of the best female leads I've read this year. Even when Harrison was being cold an calculated she never gave up on him and continued to support him.

Slowly but surely the two being to form a very intense bond, both physical and emotional. Wallace, Harrison's campaign manager and best friend, helps Ryan fit in more and seriously he was amazing. I loved him as a side character he offered so much for this book and had my laughing.

These people all of them took her in, in a way, and she found her spot on Harrison's side but also as his equal in his campaign.

"In the strangest places she'd found herself another tribe. An unlikely team"

All good things must come to an end and when old family secrets surface and Ryan's past comes out no one is safe from the media storm the happens. When Harrison pushes her away to 'save' her from his likely downfall she pushes back at first but slowly relents and travels home. A place she hasn't been in nine years. A places where she doesn't feel welcomed by her older sister Nora due to her not so pleasant past. BUt as time goes on the bond between her an her family slowly falls back into place, and when Harrison comes to her small decrepit house wanting her back he's not only going to have to win back Ryan but her whole family.

" "I'm winning you back, Ryan" he said with that shy smile. It was fascinating, that smile, an indicator of some side of him she'd never seen. "But first I gotta go butcher a deer" "

Everyone in this story was just amazing. I wasn't expecting this book to be THAT good, but it was. I'm in love with all of these characters. Definitely a must read this summer!

[Susan (susayq ~) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear heavens, I think I liked this one as much as, if not more than, the very first one in the series! And once again, it was the heroine that made the book for me :)

I absolutely LOVED Ryan. Yep, that's the heroine's name (you find out why she has a boy's name in the book). She was smart and spunky and didn't take any crap. But, at the same time, she had such a soft vulnerability to her that made me want to reach out and wrap her up and tell her she was loved and everything would be alright.

Our hero, Harrison, was broken and vulnerable and needed to be loved also. He and Ryan had that in common and could read it in each other. Harrison felt he had to be perfect, and he felt he wasn't good enough for Ryan. At the end when he was in Philly, he melted my heart with his declaration. It was perfect :)

Everyone who reads my reviews knows I try not to give away too much of the story...I want you to read it ;) But, I have to mention two of my favorite scenes. The scene where Ryan and Harrison went to the charter school and she read a story to the kindergarten class. I LOVED IT! I laughed and smiled and giggled. I teach kindergarten, so I get what happened. But also, the chaos of it. I had a friend who's kindergarten class was child driven like that and I also thought her class was chaotic LOL My second favorite scene was towards the end when Harrison stood up for Ryan to her dad. PERFECT! These two scenes were where I fell totally in love with these characters :)

If you haven't read anything by Molly O'Keefe, go grab something by her. She writes realistic characters that you can identify with. You watch her characters grow and change through the story. And, she tells an amazing story :)

ARC received from the publisher via Netgalley

[Bj · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 "Love Me for the Real Me" Stars! I love this series! Molly O'Keefe sure knows how to write romances driven by emotional connections. There is also a bit of passion here too, although it is tamer than the prior two books in the Boys of Bishop series which I have read. I also loved that we got to revisit some of my favorite characters from Book 2 of the Boys of Bishop series, as the hero in this story is the brother of the heroine in Never Been Kissed. Last, but definitely not least, Ms. O'Keefe's attention to the seedier side of political life is also to be commended, as it plays a prominent role in this novel and provides for an interesting side story to the romance.

Although this is the fourth book in the Boys of Bishop series, which details the love lives of various couples having some connection to the small town of Bishop, Arkansas, this book can be read as a standalone. To the extent you do plan on reading the entire series, there is some benefit to reading the books in chronological order, as prior characters do make appearances and continue to develop in the later books. In particular, you should plan on reading Never Been Kissed, Book 2, before this book as there are spoilers with respect to the couple in that story as this one pretty much takes place concurrently.

Harrison Montgomery was born into politics. His father is a long-time politician who even ran for Vice President of the United States at one time. Growing up in the spotlight, he didn't have much of a childhood. Not just because of the press, but because his family has always made it clear that politics take precedence over everything, even a normal, loving family life. In fact, the most domestic situations he can remember growing-up, where usually staged photo ops.

Now that he is older, Harrison is also keen enough to understand that his father has never been the most clean of politicians. Idealistic in nature, Harrison hopes to correct some of his father's corrupt and greedy mistakes when he gains office. To that end, he is in the middle of a campaign for the US House of Representatives.

