The Wedding Bargain (Effington Family Book 1)

Cute story with likable characters. The story flowed well and kept my interest throughout. It was interesting how Max handled each of the challenges and how Pandora handled everything and saw things differently as the story went on. I also liked many of the secondary characters in the story.I had a few issues with the book that prevented me from rating it higher. First, although the characters slowly fell in love with each other (hardly a spoiler) I really could not see how it happened. In any romance you WANT it to happen but I just didn't see it from their interaction with each other.My major issue was with the ending.------------------ SPOILER ------------------When Pandora thought her parents and best friend had been kidnapped she wanted to run after them. Even though she had no idea where to go. At that point she said the the three people she loved in the world needed her help. OUCH! She loves Max and he's right there. That would have been a perfect time to tell him she loved him or at least that she knew he didn't love her. Or even when Max says that she was willing to be in a carriage in the rain just to get away from him she could have responded that facing that fear was easier than another fear, that of marrying a man that didn't love her. The scene could have been so much better, I didn't understand what the author was trying for.Then at the end Pandora tells Max that she won't name a bride for him since she loves him that would have been the perfect time for Max to tell her that she forfeits the competition. They BOTH LOSE. Then he can profess his love and actually ASK her to marry him. When she says yes then he can present her with the golden apples, showing her that her love was more important than winning. Instead the author chooses to have Max go back and win the competition on a technicality. Showing that winning really was the most important thing to Max. I was very disappointed.

Pandora Effington is in her seventh season. Oh, my! Maximillian Wells, the Earl of Trent, has she is the perfect bride for him. Only Pandora wants to marry for love and she wants to marry a hero. So to test Max's resolve she sets him on the labors of Hercules with a "modern" nineteenth century twist. If Max wins, Pandora will marry him. If Pandora wins (really, if Max cannot complete the tasks in 4 weeks), she gets to pick the bride. Max sticks is foot in his mouth quite often, but Pandora is equally clumsy in getting in her own way. Both realize that by winning they lose if neither admits the L-word. The story still holds up after all these years. But e-reader beware, there are some formatting issues.

Maximillian Wells,the Earl of Trent has decided he wants to wed, and he's also decided on the bride!The bride-to-be is Miss Pandora Effington, young,beautiful,independent thinker and near spinster also known as the Hellion of Grosvenor Square.The thing is that Pandora comes from a family of very determined women and is also secure enough financially not to have to marry anyone she doesn't want to and she has also decided she will not marry for anything less than love.Max is just as stubborn as Pandora and because he always gets what he wants, he feels confident he will also be able to win Pandora. So, he decides to prove to Pandora that he is not only sincere, but willing to be her hero and she is free to devise a test that will prove to her that he will do anything to claim her.Pandora decides on the 'Twelve Labours of Hercules'.The game is on!There are moments of witty sparring between Max and Pandora, some assistance from friends and family who are just as determined to see our two protagonists end up together,and there is a lot of hesitation on both sides, for neither is willing to admit to being in love.There are also a few moments when things seem a bit redundant, but all in all, a fun read.

The Wedding Bargain is slow starting but interesting when it begins to move. What I enjoyed the most was the humor. I love when a biik makes me laugh. Dora and Max are both likable. Their friends Laurie and Cynthia are also likable. I won't tell more but if you like to smile or laugh out loud you will enjoy this book!

Kind of silly. Heroine makes a bet with hero that to win her hand in marriage he must perform the !2 Labors of Hercules, which are impossible. But he figures out ways around the tasks. She insists she doesn't want to marry, but she is drawn to him. A cute side issue is the secondary romance of his best friend and her best friend. I've always been a big fan of Victoria Alexander. The dialog is clever. The plot just strikes me as a bit ridiculous.

Victoria Alexander’s heroines are marvelous.She never fails to entertain and charm her readers with unforgettable characters.

Pandora doesn't wish to marry anyone, especially not the rakish Earl of Trent. She proposes a trial and he accepts but is surprised when it turns out to be the 12 Labor's of Hercules. With a lot of interference by family and friends he proceeds to tackle each obstacle until the hardest ones, each other's heart and pride. Excellent tale and excellently told. This is the first book in the Effington Family series.

I loved this book. It had the right blend of romance, humor, and story line with characters I loved. This is an older book - but the story is timeless. I recommend this book for readers who enjoy Romance novels that never go out of style and with memorable characters.

Just a normal story & easy to read. It wasn't an exciting book nor story really & at times felt I'd read something similar before

"The Wedding Bargain" is an entertaining historical romance set in Regency England.Lady Pandora Effington is the ton's most scandalous unmarried young beauty with dozens of broken hearts in her wake. She is too spoilt and independent and she wants to marry only if a special hero comes along who would do anything for her love. Maximillian Wells, the Earl of Trent is a dashing red-blooded aristocrat who decides that the beautiful passionate Pandora with her delectable body is just the woman he wants to make his wife. He thinks he is irresistible and challenges Pandora to give him a test to prove her his worth. Pandora is attracted to the handsome rake but she is a proud woman and she doesn't want to become his trophy. She gives him a ridiculous test, a test which a mortal man wouldn't survive "The twelve labours of Hercules".Max is shocked by the test but he is just as head-strong and proud as Pandora and he vows to win. Their battle of the sexes is brilliantly delivered and delightfully shown by the author. Max and Pandora are two intelligent, witty. stubborn and very self-possessed people. They passionately fight for every little step in their scandalous game, which of course is in the centre of attention of the gossiping ton. The behaviour of Pandora's extended family and their mutual friends is humorous and entertaining. Max's efforts for winning the wager are clever, funny and vastly ridiculous. Their encounters happen in the most unbelievable places and they keep the reader captivated by their antics. I enjoyed the style, in which the author makes the leading couple fall in love. It happens suddenly when they least except it and in a simple manner.THE WEDDING BARGAIN is a lighthearted Regency romp vastly entertaining the audience with its fast-paced storyline, witty dialogues and passionate battle of the sexes. I recommend it to historical romance readers who like to escape from their daily routine with an undemanding book.

bought for neighbour, she loves it

Love the humour and strong characters than drive the story