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 …
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.
Until the Look Inside Feature pops up, you can read the first chapter on Melissa’s website at: http://melissajagears.com/pretending-to-wed/
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“Affection, love, infatuation – they all give you hope that everything will be alright. But sometimes, you’re just not enough.
My heart broke for Corinne when she said those words. But I loved how her life was turned around and she experienced love when she wasn’t expecting it. Her history made her feel unworthy and a waste of people’s time but the turnaround in her life was nothing short of amazing.
Honorable Nolan! I admired the man he was. I enjoyed reading how he loved Corinne. They both were unloved by the people in their lives that were supposed to love them but it was sweet to read how they found each other and how God healed their lives.
Melissa Jaegars captivated me with this book. The twist of the story was amazing. The characters, lovely.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
I I adored everything about this story. What happens when you take two people who decide to marry for a business deal ? It’s not everyday that Corinne gets a proposal but I think she needed a way to save her health and business. I can’t imagine doing laundry by hand much less doing it to make a living. My heart went out to Corinne as her hands started to cramp up the more she worked.
Nolan has not had an easy time running the ranch since he lost a leg but he is determined to keep going. A will that has a specific clause directed at Nolan finds him scrambling to find a wife. It’s the perfect match as Nolan wants to keep the ranch and Corinne needs stability. What could possibly go wrong? I had to laugh as I witnessed the marriage between two unlikely people. Corinne is not one who shows affection and you can feel her uneasiness as they start their new lives together.
The author does a great job of making the time period realistic. I did enjoy learning about Corinne’s past and how it still affects her today. She hasn’t been the person that others think highly of. In fact her job as a laundress was thought to be looked down on. I wanted to scream when customers would come in demanding things and making Corinne feel unworthy.
Nolan was someone I really liked because he has a good heart. The author shows how a person who is handicapped can be productive at a job like everyone else. Going into the marriage Corinne and Nolan both believe they can make it work. What was special about the story was the unique and cleaver ideas that Corinne had to improve products. The author explains in her notes how she did a lot of research to make this part of the story authentic. I loved reading how excited Corinne was knowing she was capable of developing new products that would not only make money but give her confidence.
I won’t tell you anymore about the story because I want readers to experience the trials and triumphs this couple goes through. God never abandoned them and showed them how a Godly marriage looked liked. Will two people looking for trust, confidence and a marriage of convenience find love?
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Pretending to Wed is a lighthearted story about Nolan and Corinne. They are two people with physical limitations and circumstances that develop their need for each other. Surprising little twists and turns develop as they make a mutual decision to enter into a business partnership under the ruse of a legal marriage. The plan doesn’t quite go how either of them expected it to. Corinne and Nolan discover what truly matters and adjust to honor their new priorities.
This book introduces the best level of tension to make me worry at the right amount to become deeply concerned about the characters. I found myself thinking about the hero and the heroine while I drove or fixed meals, eager to return to the book and see how things turned out. I worried about Nolan’s leg, Corinne’s sore hands, the cousin determined to take over ownership of the ranch, if Nolan and Corinne could pull off the appearance of a marriage, and if they would ever get their intimate relationship figured out.
The author was intentional about communicating Christian values on the subject of marriage. She sends a message to single and married people alike about the pleasures as well as the challenges of the physical aspect of the marriage relationship. People who are struggling may learn from this book and also find inspiration.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
Travel back to a hot summer in 1884 in Wyoming Territory. Nolan Key is desperate, as the ranch he stood to inherit from his father will only pass to him if he marries within 3 months. Otherwise, his unbearable cousin Matt, whom his father always seemed to prefer over his own son, will own the spread.
Pretending to Wed is my first Melissa Jagears novel, but I will be on the lookout for more. I enjoyed the marriage of convenience trope. I liked how some of Nolan’s attitudes were due to his pain, but was amazed at the lengths to which he would go, to be self-sufficient.
I found it amazing to think that there were prosthetic limbs to be had way back then.
