Clean Romances discussion

I'm always looking for good books in this theme. Any suggestions?

Can I safely assume you have read Jane Austen? :)

Um, it's on the list. (she said sheepishly)

Yes (more sheepishly) I didn't look at your bookshelves. I'll give this some thought, but you probably have the one's I'll come up with!

Oh, Danielle, I think I will prove to be of even less use in your search. You have 2500+ books on your read shelf. "I'm not worthy!" :)

The Convenient Marriage and Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer. Are those already on your list? There may be other GH titles that aren't springing to my mind right now, but those are two of my favorites.

Both of my published books (The Crown of Anavrea and The Mercenary's Marriage) have marriage of convenience plots, if that is what you are looking for. :) I also like those kind of books, when they are written well. :)

To Have and To Hold by Josi Kilpack is a fun, LDS book with this theme.

Thanks for the recommendations!

Have you read the 'Love Comes Softly' series by Janette Oke?? Those are good. Also 'The Heavenly Surrender' by Marcia Lynn McClure is a good one. I love books about marrying for convenience and then falling in love. *sigh*

Donna Hatch's "The Stranger She Married" also deals with the "marriage of convenience" in her Regency romance.

"A Bride in the Bargain" by Deeanne Gist. It's loosely based on a true story, but definitely fits the bill. She has another one that sounds like a marriage of convenience book as well, but it's still on my "to read" list--"A Bride Most Begrudging."

The Convenient Groom by Denise Hunter is a cute contemporary clean (the three c's!) marriage of convenience story. I concur with the Gist suggestion. I think her books are considered Christian fiction, but they are not preachy in the least and they are well written.

I was just rereading The Ramshackle Knight recently. It is another clean marriage of convenience plot. Seeking Persephone is another similar one by Sarah M. Eden. I really enjoy her books. :) They are clean and interesting.

Joyce wrote: "Donna Hatch's "The Stranger She Married" also deals with the "marriage of convenience" in her Regency romance."
I loved that one. :)

Great! Thanks for all the recommendations. Love this theme.

Love LOVE LOVED Seeking Persephone!!! Just wish her books were in my library or available to buy online :( I would love to read her other books. I liked her writing style and the romance part was well done.

Rachel wrote: "I was just rereading The Ramshackle Knight recently. It is another clean marriage of convenience plot. Seeking Persephone is another similar one by Sarah M. Eden. I..."

How were you able to find either of these? I have searched and searched for them with no success.

Cortney wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I was just rereading The Ramshackle Knight recently. It is another clean marriage of convenience plot. Seeking Persephone is another similar one by Sa..."

I can't find anything by Sarah Eden nearby, either. Our library system has a Link+ program with most of the libraries in the Bay Area, but I still couldn't find a single book by that author! :(

The good news is, Sarah Eden is coming out with a brand new book, "Courting Miss Lancaster", in March 2010! If it does well (so everybody buy it! :-) ), her new publisher might reissue some of her past volumes.

Joyce wrote: "The good news is, Sarah Eden is coming out with a brand new book, "Courting Miss Lancaster", in March 2010! If it does well (so everybody buy it! :-) ), her new publisher might reissue some of her ..."

Oh Good to know!!!

Becki wrote: "Have you read the 'Love Comes Softly' series by Janette Oke?? Those are good. Also 'The Heavenly Surrender' by Marcia Lynn McClure is a good one. I love books about marrying for convenience and ..."

Me too! I think any books where the spouses fall in love after the wedding would work for my category post too!

Cortney wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I was just rereading The Ramshackle Knight recently. It is another clean marriage of convenience plot. Seeking Persephone is another similar one by Sa..."

Sorry, I forgot that she removed them from circulation because of her new contract with a different publisher.

As for "A Bride Most Begrudging," Amazon Kindle had this on free download a while back (it might still be free), and you can download it to your blackberry, Iphone or computer. It was a fun story!

If you can't find one of Sarah's books in your local library system, trying inter-library loans. For a couple of bucks I can get almost any book on the planet and they ship from all over the country.

I recently read Love Comes Softly by Janett Oke. It is really more a marriage of connivence story but I still liked it though I thought the ending was maybe a little anticlimactic though it was obvious that was what the author was going for.

I'm currently writing a book titled "A Marriage of Necessity" that I wish was finished. It's almost there. I'd hoped for an April release date but we've had to push it back a bit because of a new book marketing business venture I'm involved with. You may read a preview on my author's website Preview Page http://lindaboulanger.com/PreviewPage...

Linda-

I read your preview of your new book "A Marriage of Necessity"! I can't wait till you finish it. Thanks for sharing the link.

Tiffany
www.tifferzbookreview.blogspot.com

I read both "A Bride in the Bargain" and "A Bride Most Begrudging" by Deeanne Gist. The second one was the better of the two IMHO.

"Seeking Persephone" by Sarah M. Eden is one of my most favorite marriage of convenience stories.

