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Looking for a Hero: Marriage Wanted / My Hero

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Two classic stories of finding love where you least expect it!

MARRIAGE WANTED

As far as Nash Davenport's concerned, marriage isn't shelter from the storm--it is the storm. He's a divorce attorney, himself divorced, who believes no married couple can live up to their wedding vows. Savannah Charles, however, believes in the value--and the values--of marriage. She's a wedding planner who finds herself saying yes when Nash unexpectedly proposes. Even though it's strictly a business proposal...

MY HERO

Would-be romance writer Bailey York has already failed twice at love. She thinks men are wonderful to read and write about, but that's it. Which is probably why she has such difficulty creating a hero for her novel. What she needs is a real-life example. She finds one in Parker Davidson--he's everything a hero should be. Compellingly attractive. Forceful and determined, yet capable of tenderness. A man of substance. Parker is perfect as Bailey's inspiration--but he wants to be the hero in her life, not just in her book!

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

886 people are currently reading
530 people want to read

About the author

Debbie Macomber

895 books20.6k followers
Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.

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5 stars
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344 (27%)
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103 (8%)
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33 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
Profile Image for Pam.
4,625 reviews67 followers
May 2, 2018
Looking for a Hero is by Debbie Macomber. This is a two-volume book. The first book is Marriage Wanted and the second is My Hero. Both books are good; but Marriage Wanted is the better of the two books. Both are books about someone not truly believing in weddings and marriages and having another person try to persuade them that marriage and weddings are wonderful.


Marriage Wanted is by Debbie Macomber. It is part of a two book promotion. Nash Davenport is against marriage. He had a disastrous marriage with a bitter divorce. Since then, he has been the top divorce lawyer in the City. His little sister, Susan, is getting married and Nash disapproves so is not helping her with the wedding details and is not coming to the wedding. In spite of this, Susan is determined to get married with a small wedding which she and Kurt will pay for themselves. However, she had no idea where to start. She went to Savannah Charles’ wedding store for help. A friend had told her that Savannah would help her with suggestions. Savannah agrees the wedding can be done on their budget, although small, but is most willing to do the wedding for Susan and Kurt.
Shortly after Susan leaves, a bad wind moves in, Nash has hit the doors of Savannah’s shop. Not only does he not want Savannah to help Susan out, he wants her to help talk Susan into not getting married. Instead, Savannah challenges Nash, she will prove he is wrong about weddings and marriages. Because of his immediate attraction to Savannah, he agrees. Will Savannah succeed?

My Hero is by Debbie Macomber. I never thought I would see a Debbie Macomber book I did not like. Now I have. My Hero is a bummer of a book. Bailey needs help with her writing and description of her hero in her book. Parker fits the bill and decides to help her. It just doesn't work for me. However, I will never give up on Debbie Macomber.
371 reviews1 follower
February 21, 2018
Easy read. Fluff book, but enjoyable. Need a break from the hard stuff occasionally.
Profile Image for Sharon Mariampillai.
2,266 reviews94 followers
August 11, 2019
This was an incredible read. This book contains two short stories in one book: Marriage Wanted and My Hero. Debbie Macomber is a fantastic writer and I am glad to read any of her stories about love.

Marriage Wanted was an interesting story about a wedding coordinator falling for a client’s brother who doesn’t believe in love after his divorce. I thought the romance between Savannah and Nash was sweet. I did think the ending could have ended a bit better. It seemed a bit rushed to me.

My Hero was a fantastic story about a beginner author who finds her ideal man for her main hero in her book and for her own heart. Parker and Bailey were perfect. I loved their relationship. They were funny. I am glad that Bailey got another chance at love because she needed Parker to show her that there are heroes in the world that can protect the women that they love. Parker embodies that and so much more.

The book as a whole is another masterpiece by Debbie Macomber. The characters, and the romance are always sweet and genuine. I love them! The writing is so good and the plots are engaging and enjoyable. Overall, an amazing read.
Profile Image for Marian.
875 reviews25 followers
March 17, 2018
If I could rate the stories separately, I'd give Marriage Wanted 3 stars and My Hero 1.5 and call it a day. Alas, this is a two-fer which means I met somewhere in the middle and the book gets 2 stars.

