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maddieheying's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
They served the arranged marriage trope with slow burn.
They served the arranged marriage trope with slow burn.
booksandapril's review against another edition
4.0
The book is great! It goes as expected for the Majority of the book. I don't mind reading predictable books as long as the story is great enough.
This could have been a five star book for me. COULD HAVE!
Around 70% into the book I am happy, but then I am hit with so much cheesiness. A little is acceptable, I mean it's a romance book, but the about of cheese piled on knocked the book down two stars for me. The cheese didn't stop. it just kept going and going until the end of the book.
Richards POV was extremely appreciated. I find I enjoy a book so much more when Its is told form the Male perspective.
This could have been a five star book for me. COULD HAVE!
Around 70% into the book I am happy, but then I am hit with so much cheesiness. A little is acceptable, I mean it's a romance book, but the about of cheese piled on knocked the book down two stars for me. The cheese didn't stop. it just kept going and going until the end of the book.
Richards POV was extremely appreciated. I find I enjoy a book so much more when Its is told form the Male perspective.
Spoiler
Katherine being pregnant saved this book for me. The amount of cheese was unneeded, but the baby was. I enjoyed that fact so much it gave the book a star back.sewinglady's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book! I love this story line. Melanie did a great job!!!
amyreads1224's review
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
fsmeurinne's review against another edition
5.0
This book is one of my favorite reads in 2016, Melanie Moreland is an amazing writer and I am sure you will enjoy this book as much as I did. I even got the audiobook, which I truly recommend getting as well. It isn't my first book from the author, and certainly it won't be the last. Give it a go, as I am sure it will become one of your favorites too!
hetvixcv's review against another edition
3.0
The first 30% just made me furious. I was literally about to dnf and then literally the page after that it got somewhat exciting.
Richard, our mmc, was so so rude to Katy. He was def an asshole. He would say such vile things and I was like how can you like someone who was so rude to you 2 days ago. But they somehow find love and start a living together. I think once Richard changed and started really thinking about his actions he was better. But then again the first 30% made me not like him at all. Although the book was cute with some very wholesome scenes. I love the whole found family aspect of it. Katy’s past made me wanna curl up and cry for my girl. She actually was what carried this book for me.
Richard, our mmc, was so so rude to Katy. He was def an asshole. He would say such vile things and I was like how can you like someone who was so rude to you 2 days ago. But they somehow find love and start a living together. I think once Richard changed and started really thinking about his actions he was better. But then again the first 30% made me not like him at all. Although the book was cute with some very wholesome scenes. I love the whole found family aspect of it. Katy’s past made me wanna curl up and cry for my girl. She actually was what carried this book for me.
mrsbooknerd's review against another edition
2.0
If I had the patience, time and skill to write a book it would 100% be the 'paid him/her to be my fake fiance/e but grew to love him/her' trope.
I don't know why it appeals to me so much but I am a total sucker for it. Is it because I love arsehole "heroes" who discover their gooey centre so much? Is it because if I secretly harbour the dream that a rich, handsome, arsehole hero will one day proposition me? Quite probably.
I love the trope and I thought that the pacing and development of the romance was very good. It didn't feel rushed.
My favourite part of the whole novel was Penny. She was a relatively small character with regard to dialogue and page time and yet she was so pivotal to everything. The whole Penny storyline was so full of emotion and her relationships with Katy and then Richard were so well written that I actually cried. Great writing getting that much emotion into a character with a relatively small interactive presence.
Despite these positives there were some negatives. There was a bit of a tendency to detail an event in one narrative and then recap it in the next narrative. Fine, we got the other person's perspective on it but we didn't need the recap for that.
Dialogue is one of my pet peeves, I have stopped reading books with decent plots because of bad dialogue. The Contract seemed to have two types: Clipped and super formal or gushing, emotional verbal diahorrea.
It wasn't so bad I wanted to stop but there were a few times I rolled my eyes.
Speaking of, there were a few events that could have been better explained or developed. They bordered coincidental because they were so tenuous. For example, needing to push Katy and Richard physically together so suddenly Jenna is deathly terrified of storms and then, lo-and-behold Katy is also scared of wind. Fine. It got them closer but there could have been a better reason. It just felt so unnatural and false. Couldn't Jenna have been alone and the thunder scared her and she tripped and hit her head and needed to be with someone?
Graham knowing that Katy had the cottage but he wouldn't tell Richard and Richard having to turn into Poirot to work it out... it was a bit
I don't know why it appeals to me so much but I am a total sucker for it. Is it because I love arsehole "heroes" who discover their gooey centre so much? Is it because if I secretly harbour the dream that a rich, handsome, arsehole hero will one day proposition me? Quite probably.
I love the trope and I thought that the pacing and development of the romance was very good. It didn't feel rushed.
My favourite part of the whole novel was Penny. She was a relatively small character with regard to dialogue and page time and yet she was so pivotal to everything. The whole Penny storyline was so full of emotion and her relationships with Katy and then Richard were so well written that I actually cried. Great writing getting that much emotion into a character with a relatively small interactive presence.
Despite these positives there were some negatives. There was a bit of a tendency to detail an event in one narrative and then recap it in the next narrative. Fine, we got the other person's perspective on it but we didn't need the recap for that.
Dialogue is one of my pet peeves, I have stopped reading books with decent plots because of bad dialogue. The Contract seemed to have two types: Clipped and super formal or gushing, emotional verbal diahorrea.
It wasn't so bad I wanted to stop but there were a few times I rolled my eyes.
Speaking of, there were a few events that could have been better explained or developed. They bordered coincidental because they were so tenuous. For example, needing to push Katy and Richard physically together so suddenly Jenna is deathly terrified of storms and then, lo-and-behold Katy is also scared of wind. Fine. It got them closer but there could have been a better reason. It just felt so unnatural and false. Couldn't Jenna have been alone and the thunder scared her and she tripped and hit her head and needed to be with someone?
Graham knowing that Katy had the cottage but he wouldn't tell Richard and Richard having to turn into Poirot to work it out... it was a bit
megshelton's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I thought this book was going to be spicier than it was. Not quite fade to black/close door spice, more like a 1.5/5. Richard is the epitome of an asshole and lived up to his common shortened name, Dick. Katharine is a freaking saint, but I loved how she wasn't a doormat like you are lead to believe in the beginning. Penny is one of my favorites of the book. I would like to read more of the series because it's like a cozy, mild office romance.