Then his whole life enters a tail-spin as a result of his sister's abduction by Somali pirates. As a consequence, he momentarily lets his political, public image guard down, and drowns his sorrows at a New York bar. There he meets Ryan Kaminsky, a thirty-two year-old, down-on-her-luck, aspiring model, who bartends to pay the bills. Having gone through a bad divorce, which also destroyed her ties to her own family, she hasn't been with a man in over four years. So she surprises herself when she decides to break her employer's "no fraternizing with the patrons" rule for "Harry", the "Ken Doll" who arrives at her bar after clearly having had a bad stretch. Wanting to make their loneliness go away, for at least one night, she allows herself to be seduced. When she wakes up the next morning, "Harry" is gone, and leaves no contact information. She doesn't even know his last name.

Ryan ends up losing her job for breaking the rules, and then surprise of all surprises, she finds out she is pregnant. With no way to support the child or even means to track down "Harry", she has no idea how she will get through this. Then her meddling brother--who means well but always seems to stir trouble--tracks down "Harry" when she refuses to do so after realizing who he is from a TV news clip.

Soon the media is on their heels and, with scandal just around the corner, Harrison concocts an "indecent proposal": get married and pretend to be the perfect political couple for two years in exchange for financial support. Ryan, however, is a media circus waiting to happen given her less than proper background for a politician's wife. Moreover "Harry," the man she met and felt connected to that night, is no where to found; instead all she is left with is the arrogant, politician who he uses as a public façade. Moreover, his political family is appalled at Ryan's lack of credentials and determined to make her life miserable.

With all the public scrutiny, is their any chance this couple will ever be able to put their external barriers down and rediscover their true connected selves? Moreover, can two people from such different backgrounds ever find true happiness together?

What an interesting study in public perceptions and political life. Can one ever be truly happy when destined to make their career a priority above all else? I love how Ms. O'Keefe drives home the point that to be appreciated for one's true self is so much more meaningful and necessary to experiencing true happiness as compared to society's markers of success. It is also fantastic to see a novel that emphasizes the importance of familial love in self-identity and the probability of future self-fulfillment.

All in all, this was a terrific read for so many reasons, and I highly enjoyed the convoluted and difficult path to love that Ryan and Harrison had to uncover to find true happiness. I can't recommend this series highly enough!

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[BG · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a house full of lies and pretense, she was startling, viscerally real.

[Ksenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come.

You can find my reviews:

[Bobbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest reveiw*

4.5 stars!!

Ryan meets Harry one at the bar she works at. He's been coming in the last couple of nights and doesn't look up from his phone or speak to anyone. He orders his beers and then leaves. On his last night, Ryan decides to talk to him. One thing leads to another and at the end of her shift, she heading up to his hotel room.

Weeks later, she's in the hospital with a pissed off brother and finds out who Harry really is. And her brother is furious and takes it upon himself to confront Harry not realizing the shit storm he creates. One that starts with a marriage deal.

I loved this book!! Besides the sex scenes being H.O.T., I couldn't put this book down! I had to keep reading to find out what happened. And there was something happening in every chapter that made you want to keep reading. It had everything from your witty banter to monster-in-law drama. From hot schemxy scenes to throwing an apple at your head arguments.

I loved every character...well, ok not Patty and Ted, but you're not supposed to like them. Wallace was my favorite, telling it like it is but not in your face opinionated. Since there was such a dislike for his ties, I would've liked a little more description of them when he wore a new one. That was something I was looking forward to whenever he entered a scene. Anything for your momma, right?

There wasn't much I didn't like about this book. I loved the fact the author did not dwell too much on the political issues considering the setting. It was great the way it was and I hope there will be another a couple years down the road so that we can read more about Ryan and Harry.

[XxTainaxX Curvy and Nerdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this book wondering how the author would make it work because the plot seemed like it would take some convincing. Ms. O'Keefe did a great job of painting the picture and although Ryan's relationship with her family is frustrating and at times a bit of a stretch (she stays away from everyone else because her sister says so?), I grew to really enjoy Ryan, particularly when she would help our main guy, Harrison. I can get behind a girl with some wit and sarcasm :-p Harrison was a harder sell for me. He was mostly a jerk that had redeeming moments and his epiphany at the end was much too passive. His persistence was a nice touch. Kudos for showing some growth in him. He's a pretty good looking dude, I definitely got the visual. All in all, it was a good read.

[Penny Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

So... this book is extremely well written. I will likely read all of this author's books because this book is so exceptionally well written, I almost didn't mind that the characters (mains) were somewhat cardboard.

I did enjoy that the heroine had faults and a personality.
I didn't get much of a read on the hero, however. He was a hot, selfless do-gooder... and that's all I got.

HOWEVER! The take home message should be: GREAT WRITING!!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://romancenovelsforfeminists.blog...

[Mskychick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book was amazing. It deserves at least 6 stars on the GoodReads scale

As always with Molly O'Keefe books, this story is wonderful! She pulled my heart out through my throat, then left me with it back in my chest, beating strongly from all the happy warm-fuzzy goodness that the HEA gave me. This author excels at crafting characters that are messed up. Messed up by poor family relationships, by poor choices, by their own heads. Those characters always go through some major angst on their way toward happiness, and Ryan and Harrison are no exception. I was sucked into the story and all the rollercoaster of emotions of each character became my own. I cried and I cheered as I read.

Ryan is now a bartender in New York City. She stole her sister's boyfriend and married him. He beat her up, and induced her to help him rob her father of his hard-earned savings set aside for her siblings. Now her family hates her and won't speak to her. She's lonely and living in a dump 1 room rental. She meets "Harry" in her bar and has a one night stand with him that results in her losing her job. She also gets pregnant because the condom she snagged from her fellow bartender fails. Harrison didn't tell her who he was because he wanted to keep that wonderful night a pure memory in his head, and he also wants to protect himself from being seen as corrupt and immoral like his father.

Perhaps it was his general defenselessness, or exhaustion, but the thought of Ryan Kaminski slipped into his skull like an assassin.
He couldn't count that night as a mistake. It was the first time a woman had slept with him without knowing his family. Without one eye on his connections and his money.
Ryan had picked him, for him. And not at his best. At the very lowest point in his life, she'd held out a hand.
What kind of person did that?
What kind of person found such weakness and confusion interesting? And not just a little... What had happened in that room had destroyed him. It wasn't just the incredible sex, but the honesty. The honesty had been addictive and erotic and rare. So rare he hadn't realized what a kingdom of lies and half-truths he ruled, until meeting her.
And ironically, he'd liked to her. A lie by omission was still a lie. Maybe worse because of its intrinsic cowardice.

It was one thing to cling to the mysterious woman and that charged night life a lifeboat while waiting to find out if his sister was alive or dead, but they were returning to the real world. Real life.
And in real life he was Harrison Montgomery, the favorite son of a fifth generation political family out of Atlanta. And in three months about to be a congressman. The representative in the House for Georgia's fifth congressional district.
His father was finishing up his last term as governor of Georgia, and appropriately going down with the sinking boat of corruption and scandal that had been his life's work.
And in order to wipe the mud off his family name, to return some pride to his sister and himself and future Montgomery generations, Harrison's role, his mission, was to be without weakness. To give no rumors the chance to find foothold, no reporter trying to make his name even the slightest whiff of scandal.
And his night with Ryan to the outside eye was nothing but scandalous.
That night was an anomaly. Best forgotten.

Ryan doesn't plan to track down the father of her fetus, although she's not sure how she's going to survive with no job and no family support. But when she discovers that the father is actually Harrison Montgomery, the son of a politician who is running for congress, her brother confronts Harrison in front of reporters, and the cat is out of the bag. Harrison's behavior has ossified by his reaction to his family's behavior and not wanting to be what he sees in his parents.

personally, it was far more than hard feelings between him and Ted- there was a cavern of disappointment and anger. Of Disgust.
Some men were created in the image of their father. Harrison grew up in his father's negative space. In the holes Ted had left behind. Harrison was who he was in spite and to spite his father.

That slightly raised eyebrow, those pursed lips as if she's smelled something bad, but was too polite to say it- that was the mother of his childhood. The mother with the expression that said don't come to me with your minor fears and heartbreaks. I would rather not be bothered by your desire for attention or affection.
As a kid he'd been baffled by that look on her face, because she didn't look that way when they were in public. She gave her kindness to strangers, saved her chill for him and Ashley.
So effective was that face of hers, that vague air of disappointment and disinterest, that he just stopped wanting anything from her.

His craptastic father ran around on his mother and got his much-younger staffer pregnant and was outed from a car accident. His parents paid the woman off to disappear, but Harrison has his father's womanizing and bad behavior in the forefront of his mind when he decides how to act. He tries to blackmail Ryan into marrying him. He informs her they're going to get married for 2 years while he's running for congress and getting his feet wet, then she can quietly leave him.

