DNF @16%- This book just started off wrong (for me). The two main characters publicly, gratuitously make out after speaking for about two minutes and then go and immediately sleep together. That just gives me the ick. I wasn’t drawn to either character, especially all of the MMC’s “sexy” smirks. I’m all for spice in books, but there needs to be way more build up to it, at least in a book that’s supposed to be a rom-com.

This book could be classed as porn without much plot. Enjoyable while it lasted, but won't leave a very long lasting impression. The characters weren't all that great, I lost my patience with the FMC quite soon as she has the emotional intelligence of a potato, and no matter how many epiphanies she had, she would continue her behaviour and never act on those. The author’s writing style was complex, funny, passionate, and kept me engaged, though. Overall, it was an entertaining and fast paced read, ideal to enter into the holiday spirit.

This book reminds me of The Stranger in Seat 8B; a one night stand turned insta love, reversed grumpy-sunshine and lots of smut.

Rebecca, an uptight workaholic lawyer and Hudson, a happy-go-lucky furniture designer have an amazing one night stand. She runs away in the morning and expects to never see him again, but then one thing leads to another and… she, uhm, draws a freakin’ contract (!!!) and hires him as a fake boyfriend for her sister’s engagement party. There’s a clause about sex (not allowed) and one about kisses (special regulations apply) but then all Rebecca’s pathetic efforts to keep things professional go down the drain because she obvs can’t keep her hands off him.

Hudson is a man written by a woman, so ya know; attentive, understanding, loving and hot af. Rebecca tested my patience a few times, but I was mostly sorry for her; such a smart girl, how come is she so dumb?!

The constant need for contracts was slightly cringy, but the title kinda’ warns you about it so I’ll shut up.

All in all it’s a quick and easy read if you’re into insta love and open door romance. Maybe nothing special but entertaining enough.

3.5 stars round up to 4

Thank you HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review

A great holiday romance.
I loved both of the main characters (grumpy/sunshine is the best combo - always), and the author did a great job making a new twist on the typical fake dating - who knew contracts could be so fun.

There were times the main character made some self-realizations that I felt were a bit too self aware (most people have no idea why they do anything - its fine if characters don't either), and there were a few threads that I felt were left untied (why did Hudson lie about knowing the sister's wedding venue?). I think this is just reflective of a debut more so than actual flaws though.

I really liked this book and I am ready for more from this author because I think they are just going to keep getting better from here (and here is a great place already).

This book was so much fun!! Hudson was everything! It was a bit of insta-spice but I was totally okay with that. I feel like it made the rest of the book that much more enjoyable! Fake dating and holidays are the best.

This book really surprised me!! I love a good fake-dating story but this one felt fresh! Thourougly enjoyed.

Description 🔖

Rebecca Madison is a hotshot lawyer, she lives in Chelsea in an amazing apartment, her job is her life and she has everything under control. Apart from her love life. So when the time is approaching for her to visit her family for Thanksgiving, she is dreading fielding all of the “why are you still single” questions.

Until she gets an ingenious idea. She meets a drop dead gorgeous stranger in a bar and ends up spending the most amazing night with him. Is there a possibility she could turn Mr One Night into Mr Right; temporarily and purely for the purposes of pleasing her family? After drawing up a watertight contract (no PDAs, no kissing and definitely no sex) she’s going ahead with her hired boyfriend. However can Rebecca keep to the contract and keep things strictly business when this man makes her feel things she’s never felt before?

General Thoughts 🤔

I’m really not sure what is happening to me, but I have turned into an absolute sucker for a rom com book. I can’t seem to get enough of them at the moment and this one fulfilled all of my requirements. It was funny, it was romantic, it was smutty, it had drama, it was set at Christmas time; need I go on? I was engrossed in this story right from the first chapter and I struggled to put it down each night in bed.

Characters 👫👭👬

I loved that the two main characters in this book were complete opposites, shouldn’t have worked, but definitely, 100% worked. Rebecca was very career focused and was the type of woman who rarely let her hair down. I liked the back story that went someway to explaining this, but I was still rooting for her to realise that she didn’t have to be so straight laced all of the time.

Enter hunky Hudson. Of course it was obvious that he was going to be the one to loosen Rebecca up and I won’t lie, I’d let him loosen me up any day. Hudson was an absolute sweetheart without being a wet lettuce. I really liked his character and I especially liked the way that other characters behaved around him.

Writing Style ✍️

There were no complicated plot formats, no twists and turns, this was a linear, speak for itself, entertaining story and I loved it for exactly what it was. I liked that the author was able to create flawed characters that I couldn’t help but love. I’m quite shocked about this next sentence, but, I also enjoyed the smut in this book. I think that smut can be hit or miss. It usually either makes me cringe and feel uncomfortable or I find it hilarious and unrealistic. I didn’t have either reaction to this book, so it must have been written well.

Conclusion & Scoring 🎖

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I found it really entertaining. Romance, comedy, sex, Christmas, broken hearts, family drama; what more could someone want to be included in a good contemporary romance. I definitely recommend this for cuddling up on the sofa in the evening or snuggling in bed at night. A great book that has left a smile plastered on my face since I finished.

