Jacob Hendrix has never fully let go of his ranching dreams despite ending up as a small Wyoming town's marshal. The job wouldn't be so bad, except he's more errand boy than lawman. When Annie proposes marriage without a single coquettish bat of an eyelash, can he commit himself to a woman he hardly knows for a choice piece of property he'd be an idiot to pass up?
But taxes aren't all that threaten Annie and Jacob's plans. Cattle rustlers, crumbling friendships, and wayward children make this marriage of convenience anything but. When they lose what they've sacrificed everything to save, will the love of a stranger be enough?
Romancing the Bride is the first book in the Frontier Vows Series by award-winning Christian romance author Melissa Jagears. If you like heartwarming marriage-of-convenience stories, you'll love this sweet romance filled with endearing characters."
Author: Melissa Jagears
Length: 410 pages
Format: paperback, e-book
Marrying a stranger to save a ranch is one thing;
losing the land on their wedding day is another.
Melissa is a favorite author of mine. She always writes the most swoon worthy heroes, and amazing romances. 😋 She didn't disappoint in that aspect this go round. However, this was not my favorite book I've read by her.
While I LOVED the idea of this story, (I love a good marriage of convenience troupe) I didn't connect with any of the characters so I had a hard time getting "involved" in the story.
This book dealt with a lot of grief. Though I UNDERSTAND grief I can honestly say I do not understand the grief of losing a husband AND children. For me personally, as a young reader, the constant pushing away thing grew a tad tedious.
Celia was another character dealing with grief in a way I never did, by rebelling. Again, I've never lost a parent so I couldn't connect.
I'm not trying to make light of this sort of grief! I just personally couldn't connect with it.
Though it grew a bit overwhelming it was interesting to try and put myself in the shoes of someone deals with grief differently than I do. And try and imagine what it would be like to feel that pain, and how I would react. This book definitely made me think.
I, like always, loved our hero! He was such a wonderful, sweet character. He was a born protector and had the biggest heart. He loved the widowed and the orphaned, and everyone in between.
On top of having the marriage of convenience troupe 😍, there was also a "coming to find her attractive instead of instantly falling in love" troupe. I WAS LIVING FOR IT!
The bad guys were creepy and slimy, and maybe a few that were snakes in a suit...you'll have to read it and find out.
In the end everyone got a happily ever after, in a round-a-bout way. I'm a happy camper! 😉
I rated it a 3.5/5 stars.
*I received this book from the author for an honest review**All opinions are my own*
Hello! I am a Christian, husband, father to five, and a disabled veteran of Naval Intelligence. I've written in the history genre for over two decades, penned four books, and my bestseller, The First Resort, was published in 2009 by Exit Zero Publishing. I'm writing to you today about a much more personal book which marks my first foray into the Christian/Inspirational genre.
ReplyDeleteThe story is about my life, both blessings and challenges, and how my faith in God has helped me weather the storms that continue to arise each day. With Jesus by my side, I endure and on good days, I thrive. This book is meant to inspire others, help those who suffer the same afflictions as me, and to provide profound insight to the loved ones of all those sufferers.
Here's the official description-
Despite the smile on his face and confident facade, Ben hobbles through life a broken man, suffering from decades of pain and daily struggles with anxiety, panic, and depression. He plans a weekend getaway to Trakehner Inn for his wife birthday, but their Pocono mountain retreat evolves into a life-changing form of divine psychotherapy for Ben.
Amid the lush greenery of the lakeside property and hallowed spaces of Trakehner Inn, prayers are answered and salvation delivered. Ben is not the first to come for a visit and find heavenly peace, nor will he be the last. The happy couple’s stay begins a new chapter at this spirited inn, where there’s always room for the grace of God.
Dear Billie is an inspirational story that balances faith with the unpredictability of life. Ours is not a perfect world, but faith brings hope, and the possibility of light, after even the darkest of days.
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I'd like to give you a complimentary copy of my new book, Dear Billie - Salvation in the Poconos, to read and, if you would be so inclined, to please review for your fans. The book is available at all the standard online stores like Amazon, B&N, iTunes, Kobo, and Smashwords. To download the book free from Smashwords (for any eBook format), please visit this link- https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/901330 and use the coupon code- VY63D .
Thank you so much for your time and may God bless you!
Ben