She laughed. She laughed so hard she had to brace her hand against the counter, accidentally knocking her pretty red teacup into the sink, where it shattered. But even that didn't stop her from laughing.
"I'm not kidding."
"And that makes it even more funny. Listen, Harrison, you broke into my apartment. Called me stupid. All but accused me of being gold-digging whore. I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on earth."

While she doesn't want to, it immediately becomes apparent to Ryan that she doens't have another good way to survive, so she accepts Ryan's offer of marriage, while wringing her own concessions from him. They are quickly married and then have to figure out how to cohabitate and participate in his congressional campaign while still hiding and protecting their inner selves. Ryan is an in-your-face, uncouth rebel, and Harrison hidebound and stodgy, so their personalities clash constantly. The lust of their first night together bubbles beneath everything, adding to the stress of the mix.

The descriptions as they bumble their way through their fake marriage are so poignant and heartbreaking, and often beautiful.

He lifted his hand to touch her shoulder, but she flinched away from him before he could. It had been instinctive. Uncontrollable. A safety measure.
Well, that's a problem.
In the doorway, Patty saw how she'd flinched, and paused. "You have to touch him," she said.
He eyes were bright, and if Patty were a different kind of woman, Ryan might think she had tears in her eyes. "If you want people to believe you love him, then you have to touch him. You have to smile and hold his hand no matter how you feel about him. Or what he's done." She swallowed, her hand at her stomach. A strange moment of weakness. "Or how he's hurt you."

she knew nothing of him. Nothing at all.
I can't do this, she thought. I can't spend every minute of my life playing some kind of chess match with this man, wondering what is real and what isn't.
She hated the very thought of it, a future spent on high alert, looking for weaknesses to exploit just to wound him. Just to find the human being beneath that facade of his- it made her feel like she was drowning.
"If this is going to work," she said, pressing her hand against the cool glass and then her forehead, "to the world outside, we'll like our faces off. But you and I..."
The words Let's be kind. We've both been hurt enough wouldn't come out of her mouth into the horrible coldness between them.
"No lies between us?" he supplied.
She nodded and whispered, feeling more painfully vulnerable than she had all night, "No lies between us."

Each has many deeply touching episodes with their families that were in turn painful and also sometimes uplifting. The family dynamics were a large part of what made this beautiful book so gut-wrenching.

Mother lifted dry, ravaged eyes to his and he flinched from all that was revealed.
"Don't," he said, before she opened her mouth. He could not take her apology now, years too late when she had nothing left to lose.
"Son," Mother whispered, "we're so sorry you got dragged into this-"
"Don't pretend to be pained on my behalf," he snapped, the freeze giving way under fire. Under a terrible burning anger. Being angry with his parents was safe. It was familiar. It was totally okay, and he latched onto that with a vicious kind of glee. "I've been a prop my entire life. You've manufactured your sympathy in whatever passes for your heart because that is the emotion some polling group told you to feel when your son loses everything he has spent his whole life working for."
Mother's ravaged guilt turned to surprise, and if he hasn't spent thirty-two years in her company, he might have believed her. "Is that what you think? That I am pretending to feel bad for you?"
"Yes, Mother," he said. "That is what I think. That is what I have been taught to expect from you. Don't break character now."

"I think... we, you, me, and Wes, we got real good at hiding all the things that make us loveable," Nora said. "All the softness and all the... sweetness, because it hurt when Mom died. Because being soft and sweet wouldn't put food on the table. We hid those things so well we forgot where we put them. But you got plenty in you that's loveable, Ryan. I'm sorry I, or Paul or anyone, made you feel different."
Ryan grabbed her sister's hand again, clung to it across the old table.

Ryan and Harrison each grow so much over this book, figuring out what they need to do to become happy, individually and together. Ultimately this is a story of hope and redemption, and of healing.

She still seemed dubious and he thought of how badly he'd botched it between them. After the election and then upstairs in her room. She deserved better, so with both hands he tore open the box where he'd kept everything he felt. All those things he'd tried to make go way because no one in his life ever valued them.
"I've been far from happy for so long. But you made me feel good and whole for the first time in my life. You made me feel like I was worth more than I'd ever thought I was. I want that back."
"You made me feel that way too," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "I saw the person I could be with you, and that was exciting. And I wanted that. The food bank and going back to school and being part of your team. But I can be that person without you, too."

