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An Arranged Marriage
Blue Summer was a self-made man who had everything money could buy -- except a wife and children. He craved the respectability his tough upbringing had denied him. Allison Lancaster was his passport to a socially acceptable world of power and privilege. A banker's daughter, she'd be the perfect wife!
Allison declared she would only marry for love, but her family had other ideas. They wanted Blue's money as much as he coveted their social standing. The wedding was arranged, and it was only when Blue kissed his bride that Allison realized he made her head spin with a dizzy attraction.
Allison declared she would only marry for love, but her family had other ideas. They wanted Blue's money as much as he coveted their social standing. The wedding was arranged, and it was only when Blue kissed his bride that Allison realized he made her head spin with a dizzy attraction.
192 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1998
12 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Susan Fox
133 books44 followersThere is more than one author with this name. When entering books for this particular Susan Fox. The name needs to be entered with only one space between the first and last name.
Susan grew up with her sister, Janet, and her brother, Steven, on an acreage near Des Moines, Iowa, where, besides a jillion stray cats and dogs, two horses, and a pony, her favorite pet and confidant was Rex, her brown-and-white pinto gelding.
Susan has raised two sons, Jeffrey and Patrick, and currently lives in a house that she laughingly refers to as the Landfill and Book Repository. She writes with the help and hindrance of five mischievous shorthaired felines: Gabby, a talkative tortoiseshell calico; Buster, a solid lion-yellow with white legs and facial markings; his sister, Pixie, a tri-color calico; Toonses, a plump black-and-white; and the cheerily diabolical, naughty black tiger Eddie, aka Eduardo de Lover.
Susan is a bookaholic and movie fan who loves cowboys, rodeos, and the American West, past and present. She has an intense interest in storytelling of all kinds and in politics, and she claims the two are often interchangeable.
Susan loves writing complex characters in emotionally intense situations, and hopes her readers enjoy her ranch stories and are uplifted by their happy endings.
Susan grew up with her sister, Janet, and her brother, Steven, on an acreage near Des Moines, Iowa, where, besides a jillion stray cats and dogs, two horses, and a pony, her favorite pet and confidant was Rex, her brown-and-white pinto gelding.
Susan has raised two sons, Jeffrey and Patrick, and currently lives in a house that she laughingly refers to as the Landfill and Book Repository. She writes with the help and hindrance of five mischievous shorthaired felines: Gabby, a talkative tortoiseshell calico; Buster, a solid lion-yellow with white legs and facial markings; his sister, Pixie, a tri-color calico; Toonses, a plump black-and-white; and the cheerily diabolical, naughty black tiger Eddie, aka Eduardo de Lover.
Susan is a bookaholic and movie fan who loves cowboys, rodeos, and the American West, past and present. She has an intense interest in storytelling of all kinds and in politics, and she claims the two are often interchangeable.
Susan loves writing complex characters in emotionally intense situations, and hopes her readers enjoy her ranch stories and are uplifted by their happy endings.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 12, 2020
Sweet, slow-burn romance.
Hero was abused as a child and has pulled himself up with hard work and the discovery of oil on his run-down ranch. Heroine was orphaned as a child and lived with her evil banker uncle and downtrodden aunt. Hero has crushed on heroine for years and now is in the position to force a marriage of convenience because the uncle’s bank is faltering. Hero also builds a mansion and employs a housekeeper, a cook, and a butler. He’s Jett Rink without the alcohol problem.
Heroine is attracted to the H, but she is a virgin who believes in love. Hero doesn’t want love because if makes you vulnerable. So even after the H/h start having sex, the angst prevails.
The heroine is patient. The hero is cruel. The uncle is corrupt (and goes to jail – yay!) and the aunt finally gets out. There is a cute romance between the aunt and the hero’s butler.
If you like cruel heroes and a angelic heroines, you’ll like this one.
