Trope Alert: Marriage of Convenience

I’m not afraid to say it.. I love the marriage of convenience trope. There’s just something about two people being forced to hold hands in front of friends or share the same space (to uphold their act) that really makes me turn pages. If you love this trope, or perhaps you haven’t tried it- here are 10 marriage of convenience books to keep you (or start you) going.

Would You Rather by Allison Ashley

Would you rather play it safe in the friend zone, or risk it all with a modern marriage of convenience?

Noah and Mia have always been best friends. Life is going great for Noah and he’s up for a promotion in a job he loves. But Mia’s life is on hold as she awaits a kidney transplant. She’s stuck in a dead-end job and, never wanting to be a burden, has sworn off all romance. So when the chance of a lifetime comes to go back to school and pursue her dream, it’s especially painful to pass up. She can’t quit her job or she’ll lose the medical insurance she so desperately needs.

To support her, Noah suggests they get married — in name only — so she can study full-time and still keep the insurance. It’s a risk to both of them, with jobs, health and hearts on the line, and they’ll need to convince suspicious coworkers and nosy roommates that they’re the real deal. But if they can let go of all the baggage holding them back, they might realise that they would rather be together forever.

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Hell On Wheels by Rhyll Bies

An imperious princess, an arrogant mercenary, a marriage of convenience, and one hell of a roller derby bout.

Princess Valeda fled Hell to hide from her mad brother, but a war on her realm sees her dragged straight back to seal a military alliance through marriage. Her betrothed? The Captain of Bloodshed and Slaughter, a royal bastard with blood black as night whose passion for her might prove as dangerous as the war with her brother. Valeda is going to need all of her wits, treachery and cunning–and some lessons learned through demon roller derby–to overcome her past, defeat the enemy, and survive her marriage.

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Marriage For One by Ella Maise

The only way to secure her dream is to marry a handsome stranger . . .

When Rose and Jack meet, she has just lost her uncle, and with him her dream of owning a coffee shop. Rose wanted nothing more than to open a café in her uncle’s building. But her uncle’s will is clear – the building goes to Rose’s husband. Not to her.

Then, his lawyer, Jack, offers an unusual solution… she can marry him. She’ll get the café and he’ll get the building. For some reason, Rose agrees.

It might be a marriage of convenience but it’s anything but simple. Despite it being his idea, Jack is unbearably surly… But then he does something that shows Rose he might just have a softer side.

Maybe love can start with a contract… but will Rose still feel that way when she learns the full terms of their deal?

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One Night Before The Royal Wedding by Sharon Kendrick

Things aren’t always as they seem in this scandalous royal marriage of convenience story by USA Today bestselling author Sharon Kendrick.

A seductive stranger…or her future husband?

Princess Zabrina agreed to a convenient match with a King she’s yet to meet to save her country from economic ruin. But before her wedding day, she seizes her first and last taste of freedom, with the royal bodyguard! Their encounter is electrifying…until he reveals his true identity.

Roman had wanted to get to know his intended Queen better — and he’s certainly done that! Yet having witnessed his father’s destructive affairs, how can he trust her? But Zabrina won’t abandon their bargain, and their unstoppable chemistry isn’t going anywhere…

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The Spaniard’s Inconvenient Wife by Kate Walker

Ramon Dario desperately wants the Medrano Company. But the deal has an outrageous condition — marriage to the notorious Estrella Medrano! Ramon won’t be forced into anything, least of all a wedding with a scarlet woman!

But Estrella is not what he thought. Ramon can’t get her gorgeous body out of his mind. He even starts to believe she may not deserve her reputation! A marriage of convenience — and desire — might be a good deal after all.

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Roomies by Christina Lauren

From subway to Broadway to happily ever after. Modern love in all its thrill, hilarity, and uncertainty has never been so compulsively readable as in New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren’s Roomies.

Marriages of convenience are so…inconvenient.

For months Holland Bakker has invented excuses to descend into the subway station near her apartment, drawn to the captivating music performed by her street musician crush. Lacking the nerve to actually talk to the gorgeous stranger, fate steps in one night in the form of a drunken attacker. Calvin Mcloughlin rescues her, but quickly disappears when the police start asking questions.

Using the only resource she has to pay the brilliant musician back, Holland gets Calvin an audition with her uncle, Broadway’s hottest musical director. When the tryout goes better than even Holland could have imagined, Calvin is set for a great entry into Broadway—until his reason for disappearing earlier becomes clear: he’s in the country illegally, his student visa having expired years ago.

Seeing that her uncle needs Calvin as much as Calvin needs him, a wild idea takes hold of her. Impulsively, she marries the Irishman, her infatuation a secret only to him. As their relationship evolves and Calvin becomes the darling of Broadway—in the middle of the theatrics and the acting-not-acting—will Holland and Calvin to realize that they both stopped pretending a long time ago?

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Bought Bride For The Argentinian by Sharon Kendrick

The Argentinian returns…with a shocking proposal!

Alejandro Sabato, the unforgettable man from her past, has hired PR executive Emily Green to redeem his playboy reputation. She suggests he take a convenient wife to show he’s changed. What she doesn’t expect is Alejandro’s insistence that she take on the role! Emily’s dangerously aware of the enduring desire still sparking between them. But can she risk her heart again when she’s only a bride on paper…?

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A Royal Marriage Of Convenience by Marion Lennox

A Royal Marriage Of Convenience

Marion Lennox

Nikolai de Montez, an international lawyer, has just discovered he’s the estranged heir to the throne of Alp de Montez. To rightfully rule, he must marry Rose.

Rose McCray is an ordinary country vet, but her royal blood line makes her Nikolai’s bride of choice–and Rose knows it’s her duty to accept. The wedding ceremony is sumptuous, but when the formalities are over it’s time for the prince and princess to get to know one another as man and wife.

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Marriage Of Inconvenience by Debbie Macomber

One for the keeper shelf! Enjoy this classic romance by everyone’s favorite storyteller, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

Rich Manning and Jamie Warren have always been friends – and nothing but friends. However, that changes when she asks him to father the child she so desperately wants. Rich agrees, with one condition: they have to get married.

Suddenly, Rich discovers side of Jamie he’s never seen before, and they’re surprised by the sweetness and passion they feel. But can Rich prove to the headstrong Mrs Manning that it’s time to let the world in on their secret that their love is truly here to stay?

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The Italian’s Secretary Bride by Kim Lawrence

A quiet evening in Manhattan turns into an electrically charged encounter when billionaire tycoon Luca O’Hagan finds himself alone with his brother’s beautiful assistant. The attraction he feels for Alice cannot be ignored; he has to have her.

Alice can’t help falling for the powerful and sexy Luca. Yet when he proposes a marriage of convenience, she refuses, knowing she doesn’t have his love. But perhaps she’s been too hasty — she’s just discovered she’s having his child!