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An Indecent Marriage
Over 300,000 copies sold at first printing in 1987
Originally published as BRIGHT RIVER
REUNITED
The town of Bright River held too many sad memories for Jessica Portman. She’d returned for one reason– to oversee the takeover of her ailing father’s mill by a rival company. She intended to finalize the deal and go back to Italy.
Then she met the owner of J.C. Enterprises, Jack Chabrol– the boy she’d left behind. Only Jack was no longer a boy; he was a man– a man bent on revenge. He had never forgiven Jessica for leaving him to marry someone else, nor had he forgotten the love they’d once shared. Jack was determined to possess Jessica, and she had only one defense against his anger: her love.
Originally published as BRIGHT RIVER
REUNITED
The town of Bright River held too many sad memories for Jessica Portman. She’d returned for one reason– to oversee the takeover of her ailing father’s mill by a rival company. She intended to finalize the deal and go back to Italy.
Then she met the owner of J.C. Enterprises, Jack Chabrol– the boy she’d left behind. Only Jack was no longer a boy; he was a man– a man bent on revenge. He had never forgiven Jessica for leaving him to marry someone else, nor had he forgotten the love they’d once shared. Jack was determined to possess Jessica, and she had only one defense against his anger: her love.
149 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 1987
82 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Doreen Owens Malek
79 books66 followersaka Faye Morgan
{From Amazon} "I am Doreen Owens Malek, author of over forty books and lifelong fan of romantic fiction. I live in PA with my husband and college student daughter, a mini dachshund and a sun conyer parrot. I would like to tell you a little about myself.
I came to writing by a circuitous route, starting out as an avid reader of JANE EYRE and WUTHERING HEIGHTS and GONE WITH THE WIND and REBECCA and any other similarly themed books I could find. I first worked as a teacher and then graduated from law school when I desired a more lucrative and independent career. I had always been discouraged from pursuing a writing career by the volatile nature of the business and the relatively poor chance for success. But the realization that I needed a focus for the future encouraged me to do what I had always wanted to do. I sold my fledgling novel to the first editor who read it, and I have been writing ever since. I have written all types of books for all types of people, but my favorite literary pursuit is and always has been romance. Nothing is as rewarding as hearing from my readers, so please use my website to communicate your thoughts and criticisms, as I am always eager to learn from you.
A romance novel rarely disappoints me: in an uncertain world filled with tragedy and sadness, reading about an appealing woman finding a strong man to love her and share her life is the perfect escape. I like to read and write stories in which the main characters overcome obstacles to get together, and then stay together because their mutual devotion cannot be denied no matter what else is happening around them. They always HELP each other and reinforce the quaint but enduring notion that love conquers all - at least in the fictional universe of my imagination. So pull up a chair and take down a book- or pick up a Kindle- and join me in a world where the heroes are tough and headstrong but never boorish and the heroines are feminine and sympathetic but never helpless."
{From Amazon} "I am Doreen Owens Malek, author of over forty books and lifelong fan of romantic fiction. I live in PA with my husband and college student daughter, a mini dachshund and a sun conyer parrot. I would like to tell you a little about myself.
I came to writing by a circuitous route, starting out as an avid reader of JANE EYRE and WUTHERING HEIGHTS and GONE WITH THE WIND and REBECCA and any other similarly themed books I could find. I first worked as a teacher and then graduated from law school when I desired a more lucrative and independent career. I had always been discouraged from pursuing a writing career by the volatile nature of the business and the relatively poor chance for success. But the realization that I needed a focus for the future encouraged me to do what I had always wanted to do. I sold my fledgling novel to the first editor who read it, and I have been writing ever since. I have written all types of books for all types of people, but my favorite literary pursuit is and always has been romance. Nothing is as rewarding as hearing from my readers, so please use my website to communicate your thoughts and criticisms, as I am always eager to learn from you.