Hero was abused as a child and has pulled himself up with hard work and the discovery of oil on his run-down ranch. Heroine was orphaned as a child and lived with her evil banker uncle and downtrodden aunt. Hero has crushed on heroine for years and now is in the position to force a marriage of convenience because the uncle’s bank is faltering. Hero also builds a mansion and employs a housekeeper, a cook, and a butler. He’s Jett Rink without the alcohol problem.
Heroine is attracted to the H, but she is a virgin who believes in love. Hero doesn’t want love because if makes you vulnerable. So even after the H/h start having sex, the angst prevails.
The heroine is patient. The hero is cruel. The uncle is corrupt (and goes to jail – yay!) and the aunt finally gets out. There is a cute romance between the aunt and the hero’s butler.
If you like cruel heroes and a angelic heroines, you’ll like this one.
October 18, 2020
"An Arranged Marriage" is the story of Allison and Blue.
An angst filled tale in which a marriage of convenience takes an unexpected turn.
Our hero is a hardworking man, who made his way from rags to riches, and found success with his ranch and the oil mine he discovered on it. He now craves respectability, and wants to get it by marrying the woman he desires, the effluent heiress- our heroine.
The heroine has been bought up by her relatives ever since her parents died, and all she wants is love- especially in her marriage. She initially refuses the hero's proposal, until her uncle forces her to accept in lieu for the money the hero can loan him. As the vows are spoken, both understand the inevitability of what lies next. The hero wants a child, the heroine wants acceptance and love. As they fall in love with each other, a strong denial and a few lies cause enough hurt- but will they learn to forgive and accept?
Angst filled romance with really sweet and likable MCs. The hero was confused and stubborn- but never mean; the heroine was a patient sweetheart. The secondary characters provided the much needed drama, and all ended in a heartwarming HEA.
Safe
4/5
An angst filled tale in which a marriage of convenience takes an unexpected turn.
Our hero is a hardworking man, who made his way from rags to riches, and found success with his ranch and the oil mine he discovered on it. He now craves respectability, and wants to get it by marrying the woman he desires, the effluent heiress- our heroine.
The heroine has been bought up by her relatives ever since her parents died, and all she wants is love- especially in her marriage. She initially refuses the hero's proposal, until her uncle forces her to accept in lieu for the money the hero can loan him. As the vows are spoken, both understand the inevitability of what lies next. The hero wants a child, the heroine wants acceptance and love. As they fall in love with each other, a strong denial and a few lies cause enough hurt- but will they learn to forgive and accept?
Angst filled romance with really sweet and likable MCs. The hero was confused and stubborn- but never mean; the heroine was a patient sweetheart. The secondary characters provided the much needed drama, and all ended in a heartwarming HEA.
Safe
4/5
January 9, 2020
This was the absolute sweetest romance story with heart-warming, healing love between two very wonderful, sweet, tender and loving characters. Absolutely loved it.
January 20, 2020
Too perfect h & too sweet H! If the plot was wowed by Ms. Palmer, it would be an angst fast. 🙄
I should have given 1 star but it was nice. 😂
I should have given 1 star but it was nice. 😂
March 16, 2021
Susan Fox flips her usual tortured-heroine trope by making the hero the one with the truly shitty family backstory and emotional trauma (although the heroine comes in for her share of awful relatives as well). Hero Blue Sumner, former ramrod for the hero of The Man She'll Marry has been in love with the heroine for years, but for the dirt-poor rancher, our blue-blooded heroine, Allison Lancaster, has been out of reach--until now. He's struck oil on his ranch, and when her slimy uncle offers her up in exchange for an investment in his failing bank, our heroine reluctantly agrees to a marriage of convenience--with benefits--because she feels she owes her downtrodden, fainting-flower aunt some return for taking her in and raising her lovingly when heroine was orphaned as a kid.
Hero Blue has major issues stemming from his own daddy-abandonment issues (Daddy was a drunk and a drifter, and Blue had a lonely and hardscrabble upbringing). Now that he has money, he's determined on having only the best, building a mansion worthy of the wife he's determined to have and not backing down on his determination to have her, even though he feels some guilt about pressuring her into it. The clear heat between him makes him think that it'll work out in the end, and he has every intention of keeping her happy in and out of bed--but love's not on table as far as he's concerned.
