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Charity House #9
The Marriage Agreement
Promoted to Wife?
Always the dutiful daughter, Fanny Mitchell surprised everyone when she broke her engagement. Now she's working at the fancy Hotel Dupree--and falling for the mysterious, handsome owner, Jonathon Hawkins. But when she and her boss are caught in an unexpected kiss at a ball, will her reputation be tarnished forever?
The son of a woman of ill repute, Jonathon knows that gossip can destroy lives in an instant. And he won't allow sweet, lovely Fanny to suffer the consequences. When he proposes a marriage of convenience, Jonathon believes he can keep his heart to himself. But the more time he spends with Fanny, the more he realizes he may just be in love--with his wife...
Always the dutiful daughter, Fanny Mitchell surprised everyone when she broke her engagement. Now she's working at the fancy Hotel Dupree--and falling for the mysterious, handsome owner, Jonathon Hawkins. But when she and her boss are caught in an unexpected kiss at a ball, will her reputation be tarnished forever?
The son of a woman of ill repute, Jonathon knows that gossip can destroy lives in an instant. And he won't allow sweet, lovely Fanny to suffer the consequences. When he proposes a marriage of convenience, Jonathon believes he can keep his heart to himself. But the more time he spends with Fanny, the more he realizes he may just be in love--with his wife...
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 2015
25 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
Renee Ryan
62 books710 followersRenee Ryan grew up in a small Florida beach town. Surfing didn’t work for her, but that didn’t keep her from watching others tackle the waves. To entertain herself during those countless hours of “laying-out”, she read many of the classics. It wasn’t until the summer between her sophomore and junior years at Florida State University that she read her first romance novel. Hooked from page one, she spent hours consuming one book after another while working on the best (and last!) tan of her life.
Two years later, armed with a degree in Economics and Religion, she explored various career opportunities, including stints at a Florida theme park, a modeling agency, and a cosmetic conglomerate. She went on to teach high school Economics, American Government and Latin in between coaching award-winning cheerleading teams. Several years later, with an eclectic cast of characters swimming around in her head, she began seriously pursuing a writing career. What better excuse to avoid housework and ignore clocks?
Two years later, armed with a degree in Economics and Religion, she explored various career opportunities, including stints at a Florida theme park, a modeling agency, and a cosmetic conglomerate. She went on to teach high school Economics, American Government and Latin in between coaching award-winning cheerleading teams. Several years later, with an eclectic cast of characters swimming around in her head, she began seriously pursuing a writing career. What better excuse to avoid housework and ignore clocks?
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 25, 2018
I'm sorry to say I didn't enjoy this one. There was probably enough actual content and development for a short novella. To fill the rest of the pages, the author repeated the same things and I was bored. The unreasonable reactions that both MCs had to their circumstances were also pretty strange and OTT.
I did appreciate the clean content, a H who treated women well, and the dual povs. Unfortunately, the rest of it was not for me.
I did appreciate the clean content, a H who treated women well, and the dual povs. Unfortunately, the rest of it was not for me.
September 1, 2015
A cute story, but there was a little too much repeating of things and it took forever to actually get to "The Marriage Agreement". I like the characters and how Jonathan grew a lot in the book. I am pretty sure this is my first book of Renee Ryan's and I did enjoy it!
*i received a complimentary e-copy of this book from netgalley for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own."
*i received a complimentary e-copy of this book from netgalley for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own."
October 17, 2022
I enjoyed the premise of the story, with an unexpected marriage between two people who secretly admire each other in order to save their reputations. However, there is just so much unnecessary drama, especially when it goes against what the characters repeatedly think to themselves. That disconnect removed me from understanding the motivations of Fanny and Jonathan, and their early chemistry dissolved in the midst of the angst. The importance placed on society and society's opinion made Fanny seem shallow, but then she suddenly seemed to not care what society thought, but married in order to prevent her mother from suffering. Jonathan is the one who went through the biggest transformation as he struggled to overcome the stigma of his origins in his own mind. Being the last book in the series, there were plenty of previous characters that were drawn into the scenes, which readers who read the books in order would appreciate.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
August 8, 2015
This was a sweet story about a forced marriage between two consenting adults. Even though this book is one of a series, you can still enjoy it alone even if you haven’t read the preceding books.
What I liked: Of course, I loved the romance and the happy ending. It was fun watching the love story between Fanny and Jonathon develop and blossom. I also appreciate the trouble and time it took for Ms. Ryan to research the time period and introduce all the historical facts that were appropriate.
What I didn’t like: After Fanny and Jonathon married, Fanny became almost too sweet. She agreed to most things, and some of them a wife would have at least put up a bit of resistance. There were also several phrases that seemed out of sync with the time period but nothing that destroyed my enjoyment of the story.
