I really liked this author's My Favorite Kidnapper book. I devoured it so fast. So, I was very excited to read this book when I saw the new cover.

I am saying it now that Katharine is a saint for putting up with Richard. He came off as a big jerk in the beginning. Katharine is so kind and I really felt bad for her but the more time she spent with Richard; she did let him know she was no push over.

The romance is a slow burn that has that enemies to lovers vibe. However, I felt like I struggled a bit to feel that strong romantic connection between Katharine and Richard. Despte Richard being nice to Katharine. I wanted the spice to be turned up between these two. I kind of could not get over how mean Richard was in the beginning. Still, I did find this book to be a quick read. ( )

This was my first book by Melanie Moreland, I was drawn in by the storyline, I love a good enemies to lovers read, and this was certainly that, in fact I think its one of the best I've read!!

Richard VanRyan has been passed over for partner by his firm, he's not best pleased and wants to move to a rival firm to piss-off his boss, but the new company is nothing like his old company, it is very family orientated where people work together and then spend time together when not at work, this is not Richard at all. Richard is a playboy, hot, sexy, excellent at his job, but is cold, callous, unemotional, demanding, and generally a massive douchbag!! So Richard must convince this new company that he has changed his ways due to finding love with a woman, but he knows no one who fits the bill, until a colleague suggests his PA!!

Katherine/Katy Elliott is the perfect PA, hard working, efficient, does everything she is asked, loved and admired by everyone, and goes above and beyond for her asshole boss.

My assistant – Katharine Elliott- the bane of my existence. I’d done everything I could to get rid of her, but I’d never had any luck. No matter what task I gave her, she completed it.”

Katy is stuck working for Richard, needing the money for her sick aunt, nearly all her paycheck goes towards her care, while she lives in second hand clothes and eats hardly anything.

Richard comes up with the plan to pay Katy for being his fiance, just long enough to get him this new job, then they can split up and she can move on.

I really enjoyed the story, how we see mega-douche Richard, who I really wanted to slap in the beginning, slowly change as he falls for Katy. I enjoyed Katy's transformation also, as she comes out of her shell and sticks up for herself with Richard, but also you see all the little ways in which she is helping Richard and they end up working as a team instead of against each other. Yes its cheesy at times and a bit fluffy, its also angsty and emotional, so you get a real good mix in this story. I loved the push and pull between the two main characters and how they slowly changed to suit each others needs, without realising it.

Told from a dual point of view, which I think really adds to the story, as you get to see both viewpoints, which is really needed to appreciate a storyline like this.

A great read, thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish, I highly recommend you give it a go! ( )

Richard VanRyan is a complete jerk. He's arrogant and selfish, and he doesn't care who he hurts to get what he wants. Until he isn't. Well, until he mostly isn't. It takes some time and woman like Katy, who learns to put him in his place, but he's seriously one of my favorite characters. Not just in Melanie Moreland's world of romance but in romance all around. Basically, there are a handful of leading men that I can't get enough of, that I love their flawed selves to pieces, and Richard is one of those. I kind of came late to the party and hadn't read The Contract series, but I'd met Richard a few times as he popped up in later books - The Contract series adjacent, so to speak. Anyway, I knew I wanted to read his story and finally took the time to do just that. The plan was to take my time, but once I got a taste, I consumed the whole thing. The whole series. This first book in the series gives us the good and the bad, everything Richard and Katy went through to truly find each other, and it's a story I can't recommend enough. ( )

The Contract, I love it when an author can make me hate a character and by then end love him. This was how this book started for me. Richard is a cutthroat advertising genius. After he didn’t make partner and he decides he wants out of this firm, the problem is he is known for being an asshat. He will do anything to show this new firm that he isn’t the man everyone thinks he is. Richard truly lives up to his name. I feel bad for his poor assistant that is led down this horrible road, but I promise it all works out in the end. You can feel Katy’s desperation for her job. She makes good money being Richard’s assistant but not nearly enough to survive. Richard doesn’t understand because he has money and doesn’t need this job at all. He blackmail’s Katy to be his fiance so he can get the job at the other firm. He has to show that he is actually a committed family man. That is hilarious because Richard is an asshat. They sign the contract and the windy and complicated road that follows them softens Richard and makes Katy stronger. Once he understands why Katy is almost destitute he does everything and anything to help her. I love that the ice around his heart melts and the promise he makes to her Aunt. I love that she is feisty and puts Richard in his place even though she is under contract with him. I can’t call this book an enemy to lovers because it’s more asshat to lovers. However, it is an enemy to lovers and I really did love it. Melanie had me wanting more and I dove into The Baby Clause. ( )

Bellissimo, uno di quei libri da cui non vorrei mai staccarmi, coinvolgente e appassionante sin dal prime righe.
Molto ben scritta, la vicenda procede con una bella e perfetta progressione del divenire sia dei personaggi che degli accadimenti, e viene raccontata dal pov di entrambi i protagonisti ma con una preponderanza di quello maschile.
Richard e Katy, una coppia apparentemente male assortita che riserverà un mare di sorprese, una convivenza nata per la necessità di Richard di rifarsi un’immagine di persona affidabile e seria al fine di ottenere il nuovo lavoro che desidera e, soprattutto, per vendicarsi di non essere stato scelto come socio dell’agenzia pubblicitaria da cui si è licenziato.
Molto ben caratterizzati e tratteggiati tutti i personaggi, sia i protagonisti che quelli secondari, una storia che mi ha convinto al 100% e che meriterebbe non 5 ma 10 stelle.
Adesso aspetto di poter leggere anche il prossimo libro della serie e, sinceramente, non vedo proprio l’ora.
( )