The Wedding Bargain by Victoria Alexander, Effington/Shelton #1, February 1999 Rating: B

Pandora Effington is in her seventh season and shows no signs of selecting a husband yet. She is an independent woman who does not wish to marry without love involved, much like her parents. She also wants a hero. Her parents, both students of ancient Greek culture, have also left her a tidy sum of money, making her independently wealthy. This also leaves her a target for men who only want to get their hands on her fortune. Her meeting with Maximillian Wells, Earl of Trent, did not go as planned. Intent on discussing his intentions toward her friend, Cynthia Weatherly. Somehow this conversation gets sidetracked, ending up in a bargain between the two. Pandora comes up with a challenge Max must complete. If he completes it, they will marry. If he does not complete it, he will marry a woman of Pandora's choosing. Pandora chooses the Hercules' labors, an impossible task she feels. And the fun begins as Max attempts to complete these tasks and Pandora finds herself growing more fond of the man as their odd form of courtship moves along.

Maximillian Wells, Earl of Trent, a man who believed in the honor of serving his country. Leaving his post only upon his father's death when he had to come claim his title and perform his duties. He refuses to fail, and Pandora's challenge is no exception. He has a reputation as a bit of a rake and a rogue, but he's respectable enough and has no black marks on his record for anyone to complain about.

Amidst the cast of characters, we have Pandora's friend, Cynthia, who believes Pandora loves Max and really wants him to succeed in the challenge. Max has a confidante of his own in Laurie Bolton who isn't entirely forthcoming about his reasons for opposing a match between Max and Pandora. A secondary romance arises between these two characters as well.

The Wedding Bargain is a funny and witty read. I enjoyed Max's creativity setting about completing the tasks and Pandora's reactions to it. The attraction between them is clear, if not to them at least to those observing them. I found myself laughing toward the end when there was a staged abduction and some misunderstanding surrounding that and the efforts to rescue those abducted. Overall, an enjoyable read, I look forward to reading more of the Effington/Shelton series. I rate it a B.

©Susan Falk and phantomroses.com