Marriage Wanted is by far the better story but part of that feeling may be due to wanting to slam my head into the table as I read My Hero. Savannah and Nash are both given time to shine and while Savannah's habit of instantly assuming that Nash could never, ever see her as a woman he'd want to date grates on the nerves something awful, it is kind of understandable given her past. On the other hand, it does make you wonder how many times she cut herself out of the romantic running rather than the faceless/nameless possibilities in the past. Still, I think I'd like to spend more time around Savannah's shop and Nash gets to step up in the second half of their story once Savannah loses her damn mind and just assumes the absolute worst of everything. It's weirdly set up but Nash calls her on it, though that still doesn't really make it better? Almost everything bad after they agree to marry could have been avoided if they'd just friggin' talked to one another and that's a trope I despise.

Still, I liked both characters and wouldn't mind seeing more of them.


My Hero - if you wanted to kill your liver in no time flat, take a shot every time the word hero shows up during this story (not including the title page). You'll be dead in no time. Sometimes it makes sense but often it's just... really? Who talks like that? Parker (I had to think far too long to remember his name given I just finished the book today) is bland and forgettable. I couldn't tell you anything about him other than he's an architect, wanted to marry a girl named Maria from Spain who broke his heart, and for some reason loves Bailey, our heroine. Don't know why, don't think he knows either. He acts like a jerk when she dances with another guy at a concert, but he was also very clearly not going to dance with her and also was swept away in the crowd. For a moment I thought he was recreating a scene from Bailey's novel on purpose but no. And other than Bailey having two failed engagements under her belt and a slightly used wedding dress in her closet, I couldn't tell you much about her either.

Mostly this felt like a partial idea sent out into the world unfinished. I liked Jo Ann (did I spell her name correctly?) because it felt like there was more to her story at one point and I liked Max the cat. Otherwise, eh. Probably didn't help that every time Bailey talked about Parker acting like a hero should, my eyes nearly rolled clear out of my skull.

322 reviews
September 18, 2025
usual will they won't they but enough to keep you interested
Profile Image for Melissa.
284 reviews62 followers
January 1, 2022
I enjoyed this audiobook version of this 2 in 1 book.
Debbie Macombers books are always interesting and hard to put down!
Profile Image for Donna.
1,013 reviews
May 16, 2025
Typical nice romantic novel….i needed to switch between a tougher read.
5 reviews
July 26, 2018
Awesome

Like that there was to great stories in one book also I have always loved reading her books they are a pleasure to read
Profile Image for Oksana.
1,497 reviews
June 28, 2018
I like these two stories but cant figure out why author would give Parkers mom male name...and it is not unysex name....it is purely male name....poor thinking here.
Profile Image for Fredell.
316 reviews1 follower
March 6, 2018
Two for one!! A book within a book: Looking for a Hero: Marriage Wanted and My Hero, I actually found this book in paperback (I could not get the app to let me change the format). I really enjoyed being able to take it with me when I was touring the area and going to many meetings. I could carry it with me and read a chapter or two when I had some down-time. Really enjoyed both novels.
Marriage Wanted centered around an accomplished, though unmarried, wedding planner and a jaded, once married, divorce lawyer, trying to convince his sister NOT to marry. The changes that occur within both their lives were fun to read about. Of course, Macomber works her magic and they become involved and eventually marry, but the path they follow is a bit unusual.
My Hero is the story of a fledgling romance novelist and her search for a hero for her first romance novel. She finds him on the subway and the search/research is on. the road to the end of the novel AND their romance is definitely rocky, but the end results are enjoyable and a great way to spend a lazy afternoon reading about.
Profile Image for Shelly Itkin.
462 reviews1 follower
March 6, 2018
Marriage Wanted

Nash Davenport is against marriage and after his divorce, he has become one of the best divorce lawyers around When his sister, Susan, plans her wedding she gets the help of Savannah Charles, a wedding planner.

Savannah is very talented at what she does. Realizing, that with her handicap she will probably just help brides plan weddings as she has accepted the fact she may never marry.

