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Harmony Falls #3
Marrying the Wrong Man
Three years ago, Morgan Parrish was embroiled in her father’s plan to marry a man who was destined for the presidency. There was just one problem: Morgan was in love with and pregnant by another man. When the house of cards her father had built came tumbling down, Morgan fled town and the backlash. Now, she’s stuck in Harmony Falls after a childhood bank account turns out to be empty. Even more shocking, the child she intended to place for adoption rather than cause more scandal is at her side.
As the son of the town drunk, life hasn’t always been easy for Charlie Cramer. Maybe that’s why he’s holding on to his own sobriety and his brand-new restaurant so tightly—too tightly if his grouchiness and control-freak tendencies in the kitchen are any indication. To make matters worse, Morgan Parrish is back in town … and she has a surprise for him. He’s a daddy! Can he face the truth and not lose the stability he’s worked so hard to achieve these last three years?
When a staff shortage ends up with Morgan waitressing at the bistro five nights a week, old feelings come to a boil. But there’s even more to consider, now. If they give in to the attraction and screw things up again, a precious little girl will have to deal with the fallout. On the other hand, if they can make this work, they’ll be a family. It’s the biggest risk either one of them will ever take.
As the son of the town drunk, life hasn’t always been easy for Charlie Cramer. Maybe that’s why he’s holding on to his own sobriety and his brand-new restaurant so tightly—too tightly if his grouchiness and control-freak tendencies in the kitchen are any indication. To make matters worse, Morgan Parrish is back in town … and she has a surprise for him. He’s a daddy! Can he face the truth and not lose the stability he’s worked so hard to achieve these last three years?
When a staff shortage ends up with Morgan waitressing at the bistro five nights a week, old feelings come to a boil. But there’s even more to consider, now. If they give in to the attraction and screw things up again, a precious little girl will have to deal with the fallout. On the other hand, if they can make this work, they’ll be a family. It’s the biggest risk either one of them will ever take.
200 pages, ebook
First published March 12, 2014
3 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Elley Arden
43 books184 followersElley Arden is a born and bred Pennsylvanian who has lived as far west as Utah and as far north as Wisconsin. She drinks wine like it’s water (a slight exaggeration), prefers a night at the ballpark to a night on the town, and believes almond English toffee is the key to happiness.
Elley writes provocative, emotional, contemporary romances, where Mr. Not-My-Type ends up being Mr. Right.
Elley writes provocative, emotional, contemporary romances, where Mr. Not-My-Type ends up being Mr. Right.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 11, 2016
Arden has done it again! What a wonderfully unique & emotionally charged story. She writes about human nature at its best, its worst, and everything that comes in between. Arden’s natural descriptions meld with her inviting style to create a breathtaking novel that you cannot help but fall in love with. She captured my heart and my imagination with this one. Arden is also a very emotional author. You can feel the emotions pouring from the pages of this novel, allowing you to not only feel for the characters, but feel what they are feeling.
I love the real life problems that these characters deal with, many of them hard hitting. Alcoholism & corruption play a large role in who these characters are. The female lead being the town’s fallen princess was intriguing. She not only had to work through the bad decisions that she’d made, but also those of both her parents. The male lead has to fight against what he’s done in the past & how people perceive him because of it. They also have to work through their combined past to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Because they are working through such intense yet realistic issues you can’t help but feel for them, drawing you yet further into the world of Harmony Falls. The supporting cast in this novel heightens the emotional intensity even more. Small town gossip winds its way throughout, adding to the social commentary found under the surface of this brilliant work.
One of my favourite things about this novel (and much of Arden’s other writing) is that although her series flow well together, this novel can be read as a standalone. She includes all necessary elements in this story to invite new readers in without boring returning readers with large, unnecessary recaps. It is the best of both worlds. I’d highly recommend this novel to all those who enjoy contemporary romance. Actually, I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading. Don’t be put off just because it’s not the first in the series. It’s a brilliant read all on its own!
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
I love the real life problems that these characters deal with, many of them hard hitting. Alcoholism & corruption play a large role in who these characters are. The female lead being the town’s fallen princess was intriguing. She not only had to work through the bad decisions that she’d made, but also those of both her parents. The male lead has to fight against what he’s done in the past & how people perceive him because of it. They also have to work through their combined past to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Because they are working through such intense yet realistic issues you can’t help but feel for them, drawing you yet further into the world of Harmony Falls. The supporting cast in this novel heightens the emotional intensity even more. Small town gossip winds its way throughout, adding to the social commentary found under the surface of this brilliant work.
