A Contract, A Wedding, A Wife?

by Christy McKellen

“What I need most right now is a wife.”

But can their convenient marriage turn into forever?

Solitaire Saunders will do anything to save her family’s café—even marry enigmatic billionaire Xavier McQueen! As his contracted bride, she’s there to secure Xavier’s inheritance—not to enjoy his delicious kisses… It’s only meant to be temporary, until the pretense of being married starts to feel passionately real!

Genres: Romance, Harlequin

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2018

About the author

Formerly a Video and Radio Producer, Christy now spends her time writing provocative, passionate, seductive romance. When she’s not writing, she can be found enjoying life with her husband and three children, walking for pleasure and researching other people’s deepest secrets and desires.

You can find out more about her books at www.christymckellen.com

Reviews

[Carrie (The Butterfly Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

So this was so cute! It was perfectly up my alley but I did have one little problem with it. It's a freaking romance that had no steamy moments! None! I feel like it was built up so much and then I was left with nothing. The story is cute, a poor, hardworking girl gets the chance of a lifetime... and he'll get to keep his home. It has a happy ending, the writing is nice and flows well. I loved every single part of this book but the lack of sexy times. I wanted those sexy times. Anyway, if you're looking for a cute, clean romance that will leave you with a smile on your face, you'll love this one!

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sweet, beautiful romance with a sensual pull that starts with a marriage of convenience for hero Xavier McQueen to get ownership of the home that he loved so much to café owner Solitaire Saunders know as Soli. Two people who will go to any lengths to save what they love but that sensual pull cannot be denied and when cupid shoots that arrow of love neither of them lose.

Xavier McQueen has led a lonely life being an only child and without the true love of his parents, the only time he was really happy was when he spent time with his great aunt Faith in the house that he felt at home in and now with the passing of Aunt Faith she has left a stipulation on her will that he must be married for one year before he gets the house. Xavier has been hurt badly before with love so he sets out to find someone for a convenient marriage and has not been too successful that is until the beautiful Soli arrives at his office will fate take over in his life?

Solitaire has had a tough life especially after the death of her father she is now in charge of the Board Games Café and caring for her sick mother and younger sister and times are getting tougher she needs to consult with the owner of the premises they rent to ask him not to put up the rent, will this day change her life when an opportunity that she cannot refuse falls into her lap with a marriage contract.

Xavier and Soli started their life all business and contracts but Soli is such a caring loving person that it is not long before they are both opening up showing and sharing with each other like that first kiss that sent sparks flying and soli was bringing love into Xavier’s life and he was making sure she was cared for, a trip to Corsica and a night of love and bliss and that arrow from cupid has stuck fast them both and left this reader very happy. MS McKellen this one is gorgeous I loved Xavier and Soli they so deserved each other, this one ticks all of the boxes for a true romance, one that I highly recommend.

[Diane'sBookReflections · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three oh so sweet Stars!
***

A Contract, A Wedding, A Wife? By Christy McKellen is a sweet, but a very simple marriage of convenience story between your standard, down and out girl and your oh so rich and hot billionaire trying to hang on to his money.

Soli (short for Solitaire) is trying to save the family café her father started but wasn’t quite making it. Xavier McQueen is her landlord, but also your standard billionaire who has the condition that to hang on to his inheritance, he has to be married. He’s running out of time when Soli comes to plead her case to him in an effort to keep the rent on the family café low (he’s raising her rent). They strike a deal. She marries him so he can keep his inheritance and in return she can keep the café up and running. A win-win for both.

The story itself was cute, but not enough character depth for me. I didn’t quite buy the fact that Soli could marry a billionaire and keep it from her family??? They really played no part in the story and could have made the storyline much richer. Think of the conflicts there. Conversations between the main characters were very predictable and stilted at times. The relationship between Soli and Xavier was sweet but lacked a little in the romance category for me. It also seemed to wrap up way too quickly as the writer got to where she thought the book should end, so in that regard, it seemed a little rushed to get to their HEA ending.

All in all, this book is a sweet fun read with not a lot of thinking or angst and sometimes that’s what a reader needs.

An Advanced Reader Copy was graciously provided by the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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[Lynn Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet "arranged marriage that turns into forever" story! A fast paced read involving a man who doesn't think love and forever belong in his life who stumbles across a dreamer of a gal who teaches him that it's never too late to start over! An entertaining read with minimum strife and a fitting happy ever after.

Solitaire Saunders is just desperate enough to do just about anything to save her family's cafe. She has more responsibilities on her shoulder than anyone can imagine, so she can't add one more thing to the list or she will crumble. A rare request from a virtual stranger might seem extreme ... but she'll do it if it means her family will be taken care of!

Xavier McQueen isn't heartless, and he doesn't mean to make Soli's life difficult, but business is business ... however, when she offers just the right incentive, he's willing to listen! He needs a temporary, no strings wife in order to secure his inheritance, and if she's willing to become his wife under those terms, they've got themselves a deal! Only neither of them expected to feel the chemistry and attraction to each other that comes about.