When Nash meets Savannah they both find something in each other they have never experienced before. A wonderful, enjoyable and loving story.

My Hero

Bailey York has had two unsuccessful attempts at love so now is concentrating on just writing the perfect romance novel. She is having problems with the main character and when she meets Parker Davidson she wonders if her problems have been answered. Is this for real or for her story?

Quick read and enjoyable as always.
Profile Image for Jubilee Book Reviews.
8 reviews
April 8, 2019
My Hero:

I have to say that I found myself laughing out loud at Bailey and her ways. If you are a writer or know a writer…they will understand the moments this character has.

Parker…reminds me of my husband…no joke here. He is patient and listens to her crazy ramblings. He even tries helping her with her story and plays along. This is a light read and so much fun.

Marriage Wanted:

Savannah and Nash are both stubborn and set in their ways. The tension between them is pure chemistry. They are both so determined to prove the other one wrong and the passion ignites between them as they both learn to live again.

This is another lighthearted read and one I couldn’t put down.

​I love Debbie Macomber’s books and being able to read two great stories had me searching for the next ones to dive into.
Profile Image for Cynthia Miller.
237 reviews
March 24, 2018
Two stories...the hero shows the heroine just how strong she really is and the heroine shows the hero that live is better the second time around. Second story a romance writer needs a perfect hero for her book...little does she know he's her hero too.
Profile Image for Nancy I.
613 reviews
May 21, 2021
Another "two-fer" by Macomber gives us two cute romance novellas.
The first, "Marriage Wanted" gives us Savannah Charles, owner of a wedding full-service wedding coordinator shop, and Nash Davenport, brother to Savannah's latest client. Needless to say, Nash is anti-marriage, having gone through an uncomfortable divorce and being his firm's noted divorce attorney. We know how it will turn out, but along the way there are times I wanted to shake some sense into both Savannah and Nash.
The Second, "My Hero" is the story of Bailey York and Parker Davidson, who first encounter each other on a subway ride to work. Bailey, a paralegal, and aspiring romance novelist, takes one look at Parker and thinks he would be perfect to be the hero in the book she is currently writing. The issue is she doesn't know him. She almost becomes a stalker, in a funny sort of way. Do they meet? Of course. Do they fall for each other? Well it is a romance novel.
Two fun pieces of fluff that gave me a break in my normal reading routine.
Profile Image for Grace.
526 reviews
April 8, 2023
Debbie Macomber is one of the best Romance writers in my opinion, her writing always brings out the romantic in me. This is actually two books in one. The first story is about how the wedding planner and the brother of the bride sees that not everything is black and white, there are shades of gray, it is how it is being handled and nourished that ended positive for both sides. The 2nd book Start out a romance writer but as she put her own experience in her life into her books, at the end of the book the romance writer has become a first time published romance writer.

This books is done with class, no x-rated love scenes, and I enjoyed it fully. I am hanging on each word, when I am working else where and can't read, I am thinking of the story as if it is real life experience.

343 reviews1 follower
September 8, 2018
Two very interesting love stories in "Looking for a Hero". In "Marriage Wanted" Nash is a divorce attorney and being divorced himself, very sour on whole idea of marriage. His sister is planning a wedding with Savannah as the wedding planner. He is very attracted to Savannah but fights his feelings. She is a romantic planning weddings, and he thinks it foolish. Very different look at love!
In "My Hero" Bailey is a romance writer looking for a hero for the novel she is writing. She is determined she is only researching for her book, not looking for romance herself as she has been hurt twice in relationships. Very entertaining book!
Profile Image for Anushka Bagde.
224 reviews2 followers
December 31, 2024
This anthology was my first time reading Debbie Macomber and I liked it! Her writing style was easy to follow along and I enjoyed the plot twists and turns as well as the characters. In both of these stories, the main characters have had experiences that have shaped them and made them stronger. I felt like I identified with Bailey as she works while also writing in her spare time. I liked her life in the city and watching her fall in love with Parker. Then Savannah and Nash were haters to lovers, which is one of my favorite tropes, and all the twists and turns made me very glad on how it ended. Overall, I liked both books and look forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Cher.
100 reviews
May 23, 2019
Here’s what I’ve gathered so far:
1. Debbie Macomber is an exceptional storyteller. This is my first time reading anything of her’s and it definitely wouldn’t be the last.
2. The romance that blossomed between the two unexpected people was beautiful and refreshing.
3. I literally was smiling and grinning the whole time I was reading this book.

