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Marriage of Convenience #1
Marry in Haste
From the award-winning author of The Summer Bride comes the first in a charming new historical romance series where marriages of convenience turn into true love matches.Major Calbourne Rutherford returns to England on the trail of an assassin, only to find he’s become Lord Ashendon, with the responsibility for vast estates and dependent relatives. Cal can command the toughest of men, but his wild half-sisters are quite another matter. They might just be his undoing.When he discovers that Miss Emmaline Westwood, the girls’ former teacher, guides them with ease, Cal offers her a marriage of convenience. But strong-minded and independent Emm is neither as compliant nor as proper as he expected, and Cal finds himself most inconveniently seduced by his convenient wife.Emm knows they didn’t marry for love, yet beneath her husband’s austere facade, she catches glimpses of a man who takes her breath away. As pride, duty and passion clash, will these two stubborn hearts find more than they ever dreamed of?
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2017
443 people are currently reading
2534 people want to read
About the author
Anne Gracie
95 books1,534 followersI've always loved stories. Family legend has it that I used to spend hours playing in the sand pit, with a dog on either side of me and Rocka the horse leaning over me, his head just touching my shoulder, while I told them stories. I have to say, dogs and horses are great audiences, apart from their tendency to drool occasionally. But people are even nicer.
In case you imagine we were a filthy rich horse-owning family, let me assure you we weren't. The horse period was a time when my parents entered a "let's-be-self-sufficient" phase, so we had a horse, but no electricity and all our water came from the rain tank.
As well as the horse and dogs, we had 2 cows (Buttercup and Daisy and one of them always had a calf), a sheep (Woolly,) goats (Billy and Nanny) dozens of ducks, chooks, and a couple of geese, a pet bluetongue lizard and a huge vegie patch. I don't know how my mother managed, really, because both she and Dad taught full time, but she came home and cooked on a wood stove and did all the laundry by hand, boiling the clothes and sheets in a big copper kettle. Somehow, we were always warm, clean, well fed and happy. She's pretty amazing, my mum.
Once I learned to read, I spent my days outside playing with the animals (I include my brother and 2 sisters here) and when inside I read. For most of my childhood we didn't have TV, so books have always been a big part of my life. Luckily our house was always full of them. Travel was also a big part of my childhood. My parents had itchy feet. We spent a lot of time driving from one part of Australia to another, visiting relatives or friends or simply to see what was there. I've lived in Scotland, Malaysia and Greece. We travelled through Europe in a caravan and I'd swum most of the famous rivers in Europe by the time I was eight.
This is me and my classmates in Scotland. I am in the second front row, in the middle, to the right of the girl in the dark tunic.
Sounds like I was raised by gypsies, doesn't it? I was even almost born in a tent --Mum, Dad and 3 children were camping and one day mum left the tent and went to hospital to have me. But in fact we are a family of chalkies (Australian slang for teachers)- and Dad was a school principal during most of my life. And I am an expert in being "the new girl" having been to 6 different schools in 12 years.The last 4 years, however, were in the same high school and I still have my 2 best friends from that time.
No matter where I lived, I read. I devoured whatever I could get my hands on -- old Enid Blyton and Mary Grant Bruce books, old schoolboys annuals. I learned history by reading Rosemary Sutcliffe, Henry Treece and Georgette Heyer. I loved animal books -- Elyne Mitchell's Silver Brumby books and Mary Patchett and Finn the Wolf Hound. And then I read Jane Austen and Dickens and Mary Stewart and Richard Llewellyn and Virginia Woolf and EF Benson and Dick Francis and David Malouf and Patrick White and Doris Lessing and PD James and...the list is never ending.
This is me posing shamelessly on a glacier in New Zealand.
This is me in Greece with my good friend Fay in our village outfits. The film went a funny colour, but you get the idea. I'm the one in the pink apron.
I escaped from my parents, settled down and went to university.To my amazement I became a chalkie myself and found a lot of pleasure in working with teenagers and later, adults. I taught English and worked as a counsellor and helped put on plays and concerts and supervised camps and encouraged other people to write but never did much myself. It took a year of backpacking around the world to find that my early desire to write hadn't left me, it had just got buried under a busy and demanding job.
I wrote my first novel on notebooks bought in Quebec, Spain, Greece and Indonesia. That story never made it out of the notebooks, but I'd been bitten by the writing bug.
My friends and I formed a band called Platform Souls a
In case you imagine we were a filthy rich horse-owning family, let me assure you we weren't. The horse period was a time when my parents entered a "let's-be-self-sufficient" phase, so we had a horse, but no electricity and all our water came from the rain tank.
As well as the horse and dogs, we had 2 cows (Buttercup and Daisy and one of them always had a calf), a sheep (Woolly,) goats (Billy and Nanny) dozens of ducks, chooks, and a couple of geese, a pet bluetongue lizard and a huge vegie patch. I don't know how my mother managed, really, because both she and Dad taught full time, but she came home and cooked on a wood stove and did all the laundry by hand, boiling the clothes and sheets in a big copper kettle. Somehow, we were always warm, clean, well fed and happy. She's pretty amazing, my mum.
Once I learned to read, I spent my days outside playing with the animals (I include my brother and 2 sisters here) and when inside I read. For most of my childhood we didn't have TV, so books have always been a big part of my life. Luckily our house was always full of them. Travel was also a big part of my childhood. My parents had itchy feet. We spent a lot of time driving from one part of Australia to another, visiting relatives or friends or simply to see what was there. I've lived in Scotland, Malaysia and Greece. We travelled through Europe in a caravan and I'd swum most of the famous rivers in Europe by the time I was eight.
This is me and my classmates in Scotland. I am in the second front row, in the middle, to the right of the girl in the dark tunic.
Sounds like I was raised by gypsies, doesn't it? I was even almost born in a tent --Mum, Dad and 3 children were camping and one day mum left the tent and went to hospital to have me. But in fact we are a family of chalkies (Australian slang for teachers)- and Dad was a school principal during most of my life. And I am an expert in being "the new girl" having been to 6 different schools in 12 years.The last 4 years, however, were in the same high school and I still have my 2 best friends from that time.
No matter where I lived, I read. I devoured whatever I could get my hands on -- old Enid Blyton and Mary Grant Bruce books, old schoolboys annuals. I learned history by reading Rosemary Sutcliffe, Henry Treece and Georgette Heyer. I loved animal books -- Elyne Mitchell's Silver Brumby books and Mary Patchett and Finn the Wolf Hound. And then I read Jane Austen and Dickens and Mary Stewart and Richard Llewellyn and Virginia Woolf and EF Benson and Dick Francis and David Malouf and Patrick White and Doris Lessing and PD James and...the list is never ending.
This is me posing shamelessly on a glacier in New Zealand.
This is me in Greece with my good friend Fay in our village outfits. The film went a funny colour, but you get the idea. I'm the one in the pink apron.
I escaped from my parents, settled down and went to university.To my amazement I became a chalkie myself and found a lot of pleasure in working with teenagers and later, adults. I taught English and worked as a counsellor and helped put on plays and concerts and supervised camps and encouraged other people to write but never did much myself. It took a year of backpacking around the world to find that my early desire to write hadn't left me, it had just got buried under a busy and demanding job.
I wrote my first novel on notebooks bought in Quebec, Spain, Greece and Indonesia. That story never made it out of the notebooks, but I'd been bitten by the writing bug.
My friends and I formed a band called Platform Souls a
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 503 reviews
June 12, 2017
I've given this an A- at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars rounded up
I will admit that I was a little apprehensive about picking up Marry in Haste, the first in Anne Gracie’s new Marriage of Convenience series, having been rather disappointed with the last couple of books in her Chance Sisters quartet. But the premise of a hastily arranged marriage of convenience drew me like a moth to a flame, and I’m so glad it did because this is a delightful book and I loved it to bits. The two principals are beautifully drawn, well-rounded characters, and the hero – who is simply adorable – experiences a lot of of genuine personal growth throughout, something the author shows us beautifully without feeling the need to post signposts or drop anvils on our heads. There’s an entertaining secondary cast who likewise develop as the tale progresses, the romance is just lovely and I turned the final page feeling thoroughly satisfied with the outcome and confident that this hero and heroine were going to be happy together long after they’d reached their HEA.
Major Calbourne Rutherford – Cal to his friends – has spent the last decade fighting England’s enemies on the continent. With the Napoleonic Wars ended, his army duties have changed somewhat in the direction of diplomacy and intelligence work; the map of Europe has undergone such major changes over the past few years, that there are many negotiations to be made and settlements to be reached, and Cal is anxious to return to his post and his role in those events. But his current mission is one of a more personal nature. He is on the trail of the notorious assassin who murdered one of his closest friends, and after searching for him for two years is pretty sure that he is an English sharpshooter. Cal has returned to England determined to hunt him down once and for all – only to be greeted with the unexpected news of the death of his older brother.
