The One Month Marriage

by Judith Stacy

Brandon Sayer Wanted His Wife Back. What Could Be Simpler?

Jana would come home, and they could resume their marriage. All he had to do was give her a little guidance—as all wives needed. But Jana was not the naive girl he married, and didn't seem to want his guidance!

Jana Sayer Wanted A Divorce. What Could Be Simpler?

Brandon's buiness dealings still kept him too busy to be married, let alone be a father to the son he'd never seen. But he insisted Jana try marriage for one month more. And her traitorous heart had her deciding to give the man he'd become one last chance….

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical, Westerns, Western Romance, Harlequin

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

This is the pseudonym of author Dorothy Howell.

It was in eighth grade English class that Judith realized she wanted to be a writer. Her teacher, who was from, what seemed at the time, the exotic and far off state of Florida, introduced the class to creative writing. Judith was hooked! Finally, there was something interesting in school!

But her first published work was still 20 years away.

Life changed when her family moved to nearby Roanoke, Virginia. On her first day of school, as she was introduced to Miss O’Neal’s ninth grade science class, a boy in the back of the room waved both arms in the air and shouted, “She can sit back here!” Judith knew that day her fate was sealed.

Judith and that young man just celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary.

Her husband’s career in the Air Force took them to California. They had two daughters and Judith worked in mortgage banking and consumer finance lending. Somehow, twenty years passed. With the love and support of her family, Judith’s first novel was published in 1988.

Seven long years, and countless rejections later, Judith sold her second novel. A third, then a fourth followed quickly, and she was on her way. By then she was writing full time. To date, she’s produced 23 historical novels, with sales approaching 3 million copies worldwide. Her titles include Harlequin Historical’s Top Seller of the Year, a RITA Award Finalist, and a No.1 on the Barnes & Noble Historical List.

In a departure from romantic fiction, Judith signed a multi-book deal with Kensington Books for a mystery series that launched in July, 2008 in hardcover, under the name Dorothy Howell. The debut mystery, HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE, was a Publishers Weekly starred review. That was followed this year by PURSES AND POISON. The series has the same strong, sassy heroine, a hot hero, and the laugh-out-loud humor that readers love in her romantic fiction.

Judith makes her home in Southern California with her family that now includes a grandson, who is the light of all their lives. She is eternally grateful for her family, her readers, the support of her publisher and agent, and her good fortune.

Reviews

[Preeti ♥︎ Her Bookshelves · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*
The turn of the century LA is a great setting but this story could very well have had a contemporary one. The wife walks away after 3 months of marriage and now is back after 14 months via Europe - but not for a reconciliation.
One month refers to the time she agrees to give to their marriage before a final decision (but in her mind, she's only biding time).

I liked the h to begin with and could understand her grouse and why she left. And now on her return, she's more confident and sure what she wants and what she wouldn't put up with. The H was definitely cold and emotionally unavailable and thought all that's needed to put things right is 'his guidance.' So of course, I rooted for the h.
But then, as the H (suddenly) turns vulnerable (and cute with it) and is ready to heed all her wishes but she becomes stymied by her own wishy-washy-ness. I couldn't understand what she wanted at this stage.

Yes, she wanted divorce all along but she's also hiding a secret - of course, the secret baby. And she doesn't tell him! I don't think this'd work in those days. She did not inform him after the birth because she felt he wouldn't make a good father.
Hmmm, I wondered on this. In those days, the things a man probably needed to be a good father would include - be a good provider, be a good guiding influence (that he seems to think he excels at!) and at a stretch not be an abuser. And as he's certainly no heartless monster, all this emotional needs doesn't wash for the time.
By the end, but both mcs prove to be tstl and self-indulgent and this did not to make for a sympathetic read. The H nice-person run comes to an abrupt end on learning that she has a child. And the expected judgmental-ness come raining down.
The last few scenes with the baby are sweet and tug at the heart -as they always do.

The older 'ow' in the bg is an interesting person but her 'afternoon teas' with the secondary lead while he's pursuing his lady love are a tacky sidenote.

[Jacqueline J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well done historical which takes place in turn of the 20th century Los Angeles. Jana, a new bride of 3 months, left her husband, Brandon, 14 months ago and went to Europe. She doesn't hear from him until 14 months later when he writes her to tell her to come home. When she does, she asks for a divorce. He says no and convinces her to give their marriage a one month trial. At first he acts just as he did before but soon realizes that if he wants her to stay, he'll have to figure out why she left the first time and she won't tell him. She wants him to either figure it out on his own or let her go.

Brandon is very sweet as he begins to see how he ignored her and made no effort the first time around. He tries everything to get her to agree to stay. He was basically clueless when they first married. Now he just accepts what she dishes out while continually trying the next thing to win her.

I liked the historical realism of the story. I don't mean it was bogged down in history but it had touches like the way that she kept catching him staring at her breasts because he was so fond of them and he hadn't had any nooky for 14 months. Porn/naked skin of any kind was hard to come by in those days so a guy would probably have been obsessed about women's bodies even if she was his wife and he'd seen them before. It wasn't lecherous, just sweet.

Anyway, well worth the read.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well... at the beginning I didn't understand why she was so enraged with her. He never cheated on her, he never yelled at her, he never hit her, he wasn't a prick with the service, he worked hard, etc.
Until I understood. He was ... a dumbass. I mean emotionally haha
They didn't talk, they didn't even had breakfast together...
When his friend asked him if he said to her that he loved her, he replied: "oh, she knows obviously"



DUDE?! LOL when I read his upbringing I understood why he was like that (obviously)

Anyway, it was a good fast reading.

[Prac Agrl · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has one of the most TSTL and idiotic h to ever grace any novel.
She keeps making mistakes and things difficult for H and never once thinks of the consequences
The failure of the marriage was all put on the H with no liability herself.
She never once tried to talk about issues and just assumes things won't change and keeps sabotaging his business and home peace. really??
I hated her
H was also idiot but at
least he tried after she came back cannot be said the same for the stupid h.
1 star for the H

[Natalija · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for an emotionally charged "marriage on the rocks" story, and this was exactly what I needed. The tension starts high - especially with Brandon’s rigid view that "Jana is my wife. She must live up to her responsibilities. It’s her duty." However, what made this book special was that the growth wasn't just one-sided. It wasn't only Brandon who had to change; both characters had to reach new realizations and meet in the middle. A beautiful, realistic portrayal of reconciliation.

[Desi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leído en Enero 2010