Namely, Melanie Moreland uses alternating POV chapters so we get both characters’ perspectives on the situation. However, there is a HUGE problem in the execution. All of this, naturally, leads to Real True Love. Sounds like a standard set up, right? They move in together, get to know each other because of their forced proximity, and have to pretend to like each other in public. Instead, because she is perfect, she needs the money to make sure she can continue to provide her aunt who has Alzheimer’s with the best possible care. However, she needs the money not for standard materialistic reasons like wanting to move to a nicer apartment. Never mind that he doesn’t care for her (because she’s too good at her job?), and has treated her like garbage for the entire time she worked for him. So he hires his personal assistant, Katy, to pose as his fiancée. So he has to prove he has changed, and what better reason to make a change in your life than finding True Love? The only problem is that the new firm is very family oriented and won’t hire someone with his reputation (or just… won’t hire someone with his reputation regardless, because he sounds like a terrible co-worker). He wants to go work for a competitor and therefore screw over his boss. He is a super-jerk, and everyone knows it. The basic storyline for The Contract is that Richard (aka, The Dick) is terrible. Unfortunately, this boss is not one of them. There are plenty of grumpy old dukes and mean bosses who have believable redemption arcs. Setting aside the fact that perpetuating this trope maybe doesn’t encourage the healthiest of relationships, I will admit that it can be done well. It’s nice to think that jerks just need someone to care about them, and then the world would be a better place. The trope of the Bad Man who becomes a better man through the love of the Good Woman is pretty standard in romance novels. Overall: Whatever muscles I use when I roll my eyes got an excellent workout Plot: A Bad Man is Reformed by the Love of a Good Woman Heat Factor: A virgin has a magic orgasm, of courseĬharacter Chemistry: A dickwad meets an angel of domesticity and forgiveness

The contract moreland melanie