The Marriage Bargain (Marriage to a Billionaire) [Paperback]

Jennifer Probst (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2012

A marriage in name only . . .

To save her family home, impulsive bookstore owner, Alexa Maria McKenzie, casts a love spell. But she never planned on conjuring up her best friend’s older brother—the powerful man who once shattered her heart. Billionaire Nicholas Ryan doesn’t believe in marriage, but in order to inherit his uncle’s corporation, he needs a wife and needs one fast. When he discovers his sister’s childhood friend is in dire financial straits, he’s offers Alexa a bold proposition.

A marriage in name only with certain rules: Avoid entanglement. Keep things all business. Do not fall in love. The arrangement is only for a year so the rules shouldn’t be that hard to follow, right? Except fate has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans . . .

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Jennifer Probst pens a charming, romantic tale destined to steal your heart” ~ NYT Bestselling Author Lori Wilde

“A passion that is explosive as the love that unfolds is tender, a beautiful happily ever after that encompasses everything; Jennifer Probst delivers a fiery and wild romance that goes straight to your heart.” ~ Maldivian Book Reviewers – 5 stars

“A charming, fast-paced story full of non-stop sexual tension that crackles off the page. The Marriage Bargain will hook you and leave you begging for more!”
~ Laura Kaye, Author of Hearts in Darkness

“Absolutely amazing! I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t put it down.” ~ Kris, Bitten By Paranormal Romance

“THE MARRIAGE BARGAIN is one of the cutest stories I have read in a while. The story is highly amusing and kept me chuckling throughout when I wasn’t mopping the tears away.” ~ Kay Quintin, Fresh Fiction
"Loved it! 'The Marriage Bargain' had all the ingredients for the making of an amazing story: Childhood friends reunited, Marriage of convenience, Love spell gone astray, opposites attract and great chemistry." ~ Sara, Harlequin Junkie Reviews
"I just had to read Jennifer Probst's book after all the buzz about it on Twitter and Amazon and Goodreads, etc, and especially after I'd got an eyeful of that super-sexy cover.... And I can happily say I wasn't disappointed. Yes, what's inside the book is as sexy and gorgeous as that cover." ~ Heidi Rice, USA Today Bestselling Author

"I am a huge fan of the whole 'marriage of convenience' storyline and I believe that Jennifer Probst put an interesting spin on it to make it fresh, fun and sexy – with a hint of sass!" ~ Romancing the Book

"I loved this book! Loved watching two people so opposite, who had no intention of falling in love, fall head over heels! I'm still smiling." ~ Robin Bielman, author of Worth the Risk

"A contemporary romance you will love. 5 stars to The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst." ~ Book that Thing

"Jennifer Probst is quickly turning into one of my favorite authors!" ~ Author Susan Meier

"A classic marriage of convenience story brought right up to date with two compelling protagonists and the overflow of an animal rescue centre. This book will make you laugh out loud at points and wring your heart out at others. I loved it." ~ Rachel Lyndhurst, author of Kidnapped by the Greek Billionaire

"There’s lots of humor in the story which makes for entertaining dialogue that never bores. I liked Jennifer Probst’s writing style which mingles witty, sweet and sexy in a way that’s very enjoyable to read." ~ Bookish Temptations

"The storyline is that of a modern day arranged marriage with all the quirks of human emotion and vulnerabilities. It's an engaging and slightly challenging read for which I was grateful that there was no instant love between the characters and lust wasn't easily given in to. This author is definitely one to watch and readers of contemporary romance should absolutely read this story." ~ Judy and Marianne from Long and Short Reviews

"THE MARRIAGE BARGAIN by Jennifer Probst is delightful, funny, clever, and a treat to read." ~ Ms. Condit Reads Books

"From beginning to end, this is a cute, funny, and engaging tale." ~ Alisha, Book Lovers Inc.