One of my favourite things about this novel (and much of Arden’s other writing) is that although her series flow well together, this novel can be read as a standalone. She includes all necessary elements in this story to invite new readers in without boring returning readers with large, unnecessary recaps. It is the best of both worlds. I’d highly recommend this novel to all those who enjoy contemporary romance. Actually, I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading. Don’t be put off just because it’s not the first in the series. It’s a brilliant read all on its own!
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2014
It's soooo good, guys!
Ok. Squee over. But Charlie is the sweetest. And I LIKE MORGAN! I know; I can't believe it either. Who knew that super biotch cheaty McCheaterson could be redeemed? But she IS! She's a great mom and a good person. FINALLY.
The thing I really liked was that the transformation wasn't quite miraculous. She still needed to come to terms with some things and learn a bit of self-sacrifice outside of motherhood. But I like her. And I think you will too.
Charlie. *dreamy sigh* Oh, Charlie. He's a temperamental kitchen diva with tattoos and chocolate cake. What more do you want?
There were some mushy timeline issues, and I would have enjoyed some more steamy moments, but overall this is a great HEA for 2 characters I wasn't at all sure SHOULD have a HEA in Crashing the Congressman's Wedding.
I received an ARC of this story from the author.
Ok. Squee over. But Charlie is the sweetest. And I LIKE MORGAN! I know; I can't believe it either. Who knew that super biotch cheaty McCheaterson could be redeemed? But she IS! She's a great mom and a good person. FINALLY.
The thing I really liked was that the transformation wasn't quite miraculous. She still needed to come to terms with some things and learn a bit of self-sacrifice outside of motherhood. But I like her. And I think you will too.
Charlie. *dreamy sigh* Oh, Charlie. He's a temperamental kitchen diva with tattoos and chocolate cake. What more do you want?
There were some mushy timeline issues, and I would have enjoyed some more steamy moments, but overall this is a great HEA for 2 characters I wasn't at all sure SHOULD have a HEA in Crashing the Congressman's Wedding.
I received an ARC of this story from the author.
September 18, 2014
In Marrying the Wrong Man by Elley Arden, Morgan Parrish was embroiled in a scandal three years ago. She was about to marry a man her father put on the path to presidency by helping him with his place in politics as a congressman, only when she was about to marry him, his now wife, interrupted the wedding by telling everyone in the church that Morgan had had an affair with her brother Charlie. When all their plans came tumbling down, Morgan fled town and the consequences of her actions. What few knew was that she was pregnant, and those who knew thought she gave the baby up for adoption.
Charlie Cramer has not had an easy life, being the children of the “town’s drunk”, both him and his sister have had a tough road to make something of themselves.After loosing Morgan and his sister’s marriage to the congressman, Charlie decided to become sober and make his dreams of his own restaurant become real. The good thing is that his brother-in-law and his family are backing him up so he can open the restaurant; the bad thing is that they own part of it and he has to keep proving himself to them. Read More...
Charlie Cramer has not had an easy life, being the children of the “town’s drunk”, both him and his sister have had a tough road to make something of themselves.After loosing Morgan and his sister’s marriage to the congressman, Charlie decided to become sober and make his dreams of his own restaurant become real. The good thing is that his brother-in-law and his family are backing him up so he can open the restaurant; the bad thing is that they own part of it and he has to keep proving himself to them. Read More...
September 27, 2019
This was a great read.
July 23, 2014
I've been waiting for Charlie's story and it was worth waiting for. The bad boy drunk has turned it around and become a 'good' guy. Okay so he's still got his grumpy pants on most of the time but no one's perfect! And this just makes him all the more real. Morgan - now she's a tough one. I did not like her at all in Crashing the Congressman's Wedding, spoilt little rich girl is one of the nicest things I thought about her.
However, in their story they prove just how time and growing up can happen to anyone and you can be a completely different person to who you were.
Love the story, love the characters and love seeing old friends again too. A perfect addition to the Harmony Falls series (I won't say end of the series because who knows, Margaret or Tubby might yet get their story! ;) )
However, in their story they prove just how time and growing up can happen to anyone and you can be a completely different person to who you were.
Love the story, love the characters and love seeing old friends again too. A perfect addition to the Harmony Falls series (I won't say end of the series because who knows, Margaret or Tubby might yet get their story! ;) )
September 16, 2022
This was such a good book! I like it when characters are flawed and make mistakes; it makes them easy to relate to. I haven't read the other two books in the series, but I didn't feel lost at all. I highly recommend Marrying the Wrong Man to anyone looking for a great story with two very human and lovable characters who had a lot of highs and lows that kept them apart, but ultimately found their way back to each other.
June 6, 2014
4 1/2 stars
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews