'His Convenient Wife' by Ruth Ann Nordin is a heartwarming tale of a marriage of convenience between Stan and Harriet, who come together to raise Stan's adopted daughter, Maggie. Despite initial reservations and past insecurities, they overcome their obstacles to become the family that Maggie needs. The writing style is sensitive, gentle, and beautiful, with discreetly portrayed romantic scenes that always stay within the boundaries of marriage. The story moves forward logically and with great depth, allowing readers to catch up on storylines from previous books in the series.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, with complex relationships that evolve throughout the story, though some portrayals, particularly of the child, raised concerns among readers.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is gentle and sensitive, though some dialogues, particularly those from the child character, may feel inconsistent to readers.

Plot/Storyline:

The story revolves around a marriage of convenience that evolves as characters learn to confront their insecurities and embrace new relationships, particularly within a family setting.

Setting:

Set in a rural context, the environment enhances the family dynamics central to the story.

Pacing:

The pacing is mostly fluid and supports the narrative's emotional depth, though inconsistencies can disrupt the flow.

Notes:

Maggie, a three-year-old, fluctuates between baby talk and advanced adult conversations, which is unrealistic for her age.

Stan marries Harriet to help raise his adopted daughter, Maggie, showing a theme of family and love.

Harriet initially hesitates to marry Stan as he once loved her twin sister, but her compassion for Maggie drives her to accept.

The book explores the development of love between Stan and Harriet despite their past insecurities and relationships.

The author, Ruth Ann Nordin, is known for her sensitive portrayal of romance within the context of marriage.

Some readers found Maggie's dialogue unrealistic for a child her age, which sparked criticism from a preschool teacher.

The story includes elements of unrequited love, a marriage of convenience, and family dynamics.

The narrative provides a connection to characters from Nordin's previous works, appealing to fans of her Nebraska series.

Readers appreciated the depth and heartwarming aspects of the story, despite some reservations about character dialogues.

The book is described as engaging and heartwarming, capturing the journey of its characters.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

There are medium content warnings regarding themes of parental abandonment, child behavior, and mature relationship dynamics.

Has Romance?

There is a high level of romance present in His Convenient Wife, featuring the development of passionate relationships between the main characters.

implied steam level

From The Publisher:

Harriett Larson has been in love with Stan Craftsman for years, but he's never paid any attention to her. Instead, his focus has always been on her twin sister. So when Stan proposes to Harriett, she knows it's only because he needs a mother for the little girl he recently adopted.

And while her first reaction is to turn him down, she can't bring herself to turn her back on an innocent child who needs her. So it is with reluctance she agrees to marry him. But only on one condition. Theirs will never be anything more than a marriage of convenience. She will not be vulnerable to him ever again.

But as soon as Stan marries her, he regrets the deal he made. She's not the wallflower he thought her to be. In fact, she's much more appealing than her sister. The problem is, how can he convince her of that so they can turn their marriage of convenience into something much more?

What can you read after
His Convenient Wife?

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His Convenient Wife

Ruth Ann Nordin