Even though the nature of the story makes the romance between the main characters predictable, I still enjoy reading this book. I highly recommend it to anyone enjoying a “marriage before love” historical romance. Over all I give it five stars.
What I liked: Of course, I loved the romance and the happy ending. It was fun watching the love story between Fanny and Jonathon develop and blossom. I also appreciate the trouble and time it took for Ms. Ryan to research the time period and introduce all the historical facts that were appropriate.
What I didn’t like: After Fanny and Jonathon married, Fanny became almost too sweet. She agreed to most things, and some of them a wife would have at least put up a bit of resistance. There were also several phrases that seemed out of sync with the time period but nothing that destroyed my enjoyment of the story.
Even though the nature of the story makes the romance between the main characters predictable, I still enjoy reading this book. I highly recommend it to anyone enjoying a “marriage before love” historical romance. Over all I give it five stars.
June 29, 2015
4.5 - Enjoyed
Part of the Charity House series of books but can be read as a stand alone. Christian Fiction but there are only a few times in the book that talk of scriptures and trusting God.
Content: Squeaky Clean
Part of the Charity House series of books but can be read as a stand alone. Christian Fiction but there are only a few times in the book that talk of scriptures and trusting God.
Content: Squeaky Clean
July 7, 2015
Always a favorite author of mine and this series has been amazing. The story is of rags to riches Johnny who spent a few short years at Charity House. But while there, Laney and Marc Dupree became his family. Now he's building Hotels and having a good life. Except he's determined to never marry or father a child.
Fanny Mitchell has spent a few good years working for Jonathan. They work well together. But when things go a little haywire, they find themselves facing the ruin of their reputations. So Jonathan goes against his no marriage stand. But can they both be happy with a marriage of convenience?
The story is very heartwarming and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow. Loved a revisit with other Mitchell siblings and their families. My how time has flown and how the family has grown.
Fanny Mitchell has spent a few good years working for Jonathan. They work well together. But when things go a little haywire, they find themselves facing the ruin of their reputations. So Jonathan goes against his no marriage stand. But can they both be happy with a marriage of convenience?
The story is very heartwarming and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow. Loved a revisit with other Mitchell siblings and their families. My how time has flown and how the family has grown.
July 19, 2015
Simple, sweet romance that shows how love, and faith, can overcome any obstacle man may create.
November 22, 2015
A HEARTSTIRRING HISTORICAL ROMANCE THAT TRULY RESONATES
"When Mitchells fall in love, we fall fast, hard and forever."
THE MARRIAGE AGREEMENT, book 9 in the Charity House series, is an achingly beautiful Christian inspirational romance that stirred my heart! Although this is only the second book that I’ve had the pleasure of reading in the series, this book very much works as a standalone.
Fanny, the beautiful, dutiful daughter of the large, gregarious Mitchell clan, has worked hard to rise above the scandal that ensued when she broke off her engagement to Reese, who is now happily married to her sister Callie. Now a well-respected member of Denver society, she will always be eternally grateful to her boss, the dashing, enigmatic Jonathon Hawkins, who had come to her rescue after the engagement ended and offered her a job at his hotel. She quickly worked her way up the ranks and is now a highly lauded event planner. However, unbeknownst to Jonathon, she is totally smitten with him. And, of course, the feeling is mutual. What man wouldn’t be enchanted with a woman like Fanny? She is breathtakingly beautiful, sweet, savvy and gentle-spirited. Any gentleman in his right mind would be fortunate to have her as his wife. But Jonathon cannot allow himself to act on his feelings. He bears the emotional scars of a painful past, and in his misspent youth, he was going down such a dark, dangerous path, if not for the time spent at the Charity House, where he was given a home and lavished with unconditional love, he never would have survived.
Now a handsome, wildly successful hotelier, his rags to riches story is legendary in Denver and he inspires everyone he meets. Fanny most of all. Although he doesn’t lack for female admirers, to the consternation of many, including the well-to-do town matchmaker Mrs. Singletary, marriage and family are not in the cards for him. He is determined that the cycle of sin that ran rampant in his family ends with him. Therefore, his mantra is “business first, business always” and proudly carries on the tradition of being generous in deed and spirit, lessons instilled in him at the Charity House, and has grandiose plans to do even greater good for those less fortunate.
As the book opens, Fanny and Jonathan are busy preparing for a grand charity ball, the largest and most highly anticipated of the year, and it is her chance to prove to society once and for all that she will no longer be defined by the past. But on the night of the ball, when Fanny steals her overworked boss away for a brief respite outside, the lure of the moonlight and the stars prove impossible to resist, and they succumb to a forbidden kiss. But their moment of temptation is caught and misconstrued by the Ferguson sisters, notorious town gossips, and the fallout is dire. Vowing to do the right thing so her reputation won’t be tainted forever, Jonathon chivalrously proposes a marriage of convenience. At first, a guilt-ridden Fanny balks at the proposal because she does not want to trap Jonathon into a loveless marriage, but he is determined to protect her at all costs and finally convinces her to do him the great honor of being his wife. But can he ever truly be the husband that she richly deserves?
