I love the marriage of convenience trope. Seriously, I can’t get enough of it. I think what I love most about it is seeing how different authors take it and do something special with it. And Melissa Jagears did just that with Romancing the Bride.
Widow Annie Gephart is trying to save her husband’s ranch. But her cowhands keep quitting, and raising her two children and running the household is hard enough. So she asks Marshal Jacob Hendrix to marry her and help run the ranch. Then just after they say their vows, they lose the land, leaving them with a humdinger of a problem.
This is one of the reasons I loved this book. Jacob is intent on honoring his vows even though his dream of running a ranch is dead. He treats Annie with respect and care. Even though he gets frustrated sometimes, he works to be a good husband and father. It’s a great reminder that love is more than a feeling, it’s how we treat people. He came to love Annie by appreciating her and reminding himself of his blessings. He shows such great dedication, especially with Annie’s children.
Annie struggles with grief throughout the novel, and I liked how she didn’t just get over her first husband overnight. Realistically, grief takes time. I was drawn into her struggle to move forward without disrespecting her husband’s memory. And then there’s her teenage daughter, Celia, who’s also suffering from grief and acting out as a result. Melissa Jagears does such a great job showing Annie’s struggle to be understanding and compassionate with her daughter while also maintaining boundaries.
Final Thoughts
It’s real, it’s heartfelt, and it’s poignant. But it’s not all romance, pent-up feelings, and broken dreams. There’s a mystery, intrigue, and a few laughs as Jacob tries to find cattle rustlers, stop a vandal, learn the truth behind Annie’s property, and corral a wayward pig. I highly recommend it!
Want a copy of Romancing the Bride for yourself? You can find it at Amazon, Books-A-Million, Barnes and Noble, and Christianbook.com.
For more Melissa Jagears, check out my review for her novel A Chance at Forever.
