Winter Weddings: The Sheriff Takes a Wife / First Comes Marriage

by Debbie Macomber

When the world is covered in white, there's nothing quite like a romance that ends with a wedding!

The Sheriff Takes a Wife
It's love at first sight for city girl Christy Manning and small-town sheriff Cody Franklin. But despite their fast and intense connection, they both have…complicated…relationship statuses. Cody is wary of being burned again, and Christy is worried that no matter what choice she makes, someone is going to be hurt. Still, the two can't seem to keep away from each other and will have to find the courage to follow their hearts.

First Comes Marriage
Janine Hartman loves her grandfather but balks at his plan to choose her a husband. Zach Thomas, the intended groom, has recently merged his business with the Hartman family firm, and that's the only Hartman–Thomas merger he wants. But Grandfather has other ideas, ideas belonging to a different place, a different time. It would be a perfect match, he insists. Zach and Janine don't agree. In fact, they agree on only one thing—that Gramps is a stubborn, meddling old man. But…what if he's right?

Genres: Romance

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published November 30, 2021

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Alexis Wylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I did enjoy this book, I gave it a 3 star because the first story was missing some elements for me. Things moved to quickly for me and I understand that relationships can me messy or complicated like they are in The Sheriff Takes Wife, but it was a struggle for me to root for them at times. There was just a lot of back and forth with characters making decisions. I much preferred the second story. Ironically I thought I’d like an arranged marriage story less but I found it charming, funny, and sweet…just my kind of romance. I really loved how it unfolds and I could not put it down for long.

[hav!]

This book gave me almost nothing to work with. I’m sorry, I really am, to not be able to finish. But it was just too dang hard and there was no payoff in sight. I was limping through the first 100 pages, and this book is already small. There was no way I’d make it to the finish line.

Characters suffered from the most blatant instalove I’ve ever read. For all I know, the second story is winning the Pulitzer Prize. If so, it’s going unrecognized by me because I couldn’t even get through the first.

There was absolutely no emotional development for either the sheriff or the younger daughter, who’s names I’ve conveniently forgotten. There was also a weird amount of attention given to the MC’s sister and her husbands love story. I knew more about them then the main characters. And you know it’s bad when you’re skipping your two main peoples scenes just to get a page or two about the supporting cast.

Also cheating was romanticized and glossed over in a way I’m not okay with. I got this book from one of those free libraries, so at least there’s no worries about me getting my money back. I’m still ready to return it and let it become someone else’s problem though!

[Tisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sherriff takes a Wife~ is love at first sight, with a big complication. The woman that Sheriff Cody Franklin falls for is none other than his best friend's Russ Palmer's wife Taylor younger sister Christy Manning. Who is visiting going to Counter Pointe Montana from Seattle because her big sister is having a baby. Their mother fell & broke her leg. It's up to Christy to come & take care of her sister Taylor & her brother in Law Russ once Taylor has their baby. Christy will do anything for her family. Even get engaged to her boss James who she has been dating off & on for 2 yrs. They are best friends & they may not have a passionate love. They fit well together. At least that is what her parents tell her. Christy will be in a sable, reliable marriage if she marries the young & coming lawyer James from Seattle. Though, while driving to Montana Christy seems to have second thoughts of excepting James proposal two days ago. She will now spend two weeks to be free from everyone telling her what she should do with her life.
What she didn't expect was that the Sherriff to be Cody Franklin would change her entire life. Cody has been burnt 3 years ago by the woman he was in love with. Since then he has not met or wanted to be involved with any woman. Until he set his eyes on Christy Manning, the day she called him to find out where Russ was. Since Taylor stating going into labor. Read what happens to these two find Insta love story.

