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Women of Quality #1

Love Under Contract

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Alternate cover edition of ASIN B07FC8QNM6

Sadonna Alston knows the value of hard work and following the rules. It was what pushed her to open her own non-profit. Now, someone is breaking the rules and putting all her hard work at risk.
Michael Travers gambled on love and lost big. When the woman of his dreams rejected him, he locked his heart up and went to work. Money has been his mantra, god, and king ever since. Now's he's known as the fixer. When a lucrative opportunity to break the competition for a large corporation comes, Michael jumps at the chance.
Moreover, right back into Sadonna's life.
With everything they love on the line, Sadonna and Michael will need to decide if they have a love that breaks all the rules or one that makes the rules.

308 pages, ebook

Published July 8, 2018

21 people are currently reading
216 people want to read

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Dean Hodel

17 books391 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Profile Image for Jennifer.
2,914 reviews6 followers
January 28, 2019
1.5 stars.

I wanted to like this book so much but it just wasn't good. There wasn't enough information given at the beginning of this story to set up the company espionage/sabotage aspect. The way the corporate dynamics and policies was written didn't feel researched or authentic. And why did all the women in this company seem incompetent or too ruled by emotions to be good businesswomen? Why did it have to be a man to come in a fix everything?

The characterization of both MCs was lacking; I didn't care about what happened to the H since there were too many mentions of the OW in his life during the twenty years of separation. There was no chemistry between the two MCs and I was almost hoping for another man to show some interest in the h. There was basically no angst and also no reason why I felt like the h should try again with the H.

I wanted to like a new-to-me author's take on clean romance, but this entire story was one note. Maybe if there was more development- character, plot, and relationship, it would be better. On a side note, the person who chose the cover for this book didn't read the book. The h isn't blonde or fair skinned. And this book also needed another edit.
Profile Image for ♥ Kym.
173 reviews6 followers
March 17, 2019
Are you a fan of second-chance romance?
2.5stars


I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest book review.


Michael and Sadonna both have unfortunate childhood, they were forced to man up and be strong just to live each day until one time Michael had enough and decided to run away with Sadonna. However, Sadonna wasn’t ready yet because she can't leave her younger siblings. The guilt of leaving her siblings is more difficult than she’s about to regret - leaving Michael alone to face the world.

Until they meet through work, and this time they were both adults and so accomplished. They both know that they need to be professional and may have to keep the past under the rug in order for them to move on.


But for how long will they dance the never-ending charade of hiding their feelings?

It was difficult to read at first but somewhere along the way, I decided to skim-read it instead of delving into it.



