If you know me, you know that I'm a sucker for the "marriage of convenience" trope. (I even wrote about my love for it here.) So when the opportunity to review A Convenient Christmas Wedding presented itself, well, I couldn't resist!
A Convenient Christmas Wedding
(Frontier Bachelors #5)
by Regina Scott
by Regina Scott
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 288 pages
November 8th 2016 by Love InspiredThe Marriage Agreement
Proposing a marriage of convenience to a rugged logger is the boldest move of Nora Underhill's sheltered life. In return for Simon Wallin's protection from her overbearing family, the unassuming seamstress offers prime frontier farmland. But their paper marriage changes when Nora's greedy brother tries to draw her back into a life of drudgery. Her only option: move to Simon's farm, and into the center of his loving, unruly family.
Years of shouldering responsibility have left Simon cynical and reserved. But little by little, Nora's warmth opens his shuttered heart to joy. With their marriage claim under threat, can this practical arrangement blossom over the holidays…and become a love for all seasons?
Fifth book in the Frontier Bachelors series, following The Bride Ship, Would-Be Wilderness Wife, Frontier Engagement, and Instant Frontier Family. Frontier Bachelors: Bold, rugged, and bound to be grooms.
"FIVE STARS! . . . I cannot recommend this novel highly enough." — Huntress Book Reviews
"This is a sweet marriage-of-convenience tale and Scott’s love of history is apparent. Along with the fully fleshed out storyline and characters, the vivid descriptions and balance between the hero and heroine make this an engaging and truly enjoyable read. The drama will keep the reader turning the pages until the end, which comes all too soon." — Leslie L. McKee from RT Book Reviews
Let me just say, I'm beginning to rethink Love Inspired! I recently read Sarah Varland's Cold Case Witness, part of the Love Inspired Suspense line, and I was surprised by how much I liked it. And now I've enjoyed A Convenient Christmas Wedding, a Love Inspired Historical novel. I have to say, Love Inspired has upped its game, so kudos to Harlequin for that!
A Convenient Christmas Wedding focuses on Nora and Simon. Nora moved to Washington to escape her brother and his wife, but when she learns they plan to move to the territory as well, she only has one option: marriage. I love that she proposes to Simon, something unconventional today but practically unheard of back then. It adds a nice twist to the familiar marriage of convenience plot line.I really enjoyed reading Nora and Simon's story. It reminded me a bit of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers—no, the plot isn't too similar, but the setting is. And I could easily see the Wallin boys fitting in with Seven Brides' Pontipee brothers.
The romance between Nora and Simon slowly builds, leading to a satisfying conclusion. The book also includes a bit of mystery surrounding Nora's brother and his insistence that he take care of her. I enjoyed the resolution, which made perfect sense, though it did come about a little abruptly.
A Convenient Christmas Wedding is the fifth book in Regina Scott's Frontier Brides series, and, while it alludes to events from some of the other books, it can easily be read as a stand alone novel. I really enjoyed A Convenient Christmas Wedding—it's the perfect book for a winter night. 4 stars.
Tour Giveaway
- US only
- Ends November 18th
Other Books in the Series
The Bride Ship
SWEETHEART REUNION
What was his brother's widow–his first love–doing on a ship full of prospective brides headed out West? Clay Howard had been tasked with escorting the Boston belle home, but he didn't anticipate Allegra being so strong-willed–or that he'd wind up traveling with her just to keep her from leaving without him!
Allegra Banks Howard isn't going to let Clay interfere with her plans for a new life with her daughter on the frontier. True, Allegra needs his wilderness savvy, but if Clay thinks he can rekindle what they once shared, he had better think again. Because risking her heart for a second chance at being his bride isn't something she'll undertake lightly...
Frontier Bachelors: Bold, rugged–and bound to be grooms
Would-Be Wilderness Wife
The Kidnapped Bride
Drew Wallin's youngest brother is determined to see him married—so he kidnaps Drew a prospective bride. Not only is Catherine Stanway beautiful, but she's a nurse who can help their ailing mother. Drew doesn't have time for distractions—he's too busy watching over his fatherless siblings. Yet he's drawn to this woman who carries loss and pain equal to his own.
Catherine has traveled West to use her nursing skills to save lives, not to find a husband. She knows if she gives in to Drew's matchmaking family, she'll be risking her already bruised heart. But maybe it's time she takes the ultimate risk to win the groom she didn't know she wanted!