Becoming an earl was never on Cal’s agenda. A second son, he was sent to school at the age of seven and at seventeen, was given the choice of going into the army or the church. The army suits him and he likes the life, but he knows he is ill-equipped to take on the responsibilities that go hand-in-hand with a large estate and a peerage. And when he visits Bath to check up on his half-sisters, he also realises that he has absolutely no idea what to do with two suspicious, disobedient young women of eighteen and nineteen have a penchant for going their own way and making mischief.
It’s immediately obvious that Cal can’t leave the girls in the care of their Aunt Dottie, who, while she loves them dearly, has no control over them, so he approaches the headmistress of the school they attended to see if she will take them back – but she refuses. While on his visit there, he encounters Miss Emmaline Westwood, one of their former teachers, and hits upon the idea of hiring her to look after the girls until such time as he can get them married off. But she also refuses, leaving Cal with quite the quandary, which is then made worse when he discovers that his older brother left behind an eighteen-year-old daughter that none of the family knew about.
Faced with not two, but three female relatives he doesn’t know how to deal with, Cal again approaches Miss Westwood and practically begs her to come and work for him. She calmly explains that while the money he is offering is attractive, her post will last only two or three years and doesn’t offer the sort of long-term security she is looking for. Cal is about to leave – when he has a lightbulb moment. Miss Westwood wants security? She can have it as his countess; after all, he has to marry some time, and he’s already acknowledged to himself that he is strongly attracted to the lady so he could do much worse. He proposes a marriage of convenience and – upon consideration – is accepted. But a marriage between two virtual strangers is never going to be easy to navigate, especially when Cal seems to want to carry on as though nothing has changed.
I love a good marriage of convenience story, and this is a very good one indeed. Ms. Gracie takes time to set up her characters and the situation so we are afforded ample time to get to know Cal and to see that under his rather brusque, authoritarian exterior is a good-hearted man capable of great kindness who wants to do the best for those in his care. Having been in the army since he was seventeen, he’s used to making quick decisions and having his instructions and orders followed, and after a decade, such habits are hard to break. He has to learn to be more flexible, to empathise and persuade rather than order and insist, and I loved the part when he – much to her surprise – adopts one of Emm’s strategies:
“I don’t know many men – no, make that any men – who would seek advice from a woman.”
He shrugged. “Ten years in the army teaches a man to take advantage of local, expert knowledge, no matter what the source.”
It’s a telling exchange, showing clearly that Cal is adaptable and that he in no way sees Emm as beneath him or inferior. He respects her intelligence, her skills, and her spirit, gradually coming to realise what an asset she is, and what a good thing he did by marrying her. Of course, in the initial stages, all the convenience of the marriage is convenience for him, but as he and Emm get to spend more time with each other, talking and telling each other things they’ve told no-one else, they become friends, adding a deeper element to their relationship which has, up to this point, been mostly based on an intense physical attraction. The chemistry between them is terrific; there’s an element of slowly simmering sexual tension from their first meeting that ultimately leads to some sensually charged love scenes.
One of the things I really appreciated about the whole book is its aura of maturity. Emm is keeping an old secret from Cal, but it’s dealt with quickly and sensibly without being turned into some big, overblown drama, which is incredibly refreshing in a genre that so frequently uses secrets and lies as plot points. Cal and Emm actually talk to each other about important things, and their actions are generally properly thought-out and rational. There’s no stupid running away or arguments based on flimsy plot-points; no, this is a look at a marriage which needs to be worked at and in which, if something isn’t right, the couple realises the need to face it and deal with it. Ms. Gracie also does a superb job in showing the way in which Cal’s family grows and develops around him, mostly thanks to his wife, but thanks to him, too, as he grows and develops with them, coming to see that he can’t continue with his life as it was before.
There’s a lot to love about Marry in Haste, not least of which is Cal, who is a truly wonderful hero. He’s handsome, charming and sexy (of course!), but the way he turns from a man who wants nothing more than to escape to one who not only accepts but comes to enjoy his responsibilities, is skilfully done and a real delight to read. And Emm is his perfect match in every way; insightful and compassionate, she helps Cal and the girls to become a real family, stands firm in the face of his formidable Aunt Augusta and, in the end, finds it completely impossible not to tumble head over heels in love with her husband.
The final section of the book – in which Emm also comes to see how loved she is in return – is nicely done, although a couple of last minute events are perhaps a little over-the-top (and account for the A- instead of a straight A). But those are minor niggles. Marry in Haste is a gorgeously romantic read and one I’m only too pleased to recommend.
I will admit that I was a little apprehensive about picking up Marry in Haste, the first in Anne Gracie’s new Marriage of Convenience series, having been rather disappointed with the last couple of books in her Chance Sisters quartet. But the premise of a hastily arranged marriage of convenience drew me like a moth to a flame, and I’m so glad it did because this is a delightful book and I loved it to bits. The two principals are beautifully drawn, well-rounded characters, and the hero – who is simply adorable – experiences a lot of of genuine personal growth throughout, something the author shows us beautifully without feeling the need to post signposts or drop anvils on our heads. There’s an entertaining secondary cast who likewise develop as the tale progresses, the romance is just lovely and I turned the final page feeling thoroughly satisfied with the outcome and confident that this hero and heroine were going to be happy together long after they’d reached their HEA.
Major Calbourne Rutherford – Cal to his friends – has spent the last decade fighting England’s enemies on the continent. With the Napoleonic Wars ended, his army duties have changed somewhat in the direction of diplomacy and intelligence work; the map of Europe has undergone such major changes over the past few years, that there are many negotiations to be made and settlements to be reached, and Cal is anxious to return to his post and his role in those events. But his current mission is one of a more personal nature. He is on the trail of the notorious assassin who murdered one of his closest friends, and after searching for him for two years is pretty sure that he is an English sharpshooter. Cal has returned to England determined to hunt him down once and for all – only to be greeted with the unexpected news of the death of his older brother.
Becoming an earl was never on Cal’s agenda. A second son, he was sent to school at the age of seven and at seventeen, was given the choice of going into the army or the church. The army suits him and he likes the life, but he knows he is ill-equipped to take on the responsibilities that go hand-in-hand with a large estate and a peerage. And when he visits Bath to check up on his half-sisters, he also realises that he has absolutely no idea what to do with two suspicious, disobedient young women of eighteen and nineteen have a penchant for going their own way and making mischief.
It’s immediately obvious that Cal can’t leave the girls in the care of their Aunt Dottie, who, while she loves them dearly, has no control over them, so he approaches the headmistress of the school they attended to see if she will take them back – but she refuses. While on his visit there, he encounters Miss Emmaline Westwood, one of their former teachers, and hits upon the idea of hiring her to look after the girls until such time as he can get them married off. But she also refuses, leaving Cal with quite the quandary, which is then made worse when he discovers that his older brother left behind an eighteen-year-old daughter that none of the family knew about.
Faced with not two, but three female relatives he doesn’t know how to deal with, Cal again approaches Miss Westwood and practically begs her to come and work for him. She calmly explains that while the money he is offering is attractive, her post will last only two or three years and doesn’t offer the sort of long-term security she is looking for. Cal is about to leave – when he has a lightbulb moment. Miss Westwood wants security? She can have it as his countess; after all, he has to marry some time, and he’s already acknowledged to himself that he is strongly attracted to the lady so he could do much worse. He proposes a marriage of convenience and – upon consideration – is accepted. But a marriage between two virtual strangers is never going to be easy to navigate, especially when Cal seems to want to carry on as though nothing has changed.
I love a good marriage of convenience story, and this is a very good one indeed. Ms. Gracie takes time to set up her characters and the situation so we are afforded ample time to get to know Cal and to see that under his rather brusque, authoritarian exterior is a good-hearted man capable of great kindness who wants to do the best for those in his care. Having been in the army since he was seventeen, he’s used to making quick decisions and having his instructions and orders followed, and after a decade, such habits are hard to break. He has to learn to be more flexible, to empathise and persuade rather than order and insist, and I loved the part when he – much to her surprise – adopts one of Emm’s strategies:
“I don’t know many men – no, make that any men – who would seek advice from a woman.”
He shrugged. “Ten years in the army teaches a man to take advantage of local, expert knowledge, no matter what the source.”
It’s a telling exchange, showing clearly that Cal is adaptable and that he in no way sees Emm as beneath him or inferior. He respects her intelligence, her skills, and her spirit, gradually coming to realise what an asset she is, and what a good thing he did by marrying her. Of course, in the initial stages, all the convenience of the marriage is convenience for him, but as he and Emm get to spend more time with each other, talking and telling each other things they’ve told no-one else, they become friends, adding a deeper element to their relationship which has, up to this point, been mostly based on an intense physical attraction. The chemistry between them is terrific; there’s an element of slowly simmering sexual tension from their first meeting that ultimately leads to some sensually charged love scenes.
One of the things I really appreciated about the whole book is its aura of maturity. Emm is keeping an old secret from Cal, but it’s dealt with quickly and sensibly without being turned into some big, overblown drama, which is incredibly refreshing in a genre that so frequently uses secrets and lies as plot points. Cal and Emm actually talk to each other about important things, and their actions are generally properly thought-out and rational. There’s no stupid running away or arguments based on flimsy plot-points; no, this is a look at a marriage which needs to be worked at and in which, if something isn’t right, the couple realises the need to face it and deal with it. Ms. Gracie also does a superb job in showing the way in which Cal’s family grows and develops around him, mostly thanks to his wife, but thanks to him, too, as he grows and develops with them, coming to see that he can’t continue with his life as it was before.