Despite her reluctance, Allison has long been attracted to Blue as well, but she's one of SF's impossibly virginal heroines and has grave concerns about having sex with a man she barely knows and doesn't love, and who doesn't love her. As with all Susan Fox MoCs, sex and kids are part of the bargain, but like many a SF hero before him, he does agree to wait, although insists they share a bed from the start. Doesn't take long for their mutual attraction to ignite and within a week or so, sex complicates their already complicated relationship.
Heroine is soon in love with her husband, who is gentle and respectful most of the time and most definitely cares about her, for all he's a hard-ass in a lot of ways. He has no liking for her uncle, who tried to force him off his land before the oil strike by foreclosing on him, and not much patience for her aunt (who I thought was manipulating the heroine but ended up being a long-suffering older version of our Mary Sueish heroine, with no ulterior motives). Hero is determined to keep heroine at arm's length emotionally and doesn't want anything to do with love, which he has no faith in. He's not a cruel hero but he does say some cruel things to the heroine at one point--but our patient and loving heroine sees the underlying trauma that prompts his actions and is steadfast.
Love wins out, auntie is liberated from evil uncle (who gets comeuppance, yes!) and gets a little romance of her own, and it's typical Susan Fox in the end, with love conquering all past darkness and sorrow. Sweet, fairly explicit for Susan Fox (nipples!) although pretty clean by most standards, slow burn from a writer who had a signature style and standard plots that she worked well--not as angsty as some of her stories, but some nice emotional touches. Heroine was a little too perfect (Bible school teacher! Endlessly forgiving!) but likable nonetheless. Hero was just the kind of "harsh" and ruthless but love-struck rancher hero that SF excelled at. Nothing particularly new here, but enjoyable nonetheless.
Hero Blue has major issues stemming from his own daddy-abandonment issues (Daddy was a drunk and a drifter, and Blue had a lonely and hardscrabble upbringing). Now that he has money, he's determined on having only the best, building a mansion worthy of the wife he's determined to have and not backing down on his determination to have her, even though he feels some guilt about pressuring her into it. The clear heat between him makes him think that it'll work out in the end, and he has every intention of keeping her happy in and out of bed--but love's not on table as far as he's concerned.
Despite her reluctance, Allison has long been attracted to Blue as well, but she's one of SF's impossibly virginal heroines and has grave concerns about having sex with a man she barely knows and doesn't love, and who doesn't love her. As with all Susan Fox MoCs, sex and kids are part of the bargain, but like many a SF hero before him, he does agree to wait, although insists they share a bed from the start. Doesn't take long for their mutual attraction to ignite and within a week or so, sex complicates their already complicated relationship.
Heroine is soon in love with her husband, who is gentle and respectful most of the time and most definitely cares about her, for all he's a hard-ass in a lot of ways. He has no liking for her uncle, who tried to force him off his land before the oil strike by foreclosing on him, and not much patience for her aunt (who I thought was manipulating the heroine but ended up being a long-suffering older version of our Mary Sueish heroine, with no ulterior motives). Hero is determined to keep heroine at arm's length emotionally and doesn't want anything to do with love, which he has no faith in. He's not a cruel hero but he does say some cruel things to the heroine at one point--but our patient and loving heroine sees the underlying trauma that prompts his actions and is steadfast.
Love wins out, auntie is liberated from evil uncle (who gets comeuppance, yes!) and gets a little romance of her own, and it's typical Susan Fox in the end, with love conquering all past darkness and sorrow. Sweet, fairly explicit for Susan Fox (nipples!) although pretty clean by most standards, slow burn from a writer who had a signature style and standard plots that she worked well--not as angsty as some of her stories, but some nice emotional touches. Heroine was a little too perfect (Bible school teacher! Endlessly forgiving!) but likable nonetheless. Hero was just the kind of "harsh" and ruthless but love-struck rancher hero that SF excelled at. Nothing particularly new here, but enjoyable nonetheless.
