A tyrant by day, a playboy by night. That is the reputation that precedes Richard VanRyan. He lives life the way he wants, no concern for the opinion of others. He cares for no one, is completely unrepentant, and he has no desire to change his ways.
Katharine Elliott works under Richard as his PA. She despises him and his questionable ethics, but endures all the garbage he sends her way, because she needs the job. Her end goal is far more important than the daily abuse and demands she tolerates from her nasty tyrant of a boss.
Until the day, he asks her for something she never expected. A new role with a personal contract — fiancée instead of PA.
What happens when two people who loathe each other, have to live together and act as though they are madly in love?
Sparks.
That’s what happens.
Can the power of love really change a person?
Will they survive the contract?
What do you do when the one person you hate the most becomes the one person you can’t live without?
I tilted my head. “I apologize. I’ll try to do better. Is there anything else you want since we’re putting everything on the table?”
She hesitated, her fingers worrying the ugly shirt she wore.
“Spit it out.”
“You can’t, um, you can’t mess around while we’re doing . . . while we’re together.”
“Mess around?”
She looked everywhere but at me. “You can’t sleep with other women. I won’t be humiliated like that.”
“So what you’re saying is: I can’t fuck anyone?”
Her cheeks were so red I thought her head would explode; however, she straightened her shoulders and looked right at me.
“Yes.”
This was too fun for me.
“Yes, I can fuck around?”
“No!”
“No fucking,” I enunciated the last word.
“No.”
“You expect me to remain celibate the whole time?” I asked, now incredulous.
“I will be, so I expect you to do the same.”
I snorted. “I doubt it’s anything new for you.”
She threw up her hands. “That’s it. You want to fuck someone? Go fuck yourself, VanRyan.”
Richard VanRyan has had enough, he wants out.... NOW. The only problem is that his reputation, both personal and professional, precedes him. He needs a makeover and fact if he wants to land his next job.
Katharine Elliott is barely making ends meet and it's not because she isn't being paid enough. She's providing for aunt living in a home where she can get the care she needs. Putting up with Mr. VanRyan is a tough job, but she'll hold her head high and do everything thing, no matter how crude, that is asked of her.
When Richard realizes that it's going to take a little more the smooth talking to get the job, he does something he never thought he would do. He asks Ms. Elliott to marry him.
It is supposed to be a marriage on paper only, but lines start to blur the more time Richard and Katharine spend together. What started as barely tolerable, turns into something neither saw coming. But can their new understanding survive once their feelings finally admitted and all their lies come to light?
This book is not what I expected when I first read the synopsis, the has a depth that surprised me. Richard is a tyrant in more ways than one, but there is more to him than he cares to show to anyone. His past shaped his adult life, but Katharine can see through his facade and he learns quickly that he misjudged her immensely. They learn how to bring out the the best in each other.
I couldn't put this book down and had to stay up to the wee early morning hours to finish. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to smack Richard upside his head every so often, and I fell in love with this couple completely. Watching each grow and evolve is delightful and the supporting cast is sublime. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend this book anyone looking for a book with a couple that has an incontrovertible connection neither thought was possible.
This was my first book by Melanie Moreland, but I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
What Other Reviewers Are Saying
The Contract took me by surprise a little. After having LOVED (and I do mean
loved)
Over the Fence, I was eager to see what Ms. Moreland would do next. It was occasionally funny, occasionally infuriating, always worthy of a smile. Well, except when it nearly brought me to tears… When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking obsessively about it—I plotted and theorized, I hoped for certain outcomes, and I wished for more time with this couple. ~
Give Me Books
It's a beautiful emotional journey about two broken people hating each other walking into a situation by obligation and ending up being each other's salvation . ~
Layla Reader
I enjoyed this book, although I will admit it moved rather slowly in the beginning and I would have liked to have seen a little more sex thrown in to spice things up. The characters were believable (Richard has good reasons for being the cold fish that he is) and Katherine eventually showed she did have a back bone and a mouth that she was perfectly capable of using against Richard. Their batter was witty, fun and sexy. Give this one a read, it's a quick slightly angsty book that delivers. ~
Three Chicks
Gah! I think I'm in swoony heaven right now! My word. The Contract by Melanie Moreland is so utterly captivating, so addicting, so beautiful. My heart can't take the transformation that happens in this book. Its literally breath taking. ~
Sophie Bookalicious Babes Blog
The author captured the ambience between these characters perfectly and it worked so well. When I got to the end I was already missing them - I wanted more. I cannot praise this book enough, it NEEDS to be read and I can't recommend it enough and although I haven't read this author before, she has now shot to the top of my book list. A remarkable story, one that I will always remember !!! ~
A Book Lover's Emporium Book Blog
Melanie Moreland lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of twenty-six-plus years. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.
Known as the quiet one with the big laugh, Melanie works at a local university and for its football team. Her job, while demanding, is rewarding as she cheers on her team to victory.
While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys travelling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.
Melanie delights in a good romance story with some bumps along the way, but is a true believer in happily ever after. When her head isn’t buried in a book, it is bent over a keyboard, furiously typing away as her characters dictate their creative storylines to her, often with a large glass of wine keeping her company.
