But Bachelor’s Bought Bride doesn’t stop there. They haven’t even shared a kiss yet. Several dates go by and only pecks on the cheeks. And yet, Bree Kincannon finds herself falling for Gavin Spencer and can only hope that he feels the same. She thinks he does, but who can know. A hunk like Gavin has never even looked at her twice, let alone asked her out time after time. And then comes the night when Gavin proposes, when he not only kisses her, but beds her as well. It’s wonderful, of course. Bree is so swept off her feet, she agrees to marry him right there, across the bay from her home in Sausalito, in front of a justice of the peace with witnesses from the hotel…no friends, no family, just Bree and Gavin and their paid entourage. She doesn’t even question it when her millionaire father, who only cares about appearances, doesn’t bat an eye and encourages their elopement. Bree is convinced she is happy and this will last forever.

At least, that’s what she believes until three days later, after moving in to her new husband’s condo. Alone in the condo when Gavin is at work, her father calls and leaves a message on their answering machine. It basically consists of congratulating Gavin on working so fast, on duping Bree into believing they are in love, and assuring him that the million dollars he was promised has been wire transferred into Gavin’s account. And, oh yeah, thanks for taking his daughter off his hands.

So, what more could any romance reader want? We have an heiress and her hunky husband. Gavin wants to start his own ad agency and needs start-up funds. At first, he was shocked to hear her father’s proposal and he met Bree out of curiosity. After meeting her and realizing that she is not some damsel no one would want, he admits he feels a little guilty about the money. But he rationalizes his way into marrying her because he loves her and accepts the money because he needs it. He even convinces his conscience that it will be okay, and ultimately Bree will understand. It isn’t her money; after all, it is her father’s money.

As one might guess, Gavin’s plans don’t go as he suspected. Bree is hurt and angry and decides to show him a thing or two. She takes off. Yup, just leaves him high and dry. How they get back together is something that could only be found in a category romance. I found it insipid.

The Bachelor’s Bought Bride did not appeal to me and for most of you, it probably won’t appeal either.

--Shirley Lyons