I enjoyed every single moment of this book! Renee Ryan is a glorious storyteller and effortlessly sweeps you into this winsome romance. I truly felt every sweet, longing glance, reveled in every chaste kiss, experienced every moment of heartache, every bittersweet triumph. Jonathan is wonderfully complex, nuanced hero who is so deliciously brooding and tortured! I love everything about him—his hard edge, his checkered past, his gruffly tender, unassuming charm. And most especially, his big, noble heart. Although he fights his feelings for Fanny, it is evident from the onset that his heart belongs to her. But as the product of an alliance between a “woman of questionable virtue and an adulterer,” he is a man who has endured so much loss and suffering and feels unworthy of love. But now that scandal has broke and he realizes that marriage to Fanny is inevitable, it sparks a small flicker of hope that perhaps that with the right woman—namely Fanny--he could be a good and righteous husband. However, then the doubt would still creep in and he would hold a piece of himself back, afraid the ugliness of his past would somehow rub off on this beautiful, radiant woman who deserves a lifetime of happiness.
A gradual shift in his mindset occurs during the course of this story, and although it is a slow, painstaking process, he eventually does begin to see himself through Fanny’s adoring eyes, as a man who is good and noble, honest and true, and harbors hope that he may indeed eventually combat a lifetime of distorted thinking. As a reader whose heart was fully engaged in this hero’s emotional journey, it was indeed a rewarding thing to behold to watch his gradual awakening to love, to witness firsthand how this beautiful, effervescent woman brightens the dark corners of his world and helps him come to the epiphany: “Every mistake, every wrong turn, every good and wise decision, has led him to this one woman. Fanny Mitchell was his destiny, his future."
As for Fanny, she is a wonderfully resilient heroine that I so admired. One of seven siblings raised in a happy, loving Christian home on a ranch outside of Denver, she’d always been the good, obedient daughter, afraid of making a misstep or letting anyone down. But when she broke off her engagement to Reese, it took a toll on her supportive family, and although she finally managed to move past the scandal and counts her sweet blessings, now that four of her siblings are married off, she secretly aches for true love of her own. And now, through a twist of fate, she finally has a shot at everlasting happiness with the man of her dreams. But she will not settle for his ridiculous stipulation of a childless marriage of convenience. More than anything, she desperately wants what her parents had –a blessed, Godly marriage filled with laughter, joy, companionship, children, and deep abiding love. I adored how Fanny always sees the good in Jonathon, never once faltering in her devotion, showing infinite kindness and patience as she fights tooth and nail to prove to him he is a treasured child of God and gives him the courage to take a leap of faith—with her--to hopefully help him break free from his tortured past.
One of my favorite things about Renee Ryan’s writing is her gorgeous, vibrant prose. She is a master wordsmith, painting such a vivid picture with her eloquent imagery, that I feels as if each and every word is etched in gold! Her physical descriptions, dialogue and body language are so authentic that the characters literally leap off the page, giving us the visual connection we need to fully envision them. Moreover, Jonathon and Fanny are full-bodied and very multi-faceted characters. I related to both the hero and heroine immediately and really felt the deep emotions churning beneath the surface. But writing mechanics aside, the one thing that I look for in a compelling read is whether the characters speak to me, whether their emotional journeys strikes a visceral chord in me, and it did that and more. This book made me laugh, cry…and, most important, FEEL!
The plot moves at a brisk pace, and the romantic tension is sustained throughout. I think Ms. Ryan does a commendable job of balancing out some of the darker, angstier scenes with moments of lightness and charm. The dramatic and romantic arcs were seamlessly incorporated into the story, as was the faith element, and the inclusion of secondary characters broadened the scope and added rich texture to the plot. As for the ending, I thought the resolution was picture perfect and is guaranteed to resonate with readers. In fact, I was so overcome with emotion at the end, it brought tears of joy to my eyes.
I simply can’t recommend THE MARRIAGE AGREEMENT highly enough for fans of this genre, and feel the sky’s the limit for this mega-talented author!
"When Mitchells fall in love, we fall fast, hard and forever."
THE MARRIAGE AGREEMENT, book 9 in the Charity House series, is an achingly beautiful Christian inspirational romance that stirred my heart! Although this is only the second book that I’ve had the pleasure of reading in the series, this book very much works as a standalone.
