The Wedding Plan

by Abby Gaines

Merry Wyatt would do almost anything to fulfill her father's dying wish. But marrying Lucas Calder is not an option. Sure, they have occasionally pretended to be in a relationship when it was convenient, but a real marriage? That's definitely out of the question.

However, a fake marriage might work. Lucas may not be too keen, but Merry knows he won't let her down.

When her father makes an unexpected recovery, Merry's simple plan goes into a tailspin. And family expectations aren't the only problem. A spark has ignited and playing house with Lucas is becoming a little too real.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Category Romance

283 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

I write funny, tender romance novels for Harlequin Superromance and Love Inspired Historical.

My next book to be released is That New York Minute, out in April 2012.

I like to set aside some of my writing time for experimental projects - I'm currently trying my hand at a humorous women's fiction novel, and I also finished a Young Adult manuscript.

To find read excerpts of my books or to find out more about me and my journey to publication (hint:5-6 years and lots of rejections!), visit my website

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Merry and Lucas had been friends all their lives, sometimes pretending to be in a relationship to help each other out. When Merry's father wants her married before he dies, she goes to Lucas for help. He isn't thrilled with the idea, but does it anyway thinking it won't be for long. When her dad recovers and they need to stay married things get complicated it a hurry. I liked both Lucas and Merry though I often wanted to shake Lucas. He's a Navy pilot recovering from injuries and waiting to get back to active duty. He doesn't believe in the fairy tale of love, seeing all that emotion as a useless muddle clouding peoples' thinking. As he and Merry spend more time together there is an unwelcome attraction between them. When they give in to that attraction one time the results aren't very good which reinforces their feelings that they are better off as friends. When it results in a pregnancy, Lucas insists that they stay married but shows no inclination of developing feelings. He is all about responsibility and avoids any kind of intimacy. Merry starts out just wanting a fake marriage for the short time her dad has left. When he recovers and they need to stay married, she finds herself caring more and more for Lucas. Even when she finds out that she's pregnant she has no intention of keeping him tied to a loveless marriage. She wants the kind of fairy tale marriage that her father described and doesn't see that happening with Lucas. Even when she admits her love to him, she realizes that he just doesn't get what she needs. I enjoyed seeing the way she got him to understand his overdone feelings of responsibility and the way he finally understood what his true feelings for her were. I also liked the side story of Merry's dad and the nurse and the way that their feelings developed. He too needed a smack upside the head.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute. I've read some better. I enjoyed the mistakes that Lucas and Merry made along the way.

[Phylis Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucas and Merry have been friends since they were little. Their fathers were both military and they had decided that Lucas and Merry should become a couple. It was easier for Lucas and Merry to go along with the idea and date casually. If one needed a plus one the other was it. But they kept "breaking up" and then the next time a plus one was needed they would be back together. This worked good for them until Merry's Dad got so sick they thought he was dying. He wanted to see Lucas and Merry married so that Merry would not be alone after he was gone.

Loved the emotions in the book and think you will enjoy it too.

[Karli · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute, but it was a lot of back and forth and things came out of no where.

[CL · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*

I loved the whole basis of the book but unfortunately there was too much back-and-forth in the delivery and towards the end I ended up thinking it would be better for both if they didn't get their HEA, which is not something that should ever cross your mind in a romance novel.

The pet names really didn't work - the way two people who have known each other their whole lives could fall effortlessly into fake pet names for each other, even when they weren't in front of other people so they didn't have to pretend, just didn't seem realistic. Also not keen on the 'now-you're-pregnant-that-changes-everything-and-we-have-to-stay-together-now' plot device.

[Annabeth Leong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, the marriage of convenience -- another romance trope I love more than I should. This one worked well for me. As part of Harlequin's superromance line, the sensuality was understated (not my usual thing), but Gaines weaves an interesting romantic plot and has a good grasp of emotion. I found myself as interested in the heroine's relationship with her father as I was in her relationship with the hero. Glad I read this one.

[Mina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abby Gaines always delivers a good read. This story features appealing characters, good plotting, and a great combination of humor, realisticness, angst, drama, backstory and compelling romance. I would rate it higher if I didn't so dislike the cliched plot device at the centre of the story an unwanted pregnancy that the hero feels compelled to turn into a reason for marriage.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far the worst book by Abby Gaines I have read, but still not bad.
My main objection is that love between two main characters wasn't really believable. The story for me was lacking something, because I don't get why and how they fell in love and I didn't actually felt that they love each other.
John and Cathy's lovestory was much better.

[Cary · Rating 2 out of 5]

On the plus side: this is a clean book
On the negative side: this is a plot I have read and reread.

Makes you want to shout that if it is obvious to the reader that they love each then why can't they see it?

[Anastasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite book by this author. I just think the romance was missing. They never really had that spark for each other. Even their first time "together" was terrible. They just kind of grew to love one another by the end. But the end was sweet and did save the book for me.

[Harlequin Books]

Category: Heart & Home

[Cora · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3,5)

[Pravana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Modern day heroine. Ten dates???? In Ten years!!!!
Not comfortable with hero

[Kai Trice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read and great book.

[Nancy S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly predictable. Easy read.