There’s a lot to love about Marry in Haste, not least of which is Cal, who is a truly wonderful hero. He’s handsome, charming and sexy (of course!), but the way he turns from a man who wants nothing more than to escape to one who not only accepts but comes to enjoy his responsibilities, is skilfully done and a real delight to read. And Emm is his perfect match in every way; insightful and compassionate, she helps Cal and the girls to become a real family, stands firm in the face of his formidable Aunt Augusta and, in the end, finds it completely impossible not to tumble head over heels in love with her husband.
The final section of the book – in which Emm also comes to see how loved she is in return – is nicely done, although a couple of last minute events are perhaps a little over-the-top (and account for the A- instead of a straight A). But those are minor niggles. Marry in Haste is a gorgeously romantic read and one I’m only too pleased to recommend.
May 31, 2025
I choose to read this in between some more serious readings. After breathtaking passages of Stoner, I felt like I needed something light and fun to read. Why not an historical romance? But it only proved that even light and fun books need something else that this book lacked. So, back to Stoner.
September 4, 2025
I tend to read a lot of mysteries and every now and then it is nice to have a change and read a book like this. Marry in Haste is the first book in the Marriage of Convenience series and it turned out to be a great deal of fun.
Major Calbourne Rutherford is shocked to find he has inherited the title of Lord Ashendon as well as the care of two unmarried sisters and a previously unknown niece. He finds himself out of his depth and seeks the help of Emmaline Westwood, a teacher at a Ladies Academy. This is the start of a very amusing and delightfully up and down relationship and a great story.
I enjoyed it very much and intend to read the rest of the series.
Major Calbourne Rutherford is shocked to find he has inherited the title of Lord Ashendon as well as the care of two unmarried sisters and a previously unknown niece. He finds himself out of his depth and seeks the help of Emmaline Westwood, a teacher at a Ladies Academy. This is the start of a very amusing and delightfully up and down relationship and a great story.
I enjoyed it very much and intend to read the rest of the series.
May 30, 2017
An airy and sweet romance! Just what I needed after all those mystery/crime RS novels I've read lately!
I loved both Emm and Cal! Together they were just perfect!
I appreciated that Emm did not fall in love with Cal at first sight and that she was able to rebuff all his offers with an impeccable logic! It was so fun to read how Cal was confounded when he thought his offers were everything a woman could hope for!
But, at the same time I loved him because he was not an idiot and was able to recognize she was right and to appreciate her mind and her abilities!
He also made me laugh when faced with his nieces and they antics! He was a man of his time and being confronted by very clever young ladies was very funny and entertaining!
A very clever love story where both fall slowly in love not with their look, but with each other's character! Cleverly done!
I loved both Emm and Cal! Together they were just perfect!
I appreciated that Emm did not fall in love with Cal at first sight and that she was able to rebuff all his offers with an impeccable logic! It was so fun to read how Cal was confounded when he thought his offers were everything a woman could hope for!
But, at the same time I loved him because he was not an idiot and was able to recognize she was right and to appreciate her mind and her abilities!
He also made me laugh when faced with his nieces and they antics! He was a man of his time and being confronted by very clever young ladies was very funny and entertaining!
A very clever love story where both fall slowly in love not with their look, but with each other's character! Cleverly done!
July 13, 2018
Surprisingly more heartfelt than I thought it was going to be.
Here are some of my thoughts:
• For a book called Marry in Haste, it was realllllly slow. Like the marriage in haste literally didn’t even happen until like halfway through the book. So the 1st half was IMO kinda dull. I think we spent too much time providing background about Cal, his sisters, and his niece.
• However, the 2nd half is everything as it should be, I think. I thought the sisters and niece were kinda annoying and ungrateful in the beginning. And Cal is not perfect either but I think I was more sympathetic with him because he was at least trying, and I knew he would learn his lessons by the end. Anyway, the 2nd half of the book shows character development in all these characters. I am glad to see Emm helping Cal and the girls bridge the gap between them. It has made me feel relieved and heart-warmed to see the girls learning to trust Cal and appreciate him. And on the flip side, to see Cal learn to put the girls as priority and see that he truly care and love them. It is a great family theme.
• Emm is easy to root for with her sad background. I also admire her for pushing forward all these years despite being disowned by her father and having to learn to navigate life by herself while being poor. She is a strong, assertive protagonist who is not afraid to talk back to bullies.
• I have grown to love Cal too. I was worried because he really did had some douchebag thoughts in his narrative with wanting to get married just so his wife can take of his sisters and niece, and he would leave them to continue his work soon after. However, he truly transforms into a more thoughtful person. He is pretty damn sweet and considerate.
• Even Aunt Agatha gets her own character development. She’s a class A bitch for most of the novel, but I gotta admire her by the end.
So by the end of this book, I have enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. The strong family theme and the romance are great, and my heart is honestly touched. 3.5 stars
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? Other things to note?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
What age level would be appropriate?
Here are some of my thoughts:
• For a book called Marry in Haste, it was realllllly slow. Like the marriage in haste literally didn’t even happen until like halfway through the book. So the 1st half was IMO kinda dull. I think we spent too much time providing background about Cal, his sisters, and his niece.
• However, the 2nd half is everything as it should be, I think. I thought the sisters and niece were kinda annoying and ungrateful in the beginning. And Cal is not perfect either but I think I was more sympathetic with him because he was at least trying, and I knew he would learn his lessons by the end. Anyway, the 2nd half of the book shows character development in all these characters. I am glad to see Emm helping Cal and the girls bridge the gap between them. It has made me feel relieved and heart-warmed to see the girls learning to trust Cal and appreciate him. And on the flip side, to see Cal learn to put the girls as priority and see that he truly care and love them. It is a great family theme.
• Emm is easy to root for with her sad background. I also admire her for pushing forward all these years despite being disowned by her father and having to learn to navigate life by herself while being poor. She is a strong, assertive protagonist who is not afraid to talk back to bullies.
• I have grown to love Cal too. I was worried because he really did had some douchebag thoughts in his narrative with wanting to get married just so his wife can take of his sisters and niece, and he would leave them to continue his work soon after. However, he truly transforms into a more thoughtful person. He is pretty damn sweet and considerate.
• Even Aunt Agatha gets her own character development. She’s a class A bitch for most of the novel, but I gotta admire her by the end.
So by the end of this book, I have enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. The strong family theme and the romance are great, and my heart is honestly touched. 3.5 stars
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? Other things to note?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
What age level would be appropriate?
June 24, 2017
So if you're reading a book titled Marry in Haste and the cover copy implies that an offer of a "marriage of convenience" is the preliminary for the real story to start then going half the stupid novel before anybody even thinks of offering marriage is a bit risky, I think. You might take that risk if you're pretty confident that your characters or plot can keep your readers engaged while waiting for you to get to the promise of the title and copy, but you'd better be pretty darn certain that is the case.
That is not the case.
I've liked a lot of Anne Gracie books in the past. Her characters are usually vivid and engaging and I often find myself caring about them a great deal. So this is a huge disappointment for me. At about the halfway point, we've had a handful of pages with Emmaline and stupidly sparse pages spread out willy-nilly at that. Which might work if Cal wasn't busy wasting his time as a selfish jerk who is bossy and demanding and can't seem to understand why the half-sisters he's never really known don't fall all over themselves to snap to his every demand. By the time I gave up I'd tagged along while he thrashes about while failing to take any useful action at all. It doesn't help, of course, that the girls in his care act like they're transplants from the twentieth century who had every lick of sense sucked out of them by space fungus. By the time they I decided it was time to give it up for a bad bet.
That is not the case.
I've liked a lot of Anne Gracie books in the past. Her characters are usually vivid and engaging and I often find myself caring about them a great deal. So this is a huge disappointment for me. At about the halfway point, we've had a handful of pages with Emmaline and stupidly sparse pages spread out willy-nilly at that. Which might work if Cal wasn't busy wasting his time as a selfish jerk who is bossy and demanding and can't seem to understand why the half-sisters he's never really known don't fall all over themselves to snap to his every demand. By the time I gave up I'd tagged along while he thrashes about while failing to take any useful action at all. It doesn't help, of course, that the girls in his care act like they're transplants from the twentieth century who had every lick of sense sucked out of them by space fungus. By the time they I decided it was time to give it up for a bad bet.
May 3, 2017
Marry in Haste, the first in a new series centered on marriage of conveniences, has restored my faith in Anne Gracie's fantastic characterization, finely woven plots drizzled with sweet humor. This is very much a journey of self-discovery for our hero, Cal, as he learns the value of family and love, and naturally, that marriages are never convenient.
Major Calbourne (Cal) Rutherford is taking a temporary absence from soldiering upon discovering that the Earldom of Ashendon has, surprisingly, fallen on him due to the death of his father and older brother. To say that Cal is unprepared to his new responsibilities is an understatement, for he now has to deal with two headstrong nieces, an aunt who is too sweet to watch over said nieces, and kill the assassin (aptly named The Scorpion) before more victims arise. Cal, used to military discipline, quickly learns that he is ill-prepared to deal with his nieces, and sought help in the form of a marriage of convenience to the only person who can - Emmaline Westwood, respectable teacher at the girls academy his nieces were kicked out from. Thus begins Cal's belief that his "convenience" will remain, while Emm takes care of his nieces. Lord, what fools these mortals be!
Love was never part of the equation, but the growing days as Emm restores order to his household makes Cal realize that his well-ordered life was in fact missing something. For Emm, betrayed by men in her youth and subsequently cast out, she quickly learns that Cal isn't just the harsh man he seems to be, but rather a kind, trusting, honorable man who would do anything for his family. Their journey isn't smooth, but it is devoid of silly plot devices for dramatics. Instead, we are allowed to see each character develop in an organic way, as each action, each step, makes them reflect upon themselves and the loved ones around them. Cal and Emm are not perfect beings, but far from letting us dwell on a handsome visage or a beautiful figure, Ms. Gracie makes them learn from their imperfections so that this journey, this romance, becomes a budding flower in spring.
I enjoyed feeling like a friend to both parties along this journey, and one of the best moments is when, contrary to romance novel hero behavior, Cal confides in Emm his dangerous mission to seek her understanding and help, that his transformation becomes almost complete. The end involves a little bit of adorable fluff, but nonetheless, the characters charm you into their lives, and very quickly, you realize that you never want them to leave you. I remain a grateful fan of Ms. Gracie, and eager for more of this series.
*I received an advanced reader copy via Netgalley for an honest review.
Major Calbourne (Cal) Rutherford is taking a temporary absence from soldiering upon discovering that the Earldom of Ashendon has, surprisingly, fallen on him due to the death of his father and older brother. To say that Cal is unprepared to his new responsibilities is an understatement, for he now has to deal with two headstrong nieces, an aunt who is too sweet to watch over said nieces, and kill the assassin (aptly named The Scorpion) before more victims arise. Cal, used to military discipline, quickly learns that he is ill-prepared to deal with his nieces, and sought help in the form of a marriage of convenience to the only person who can - Emmaline Westwood, respectable teacher at the girls academy his nieces were kicked out from. Thus begins Cal's belief that his "convenience" will remain, while Emm takes care of his nieces. Lord, what fools these mortals be!
Love was never part of the equation, but the growing days as Emm restores order to his household makes Cal realize that his well-ordered life was in fact missing something. For Emm, betrayed by men in her youth and subsequently cast out, she quickly learns that Cal isn't just the harsh man he seems to be, but rather a kind, trusting, honorable man who would do anything for his family. Their journey isn't smooth, but it is devoid of silly plot devices for dramatics. Instead, we are allowed to see each character develop in an organic way, as each action, each step, makes them reflect upon themselves and the loved ones around them. Cal and Emm are not perfect beings, but far from letting us dwell on a handsome visage or a beautiful figure, Ms. Gracie makes them learn from their imperfections so that this journey, this romance, becomes a budding flower in spring.
I enjoyed feeling like a friend to both parties along this journey, and one of the best moments is when, contrary to romance novel hero behavior, Cal confides in Emm his dangerous mission to seek her understanding and help, that his transformation becomes almost complete. The end involves a little bit of adorable fluff, but nonetheless, the characters charm you into their lives, and very quickly, you realize that you never want them to leave you. I remain a grateful fan of Ms. Gracie, and eager for more of this series.
*I received an advanced reader copy via Netgalley for an honest review.
May 1, 2017
Marry in Haste is another stunning historical romance by Anne Gracie and I'm tempted to say that it even surpasses my love for The Winter Bride. Marry in Haste starts by introducing readers to a new family. Major Cal Rutherford has returned home on the hunt for an assassin only to discover he's inherited an earldom due to the death of his older brother. And with that inheritance comes two younger sisters as well as another unexpected family member. Cal would like nothing more than to drop off his unruly sisters to school and leave them there while he continues on his hunt for the assassin. Unfortunately, the girls are too old and their reputation precedes them. So, Cal launches his next plan: marriage. The girls former teacher Miss Emmaline Westwood has proven herself capable and Cal decides that they should marry, never mind that they hardly know one another. Cal's sure that Emm will be able to take the girls in hand, launch them into society, and marry them off, at least, after they marry. Naturally, this marriage of convenience soon becomes more meaningful than either would have expected.
What's strange about Marry in Haste is that it takes a really long time for the romance to get started. Gracie takes her time in introducing Cal and his sisters, then Emm and her backstory. And more shockingly, I didn't mind. The level of character detail and development throughout this romance was phenomenal. The fact that the author took the time to set up Cal's relationship with his family made it all the more meaningful when Emm formally became part of that family. And what I really loved is that not only are readers told that our main characters are changing but are also more subtly shown how each character is changing, in particular Cal. For example, what Cal says and does is often very different. He will speak harshly with his sisters but then do something completely sweet for them. This level of detail in character development is something that I find missing more often than not in romance.
Marry in Haste is an excellent historical romance and will appeal to fans that are interested in a more in-depth character study. This just might be one of my favourite historical romances of 2017.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
What's strange about Marry in Haste is that it takes a really long time for the romance to get started. Gracie takes her time in introducing Cal and his sisters, then Emm and her backstory. And more shockingly, I didn't mind. The level of character detail and development throughout this romance was phenomenal. The fact that the author took the time to set up Cal's relationship with his family made it all the more meaningful when Emm formally became part of that family. And what I really loved is that not only are readers told that our main characters are changing but are also more subtly shown how each character is changing, in particular Cal. For example, what Cal says and does is often very different. He will speak harshly with his sisters but then do something completely sweet for them. This level of detail in character development is something that I find missing more often than not in romance.
Marry in Haste is an excellent historical romance and will appeal to fans that are interested in a more in-depth character study. This just might be one of my favourite historical romances of 2017.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
August 27, 2017
Major Calbourne Rutherford returns to England to discover that he's now the Earl of Ashendon!! This fun promotion comes with the care and keeping of his two half sisters, future book bait. He also discovers that his reprobate older brother had a Secret Marriage which resulted in additional future book bait. Halfway through running all over England to find a solution to the "problem" of his female menagerie (and also to allegedly find an assassin), Cal remembers that this is a ROMANCE DAMNIT and proposes marriage to the sexy teacher who lives down the lane.
Emmaline Westwood is the sexy teacher in question: she's on the run from nasty rumors in her past and ends up marrying Cal because this would be a very odd "marriage of convenience" book if she did not. After having super sexy sex, feelings pop out of the snow like freaking daisies!!!!
1. This was not a good marriage of convenience book, a decently entertaining "set up" novel, and a pretty disastrous romance story.
a) MoC book: While all the elements where there (semi-strangers with a burning attraction! a marriage that solves a problem, allowing for some guilty wiggling later!), ultimately Marry In Haste just doesn't feel like a real MoC book. There's no real conflict about the marriage; it's done for convenience, yes, but all the accessories that are expected to come with this genre are put aside. Their marriage, immediately, contains Great Sex! Great Chats! Great Support! There's none of that awkward growing period where two strangers who lust for one another are figuring out how to live together.
b) "Set Up" novel: I won't say I'm not interested in the further adventures of Lily and Rose and George. I will say that I'm a bit concerned because of how adamant Emm is that the girls will get to marry for love—and Lily's book is apparently her marrying after a scandal. Sure, societal pressures and everything, but it just felt a little too obviously "look how GOOD Emm is!!! SHE'S SO GOOD" instead of an organic thing?? Sigh, I don't know. But yes, I am intrigued by later books, so this does the job of setting up the series.
c) Romance story: UGH. UGH. This was not a great romance for me. One, Cal is a TOOL. Two, Emm is underdeveloped. Three, the first 45% of the book has approximately 2% romance. And after the extended prologue ends and the romance/marriage kicks off, there's just so little ... good "romance" there. Cal's personality shift starts and ends waaaaay too late in the book, and the gossip about Emm seems wedged into a novel that had very little to do with it. It was just rushed and too neat, at the same time.
Basically, the romance was the most disappointing part of the book!
2. Cal was SUCH A TOOL. It bears repeating, I think. His attitude, his anger, his slamming of doors and fists, his inability to communicate! I ultimately did like Emm's unwinding of him, how she figured out what made him tick and how underneath his blustering he's a decent enough guy, but again: TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE. If this had been reframed with the marriage happening in the first 10% of the book, and the latter 90% set up unraveling Cal's mantrums, I would have been pretty into it. Instead, we're left with OODLES OF MANGST, which is unappetizing and dull. And makes Cal look like a ginormous wienie.
3. Emm was fine. :\ Because she's really only featured in the latter half of the book, she's kind of a cliched "warm hearted family woman", i.e., the Only Woman Who Can Reunite This Broken Home. It's a very...trite character because it strips her of any dreams or goals outside of "Have a baby. Make a home. Treat these sad ducklings like they're my very own." Uggggghhhh.
4. This is a STUPID COMPLAINT, but I must complain: why does everyone need to be """gorgeous in their own way"""? It made me sad/mad and that's all I'm going to say on the matter.
5. Overall, a decent setup novel that didn't deliver on any other front.
Emmaline Westwood is the sexy teacher in question: she's on the run from nasty rumors in her past and ends up marrying Cal because this would be a very odd "marriage of convenience" book if she did not. After having super sexy sex, feelings pop out of the snow like freaking daisies!!!!
1. This was not a good marriage of convenience book, a decently entertaining "set up" novel, and a pretty disastrous romance story.
a) MoC book: While all the elements where there (semi-strangers with a burning attraction! a marriage that solves a problem, allowing for some guilty wiggling later!), ultimately Marry In Haste just doesn't feel like a real MoC book. There's no real conflict about the marriage; it's done for convenience, yes, but all the accessories that are expected to come with this genre are put aside. Their marriage, immediately, contains Great Sex! Great Chats! Great Support! There's none of that awkward growing period where two strangers who lust for one another are figuring out how to live together.
b) "Set Up" novel: I won't say I'm not interested in the further adventures of Lily and Rose and George. I will say that I'm a bit concerned because of how adamant Emm is that the girls will get to marry for love—and Lily's book is apparently her marrying after a scandal. Sure, societal pressures and everything, but it just felt a little too obviously "look how GOOD Emm is!!! SHE'S SO GOOD" instead of an organic thing?? Sigh, I don't know. But yes, I am intrigued by later books, so this does the job of setting up the series.
c) Romance story: UGH. UGH. This was not a great romance for me. One, Cal is a TOOL. Two, Emm is underdeveloped. Three, the first 45% of the book has approximately 2% romance. And after the extended prologue ends and the romance/marriage kicks off, there's just so little ... good "romance" there. Cal's personality shift starts and ends waaaaay too late in the book, and the gossip about Emm seems wedged into a novel that had very little to do with it. It was just rushed and too neat, at the same time.
Basically, the romance was the most disappointing part of the book!
2. Cal was SUCH A TOOL. It bears repeating, I think. His attitude, his anger, his slamming of doors and fists, his inability to communicate! I ultimately did like Emm's unwinding of him, how she figured out what made him tick and how underneath his blustering he's a decent enough guy, but again: TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE. If this had been reframed with the marriage happening in the first 10% of the book, and the latter 90% set up unraveling Cal's mantrums, I would have been pretty into it. Instead, we're left with OODLES OF MANGST, which is unappetizing and dull. And makes Cal look like a ginormous wienie.
3. Emm was fine. :\ Because she's really only featured in the latter half of the book, she's kind of a cliched "warm hearted family woman", i.e., the Only Woman Who Can Reunite This Broken Home. It's a very...trite character because it strips her of any dreams or goals outside of "Have a baby. Make a home. Treat these sad ducklings like they're my very own." Uggggghhhh.
4. This is a STUPID COMPLAINT, but I must complain: why does everyone need to be """gorgeous in their own way"""? It made me sad/mad and that's all I'm going to say on the matter.
5. Overall, a decent setup novel that didn't deliver on any other front.
March 1, 2020
2.5 stars
October 13, 2018
Marry in Haste makes good use of the trope that just might be a weakness of most HR lovers which is the good ol' marriage of convenience. While on the pursuit of an infamous assassin, Major Cal finds himself the unwanted guardian of a handful of young girls. Girls, who refuse to obey his commands like good little soldiers. With a near mutiny in his hands, he finds himself proposing a marriage bargain with one of their former teachers. Except the peace and exemption he had hoped for might still be long overdue.
All in all, it's a wonderful read. I absolutely adored his young wards, how Cal and Emm finally found a strong base for their relationship and especially how they all come together to form a genuinely caring family.
Find this review and many more on my blog: Ipshita's Book Alley
All in all, it's a wonderful read. I absolutely adored his young wards, how Cal and Emm finally found a strong base for their relationship and especially how they all come together to form a genuinely caring family.
Find this review and many more on my blog: Ipshita's Book Alley
May 28, 2022
I listened to this one on audio and really enjoyed the audio reader and the story. The H, Cal, was sent away to join the army at 17 and after 10 years has returned home to discover that his father and brother are both dead and he is the new Earl. He also learns that his 2 half-sisters are running wild while staying with his aunt. He doesn't have time for this, he wants to get back to his military life and go on with his life.
He meets the h, Em, and notices how good she is with his sisters. It doesn't hurt that she's pretty and he's incredibly attracted to her. He finally winds up proposing to her as the only way to get her to come and take charge of his sisters so he can go back to Europe and continue his military career (this is a true marriage of convenience, emphasis on convenient for the H). He's a real peach.
The most appealing part of this book was watching Cal, who is used to giving orders and having them followed, be run ragged by the females in his life. Deep down, he's just a gooey marshmallow, but it takes Em and his sisters to help him figure that out. I loved the developing relationship between the H/h and found their story so romantic!
Safety
He meets the h, Em, and notices how good she is with his sisters. It doesn't hurt that she's pretty and he's incredibly attracted to her. He finally winds up proposing to her as the only way to get her to come and take charge of his sisters so he can go back to Europe and continue his military career (this is a true marriage of convenience, emphasis on convenient for the H). He's a real peach.
The most appealing part of this book was watching Cal, who is used to giving orders and having them followed, be run ragged by the females in his life. Deep down, he's just a gooey marshmallow, but it takes Em and his sisters to help him figure that out. I loved the developing relationship between the H/h and found their story so romantic!
Safety
September 7, 2020
2.5 MEH STARS
A marriage of convivence between Major Calbourne (Cal) Rutherford who arrives in England to find an unexpected inheritance after the death of his elder brother and teacher Miss Emmaline (Emm) Westwood, who finds her life veering in an unexpected trajectory when CCal makes his offer of marriage.
Cal's outrage at realising had me rolling my eyes. I know it;s a HR read, but I wanted a different reaction. Luckily Cal is not depicted as a manwhore/rake. Also it felt like Emm and Cal spent very little time together on page.
I've been entertained by a number of Anne Gracie's HR books but this read wasn't what I was hoping for, I won't be re-reading..
A marriage of convivence between Major Calbourne (Cal) Rutherford who arrives in England to find an unexpected inheritance after the death of his elder brother and teacher Miss Emmaline (Emm) Westwood, who finds her life veering in an unexpected trajectory when CCal makes his offer of marriage.
Cal's outrage at realising had me rolling my eyes. I know it;s a HR read, but I wanted a different reaction. Luckily Cal is not depicted as a manwhore/rake. Also it felt like Emm and Cal spent very little time together on page.
I've been entertained by a number of Anne Gracie's HR books but this read wasn't what I was hoping for, I won't be re-reading..
May 4, 2017
ARC from publisher
I fell in love with Anne Gracie’s writing when I read her Chance Sisters series, and the one thing that struck me when I read her newest offering, Marry in Haste, was her unique way of bringing people together in her stories and creating a family. Cal’s attempts to catch an assassin bring him back to England and the remnants of the family he left behind. Things are a little tense as his younger sisters refuse to obey his rules, so he promptly decides they need someone who can keep them in line, and this is where he gets the bright idea of proposing marriage to one of their former teachers. Emmaline has always dreamed of having a family of her own but never thought it would happen for her, so she takes Cal up on his offer. Cal is thrilled, because the sooner he can get the girls in line, the sooner he can resume tracking the assassin. I adored Cal’s relationship with his aunt. He was so loyal to her and wanted to make sure she was taken care of. And I thought it was very sad that Cal was in such hot pursuit of the man who had killed his friend but couldn’t see how much the family right in front of him needed him. And it wasn’t until Emmaline stepped in that to show him that he was able to see. While I enjoyed Cal and Emmaline’s story (it was a slow burn, which is what I love,) I liked the familial aspect even more. The way Cal, Emmaline, and his sisters found their way together was so sweet. I’m excited to read more from this series, as Cal’s sisters are a colorful trio!
This review was originally posted on Books & Beauty Are My Bag.
I fell in love with Anne Gracie’s writing when I read her Chance Sisters series, and the one thing that struck me when I read her newest offering, Marry in Haste, was her unique way of bringing people together in her stories and creating a family. Cal’s attempts to catch an assassin bring him back to England and the remnants of the family he left behind. Things are a little tense as his younger sisters refuse to obey his rules, so he promptly decides they need someone who can keep them in line, and this is where he gets the bright idea of proposing marriage to one of their former teachers. Emmaline has always dreamed of having a family of her own but never thought it would happen for her, so she takes Cal up on his offer. Cal is thrilled, because the sooner he can get the girls in line, the sooner he can resume tracking the assassin. I adored Cal’s relationship with his aunt. He was so loyal to her and wanted to make sure she was taken care of. And I thought it was very sad that Cal was in such hot pursuit of the man who had killed his friend but couldn’t see how much the family right in front of him needed him. And it wasn’t until Emmaline stepped in that to show him that he was able to see. While I enjoyed Cal and Emmaline’s story (it was a slow burn, which is what I love,) I liked the familial aspect even more. The way Cal, Emmaline, and his sisters found their way together was so sweet. I’m excited to read more from this series, as Cal’s sisters are a colorful trio!