The silence between them was broken by the squeal of the back steps as Harrison made his appearance, wearing his suit pants and bourbon-stained, white shirt. He was scruffy and bloodshot and coming down the steps of her childhood home, where she'd dreamed vivid dreams about love and Prince Charming, and her solid and cold heart was not impervious.
It wanted him. Her stupid heart. Her stupid body- both wanted him. Thank God her brain knew better and was driving this ship.
I am my own damn Prince Charming.

I love that- I am my own damn Prince Charming. You go, girl! That is a very empowering statement. It's fabulous that O'Keefe's books show that happiness comes from within, not dependent solely on the love of another.

This book tore me apart, but then it built me back up higher than I started, just like Ryan and Harrison. It was beautiful and touching and made me feel so gooey happy inside. I loved it, and I can't wait to see what Molly O'Keefe comes up wtih for her next book. I can guarantee it will be an auto-buy for me.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Vallsykes · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an admitted Scandal fan, I must say that I think I have a thing for the golden-boy who has a presidential or senatorial je ne sais quoi and can also be a dick! Harrison Montgomery has it.

He meets his girl, a bartender, one night when he is feeling the stress of his world, and then he has a smexy night with her, leaving her with a note to the tune of Goodbye, sweet thang. Maybe in another world, but not this one.

How wrong he was!

Anywhoo, what makes this drama so delish is that not only does the hero ooze of Mr. Yummy Catch, the heroine is sort of scrappy; she's had a doozy of a past, and she is literally Pretty Woman, a bum-magnet who made bad decisions, considered from a lower-class background (when compared to Harrison), yet when she cleans up and plays her part, she enchants. Lots of Potential.

Very sweetly and somewhat hotly, the two end up clinging to each other, survivors of their circumstance in life. The reason why they get together is eclipsed by the need to be each other's solace. As the reader, I wanted them to get together and cheered them on. And they didn't make me wait to long or piss me off before doing it.


It was a good quick read of an unexpected romance.

Happy Reading.

[Ptiteaurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

J ai dévoré cette romance en quelques heures et j ai passé un bon moment.

on retrouve la famille Montgomery qu on avait découvert avec Ashley dans le tome précédents . Ted et Patty restent égaux à eux mêmes. Harrison est engagé dans sa carrière politique et ne sait plus où donner de la tête . Quant à Ryan elle souffre en silence ...

chronique complète à venir...

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, with a marriage of convenience between two very different people. It opens with Ryan working her job as a bartender, and seeing the same good-looking "Ken doll" man come in for the third night in a row. The first two nights he had been glued to his phone, ignoring everyone around him, but on this night he sits there looking sad, alone and lost. Ryan is drawn to him and, as she frequently does, gets him to talk a little about what is troubling him. Then she breaks all the rules and spends a hot night with a man whose full name she doesn't know.

Harrison is part of a family with a history of public service, and he is starting his first run for office himself. He is determined not to follow in his father's corrupt footsteps and keeps tight control on his own actions. The one exception was that night with the beautiful bartender who was his port in an emotional storm. He can't forget her, but he can't see her again either. Then he finds out she's pregnant, and to protect himself from scandal he knows he'll have to marry her.

My feelings about Harrison went back and forth between liking him and detesting him. His vulnerability at the beginning had me hoping that everything would turn out all right with whatever problem he had been facing. Even when he left the next morning, he did so with a bit of class. But his reaction when he found out Ryan was pregnant had me going the other way, especially with his threats against her. There were times when he seemed to be two different people. I found him to be rather judgmental, especially regarding his parents, when he wasn't exactly perfect himself. He could also be very kind, as shown when he was trying to take care of Ryan when she was sick. He was very focused on his goal of political office, even though I frequently got the feeling that it isn't what would make him truly happy. As the story went on, the good Harrison was more frequently seen. I liked the way that he came to appreciate Ryan and her support of him. He also started to care for her. When things started to go bad with his campaign, he wanted to protect her from being affected by his troubles, so he tried to drive her away. But in doing so, he finally realizes that it is Ryan who has given him the true reason to be a better man, and has to find a way to win her back. How he goes about it shows just how much he has changed.

