Contract Bride

This book is a fabulous example of what romantic suspense is all about. Ethan Delaney is a hero you can really sink your teeth into (loved him!), and the heroine--Jennifer Ballard--is smart enough to keep up with him. There's non-stop action, nail-biting danger--and enough twists and turns to challenge even a seasoned suspense reader. If you haven't read any of Ms. Webb's Colby Agency books yet, this is a great place to start.

Debra Webb's "Contract Bride" is a fast and entertaining story with an evil villain and nonstop action. On her wedding day, Dr. Jennifer Ballard's fiance orders her killed, forcing her to go on the run. She turns to the Colby Agency and Agent Ethan Delaney for help. Jennifer has no identification and can't prove who she is. Ethan doesn't know whether to believe her story, or if she's trying to use the agency to cause trouble for the Ballards' pharmaceutical company. Can she convince him to help her save her and her father from her fiance's evil plan before it's too late?It's interesting. I had many more problems with "Contract Bride" than Webb's other books this year, yet I enjoyed it more. Like most of Webb's heroines lately, Jennifer does some very stupid things for a woman who is supposed to be a genius. Her uncle bursts into her dressing room, shot in the back, and tells her not to trust her fiance. What does Jennifer do? As soon as her fiance comes in, she thinks, "Oh, he'll help us!" She's the kind of woman who complains the hero is driving too fast when he's trying to outrun the killers chasing them. He's trying to save your life. Why are you complaining? Ethan is worse. He's sexist and rude. He keeps referring to the much younger Jennifer as a little girl at the same time he's lusting after her. It's a little weird and off-putting, and gives his attraction an almost perverted feeling. The story was still good enough that I got past the characters. After that opening prologue with Jennifer thinking her murderous fiance is going to help her, I thought I was going to hate this book. Surprisingly I enjoyed it a great deal. There are a number of satisfying twists and turns. The book moves faster than the author's last few, like "Personal Protector" and "Physical Evidence." The constant action makes for a fun read. Jennifer may be stupid at times. She's also tougher and less of a victim than most of Webb's heroines. She shows a good amount of determination and courage. By the end she seems more like a full participant and equal partner in the action than someone waiting around to be saved. "Contract Bride" is told with Webb's usual gritty tone. She has a unique, almost mainstream voice. That helps heighten the suspense. If I hadn't had so much fun reading the story, I probably would have gotten hung up on the annoying things the characters sometimes did. Other readers may not be able to do the same. For me, Contract Bride was a fun read.

Debra Webb is a fantastic author and she never lets me down. The intrigue, the suspense, it's just amazing! She is on her way to the top! Don't miss this story (or any of her others)!!