Fanny, the beautiful, dutiful daughter of the large, gregarious Mitchell clan, has worked hard to rise above the scandal that ensued when she broke off her engagement to Reese, who is now happily married to her sister Callie. Now a well-respected member of Denver society, she will always be eternally grateful to her boss, the dashing, enigmatic Jonathon Hawkins, who had come to her rescue after the engagement ended and offered her a job at his hotel. She quickly worked her way up the ranks and is now a highly lauded event planner. However, unbeknownst to Jonathon, she is totally smitten with him. And, of course, the feeling is mutual. What man wouldn’t be enchanted with a woman like Fanny? She is breathtakingly beautiful, sweet, savvy and gentle-spirited. Any gentleman in his right mind would be fortunate to have her as his wife. But Jonathon cannot allow himself to act on his feelings. He bears the emotional scars of a painful past, and in his misspent youth, he was going down such a dark, dangerous path, if not for the time spent at the Charity House, where he was given a home and lavished with unconditional love, he never would have survived.
Now a handsome, wildly successful hotelier, his rags to riches story is legendary in Denver and he inspires everyone he meets. Fanny most of all. Although he doesn’t lack for female admirers, to the consternation of many, including the well-to-do town matchmaker Mrs. Singletary, marriage and family are not in the cards for him. He is determined that the cycle of sin that ran rampant in his family ends with him. Therefore, his mantra is “business first, business always” and proudly carries on the tradition of being generous in deed and spirit, lessons instilled in him at the Charity House, and has grandiose plans to do even greater good for those less fortunate.
As the book opens, Fanny and Jonathan are busy preparing for a grand charity ball, the largest and most highly anticipated of the year, and it is her chance to prove to society once and for all that she will no longer be defined by the past. But on the night of the ball, when Fanny steals her overworked boss away for a brief respite outside, the lure of the moonlight and the stars prove impossible to resist, and they succumb to a forbidden kiss. But their moment of temptation is caught and misconstrued by the Ferguson sisters, notorious town gossips, and the fallout is dire. Vowing to do the right thing so her reputation won’t be tainted forever, Jonathon chivalrously proposes a marriage of convenience. At first, a guilt-ridden Fanny balks at the proposal because she does not want to trap Jonathon into a loveless marriage, but he is determined to protect her at all costs and finally convinces her to do him the great honor of being his wife. But can he ever truly be the husband that she richly deserves?
I enjoyed every single moment of this book! Renee Ryan is a glorious storyteller and effortlessly sweeps you into this winsome romance. I truly felt every sweet, longing glance, reveled in every chaste kiss, experienced every moment of heartache, every bittersweet triumph. Jonathan is wonderfully complex, nuanced hero who is so deliciously brooding and tortured! I love everything about him—his hard edge, his checkered past, his gruffly tender, unassuming charm. And most especially, his big, noble heart. Although he fights his feelings for Fanny, it is evident from the onset that his heart belongs to her. But as the product of an alliance between a “woman of questionable virtue and an adulterer,” he is a man who has endured so much loss and suffering and feels unworthy of love. But now that scandal has broke and he realizes that marriage to Fanny is inevitable, it sparks a small flicker of hope that perhaps that with the right woman—namely Fanny--he could be a good and righteous husband. However, then the doubt would still creep in and he would hold a piece of himself back, afraid the ugliness of his past would somehow rub off on this beautiful, radiant woman who deserves a lifetime of happiness.
A gradual shift in his mindset occurs during the course of this story, and although it is a slow, painstaking process, he eventually does begin to see himself through Fanny’s adoring eyes, as a man who is good and noble, honest and true, and harbors hope that he may indeed eventually combat a lifetime of distorted thinking. As a reader whose heart was fully engaged in this hero’s emotional journey, it was indeed a rewarding thing to behold to watch his gradual awakening to love, to witness firsthand how this beautiful, effervescent woman brightens the dark corners of his world and helps him come to the epiphany: “Every mistake, every wrong turn, every good and wise decision, has led him to this one woman. Fanny Mitchell was his destiny, his future."
As for Fanny, she is a wonderfully resilient heroine that I so admired. One of seven siblings raised in a happy, loving Christian home on a ranch outside of Denver, she’d always been the good, obedient daughter, afraid of making a misstep or letting anyone down. But when she broke off her engagement to Reese, it took a toll on her supportive family, and although she finally managed to move past the scandal and counts her sweet blessings, now that four of her siblings are married off, she secretly aches for true love of her own. And now, through a twist of fate, she finally has a shot at everlasting happiness with the man of her dreams. But she will not settle for his ridiculous stipulation of a childless marriage of convenience. More than anything, she desperately wants what her parents had –a blessed, Godly marriage filled with laughter, joy, companionship, children, and deep abiding love. I adored how Fanny always sees the good in Jonathon, never once faltering in her devotion, showing infinite kindness and patience as she fights tooth and nail to prove to him he is a treasured child of God and gives him the courage to take a leap of faith—with her--to hopefully help him break free from his tortured past.
