Christopher Bennett is kind of a jerk. His match maker doesn’t like him and neither does his fiance. But Raven Swann knows her game and she’s too smart to let first impressions get in the way when she knows there’s someone for everyone.Christopher: It’s not like I’m a big time celebrity or anything, but I’m well known in this town and I’m not lacking for money. That’s why I decided to pay a … decided to pay a professional match match maker to find my wife, takes a lot of pressure off me and I don’t have to worry about some gold digger that’s not worth the time to draw up the pre-nup.
It’s not like I’m expecting a super model, but I know my worth and I can do a damn sight better than Amanda Peterson without dropping the kind of money Raven Swann charges.
Amanda:
I might be the only person in town who hadn’t heard of Christopher before my match maker set us up together. He’s wealthy, he’s good looking, he’s well known and respected in the community, and– on paper– he’s a perfect match.
In reality? He’s kind of an ass.
I can’t blame the match maker entirely though. She doesn’t just make matches, she utilizes people from her clients’ personal life to help narrow the choices down. It’s a true, modern day, arranged marriage.
Or it would be– if I had any intention of marrying Christopher Bennett.
***
A Total Sweetheart is the 9th book in the Arranged Marriage series by Rocklyn Ryder. It contains a complete story that follows one couple from their beginning to their happily ever after with no cheating, no cliffhangers, and just enough drama to keep it fun.
All the books in the Arranged Marriage series are complete stories that can be read in any order.
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Finally, after what seems like an eternity, Amanda is being told that there is a match for her. She signed up and paid for this with Raven a long time ago. Her BFF, her brother and her sister have met him and are in the next steps of the process. It is scary and nerve wrecking, but saying it to herself now it seems ok. Only there are a LOT of red flags being thrown and Amanda being a very top notch lawyer knows that she should pay attention to her gut instinct. She doesn’t understand how he was picked for her, he isn’t at all what she could possibly want or need in a husband, but why is she being drawn in without knowing it?
Arrogant, demanding, making everything revolve around him, not to mention self centered and a bit rude, just a few of the things many if not all of the people in Christopher’s life could and would describe him as. He is not oblivious to this either. He is a very wealthy man that is looking for a wife that makes him look good. He plans to run politically and his wife needs to be more than arm candy but make him primary and make him a bigger success. Christopher looks at the photo of his intended bride, the one his colleague and partner at work as well as his sister have chosen for him. He is shallow enough to think that she could be thinner, and a bit better looking. Remember that cliche saying of never judging a book by it’s cover…..oh yeah!
Everything in Christopher’s life revolves around his schedule, including when these dates with his future wife (picked by Raven and his team that are a part of Raven’s process.) Amanda doesn’t not appreciate the dictation or else condition she is being given, so she gives her own move and it is checkmate immediately. An early morning coffee date, again chosen by Christopher mostly, does not at all charm Amanda. She actually walks out. Of all the nerve. She is not about to deal with this. How everyone on her team and Raven feel he is the one seem to be a huge mystery to her, and she proceeds to send Raven an email to discuss this and find out how she will be able to get her refund. Spurning Christopher is lighting a fire, not a bad one either. Now he decides to play a bit more on an even playing field. However something was said by Christopher that will definitely bit him in his arrogant butt later.
The real date goes much better than expected and things heat up quickly. There seems to be a real connection. So when Raven makes a call to Amanda, something that breaks Amanda’s heart is told to her. Christopher texts, calls and leaves voice mails, nothing but a short reply from Amanda. Now he knows something is up but no clue what it is until he talks to his work partner (and team member for helping find his future wife as part of the Raven process) he finds out what the something wrong is. A complete and horrible misunderstanding. Flowers and apologies are sent, and LOTS of flowers at that, those are returned or refused. Desperate to make things right, to win Amanda back, Christopher learns from his sister and Raven a very important lesson. He looks at what is being said and the best part of the twist begins. There is a simple note from him to Amanda, and what he has in store is his last ditch effort to show her he is sorry and show him trying to make it right….none of which is all about him anymore. Amanda shows up, a bit put off and unsure why she even came, but she catches him in the middle of the surprise.
There is a lot that happens and a lot of changes for these two, all of which will have you hoping that they will have a happy ever after – and the only spoiler I will mention is they really do have that awesome and deserved happy ever after!
Loved it
Christopher Bennett, needs a wife and not just any wife. He needs a women who is beautiful and able to handle his political aspirations. He hires Raven Swann to find her.
Amanda Peterson is a successful criminal defender, who is on the fast tract to judge. She is tired of the dating game, doesn’t have time for it, so she hires Raven Swann to find her a husband.
Christopher’s best friend Rod and sister Marina have found the perfect women for him, so they say.
Amanda’s best friend Lori, and brother Brent say they found the perfect man for her. Her best friend thinks he’s hot, her brother is in a bromance with him, but her sister Kari doesn’t like him, Raven doesn’t seem to like him. On paper both Raven and Kari agree they are perfect for each other.
The first date has Chris ordering Rod to have Raven find someone else. Amanda looking for a refund.
Chris calls for a second date, he wants to let Amanda down easy, but as the evening goes on they find they are perfect for each other. Then Chris breaks Amanda’s heart.
I didn’t like Chris at all. I didn’t think he could do anything to win me over. What he does to win Amanda back, he earn the title of Total Sweetheart. I loved him in the end and the epilogue was so perfect.
Love the Raven Swann books. Loved Chris and Amanda’s story.
I received and ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I bought a copy, because I loved the story and to support the author.
arc review for honest review this story is how ravan find a husband/wife for them . amanda and chris get to know each other very cute
If you read the description of this story before buying it then all I can say is that it is accurate. Chris (the male lead) what an A**! Well at least he redeemed himself. I could not stand the male lead in this story, but I do believe that was by design. He proved himself to be a better man then he acted and that is what saved the story for me.
This was another terrific story by Rocklyn and another great addition to the Arranged Marriage stories. You know that you are going to have a bit of an issue with the main male character when Raven herself doesn’t like him. I loved that Raven still took on his case because she knew that deep down he was a different person.
This is the story of Chris, a radio personality, looking for his love in a woman who will be the “perfect” wife for his future political career. What he really gets in a dose of humility and perspective from his future wife Amanda. I LOVED that Amanda did not back down to Chris and that she is the one that made him chase her. She was strong, independent, and fierce when needed. This was a sweet story that started out with me disliking Chris and then loving him in the end. Well done, Rocklyn.