Overall, this book easily made it to my all time favorite list and I can’t wait to read more books by Debbie!
Profile Image for Qui2.
1,175 reviews
June 6, 2022
I gave this to stars because the marriage wanted one was terrible and I would’ve given it one and a half the Looking for a Hero was maybe a 2 1/2. I didn’t really care for any of the characters. The men were over bearing and the women were weak and wimpy. Both books are a prime example of how communication is important in a relationship, because these were ridiculous. The audible narration was also bad.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
33 reviews
February 5, 2025
I loved it, I love both MMC and how opposite they were but were able to still fit together in these marriage contract of convenience and being able to fall in love. How FMC Savannah was able to Change MMC from how he was due to his job was cute and also the supporting character of Mr. Sale and Mr. Stack house was like the cherry on top of elderly cuteness and how they stayed in touch even at the end. It was a bit of a slow burn and enemies to lovers for sure. A definite read 🙌
Profile Image for Lisa.
668 reviews7 followers
April 12, 2018
There were 2 books together in this audio book. The first story was WONDERFUL. The second I had a little harder time getting into it and I enjoyed it but the first was better. This is why I gave it a 4 of 5 stars. Classic love stories. The "Looking for a Hero", the second book, was a bit much for me with the resistance of the couple and how quickly they met. It was just harder to get into.
Profile Image for Janet.
187 reviews3 followers
April 18, 2018
I managed to listen to the first story (Marriage Wanted), but turned off the CD player many times because I was aggravated with the main characters' stupidity. I started listening to the second story (Looking for a Hero), hoping it would be better. It wasn't. I decided I would rather drive to work in a silent car than continue to listen to the story.

1,523 reviews5 followers
May 16, 2018
2 fun stories, but I couldn’t help but get very annoyed with both women. You just start to hate them and think they are both idiots. Definitely lacking self confidence. Both had been hurt multiple times, but you can’t assume things will be the same each time. I just had a hard time with that. Aside from the women, I did enjoy the stories.
Profile Image for Meghan Barber.
106 reviews2 followers
January 18, 2019
I usually pick up Debbie Macomber books when I need a chance to read something really easy. After reading and loving, “The Storyteller’s Secret.” I was having a hard time getting hooked with another story. But. I did not love this, and was so annoyed I had to stop reading. This was Hallmark/Lifetime movie romance, unrealistic, and disappointing.
61 reviews
February 21, 2019
I enjoyed Marriage Wanted-Not so much My Hero

I enjoyed the story line in Marriage Wanted and the interaction with Savannah and Neal was great. I did appreciate the story line in My Hero, it was unique, a prolific, accomplished author writing about a novice writer. I didn’t care much for Bailey and her attitude.
Profile Image for Heather Bridson.
430 reviews8 followers
February 23, 2019
I had read the first story, marriage wanted, before, but My Hero was new to me, and a great story! I love the irony of a romance author writing about a romance author finding her hero for her story and falling in love. I wonder how much of that story came from personal experience. Anyway, both stories are wonderful, and I enjoyed them. Great stories!!!!!
Profile Image for Misty Jo.
14 reviews
July 3, 2020
“Marriage Wanted” was really good, I read it all the same day... which is fast for me..”my hero” was also a quick read but the author repeated a lot of the same dialogue which was almost distracting. ... we all know the title of the second book is “my hero” but she didn’t need to say it every other page.. like alright girl.. we get it
Profile Image for Jess.
38 reviews
March 1, 2018
This book starts off good but fails to keep up. the pacing is off and the falling in love part happens so fast it was like she suddenly remembered she had a page limit and had to get it all in there.
58 reviews
June 30, 2018
I found the second story My Hero really dated. No google research about Parker. No giving out of cell phone numbers. It just was too innocent the way people meet new people. Technology is such a major factor.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews

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