One of my favorite things about Renee Ryan’s writing is her gorgeous, vibrant prose. She is a master wordsmith, painting such a vivid picture with her eloquent imagery, that I feels as if each and every word is etched in gold! Her physical descriptions, dialogue and body language are so authentic that the characters literally leap off the page, giving us the visual connection we need to fully envision them. Moreover, Jonathon and Fanny are full-bodied and very multi-faceted characters. I related to both the hero and heroine immediately and really felt the deep emotions churning beneath the surface. But writing mechanics aside, the one thing that I look for in a compelling read is whether the characters speak to me, whether their emotional journeys strikes a visceral chord in me, and it did that and more. This book made me laugh, cry…and, most important, FEEL!
The plot moves at a brisk pace, and the romantic tension is sustained throughout. I think Ms. Ryan does a commendable job of balancing out some of the darker, angstier scenes with moments of lightness and charm. The dramatic and romantic arcs were seamlessly incorporated into the story, as was the faith element, and the inclusion of secondary characters broadened the scope and added rich texture to the plot. As for the ending, I thought the resolution was picture perfect and is guaranteed to resonate with readers. In fact, I was so overcome with emotion at the end, it brought tears of joy to my eyes.
I simply can’t recommend THE MARRIAGE AGREEMENT highly enough for fans of this genre, and feel the sky’s the limit for this mega-talented author!
November 27, 2017
Too sappy.
February 24, 2020
Interesting story line about an interesting time in history - clean with Biblical verses.
July 5, 2015
Did it have to end?
The Marriage Agreement is the ninth book in Renee Ryan’s, Charity House series. While I’ve read a couple of the books in the series, I actually haven’t managed to read them in any order. That being said, you definitely don’t have to start at the beginning to thoroughly enjoy this book. Though I’m sure it would have most likely helped me keep the characters straight while I was reading, I didn’t feel lost or spend the entire story trying to catch up. I confess, I didn’t have many expectations for this book, since I haven’t read anything of Renee’s recently. If I’d had any, I believe they would have been surpassed, as I immensely enjoyed this book.
I very much enjoy Renee’s writing style and this book is no exception! Her descriptions are great and quickly pull me into the setting and the story. I love the historical details she includes and appreciate the research that must go into her books. I do confess that there were a couple instances that I questioned Renee’s choice of wording as it didn’t seem to fit the time period. As I obviously didn’t live in the chosen period, I can’t say for absolute certain that it was not historically accurate, but regardless, the dialogue didn’t seem to fit the character speaking. But, this is mostly me nitpicking. The wording didn’t effect my enjoyment of the book or even give me much pause while reading.
This book definitely held my attention and didn’t want to let go! I found myself picking it up during every spare moment and not wanting to put it down. It kept me up well past when I should have been asleep and I grabbed it again almost as soon as I woke up. It is fast paced and never lags. The story flows quickly from point to point and I found myself rushing through it, all the while reminding myself to slow down and savor it. Obviously, the latter didn’t happen very often. Though, I must confess that I found the ending a bit abrupt. I do generally feel that way with most of the books I read, so this isn’t actually saying very much. I would always like the ending to be longer, simply because I’m rarely ready to say “goodbye” to the characters.
I really enjoyed the characters, as well. Fanny and Jonathon are both very realistic and I was able to easily relate to both of them. Fanny is sweet and kind, though somewhat impulsive. She is also strong, stubborn, and intelligent. I loved her heart for others, as she always tried to put them first. She loves deeply and forgives quickly, something I definitely need to learn. Jonathon is her opposite in many ways. He holds himself aloof from everyone, giving only the impression of openness. He has a good reason for this though - he doesn’t want to hurt anyone, nor does he want to be hurt. I loved watching him grow and change, as he learned to love Fanny fully and open himself to others.
The romance was very sweet, if a bit predictable. But that’s to be expected and I personally enjoy reading books where the “happily ever after” is a given, rather than a possibility. I adored watching both Fanny and Jonathon fall in love. They had several obstacles to overcome, something that made their happy ending even more rewarding. They must learn compromise and put their spouse’s needs before their own. I appreciated that Renee took the time to explore their marriage a bit and specifically point out that every marriage takes hard work and determination to make it last.
The spiritual element is an important one, for the story as well as the reader. Much of the focus is on forgiveness. I loved this quote that I feel sums up the theme quite well, “Forgiveness was hard, and came at a price, but the cost of bitterness was far steeper.” - Jonathon Hawkins* He had to learn how to forgive, but also how to accept forgiveness and God’s grace. I appreciated the care Renee used with this topic. It certainly isn’t an easy one, but she definitely does it justice, never rushing the story to make it fit within the constraints. There is a slow progression, allowing us to follow each step of his journey toward God’s grace.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance and marriage of convenience stories!
I received an advanced reading copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
*Quotation used with permission from the author. I do not own any rights to the story. No infringement intended.