This review was originally posted on Books & Beauty Are My Bag.
October 15, 2024
What a charming story! However, I would definitely not call this a romance story.
The first half of the book is basically setting the series up, introducing all of the family members, future characters to read about, etc. The interaction between the hero and heroine didn't really kick in until about half-way thru, they have their marriage of convenience and things all fall into place within their marriage. No real drama to overcome in falling for each other, it seemed to happen very smoothly.
As for steam-level... their first time is somewhat described how I remember, but the following bedroom scenes were pretty much described as "they made love". So not steamy at all in my opinion.
So I found myself actually more interested in what would happen next with the family dramas instead of anticipating the excitement of seeing the lead H/h fall in love. Which is why I love to read HR, to watch the couple fall in love.
Having said that, this book was still very well-written, fun to follow the whole family interactions and I am actually looking forward to the next book in the series.
The first half of the book is basically setting the series up, introducing all of the family members, future characters to read about, etc. The interaction between the hero and heroine didn't really kick in until about half-way thru, they have their marriage of convenience and things all fall into place within their marriage. No real drama to overcome in falling for each other, it seemed to happen very smoothly.
As for steam-level... their first time is somewhat described how I remember, but the following bedroom scenes were pretty much described as "they made love". So not steamy at all in my opinion.
So I found myself actually more interested in what would happen next with the family dramas instead of anticipating the excitement of seeing the lead H/h fall in love. Which is why I love to read HR, to watch the couple fall in love.
Having said that, this book was still very well-written, fun to follow the whole family interactions and I am actually looking forward to the next book in the series.
May 17, 2017
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup. (live 5/19)
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2pRPpJ2
Oh. My. Word. Marry in Haste was a wonderful beginning to her newest series. Full of hope, humor, second chances and new beginnings. It was everything wonderful with Gracie's writing and will sweep you away and leave you utterly spent and satisfied.
Okay, okay, so the background bits behind the awesome. Cal is a military man. A military man used to order, barking out commands and having them followed instantly Something his life is sorely missing now that he's inherited not only a damaged title but three unruly, outlandish, angry, plain ol wild teenagers that came with it. His solution to this hellish nightmare? Find himself a wife and let her take over trying to wrangle the little hoydens who have taken over his life.
Oh my. This whole little misfit family. I adored them. Wanted to shake them. Laughed with them. Cheered them on. Wanted to protect them and hoped they could all figure out a way to get over their individual hurts and resentments and become a real family. And watching them try to do just that was truly wonderful even with some major fumbles.
Cal and Emm's marriage was one of convenience. Simple as that. It was a business translation and to be nothing more. He'd get the help he needed, she'd get security for life. And it came with problems. Real issues, frustrations and uncertainties as they tried to make a life with a virtual stranger. But some very funny moments, too, that had me smiling. Their romance, in the end, was breathtaking. It left me teary eyed and so happy for them both.
And the girls. Holy hell, yall. Early on I was with Cal and his 'oh my gawd what the hell do you do with this?!' thoughts. These's girls were nightmarish. But I got it, too. The girls were dealt hard hands in life and were wounded and lashing out because of it. I loved watching their transformations over the book as they got to know Cal, gained confidence in themselves, were loved--and really believed it-- and given a safe place to grow. It was amazing watching them blossom and find happiness.
All in all, Marry in Haste touched my heart and gave me a bit of a book hangover. Gracie has a tremendous talent and is a true gem in the historical romance genre. You really must read her.
June 15, 2017
I really, really enjoyed this. I feel like I should preface this by saving that the hero and heroine don't get married until 130 pages in. So it's a marriage of convenience yes but not until halfay through. What this book is, really, is a character study. Everyone in here was wonderfully written - from Cal and Emm to Cal's two half sisters to their formidable aunt, to their newly discovered relative to the girls at the finishing school to Cal's commander in the army. It has been such a long time since I felt the characters just lept off the page. I get that some people might be upset that this romance book focused on other characters instead of staying 100% centered the hero and heroine. But since the other characters are why Cal proposed marriage to Emmaline, I really enjoyed the chance to get to know everyone and the hero and heroine's relationships with others are a big insight into their individual characteristics and traits. Also all the family moments of them bonding are FANTASTIC.
Emm and Cal communicated after they were married which I really liked. There were no battles, no silences, not stupid plot devices employed to keep them apart. Instead they spoke, respected and listened to the other which I really enjoyed. I went back this evening and read the last thirty pages just because I wanted to read how everything wrapped up again. I rarely do that with books. So 5 stars. Looking forward to the next in this series.
Emm and Cal communicated after they were married which I really liked. There were no battles, no silences, not stupid plot devices employed to keep them apart. Instead they spoke, respected and listened to the other which I really enjoyed. I went back this evening and read the last thirty pages just because I wanted to read how everything wrapped up again. I rarely do that with books. So 5 stars. Looking forward to the next in this series.
September 24, 2018
This was a delightful book. Heroine with a steel spine, who knows how to insult one politely. A protective honorable hero who already have two half sisters and now a wild, untamed previously unknown niece, all of them in their teenage rebellious stage. One can cry big fat tears at will, other has tongue sharper than a wasp and the niece only responds to male version of her name and dresses in breeches!
Imagine our poor hero who is suddenly thrust with responsibility of these three and a title.
The girls antics, made me want to tear out my hair. The contrast between them and the heroine was very well executed. I loved how tight and loyal gang they all were. I also loved how all their individual relationships progressed. The chemistry between MC’s were electric. I especially loved how brave heroine was and that she got all the closure in the end for her painful past.
It was also gleeful to read the heroine wasn’t a virgin and she refused to apologize and just ‘said’ how it happened to a jealous hero. Hero also handled it very well. And the way he stood with her at hard times and believed her was the highlight of their relationship.
Recommended.
Imagine our poor hero who is suddenly thrust with responsibility of these three and a title.
The girls antics, made me want to tear out my hair. The contrast between them and the heroine was very well executed. I loved how tight and loyal gang they all were. I also loved how all their individual relationships progressed. The chemistry between MC’s were electric. I especially loved how brave heroine was and that she got all the closure in the end for her painful past.
It was also gleeful to read the heroine wasn’t a virgin and she refused to apologize and just ‘said’ how it happened to a jealous hero. Hero also handled it very well. And the way he stood with her at hard times and believed her was the highlight of their relationship.
Recommended.
July 21, 2023
Miss Emmaline Westwood
Adorably sweet read. I enjoyed the character development of the hero. Very realistic progression of love and emotions. I also loved the secondary characters, George and Lily. I can't wait to read their books!
Major Calborne Rutherford
Looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Adorably sweet read. I enjoyed the character development of the hero. Very realistic progression of love and emotions. I also loved the secondary characters, George and Lily. I can't wait to read their books!
Major Calborne Rutherford
Looking forward to reading more books by this author.
November 25, 2017
3.5 stars
I almost rounded down due to the narrator, but I really did enjoy the story and plan to continue the series.
I almost rounded down due to the narrator, but I really did enjoy the story and plan to continue the series.
April 16, 2023
Reread 4/15/2024: 4 stars. I enjoyed this so much more the second time around!! I’m sure it helped that I didn’t read book 4 first this time, and can’t remember it at all anymore.
I actually tried to find this book about a year ago since I had some good memories of the storyline and wanted to reread it. I couldn’t figure it out back then - and ended up reading a bunch of random books with girls attending schools in Bath. 😵💫😅 Not sure how i managed to finally stumble upon this one, but so glad I finally found it!! It really didn’t disappoint.
The hero is very lovable - hard on the outside and a marshmallow inside. I absolutely adored how he treated the heroine once he started developing feelings. The heroine is extremely strong and wonderfully self-possessed. I loved that she never allowed herself to be outwardly cowed by others, even in difficult situations. I’m looking forward to rereading the rest of this series now.
Safe:
Heroine not a virgin, she was taken advantage of by an older man when she was still a teen, has been celibate since
Hero not a manwhore, mentions that it had been a while for him, also several mentions of past lovers in general but nothing super detailed
No OM/OW drama
No scenes with OM/OW
No cheating
7/25/2020: 3.5 stars. I had a really hard time getting into this book. I’m sure that had a lot to do with how much background info was needed to set the series up. Since I’ve already read book 4 in this series, it felt a little repetitive to me. I think this series would be best read in order for max enjoyment purposes. I wish I could go back and unread book 4!
