It’s a match made in heaven…as long as they don’t fall in love! The ranch Nolan Key has spent decades working for, even lost a leg for,
is now his—or at least it should be. But an absurd clause in his
father’s will means he’s in danger of losing the place to his lazy,
undeserving cousin. Nolan finds himself scrambling to save his home—by
proposing marriage to the town laundress. Corinne Stillwater’s hands have betrayed her. Numb from hours of doing the same work over and over, her hands will only heal, according to the town doctor, if she gives up the laundry and marries. But she’s been stung repeatedly by love before, so that is one remedy she can’t swallow.
When Nolan offers Corinne a marriage in name only, how can she refuse? Such a partnership could give them the security they seek, but what if the ranch isn't as secure as they believe, and their lives—and dreams—aren't quite as compatible as they thought?
Pretending to Wed is the second book in the Frontier Vows Series by award-winning Christian romance author Melissa Jagears. If you like marriage of convenience stories that deal with the nitty-gritty of making a relationship work, you’ll love this authentic romance set in a time gone by that tackles issues still relevant for today.
...my thoughts...
Melissa Jagears is a pro when it comes to writing about marriages of convenenience on the old frontier. Pretending to Wed, book two in her Frontier Vows series is no exception. Her style is entertaining and her characters are steadfast in their convictions. Nolan and Corinne Key both have reasons for not marrying so their arrangement is suitable to them both.
Nolan had a mere three months to wed or lose the ranch to his dandyfied cousin Matt. Corinne suffered with constant pain from doing the only job available for a woman alone to subsist on. Pain slowed her down and she was behind on the rent for her laundry business. She was in danger of losing everything. It seemed natural that the two join forces and wed from a business standpoint. No need for romance. No entanglements. A visit from greedy Mat and his finacee Lilith was all it took to push Matt to a proposal.
Corinne had been thwarted in her past relationships and after warding off several proposals from the single men in town she gained the reputation of being against marriage. She met her match in Nolan, a man who supported her uncanny ability to create marvelous inventions. She kept pace with him on the ranch, working side by side while keeping up with the house and her tinkering projects. It would be hard to keep a partnership like this purely business.
I enjoyed this book. Instead of a lonely man and a wilting female, we have Matt and Corinne. Following their journey, with its twists and turns was as entertaining as it was in showing what determination and faith can lead to for a good marriage. This is the stuff that settled the west. This is the type of story that our great grandparents might have told if we turned back time.
A great book!
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