GRR Reviews The Academic Bride: Billionaire Marriage by Lucy McConnell

The Academic Bride was basically a "marriage of convenience" story that doesn't make sense from the guy's POV.

Janel Fendrick is an archaeological Ph D candidate, and she was on her way to getting it when her expedition to excavate a Mayan temple in Guatemala was cut by the school due to funding issues. Then she ran into Pamela Jones, who was consoling a girl who had to turn down a particular job, and Janel was wondering what sort of job it was... Turns out, Pamela runs BMB... a matchmaking service, and Pamela has the candidate for Janel in mind... He wanted a "business marriage"... she wanted money to fund her expedition. It will be a mutually beneficial relationship. What they didn't count on is to fall in love for real...

My primary problem with this book is the setup. A marriage of convenience usually requires BOTH parties to have a reason to get into it. Could be for a reality TV show, could be to save a farm or fulfill a will, or whatever. Could be just a sense of loyalty. In this case, the guy wanted a "business marriage" which doesn't even includes sex, for what? He doesn't need it for a promotion, and it'd be cheaper to hire arm candy than to pay her big bucks for a year of "business marriage". We know about Janel's motivation... she needs money to go to Guatemala. But what does the guy get out of this? The setup doesn't make sense! It's too one-sided!

The rest of the novel was quite good, which is why this didn't get 2/5. But the overall premise... Sorry, it just doesn't make sense.

Category:

Primary Plot: Woman entered into marriage of convenience to fund her archaeology expedition; ended up falling in love for real with her rich spouse

Tropes: marriage of convenience, matchmaker

Overall Rating:  3/5 (rounded up)