[Beth Besso · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
This book contains two stories:
The Sheriff Takes a Wife and First Comes Marriage. I'll review these two separately.
.
The Sheriff Takes a Wife is fast paced. I loved the first chapter, I was smiling reading the second chapter, but everything happened so fast in the story that I wasn't enjoying the it as much as I thought I would, or even as much as the first two chapters. It's a love a first sight type of story - which I do totally believe in, but I do prefer to read slow burn romances. It wasn't a bad story but I wasn't really excited about it and there was no anticipation for me.
I rate it a 3.5 stars.
.
First Comes Marriage.
After reading the first couple of chapters I didn't think I would like this story. But as I continued to read I started to enjoy it more and more. It didn't have an extremely strong story line, but I enjoyed the enemies to friends to lovers aspect of it.
Also rating this 3.5 stars.

[Jeannine Scopp · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would give the first story 1 star and the second 2.5 - 3 stars.

Some leeway must be given for the stories being outdated, as they were written over 30 years ago. However, beyond that, the first story read like a bad Hallmark movie. The story was far fetched and the character development weak. The only thing I was rooting for was getting to the last page. The only reason I kept reading is I have a policy of finishing any book I start.

The second story was better. The characters were more likable and the plot predictable, but enjoyable.

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cody Franklin was badly burned when he fell in love the first time. What is he going to do when he finds out the next woman he falls for, Christy Manning, is engaged but hasn’t told him yet? That is the crux of the story in The Sheriff Takes A Wife, and is handled well.

First Comes Marriage is about Janine Hartman whose grandfather is trying to arrange her marriage to Zachary Thomas, his business partner. Both fight their attraction but the outcome is inevitable. Another beautiful story.

[Sandra S · Rating 4 out of 5]

DNF’d the first story in here - The Sheriff Takes a Wife - for so many reasons, namely cringe, insta-love, language, & grown adults acting like teenagers for no reason whatsoever 🙃, and seemed like it was very likely to be an open door romance. Just a no from me on so many levels. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Read the second story - First Comes Marriage - and actually enjoyed the storyline. Took a few chapters to get into; some language; will not be rereading bc though it’s *technically* closed door romance, the other kissing/romance for me was way too descriptive & frequent.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was two books in one. Both about love and marriage. I had to keep reminding myself that these stories were written 30+ years ago so some things that were almost laughable made more since, for when they were actually written and published. They’re easy reads, but so unrealistic. I love Debbie and know that some of her books go way off into a unrealistic love so it wasn’t a surprise.

[Jenny Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christy's sister is having a baby in Montana and she goes for the birth of her nephew not knowing she's meet and fall in love with her brother in laws best friend.

She left a fiance at home that is planning the wedding with her parents and has to make a decision.

2nd story is about a wealthy woman, Janine, being set up by her grandfather to his business partner Zach.

Very cute stories!

[HTP Books]

Categories
Contemporary Romance, Western Romance, Romance, Romance Collections & Anthologies

[Jennifer Krueger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I really I Iikes the 2nd story called First Comes Marriage!

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! That first story was unbelievable, along with the second

[Laurie Locke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light read and of course, happy ending. I enjoyed the simple plot and characters in both of the stories in this book.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical romance stories, entertaining but these characters seem to take forever to get it together and realize they are in love!

[Rho · Rating 1 out of 5]

N
Bought the not realizing that it was two books from the 1990’s Got thru 200 and gave up. Not raven s good beach read

[Kristin Hermanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two more love stories with twists, good reading

[wendy cooney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love wins

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Both stories too predictable

[Jennifer Turcotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like reading a Hallmark movie...but some might be in a place where they need something really light.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of Macombers best, but both stories were short and sweet. Typical romance novels and easy light reading if that’s what you are in the mood for.

[Ellie Hebeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book, I enjoyed reading both stories. It’s two stories in on book.

[Julia Eck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Little love stories. It was OK

[Rhonda Thomasson]

Two great stories of Life and Love. First Comes Marriage was especially sweet…so often how life is!
DM never disappoints!!

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

not as good as other Debbie Macomber books.

[Karen McManus-Carreiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

[Becky Griffus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved both stories. ❤️

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars