The Reluctant Bride

Monica Murphy

Apr 2022 · Dangerous Press

About this ebook

One moment I’m the forgotten daughter of one of the most wealthy families in the country, and the next I’m the blushing bride in an arranged marriage. My fate is sealed in my wedded union with a complete stranger.

In public, Perry Constantine is the life of the party. Easygoing. Adored. In private, he’s brooding. Dark. Angry. But so am I. It’s a contest of wills to see who will break in the bedroom first, and while I try to remain strong, I find myself craving the very man I swore to hate.

My husband.

Welcome to the Midnight Dynasty... The warring Morelli and Constantine families have enough bad blood to fill an ocean, and their brand new stories will be told by your favorite dangerous romance authors.

WARNING: This book is intended for readers eighteen years old and over. It contains material that some readers could find disturbing. Enter at your own risk...

Ratings and reviews

This is the first piece of Perry and Charlotte's sinfully enticing story and I so NEED More!! Lol I fell very quickly for these characters and found it excruciatingly hard to put this book down. This well written book read as smooth as silk as it held me fiercely in its grip. Intensity and deep emotions are skillfully woven with taut tension, surprising twists, raw drama, intriguing secrets and seductive heat to create a dark and lush web that lures you right in, puts your jaw on the floor when that cliffy hits, and leaves you with a vicious craving for more. The chemistry between this duo was incandescent as the sparks fly. These characters gave me some major feels while also making me feel for them. This couple's story does take place in the Midnight Dynasty world that is all things Constantine & Morelli. However, you could very easily enjoy this trilogy all on its own. At least, you can try, because I'll tell you once the Morelli & Constantine families sink their claws into you there is no escape and frankly you don't even want one! Lol I can't ever get enough and that is a wickedly good thing! I am posting an independent, impartial review.

This is book one in a three part book series. It is also part of a series about the Lancaster siblings who find love. This is the only Lancaster daughter, Charlotte's story and being as I have read her siblings story I could not wait for Char and Perry's story. It is a Marriage of Convenience story and while it is not a Mafia story it has characters in it that can be part of the dark underworld as this series goes on. Essentially it is a marriage of convenience pairing between Charlotte Lancaster and Perry Constatine. Both characters have strong mothers who are behind this pairing between the families. Perry is the youngest son and a favorite with his mother. He is also a bit of a playboy who has been getting more serious about the family business. He is a real sweetheart and I liked how protective and supportive of Charlotte he is. He is a really good guy and I really liked him for Char. Charlotte Lancaster is the daughter of a rich and powerful man who uses his power to intimidate her and at times can be abusive. Char looks at this marriage of convenience as away to escape her domineering father. She has been used and abused her entire life by men and she likes that Perry gives her choices and lets her make her own decisions. I really loved their honest and very real relationship with each other. This first book is really about Char and Perry getting to know each other and their pairing pre-marriage. I really liked it a lot and while it doesn't end on a cliff hanger. I definitely cannot wait to see what happens next between Perry and Char. I received a complimentary early release copy of this e-book from the author prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.

"Every once in a while, it hits me—I’m engaged. I’ll be married, to a woman I don’t even know. A woman I don’t want to know." Yes, arranged marriage, fake relationship between two people who seriously don't want it! This was my first book by Monica Murphy and it was so easy to read and keep turning the pages. I loved Perry from The Cinderella trilogy, set in this Midnight Dynasty world. He was the easy going, relaxed, charming Constantine but we certainly saw a different but very good side to him in this as family responsibilities try to grind him down. When he starts to get to know his reluctant bride, his protective side unexpectedly kicks in and Mother Caroline will not get all her own way! I loved that side to him. Perry Constantine was an absolute sweetheart and I loved Charlotte Lancaster as well. She'd been through a lot and with a very controlling father too, she struggled to trust anyone. She was feisty but vulnerable and I enjoyed the slow burn attraction together with the push, pull denial and reluctance to be forced into a marriage of convenience. With a twist at the end I kind of guessed, although not completely, I really enjoyed this and can't wait to find out what comes next.

About the author

Monica Murphy is the romance author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling series, The Billionaire Bachelors and One Week Girlfriend. Her books have been published both traditionally and independently. They have sold over a million copies worldwide. She writes young adult, new adult, and contemporary romance. She also writes under the name Karen Erickson.