The Marriage Clause
by: Yvette HinesChantal has been waiting for years to finally take over her family’s hotel business. On the day she’s supposed to assume control her aunt drops a bombshell in her lap. She can’t lead the company unless she honors an agreement her deceased father made ten years ago when he signed a merger agreement with his best friend, stipulating she’d marry. Not just any man, but tall, mocha colored Stephan Lexington, soon to be head of his family’s jewelry business. Years ago, Stephan
awakened her to passion, stole her heart and has become Mr. International Playboy ever since. Soon after the wedding, he leaves the country believing that her only interest lies in her company. Bound by family honor in a marriage of convenience, Chantal vows to win over her estranged husband and prove to him that the passion that runs in her veins is for him and him alone.
The Marriage Clause is quite a different take on the arranged marriage. It was intriguing to see the main characters married first and then try to get to know each other when they each are strong personalities in and of themselves. A lot is riding on their willingness to get along because this arrangement is for life. But how do you woo a perfect stranger?
I found this book to be like one of those reality TV shows – take two unknowns, mix them together with little warning and watch what happens. Except in this story, there are no commercials, no announcer and no one gets voted off at the end. They are ‘it’.
Chantal is a woman who is chomping at the bit for her freedom; freedom to live, to be in charge of not only the business she loves but of her life. Her chance was so close, she could taste it. I really felt for her when the bomb got dropped – that all she wanted and worked for was not up to her after all, but contingent on a ‘marriage clause’ she knew nothing about. I would have gone ballistic with the news but Chantal is classy to the core and handled herself with panache.
Yet, as I read, I realized she’s got a bit of wildness in her too that is aching to be set free. She certainly can’t indulge with a total stranger, can she? Even if he is her husband.
The spouse in question is Stephen and he’s got some issues. He’s been burned before and it is coloring his decisions on how to deal with his new wife. Stephen is handsome, accomplished, gifted and so totally out of sync with his new wife it’s like a comic tragedy. His response is sort of extreme but living in the world he does, and being who he is, Stephen can get away with doing what he did.
The main conflict in this story isn’t so much their resistance to the marriage clause but their lack of communication and their assumptions about each other. This is because you’ve proactively changed your beliefs about these cialis mastercard things. deeprootsmag.org order generic cialis It contains the exact same active ingredient which is used in over 100 schools throughout the United States. check for more order levitra online Erectile dysfunction is not something which is extremely common and often is the hair losses. Men who have had recent heart or penile surgery are advised against these medicines. order cialis online this storefront Talk about baggage. This story illustrates perfectly how open and honest communication is essential and mandatory to a happy and healthy union. Another thing this story shows very well is that men and women do not think the same, on anything. Well, except sex.
When Chantal and Stephen come together in the most basic of ways, it’s off the charts and ends up being the only mutually honest and open thing they can share for quite awhile. That is, when the phone doesn’t ring. At times I was getting as frustrated as Chantal and Stephen were. I enjoyed the part where Chantal decides to up the ante by doing a few things to ensure Stephen’s notice. Stephen thinks he knows her based upon knowing Chantal’s Aunt Marilyn. Was he in for a surprise – actually a lot of surprises because he had no idea how creative Chantal could be and a few of her ideas are quite steamy and romantic.
As for Aunt Marilyn, what a dragon – or so I was led to believe. I was waiting for a lot of dastardly shenanigans from that woman but instead found her providing another layer of emotion and insight into Chantal’s life. I can’t say anymore without ruining the effect. I will say that I was surprised.
There is another conflict that comes from the business world and Chantal was a wonder to watch when she had to deal with it. She was feisty, determined, and even when she was scared, she didn’t quit. I found a lot to admire about Chantal. I appreciated too how Stephen was there for her. Through it all, step by step, I got to see their relationship grow so when some awful things happened, I believed that they had the emotional foundation to persevere and that carried over into celebrating the HEA when it finally happened.
The Marriage Clause embraces family honor and duty, love and passion. The sweet tender gestures between Stephen and Chantal made me believe these were real people and the corporate worlds they moved in were an effective backdrop. There are many emotional levels to enjoy in this book not the least of which is the tender and sweet Happily Ever After.
Rating: 
Reviewed by Xeranth
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