[Dottie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solitaire Saunders has been trying to keep her cafe' open as it is the only way to financially take care of her family. Problem is the landlord is raising the rent and so she will do whatever to takes to confront him and plead her case. It's not the easy since he wont respond to her. Xavier McQueen is a business man and everything is done with that in mind, so it's not that he wants to deliberately cause Solitaire grief. He's willing to listen to her when she pleads her case , he has his own problems as in order to inherit he must be married .. brainstorm they come up with idea of a marriage of convenience and make a deal. Put these two together and before long the attraction becomes so much more than they bargained for. Ms. McKellen has written a story that will keep you smiling and have such a wonderful HEA.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book turned out just as I thought it would it was. I loved how selfless Solitaire was doing everything she can to keep her family above water and in school. I thought it was interesting how they dealt with their whole marriage of convenience thing but I do feel like that romance bit of it was rushed. I was hoping for a bit more when it came to the romance this book. I think this book would've been better if it was a bit longer that way things wouldn't have felt to rushed.

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solitaire has a problem, her rent has gone up. She loves running her late father's café, but financially she's struggling. Solitaire has an ill mother to take care of and she wants to pay her super smart sister's college tuition. She has to talk to her landlord to see if she can make a deal with him. Xavier is a clever businessman and rents are normally non negotiable, but there's something he desperately needs and Solitaire can help him with that. To inherit his great-aunt's home he needs a wife. Will they be able to come up with a solution for both of their problems?

Solitaire is willing to marry Xavier if that means her mother and sister will benefit. She moves into his home to be his pretend bride. Xavier works all the time and it isn't easy to defrost the reserved man, but Solitaire's charms are difficult to resist and soon the marriage starts to feel very real. However, the arrangement is supposed to be only temporary. What will happen when it ends?

A Contract, A Wedding, A Wife? is a wonderful romantic story. Solitaire is cheerful, positive and sweet. I loved her open character and her fabulous generous nature. Xavier is reserved and has been hurt too many times to trust others, but Solitaire's disarming personality helps to break down the walls he's built around himself. I loved how she slowly manages to turn him into a different version of himself, she makes him shine and his softer side comes to the surface. I really liked their chemistry and beautiful deep connection and couldn't wait to find out if their arrangement would end with shattered hearts or happiness.

Christy McKellen has written a fantastic heartwarming story. I immediately fell in love with A Contract, A Wedding, A Wife? It's charming, entertaining and dynamic. I was fascinated by this lovely feelgood story and loved that it put a big smile on my face. I greatly appreciate it when a book brings so much joy and the positivity radiates off the pages. I highly recommend A Contract, A Wedding, A Wife? because of its optimism, sunniness and sparkle.

[Harlequin Books]

"..., she was confident she was mature enough to keep sex and love separate."

Ummm, no. LOL She still has a few things to learn. On the same page you'll also get the following quote:

"I'm not sure those arrangements ever work, ..."

At least one of them is almost thinking clearly. :) I really enjoy watching the characters get "slapped by love". Which means that I enjoy it when they don't realize how close they are to falling over that edge and then "slap" it hits them that "Oh my God I love him/her" and it shakes up how they see themselves and the world around them. Which Ms. McKellen pulls off perfectly with Solitaire and Xavier, IMO. ~ Kim

[TashNz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story for many reasons. I loved the little references to board games at the beginning of each chapter. I loved the richness of the characters, Xavier and Solitaire (and their names) and the light and fresh quality of tale that is always reflected in the Harlequin Romance line. Wonderful touches of emotion and perfect touches of humor and brilliant displays of emotion written in a thoroughly enjoyable way. Christy McKellen has crafted a beautiful story which had me at hello and I will read it again. Thank you!

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Xavier McQueen loses his beloved great-aunt Faith, the woman for all intents and purposes was his mother, passed away. He is served up a huge blow on the day her will is read. But the only place he considered his home was being held out to him on a very thin string. The boy who lived at boarding school most of his life and was treated by his aunt to a home with her while his parents traipsed around the world doing and being everything but parents.

It appears in her will she had a clause put in that read that Xavier would have to be married by his thirtieth birthday. Or ownership of the home he had been living in for the last five months would go to his no-good cousin. Who he knew would sell it to the highest bidder. The home had been in his family since the late 1800’s.

Being that his birthday was six weeks away he was running out of time. It wasn’t like he was dragging his feet. You see his aunt had been in a coma for several months. Then he was in mourning and settling her estate then the last three months he has been trying and failing at finding a woman in his inner circles that would take his deal of an arranged marriage. No commitment, no sex, and a contract.

That’s when a curvaceous, blonde, petite, blue-eyed, and a sexy fast-talking woman barged into his office. Dropping a basket of cakes on his desk. He asked if she had an appointment and what she wanted? She said, no, she wanted to talk to him about the rent on her restaurant and her name was Solitaire Saunders.

