REVIEW: An Unsuitable Husband by Ros Clarke

An Unsuitable Husband by Ros Clarke is the successful combination of two very popular romance tropes, sports romance and marriage of convenience.

Now that successful attorney Theresa Chartley has recently turned thirty and remains very, very single, her mother has stepped up her matchmaking endeavors to epic proportions. And much to her mother’s dismay, Theresa has no desire to settle down. She is happy with her life just the way it is, yet would love to get her mother off her back, at least for a little while. Meeting Frenchman Emile Renaud in a dance club may be the answer to her prayers.

Emile is a famous football (soccer) star and plays for a professional team in London. He is very talented, has lots of money and enjoys spending his free time with the most beautiful women of the world. Most recently, Emilie’s less than stellar public persona is causing him and his team some negative press. In a nutshell, Emilie needs a huge burst of beneficial publicity to save his job and his reputation. His coach recommends marriage and after sleeping with Theresa, Emile is taking his suggestion very seriously.

So what is going on now? We have two good looking, professional people seeking temporary asylum through marriage. They have amazing chemistry in the bedroom, which is a nice added bonus for their situation. Always the professional, Theresa draws up an iron-clad contract, which outlines their marriage obligations to each other for the short term. Either one can file for divorce on their anniversary date. It is a win/win situation for both of them.

Of course nothing is what it seems. Theresa and Emile’s mutual attraction evolves into much more. Being married comes with ramifications that neither of them even considered before they signed the contract. Luckily, true love conquers. all.

I liked this book. To begin with, the story is set in London and I enjoyed the English, as well as the French colloquialisms. Melanie, Theresa’s mother, plays a small but pivotal role in this story and Ms. Clarke does a nice job of maturing her character into a caring human being. Theresa exudes a realism that was very easy to identify with while Emile’s arrogance is apropos to the storyline. The sexual tension is hot and the sex scenes are even hotter. Although this book is on the short-side, about 150 pages or so, I found that it dragged in some places. Overall, a fresh contemporary romance with an entertaining plot.

Book Info:

Publication: April 28th 2014 by Entangled Publishing, LLC – Indulgence

Theresa Chartley has no time for marriage, and no room for disappointment–especially with French soccer player Emile Renaud. Sure, he’s gorgeous, but he’s wrong for a career woman like Theresa. If only her mother would stop pressuring her to get married and let her live her own life. Finding a very unsuitable husband to shock her parents into silence and put an end to the marriage campaign is the only answer. Emile will do just fine.

Theresa’s outrageous proposal is the answer to Emile’s problem. They’re complete opposites living in different worlds, but a fake marriage will let him ditch his clingy ex once and for all. Then he’ll be free of commitment and free to live his life the way he wants to.

A contract. Twelve months. And they walk away Scott free. But a year of marriage tests them both in unimaginable ways. Maybe Emile isn’t unsuitable after all, but how can Theresa let herself love him when she signed a contract to let him go?