July 13, 2019
4 Stars! ~ Blue Sumner didn't believe in love. Love was something he'd never known, growing up as a motherless boy with a father who drifted and drank. He grew up mostly with strangers; having no one to mend his scraps and cuts. His life took a sudden turn when the ranch he toiled his blood and sweat into produced oil. He figures his new wealth puts him on a footing to find a wife. Allison Lancaster came to live with her Aunt Petula when she was orphaned as a girl. Though she has her own trust fund from her parents, she's always lived off the generosity of her Aunt. Her Uncle's bank is in trouble when Allison's college friend embezzles large sums. Her Uncle covets Blue's wealth and when Blue expresses an interest in Allison, good ole Uncle Charles offers her for sale. Or so that's how Allison feels, that's she's being sold to save her Uncle's bank. But Blue doesn't offer any guarantees that he'll help Charles if Allison marries him, yet she marries him anyway. She discovers that there's alot of honour in Blue and a tenderness. She falls in love with him, and knows he feels the same if only he can get over his childhood fears of abandonment.
This story opens with Blue's point of view, which is a lovely change from other books by Ms. Fox. I like how we come to see Blue through his childhood memories and that Allison can sense what really holds Blue back from a loving relationship. Blue feels badly that Allison seems forced into marrying him, yet he can't let her go, she's everything he's ever wanted. I love how their love evolves slowly. Allison and Blue make a wonderful couple and I'm glad that they have their HEA
This story opens with Blue's point of view, which is a lovely change from other books by Ms. Fox. I like how we come to see Blue through his childhood memories and that Allison can sense what really holds Blue back from a loving relationship. Blue feels badly that Allison seems forced into marrying him, yet he can't let her go, she's everything he's ever wanted. I love how their love evolves slowly. Allison and Blue make a wonderful couple and I'm glad that they have their HEA
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2021
OK read. I’m not much into a trophy wife trop but here it was somehow working. We learn why the H had a chip on his shoulder and that he was infatuated with the heroine and had idealized her from afar. He was lucky because the heroine was one of the good girls. He could do much worse . Although she let herself be manipulated and bought into the marriage to preserve her aunt’s life style she could appreciate him. She seemed too much high maintenance for my taste but it was one of the things that impressed the H. I’m glad they got their HEA.
December 27, 2015
I gave this book a try because I like Marriage on Demand, but while they had similar theme this book didn't give me the same satisfaction as the other book.
Blue was a poor guy who strike the jackpot when he found out his land contain oil. Now he got the monies, what he wanted next was a society wife. Enter Allison. Allison was the epitome of perfect woman whose only weakness was Blue's kisses of course. She's beautiful, refined, have a heart of gold and very forgiving. You name a virtue, she'd delivered it times two. But, that took all the fun, because every time Blue acted like a brute, Allison would analyze it with her golden heart, developed an understanding (he acted like that because of his sad unloved past, poor baby) and forgave him. Now, I don't mind open-minded heroines who don't jump to the worst conclusion but the way Allison did it almost like she could read Blue's mind, oh I'm sorry did I miss the paranormal tag?
Then Allison had this very important thing that she really needed to talk to Blue, and of course suddenly everything became more important than the really important thing. So time went by and I gleefully await everything to blow up in Allison's face. And it did, Blue lashed out, said some cruel hateful stuff. Yay.
But Allison, the spoilsports, used her mind reading ability to understand why Blue did what he did, and forgave him. Without throwing a single tantrum. Gah. Where's my drama? I want my money back.
Blue was a poor guy who strike the jackpot when he found out his land contain oil. Now he got the monies, what he wanted next was a society wife. Enter Allison. Allison was the epitome of perfect woman whose only weakness was Blue's kisses of course. She's beautiful, refined, have a heart of gold and very forgiving. You name a virtue, she'd delivered it times two. But, that took all the fun, because every time Blue acted like a brute, Allison would analyze it with her golden heart, developed an understanding (he acted like that because of his sad unloved past, poor baby) and forgave him. Now, I don't mind open-minded heroines who don't jump to the worst conclusion but the way Allison did it almost like she could read Blue's mind, oh I'm sorry did I miss the paranormal tag?
