HOLLYWOOD HUSBAND, CONTRACT WIFE - Jane Porter
Miniseries: Ruthless
Harlequin Presents #2574
ISBN: 0-373-12574-7
October 2006
Short Contemporary Romance

Hollywood, California - Present Day

Alexandra Shanahan moved from Montana to Hollywood four years ago hoping to make it in the film business, but not as an actress; she considers herself too physically ordinary for that. What Alexandra is interested in is the technical side of filmmaking, but for now she is nothing more than a glorified gofer. When Alexandra's boss, director Daniel deVoors, sets up a meeting for her with Hollywood 's most sought-after movie star, Wolf Kerrick, she thinks it could lead to a better job. In a way Alexandra is right; Wolf will help her get a job as an assistant director, but only if she pretends to be his girlfriend.

Wolf Kerrick is gorgeous, brilliant, successful, and women are always throwing themselves at him. They only see his beauty and fame, but not the man underneath. Although Alexandra is not throwing herself at him, she believes he is spoiled and shallow. Wolf wants Alexandra to pretend to be his girlfriend to help him stop rumors about a reported affair with a married co-star, which is destroying his chances of making his next film. He chooses Alexandra because she is ordinary. But when unforeseen events happen, damaging his reputation even more, Wolf finds himself not with a pretend girlfriend but a real life wife.

HOLLYWOOD HUSBAND, CONTRACT WIFE takes the premise: what would happen to an ordinary girl who marries a handsome movie star that women throw themselves at, and asks how will she handle it? Wolf and Alexandra both carry emotional scars from childhood; Wolf has tried to deal with his, but Alexandra has ignored hers. Alexandra was raised by her father and five overbearing brothers who smothered her. She left for Hollywood to become independent and carve out a successful career. Wolf is a lot like her brothers and father; consequently, she does not handle her relationship with Wolf very well.

HOLLYWOOD HUSBAND, CONTRACT WIFE has a setting that very few romance novels deal with and pulls it off fairly well. Although, both characters are interesting, Wolf is the reason to read this book. He is an Alpha, male -- sarcastic, compelling and sexy. The secondary characters are infrequent, but readers will be introduced to Alexandra's brothers, who seem as interesting as Wolf, and hopefully will get their own books.

HOLLYWOOD HUSBAND, CONTRACT WIFE is an entertaining read with a compelling male main character.

Nickole Yarbrough