The Marriage Contract

None of the other Maxwell stories compare to the story of Anne and Aiden. The Beginning of this story reminds me a bit of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" with Anne finding Aiden's home in a state of such filth and disorder that she undertakes to set it to rights. Aiden has similar ideas; he sets her to tough tasks in an attempt to cause her to leave, but is surprised to find she can handle it. He has to admit that she's capable and begins to fall for her. Anne is an enjoyable heroine with a good attitude in a tough situation. When Aiden tries to make her leave she sticks to her guns and wins everyone over. Aiden is also an enjoyable character who, although he is surprised and disgruntled over his sister's attempt to marry him off by proxy to Anne, his tender side always comes through. He is never cruel and is often compassionate and protective. Once Anne and Aiden have it together in their personal lives the plot continues. They are dragged away by an interfering Englishman and Aiden's ingenious solution stayed with me for the longest time. Definately a keeper.

This book was very sweet and I found it took some entertaining and unpredictable turns in dialogue and events. What I found different about this heroine than in many other romance novels is that this heroine appears very ordinary, in terms of money (in fact sub-par), looks (ordinary by sheep society members), and perhaps even presence (she proves that wrong later on). But she manages to make her presence very powerfully felt throughout the novel. In other romance novels, we always read about the heroine being the most beautiful (all eyes turn to her when she enters the room, conversation stops, that sort of thing), or we read about the girl being gawky and awkward as a youngster, but suddenly blossoming into an arresting beauty when she matures(ugly duckling sort of thing). Or perhaps, they'll have a scene where the seemingly ordinary looking woman freshens up and dons a wonderful gown and jewels, displaying a regality that inspires heads to turn. But in this book, she doesn't have to be anything but herself the whole time, and she is still deemed desirable. She doesn't have to be fought over and desired by every man in order to be beautiful. She doesn't have to stop traffic, but you still see her as a beautiful woman. And one can tell that the attraction a man feels for her is through her cunning and grace. The man is pretty nice, too. I like that they get to know each other as they are married. It has a very nice romantic edge to it.

Aidan Black, the Earl of Tiebauld, is painted blue, wearing a kilt and little else, as he hunts. What he ends up bagging is the wife he didn't know he had. Married by proxy, Anne Burnett has come to Scotland to introduce herself to her husband. Aidan says she's going back to England, but Anne's got other ideas. She plans to stay in the home she's come to love, next to the man she thinks she could love, if only he'd give her a chance.Two people thrown together by chance (and a meddling older sister), find that they have a chance at a happily-ever-after in Cathy Maxwell's wonderful story where the women are strong and the men wear kilts!

I finished this book in 2 weeks. I really love it. It's funny and sweet. The heroine is strong, and the hero is to die for.Get it today

The Ton considers her two seasons in London as failures because Anne Burnett failed to make a match. Anne set an apparently impossible goal for an orphan like herself: she wanted to marry for love instead of securing her future.Anne is forced to marry by proxy some obscure Scottish lunatic, Mad Earl Tiebauld, Aidan Black, whose sister arranged the marriage. Anne travels to her new home only to receive a very unfriendly welcome by her spouse, who not only rejects her, but he wants her back in London. However, the English transplant ignores the irritable Scot and soon her actions gain the respect and support of his clan. To her chagrin, Anne also captures Aidan's black heart just as she now loves him too, but will he wisely keep her at his side or madly cling to his notion she belongs in England?THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT is an amusing well written Regency romance starring two charming and not so mad (except in love) lead characters. When the story line stays with the main plot the battle of the sexes, it is an absolute delight that will provide fans with a powerfully pleasurable read. However, a political subplot, though cleverly inserted and actually tied back to the prime theme, will feel intrusive because the convincing main tale is so good and so much fun. Cathy Maxwell shows why her historicals are so well received by reviewers and fans with this fabulous Regency novel.Harriet Klausner