Corrine Stillwater, the town laundress, was as stubbornly self- sufficient as Nolan. She also lived with constant pain and was just as determined not to marry as Nolan.
I was happy to see the apparent growth in Uncle Matthias and the softening of some attitudes. Matt was so irritating and arrogant. He seemed to have few redeeming qualities. While Matt may have been two-dimensional, it made for a lighter read.
One thing that did frustrate me, was the unwillingness of either Nolan or
Corrine to be open about their feelings.
While part of a series, Pretending to Wed can stand alone well. Recommended for those who like light historical romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own, and no positive review was required.
The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover, and notice her left hand, so cute, and the color of her dress is vibrant!
What to do, two hurt individuals that have sworn off marriage, end up in a desperate situation that marriage and money can solve.
We get to see how this new life arrangement is about to work out, and then enter and entitled cousin, the one who may have had a chance to own the ranch.
Both Nolan, with his missing part of a leg, and Corinne with her hurting hands, have medical conditions, that would fell most people, but watch the perseverance here.
This is one sweet story to get lost in!
I received this book through Celebrate Lit and Utmost Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.
Two stubborn hearts determined never to marry find themselves making the business deal of a lifetime when they agree to a marriage of convenience.
Engaging, with strong protagonists that you can’t help but cheer for throughout. I loved Corinne’s innovative spirit, and her passion for creating things to improve the lives of herself and others. I admired her strong work ethic, and related to how hard it is to be the one asking for help. I loved how her situation gave her the opportunity to befriend other women, as there are so many terrific supporting characters many of whom are familiar faces from the previous book in the series.
Nolan is one of my favorite heroes, he is noble, and he can match Corinne in stubbornness. They have terrific chemistry, I loved how he stood up for her, and was determined to always stand by her and support her in her interests.
Overall, this was a fantastic story, the characters blew me away, there was terrific romantic tension and relationship building. I loved the fantastic friends that they both had, as well as how Corinne and Nolan’s relationship grew throughout the book, as they came to respect each other. Engaging and well written, I had a hard time putting it down. I went into this book having not already read the first book in the series, and I had no problem just jumping in, but I did notice that if you haven’t read the first book yet, then there are some spoilers, but it didn’t detract from me wanting to read Annie and Jacob’s story–like right now. Highly enjoyable read, that handles delicate topics well with faith centered answers, and a satisfying ending. Definitely recommend!
*This book does talk tactfully and honestly about the more physical side of marriage, so maybe wouldn’t recommend for younger readers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I always enjoy reading historical fiction because it is fun to learn about different time periods! Nolan and Corinne come together in an unusual way because they both have a need for marriage in order to continue their livelihoods. Nolan is the perfect gentleman and continually shows his love for Corinne. Nolan constantly puts others before himself and supports Corinne in all her unique endeavors. At that time, supporting a female in scientific activities was rare. With Nolan’s cousin threatening to reveal the couple’s secrets if they don’t bend to his wishes, Nolan and Corinne are faced with tough decisions. Melissa Jagears does a great job of resolving the story and writing a lovely happy ending! I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The only thing Corrine and Nolan doesn’t want to do is getting married. But she can’t go on the way she lives right now and he needs to get married to keep his ranch. What when you see marriage as a business deal? It seems easy but it is harder than expected.
Throw in attraction and an evil cousin and you have a great adventurous story.
I normally don’t read many books this long and at some points it’s a little too much the same but a twist in the story makes it worth it to keep reading. All with all an entertaining story.
Pretending to Wed is the second book in the Frontier Vows series and it is just as satisfying as the first book. Nolan Key and Corrine Stillwater are both likable characters who find they reluctantly need each other. After exhausting all other avenues, they end up in a marriage of convenience. As with all of Melissa’s books, there is some mystery afoot that keeps the reader turning pages to find out who done it as well as to watch the hero and heroine’s romance grow. I also liked seeing the characters from the first book; it’s always fun to run into old friends! This was a sun summer read that left a smile on my face at the end. I highly recommend!