Then Allison had this very important thing that she really needed to talk to Blue, and of course suddenly everything became more important than the really important thing. So time went by and I gleefully await everything to blow up in Allison's face. And it did, Blue lashed out, said some cruel hateful stuff. Yay.
But Allison, the spoilsports, used her mind reading ability to understand why Blue did what he did, and forgave him. Without throwing a single tantrum. Gah. Where's my drama? I want my money back.
March 6, 2016
I can't say this one was bad just that it was more of an arrangement then a marriage. He gets the respect he wants while having a wife to show off and she get what exactly? I still did not get that cause he uncle was an ass and a cheat!!! The poor dear was just a hobble pawn in his game of chess. I did not really hate it but I did not love it either. The hero was messed up and he had some very weird ideas about his role in society. He needed to get that chip off his shoulder and the fact that she did not want to have kids with him was smart because he needed to sort out his priorities. I can't say I like their relationship it was too clinical for me and the passion was somehow made to measure and not from the heart.
January 24, 2020
Nice and sweet marriage of convenience story ..
May 15, 2021
3-already-forgotten-plot-stars.
September 2, 2012
Aşka Yer Var mı? Susan Fox
Bu hikayeye bayıldım..Çok güzeldi duygu yüklüydü..Birbirine zıt iki karakterin çarpışması harikaydı..Birbirleri ile tanışmaları,evlenmeleri,alışmaları..
tam tamına gece ve gündüz kadar zıttılar birbirlerine..Ama zıt kutuplar birbirini çekerdi öyle değil mi?
Blue Summer'in hayatı çok çetin mücadelelerle geçmişti..Çifliğinin topraklarında petrol bulunmasaydı hala daha öyle geçmekte olacağı bir gerçekti..
Ama son anda hayata vole vurması ile bir anda milyarder olmuştu..İlk işi kendine çiftlik topraklarında büyük bir malikane inşaa ettirmek oldu..İkinci işi ise kendine bir eş edinmek..Kasabanın tüm aileleri onu kızları ile evlendirmek istiyordu..Ama o kasabanın maddi sıkıntı yaşayan bankerinin yeğeni Allison Lancaster'i gözüne kestirmişti..
Allison klas denilecek derecede seçkin bir genç kadındı..Kültürü,güzelliği ile nefes kestiriyordu..Blue'nun inanmadığı bir şeye inanıyordu..Evlilikte aşk olması gerektiğine..
Blue'nun tam zıddı..Ama eniştesinin bu zor günleri aşabilmesi için Blue'nın parasına ihtiyacı vardı..Halasının da yuvasını kurtarması için Allison'a..Çok güzeldi..Yazarın kalemine bayıldım..
Tavsiyemdir!!..
Bu hikayeye bayıldım..Çok güzeldi duygu yüklüydü..Birbirine zıt iki karakterin çarpışması harikaydı..Birbirleri ile tanışmaları,evlenmeleri,alışmaları..
tam tamına gece ve gündüz kadar zıttılar birbirlerine..Ama zıt kutuplar birbirini çekerdi öyle değil mi?
Blue Summer'in hayatı çok çetin mücadelelerle geçmişti..Çifliğinin topraklarında petrol bulunmasaydı hala daha öyle geçmekte olacağı bir gerçekti..
Ama son anda hayata vole vurması ile bir anda milyarder olmuştu..İlk işi kendine çiftlik topraklarında büyük bir malikane inşaa ettirmek oldu..İkinci işi ise kendine bir eş edinmek..Kasabanın tüm aileleri onu kızları ile evlendirmek istiyordu..Ama o kasabanın maddi sıkıntı yaşayan bankerinin yeğeni Allison Lancaster'i gözüne kestirmişti..
