Contract for Marriage by Barbara DeLeo
Publisher: Entangled Publishing (Indulgence) (September 14, 2012)
Book Info:
Property tycoon Christo Mantazis wants the one thing his riches can’t buy—the villa where his mother has lived and worked as housekeeper for forty years. That it’s the same house he was banished from after being caught making love to the owner’s irresistible daughter stirs up old memories, and now he wants her more than ever.
Magazine editor Ruby Fleming’s not about to give up her home to Christo, the man who broke her heart—until she discovers her mother left half of the estate to him, and she realizes she’s trapped. When Christo offers a marriage of convenience, Ruby knows it’s the only way for them to get what they want. Ruby needs a link to her past, and Christo needs his mother to retain her home.
But it’s another need—to have Christo again—that Ruby must resist at all costs.
Review:
A second chance at love is not always easy. This is the case for Ruby and Christo.
After being away for a decade Ruby returns to New Zealand after the death of her mother and finds out that she left half of the estate to Christo, the boy that betrayed her when she was 18. What she doesn’t know is why her mother did that and how she can get her house back.
After being discovered making love by Ruby’s father Christo is banished from the house where he grew up with his mother, the housekeeper of the estate. Now that Ruby’s mother has left half the estate to him he will do anything to get the house for his mother.
Ruby and Christo believe that a marriage of convenience will give each what they want, the estate, a family and security for Ruby and her child. But if they want their marriage to work they will both have to learn to forgive and trust each other. As well as learn and accept the truth of what really happened in the past.
If Ruby and Christo don’t learn to be open about their feelings they will not be able to have what they most desire, their HEA with each other.
Contract for Marriage has lots of lessons on forgiveness and opening up…an emotionally satisfying read.