I really liked Ryan. She had a working class upbringing and was something of a wild child. She had a brief stint as a model, a mistake of a marriage, and a serious falling out with her family. She's been on her own for six years, trying to get her life back in order. She's really good at reading people and wanting to help them through their problems, which is how she ended up with Harrison in the first place. Even when she finds out who he is, she has no plans to contact him, knowing that it could wreck his plans. Interference from her protective brother takes the decision out of her hands. Her encounter with the political Harrison is painful and leaves her with no choice but to go along with his proposal, but she has the strength to add a few conditions of her own. I loved that she didn't just give in to his demands.

What happens next is a roller coaster of feelings. Ryan may be the complete opposite of Harrison and everything he is, but she isn't stupid. I loved her transformation from bartender to political wife, and the way it completely floored everyone around her. The scene at the press conference that introduced her as Harrison's wife was fantastic. She doesn't try to hide her past or gloss over it, the way that Harrison tried to do, but steps up and owns it and moves on. There's also a wonderful scene at an event at a food bank, where Ryan's past experiences show an empathy that people like Harrison can never have. Harrison starts to gain a new respect for Ryan. She is also a place of normalcy in the craziness that is his life and he grows to need her far more than he ever expected.

The secondary characters were great. Harrison's parents are his example of what not to do with his life and his career. They are really unlikable until the very end, when I developed a little bit of sympathy for them. Ryan's family is an interesting contrast. They obviously love each other, but Ryan's past actions have put a strain on their relationships. I was intrigued by Ryan's brother Wes, and would like to see him in his own story. My favorite of the secondary characters was Harrison's campaign manager Wallace. He's definitely a good friend to Harrison and wants what is best for him. I loved his interactions with Ryan, especially the one when she first arrives in Atlanta. It was great to see him go from disdain and dislike to a real respect and liking for her. I loved his part in bringing them back together.


*copy received in exchange for honest review.

[Chu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Originally Posted at: Book Freak

PURCHASE IT ►►► AMAZON

I so love this series, and after meeting Harrison Montgomery in Never Been Kissed, I was excited to see that it’s his turn to get his HEA!

His future was already set before him. Four generations of Montgomery men had served Georgia and now his next in the line. But with his father’s indiscretions, he had to work double time with his campaign, making sure that the people know he was different than his father. He must win the congressional bid and he has set his mind in doing it. What he didn’t expect was the detour.

The detour comes in the form of a beautiful girl with a great listening ear and a great body who had served him whiskey during the time he needed it the most. He made sure they were protected – but accidents do happen. And accidents like this causes consequences like… pregnancy. There was one thing to do to make this right: marriage.

She didn’t know he was something big. She wanted nothing from him, especially if it would affect his campaign. But when her brother made it impossible for the both of them to get out from this mess without getting hitched, she found herself being blackmailed to say yes. Thus, a contract was drawn. For two years, she will play the role of a caring and supportive wife to an aspiring politician.

What Ryan didn’t expect was to see the different side of Harrison, the one whom she spent that wonderful night in the hotel room. Day by day, she found herself falling in love with him. But with a contract, a desperate family and a whole lot of media frenzy – can their relationship survive the rocks that has been thrown at them?

Ryan is flawed, and I loved her for it. She’s not perfect. She had done some stupid things in her life. She didn’t mask her imperfections; in fact, she had flaunted it at first. But when she realized the ramifications of her actions, she didn’t change. She compromised, without losing herself. She’s sweet, she’s brave, she’s intelligent, and compassionate. It’s not only the press she charmed, but also the people. She’d make Harrison a good wife.

As for Harrison, you’d like this guy too. He might have projected a cold and calculating politician, but deep inside, he is a nice guy who have only wanted to clean their name after their father have tainted it with a scandal. He’s hardworking, and determined. He wanted her, but he didn’t want to take advantage because of the stipulations in the contract. It was killing him that he’d thrown her with him in his crazy life, and no matter how much he wanted her, it didn’t seem worthy enough for her to suffer with him.

And he makes a stupid decision all by himself…. Can he make it up to her? Or would he let go of the best thing that has happened in his life?

Molly O’Keefe made the election campaign one heck of a ride, make you experience all the ups and downs, the good, the bad and the ugly. But what I love most about this book is the fact that, you can never chose who you fall in love with. You can never question it because there is so much in a person that what meets the eye.

I finished this book in one sitting – experience falling in love, a broken heart, and a whole lot of squirming in a couple of hours. Molly O’Keefe wrote something that would make you grip onto your Kindles, and never putting it down.

