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Husband by Arrangement
Suddenly a Family
After Rena Livingston's secret fiance leaves her pregnant and unwed, her mayor father insists upon a marriage of convenience to Sheriff Scott Braden. Though his motivations are as much about protecting his political career as her reputation, Rena is grateful the standoffish sheriff agrees to the arrangement. At least her child will grow up without the burden of her shame...
Scott believed his one chance at love fled with his ex-fiancee, but caring for Rena and her unborn baby exposes a vulnerability he vowed he'd never allow again. When the upcoming election stirs nasty gossip, though, Scott must choose between his commitment to the town and his growing love for Rena and the baby.
After Rena Livingston's secret fiance leaves her pregnant and unwed, her mayor father insists upon a marriage of convenience to Sheriff Scott Braden. Though his motivations are as much about protecting his political career as her reputation, Rena is grateful the standoffish sheriff agrees to the arrangement. At least her child will grow up without the burden of her shame...
Scott believed his one chance at love fled with his ex-fiancee, but caring for Rena and her unborn baby exposes a vulnerability he vowed he'd never allow again. When the upcoming election stirs nasty gossip, though, Scott must choose between his commitment to the town and his growing love for Rena and the baby.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published March 6, 2018
34 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 14, 2018
'His inheritance from the Lord was another man's child.'
This was a new-to-me author. But I do intend to read more of her work. I enjoyed this book with the wonderful theme of God's grace, mercy and redemption after a terrible mistake. Even when we somehow can't find it in our hearts to forgive ourselves, we can be assured that God is standing ready to reach down and forgive our every mistake and set us to rights again.
This was a new-to-me author. But I do intend to read more of her work. I enjoyed this book with the wonderful theme of God's grace, mercy and redemption after a terrible mistake. Even when we somehow can't find it in our hearts to forgive ourselves, we can be assured that God is standing ready to reach down and forgive our every mistake and set us to rights again.
March 6, 2018
The plot of marriage first, love second is one that I usually enjoy and this version definitely delivered. A good, quick read.
May 7, 2022
This one just didn't do it for me.
First, Rena (what is that short for, anyhow?) loses her mom at fourteen, mourns until she's nearly on the shelf (age 23 +?)... like her best friend who technically *IS* on the shelf and is only a 'few months' older than her. During the NINE years of grieving, she turns her back on God via quitting attending church. ????? Church attendance doesn't equate to faith, sorry. And that's a really LONG mourning time. Except that we're told she's 'childishly upbeat' and 'exuberant' and 'teasing'. So... mourning or not? Angry or not? It's incongruous.
Second, during her 'wayward' decade, she meets a smarmy dude who sweet talks her and claims he's gonna marry her in the morning if she does the deed with him at night. I don't care HOW deep in mourning or far from church you are, in 1881, NO GIRL is gonna give up her virtue after a decade of half-mourning, half-upbeating. Not without a wedding, first. ESPECIALLY if her father (that she absolutely adores and dotes on) is mayor and there is an image both of them are years into upholding. No. Just no.
Third, the awkward between Scott and Rena is SO F.O.R.C.E.D. it's not funny. All's they'd have to say when people asked, "Why is it we never saw you two courting?" is "You didn't have to be privy to our evenings chaperoned in the mayor's parlor these past months." End of story. Instead she squirms and he coughs and she blushes and he averts his eyes and she stiffens and he winces as he has to touch her... it was ridiculous.
Fourth, like after the mail clerk hints about the postcard from Eugene, Rena wouldn't come up with a plausible story for the next time the gossip brought it up? Something like, "His father was a good friend of my mother's family, and I had wanted to keep in touch with him as a kindness to our relatives in the East" or some such. Even, "Eugene had walked with me a few times, true, but had aspirations, and I understood that from the beginning. We forged a loose friendship, and I wanted to write to him and cut his loneliness as he traveled." C'mon, she's not THAT stupid, if she came up with the idea of a rally and other things.
Fifth, could there BE a more helpless, pathetic, ridiculous pregnant woman? My gosh, one day she's scrubbing the inside of a cast iron stove and teaching herself to milk a cow, and then suddenly there's an about face, and even the mention of an election has her screaming in pain, and being given grave chances to live... only to be sent home two days later? Seriously?!? She's passing out and screaming over everything from knocking her leg into the hearth to dizzy spells. Honey, I was bouncing over waves on a jet-ski the day before I delivered my son. What the heck!?
Sixth, for a romance, there IS NO romance in this book. There's a sweet dance at a shindig, but honestly he never does more than helps her into a buggy and lets her sob on his chest after mean words. ((???)) There's no kissing (anything more than a hand), no tenderness, no embraces... and they're MARRIED from the beginning of the book, on. Good grief, it was such a let-down, to read a romance without romance in it.
Honestly? I wanted the baby to die. I really did. First, it would make the whole town contrite, and second, it'd mean his devotion/continuance would be based on love alone, not 'doing right under a circumstance'. It'd also be SO romantic, him promising to give her a baby. Not that having the kid was bad, it was just... saccharine and banal. Nothing special to see here.
I... suppose if you've got nothing better at hand to read, this isn't horrible. But with the sheer number of books with this plotline, it just wasn't outstanding.