heykymmie
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Profile Image for Patricia.
1,803 reviews46 followers
November 8, 2018
What would you do if your true love walked back into your life , trying to take over the non profit company that is your labour of love .You prepare for a fight . That is what Sadonna was doing . Until Michael walked into the room and then things were different . Will they be able to forgive the past and move on to the future .
The characters in this story are well written . Sadonna is a people pleaser through and through . We meet her as a young girl being put between her family and the boy she loves, who she dumps to be the parent towards her sister and brother . When we meet her latter on she is a strong independent woman , who in my opinion is still a people pleaser . She is doing everything for everyone else still She is starting to put herself first though and won't let anyone step on her or her family . By the end of the book she has grown up and taken control. Michael has been through a lot in his life , an alcoholic father ,being homeless . To becoming the best negotiator out there . When we see him , he seems bitter and still a little hot headed . As we see him with Sadonna we start to see a sweeter side of him . He grows up and realizes that he isn't the center of the world . My favourite character is Pop , he is a no nonsense man who knows Michael better then anyone . He is the rock in Michaels life and knows what he needs before Michael does . He is kind of like a guardian angel for the characters in this book always listening and giving good ideas.
This is a sweet second chance romance with a mystery and intrigue mixed in . The author takes us on a sweet ride ,that has some twists and turns . The characters are well written and the story spans a few years . There are a couple of spots that are a little slow but it doesn't take away from the book . Over all I really enjoyed this story of finding love again. If you want a sweet romance check it out you won't be disappointed
Profile Image for Jennifer Pierson.
11.7k reviews188 followers
September 11, 2018
Love Under Contract was a second chance story that I really enjoyed, and am excited to read more in this series. It all starts when Sedonna is a teenager. See, she and Michael were together, but when his home life finally got to be enough, he decided to leave, and wanted her to go with him. But Sedonna didn't feel like she could leave her family, especially her younger siblings, so she had to watch him leave her. Now many years later, she's a hard working, successful woman, who would still do anything for those she considers family. When her non-profit company is in trouble from a bigger company, she comes face to face with Michael again, as he's known as the fixer for large corporations trying to take over smaller companies. She's not sure why he's there now, and he isn't even exactly sure what he's after by taking this job, so will they get their second chance at love? I loved Sedonna, though at times, she did get the short end of the stick, as everyone comes to her first to fix their problems. So it was great that Michael was getting her to take a look at that, though at times, he did go about it in an annoying way. The cast of secondaries really added to this story, especially the nephew, and Pops, who stole the show for me, adding in a side of humor that I needed to get a break from some of the angst. Then, there were definitely twists & turns around every corner, and as each new clue got me a little closer to answers, I still had to drop f-bombs waiting on that final nail in the coffin for who was the bad guy. Obviously, I was very immersed into this story, and that's due to the talented writing style of Dean Hodel, so I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Profile Image for Randa Knight.
Author 4 books58 followers
September 10, 2018
Michael Travers left home shortly after his mother passed away when he was a teen. He asked his girlfriend to go with him. But she needed to stay and take care of her younger siblings and her single mother. That was the day that Michael's heart was broken. He sealed it off for any other woman. 
Years later, Sadonna Alston has worked hard her entire life. It is finally beginning to pay off. She has her dream job--part owner of Quality Homes. But a rival company Family, Inc. is trying to force her and her partners to sell to them. Family, Inc. head negotiator is non other than Michael Travers. The man who shattered her heart as a teenager when he left her. Yes, he asked her to go with him, but she needed more time. Time that he didn't give her. He looks even better now than he did then. She can't fall for him again. She doesn't have time. She has even more at stake this time around than she did then. She is raising her nephew while her sister is recovering from her drug addiction. She needs to protect her company from not only Michael but from Family, Inc. But what happens when her partner, Lily asks for Michael's assistance during the negotiation talks? How can Sadonna work with the man who is still just as sweet, and caring...where will that leave her if she does fall for him again?  
Profile Image for Kristy Halseth.
469 reviews2 followers
June 11, 2019
I received this as and Advanced Reading copy.

It was a good read with distinctive characters. Each of the four women who are partners have very different personalities.

Sedonna being the nurturer who takes care of everyone else before herself. Which is why she couldn't leave her younger siblings when her boyfriend wants her to run away with him when they were in high school. Michael is back now, in a company that wants to buy hers out. When he finds out she is there he decided to handle it personally. He wants to see her again.

But it is refreshing that he isn't sure if he wants pay back because she wouldn't leave with him or if he wants to see if things would work now. And then the mystery starts.

It is actually a good story. I think I want to read the rest of the series. I see book two is available and I might have to buy it. That is usually my sign of a good book.

For some reason I do have a really big pet peeve, incorrect book covers. I could have sworn the book described Sedonna as having brown hair, possibly brown curly hair while the cover shows a woman with blonde hair that is strait as a board. Maybe I am mistaken. But that is what I remember. It is a minor thing that grates on my nerves. I assume that some of the punctuation and format errors are because it was an advanced reading copy so I am not counting those.
Profile Image for Kristen Lewendon.
8,429 reviews64 followers
December 24, 2018
This book leaves me feeling very conflicted. I love how strong and independent these women are, and that their ‘families’ are the center of their worlds. I’m a sucker for a second chance so I really enjoyed seeing Sadonna and Michael get another shot at making it right. And the twisty little corporate espionage thread that winds through their romance gives so much added color and depth to the story. What I didn’t enjoy as much was that this pair was so fixed on each maintaining their independence and ‘right to rule’. There were a lot of times I was mentally encouraging Michael or Sadonna to walk away while there was still time to go. I was also surprised by how misleading the cover is about the nationalities of the lead characters. Every time I was reminded that my image of the characters was different from the author’s, I was jarred out of the story. I was picturing something more along the lines of the cast of “Boardwalk Empire” when I should have been picturing the cast of “Empire”. I’m not sure if I’m invested enough in these characters to read more of the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Hidden Gems Books.
Profile Image for Mary Yarde.
Author 10 books163 followers
September 3, 2018
When Michael Travers’ mother died, he knew it was time to move on. He had hoped that his girlfriend, Sadonna Alston, would go with him. Alas, it was not to be. Now, twenty years on, the two of them find themselves working together. But would the past interfere with their future? Only time would tell.

I thoroughly enjoyed Love under Contract (Women of Quality) by Dean Hodel. This was a sweet love story with a compelling storyline. The story is set around the small independent Quality Homes, where Sadonna is a partner and the larger and more powerful Families, where Michael works. But Sardonna and her fellow partners are not going to give up their beloved company to Families without a fight.

I adored the characterisation of the protagonists, they both come to the negotiation table with a great deal of baggage from the past, but they put old hurts and resentments aside to concentrate on the here and now. Talking of characters, I adored Pops. He was such a sweet, but wise old man, and he made me laugh more than once!

This is a great little story that is guaranteed to entertain.
3,671 reviews17 followers
November 19, 2018
Teenage Michael Travers planned to run away with his girlfriend Sadonna Alston when his drunken father beat him after his mother died. However, Sadonna wouldn’t go, refusing to leave her brother and sister behind. Twenty years later Michael is a mediator for a large non-profit Families, Inc. and he is called in to negotiate a deal with Sadonna’s non-profit company Quality Housing to acquire them. At first he wants revenge for Sadonna breaking his heart, but when his company orders him off the deal, he realizes he wants to help her. Someone within Quality is working with Families to sabotage contracts, and steal from the company. Working closely with Sadonna he realizes he still has feelings for her and wants the chance of the family he never had with her. The writing and conversations were choppy and hard to follow at times. Michael’s homeless savior Pop was funny. Sadonna was great with her nephew Christopher and would be a wonderful mother. The other ladies of Quality deserve their own romances and stories.
Profile Image for J_McA 251.
1,018 reviews13 followers
January 13, 2019
Let’s get one thing out of the way first; this is a very dishonest book cover. The characters in the book are obviously a different ethnicity than what is pictured, and this does a huge disservice to the author and his story. In fact, the 2nd chapter states that Sadonna is of island heritage with curly black hair and “skin like caramel silk.” This is clearly NOT the same as the person on the cover. Knowing the heritage of the characters actually makes a huge difference in their motivations and actions. I believe that this is why I had a difficult time at first, because my perception was different from the author’s. Once I understood this, the book read smoother to me. It was a decent second chance romance with a corporate espionage twist. That being said, the “second chance” was a little hard to get behind as well because we really barely learned about their first chance. All in all, this book was just okay: good writing, bad editing, horrible cover representation. Thank you to the author and Hidden Gems for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Vickie Chaisson.
1,197 reviews10 followers
January 27, 2019
Love under Contract in the Women of Quality series by Dean Hodel is a great second chance at love book! This book has great character development and story line. You will love the chemistry and angst between Michael and Sadonna as they find their way through a new relationship. As high school sweethearts from very rough beginnings they could not stay together but when they meet again can the rebuild on an old love or start fresh. This story has many plot twists as Michael helps to find out who is trying to destroy Sadonna's business. Michael and Sadonna find that they are different people than they were and family is who you make it. And sometimes your family can grow and change and become better than it was. Loved Pop and his gruff and knowing ways he reminded me of someone special in my life. Well written and thoughtful you will love this story.
1,992 reviews16 followers
November 19, 2018
Two teenagers madly in love, but circumstances and false pride keep them apart for a long time. When the chance comes to meet his long lost love again Michael takes the chance, but is not clear if he wants revenge or a second chance. Seeing Sadonna as a grown woman, still sweet and helping others, makes him want a second chance and he will go to any length to get her what she wants or needs, even if he needs to change.
A lovely story, with a mystery woven into. Some people might think the roles of Michael and Sardonna ambiguous, but I do not want to psychoanalyse it. I loved the way he came round to help and fix everything for Sardonna, simply because she asked.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
964 reviews14 followers
February 6, 2019
The title Love Under Contract cleverly describes the sweet second chance romance between Sadonna and Michael. The tension between Sadonna and Michael 20 years after each of them made difficult choices is well written and realistic, how many of us struggle with giving ourselves to another completely. The mystery part of the story who is sabotaging Sadonna's company Quality homes and why left me confused and conflicted. This part of the novel seemed to be all over the place. The women in the company , although smart and passionate came off as naive and impulsive. And throwing in a man to come in to "fix" the problems really irked me. If you love happy endings and second chances at love this book is definitely a lovely read.
Profile Image for Jenn (YeahOrNeighReviews).
1,857 reviews46 followers
September 10, 2018
A wonderful tale of young love and second chances. Sadonna Alston has always done what was best for her family, even if it meant putting herself last and losing the only man she's ever loved. When Michael Travers comes back into her life twenty years later, both of them are still harboring hurt feelings from the past, but can they fight the chemistry that still exists between them?
I loved the dynamics between the characters and the storyline was fast-paced, so it was a great read and I found myself laughing outloud more than I usually do while reading. Definitely a must-read and one to add to your bookshelf!
Profile Image for poppy.
4,590 reviews28 followers
October 25, 2018
This was a really wonderful second chance romance and another super read from Dean. Sadonna and Michael were together as teenagers but he had a tough home life and had to leave she wanted to be with him but did not want to leave her family when they need her so he went alone. Now years have past and she finds herself face to face with him again when the company he works for want her non-profit organization he is there to make her pay for not leaving with him. The connection between them is still there though and it is not long before his plans change. This was a great read and I just loved it.
Profile Image for Laura.
527 reviews4 followers
January 27, 2019
I'm not a fan of Second Chance Romance books but I have to admit that this was a pretty good one. It took 20 years for Sadonna and Michael to become the people that they had become. The meeting was timed perfectly for them to be able to have that second chance. I was a thrilled about how Sadonna had changed her life and still cared as much for others. But in a sense I felt she let the company "family" use her by asking favors and in the long run Michael was the one who come to the rescuel.
In all the characters were interesting , the story flowed along easiely and happy ending are always the best endings of al
Profile Image for Rachelle.
77 reviews1 follower
December 26, 2018
A nice easy flowing, fast pace novel about second chances. Michael and Sadonna were young and in love. When Michael's mother passed away and the abuse from his father got to be too much, he fled town, but not before trying to get Sadonna do go with him. Sadonna refused to go with him because of her young siblings. 20 years later they meet again. Michael and Sadonna team up to solve some mystery about what's going on with her company. The author did a great job bringing each character into the story.

I've received a free copy of this book for my voluntarily honest review.
Profile Image for MaryEllen.
2,942 reviews30 followers
December 27, 2018
The main characters were pretty intense. We get to see a little of why they are that way, but they don't pull punches. It'd refreshing to see a story where the couple isn't jumping to conclusions about the other's feelings, or where they're anguishing over feelings of in adequacy.
I love how protective the whole crew is of "family" while at the same time finding their methods a bit... overboard... again with reasons.

Can't wait for the sequel!


I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Profile Image for Wendy Livingstone.
20.2k reviews258 followers
September 11, 2018
Michael and Sadonna were together, until choices in life sent them on different paths. Now years later they meet again, and the chemistry is still as intense as it was, but will they let bygones be bygones? This is a well written, fast paced story, with complex characters, and filled with humour, mystery, heartbreak, and second chance at love. I was captivated throughout, and I look forward to reading more of this talented authors’ work.
881 reviews3 followers
September 18, 2018
This is a story with dynamic characters, intriguing plot, and engaging support characters. There is humor, mystery and drama. Sadonna and Michael have plenty of chemistry and spark. But will they risk their hearts for a second chance at romance? The story line will keep your interest and keep you laughing and wondering what's next. I enjoyed reading and recommend this book. I received this book as a gift and I voluntarily give this review.
Profile Image for Rubina.
Author 18 books87 followers
October 3, 2018
A lovely second chance story where love happens again after many years. I love second chance stories. They are so full of hope and the need to be togehter with your soul mate is so palpable. I loved the character of Sadonna who is not only strong and dependable but also the chemistry between her and Michael is sweet yet sexy. Loved reading this book. Highly recommended for romance lovers. I repeat - just loved it :D
251 reviews
November 24, 2018
This is the first book that I read from this author but look forward to more. This is a great second chance romance, the characters were well developed and we get to see how much they have changed from the decision they made from when they were young and to when they meet again and still feel that connection to each other. I received a complimentary copy of the book via Booksprout and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for C.A. King.
Author 122 books2,694 followers
November 26, 2018
I really wanted to read this book. I am glad I found a copy. Most of my favourite romance books involve second chance themes. This one adds to the list.

Teenagers forced to part by circumstance, only to meet again later in life. Sedonna breaths new life into what would normally be stereotypical female lead. I absolutely Adored her dedication to others and was routing for her happiness from the get go.

This made a perfect read for several sick days!
1,790 reviews6 followers
July 10, 2018
This was an entertaining book. Sadonna and Michael knew each other when they were teenagers, then went separate ways. Now they are meeting again, ten years later, in a business deal where each represents a different side. Although there were typos and grammatical errors in the book, I enjoyed reading about how these two worked out both their professional and their personal relationships.
Profile Image for Becky Burciaga.
1,532 reviews18 followers
July 17, 2018

This a story of young love and second chances. The dialog was choppy at times and hard to follow. Though there was promise with the premise of the story, it fell short of capturing my attention through to the end.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
Profile Image for Jordan Leger.
Author 58 books125 followers
September 6, 2018
Great plot to the story. Sadonna and Michael part ways in the beginning then find themselves working together many years later. Anyone can see the chemistry in the relationship these two have between them while working as they dig up who's been stealing funds for the company.

This is a good second chance story with a sweet ending.
Profile Image for Kelly.
445 reviews2 followers
September 13, 2018
Michael and Sadonna had a lot to figure out to get to their second chance at happily ever after. Both bull-headed and stubborn, but for good reason, both having gone through the past years battling their past and upbringings. The bit of mystery woven in was enough to keep me turning the pages ready for the next scene. I look forward to reading the next in the series.
Profile Image for Debbie.
281 reviews1 follower
November 10, 2018
An enjoyable second chance romance with a twist.
What happens when your perceived enemy turns out to be your childhood best friend, and he wants to help you keep your company that he has been sent to destroy.
What else but hire him and get him to save the company, then maybe enjoy some time together too.
Profile Image for Holly Barbo.
Author 43 books178 followers
November 15, 2018
Sadonna and Michael have history from their teen years. Separately both have created lives and professions for themselves. Then those occupations intersected. I enjoyed the convoluted twists in this story of corruption and unethical business dealings wrapped around a romance. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Fabia Scali-Warner.
Author 11 books8 followers
November 17, 2018
As much of a love story as a procedural mystery, this book has great characters, an interesting plot, and a final (un)expected twist. You wonder, will the couple of high school lovers will return together? Who is sabotaging Sadonna's company? Is everyone hiding a secret? This is a very enjoyable read if you're looking for a sweet romance with a strong plot.
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