"It was light, fun, and a very quick read. Perfect for shaking you out of a bad mood." ~ Jackie, Book Lovers Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Entangled Select (2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1620612798
• ISBN-13: 978-1620612798
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 0.9 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (829 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #351,487 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jennifer Probst is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of both sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her novel, The Marriage Bargain, was the #6 Bestselling Book on Amazon for 2012. Her first children's book, Buffy and the Carrot, was co-written with her 12 year old niece, and her short story, "A Life Worth Living" chronicles the life of a shelter dog. She makes her home in New York with her sons, husband, two rescue dogs, and a house that never seems to be clean. She loves hearing from all readers! Stop by her website at http://www.jenniferprobst.com for all her upcoming releases, news and street team information.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

129 of 139 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A good-hearted woman in love with a good-timin' man April 1, 2012

By teacher mom

Format:Kindle Edition

I'd like to know who all these gorgeous, modern men and women are who end up having to get married to save their job/fortune/life. Is that even legal? The "marriage of convenience" plot has been done before, but who can resist characters who are extremely different being thrown together and falling in love?

The Marriage Bargain relies on several tried-and-true conventions, but the most annoying is: The Perfect Heroine. Alexa could not possibly be any more "good." She marries Nicholas, because she needs money. Why? This is the part where you hope she's gotten into a scrape somehow. Drug deal gone bad? No. Gambling debt? No. Shopaholic facing a credit card crisis? No. She needs money to give her parents to save their house. (By the way, the parents don't have an elicit story, either. They're in debt because of her dad's medical bills.) Throughout the entire book, we are confronted with more evidence of Alexa's inherent goodness, to the point that I realized if she were an actual person, I would loathe her. I would possibly consider hiring a hit man to be rid of her. Who can live up to this perfect female specimen, who is able to inspire some kinky lust-thoughts from a Billionaire (with a capital "B")while also saving her family's home, refusing to accept one more penny from her insanely rich husband, and helping him heal himself. (He was but a shell of a man until Alexa made him whole....) Oh, and let's not forget that she volunteers for an animal shelter and is able to rescue a dog and bring him out of his shell, too. I'd vote for Alexa to be a saint if I could. No, scratch that. Running your own business, then going home to greet your husband with a freshly cooked meal, glass of wine, and hot sex? She's ruining everything for the rest of us.

Nicholas comes across as a jerk with some severe issues. As great as Alexa is, I think he needs more help than she can give. Intensive counseling at the least; possibly even shock therapy. He mistreats her at times, even after we think he's redeeming himself and realizes he loves her. The last conflict seems to exist only to create a dramatic moment to preface the movie-like ending scene, which (much to my chagrin) is pretty great, if I do say so myself.

That's what makes this book so frustrating. While some parts had me rolling my eyes in frustration, it was not without its moments. The best parts, for me, were the times they spent around Alexa's family. Alexa and Nicholas are so intense, they need other characters as balance. Alexa's family helped Nicholas experience acceptance and a somewhat normal familial relationship, which affected his character and ultimately, the outcome for the couple. Despite some of my frustrations, I'll admit that I kept reading, because I was interested enough to want to finish their story. Warning: This book contains graphic sex scenes.

176 of 196 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Romance that goes straight to your heart. February 19, 2012

By maldivianbookreviewer

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

All romance lovers out there, make way for the superbly talented Jennifer Probst who has succeeded in earning herself an auto-buy spot on my already long list of authors whose books I wouldn't hesitate to purchase. Not only do I immediately purchase Jennifer Probst's books, but I stop everything I am reading at the moment and plunge into her books with an enthusiasm that tells a story of its own.

27 year old Alexandria Maria McKenzie (Alexa) is in a bit of a dilemma. She needs a husband, preferably with $150,000 to spare and she needs it fast. Brushing aside her ideals and her image of the perfect husband to share her life with isn't easy for Alexa. But she will do it because she is willing to do everything in her power to rescue her family home. And so Alexa casts a little love spell, all the while feeling a bit silly but nevertheless hopeful that Mother Earth would send her way, a man who would meet all those qualities that she wants in a man together with that wad of cold hard cash to give as well.

30 year old Nicholas Ryan (Nick) is in a bit of a fix as well. Nick has a fortune at his fingertips, but his Uncle Earl had changed all the rules of the game at the last minute and left him hanging. His dream of owning Dreamscape, the architectural firm that brings out all his emotions and creativity in one stride would belong to him, only if gets married before the stated time is up. Nick is a man who doesn't believe in happily ever afters, large families and the strength of a love between two people that defies all odds and logic. And he is certainly the direct opposite of what Alexa envisions as a husband for herself and nor is he too thrilled to know that his only viable option of a wife for a year is none other than his childhood tormentor Alexa herself.