Then, it hit him. She was the one who had been calling, emailing, and writing for an appointment. Short and long of it she wasn’t leaving until he heard her out. He did but it still didn’t change his mind. You see he was not a happy man or a man who cared about anything. He did hear her out but it still didn’t change his mind. Until she said, “I will do anything to change your mind.” Well, now that got his attention.

This was a very short cute story. Something fun just in time for Valentine. See how when we choose not to talk about things it can affect everything. I give this: 4 stars. Provided by netgally.com.



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[The Book Worm · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Contract, a Wedding, a Wife? is a simple, down to earth sweet romance story. It's cheesy in places, maybe too juvenile in others, and there are lots of cliches too. But overall it's a fun, quick read. The writing is OK, the characters are rather well developed for a book this size and the story is predictable, in a fairytale-ish sort of way.

My only concern was the way the basic premise of the plot was handled. While it's obvious Soli and Xavier were entering into an arranged marriage, it seems strange that Soli could manage to hide it from her family. Xavier's personality was apparently famous enough that Soli could find several images of him in public events while doing her background check on him, but in the months during which they are married they neither have to attend even one social event (barring an evening spent with some friends a week after the marriage) nor there is any mention that their marriage has reached the public eye. Also, despite all the issues with the evil cousin who would inherit Xavier's house if he didn't manage to get himself a wife, said cousin never makes an appearance in the story, not even to try to contest the marriage.

So you see, while A Contract, a Wedding, a Wife? may still be a nice book to cuddle with for a couple of hours, you can't expect too much in terms of plot consistency, hence the three stars rating.

[Nas Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

A CONTRACT, A WEDDING, A WIFE? By author Christy McKellen is April 2018 release by Harlequin Romance series.

Businessman Xavier McQueen needed a fake wife to fulfil the terms and conditions of his aunt’s will. So he offered Solitaire Saunders the job. But could he stay immune to Soli’s brand of charm?
And Soli? Playing Xavier’s wife seemed all too real to her. And what would happen when the play-acting ends? She liked Xavier and his kisses fired up her passion. Could she dream for happy ever after with him?

A CONTRACT, A WEDDING, A WIFE? is a sweet emotional romance between Soli and Xavier. Author Christy McKellen would take readers to heart-breaking tensions and breath-taking emotions.

Recommended for all readers of romance.

[Cheryl Steckling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A CONTRACT, A WEDDING, A WIFE? by Christy McKellen
Solitaire Saunders would do anything to keep her family cafe open, even marry Xavier McQueen. She wanted to keep the cafe open and he wanted to stay in the house and secure his inheritance. So it was to help them both.
Did they plan to fall in love well not really but yeah it worked. They had to play the part in front of his friends, his aunt had someone that would check that his marriage was real also in order for him to inherit his aunt's house.
Christy McKellen has managed to write the story to connect them both and you feel as if you are right there with them.

[Malvina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet romance, about lonely businessman Xavier fulfilling his great aunt's wish to marry, to legally retain the family home. Desperate to find someone, he ends up marrying games café owner Solitaire, who not only gets rent assistance for her café, but also funding for her sister at university and care for her unwell mother. Win, win. With Cinderella overtones and a highly improbable story in this day and age, the charm of this romance is absolutely enough to rise above everything. Just lovely.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, fun, aspirational read with a satisfying conclusion. I loved this modern twist on the classic marriage of convenience trope. Soli and Xavier brought out the best in each other, and it was delightful to 'watch' them change and grow as the story progressed.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary advance copy.

[Janie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Christy McKellen's books. In "A Contract, a Wedding, A Wife?' we see Solitaire Saunders trying to save her cafe and ruthless, businessman Xavier McQueen who must be married in order to fulfill the terms of his Aunt's will. Xavier offers Soli a solution by becoming his bride in a marriage arrangement, but their closeness makes the pretend all too real.

[ReadingInThe6ix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, easy read. I liked Soli and Xavier, and they had chemistry. Not typically a fan of the surprise pregnancy trope where the hero suddenly does a 180 and decides he wants a family, but this one was alright.

[Nooreza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book but unfortunately I've come across this kind of plot dozen times :(

[Sandra R · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice romance (with all the feels) from Mills and Boon - very well written.

[Daný · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice and easy, does what it says on the box.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sweet couple you meet in A Contract, A Wedding, A Wife? by Christy McKellen have so much going on that your attention never wavers from their journey overcoming the personal hurdles thrust in their paths. Of course, Solitaire and Xavier’s attraction for each other grows by the day, but it is the way they handle certain situations that make you care for them and roots for their happiness. In the end, all I can say is A Contract, A Wedding, A Wife? is an indulgent read that has a deliciously angsty romance between the two main protagonists. Ms. McKellen delves deep within each character’s psych while visually bringing alive the fictional typography through vivid, articulate writing. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Highly Recommended
4.5 Stars