REVIEW: A Bride at his Bidding by Michelle Smart

A Bride at his Bidding by Michelle Smart is a sexy romance between an investigative journalist and the man whose secrets she seeks to uncover.

Carrie Rivers has never forgiven billionaire Andreas Samaras for his part in the ruination of her sister, a young woman who got involved in an affair with an acquaintance of Andreas as a teenager that led to expulsion from school and a serious drug problem. After exposing the acquaintance for running a drug and human trafficking ring, she has her sights set on Andreas. Making up a lie about possible financial crimes to her bosses at the paper, she’s able to get the go ahead to go undercover and apply for a position as Andreas’s personal assistant.

Andreas knows exactly who Carrie is, though she’s hiding under another identity. It’s not long before her ruse is revealed, (as well as the truth of what happened with her sister to set things straight) and Andreas believes he has only one option to save his reputation that she’s damaged with her ‘suspicions’ – marriage! A quick six months ought to lay to rest the rumors. Carrie reluctantly agrees, knowing that her career would be over if it was discovered that she’d made up fake sources in order to investigate Andreas. To her chagrin, Andreas isn’t the man she thought he was, and her attraction to him is equally upsetting. As Andreas and Carrie get to know each other, will they be able to put the past behind them and have a real future together?

Overall I quite enjoyed this story. It’s got a timely plot, with drug addiction, sexual exploitation and investigative journalism taking center stage. What happened to Carrie’s sister is a tragedy that was compounded by errors and judgments made without thought to consequences. It’s not surprising that Carrie would seek revenge in the only way she could. When Andreas hires her, he knows exactly who she is and makes a series of ridiculous demands, treating her as his personal valet, which Carrie eventually catches on to. Thus follows the reckoning, the truth coming out and a way forward. They can both admit their mistakes which is key to developing a real relationship.

I had a few niggles with the description of Carrie’s sexual experience. She’s 26, a virgin, never been kissed, and until meeting Andreas, had never pictured a man nude before. I found that hard to believe, when contrasted with the plot that is clearly very topical. Despite this, she and Andreas definitely have chemistry and share some sexy scenes together. The setting ranges from London, England to beautiful island locations in the Seychelles and Greece. Andreas and Carrie have to learn to trust each other and they get a lovely, very satisfying ending complete with a sweet epilogue.
 

Book Info:

Publication: Jan 16, 2018 | Harlequin Presents |

Hired by her enemy

Yet tempted to say “I do”…

Billionaire Andreas Samaras is nobody’s fool. And his beautiful new employee, Carrie Rivers—an undercover journalist—is playing a dangerous game. He’ll keep her at his command until he can expose her deception… But when her ruse is revealed, there’s only one way to protect his spotless business reputation: blackmail innocent Carrie to the altar!