The Marriage Agreement is the ninth book in Renee Ryan’s, Charity House series. While I’ve read a couple of the books in the series, I actually haven’t managed to read them in any order. That being said, you definitely don’t have to start at the beginning to thoroughly enjoy this book. Though I’m sure it would have most likely helped me keep the characters straight while I was reading, I didn’t feel lost or spend the entire story trying to catch up. I confess, I didn’t have many expectations for this book, since I haven’t read anything of Renee’s recently. If I’d had any, I believe they would have been surpassed, as I immensely enjoyed this book.
I very much enjoy Renee’s writing style and this book is no exception! Her descriptions are great and quickly pull me into the setting and the story. I love the historical details she includes and appreciate the research that must go into her books. I do confess that there were a couple instances that I questioned Renee’s choice of wording as it didn’t seem to fit the time period. As I obviously didn’t live in the chosen period, I can’t say for absolute certain that it was not historically accurate, but regardless, the dialogue didn’t seem to fit the character speaking. But, this is mostly me nitpicking. The wording didn’t effect my enjoyment of the book or even give me much pause while reading.
This book definitely held my attention and didn’t want to let go! I found myself picking it up during every spare moment and not wanting to put it down. It kept me up well past when I should have been asleep and I grabbed it again almost as soon as I woke up. It is fast paced and never lags. The story flows quickly from point to point and I found myself rushing through it, all the while reminding myself to slow down and savor it. Obviously, the latter didn’t happen very often. Though, I must confess that I found the ending a bit abrupt. I do generally feel that way with most of the books I read, so this isn’t actually saying very much. I would always like the ending to be longer, simply because I’m rarely ready to say “goodbye” to the characters.
I really enjoyed the characters, as well. Fanny and Jonathon are both very realistic and I was able to easily relate to both of them. Fanny is sweet and kind, though somewhat impulsive. She is also strong, stubborn, and intelligent. I loved her heart for others, as she always tried to put them first. She loves deeply and forgives quickly, something I definitely need to learn. Jonathon is her opposite in many ways. He holds himself aloof from everyone, giving only the impression of openness. He has a good reason for this though - he doesn’t want to hurt anyone, nor does he want to be hurt. I loved watching him grow and change, as he learned to love Fanny fully and open himself to others.
The romance was very sweet, if a bit predictable. But that’s to be expected and I personally enjoy reading books where the “happily ever after” is a given, rather than a possibility. I adored watching both Fanny and Jonathon fall in love. They had several obstacles to overcome, something that made their happy ending even more rewarding. They must learn compromise and put their spouse’s needs before their own. I appreciated that Renee took the time to explore their marriage a bit and specifically point out that every marriage takes hard work and determination to make it last.
The spiritual element is an important one, for the story as well as the reader. Much of the focus is on forgiveness. I loved this quote that I feel sums up the theme quite well, “Forgiveness was hard, and came at a price, but the cost of bitterness was far steeper.” - Jonathon Hawkins* He had to learn how to forgive, but also how to accept forgiveness and God’s grace. I appreciated the care Renee used with this topic. It certainly isn’t an easy one, but she definitely does it justice, never rushing the story to make it fit within the constraints. There is a slow progression, allowing us to follow each step of his journey toward God’s grace.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance and marriage of convenience stories!
I received an advanced reading copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
*Quotation used with permission from the author. I do not own any rights to the story. No infringement intended.
September 7, 2015
I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review from NetGalley.
The Marriage Agreement by Renee Ryan is the 9th book in her Charity House Series. However, speaking for this one, I read it as a stand alone and it was not a problem, it stands by itself just fine. The characters are all well developed and the minor characters are well represented as well. The plot is good and changes course and leaves you wondering what is going to happen between the main characters, Jonathon Hawkins and Fanny Mitchell. There is a lot of emotional angst in this story, as you will see.
Fanny Mitchell is a beautiful woman of 25 years old that broke her engagement and caused a scandal. Thankfully when she re- entered society at a party, Jonathon Hawkins saw her, asked her to dance and she became an important part of his hotel, The Hotel Dupree where she has worked and proven herself very capable for the last year. She has worked hard to prove her worth, and everyone sees it. Her upbringing was good, her mother and father are upstanding citizens and her brothers are very protective of her. She also has a sister who she has always been close to.
Jonathon Hawkins, came from rags to riches, and has proved his worth over and over, but he lets his past rule his head. He is infatuated with Fanny, but will not let it go anywhere as he likes her so much he does not want to cause her to be scandalized again by being with him. After all, his mother was not married to his father, they lived in a brothel and his father would not claim or help him when he asked for help when his mother was sick. Now things have changed and his father wants to use his son as an example of his own worth, as he wants to run for a public office and his son from his wife turns out to be just like him, a loser! Despite Jonathon's upbringing he is a good man, and hires people to work in his establishments that no one else will hire and as a result his employees work hard for him and love him.
