For the Girls' Sake

by Janice Kay Johnson

Lynn Chanak is living the nightmare every mother fears. There was a mix-up at the hospital. Her baby isn't hers. And the only way she can have the baby she gave birth to and keep the child she loves is to marry Adam Landry—a man she doesn't even know.

Adam was devastated when his Jenny died. And his only consolation was their daughter. But as much as he loves Rose, he can't stand to think that the child Jenny carried for nine months will grow up without him. If marrying a stranger is what it takes to have both his daughters, then that's what he'll do. Even though he still loves Jenny.…

Genres: Harlequin, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Marriage Of Convenience, Clean Romance, Family Drama

229 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Janice Kay Johnson is the author of over a hundred books for children and adults. Her first four published romance novels were coauthored with her mother, also a writer who has since published mysteries and children's books on her own. These were "sweet" romance novels, the author hastens to add; she isn't sure they'd have felt comfortable coauthoring passionate love scenes!

Janice graduated from Whitman College with a B.A. in history and then received a master's degree in library science from the University of Washington. She was a branch librarian for a public library system until she began selling her own writing.

She has written six novels for young adults and one picture book for the read-aloud crowd. Rosamund was the outgrowth of all those hours spent reading to her own daughters, and of her passion for growing old roses. Two more of her favorite books were historical novels she wrote for Tor/Forge. The research was pure indulgence for someone who set out intending to be a historian!

Janice is divorced and has raised her two daughters in a small, rural town north of Seattle, Washington. She's an active volunteer and board member for Purrfect Pals, a no-kill cat shelter, and foster kittens often enliven a household that already includes a few more cats than she wants to admit to!

Janice loves writing books about both love and family — about the way generations connect and the power our earliest experiences have on us throughout life. Her Superromance novels are frequent finalists for Romance Writers of America RITA® awards. Along with her books for Harlequin, Janice has written the Cape Trouble series of romantic suspense novels, and is about to launch a new series, Desperation Creek, set in rural eastern Oregon.

Reviews

[Jacqueline J]

Well done story of babies switched at birth. I liked the development of how they finally decided to get married. The emotions seemed realistic. There was one thing that hit a pet peeve of mine. The hero had to be shown realizing his dead wife wasn't as wonderful as he remembered. I don't know why authors always have to do that. Why can't a hero get over a perfectly nice wife and move on? It did seem as if the 2 girls were written more as if they were 5 instead of 3 but on the whole I liked the story.

[Sandhya]

this one was interesting because the premise itself is interesting. i finished it quick and like would probs read again. its more of an emotional romance then it is anything else, because a lot of the book is about parenting. its dece but i wouldnt call it romantic but also i could see it being a lifetime movie.

[Nicky]

I didn't feel like the ending was complete. What happened with Brian? What about the H's parents? I also would have liked a little more between the H/h because it was like he said I love you and that was it. I believed he loved her but I would have liked for there to be more showing his love. Other than that I read this book quickly and I liked it :)

[Ljb]

I enjoyed this book. when you read harlequin heartwarming - you are not reading for depth but for sweet entertainment. this book actually dredged some emotions from me; girls mixed up at birth - now 3 years old. what a horrible situation for all involved. I didn't like the way adam had to see the negatives of his first marriage to find happiness in his second though.

[Charlotte]

Re-release of Whose Baby? (Marriage of Inconvenience) from 2000

[Cc]

If you like this type of plot, this one is very well written. I do NOT like the cover though, Adam is very Alpha and the guy on the cover really didn't jive with my imagination, lol.

Merged review:

Excellent. Great concept, plot and writing.

[Dee]

I liked this one. I was surprised that I did. I wasn't expecting much but by the middle I was cheering for them all.

[Bubu]

Great story , the writting is good but for me the story seems incomplete. The H didnt convince me that he really fell in love with the h, at the end it felt that he only settled with her.

[Mem]

H S 889 Jan2000 Marriage of Inconvenience Lynn Chanak's ex-husband wants a paternity test done on their 3yr old daughter. He doesn't want to pay child support for a child he doesn't think is his. His parents are behind it too. My feeling is what a jerk walking out on his family.
Lynn has the test done and the results change her life. Adam Landry is brought into this when the hospital contacts him about a baby mixup in hospital. His wife had been in a car accident and kept on a ventilator until her baby would survive.
What a nightmare!
The story about the adults and the two little girls was interesting. The grandparents on both side and how to make the changes work for the little girls and Lynn and Adam.

[Sue Lauzon]

Story of two single parents (one widowed and one divorced) who find out that their daughters were accidentally switched at birth. They eventual decide to marry to simplify a complicated situation. Once married they each discover they have true feelings for the other but can they trust their own feelings that that love is returned. Typical Harlequin romance with a little bit of twist from the normal plot line but a good read none the less.

[Ellyn (Mrs. Darcy in my Dreams)]

3.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ This was too long. I think it had too much mind angst (x2 due to H's POV). I love a slow burn, but this went on too long with little plot variation. But since it was sweet I rounded up a half star.

[Michelle]

This was such a unique twist on a switched at birth story.

[Dawn Stanley]

I enjoyed reading this book.

[Andra]

What do you do when the hospital makes a mistake?

For the sake of her daughters can she marry a stranger?
Lynn Chanak is living the nightmare every mother fears. There was a mix-up at the hospital. Her baby isn't hers. And the only way she can have the baby she gave birth to and keep the child she loves is to marry Adam Landry-a man she doesn't even know.

For the sake of his daughters can he marry a woman he'll never love?
Adam was devastated when his jenny died. And his only consolation was their daughter. But as much as he loves Rose, he can't stand to think that the child jenny carried for nine months will grow up without him. If marrying a stranger is what it takes to have both his daughters, then that's what he'll do. Even though he still loves Jenny...

For the sake of their daughters can they make this marriage work?

[Carol Malone]

Babies switched in the hospital. What's a parent to do? When Lynn's ex-husband insists on a blood test for his daughter so he won't have to pay child support, a parent's worst nightmare is confirmed--their three-year-old daughter is not their own. Lynn arranges to meet the other parent of the child who might be her own and is confronted with a single dad and the girl who's the spitting image of herself. Now what? The drama and conflicts that ensued kept me riveted to the book until I finished it. Believing the only way to keep the girls together and share them both, Adam, the widowed father suggests a marriage of convenience. But Lynn wants his love and when he can't provide that, her heart breaks. Great story telling and very deep personal POV provide and excellent and fascinating book.

[Lynda]

This was a sweet story of two people who realize the children they are raising were switched at birth. It was nice for a change to read about characters who put the best interests of the children first without nasty arguments as to custody, and grandparents who happily love both children.

[Tia]

Maybe this is a new edition of an old book but it most certainly isn't new at all. This novel has been around for a long time.

[Latte]

Other than a reference to Titanic, nothing in this story reads as dated, which is nice on a re-release.

[Kim]

4.5 stars

[Antoinette]

A good read. Unbelievable story, but i still enjoyed it.

[Robin]

Reissued as For the Girls' Sake in the Harlequin Heartwarming series. I read it when it first came back in 2000.

[Angel]

Loved the blurb ... Loved the book!

[Alyssa's Bookshelf]

Liked the book