Tomorrow's First Light: a marriage of convenience romance with faith, hope and drama

Tomorrow’s First Light is the first book in the Texas Promise series by Naomi Rawlings. Sam Owens grew up in an orphanage in the small dusty town of Twin Rivers. All he dreamed about was a spread of land of his own and a family. For a year, he has been writing to Ellie Spritzer, who agreed to come to Twin Rivers and become his wife; however, she was bringing her siblings with her. Sam had no issue with it, looking forward to a ready made family. He wasn’t prepared for the eight young children who arrived with Ellie. As Sam and Ellie start to figure out life together, with a brood of children and limited resources, someone from the shadows tries to steal his land from him. They are now in a fight to hold their new family together on the land they all have come to love. 

Naomi Rawlings is a new author to me and I enjoy mail order bride historical fiction. Tomorrow’s First Light is a great read, fast paced and page turner filled with drama, faith and struggles, filled with love, friendship and support. I loved the struggle with faith and doubt of Ellie as she faced the drama with the land, entering a marriage with a stranger and questioning her decisions. I enjoyed Sam as a young man who knew hardship and the support of friends and held a deep faith in God that he moved forward despite the overwhelming odds in front of him. His friends were great characters and I enjoyed their interactions. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I am looking forward to the rest of the series. If you enjoy marriage of convenience with faith, hope and new beginnings, I highly recommend Tomorrow’s First Light. 

Tomorrow’s First Light is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Contract: two best friends and a marriage of convenience

The Contract is the fifth book in the Brides of Beaufort series by Jess Mastorakos. Zoe Katsaros and Chase Mitchell are fellow Marines and best friends especially after they were on deployment together. His family is about to lose everything and he can’t send extra money home. Her family is pushing for marriage to a Greek man she doesn’t like or love. Thanks to dual military benefits and his willingness to embrace her Greek family’s traditions, Zoe suggests a marriage of convenience as the answer to their problems. They discuss terms and set their plan into motion. However, married life isn’t all they thought it would be, even to a best friend. Their arrangement started out as a means to an end; however, Chase will do everything he can to make it much, much more. 

When I started Chase and Zoe’s story, I wasn’t sure I would like it as well as I did the previous books. It did have a different vibe than the others. However, there were a lot of deep issues present in the story and I cheered for them and ended up falling in love with their story. Parental expectations. Family traditions and culture. And responsibility of adult children to their parents. I loved how strong Zoe was as she loved her family, her culture and their traditions but deep in her heart, she wanted something more than an arranged marriage. I wanted to hug Chase as he struggled helping his parents and I was angry on his behalf when he learned the truth. What is the truth? You’ll have to read the story to find out. I highly, highly recommend The Contract. And if you haven’t started this series, what are you waiting for? 

The Contract is available in paperback and eBook

Falling for You Again: an ex-husband, a marriage of convenience and rules made to be broken

Falling For You Again by Kerry Lonsdale is a story of family, love and a marriage of convenience. Meli Hynes is a furniture artisan, raised by her uncle Bear and takes his truisms to heart. After a twenty four hour marriage during a Las Vegas fling, Meli gave marriage a shot and decided that her family’s wood crafting shop was the legacy she wanted to live for. When she learns that her uncle decides to sell to a competitor, the promised inheritance is threatened and Meli is ready to right for it. The competitor just happens to be her ex-husband’s family business and she approaches him to stop the deal. His idea? A marriage of convenience. With his own controlling family, Aaron Borland proposes a marriage in name only with public displays of affection and living together as happy newlyweds. And most importantly, never let real feelings get in the way. It may be the hardest rule of all. 

I was very excited to read the newest story by Kerry Lonsdale and when I won a copy, I immediately jumped in. From the opening page to the closing chapters, Meli and Aaron’s story was filled with heart, growth, humor and love. Overall, I liked Meli’s growth through the book. She was certainly a character I wanted to shake some sense into. However, I loved Aaron’s character from his introduction and throughout the story. Meli’s friend, Emi, was a great supporting character. A very direct, someone who will call you out on your nonsense. I loved the scene where Emi meets Aaron for the first time and gives him the “If you hurt her” speech! A few characters had a lot of jaded opinions about marriage, which I get as many haven’t had pleasant or great marriage experiences. Overall, Falling for You Again was a good, entertaining story. I was not able to put it down. I highly recommend Falling for You Again. 

Falling for You Again is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

His Pledge to Honor: a marriage of convenience romance

His Pledge to Honor by Shanae Johnson is the first book in The Silver Star Ranch series. Scout Silver works to rehabilitate the most wounded horses. As the daughter of a general, she knows how to give orders. She, along with her half sisters, runs a rehabilitation ranch where the horses thrive and find a new life. Her absentee father’s many divorces created a jumbled family tree. The sisters’ love for the ranch have held them together; however; their father’s last will contains a clause that threatens to ruin everything. General Abraham Silver was the leader of an elite group of soldiers, he jokingly nicknamed “President’s Men.” He asks these men to make sure his daughters are taken care of and Lincoln Rawlings sets out to make good on his word. When Linc arrives at the ranch, he immediately is drawn to Scout, the eldest daughter. Both with their own scars and wounds, can Linc and Scout find love healing? 