This is the story of Emm and Cal, and their marriage of convenience. Cal has just come back from the continent, where he is working for the war office and looking for an assassin. He gets the news that his brother has just died and he is now the new Earl, so he decides to take a break and get his estate matters in order before he returns to his old life. He realizes that he’s got two half sisters and visits them only to discover that they are fairly out of control and living with an elderly aunt who can’t manage them. Emm is a teacher at a girls’ school in bath and meets Cal when he comes to inquire about enrolling the girls in the school again. His request is denied, and in an effort to figure out a different situation for his half sisters, Cal tries to hire Emm to act as a governess for the girls instead, but she refuses him. Then he finds out from his attorney that he also has a niece (George from book 4) and adds her to the group of girls he now is responsible for. Ofc then he gets the brilliant idea that he needs to marry Emm to ensure that they have her companionship in their coming London season. Because he just had to have this one woman? 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️ Romance novels are really random sometimes. Anyways, they get married and end up liking each other and get a HEA.
I have to say, Anne Gracie does a great job with book endings. The last 25% or so, of each book of hers that I’ve read, has been excellent. I do wish that the first 50% of this book had been a bit more exciting. I actually didn’t much like the hero until practically the end. That being said, I do believe I would have different feelings if I had read this series in proper order. Don’t be like me!
Safe
I actually tried to find this book about a year ago since I had some good memories of the storyline and wanted to reread it. I couldn’t figure it out back then - and ended up reading a bunch of random books with girls attending schools in Bath. 😵💫😅 Not sure how i managed to finally stumble upon this one, but so glad I finally found it!! It really didn’t disappoint.
The hero is very lovable - hard on the outside and a marshmallow inside. I absolutely adored how he treated the heroine once he started developing feelings. The heroine is extremely strong and wonderfully self-possessed. I loved that she never allowed herself to be outwardly cowed by others, even in difficult situations. I’m looking forward to rereading the rest of this series now.
Safe:
Heroine not a virgin, she was taken advantage of by an older man when she was still a teen, has been celibate since
Hero not a manwhore, mentions that it had been a while for him, also several mentions of past lovers in general but nothing super detailed
No OM/OW drama
No scenes with OM/OW
No cheating
7/25/2020: 3.5 stars. I had a really hard time getting into this book. I’m sure that had a lot to do with how much background info was needed to set the series up. Since I’ve already read book 4 in this series, it felt a little repetitive to me. I think this series would be best read in order for max enjoyment purposes. I wish I could go back and unread book 4!
This is the story of Emm and Cal, and their marriage of convenience. Cal has just come back from the continent, where he is working for the war office and looking for an assassin. He gets the news that his brother has just died and he is now the new Earl, so he decides to take a break and get his estate matters in order before he returns to his old life. He realizes that he’s got two half sisters and visits them only to discover that they are fairly out of control and living with an elderly aunt who can’t manage them. Emm is a teacher at a girls’ school in bath and meets Cal when he comes to inquire about enrolling the girls in the school again. His request is denied, and in an effort to figure out a different situation for his half sisters, Cal tries to hire Emm to act as a governess for the girls instead, but she refuses him. Then he finds out from his attorney that he also has a niece (George from book 4) and adds her to the group of girls he now is responsible for. Ofc then he gets the brilliant idea that he needs to marry Emm to ensure that they have her companionship in their coming London season. Because he just had to have this one woman? 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️ Romance novels are really random sometimes. Anyways, they get married and end up liking each other and get a HEA.
I have to say, Anne Gracie does a great job with book endings. The last 25% or so, of each book of hers that I’ve read, has been excellent. I do wish that the first 50% of this book had been a bit more exciting. I actually didn’t much like the hero until practically the end. That being said, I do believe I would have different feelings if I had read this series in proper order. Don’t be like me!
Safe
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2017
When I say jump, you say 'how high?!'
It’s been awhile since I've read an Anne Gracie book. Even though I loved her first couple of books, she never became one of my auto buys. But times are tough and I've been on a desperate search for something I like, so when I read a glowing review about Marry in Haste, I thought - what have you got to lose. Well, I'm mighty happy I read that review. Turns out Marry in Haste was just what I was looking for.
This was a character-driven story. There were no heroic harebrained heroines doing preposterous things. There weren't any groan-inducing-eye-crossing antics which didn't fit into the time line. And, best of all, we have a hero and heroine who actually talk to each other - dare I say, they even become friends. Gasp! They learn to respect each other. It was a charming story.
Major Calbourn Rutherford has been a soldier for over a decade. Even though the war is over there is still some unfinished business. He's after the sniper who murdered his best friend during the war. This is his obsession. But on his return to England there are some problems which must be fixed. It sees Calbourn has two half-sisters who are regular hellions and in need of a firm hand. Being an army guy, he charges in - strong arms his sisters and immediately loses control of the situation. Not only that but he finds out his deceased brother has a daughter who seems to have run wild in the countryside. Now Cal has a problem. He has three young women who resent him and don't follow his orders. He does not have time for this; he has an assassin to catch. He must find someone to rope the girls in - it is time for our heroine, Emmaline Westwood, a teacher from his sisters' school. At first he offers her a job of looking after the girls. She turns him down. She needs something which will last a few more years. Cal then gets the brilliant idea of proposing a marriage of convenience. After a few minutes of consideration Emmaline accepts. Cal now thinks he can wash his hands of this sisters and niece and return to his assassin search. Ha! Nothing works the way Cal has envisioned.
Cal was a wonderful, gruff hero. Throughout the book we watch as he discover what is important and what isn't. He is the one who changes the most in this story, but that doesn't mean Emmaline is just a supporting character. Her presence is what this story revolves around. She is the catalyst.
Cal and Emmaline are a wonderful couple. They make for what I would call a good old romance story. They talk to each other, they support each other, and together they build a family. I sense that the three young women will have their own books.
If I had any quibble, it was that some of the loose ends were tied up too tidily, but overall this was a well-written lovely story and highly recommended.
It’s been awhile since I've read an Anne Gracie book. Even though I loved her first couple of books, she never became one of my auto buys. But times are tough and I've been on a desperate search for something I like, so when I read a glowing review about Marry in Haste, I thought - what have you got to lose. Well, I'm mighty happy I read that review. Turns out Marry in Haste was just what I was looking for.
This was a character-driven story. There were no heroic harebrained heroines doing preposterous things. There weren't any groan-inducing-eye-crossing antics which didn't fit into the time line. And, best of all, we have a hero and heroine who actually talk to each other - dare I say, they even become friends. Gasp! They learn to respect each other. It was a charming story.
Major Calbourn Rutherford has been a soldier for over a decade. Even though the war is over there is still some unfinished business. He's after the sniper who murdered his best friend during the war. This is his obsession. But on his return to England there are some problems which must be fixed. It sees Calbourn has two half-sisters who are regular hellions and in need of a firm hand. Being an army guy, he charges in - strong arms his sisters and immediately loses control of the situation. Not only that but he finds out his deceased brother has a daughter who seems to have run wild in the countryside. Now Cal has a problem. He has three young women who resent him and don't follow his orders. He does not have time for this; he has an assassin to catch. He must find someone to rope the girls in - it is time for our heroine, Emmaline Westwood, a teacher from his sisters' school. At first he offers her a job of looking after the girls. She turns him down. She needs something which will last a few more years. Cal then gets the brilliant idea of proposing a marriage of convenience. After a few minutes of consideration Emmaline accepts. Cal now thinks he can wash his hands of this sisters and niece and return to his assassin search. Ha! Nothing works the way Cal has envisioned.
Cal was a wonderful, gruff hero. Throughout the book we watch as he discover what is important and what isn't. He is the one who changes the most in this story, but that doesn't mean Emmaline is just a supporting character. Her presence is what this story revolves around. She is the catalyst.
Cal and Emmaline are a wonderful couple. They make for what I would call a good old romance story. They talk to each other, they support each other, and together they build a family. I sense that the three young women will have their own books.
If I had any quibble, it was that some of the loose ends were tied up too tidily, but overall this was a well-written lovely story and highly recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2017
Marry in Haste (Marriage of Convenience #1) by Anne Gracie
Author: Anne Gracie
Title: Marry in Haste
Series: Marriage of Convenience
Cover Rating:
Book Rating:
Buy This Book:
Major Calbourne Rutherford returns to England on the trail of an assassin, only to find he’s become Lord Ashendon, with the responsibility for vast estates and dependent relatives. Cal can command the toughest of men, but his wild half-sisters are quite another matter. They might just be his undoing.When he discovers that Miss Emmaline Westwood, the girls’ former teacher, guides them with ease, Cal offers her a marriage of convenience. But strong-minded and independent Emm is neither as compliant nor as proper as he expected, and Cal finds himself most inconveniently seduced by his convenient wife.Emm knows they didn’t marry for love, yet beneath her husband’s austere facade, she catches glimpses of a man who takes her breath away. As pride, duty and passion clash, will these two stubborn hearts find more than they ever dreamed of?
Funny, sexy, sweet, Marry in Haste is a great read. A little slow at the start but once I got into it I was sucked in. The amusement of Cal's struggles to understand and the constant clashing between him and Emm were totally amusing. Made me enjoy the slow build of their relationship instead of making it an instant got it all involvement.
I liked that both they and we as readers had to work to a happy ending, past their tragedies to open their hearts. I really enjoyed Marry in Haste from beginning to end.
