Most "couples forced to be together" scenarios only work under very specific situations. Historical mail-order brides, for example, marriage by proxy or disgraced couples in repressive societies (Victorian, Puritan, etc...) also work. In contemporary times, snowbound is probably the most common situation. It isn't often that you get a contemporary "forced marriage." At first glance, that's what it is: essentially "The Bachelor" except that SHE's the one who has to marry, the exact candidate is listed in the will and she's not going to entirely lose her interest if she refuses. Love, Honor and Obey is a forced marriage, with two significant exceptions.

First, the characters not only know each other, they've known each other for a long time; second, they're both secretly attracted to each other, and third, neither would have acted on their feelings without the initial premise. While her situation takes the heroine by surprise, in her own words, Carrie Langdon feels like "Alice in freaking Wonderland. She'd really slid down the rabbit hole and was playing footsie with the Cheshire Cat, if the cat were a really sexy, somewhat dangerous control freak."

He is Justin Sinclair, CFO of Langdon Enterprises, her father's employee, and more importantly, the man her father added as a codicil to his will: marry or wait five years to get her inheritance. In spite of her attraction to Justin, initially Carrie is perfectly willing to take the consequences of not abiding by her father's will. She's happy not to sign the prenup, happy not to succumb to the arranged marriage, and, if not happy, at least resigned to waiting for her inheritance. Until Justin switches on his inner Dom. And then things heat up, in a hurry.

There's not much to say in a tale so short with no surprises along the way. (The only conflict is internal, and not a whole lot of that.) Yes, this is a BDSM fantasy; yes, the two characters have chemistry and explicit situations. Love, Honor and Obey does not push the envelope in any fashion, nor is there any external conflict, but if you're looking for a hot little tale to read in one sitting, this one's for you.

Reviewed by Maîtresse
© October 2007