14 year since that humiliating experience that had broken Alexa's heart, she meets an altogether more controlled and formidable Nick, whose cold and hard way of looking at a marriage leaves a lot to be desired. But Alexa is desperate enough and thus she enters into a bargain which would give them both a marriage in name only, merely a business transaction on both sides, cold and aloof right from the onset until the 1 year period is up and both parties go their separate ways. But neither Alexa nor Nick thinks of those messier emotions that could botch things up, or those tendrils of desire that slowly erupts, leaving them both wanting more and brings in the possibility of that elusive thing called love that could last a lifetime.

Jennifer Probst surprised me with The Marriage Bargain. I was already in high anticipatory mode when I started on the book, knowing that Jennifer would not disappoint me. What surprised me, and all in a good way I must add, was the thread of humor that was introduced into the book right from the very beginning. Humor and red hot passion is an unbeatable combination in any romance novel and I was a goner from the first chapter itself.

Alexa was a character I loved right from the very beginning. Her sense of humor, her loyalty and kindness, the way that she gives everything she has got with no expectations of gaining anything back in return were some of those traits that drew me towards her in the same way way that Nick continued to be as the story progressed. Alexa is a woman who is comfortable with who she is, a woman who is helplessly drawn towards her husband as she had been when she was much younger and more naive, already in love with a man who had no illusions about love and happily ever afters. And Alexa's well rounded family certainly makes for a heartwarming addition to an already character driven story that proved to be of the unputdownable kind.

Nick *sigh*, Nick is a character I am going to be remembering for a long, long time. He is a man torn between the desire he feels for his altogether too alluring for her own good wife, a woman who confuses and befuddles him as no other woman ever has and his need for control that remains to be a thing of the past when Alexa steps into his life. He has no intention of staying around after the one year period is up to see where their relationship could go, already convinced that he would never make a good husband, a conviction born out of a childhood that had seen the endless battles of war waged between his parents.

The sexual tension that Jennifer so cleverly weaves into the story is of the scorching variety, the tingles and jolts that the reader experiences right along with Nick and Alexa one of the best parts of the story. Jennifer has a talent for building up the tension until it is an either do or die impasse that the characters reach, and the reader cannot help but be drawn towards the magic that unfolds that just left my throat parched, in dire need of a cool, tall glass of iced water to smooth things over. Without gushing further on this aspect, I will just let my quotes section do it for you.

And don't let me forget the verbal warfare between Nick and Alexa, Nick finally meeting his match in every way. A woman who doesn't back down, a woman who brings those little bits of color to his otherwise stark and empty life, showing Nick that life as he had known it is no longer an option for him. It is Alexa's patience when it comes to Nick, the way she draws the inner soul inside of him that years to embrace those emotions which Nick is afraid to name that just makes this one of the best romances I have read in a long while.

A passion that is explosive as the love that unfolds is tender, a beautiful happily ever after that encompasses everything; Jennifer Probst delivers a fiery and wild romance that goes straight to your heart.

Highly recommended!

Rating=5/5

134 of 149 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Book with Enough Ups and Downs to Swallow You Whole February 26, 2012

By Wendy Sparrow

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm so glad I didn't start reading this book late at night. I would have been crouched around my booklight at 3 a.m. hoping the light wouldn't give me away to my husband. I've been on a fairy-tale binge, and this contemporary is the polar opposite of a fairy-tale romance.

Nick doesn't want love--or he thinks he doesn't anyway. He doesn't want emotional entanglements--or he thinks he doesn't. Unfortunately that's exactly who he strikes a marriage bargain with. Alexa is a messy emotional entanglement with love and forever written all over her.

Their relationship was real and complex. He was sure he was broken, and she was trying to resist getting hurt and every spar between them left you feeling like a voyeur for enjoying it. The writing was sincerely spot-on and realistic, and the characters had so much depth that you really invested in them.

This was my favorite section--it starts off with Alexa talking to Nick:

"Maggie says you have a fish."

That remark rewarded her with a chilling look. "Yes."

"What's his name?"

"Fish."

She blinked. "You didn't even give it a name?"

"Did I commit a crime?"

**

Seriously, I love the dialogue in this book. It's brilliant. Fantastic book to curl up to. Just don't start it too late at night. (BTW, I'd assumed this would be a paranormal due to the love spell, but that's a very small part of it--it's definitely a contemporary romance--a beautifully done contemporary.)