*I received a free copy of this book from the author. The opinions stated in this review are entirely my own.
Prepare to settle in for several hours of pure reading pleasure with Melissa Jagears’ latest novel Pretending to Wed, Book 2 in her Frontier Vows series. Having read only one of her other published books, she is a fairly new-to-me author, but I plan to add the rest of her other novels to my ever-growing TBR list. She brings her characters to life with such substance and authenticity that you, the reader, feel like you are right in the scene with them. Not only was the banter between characters engaging and entertaining, but the individual thoughts they had were insightful, witty, and at times, heart-tugging and emotional.
I thought Nolan and Corinne’s relationship was written so beautifully. Although they each had their own reasons for agreeing to their marriage of convenience, the way
Ms. Jagears gradually revealed events of Corinne’s past gave the story an extra layer of substance, grit, and heartfelt emotion, along with spiritual lessons to be learned from forgiveness, self-worth in the eyes of God, and following his path for one’s life.
If you like marriage of convenience stories, Pretending to Wed is a must-read with its selfless and swoon-worthy hero, smart and determined heroine, palpable romantic tension that leaps off the page, and entertaining secondary characters.
I was given a copy of this book for free and was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Pretending to wed is the first book by Melissa Jeargas I have read.
Nolan and Corinne,two people in tough situations thrown together in the plot and you can’t help noticing them.
The humour in this book made me laugh.
Melissa writes well. I love how she made this novel clean. This is a Christian fiction novel.
I felt emotions that tugged at my heartstrings over the pains Nolan experienced over his hurting leg. It was so real,I wanted to console him from the pages.
Only a good book does that!
Theme of friendship was largely explored here. I love Annie and Jacob. I wish we had more of their type in the real world.
The secondary characters in this book endeared themselves to me. I had to watch out for my favourites especially Spencer and Timothy.
The book cover is captivating and the book title fits the plot in this novel.
I learnt from this book that when you submit your wills,problems and difficulties to God,he takes charge and things falls in place when God is in control.
I enjoyed this book. Truly,love covers all and the truth when said, will make the person free.
The little note the author attached at the end of this story gave me further glimpse to the purpose of this book. I am glad I read the book to the end and finding that little note was a bonus surprise!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.
Nothing more fun to read than a story about a “pretend” marriage. The characters try their best to stick to their commitments, but life often gets in the way! I loved most of the characters, but can’t say that for Nolan’s scoundrel cousin Matt. What an absolute jerk! Nolan Key and Corinne Stillwater have decided on a marriage/business arrangement with a 65/35 split. Will it work the way they plan? This is a first read for me with Author Melissa Jagears. I plan to check out her other books for sure!
Melissa Jagears’s books are aways good but “Pretending to Wed” is my favorite book so far but I say that with all of her books.
I knew I would love Pretending to Wed because of the cover, the setting was the FRONTIER, marriage of convenience and the first page I was laughing and I was hooked!!
Corrine and Nolan are our wonderful main characters. Well, not always wonderful because they do create a lot of their own problems.
What I love the most about Pretending to Wed is the way she shows Gods love throughout the book. I catch myself looking at my Christian life and I draw strength from her words and see where I need to change…even repent.
If you like marriages of convenience, fast paced but you don’t won’t it to end, bad guys, frontier living and God’s love for us sinners. Then this book is for you.
I highly recommend reading all of her books.. you’ll surely be blessed.
*I received a complimentary copy from the author and I was not obligated to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
Snuggling up with a good book on the eve of 4th of July was a good idea, especially when I picked this one up to read. Not your typical marriage of convenience story in so many ways, it kept my attention. The groom and the bride had reasons to need to marry, yet both did not come without baggage. I felt like this book addressed the struggles that people would have in this situation and yet, was not inappropriate in any way.
I loved how the author wove in women inventing and the struggles they faced at that time, as well as physical handicaps. This well rounded story is one you will not want to miss.
I obtained this book from the publisher. The opinions contained herein are my own.
When you get a Melissa Jagears book you know you’re in for a treat!
I loved the humor that this author adds in her books and I think I fell in love with Nolan at some point and times in the story. “Sigh”
It’s not because of his good looks I can tell you that. I think it’s for his stubborn strength and determination to fight for what he thinks is rightfully his. I don’t blame him for that. I would too!
Actually, they’re both about as stubborn as you know what.
There were time I wanted to smack them both as I felt that God has led them together for a reason and they’re both too blind to see it. I wanted to shout “wake up!” See what’s right in front of you!”
I didn’t finish right away. I wanted to savor this book for as long as I could. I just hate saying goodbye to my friends but I know that I can always reread this book. It’s well worth it!
Melissa just has that certain spark to her books. They come from the heart and her stories are always well thought out. It’s her special style of writing.
I enjoyed every moment of this book. I think I’ll order the print copy when it comes available because this book is a keeper in my book!!
I especially love the cover. I laughed because she had her fingers crossed behind her back. What’s she up to?
You’ll just have to read this book to find out!
I highly recommend this book!
My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of this book.
I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Who doesn’t love a good marriage of convenience story? I always get such a kick out of watching the hero and heroine with all of their good intentions to marry JUST for the convenience of it. This book was no exception. I loved getting to “watch” Nolan and Corinne get to know each other better. I really loved these two characters and was rooting for them from the very start (even though I did want to slap both of them several times along the way for being such idiots). 🙂 I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to see what Melissa Jagears has in store for us next.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Pretending to wed is another high quality story from Melissa Jagears. This frontier romance ticks all the marriage of convenience boxes. I adore her realistic take on marriage, the ups and downs included. This story is sweet, tender, and just all-around fun.
I found the leads to be unique and endearing. Corinne is a working woman, despite the work being bad for her health. She is independent and business-minded, but acknowledges where she falls short. Nolan is such a fun hero. He is concerned about his legacy and the ranch that he owns – especially when ownership of that ranch is called into question by his own father’s will. Both have physical limitations that give them both a unique perspective, but I love how they both come to realize those limitations don’t actually hold them back, but make them stronger. Neither can see the admirable qualities in themselves, but both see it in the other. There are many stumbling blocks but also humorous moments to reach the happily ever after.
The secondary characters, some of which were main characters in book one, are all endearing. I love how Jagears shows that even during this time period, people were still human. The friendships were precious but seem totally real.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and this series, and I’m so glad that there is going to be a book three!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel; all opinions in this review are my own.
Book two of the Frontier Vows series, I encourage you to start with Book 1, Romancing the Bride. Both of them are really good!
Author Melissa Jaegers has written a story of marriage for convenience, not for love. Both Corinne and Nolan have physical injuries that are causing emotional pain. Can they save the ranch together? Strong, well developed characters who are intelligent and hard working will draw you into the story right from the start. And it was fun to visit the same town again and see some of the characters from the first book.
If you enjoy Christian historical fiction then you’ll enjoy Pretending to Wed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
They are thrown together because he needs a wife or will lose his ranch and she needs out of the laundry business because her hands can’t take it. But can they convince his cousin that it is the real deal and not a business decision? I thought this was a fun book as I kept rooting for them to win against that cad of a cousin! But the book also delves into the need for forgiveness and overcoming the past as both Corinne and Nolan have pasts that have messed them up and current physical limitations that they need to overcome. Another aspect I enjoyed reading in this book is about Corinne’s inventions – she loves tinkering and trying to come up with new inventions.
I so enjoyed reading this book and I recommend it! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
With realistically flawed, endearing, and colorful characters and a creative marriage of convenience premise, Melissa Jagears tickled my fancy with her newest book, Pretending to Wed. Nolan was such a caring hero who seemed a little overwhelmed with industrious, inventive Corinne. They both had trials and problems in the past that they were striving to overcome. It was great fun seeing their relationship blossom from “business partners” to more.
Themes of faith, trust, and forgiveness of self and others are woven into the story and give it added depth and dimension.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own.