THE WEDDING BARGAIN
by Victoria Alexander
AVON - December 1999
ISBN: 0380806290 - Paperback
Regency, England 1818
Reviewed by Erina
Hsu, MyShelf.com
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Pandora Effington is
the ton's most scandalous beauty and after seven seasons, she's finally
decided to marry. But while the entire male population of 1818 London
desires her hand in marriage, their proposals leave her unsatisfied. What
Pandora truly wishes for is true love, like that between her parents.
If she can't find true love, she's vowed never to marry. Meanwhile, Maximillian
Wells, the Earl of Trent, has been admiring Pandora and decides she's
the wife he wants. Pandora, however, wants to make sure Maximillian is
the kind of man she really wants - a true hero. So she devises a wedding
bargain: she'll marry Max if he passes a simple test. All Max has to do
is complete the Twelve Labors of Hercules, which include retrieving the
golden apples of the Hesperides and defeating the lion of Nemea. Soon
their bargain is the talk of the ton and everyone is waiting to see who
emerges the victor. While Max's challenges seem impossible at first, he
slowly and whole-heartedly begins to conquer the tasks in some rather
ingenious ways. Meanwhile, Pandora and Max slowly begin to fall in love,
but neither wish to admit defeat by breaking the bargain.
This creative plot is
whimsical and told like a fairy-tale. Alexander writes passages that manage
to be witty, humorous, and refreshing. The plot also allows for Max and
Pandora to spend much of the book together, and their lively interactions
are a delight to observe. Readers who enjoy romances during which the
hero and heroine have a lot of interaction will have a great time seeing
Max and Pandora fall in love. This tale is a wonderful read that will
perk you up with charming dialogue and intricate characters. Kick back,
lounge in the sun, and enjoy Max and Pandora's story of true love.
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