Jonathon and Fanny now love each other, it is at that point, and while Fanny thinks Jonathon would make a great husband, provider, and father, he does not believe he will. But fate is about to take a hand in their story that they do not see coming! You need to read this book to see what happens but I can tell you I loved the outcome of this book and plan to read the other books in this series. The author is really a good writer and engages you in the story from the first page to the last! The dialog in this book is outstanding between all of the characters, which really adds to the book as a whole!
I gave this book 5***** wonderful stars and look forward to reading the rest of these books!
The Marriage Agreement by Renee Ryan is the 9th book in her Charity House Series. However, speaking for this one, I read it as a stand alone and it was not a problem, it stands by itself just fine. The characters are all well developed and the minor characters are well represented as well. The plot is good and changes course and leaves you wondering what is going to happen between the main characters, Jonathon Hawkins and Fanny Mitchell. There is a lot of emotional angst in this story, as you will see.
Fanny Mitchell is a beautiful woman of 25 years old that broke her engagement and caused a scandal. Thankfully when she re- entered society at a party, Jonathon Hawkins saw her, asked her to dance and she became an important part of his hotel, The Hotel Dupree where she has worked and proven herself very capable for the last year. She has worked hard to prove her worth, and everyone sees it. Her upbringing was good, her mother and father are upstanding citizens and her brothers are very protective of her. She also has a sister who she has always been close to.
Jonathon Hawkins, came from rags to riches, and has proved his worth over and over, but he lets his past rule his head. He is infatuated with Fanny, but will not let it go anywhere as he likes her so much he does not want to cause her to be scandalized again by being with him. After all, his mother was not married to his father, they lived in a brothel and his father would not claim or help him when he asked for help when his mother was sick. Now things have changed and his father wants to use his son as an example of his own worth, as he wants to run for a public office and his son from his wife turns out to be just like him, a loser! Despite Jonathon's upbringing he is a good man, and hires people to work in his establishments that no one else will hire and as a result his employees work hard for him and love him.
Jonathon and Fanny now love each other, it is at that point, and while Fanny thinks Jonathon would make a great husband, provider, and father, he does not believe he will. But fate is about to take a hand in their story that they do not see coming! You need to read this book to see what happens but I can tell you I loved the outcome of this book and plan to read the other books in this series. The author is really a good writer and engages you in the story from the first page to the last! The dialog in this book is outstanding between all of the characters, which really adds to the book as a whole!
I gave this book 5***** wonderful stars and look forward to reading the rest of these books!
January 16, 2016
The Marriage Agreement by Renee Ryan
Charity House Series Book Nine
Jonathan Hawkins is a rags to riches story. The rags part of his life is what rules him, his past. Because of that past he has vowed never to marry or have children. But if he was a different man with a different past, he knows just the woman he would want in his life.
Fanny Mitchell had always been known as the beautiful Mitchell daughter. She pleased everyone. After breaking her marriage engagement and causing a scandal, she had run away. After returning a year ago, she has reinvented herself. With all the work she has done at the Dupree Hotel, people will see her with new eyes when they attend the charity ball. Oops, things don't quite turn out as she hoped.
I love this series and couldn't put this book down once I started reading. The Charity House is a home for children who aren't quite orphans, they are children of prostitutes. Jonathan was one of those children, his character really grabbed my heart. Each book is stand-alone but if you enjoy series, I encourage you to read the previous eight stories as well.
**Received from author for an honest review
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
Charity House Series Book Nine
Jonathan Hawkins is a rags to riches story. The rags part of his life is what rules him, his past. Because of that past he has vowed never to marry or have children. But if he was a different man with a different past, he knows just the woman he would want in his life.
Fanny Mitchell had always been known as the beautiful Mitchell daughter. She pleased everyone. After breaking her marriage engagement and causing a scandal, she had run away. After returning a year ago, she has reinvented herself. With all the work she has done at the Dupree Hotel, people will see her with new eyes when they attend the charity ball. Oops, things don't quite turn out as she hoped.
I love this series and couldn't put this book down once I started reading. The Charity House is a home for children who aren't quite orphans, they are children of prostitutes. Jonathan was one of those children, his character really grabbed my heart. Each book is stand-alone but if you enjoy series, I encourage you to read the previous eight stories as well.
**Received from author for an honest review
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
July 7, 2015
I love the Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense and Heartwarming series. This book is also a Christian romance. I enjoyed the premise of the book, also the execution.
Fanny is a strong female character, especially given the time period. As with most characters, she has strengths and flaws. I felt like her family was one of her strengths. They were quite delightful. This is my first reading of any of the books in the series so the secondary characters probably weren't as fleshed out for me, but not to the distraction of the story. Having said that, I'm excited to go back and read the other books in the series.
Jonathan was more complex than Fanny. He'd overcome a horrible upbringing to become successful. I loved that despite his beginnings, he was a good man. The author did a nice job with the inner conflict of this character.
