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Max's proposal
First published 1998 · 186 pages
A nostalgic, emotionally charged marriage-of-convenience romance where practical arrangements inevitably surrender to passionate jealousy and true love.
What it feels like
Reading this vintage romance feels like slipping into a familiar, emotionally charged time capsule. The pacing is brisk and purposeful, pulling you through a classic marriage-of-convenience setup where every polite interaction crackles with unsaid feelings and simmering tension. The mood is a blend of cozy domesticity and sharp, angsty insecurity, perfectly capturing the agonizing vulnerability of falling for someone who is supposed to be just a business partner. The prose is straightforward but deeply invested in the protagonist's internal emotional landscape, making her jealousy and longing palpable. It is a delightful, nostalgic treat for readers who love the dramatic flair of 1990s category romance, where practical facades are destined to crumble spectacularly under the weight of true, undeniable passion.
- Mood
- emotionally charged
- nostalgic
- tense
- cozy
- Tone
- earnest
- dramatic
- romantic
- angsty
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- marriage of convenience · hidden feelings · insecurity and jealousy · vulnerability
- The writing
- Straightforward and emotionally expressive, leaning heavily into the internal turmoil and romantic tension of its protagonist.
- The arc
- Moves from a cold, pragmatic arrangement through a gauntlet of insecurity and jealousy, culminating in a passionate declaration of true love.
- Who it's for
- Fans of vintage 1990s category romance who devour marriage-of-convenience tropes and love watching a practical arrangement unravel into messy, genuine feelings.
Content notes
- mild emotional manipulation
- jealousy
About the book
A suitable wife? It was a practical proposal. Max Vella, rich and famous businessman, needed a wife to organize his many social functions, and Sara needed money to help her sister. So Sara took on the role of dutiful wife, but just as she was beginning to realize that her feelings for Max were more than just business she discovered that she wasn't the only candidate he'd had in mind. The beautiful and enviable Imogen was everything Sara was not and if Sara wanted to keep her man it looked as if she had a fight on her hands!
Description from Open Library.
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