A romance novel rarely disappoints me: in an uncertain world filled with tragedy and sadness, reading about an appealing woman finding a strong man to love her and share her life is the perfect escape. I like to read and write stories in which the main characters overcome obstacles to get together, and then stay together because their mutual devotion cannot be denied no matter what else is happening around them. They always HELP each other and reinforce the quaint but enduring notion that love conquers all - at least in the fictional universe of my imagination. So pull up a chair and take down a book- or pick up a Kindle- and join me in a world where the heroes are tough and headstrong but never boorish and the heroines are feminine and sympathetic but never helpless."
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 8, 2012
The idea behind the story was good. Young lovers torn apart by an over-bearing father reunite and must overcome years of misunderstanding and hurt - I was on board. But Jack manipulating Jessica into a forced marriage lost me; I'll never understand the reasoning behind I love you and hate you, so I'll punish you by making you marry me and mistreating you. I know that there are real relationships like this, but I don't get it and I definitely don't want to fantasize about. Broken down: it was a good story with good characters but I've never been able to read emotionally abusive relationships as romances, even if the characters redeem themselves by changing their behaviors at the end.
November 9, 2021
Star crossed high school lovers torn apart by h’s father. 10’year separation. H blackmails h into a marriage. Grovels when he finds out the truth of their separation.
This was ok. It was too short to handle the complicated situation. I was left with a lot of questions.
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- no cheating or sharing
- OW drama - H is dating another woman when h comes back to town after 10 years - they meet at an event and the h’s assumptions cause some angst
- OM drama - H gets jealous
- 10 year separation - neither MC is celibate - not much time was spent on their activities during separation
- secret baby/miscarriage
- no dubcon
This was ok. It was too short to handle the complicated situation. I was left with a lot of questions.
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- no cheating or sharing
- OW drama - H is dating another woman when h comes back to town after 10 years - they meet at an event and the h’s assumptions cause some angst
- OM drama - H gets jealous
- 10 year separation - neither MC is celibate - not much time was spent on their activities during separation
- secret baby/miscarriage
- no dubcon
May 11, 2016
I love a romantic story that have a bit of hate between the main character.
But,
Jessica was just so meek while Jack was a big bully. I'd love it more if Jessica could knock the sense out of Jack but nope, she let herself into the hole. So I didn't feel much of a sympathy for her.
But,
Jessica was just so meek while Jack was a big bully. I'd love it more if Jessica could knock the sense out of Jack but nope, she let herself into the hole. So I didn't feel much of a sympathy for her.
January 14, 2013
Got this as a freebie and enjoyed it. Marriage for revenge - one of my favourite themes. Think the ending was a bit rushed but if I did not pay for it, I am not complaining.
July 7, 2018
I did not read any summery or review about this book or author. I randomly pick this book and I enjoyed every moment while I was reading this story about Jack and Jessica.
It is a story around the time, when there was no cell phone, Facebook or Instagram. When you go for a lunch or dinner, you don't ignore your friend by texting others.
Jack and Jessica were high school sweet heart. They were very much in love. Jack did not know Jessica came from a rich family. She did not have spoil brat gene. When her father found out about Jack, he forbid Jessica and told her to end their relationship. As usual, Jessica disobeyed her father and got pregnant by Jack. From here on, those two love- bird started their saddest lives. Jessica' dad gave her two options.. (1)If Jessica stayed with Jack, he will charged Jack for rape (even though both parties were responsible), or (2) Jessica will marry a guy that her father picked. She could divorce him after she gives birth (Jacks kid) .. Since Jessica did not want to harm Jack, she picked second option.
I on the other hand, could not blame her father. If you are a parent, you will always want your children to be happy. Jack dad's was an alcoholic. He and his mother worked their butt off to bring food on their table. So Jessica's dad thought it wasn't a good match for his eldest daughter. He was also a very proud man.
After 10 yrs later, Jack and Jessica crossed each other their path. Both had feeling for each other and their chemistry was very strong. In the end they dissolved their problems and lived happily ever after.
It is a story around the time, when there was no cell phone, Facebook or Instagram. When you go for a lunch or dinner, you don't ignore your friend by texting others.