I liked the book, good job to having strong secondary characters. Although the message in the book is great, I felt it to be a tad overdone. Thus not 5 stars.
Rating: 4.5
Content: Clean, subject of upbringing on the darker side
Source: Netgalley
Fanny is a strong female character, especially given the time period. As with most characters, she has strengths and flaws. I felt like her family was one of her strengths. They were quite delightful. This is my first reading of any of the books in the series so the secondary characters probably weren't as fleshed out for me, but not to the distraction of the story. Having said that, I'm excited to go back and read the other books in the series.
Jonathan was more complex than Fanny. He'd overcome a horrible upbringing to become successful. I loved that despite his beginnings, he was a good man. The author did a nice job with the inner conflict of this character.
I liked the book, good job to having strong secondary characters. Although the message in the book is great, I felt it to be a tad overdone. Thus not 5 stars.
Rating: 4.5
Content: Clean, subject of upbringing on the darker side
Source: Netgalley
December 23, 2015
Ugh! So, I like reading about marriage of convenience stories as much as the next person. In fact, I believe the first book in this series focused on a MOC after the couple were caught in a compromising position, but I was a bit offended at the way this woman was treated (I stopped reading before the half-way point because of the fact). The couple were caught kissing - simply kissing...and suddenly, her life is ruined? She won't be allowed to go to her shops or socialize with her friends? Then I say she needs to move elsewhere. It was just a bit ridiculous for my liking. She kisses a man and her brothers are all of a sudden demanding satisfaction from him?! I get mad about this a lot, but this time it just seemed a bit over the top. Now, I understand that in this time period things were a bit stricter - but it is almost the twentieth century...It just put me off!
September 29, 2015
I've only read one of the other books in the Charity House series, but I don't think that mattered in the slightest.
The things I enjoyed about this book were: Fanny's family (especially her brothers), the interactions between the two main characters, Fanny's support of Jonathon , and the final scene. :)
I didn't care for the repetitive things that were said and for how long it took to get to the marriage.
Still, I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to fans of Love Inspire historicals. I really want to read the books in the series that feature Fanny's brothers' individual stories.
I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.
The things I enjoyed about this book were: Fanny's family (especially her brothers), the interactions between the two main characters, Fanny's support of Jonathon , and the final scene. :)
I didn't care for the repetitive things that were said and for how long it took to get to the marriage.
Still, I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to fans of Love Inspire historicals. I really want to read the books in the series that feature Fanny's brothers' individual stories.
I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.
August 8, 2015
The Marriage Agreement by Renee Ryan was a good book. Fanny Mitchell comes from a big family. She works at the fancy Hotel Dupree. It is set in the time when a persons reputation can be tarnished. Which Fanny's has been when she broke off with her first boyfriend. Now she kissed Johathon Hawkins at a party. To save Fanny's reputation he agrees to marry her. They both had had feelings for each other but didn't act on them. Johathon said he would never have children because of what his real father was like. A lot goes on in this historical romance.
July 17, 2015
Renee Ryan does it again! Another great read in the Charity House series. This is Fanny Mitchell's turn in the spotlight and she is a person to be reckoned with. She works at the Hotel Dupree for rags to riches Jonathan Hawkins. Gossip is a cruel weapon that Jonathan knows all to well and after Fanny and he are caught in a kiss together things get out of hand. There's only one solution and neither are to sure of what the outcome is going to be?
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January 12, 2016"The elements of Christian faith are superbly woven into the story, and fans of this delightful series will surely enjoy this sweet tale of forgiveness, hope and redeeming love" (RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 stars TOP PICK!).
Miniseries: Charity House
Miniseries: Charity House
August 18, 2015
I love the Charity House series! I can't ever get enough! Love the stories of second chances, overcoming difficult circumstances, gossip and finding worth. I am so grateful for Renee and the way she has with words. This story was fabulous! I hope this series never ends! ;)
October 22, 2015
A decent, clean read. A bit too mushy and receptive for me. A writer needs to have more to say about characters than just how handsome, beautiful, perfect, and gallant they are. It is just plain. The depth of characters was ok.
July 4, 2015
A cute story but with real life self identity issue that both characters overcome by the end of the book. Love the Charity House Series
June 6, 2015
Another hit from Renee Ryan. Great characters in a great story. Can't wait for her next one.
August 3, 2015
Sweet story of a man that struggles with family history. Set in Denver in the hotel industry it was a dreamy read. Nice pace and tension.
November 7, 2015
A very touching and sweet story. A lesson on who you are has to do with your own choices not the choices of your parents.
December 31, 2015
The circumstances were a bit sad but the fact that the main characters are able to overcome their past was good.
July 31, 2016
This was great. So many twists and turns that just had me going "Oh snap!" lol. The best in this series (that I've read) so far! Can't wait for the next one.
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