Kind of like a rom com!
A perfect FL who is good at everything but love and a ML who happens to prove that she is able to love and being the one night stand she never expected.
Holiday means needing a date and she needs one! The trope is mixed with a grumpy x sunshine which I love but the story lacked in the plot that leads to rich character development.

This was smut hidden underneath a pretty cover. The picturesque settings of London, New York and the Cotswolds were absolutely beautiful. Absolutely loved it.

I LOVED this book! It is a hilarious, laugh out load read filled with very steamy scenes that will heat up any reader. Readers can relate to questions of life, love and letting one self open to having it all - especially love. Rebecca a.k.a. Becs, battles with all these tough questions to discover her true self - what she can do, what she can have and what she needs. Then there is Hudson - women get ready to swoon because he is a woman’s dream all around. I truly wish he could have stepped out the novel! And by the way: unbuttoned, hamsters, beanies, puzzle pieces and opposites are going to become daily words in your vocabulary after this read. Cassie Connor does an incredible job with this novel and I look forward to reading her next book hopefully very soon!

Love Under Contract
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 11/1/22
Author: Cassie Connor
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 301
GR: 4.09

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and HarperCollins and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: This was a grumpy vs. sunshine trope, while they are not my favorite, I really loved how the author put it together. I loved the contract angle of this story being a paralegal myself. Rebecca comes off as cold and determined, however, what is really under that tough exterior is that she is stubborn, driven, and motivated, which I could connect to. Hudson was the complete opposite. He could get under her skin like no one has been able to do before, how to pull her from the cold exterior, and just matched her perfectly, as in oil and water matching. The banter was absolutely amazing. For a debut novel, I felt this was a strong start and Cassie Connor will be an author to watch for great things. While this is a romance novel, there was also focus on family, from both Rebecca and Hudson’s perspectives, which I adored. This story has some great messages on relationships and how the working world functions. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, mad chemistry, and evolved so well. The author’s writing style was complex, funny, passionate, and kept me engaged. This book is already out and I highly suggest picking it up!

This is the first book I have read by Cassie Connor and I wasn’t sure what to expect a few chapters in. This story follows the lives of Rebecca and Hudson. Rebecca is an uptight contracts lawyer and Hudson is a flamboyant furniture designer. This story is full of cliches, but I like that it doesn’t hide itself from that fact either, and even makes a joke of it.

The storyline itself was predictable, however it was a really fun read and I would recommend it to others. I loved the character development, especially when we met the families, it felt realistic and homely.

Thank you to HarperCollins uk, one more chapter and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

OMG a divine debut novel!
Rebecca, a hot shot lawyer, meets Hudson after being stood up, and has the best one night stand of her life.
What follows is a ‘contracted’ Thanksgiving trip to New York and Rebecca getting more than she can handle, in more ways than one, wink wink!
From London to New York onto Oxford, meeting fabulously friendly family and having a great Christmas, then back to London.
Full of will they, won’t they vibes and some very sensual scenes.

When Hallmark and Cinemax join for an entirely new network (Hallmax or Cinemark) Love Under Contract will be their first venture. This has lots of holiday, rom-com vibes but it's also super steamy. Rebecca and Hudson don't make much sense as a couple on the surface but they bring out the best in each other. I loved Hudson's family and their home--what a cozy place to visit for the holidays. But...and this is a small hiccup in a really fun book, but, Hudson likes to style Rebecca's hair and it's just...odd. I think it was meant to be endearing but I found it icky.

A feel good hallmark type story which is a bit too steamy in places, a fake-dating opposites-attract romance with two different families who like to get in on the act.

Although I felt like this was a super common trope, I really did enjoy this one. Cute and quick read, very steamy, and both characters were super likeable.

Really I did not expect porn.
I thought it was a romance novel, but this book was just porn.

I skipped through the worst sections (90 % if the book). Truly it is not a sort, but is mostly porn.

If you are into porn, then this one's for you, but just so not for me

Just can not recommend.

Was provided an advance copy of this book by NetGalley in return for my honest opinion.

Seriously good! This book was a fantastic romantic comedy, made even better with the holiday spin. I loved it!

This is one of those rare books where you just have to throw in the towel and admit - I love it!

Is it something new?? No, not really - It is a classic fake-dating situation that evolves... but it is so well-executed that stars, hearts, and LOLs are flying all over the place.

The sharp contrasts between Rebecca and Hudson and both of their families make for an interesting set up. But it really adds to the story, and it leaves me wanting more...

Please, I want the story of Hudson's sisters, too...

Love under Contract is a very sexy and funny romance with a relationship of convenience/ fake relationship trope.

I absolutely loved Rebecca and Hudson separately but even more together. They are such a cute couple that you are desperate for them to admit their feelings, because you cannot ever have a fake relationship without someone falling in love!

I really enjoyed this book, I love a spicy romance and this did not disappoint.