First, Rena (what is that short for, anyhow?) loses her mom at fourteen, mourns until she's nearly on the shelf (age 23 +?)... like her best friend who technically *IS* on the shelf and is only a 'few months' older than her. During the NINE years of grieving, she turns her back on God via quitting attending church. ????? Church attendance doesn't equate to faith, sorry. And that's a really LONG mourning time. Except that we're told she's 'childishly upbeat' and 'exuberant' and 'teasing'. So... mourning or not? Angry or not? It's incongruous.
Second, during her 'wayward' decade, she meets a smarmy dude who sweet talks her and claims he's gonna marry her in the morning if she does the deed with him at night. I don't care HOW deep in mourning or far from church you are, in 1881, NO GIRL is gonna give up her virtue after a decade of half-mourning, half-upbeating. Not without a wedding, first. ESPECIALLY if her father (that she absolutely adores and dotes on) is mayor and there is an image both of them are years into upholding. No. Just no.
Third, the awkward between Scott and Rena is SO F.O.R.C.E.D. it's not funny. All's they'd have to say when people asked, "Why is it we never saw you two courting?" is "You didn't have to be privy to our evenings chaperoned in the mayor's parlor these past months." End of story. Instead she squirms and he coughs and she blushes and he averts his eyes and she stiffens and he winces as he has to touch her... it was ridiculous.
Fourth, like after the mail clerk hints about the postcard from Eugene, Rena wouldn't come up with a plausible story for the next time the gossip brought it up? Something like, "His father was a good friend of my mother's family, and I had wanted to keep in touch with him as a kindness to our relatives in the East" or some such. Even, "Eugene had walked with me a few times, true, but had aspirations, and I understood that from the beginning. We forged a loose friendship, and I wanted to write to him and cut his loneliness as he traveled." C'mon, she's not THAT stupid, if she came up with the idea of a rally and other things.
Fifth, could there BE a more helpless, pathetic, ridiculous pregnant woman? My gosh, one day she's scrubbing the inside of a cast iron stove and teaching herself to milk a cow, and then suddenly there's an about face, and even the mention of an election has her screaming in pain, and being given grave chances to live... only to be sent home two days later? Seriously?!? She's passing out and screaming over everything from knocking her leg into the hearth to dizzy spells. Honey, I was bouncing over waves on a jet-ski the day before I delivered my son. What the heck!?
Sixth, for a romance, there IS NO romance in this book. There's a sweet dance at a shindig, but honestly he never does more than helps her into a buggy and lets her sob on his chest after mean words. ((???)) There's no kissing (anything more than a hand), no tenderness, no embraces... and they're MARRIED from the beginning of the book, on. Good grief, it was such a let-down, to read a romance without romance in it.
Honestly? I wanted the baby to die. I really did. First, it would make the whole town contrite, and second, it'd mean his devotion/continuance would be based on love alone, not 'doing right under a circumstance'. It'd also be SO romantic, him promising to give her a baby. Not that having the kid was bad, it was just... saccharine and banal. Nothing special to see here.
I... suppose if you've got nothing better at hand to read, this isn't horrible. But with the sheer number of books with this plotline, it just wasn't outstanding.
November 5, 2024
Awesome read. I really enjoyed this one
April 19, 2018
So hard to forgive
Rena had made a mistake, thought she was in love. When her mother died she kind of forgot everything she had learned, and some smooth talking man took advantage. In order to not bring shame to her father she agreed to marry Scott the town sheriff. Threw their ups and downs they come to love each other, not before they had to go through gossip, noisy townfolk, and embarrassing situations. But in the end Rena realized that God had forgiven her, she just needed to forgive herself.
Rena had made a mistake, thought she was in love. When her mother died she kind of forgot everything she had learned, and some smooth talking man took advantage. In order to not bring shame to her father she agreed to marry Scott the town sheriff. Threw their ups and downs they come to love each other, not before they had to go through gossip, noisy townfolk, and embarrassing situations. But in the end Rena realized that God had forgiven her, she just needed to forgive herself.
December 27, 2018
I really enjoyed this sweet story of an arranged marriage. The main character, Rena found herself expecting a baby, alone. Her father arranged for her to marry the sheriff. Rena had a very difficult time forgiving herself of her past and often blamed herself for the problems that came to her father and her husband.
It was a nice book of forgiving, and of healing. This is the first book that I have read from this author and very glad I did. Left me feeling very happy that I had read this book. I will be looking for more of her writings.
Highly recommended!
It was a nice book of forgiving, and of healing. This is the first book that I have read from this author and very glad I did. Left me feeling very happy that I had read this book. I will be looking for more of her writings.
Highly recommended!
April 5, 2018
Husband By Arrangement by Angel Moore takes place in 1881. Rena Livingston get pregnant by a guy who leaves town and will never return. He later dies in a boating drowning. Rena becomes pregnant. Her father is mayor and goes to the sheriff who is a friend and asked him to marry her to avoid gossip. Rena does marry Sheriff Scott Braden. They don't love each over. Feelings happen while they are living together. A lot goes on. Trust and love. A very good read.
March 14, 2018
A good escapist read. Good triumphs and the hero and heroine find true love. :)
August 29, 2018
A very cute book, shows how government was handled in 1881. How gossipmongers could throw an election for inserting themselves in other people’s lives. I’m glad the bad guys didn’t win this one.
August 11, 2020
Grown love
This story gives women hope that good men exist. Scott is a gentle man personified. He is caring, compassionate and easy to love.
This story gives women hope that good men exist. Scott is a gentle man personified. He is caring, compassionate and easy to love.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews