A marriage in name only…

To save her family home, impulsive bookstore owner, Alexa Maria McKenzie, casts a love spell. But she never planned on conjuring up her best friend’s older brother—the powerful man who once shattered her heart.

Billionaire Nicholas Ryan doesn’t believe in marriage, but in order to inherit his father’s corporation, he needs a wife and needs one fast. When he discovers his sister’s childhood friend is in dire financial straits, he offers Alexa a bold proposition.

A marriage in name only with certain rules: Avoid entanglement. Keep things all business. Do not fall in love. The arrangement is only for a year so the rules shouldn’t be that hard to follow, right?

Except fate has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans…

I came across this book while browsing the contemporary romance shelf on Amazon and while I was a bit put off by the cover, I was intrigued by the publisher’s blurb so I decided to check it out. I have to say that I’m glad I did because I enjoyed it a lot. This is a light, fun and sexy read that satisfies the expectations of those who, like me,  love romance books.

Nick Ryan is the handsome billionaire who needs a wife in order to inherit his deceased Uncle’s business, but who, coming from a broken family, doesn’t believe in marriage. He’s put success and money at the top of his concerns and has no intention to change. Alexa is the beautiful and witty heroine who believes in ever-lasting love and never gives up on her goals. They are polar opposites who have to deal with one another after their marriage bargain and their bickering and teasing each other was very enjoyable to read, especially when they use this tactic in order to try to ignore the strong attraction they feel towards each other. There’s high sexual tension which soon becomes too much to resist for them and they decide to let passion take them. There are some very steamy sex scenes where Nick shows Alexa how great a lover he is and I liked the way they were written, with the right amount of detail without lapsing into vulgar.

There are also sweet and poignant moments where we can see Nick changing and Alexa breaking into his harsh exterior. Nick needed a woman like Alexa to heal and learn how to love…

There’s lots of humor in the story which makes for entertaining dialogue that never bores. I liked Jennifer Probst’s writing style  which mingles witty, sweet and sexy in a way  that’s very enjoyable to read.  Yes, I admit there’s a certain predictability in the story, but when I stumbled upon this book, I kind of  wanted  a light and quick read, so it didn’t disappoint.

I give this book 3.5 stars

And now some of my favorite passages:

“Nick stood alone and watched her.
A strange emotion bubbled up inside of him. Since he’d never experienced it before, he couldn’t seek out a name. There was little left in life that touched him, and he admitted he liked it that way.
Tonight, something changed.”

“He tenderly mated his tongue with hers, stroking, tracing the swollen flesh of her lips in an action that bespoke pure humbleness. And when he opened his eyes and looked into hers, she sucked in her breath as he finally let her in, let her see it all, and gave her what she needed.
The truth.
“It’s always been you. I don’t want anybody else, I don’t dream about anybody else. It’s only you.”
She cried out as he buried himself to the hilt inside of her. Her body opened and accepted his swollen length, hugged him deep and demanded more.”

“Drugged on the taste of her, he circled her tongue with quick, urgent strokes, begging her to give it all back to him.

And she did.

Full power.

As if a tightly closed-door under a sharp kick, Nick almost heard the shatter as their control broke. She opened her mouth and drank, then made her own demands as a low growl of hunger escaped her lips. He pushed her hand against the wall and challenged each thrust of her tongue as her arms wrapped around his neck and her back arched. “

” ‘We have a long year ahead of us Alexa. Why don’t we try to build on friendship? It will be better for appearances and for us.”

‘What’d you have in mind? More poker games?’

An image of her sprawled in his lap flashed in his mind. Of full breasts pressed against his chest. Of squirming, soft female flesh all over him, ready to burn up in his arms. As if on cue, he looked up and read the title of the book right beside her in full presentation.

‘ How to give a Woman Multiple Orgasms ‘.

Shit. “

” ‘Do you have any Black Eyed Peas?’

He looked puzzled by the question. ‘To eat?’

She held back a groan. “

Elena