•Complimentary Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.•

More of my reviews at http://reviewsofabookmaniac.blogspot.com

[Maria Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of the unconventional romance between Harrison and Ryan. A one night stand between two lonely strangers leads to an unexpected pregnancy and a marriage of convenience thrust into the limelight of politics. It's a disaster, but with some time and effort, can they look behind the facade and find real love?

I loved this story! Molly O'Keefe has no compunction in grabbing the reader and making them feel for the characters right from the start. Harrison is unknown to Ryan, just a stressed out lonely guy who pushes her comfort buttons when they meet in the hotel bar where she works. The sexual attraction between them flares and Ryan is willing to give Harrison what he needs to forget his troubles - in return, Ryan gets the best sex of her life with this attractive stranger who is gone by morning. Your first impressions are that Harrison is a handsome, troubled yet caring man and Ryan is a beautiful, strong,and independent woman. When she finds herself to be pregnant, the man who shows up to claim the unborn child is nothing like the man she met that first night. This one is cold, unemotional, detached - doing what is necessary to save his political career. Harrison's personality layers were laid out for the reader with all his flaws, yet one still wants to find that caring man under the surface, the one Ryan first met. Ryan too must become cold and reserved to preserve herself from feeling more for Harrison, knowing it will come to no good and leave her devastated when the terms of their marriage agreement are over. Yet she finds herself becoming invested, if not in the marriage, then in Harrison's political career. She's spent so much time feeling unimportant and undeserving of love that the chance to do something good sparks her into thinking that maybe, just maybe, she can do more with her life than she's thought possible. The relationship that develops between them is very hot and cold (admittedly sometimes frustrating for me) - the sexual attraction underlies all parts of their relationship and they constantly give into this attraction then back away to preserve their hearts. The sex scenes between them become love scenes as the story progresses - well written, emotional and with a depth of feeling that shows how their feelings towards each other are changing.

I particularly enjoyed the setting and background of this story. Politics can be a nasty business and the behind the scenes machinations of Harrison's political campaign were essential to the plot and understanding Harrison's character and the decisions that he makes.

The secondary characters in the story play an important part in the plot as well. Ryan's estranged relationship with her family is part of what makes her the woman she is now. Harrison's family, in particular his parents, are the reason he is involved in politics and define him and his political goals. With all these external forces, and the behind the scenes politics that play out, it's a wonder anyone can dream of having a normal relationship. But Harrison and Ryan do dream of this, even if these dreams are hidden deep down, and the eventual conflict and resolution lead to a happy ever after that is so well deserved.

If you are looking for a lighthearted and fun romance you won't find it here. What you will find is something much better, a thought provoking, emotional and real romance with characters that will stay in your mind long after the book is read. 5 stars!

Note: A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review

[CatherineAA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong, independent, confident heroine, determined not to settle for less than everything; a closed off hero about to get knocked on his behind and a political marriage of convenience equals a ton of fireworks and the potential for scandal! I enjoyed this and I need to read the series from the beginning.

[Fidah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Indecent Proposal is the fourth book in the Boys of Bishop series. I've not read the other previous books in the series as each book is a companion novel and can be read as a standalone. Naturally, if you're intending to read the whole series then you should read it in order.

This book follows Ryan Kaminski and Harrison Montgomery where they had a one-night stand in the beginning of the book. This incident led to more complications when Ryan finds out she's pregnant. It also results in making Harry's situation difficult because he is a politician. However, the characters soon find themselves in a marriage deal.

Arranged marriages or marriages based on a contract has been the focus of so many years. Hence, it has to stand out from the others to really grab your attention. I found this book to be a little lacking. The storyline is good but it wasn't able to keep me interested for a long period.

Other than that, I wasn't able to connect with the characters. I don't hate them. They were quite likeable characters. For instance, I appreciated Ryan for her bravery and courage by standing up for herself among people who tried to crush her. She didn't back away but instead, stood against the opposing force. However, I was unable to feel for the characters.

Despite that I've said, it was still a pretty decent book but I've found it to be quite lacking in certain parts. There isn't any problem with the writing but I expected myself to love the book. I would still recommend you to read it if you're already interested in the plot.

[Ezi Chinny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This one had Harrison Montgomery needed a break from the circus of his life and he went to a bar to drown his sorrows. Ryan Komanski was the bartender who decided to throw caution to the wind and spend the night with a guy she met at a bar.
They didn't exchange their real names as they both just intended their encounter to be a one-time thing.

A few months later, Ryan got the shock of her life when she tested positive for pregnancy. What was she to do, since she had no clue as to how to locate the baby's father? She didn't even know his name. Imagine her shock when she saw senatorial candidate Harrison Montgomery, and she realized who her one-night stand was.