Jack and Jessica were high school sweet heart. They were very much in love. Jack did not know Jessica came from a rich family. She did not have spoil brat gene. When her father found out about Jack, he forbid Jessica and told her to end their relationship. As usual, Jessica disobeyed her father and got pregnant by Jack. From here on, those two love- bird started their saddest lives. Jessica' dad gave her two options.. (1)If Jessica stayed with Jack, he will charged Jack for rape (even though both parties were responsible), or (2) Jessica will marry a guy that her father picked. She could divorce him after she gives birth (Jacks kid) .. Since Jessica did not want to harm Jack, she picked second option.
I on the other hand, could not blame her father. If you are a parent, you will always want your children to be happy. Jack dad's was an alcoholic. He and his mother worked their butt off to bring food on their table. So Jessica's dad thought it wasn't a good match for his eldest daughter. He was also a very proud man.
After 10 yrs later, Jack and Jessica crossed each other their path. Both had feeling for each other and their chemistry was very strong. In the end they dissolved their problems and lived happily ever after.
May 7, 2023
Sweet Love Story
Traditional love story. Written before books were overly sexual, it is a heartfelt story about second chance love. Well written and a quick read. Great for a day by the pool.
Traditional love story. Written before books were overly sexual, it is a heartfelt story about second chance love. Well written and a quick read. Great for a day by the pool.
March 25, 2018
I think I would have liked the redemption of the Hero to have been a little earlier in the book so he could grovelling more.
March 20, 2024
Nostalgia
One of those Mills and boon's stories.
Love, separation and found each other again :)
One of those Mills and boon's stories.
Love, separation and found each other again :)
February 15, 2013
Wow what a crushing story. I cried so much at times throughout & then especially at the end. Jessica & Jack, what a lovely & horrible time they've had. Talk about judging a book by its cover & by the sins of the parents, that's what her father did when it came to Jack. Dads an absolute tyrant.
The love that they had for each other from teanage years til now being 10 years later. Her father had a lot to do with their heartache. Poor Jack went through hell, when as it happens in most teanage love affairs, Jessica got pregnant. But Dad was not ever going to let her marry beneath her station, arranged a marriage for her, to someone she didn't even know. All to save face & then seperate the young lovers. The threats he makes against Jack, make Jessica do as daddy says,
When she has to return to home, which she hasn't done for 10 years, she is confronted by the past love & realises that she still loves Jack deeply. Only thing is Jack was spun a tale by her dad & believed him that she didn't really love him etc. That was Jack's first mistake. Jack put himself through hell thinking of her leaving him. Breaks Jessica's heart all over again 10 years later when she finds out what he went through. The rest that follows is years in the making, revenge & he serves it hot for them all.
Thing is though, he still & has always loved her. After all the grief Jack puts Jessica through, she still loves him & hopes the revenge will run its course & he'll truly come back to her. Realisation hits him like a tonne of bricks. Then finally all the truth comes out & as hes asking her to forgive him (while i'm crying my eyes out, making it hard to read) She says she already did & what he did came from the pain that her father & the past had caused him.
Then with declarations of love & some pretty hot & steamy happenings. By god I love a HEA & this delivered it in spades. The pain these characters had to live with, but the love, oh the love. Don't get me started, or I'll be crying again. Emotions a plenty, love, heartache, revenge, betrayal, blackmail, secrets, loss, hate & then to love again. I'm exhausted now thinking of all that they've been through.
The love that they had for each other from teanage years til now being 10 years later. Her father had a lot to do with their heartache. Poor Jack went through hell, when as it happens in most teanage love affairs, Jessica got pregnant. But Dad was not ever going to let her marry beneath her station, arranged a marriage for her, to someone she didn't even know. All to save face & then seperate the young lovers. The threats he makes against Jack, make Jessica do as daddy says,
When she has to return to home, which she hasn't done for 10 years, she is confronted by the past love & realises that she still loves Jack deeply. Only thing is Jack was spun a tale by her dad & believed him that she didn't really love him etc. That was Jack's first mistake. Jack put himself through hell thinking of her leaving him. Breaks Jessica's heart all over again 10 years later when she finds out what he went through. The rest that follows is years in the making, revenge & he serves it hot for them all.
