The Marriage Contract

The New York Times bestselling author of Radiant Sin delivers a smoking hot series about the O'Malley family—wealthy, powerful, dangerous and seething with scandal. Teague O'Malley hates everything associated with his family's name. And when his father orders him to marry Callista Sheridan to create a "business" alliance, Teague's ready to cut ties once and for all. But then Teague actually meets Callista, sees the bruises on her neck and the trauma in her eyes and vows he will do everything in his power to avenge her. Everyone knows the O'Malleys are dangerous. But Callie wasn't prepared for his brand of lethal grace and coiled power. His slightest touch scorches through her. But the closer they get, the more trouble they're in. Because Callie's keeping a dark secret—and what Teague doesn't know could get him killed.

Conveniently Wed "I do," the bride and groom said…without love they wed—or so they thought! WHY THE BRIDE REALLY SAID "I DO" Become Mrs. Cole Blackmore to save her family business? Of course! Darci Bradley had fantasized of a happily-ever-after with the charismatic cowboy. But what was he really after…? WHY THE GROOM REALLY PROPOSED If Cole revealed the truth, he knew Darci would never marry him. And a marriage of convenience was the only solution to his dilemma. But having Darci in his home presented a whole new dilemma—keeping his hands off his sexy new bride!

A Marriage Contract (French: Le Contrat de mariage) is an 1835 novel by French author Honoré de Balzac and included in the Scènes de la vie privée section of his novel sequence La Comédie humaine. Set in Bordeaux, it describes the marriage of a Parisian gentleman, Paul de Manerville, to the beautiful but spoiled Spanish heiress, Natalie Evangelista.

There's no place like home, but even ruby slippers won't get Claire Atherton there. For clair, home is Fairlove, Virginia, and a Federal Era house built by her ancestors. Although the house still stands, it might as well be over the rainbow, because the man who owned it—the man who let it fall to ruin—is the same man who destroyed her parents. But sometimes even rich, evil men fail to get their way… Nick Dylan's father was always manipulative. Still, it surprises Nick to learn that his father would try to control him from the grave. "Fall in love and marry." Or lose everything. If it weren't for his mother, Nick would simply walk away. Since he can't, he'll propose to Clair. She may hate him, his family and all he stands for, but he does have something she wants. Her house. And her feelings for him guarantee that she won't want to stay married for a minute longer than she needs to.

"The Marriage Contract" is included in "Scenes from Private Life" and follows the marriage of a Parisian gentleman to beautiful Spanish girl, who comes into a lot of money. Presenting an intriguing portrait of the relationships between people, their romantic adventures, and marriage contracts in general, the novel abounds in philosophical, ethical, and financial dialogues. The naiveté of the characters and their illusions of married life clash with a bang against reality, resulting in unnecessary and often humorous suffering. Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) was a French novelist and playwright, most famous for his collection of novels and plays, collectively called "The Human Comedy". His detailed observation of humanity and realistic depiction of society makes his one of the earliest representatives of realism in Europe. He was a master-creator of complex characters that often found themselves in ambiguous moral dilemmas.

On her wedding day, Patricia Cotter, the widowed Lady of Pruett, signed a contract agreeing to the following: 1. She would never look at her husband’s face. 2. She would never remove the sheets covering the mirrors. 3. She would never ask her husband about his past. In return for doing these things, she will have a secure place for her unborn child and her worries will be over. She has nothing to lose by agreeing to her husband’s terms. Yes, she’s heard the rumors about Mr. Stephen Bachman. He was said to have killed his first wife, though there is no proof condemning him of the crime. He is aloof and never leaves his manor. He is practically a prisoner in his own home. But as she gets to know him, she begins to believe her husband isn’t the beast everyone’s made him out to be. There just might be a gentleman worth loving beneath his hard exterior. The questions is, can she get him to let go of the past so he can open himself up to the possibility of a fairytale romance?