That set up a very uncomfortable situation for both parties, but there was a baby involved.

This story was definitely predictable, but it was still enjoyable. I would hope Ryan understood why Harrison and his family viewed her a gold digging trollop and why they were highly suspicious of her. Her actions seemed calculated and not innocent. Of course, Harrison had a hard time accepting responsibility for his own actions and he was cruel. His family was pretty self centered and self absorbed so of course everyone's actions was an attempt to take down the Montgomery family.

I liked this story but I have to be in the mood to suspend belief to read these types of novels. I did like it but I don't think I will continue with the series.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!!

This book grabs at all of your emotions and takes you on a wonderful journey. There was something happening in every chapter that made me want to keep reading and flipping the pages until the late hours of the night. It also can be read as a stand-alone with no cliff-hanger and a happy ever-after.

Ryan meets Harrison one night at the bar she works at. He has been coming in the last couple of nights, orders his beer and never looks up from his phone or speaks to anyone. Ryan decides to talk to him and one thing leads to another and at the end of her shift, she is heading up to his hotel room. Weeks later, she's in the hospital with a pissed off brother and finds out who Harrison really is. This one night stand between two lonely strangers also leads to an unexpected pregnancy and a marriage of convenience. The relationship that develops Ryan and Harrison is very hot and the sexual attraction is there and they constantly give into it and then they will pull back from each other to keep their hearts safe.

This story was well written and if you are looking for a good contemporary romance to read then don’t look any further!

**ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review**

[Jenny - Book Sojourner · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
This was a great book where two people meet and have instant chemistry, but it's just for a night. They are two strangers living in different worlds. But when an accidental pregnancy and a nosy brother force these two back together, there's a lot of misunderstanding, misconceptions, and mistrust to wade through. But there are deeper feelings than either is willing to admit in the beginning, especially with political craziness and obnoxious family members interfering with the kindling of their relationship. But what started as a one time fling and an accident, turned out to be a perfect match for Ryan and Harrison.

I absolutely loved Ryan. She made this book! Her character is layered. She has flaws, but has overcome so much. She's the breath of fresh air that Harrison didn't know he needed. Harrison was fine. I liked him. But he had so much garbage from his upbringing to overcome that it took him a while to really hit his stride and start to become the man he needed to be. Thankfully, with a little help, he got it together. But Ryan was awesome. She saved Harrison. She found herself. She's reason alone to read this book.

[Buonaraya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Indecent Proposal started out promising. Molly O'Keefe had me half in love with Harrison, who tried to move heaven and earth to save his sister and grappled with his parents' scandals and shortcomings, all while neck-deep in his ideals and politics. I held a sneaking admiration for Ryan too, as she stepped into the role of Harrison's political wife. Halfway through the book though, and honestly pretty much until the end, they both doth protest too much that I just wanted to give up on them altogether. O'Keefe would tease us with moments where they'd decide to go for it, only to invalidate it immediately after with some earth-shattering news or profound realization on why a relationship would ruin them. Get over yourselves, for Pete's sake. I'd definitely try this author again, but hopefully I'd get less wishy-washy characters the next time around.

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review:

This was quite fun to read! The characters were likeable and humorous and just so quick witted! LOVED THAT.

The story was a little predictable in that it didn't really have any wow factor to it or maybe I should say it's been 'overdone' in the past. Girl meets boy, they have sex ~ a one-niter, she ends up pregnant and what do you know, he's famous....nothing really new.

But as Ive always said before, a book is more than just the story itself. It's the characters and how it is told. Ive already mentioned the characters likeability and the story WAS cute and easy to read so there for props to Ms O'Keefe!!!

I will definitely read more of Molly O'Keefe's work.

[Sonali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has the emotional quotient of an inferno. From the moment Harrison and Ryan meet your heart just doesn't stop cramping for them. Harrison is the ultimate poor little rich boy hero with the best intentions and the worst case of emotional constipation. He is impossible not to love. Ryan, on the other hand, is a heroine who has done some pretty nasty things in the past and sits on the edge of forgiving herself and not being able to. To make things worse she is gorgeous and aware of it and she's always used her looks as a ticket. But she's far from vain. She has this wonderful gritty realist's view of life and she's so in touch with herself and so aware of her failings she ends up being adorable but so very real.
This is an absolutely delicious delicious book.