Thing is though, he still & has always loved her. After all the grief Jack puts Jessica through, she still loves him & hopes the revenge will run its course & he'll truly come back to her. Realisation hits him like a tonne of bricks. Then finally all the truth comes out & as hes asking her to forgive him (while i'm crying my eyes out, making it hard to read) She says she already did & what he did came from the pain that her father & the past had caused him.
Then with declarations of love & some pretty hot & steamy happenings. By god I love a HEA & this delivered it in spades. The pain these characters had to live with, but the love, oh the love. Don't get me started, or I'll be crying again. Emotions a plenty, love, heartache, revenge, betrayal, blackmail, secrets, loss, hate & then to love again. I'm exhausted now thinking of all that they've been through.
June 16, 2012
I enjoyed this book a lot. Jessica and Jack were both sweet and lost. Jack is seeking revenge over the girl he loved and left him for "greener" pastures and the father who thought he was above him. Jessica is still nursing a broken heart after having to leave the boy she loved because her father was going to arrest him. Jessica comes back to town to finish the complete buy out of her fathers mill by none other than Jack the boy she left years earlier. He proposes an "indecent marriage" in order for her family to be taken care of. She really does not to marry him this way but is still in love with him and hopes that his appetite for revenge will lesson. But he treats her as if she is a prostitute sleeping with her than leaving and not letting her in. Two months of this has taken its toll on Jessica but she forgives him for everything knowing her does not know the truth and he is just angry. He is finally able to see what a bastard he is and is remorseful. He believes that she will never love him after the way he treated her. She gets him to see that she never stopped loving him and only left to protect him.
Personally that woman must love him deeply because if he would have pulled that on me. I would force him to hear me out until he believes me.
I love music and felt Hard to Love by Lee Brice works well.
Personally that woman must love him deeply because if he would have pulled that on me. I would force him to hear me out until he believes me.
I love music and felt Hard to Love by Lee Brice works well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2012
This book was damn depressing. I understand that there needs to be some kind of conflict for the couple to work thru, if its too easy than it's just boring. But for me, this one was just over-filled with way to much angst. And the H was just an ass thru most of the book, just plain mean. Other than that, it was well written with some good secondary charaters & Im sure there are lots of people out there that will enjoy it. It was just a tad to depressing for a romance for me personally, but I didnt hate it I just didn't love it.
August 29, 2019
I knew I was in trouble with this book when it had me crying from the first chapter. To me this was the story of two people who were soul mates and had to endure a sad heartache to find each other. It was such a great story. Jack broke my heart. I I was on his side the whole time. The ending will not disappoint you either. I highly recommend this book.
August 29, 2015
AN AWESOME STORYLINE
I loved this book, and read through it in a day. The characters are well written, and the storyline was fantastic. Jack thinks he wants revenge on Jessica for leaving him 10 years ago, but there are things he doesn't know. I would love a follow-up book just to see how these two are doing.
I loved this book, and read through it in a day. The characters are well written, and the storyline was fantastic. Jack thinks he wants revenge on Jessica for leaving him 10 years ago, but there are things he doesn't know. I would love a follow-up book just to see how these two are doing.
June 6, 2012
An emotional, sad tale that turns good. The end was a little abrupt it would have been nice to have an epilogue. Overall a really lovely story, great characters in a really great descriptive setting. I really liked it.
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Want to read
July 26, 2012Free on Amazon 07/25/2012.
June 29, 2015
Reasonable way to kill your time if you're not in the mood to read a 300+-page book.
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kindle-i-own-to-read
November 17, 2012Amazon Freebie 11/16/2012
November 28, 2012
another book very similar to a Mills and boons or harlequin novel. A cute little novel. super easy read....
February 4, 2013
Cute book, quick read. Enjoyed. Hero was an asshole though!
July 29, 2016
Good read!
Good read
Kinda of drawn out and left wondering. Nice book length as well look forward to more books by this author
Good read
Kinda of drawn out and left wondering. Nice book length as well look forward to more books by this author
August 12, 2012
Finally they worked it out. Great read!
August 2, 2012
very good. I want to read more of her books.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews