Contractually Yours

by Crea Reitan

Sign your love away…

Enfield

I never wanted an arranged marriage but to continue the spoiled lifestyle I live and support my three children, I sign on the dotted line with a plan to get what I want and ditch the wife. My parents have other plans and the woman I’m contracted to turns out to be a man. I’m livid.

Xavi

I’ve been looking forward to this day for years. After watching six older brothers get their happy endings, all I want is mine. But the man who walks through my door is angry, mean, and not interested. My happy ending is heartbreak instead.

***

This is a LGBTQIA+ story with content not intended for those under 18 years of age due to graphic scenes and situations.

Genres: M M Romance

367 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 19, 2026

About the author

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. When she can't fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center - and utterly swoon-worthy! Don't ask her how many book boyfriends she has...

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (don't even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Reviews

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’ve been teased about Xavi and Enfield’s story before, but now we get to see it for ourselves at last! In Xavi and Enfield’s worlds, marriage contracts are a thing. Something families have down for generations. Something they both knew they would have to do one day. But the two of them have had very different expectations and experiences with the traditions. For Xavi, he has watched it work on his many siblings and they all are living their happily ever afters. He just wants his own. Does he agree with everything in the contract? No, but he doesn’t have much of a choice and he’ll make the sacrifice. But for Enfield, he has spent the last thirteen years fighting the contracts. He wants his inheritance, he wants his birthright. Being forced to marry with some pretty insane rules is the last thing he wants. So he has spent his time finding every loophole he can and acting out in the hope his parents will finally stop and listen. And it isn’t working. He is tired. When his friend/lawyer finds a possible solution, Enfield decides to try. Even if that means signing a contract even temporarily. But what he doesn’t realize is that his parents have set him up with a man. And he’s straight. Enfield has been pushed just a bit too much this time. But this may end up being the best thing that has happened to him in a while. Because even though Enfield and Xavi start off rocky, there is something stirring between them and they just may find that their futures could be their own if they want it to. This ended up being so great! I was so curious about these two and how they got to where we see them in other books. And just in general how they could fall for one another considering what was going on in their lives. I loved seeing cameos from other characters we know and love. And I love that these two get what they both always wanted in the end and more. Great story!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessica White · Rating 5 out of 5]

We've gotten peeks at Xavi and Enfield throughout some other books in the Creaverse...but now, we get their story! Both Xavi & Enfield's family are affluent with businesses, trusts, & require marriage contracts for their children. X has been dreaming about his future husband and the love they'll share after his parents found spouses for all of his brothers and they're all happy and in love. E is the opposite. E has been fighting against a contract for his wife since he was 13. E just wants to be free & have his birthright and company shares that he worked for. E also needs the funds because in his attempt to get around the contract, he had three children with different mothers out of wedlock. E loves his kids and wants to provide them with a happy comfortable life. E's parents refuse to acknowledge the children, which furthers the division between them all. I don't want to spoil everything, so I'll just say that E's parents, especially his mother deserve a swift kick in the booty. After hatching a plan with his friend and lawyer to get what he wants, E signs his parents contract (without really reading it). This leads to a very big surprise when he meets X & realizes he, as a straight man, was tricked into marrying a male. E, already being angry and hurt for years by his parents hits his breaking point. Unfortunately, poor sweet X gets the brunt of the bad attitude, all while his dreams are being crushed. Thankfully X has Sparrow his BFF to stand by his side & stand up for him. What follows is a rollercoaster of events, feelings, & the start of a relationship that has its ups & downs. Thankfully E gets his stuff together and realizes how amazing X is & opens up his heart. This was a great story & has a HEA. It's also great to get pop-ins from other awesome characters. Definitely recommend.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enfield just wants to be free. Xavi just wants to be loved.

Enfield doesn’t want a contracted marriage, specially with a man. Wants nothing to do with his manipulative mother. He does want his children to be loved and accepted for who they are to him, his most fervent wish. Xavi wants a man he can grow old with, a Happy Ever After. He knows he will be a totally hands off parent. Two men with diametrically opposed ideas as to what they want their future to be.

I felt sorry for both men. Their hopes and dreams shattered by contracts they shouldn’t have to accept. Enfield was shocked by Xavi and his behavior was understandable, if not just plain mean. I though the author quickly turned a rather unpleasant man into a sympathetic character that pulled at heart strings. Xavi who was likable from the start, became sweeter as the story progressed.

This author writes dark very well but she can also do sugary romance. However I think Enfield’s mother should have been introduced to some of the darker Van Doren’s. And apparently the Van Doren’s rule the world because they are everywhere.

Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.

[Wicked River Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little nervous when it came to Enfield because of his initial interaction with Xavi. I wasn’t sure if either Xavi or I could forgive him BUT as time went on and we got to know a little more about him he began to grown on me. I understood his anger and frustration although the way he initially expressed this wasn’t great. Once he was able to put himself in Xavi’s shoes though and gain a bit of perspective he pulled me in. I enjoyed seeing these two become a team and their communication became strong with time. I liked that they discussed their future and how they would handle circumstances they may have never seen for themselves. Together and with time became a constant between them in planning and I liked it! I’ve been curious about how the contract side of the family’s worked since I read Just For Christmas and it was interesting to learn about. Sparrow was great, I loved how he had Xavi’s back while also making him look deeper at the hard stuff and I really loved getting a Van Doren cameo!


💙ARC REVIEW💜

[Tasha Thrall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely love this book! And I will be reading Sparrows book next!
Enfield always wanted to live free, love free and not have a contract to follow. He did everything to try to break through the marriage contract since he was 13 years old. Having 3 babies out of wedlock, paying some girl to say he abused her, and creating scandals. Nothing worked, so he finally made a plan and signed the marriage contract to finally get his life finally free.
Xavier just wanted love. He wanted a husband to love him no matter what and to live by his best friend. With the contract he doesnt have to look for someone, because his mother was in charge of finding him a prefect husband. But after he signed his marriage contract, he didnt received a prefect husband.. He got a signed marriage contract to a Grumpy straight man instead...

[Annissa Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so excited we get Xavi’s story. We initially meet Xavi in his best friends book Rumor Has It. (This can be read as a complete standalone). Xavi and Enfield enter an arranged marriage, but Enfield not knowing he was entering a contract marriage with a man leaves him even more enraged at his parents than he initially was. You’re going to see them navigate their relationship from strangers/enemies to friends to lovers to husbands. Initially wasn’t sure if I would like Enfield but learning his background I warmed up to him. I really loved seeing these two come together and find a relationship that worked for them beyond their parents input and expectations. I’m super happy Xavi got his happy ever after.

[Wilmalys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enfield and Xavi were forced into a very messy and complicated situation and they made the best of it.

Xavi wanted a husband and love and Enfield wanted to live life on his own terms..

Enfield was rude and mean at the beginning but he was a great dad, and loved his children more than anything. I really liked that about him.

Somehow they fell in love, I didn't really feel like they had a genuine bond, but they sure liked to froth lol Enfield didnt say he was Bisexual he kept sayin he wasn't gay...I would have liked more of how they fell in love...but either way the story was good.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I was so happy to see this story from the inside. Having read Sparrow's and Rafe's books, I knew bits of this story, but seeing it written was perfect. I loved the contract marriage. I don't know why the idea fascinates me, but it does, and this was such an interesting take on it. I did kind of hate Enfield at first because Xavi is sweet and deserves only nice things, but he did grow on me over time. Ultimately, this was really enjoyable, and we got to see several crossovers, which just brings me joy.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can only say that families are the craziest! Step back in time for an arranged marriage. I had to give it to Enfield; nothing was off the table for him in trying to prevent a contract. But. I loved how he was fully invested in his kids, and nothing was going to get in the way of his raising them. Poor Xavi, he had to work for his happy ever after, but it was so worth it.

I read and reviewed a copy of this book.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so happy they found love with each other! I was sad when Enfield had to be an ass, but i get it. My heart goes out to Ronan, it sucks to not be wanted by a parent. I wanted to reach into the pages and hug him.
And damn, I thought my mom was crazy; Betty takes the award for most crazy and mean as hell mom!
Thank you Crea for another amazing read!

[Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

We finally get the scoop on Enfield en Xavi and what a scoop it is. Theo few crumbs picked up from other books didn’t do them justice, I loved their story.

Where Enfield fights the contractual marriage, Xavi is all for it. This dynamic alone gives their own chapters such different vibes. The contrast is amazing. And with Enfield being blindsided by Xavi, whose gender was a surprise to say the least. Now that was fun, yes he was a bit of a mean person towards the situation and Xavi in extend. But it was understandable knowing where he came from.

I loved the mama drama. The way Enfield handled that gave me the chuckles. She got exactly what she deserved!

Even with everything in their way, they ended up together, happy, finding their own way and drafting their own contract. Love it!

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been curious about these two! And Crea did not disappoint! Full RTC!