365 books in 365 days Challenge ... book #118

Wedding Night with a Stranger - Anna Cleary
Harlequin Presents Extra
Harlequin, 2010
ISBN: 9780373527809

N.B. The above details relate to the North American release of this book.



My rating





From the back cover:

"Bride: signed, sealed and delivered!
Ariadne Giorgias has been set up! Instead of being welcomed in Australia by family friends, she’s picked up from the airport by a lone, strikingly gorgeous stranger...
Sebastian Nikosto doesn’t know what to expect from his contract wife-to-be. But it certainly isn’t the beautiful Ariadne, or the combustible attraction that sizzles between them. Perhaps there might be an upside to this ridiculous arrangement? But once the bartered bride’s been wedded, it seems that neither party is in such a hurry to annul the marriage as planned..."


I seem to have slipped back into that Modern/Presents hold and can't stop reading them! Oh well. This is a book I picked up from a second hand book shop in NYC.

The heroine Ariadne arrives in Australia excited about her holiday and being able to get away from the scandal back home in Greece after she cancelled her wedding at the last minute. However he excitement ends when she finds out that her uncle tricked her into going away and he has arranged for her to be married to the hero Sebastian as part of a business deal. Ariadne is devastated by her families betrayal and terrified that she has been left stranded without any money. She has no choice but to meet with Sebastian. Sebastian is angry that he has been blackmailed into a marriage he doesn't want and initially thinks Ariadne is spoilt and pampered and on the look out for a rich husband, and is as much to blame as her uncle. But when he meets her and recognises her sadness he rethinks his decision. Despite both of them not wanting the marriage they agree to a temporary marriage of convenience, and they get to act on the attraction to one another.

This is a very fun and sweet book, that also has some intense and passionate moments. The plot is interesting and well executed. What makes this book shine, though, are the two characters. They are fantastic; Ariadne is wonderfully sweet, at first I thought she was a little too naive but she grew more and more strong as the story progressed. Sebastian is also brilliant, he is written with a very down to earth personality, little fun things such as him not realising his shirt wasn't cleaned or his bathroom was a bit messy made his character very appealing. The dialogue and passion are both spectacular.

This is a really enjoyable book that leaves you feeling great.

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