Pretending to Wed

Nolan Key has lost his leg, his mother, his father, and now he's on the verge of losing his ranch - all because his father's will stipulates that he must be married in order to keep it. Otherwise, it goes to his less than ethical cousin. Desperate to find a solution, he takes the advise of his close friends and approaches the town laundress with a business proposition. Corinne Stillwater has been betrayed more than she wants to think about. Now, with the opportunity to run her own laundry business, she is struggling with her hands and the doctor says that she has to quit doing the repetitive motions that laundry requires. He says she should get married - as if that's an option after all of her betrayals. Yet, when Nolan points out their mutual desperation and offers her exactly what she asks for, she agrees - with the rule of no romantic nonsense. But, as they get to know each other better, can she hold him to that rule forever? And what will happen as Nolan's cousin, Matt, keeps hanging around looking for a way to claim the ranch anyway? What follows is an examination of two people who have both physical limitations and emotional insecurities. Each are flawed and seeking to overcome their flaws through human effort. What they learn is that God is the one who directs their lives and it's God who can solve their problems. If only they will trust God to step in and take charge. Nolan and Corinne also suffer from self imposed restrictions that lead to a breakdown in communication. In an effort to fulfill their end of the bargain, the communication between them suffers. Fortunately, others in their lives help intervene. Themes - marital intimacy, trust in God to solve problems, self-forgiveness for past sins, personal integrity Romance - PG / kissing and closed door intimacy Language - PG / clean My rating - 4 stars

A marriage of convenience? What if she unwittingly fell for him? Nothing good would come of that! This story will grab your attention and make sure you don’t quit reading until you have reached the end! Three months to marry or you lose the ranch - the last will and testament that makes one wonder about the sanity of the deceased father. A business arrangement perhaps....but can it really work? Nolan is not interested in marriage, but cannot get the will changed. Corinne, the local laundress, needs to find a way to earn a living that doesn’t use her hands. Marriage is not for her, but a mutually beneficial contract would work. Thus a marriage of convenience takes place, neither of them expecting the changes this decision will bring. Between laughing out loud and wanting the shake sense into them both, I thoroughly enjoyed this well written book. I particularly appreciated the research into patents and how they worked in 1884. It was most interesting to consider the difficulties and joy that came from a design that performed as the inventor envisioned it would. This ARC was received through Utmost Publishing, BookFunnel and CelebrateLit. The comments and impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.

Corinne and Nolan agree to be business partners in a marriage of convenience, I loved seeing them become more❤ I appreciate how Melissa Jagears writes intelligent, flawed, characters that face real challenges. She does not shy away from adult, relationship issues but works through them with faith, friendship, forgiveness, and trust. A little bit of blushing too. It was fun to see characters from Romancing the Bride again, especially young Spencer. A very enjoyable, entertaining story!