Frontier Bachelors: Bold, rugged—and bound to be grooms
Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Harlequin
Frontier Engagement
(Frontier Bachelors #1)
by Regina Scott
by Regina Scott
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 288 pages
November 1st 2014 by Love InspiredSWEETHEART REUNION
What was his brother's widow–his first love–doing on a ship full of prospective brides headed out West? Clay Howard had been tasked with escorting the Boston belle home, but he didn't anticipate Allegra being so strong-willed–or that he'd wind up traveling with her just to keep her from leaving without him!
Allegra Banks Howard isn't going to let Clay interfere with her plans for a new life with her daughter on the frontier. True, Allegra needs his wilderness savvy, but if Clay thinks he can rekindle what they once shared, he had better think again. Because risking her heart for a second chance at being his bride isn't something she'll undertake lightly...
Frontier Bachelors: Bold, rugged–and bound to be grooms
(Frontier Bachelors #2)
by Regina Scott
by Regina Scott
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 288 pages
March 1st 2015 by Love InspiredThe Kidnapped Bride
Drew Wallin's youngest brother is determined to see him married—so he kidnaps Drew a prospective bride. Not only is Catherine Stanway beautiful, but she's a nurse who can help their ailing mother. Drew doesn't have time for distractions—he's too busy watching over his fatherless siblings. Yet he's drawn to this woman who carries loss and pain equal to his own.
Catherine has traveled West to use her nursing skills to save lives, not to find a husband. She knows if she gives in to Drew's matchmaking family, she'll be risking her already bruised heart. But maybe it's time she takes the ultimate risk to win the groom she didn't know she wanted!
Frontier Bachelors: Bold, rugged—and bound to be grooms
Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Harlequin
(Frontier Bachelors #3)
by Regina Scott
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 288 pages
August 1st 2015 by Love Inspired
School Bells and Wedding Bells
James Wallin's family is depending on him to find a schoolteacher for their frontier town. Alexandrina Fosgrave seems to be exactly what he needs to help fulfill his father's dream of building a new community. If only James could convince her to accept the position.
Alexandrina has traveled west to seek a fresh start, not to find a groom. But after she's stranded in the wilderness with James, he offers her his hand in marriage to protect her reputation. Both are afraid to fall in love, but maybe an engagement of convenience could make them reconsider…
Frontier Bachelors: Bold, rugged—and bound to be grooms.
Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Harlequin
Instant Frontier Family
(Frontier Bachelors #4)
by Regina Scott
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 288 pages
January 5th 2016 by Love Inspired
LITTLE MATCHMAKERS
Maddie O'Rourke's orphaned half brother and half sister have arrived safely in Seattle—with a man they hope she'll wed! Though Michael Haggerty's not the escort she planned for, Maddie allows him to work off his passage by assisting in her bakery…and helping care for her siblings. But she'll never risk her newfound independence by marrying the strapping Irishman—or anyone else.
In New York, Michael ran afoul of a notorious gang. Traveling west was a necessity, not a choice. The longshoreman grew fond of his young charges, and now he's quickly becoming partial to their beautiful sister, too. So when danger follows him, threatening Maddie and the children, he'll do anything to protect them—and the future he hopes to build.
Frontier Bachelors: Bold, rugged–and bound to be grooms
Frontier Bachelors: Bold, rugged–and bound to be grooms
Besides her novels, Regina Scott has had published three Regency novellas ("The June Bride Conspiracy" in His Blushing Bride, "Sweeter Than Candy" in A Match for Mother, and "A Place by the Fire" in Mistletoe Kittens). Two of her novels, A Dangerous Dalliance and The Twelve Days of Christmas, have been translated into German. A Dangerous Dalliance and The Incomparable Miss Compton have been translated into Italian. Starstruck and Perfection have been translated into Dutch.
Regina Scott and her husband are the parents of two sons. They reside in the Tri-Cities of southeast Washington State and are members of the Church of the Nazarene. Born in 1959 and raised in the Seattle area, Regina Scott is a graduate of the University of Washington. She comes by her writing talent naturally--both her parents are excellent writers in their vocations as teacher and electrical technician. Her mother envisioned the plot for "Sweeter Than Candy," the novella which was written as a tribute to her.
Regina Scott is a devout Christian and a decent fencer; owns a historical, fantasy, and science fiction costume collection that currently takes up over a third of her large closet; and has been known to impersonate an independent consultant specializing in risk communication.
November 6th: Launch
November 7th:
November 8th:
November 9th:
November 10th:
November 11th:
November 13th: Grand Finale
Thanks, Becky, for the lovely review and for being part of the tour. Happy Thanksgiving and a merry Christmas!
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