Also, try the "Magic of Ordinary Days." A little slow, but a lovely story.

Katie wrote: "A Bride in the Bargain" by Deeanne Gist. It's loosely based on a true story, but definitely fits the bill. She has another one that sounds like a marriage of convenience book as well, but it's sti..."

Not sure if this is the proper place to suggest it, but I just finished a cute book that would fall under the "marriage of convience" label. The Weaver Takes A Wife by Sheri Cobb Smith. Super cute story, really clean and lots of fun.

If there is a better way to suggest books, please let me know!

The Heavenly Surrender by Marcia Lynn McClure - mail order bride type marriage.
Shackles of Honor also my McClure - arranged marriage.
I loved both of these.

Seeking Persephone by Sarah M Eden
Kiss of a Stranger by Sarah M Eden
Imporatnace of Almacks by Denise Patrick
Heartless by Jaimey Grant
The Commanders Desire by Jennette Green

Check out my book - Marrying Max - pubbed by Samhain Press. It won the UK's Love Story of the year. A national award for the best category length romance in the UK voted for by readers. It's a cute fake engagement story.

Joyce wrote: "The Convenient Marriage and Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer. Are those already on your list? There may be other GH titles that aren't springing to my mind right now, bu..."

The other Georgette Heyer in this vein, and one of her best (only my opinion) is A Civil Contract.

Monya (aka Mary)

One of my favorites is Judith Lansdown's Balmoral's Bride.
(Not sure I spelled that right) It is a great story of an honorable man who marries the daughter of a friend when their family is in trouble. It is funny, romantic, sweet,there is even a mystery solved. Everything you want in a marriage of convenience.

Joyce wrote: "Donna Hatch's "The Stranger She Married" also deals with the "marriage of convenience" in her Regency romance."

I read this one because of your post. I loved it. Thanks!

Monya wrote: "Joyce wrote: "The Convenient Marriage and Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer. Are those already on your list? There may be other GH titles that aren't springing to my mind..."

One of Heyer's first novels was The Reluctant Widow. This is a different take on a marriage of convenience but I really like it. Heyer is the master.

Nanci wrote: "Monya wrote: "Joyce wrote: "The Convenient Marriage and Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer. Are those already on your list? There may be other GH titles that aren't spring..."

How funny! I'm re-reading The Reluctant Widow right now! (And thoroughly enjoying it all over again, I might add!)

Gosh, I forgot The Reluctant Widow, and I own it too. It's different and lots of fun. I must be about due for my 10 yearly re-reading of all Georgette's books. One of the few writers whose work can handle lots of re-reads.

Enjoy!

Monya (aka Mary)

Monya wrote: "Gosh, I forgot The Reluctant Widow, and I own it too. It's different and lots of fun. I must be about due for my 10 yearly re-reading of all Georgette's books. One of the few writers whose work can..."

I love that! 10 yearly re-reading. I think that is about what I do but I have never put it into words and thought. The other authors I have on the re-read rotation are Judith Lansdown and Lynn Kurland.

The Princess by Lori Wick it was a little preachy but I really liked it. Borrowed Light by Carla Kelly in LDS and not a marriage but she has to go live with him and cook for him, witch puts them together a lot. Archangel by Sharon Shin is an amazing romance if you get past all the Angel stuff. I don't think they get married till the end but they are told they have to and how they fall in love. It reminded my a little of P and P he is a jerk at first. I love almost all the other suggestions!

My book, WHERE THE WIND BLOWS, is a marriage of convenience, of sorts. It starts out as mistaken identity, until little Sarah’s future is jeopardized, and she may have to go back to the orphanage…

I will watch for it. I love historical romances.

My book, Beach Rental, is a marriage of convenience story, but with an extra twist or two.

I've enjoyed many books with that theme so it was inevitable that I would give it a whirl myself.

The Kiss of a Stranger. I just finished it- it's by Sarah M. Eden, and she is now like- one of my top ten authors. It made me giggle and do that embarrassing 'squee' sound I make whenever I find a book I really like.

I love The Kiss of a Stranger, Seeking Persephone, and her new release, Friends and Foes Seeking Persephone is another arranged marriage book. :)

Rachel wrote: "I love The Kiss of a Stranger, Seeking Persephone, and her new release, Friends and Foes Seeking Persephone is another arranged marriage book. :)"

I got the kindle sample for Friends and Foes, and I do believe that I shall buy it tomorrow (said in a hilarious imitation of a British accent that leaves much to be desired)

Caroline - LOVE your books! Where the Wind Blows was amazing and so was Montana Dawn. I just ordered Texas Twilight on Amazon.
Katie - move A Bride Most Begrudging to the top of your "to read" list. It's one of my all time favorites.

Oh- Divine Deception as well as The Whispered Kiss and The Crimson Frost- all by Marcia Lynn Mcclure. Big fan.

Love everything Sarah writes, she's fantastic!