His Pledge to Honor opens a series of marriages of convenience and lasting love romance. Featuring Wounded Warriors who find healing with love. All sounds great and I was looking forward to reading this book. The first chapter where we are introduced to Scout and her half sisters was very confusing and headache inducing. I had to take notes on the family tree as each sister was introduced. And the sisters’ names!?!?! I know their father was a military man but jeez louise! I enjoyed the introduction of Linc and the rest of the President’s Men and their arrival at the ranch was great. My heart broke for these men and the wounds they are still recovering from. However, something felt off about the story. Overall, this story was okay, fairly enjoyable, but I most likely will not be continuing the series. If you enjoy marriage of convenience romance with wounded warriors, I recommend checking out His Pledge to Honor. 

His Pledge to Honor is available in paperback and eBook

Not the Marrying Kind: a high stakes game and a marriage of convenience

Not The Marrying Kind by Nicola Marsh is the first book in the Bashful Brides series. LA party planner Poppy Collins has a secret side business. She plans divorce parties as the Divorce Diva. When a new party prospect offers Poppy the chance to save her sister’s company, she can hardly refuse. Beck Blackwood is the Vegas golden boy who has a problem. His investors are worried about his reputation and image. In order to appear more respectable, he needs a wife and fast. With the knowledge of Poppy’s secret, Beck blackmails her into a marriage of convenience. Poppy realizes that she is about to get more than she bargained for; however, she has a few tricks up her sleeves. After all, they are in the city of high stakes. They are playing to win but will they end up playing for keeps? 

A marriage of convenience, a billionaire and a sassy woman with a secret, what could possibly go wrong? Or right? Although I am not a fan of the billionaire romance subgenre, I liked Beck and Poppy from the beginning. They both knew what they wanted and were willing to play the game to get it. However, they didn’t count on falling in love. I loved Poppy’s justification for divorce parties. It made sense to me and the Divorce Diva’s recommendations at the beginning of the chapters were fun. I enjoyed seeing Beck and Poppy soften toward each other. However, the story was over far too quick. Overall, I enjoyed Beck and Poppy’s story. It was not my favorite of the author’s romance books; however, it is still enjoyable. If you enjoy romance, I recommend Not the Marrying Kind. 

Not The Marrying Kind is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

A Pinch of Commitment: a marriage of convenience or a recipe for love

A Pinch of Commitment is the second book in the Veils and Vows series by Jean Oram. Ethan Mattson is trying to sell his restaurant and catering business so he can devote his full time to his technical business. Lily Harper, his sister’s childhood friend, comes back to town with a proposition. They get married and after a year, they quickly divorce where she can take the restaurant and catering businesses off his hands while saving them both lots of money. He agrees, vowing not to love her as falling love is not a part of their deal. However, the girl he once knew is now a gorgeous woman who has a nasty ex that won’t leave her alone. Lily has had a crush on Ethan since he rescued her from a mud puddle and school bullies. But she is determined to be strictly business so she can finally have the restaurant of her dreams. Of course, she begins to fall in love. Can their arrangement be the recipe for love? 

A Pinch of Commitment is a sweet romance. Ethan is a broken man, both physically and spiritually. Lily is desperate to find a home and belong. Their marriage of convenience seems to be the perfect situation for them. Their sudden marriage raises some eyebrows to the residents of Blueberry Springs, of course, Ethan and Lily try their best to make it look legit. In the process, they begin to fall in love. I loved the character of Gramps as he seems to see through their deception. Overall, I enjoyed A Pinch of Commitment and look forward to reading the rest of the series. I read a lot of criticisms stating that this story isn’t real life, that the town is too perfect. Yes, some of the story elements are a bit far fetched. However, I read most romances for escape. If I wanted real life, I would find a book about real life. If you enjoy small town romances with a happily ever after ending, I recommend A Pinch of Commitment. 

A Pinch of Commitment is available in paperback and eBook. 

Six Months in Montana: a sweet marriage of convenience romance

Six Months in Montana is the first book in the Sweet Western Romance series by Pamela M. Kelley. Molly Bishop loves living in Manhattan and soon she’ll have her dream job as General Manager of a luxury hotel. However, there’s a snag she never sees coming. Back in Beauville, Montana, Christian Ford discovers that his late grandfather put a last minute clause in his will. In order to inherit the family ranch, he must marry Molly and stay married for at least six months. Molly and Christian haven’t seen each other in over ten years, what was his grandfather thinking? Will Molly agree to leave her life and put her dreams on hold for six months? 

Six Months in Montana is a cute, fun and quick marriage of convenience romance. While the story is predictable, it was still enjoyable. One complaint is there was very little, if any, conflict. There was great potential for conflict but it seemed to be brushed aside fairly easily. I would have loved to have seen a bit more conflict especially from Molly’s rival, Isabella. Overall, I wasn’t expecting much but a fun romance and that’s what it was. I enjoyed Christian and Molly as well as their supportive cast of characters. I look forward to reading the rest of this series. If you are looking for a fun, sweet romance for a quick afternoon read, I recommend Six Months in Montana. 

Six Months in Montana is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook