Romancing the Bride

I have enjoyed Jagears’ mail-order bride stories, so this marriage of convenience novel sounded similar without being too close to her first series. In this book, I really enjoyed the characters and their slow process of learning about each other after their marriage while struggling with obstacles they had not anticipated. Annie is caught in a difficult position: remarry before her “appropriate” mourning period is over or lose her late husband’s ranch. Her difficult teen daughter, an entire ranch of cowboys who quit and leave her with little knowledge of cattle, and taxes coming due all make the picture bleak. Jacob is a true hero—while by no means perfect, he tries to do the right thing and put others first regardless of his feelings. Treating them with love and kindness, he counts others a blessing even when they are difficult or not as expected. The theme of healing runs through this book: the process itself, giving others the space they need to move through that process, of letting go and moving on when it's time, even if we sometimes don't feel it's time. Grief is a tricky animal, and the novel does a good job of realistically portraying the highs and lows, along with the guilt that can accompany surviving the worst. This is an outstanding book. Though not an easy read in some places, it is certainly a beautiful one that highlights the power of forgiveness, healing, and love in a world broken by sin. I highly recommend it for older teens and up, especially those who enjoy marriage of convenience stories where true love is a possibility, or those who like a dash of mystery in their books. I received an advanced copy of this book from the author but was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are both honest and my own.

Melissa Jagears’ Romancing the Bride is an extremely enjoyable version of the marriage of convenience story. Annie proposes to Jacob out of desperation. She just wanted to save the land that she and her first husband ranched before his untimely death and keep the home that her children knew. Jacob is an honorable man and a swoony hero. As with other marriage of convenience stories, Jacob and Annie are not in love when they marry. Jacob soon learns that he wants to woo his wife and make her fully his. Add to this some unsavory goings-on in town and an unruly teenage daughter and you have a precious story of overcoming obstacles on the way to real love. Melissa Jagears is a master at presenting deep spiritual lessons through the characters that are an integral part of the story and are not overly preachy. She has done this beautifully in Romancing the Bride with reflections on forgiveness, healing, and trusting God to work out situations according to His design. If you like to have your heart stirred while reading, I highly recommend this book. Will your heart be stirred by the sweet kisseds shared between Jacob and Annie? Or will your heart be stirred in a different way by the loving God who comforts our sorrows and forgives us to bring us to himself? Either way, this book is a winner! I received a copy of the ebook from the author. All opinions in the review are my own.

Let me begin - This is an amazing book! For those who desire to read Christian Romance, this ranks in the best of the best. It covers multiple Biblical themes such as rebellion, the presence of evil, the consequences of sin, forgiveness, the need for salvation, and several more. It begins with Annie and her desperate situation. She's recently widowed but she doesn't have time to grieve as the life she knows is crumbling around her. She's on the verge of losing the ranch while simultaneously trying to handle her increasingly rebellious daughter. She realizes that she has to make a quick decision - sell the ranch or marry someone who can help her. But, there's only one man she can see herself living with and she has no idea how he'll respond since they're essentially strangers. Jacob feels inadequate as the town marshal since just about everything he tries to do ends in failure. He can't find the cattle rustlers or the town vandals, yet how is he supposed to do that when the mayor has him doing menial jobs such as enforcing a sidewalk rule? Therefore, when a widow he barely knows proposes to him so that she can save her ranch, his dreams of ranching are rekindled. Yet, is she enough to entice him? Can he grow to love her and her children? Unfortunately, their new relationship is immediately threatened when they learn that the ranch has been foreclosed on based on an unknown loan and the increasing belligerent behavior of Annie's daughter. The rest of the book details their daily struggle to make sense of what God is trying to teach them and hold on to their faith. There's a ton going on in this book and I applaud the author for being brave enough to write it. It covers more than simply Annie and Jacob. It covers Celia, Annie's daughter, and her struggles. It also features the lives of Bryant and his wife, Leah. Their secondary story should be a warning that sin has consequences, yet if we are to live like Christ, we are compelled to forgive. At the end, I was reminded of several parables that Jesus taught. Romance - PG / Kisses and references to a husband / wife relationship Language - PG / references to a character's foul language Violence - Warning - there is violence done to a character and although it's carefully written, it's not glossed over. It highlights the depravity people can stoop to. My rating - 5 stars