Allison klas denilecek derecede seçkin bir genç kadındı..Kültürü,güzelliği ile nefes kestiriyordu..Blue'nun inanmadığı bir şeye inanıyordu..Evlilikte aşk olması gerektiğine..
Blue'nun tam zıddı..Ama eniştesinin bu zor günleri aşabilmesi için Blue'nın parasına ihtiyacı vardı..Halasının da yuvasını kurtarması için Allison'a..Çok güzeldi..Yazarın kalemine bayıldım..
Tavsiyemdir!!..
November 12, 2021
I really wanted to give this 4 stars. But I wanted the slow burn to be dealt with more, for us to see even more of the H's softening. I think the love scenes were a bit too tastefully glossed over while they were actually a big reason why the two leads got closer (lol). The H was silently in love with the h for EONS and we find out more about that towards the end, although the whole book was sprinkled with his POVs which I LOVED.
One last caveat, although they did have two important, deep conversations which were very needed, I still think the h needs to figure out if she is okay with this seemingly never ending life of lonely days spent volunteering/charity work and meals alone; with him coming late every night, turning her over for a loving romp, and then leaving again next morning without even a cuddle. Tbf, the H is insanely crazy for her and is a gazillionaire so I like to imagine he scales down his work hours for her. But I needed to see that happen on page too. It's ok though.
The end of the story focused way too much on the h's aunt and her domestic troubles, and I frankly had no real feeling for the butler and the aunt flirting or falling in love at first sight. 1) it detracted from the main romance 2)it felt unnecessary as the angst angle 3)they even gave half the epilogue away to focus on the aunt again
Not bad overall
One last caveat, although they did have two important, deep conversations which were very needed, I still think the h needs to figure out if she is okay with this seemingly never ending life of lonely days spent volunteering/charity work and meals alone; with him coming late every night, turning her over for a loving romp, and then leaving again next morning without even a cuddle. Tbf, the H is insanely crazy for her and is a gazillionaire so I like to imagine he scales down his work hours for her. But I needed to see that happen on page too. It's ok though.
The end of the story focused way too much on the h's aunt and her domestic troubles, and I frankly had no real feeling for the butler and the aunt flirting or falling in love at first sight. 1) it detracted from the main romance 2)it felt unnecessary as the angst angle 3)they even gave half the epilogue away to focus on the aunt again
Not bad overall
January 6, 2021
self made and honorable hero marries his pure at heart and sacrificing everything for family kinda wife in a forced marriage. she's so otherworldly according to him that he refuses to fall in love with her even though he has been infatuated with her since before he made his money. lovely premise of rancher marrying southern belle.
November 2, 2020
I love some of Susan Fox's novels because they have so much hope and emotion. An Arranged Marriage is OK, but nowhere near her best.
You can read my longer review on my blog here: https://www.morebooksthantime.com/an-...
You can read my longer review on my blog here: https://www.morebooksthantime.com/an-...
November 20, 2021
This had a low angst but a huge amount of sweetness!! I love Susan Fox and her heroes are lovable. I'm marking this a vintage though it was published in 1998 and H had a cell phone because it had an old-fashioned feel.
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November 7, 2025Very good
January 5, 2013
Son iki okuduğum harlequin romanına da bayıldım... Bu kitap tüm her şeyini dişini tırnağına takıp çalışıp didinerek elde eden, annesini küçük yaşta yitirip alkolik babasının ilgisinden yoksun sevgisiz bir şekilde olduğu adam haline gelen Blue ile yine ailesini küçük yaşında kaybeden ancak halasının sevgi dolu evinde büyüyen Allison'ın aşkı arayan hikayesiydi.. Çok beğendim ;)
October 5, 2012
harlequin comic version
January 14, 2015
My favourite book with loads of feeling to be nurtured and happenings. The book speak lot of arranged marriage which can be turned into love marriage
March 11, 2016
Lady and rugged cowboy
Loved this story showing two misfits coming together and showed what real love is about. Liked the side story of aunt peg.
Loved this story showing two misfits coming together and showed what real love is about. Liked the side story of aunt peg.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews