His Contract Bride (Banks Brothers Brides #1)

For Edward Banks (or Lord Watson as he is formally called), he always knew where his life would end up. He would one day be forced to marry Regina Harris. 

After meeting only one time, Regina is smitten with Edward, so it doesn't take much for her social-climbing Father to convince her that she's won the man over, nor to convince her that he is marrying her for love. 

Unfortunately, the truth has way of rearing its ugly head, so although Edward tries to keep the truth a secret after finding out his wife's feelings for him, only weeks into their marriage, Regina finds the marriage contact and learns the truth. Hers is a contract marriage, instead of a marriage based on love. 

Now its up to Edward, a Lord who is most unusual in that he is more interested in plants than social statues, to learn more about his lovely new bride, and to prove to her that he is in fact worthy of her and her love.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Where oh where do I begin? I LOVED everything about this story! Typically, I find Historical Romances to be a bit of a bore, who wants to read about a time when women were meant to be seen and not heard? When they were unable to voice their own thoughts and opinions on matters in fear of repercussion? However, His Contract Bride features little of this. Of course, Regina is somewhat more reserved in the presence of her Father, but I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between her and her husband Edward. He encouraged her to speak her mind, he challenged her not only to challenge him, but to stand up for herself against her Father, and it all made the story all the more enjoyable of a read. 

Speaking of Regina, she grows so much during the course of the story, from living with domineering Father who will stop at nothing to further his social standing, that it is impossible not to root for her. Even when she does something that would surely earn her a beating from her husband (in the normal arc of a Historical Romance), Edward just laughs it off and refuses to allow her to change what she has done. He really is a good guy, with her best interests at heart. Their marriage may have not started out the way they had envisioned it, but it certainly ends that way!

His Contract Bride is only book one in a series of books by Ms.Gordon and I absolutely cannot wait to start reading book two, His Yankee Bride featuring Edward's younger brother John. 

DISCLAIMER: I received an advanced copy of His Contract Bride in exchange for my honest review. This has not reflected on my review in any way.