Until next time book lovers...
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley Publishing. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
If any of Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like my post or leave a comment to let me know what you think. I love hearing from you!
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Author: Anne Gracie
Title: Marry in Haste
Series: Marriage of Convenience
Cover Rating:
Book Rating:
Buy This Book:
Major Calbourne Rutherford returns to England on the trail of an assassin, only to find he’s become Lord Ashendon, with the responsibility for vast estates and dependent relatives. Cal can command the toughest of men, but his wild half-sisters are quite another matter. They might just be his undoing.When he discovers that Miss Emmaline Westwood, the girls’ former teacher, guides them with ease, Cal offers her a marriage of convenience. But strong-minded and independent Emm is neither as compliant nor as proper as he expected, and Cal finds himself most inconveniently seduced by his convenient wife.Emm knows they didn’t marry for love, yet beneath her husband’s austere facade, she catches glimpses of a man who takes her breath away. As pride, duty and passion clash, will these two stubborn hearts find more than they ever dreamed of?
Funny, sexy, sweet, Marry in Haste is a great read. A little slow at the start but once I got into it I was sucked in. The amusement of Cal's struggles to understand and the constant clashing between him and Emm were totally amusing. Made me enjoy the slow build of their relationship instead of making it an instant got it all involvement.
I liked that both they and we as readers had to work to a happy ending, past their tragedies to open their hearts. I really enjoyed Marry in Haste from beginning to end.
Until next time book lovers...
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley Publishing. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
If any of Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like my post or leave a comment to let me know what you think. I love hearing from you!
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews has a QR code for your phone!
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June 19, 2017
A thoroughly sweet read!
June 9, 2021
4+
Che bello storico!!! La trama non è certo originale ma la scrittura scorrevole e i personaggi descritti rendono questo romanzo una piacevole lettura. Cal ritorna a Londra per dare la caccia ad un assassino, soprannominato lo Scorpione. Appena giunto a Londra scopre che suo fratello è morto e che quindi adesso è il nuovo conte di Ashendon. Convinto di sistemare le cose in quattro e quattr'otto e poi ripartire per il continente, si dovrà scontrare con due sorelle indisciplinate e la scoperta di una nipote selvaggia che si fa chiamare George.
Emm invece è un'insegnante di una rinomata scuola per signorine di Bath che ha rappresentato un rifugio dopo che il padre l'ha ripudiata. Ed è proprio Emm che sembrerà per Cal la soluzione di tutti i suoi problemi, ma sarà così??
Che bello storico!!! La trama non è certo originale ma la scrittura scorrevole e i personaggi descritti rendono questo romanzo una piacevole lettura. Cal ritorna a Londra per dare la caccia ad un assassino, soprannominato lo Scorpione. Appena giunto a Londra scopre che suo fratello è morto e che quindi adesso è il nuovo conte di Ashendon. Convinto di sistemare le cose in quattro e quattr'otto e poi ripartire per il continente, si dovrà scontrare con due sorelle indisciplinate e la scoperta di una nipote selvaggia che si fa chiamare George.
Emm invece è un'insegnante di una rinomata scuola per signorine di Bath che ha rappresentato un rifugio dopo che il padre l'ha ripudiata. Ed è proprio Emm che sembrerà per Cal la soluzione di tutti i suoi problemi, ma sarà così??
Read
May 10, 2017I'm DNFing at 44%.
The hero and heroine have barley spent any time together. Halfway through the book and there is no marriage! Definitely not in haste! :/
It's all about the hero's half-siblings.
Plus he is supposed to be an assassin and that isn't happening either.
The hero and heroine have barley spent any time together. Halfway through the book and there is no marriage! Definitely not in haste! :/
It's all about the hero's half-siblings.
Plus he is supposed to be an assassin and that isn't happening either.
January 27, 2022
More about family than romance. :(
December 7, 2025
This is the first time side characters were infuriating enough that they made me drop the book
But, the two sisters and cousin aren't side characters, are they? The FMC is the side character, so maybe it hasn't happened yet...
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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But, the two sisters and cousin aren't side characters, are they? The FMC is the side character, so maybe it hasn't happened yet...
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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April 29, 2017
This is the first time I have read Anne Gracie, but she has been on my list since I met her at the RT Convention last year. She was great fun! I am excited for this series as well because marriages of convenience and stolen brides are my tied for my favorite historical romance trope, and to have a whole series has me greedy for the next book. The setting of this story is Bath and London in the early 19th Century after the end of the Napoleonic wars, and our main characters are roughly 28 y/o.
Major Calbourne Rutherford returns from the continent on important government business to discover than he has acquired the title of Lord Ashendon following the death of his rakehell brother. The situation requires more responsibility than Cal has time for at the moment, but his two hoydenish and headstrong sisters need a firm guiding hand. At wits end with their antics, Cal is driven to offer the girls' former schoolteacher a marriage of convenience in exchange for her assistance. Cal was a bit of a gruff hero that genuinely cared for his family but he didn't know how to show it. And his family failed to take into account that he only really knew how to be a soldier, and his seemingly dictatorial actions were a demonstration of his care, not meant to make their lives miserable. I enjoyed watching Cal warm up to the abundance of females in his life, and vice versa.
Emmaline Westwood fled to bath in disgrace after a scandal, and has since been teaching girls at Miss Mallard's Seminary for the Daughters of Gentlemen. While Emmaline has become accustomed to her circumstances, you can tell that she never quite gave up her dream of marriage and children. She definitely had a knack for reasoning with younger girls and helping them make the right choices without stifling their spirit. I appreciated that she went to bat for Cal and worked to make their relationship a good one from the start. She was an understanding ear when he needed it and an intermediary between him and the girls until they grew accustomed to their new circumstances. I particularly liked the way she stood up to Aunt Agatha and didn't let the old goat run roughshod over her.
The relationship between Cal and Emma was not instalove, though they did marry early on. This romance started as an arrangement, then turned to a friendship and deepened to a love match. The building of the relationship was the best part, and you just knew that this would be a deep abiding love for the pair. Cal's "important government business" served as a nice secondary storyline to advance the plot and create a little suspense.
I'm not sure if this series will follow the Rutherford females in future books, or if we will have all new characters. Either way, I am looking forward to it.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Berkley.
October 15, 2024
3.5 stars
This was good enough to be considered a success, though not a rousing success. The good outweighed the problematic, though.
The author spent the first half of the book getting her ducks in a row: Calbourne Rutherford, who had just unexpectedly inherited the title of Earl, was newly arrived in England from his covert government job on the Continent. He needed to get his estates and his half-sisters situated ASAP so that he could resume his search for a notorious assassin. (The author was conveniently vague about what his job really was and why the assassin was killing people. Details, schmetails.) He also discovers a heretofore unknown niece in the process and no one, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE, much to his bewilderment and dismay, does what he orders them to do so that he can expeditiously get rid of them and return to the life he knows. Oh no. His niece and sisters flout his authority, his aunts refuse to help him, and frustrations mount. What’s a man to do?
Why, obviously, he needs to offer a marriage of convenience to the calm, highly competent, and somewhat handsome youngish spinster teacher he met at the girls’ former school. She’d take over the girls and his homes and provide an heir while stewards could run the estates, leaving him free to return to the Continent. It was the perfect plan.
Guess what happened.
I liked the moments of humor and Cal’s inability to corral his female relations, hated that the romance didn’t get off the ground until the book was more than half over, loved the romance once it got started, hated the too-modern tone of the three younger girls’ language and actions, was skeptical of the way the reemergence of Emm’s scandal rumors was dealt with, thought the big mystery ended with a disappointing whimper after the bang, and hated the predictable and uninspired reunion at the end.
This was good enough to be considered a success, though not a rousing success. The good outweighed the problematic, though.
The author spent the first half of the book getting her ducks in a row: Calbourne Rutherford, who had just unexpectedly inherited the title of Earl, was newly arrived in England from his covert government job on the Continent. He needed to get his estates and his half-sisters situated ASAP so that he could resume his search for a notorious assassin. (The author was conveniently vague about what his job really was and why the assassin was killing people. Details, schmetails.) He also discovers a heretofore unknown niece in the process and no one, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE, much to his bewilderment and dismay, does what he orders them to do so that he can expeditiously get rid of them and return to the life he knows. Oh no. His niece and sisters flout his authority, his aunts refuse to help him, and frustrations mount. What’s a man to do?
Why, obviously, he needs to offer a marriage of convenience to the calm, highly competent, and somewhat handsome youngish spinster teacher he met at the girls’ former school. She’d take over the girls and his homes and provide an heir while stewards could run the estates, leaving him free to return to the Continent. It was the perfect plan.
Guess what happened.
I liked the moments of humor and Cal’s inability to corral his female relations, hated that the romance didn’t get off the ground until the book was more than half over, loved the romance once it got started, hated the too-modern tone of the three younger girls’ language and actions, was skeptical of the way the reemergence of Emm’s scandal rumors was dealt with, thought the big mystery ended with a disappointing whimper after the bang, and hated the predictable and uninspired reunion at the end.
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