Customer Reviews

His Hired Bride (Harlequin Romance)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Synopsis: Though Eadie Webb's business is slowly but surely going under (she owns a small ranch), she relies on the extra cash she earns working for Hoyt Donovan. Only she has a secret: she's madly in love with him for the past five yrs! Then one day changes everything...and Hoyt reassesses his whole life. He wants a wife..some heirs..and he knows the perfect woman! Now his plan is to ask Eadie to plan a big white wedding for him...without her guessing that she's going to be the bride!

I liked Eadie but overall I didn't enjoy the book. It was too one-sided, about how Eadie felt about Hoyt throughout the whole book but nothing about what Hoyt felt about Eadie... until the end few pages during the 'all out confession time'! I also feel that the gap of 5 yrs in between them (before Eadie & Hoyt declared their love to each other) was too long, considering they worked together and saw each other everyday. I've enjoyed S Fox books in the past but not this one.

One of a few of these books that I have kept and reread -- loved it.

His Hired Bride by Susan Fox
Harlequin Romance # 3848 - June 2005
Contract Brides theme

Eadie and Hoyt are neighbours. Hoyt's ranch is doing very well, while Eadie is struggling esp. after her mother's death, so that she has to work off the ranch to help cover her debts. That means working for Hoyt three afternoons a week. Eadie's been in love with Hoyt from the time he rescued her from an almost date rape, but Hoyt is a short-term kind of guy, none of his relationships last more than a few months. After a riding accident, Hoyt counts his blessings and realizes that he's not getting younger and if he doesn't produce an heir, there will be only distant cousins to leave the ranch to. So he asks Eadie to fill the wife and mother role. Eadie's heart won't let her refuse. She hopes that some day Hoyt will come to love her in return.

There's a lot of spark between Hoyt and Eadie that makes this a very fun read. Hoyt's not one to mince his words, and Eadie's not one to hold her tongue. Hoyt is a typical alpha hero, but he has a tender heart. This story was a delight to read. :D

I have most (if not all) of Susan Fox's books and this has become a favorite which I return to again and again. Sure it doesn't have all the angst of some of her other novels but I find Eadie and Holt to be very believable characters. I like that Eadie is strong in her own right and can stand on her own. Yes, the 5 years unrequited love is a flaw of the book as it is difficult to believe that two such forthright characters, especially Holt, would eat their hearts out for so long without doing something about it. However, they are very "real" characters. I find them to be a good match for each other and I have no trouble believing that they are a couple that will last the test of time which is what romance is all about.

This is not one of Ms Fox's best. Most of her books twist your heart right out of your body.
This one was too, I don't know every day.
Eadie Webb is in love with Holt Donovan, he has to get into a bad accident before he realizes he is attracted to Eadie.
But when he does he goes after her.
This book was slow, and I am too spoiled by the other Susan Fox books.
But be sure you get the Susan Fox that isn't about rats, mice or lesbians.

The plot is a little dry. But there are some well written interactions between Hoyt & Eadie that are worth a read. I put the '5 years' aside because what I liked about this story was how 2 people bit their pride and opened themselves to love.

After having read Susan Fox's Contract Bride and The Marriage Command, I expected this book to be just as amazing. I was seriously disappointed. The book wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. If you want to catch up with Leah and Reese from Contract Bride buy this book.

This really isn't what I've come to expect from Susan Fox. Her books are usually enough to get the tears going. This one was pretty dull. Fairly early on, they get married, and then... well, not much else happens. There's no conflict, not even a nasty ex-girlfriend showing up!