Unexpectedly in Love

From This Day Forward #3

by Debbie Macomber

Be surprised and delighted by this charming classic romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber, where a marriage of convenience unexpectedly leads to so much more... Originally published as 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 vows. Wedding planner Savannah Charles, however, believes in the value—and the values—of marriage. Yet she finds herself saying yes when Nash proposes, even though it's strictly a  business  proposal… 

Genres: Romance, Harlequin, Fiction, Marriage Of Convenience, Audiobook, Chick Lit, Harlequin Romance

154 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 1993

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

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marriage Wanted is the third book in the From This Day Forward series by popular American author, Debbie Macomber. Wedding planner, Savannah is asked by Susan Davenport to plan something within her limited budget for her wedding to Kurt. Her older brother Nash is her only living relative, but is so against marriage she doubts he will even attend. Savannah is determined to give Susan a romantic wedding she will cherish.

Nash Davenport is bitterly divorced, and a ruthless divorce lawyer who loves his sister but can’t condone her marriage. He arrives at Savannah’s bridal shop full of scorn and negativity. How is it, then, that he and Savannah, two people with such radically opposed views of marriage, end up married just a few months later? Another sweet romance from the queen of feelgood.

[Gramedia Pustaka Utama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cerita ini bagus. Tentang Dash yang merupakan pengacara perceraian, sehingga dia tidak bisa lagi percaya adanya cinta sejati dan pernikahan.

Sementara Savannah adalah yang -kalau tidak salah ingat- merupakan organizer untuk pernikahan adik Dash. Akhirnya, Dash malah melamar Savannah, dengan alasan, mereka menikah tanpa cinta, hanya berdasarkan pertemanan. Savannah bersedia menerima.

Tapi lama kelamaan, Dash malah jatuh cinta pada Savannah.

[Ruth Van Hecke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A happy read. I would call it a beach read.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book along with another novel by the author that are paired in Under the Summer Sky (June 2024). This is about wedding planner Savannah and a divorce lawyer Nash sparring over whether marriage can last. This is a cute story and only has a few things that date it. Savannah refers to herself as crippled referring to a limp and scarring from a childhood accident. Nash is told he’d be considered for being made partner if he were married. A few scenes that may be worded differently today doesn’t take away the easy banter and chemistry. Of the two this was my favorite and I like his sister and her parents as supporting characters. I enjoy Macomber's writing style and it is fun to read some of her earlier romances. This book was originally published in 1993.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, cute romance that gains more depth the more you read.

I liked the take on this one: wedding planner and the divorce attorney--two worldviews perfectly set up to clash--for the reader's enjoyment.

I definitely thought the couple in this book had sparks. Though some parts of the plot agonized me, I did like Savannah and Nash together. The way he cares for her despite her limp (from a bike crash when she was young) is so sweet, and what starts as a marriage of convenience for them quickly deepens and restores the cynical lawyer's belief in the power of love and marriage.

Diverting, light reading.

[Helen Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Divorce attorney Nash Davenport has a low opinion of marriage after his divorce and feels that no one can live up to to the expectations. He meets Savannah Charles who is helping his sister with her wedding arrangements. Nash feels that Savannah is putting ideas in his sister's head. But being around Savannah has Nash making an unexpected proposal. Savannah accepts his proposal thinking that it will help her parents when a medical crisis comes up. They make a marriage of convenience arrangement. But what starts out as an arrangement changes when feelings get involved. Can this marriage in haste turn to more?

[Joyce A. Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opposites Attract Quite Often

A divorce lawyer and a wedding consultant meet and attempt to challenge one another with regard to benefits and or drawbacks to marriage. He is so disillusioned with his own marriage which ended in divorce, he is bent on rescuing his younger sister from experiencing the same mistake. Great dialogues and subtle attraction to each other keeps this story alive.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was very disappointing. I thought the fact that Savanah had been in a crippling accident was interesting and an opportunity to show inner strength. However, while she was frustrated with parents for being overprotective, she was something of a wimp as well. I just wanted a more self-confident woman willing to embrace life instead of giving up on experiences because of an lame leg.

[Sirkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uskudes raamatu siseküljel olevat autori teoste pikka nimekirja, siis on aru saada, tegemist on sarikirjutajaga. Kirjanikul on oma ladus ja kiirelt kulgeva loo stiil, mis on talle edu toonud. See on aga teisest küljest ka väike miinus, sest dialoogid ja tegelaste sisemõtted ei ole lõpuni viimistletud ning jättis minu jaoks kohati hakitud tunde. Aga muidu, tore ja armas lugemine.

[Heather Bridson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute little book! Fun to read for sure! It was fun seeing how the relationship between a divorce lawyer and a wedding coordinator would turn out. As a romance novel it had some predictable parts, but the characters were unique and well developed. It really was a fun read!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming

Great story line revolving around a woman with a physical disability and a man who chooses to help her get over her fears. She in turn helped him get over his own bitterness. Read more like a real life situation rather than just a plain love story.

[Carolyn Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marriage and Love

When two people with opposite opinions about love decide to marry, lots of interesting things happen. Msn Macomber brought both of her characters into agreement in a most satisfying manner for her reader. I found the book hard to put down.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, but no matter what the original covers might claim, I would not call this the start of a series. All 5 books have unrelated characters. They all just follow the same subject line of "marriage for reasons other than love," but you might end up with a happy ending.

[Mary Salinas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unable to put down

It was slow to begin with, but the pace picked up rapidly. Short love story.


I couldn’t put it down.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming

Enjoyed the story of coming through pain and finding love and family. A lovely story with another happy ending. Recommend.

[Christie Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite book of the series. I guess a marriage of convenience happens more often then we think.

[Ginger Perry]

Reading it once was enough.

[Cathie McManus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nash doesn't believe in marriage. He is jaded. When his sister goes to Savannah for help. Nash is outraged. She teaches him a few things. Good story

[Joanne Dickinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marriage Wanted

The story was good, hard to put down. Enjoyed the twist & turns of the story. Love the stories, always good books to read.

[Elliemae · Rating 2 out of 5]

audiobook

[Shelley Marushak Langelaar · Rating 3 out of 5]

**vintage Debbie Macomber. Her writing has gotten better in time — however, I did enjoy

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun, clean romance. I think the couple is unique, a wedding planner and an angry brother of one of her clients. They differ in their opinion of mariage.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice quick read. Lots of wondering at the beginning, but things work out.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly a good book. The ending was a bit lacking in emotion but otherwise the chemistry between the characters was great and really enjoyed Nash’s character. I always admire authors who can create tension and lust/love/chemistry between characters while still being PG 13 about it!
Only thing that bothered me was how much savannah made a big deal about her handicap which isn’t really a big deal, it was just dramatic where it didn’t need to be.

[Deb Bigley]

Always have enjoyed a Debbie Malcomber book. This one was sweet, easy read, just what I needed. It was nice having a main character with a physical flaw. I’m over beautiful, perfect bodies. Books make you feel only adventures, exciting men want the gorgeous women who may have everything, but are down on their luck, but their beautiful bodies , faces, and hair will get them everything.
This book had a beautiful woman with a scared leg from a childhood accident that still caused her pain. She believed in love for others, believing her flaw would turn all men away. She found a clients brother, a lawyer, who could see beyond her flaw. But didn’t believe in love after being burnt at 24. Guilt from the heroine, her parents are woven into the story. Does love prevail? Does guilt of the past ever go away? Read it to find out.

[Lynne Spreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Savannah Charles owns a bridal shop and wedding planning service. She's smart, cheerful, resilient, and seriously lonely. A childhood accident left her with one leg badly damaged, and as an adult, she has found men disappointing. Resigned to being single the rest of her life, she meets the surly, wedding-averse, cynical, jaded divorce attorney who comes in the store to check on the business that's he assumes is trying to cheat his sister. Of course, this is an opposites attract/enemies to lovers trope with the usual ending. Macomber does a nice job of starting us off with a strong, capable heroine, but over the course of the story, Savannah turns into a shrew (her word, BTW, and it's accurate.) By the time the resolution came, I wasn't sure I cared about this person anymore.

[Jodi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Debbie Macomber and love the Blossom Street book series. This was not one of my favorites. I read the book but questioned why I was still reading it. I didnt like the premise that this girl and guy instantly detest each other yet the end up together. If that was not weird enough then add to it a marriage contract to benefit both of them. Yes it all works out and they end up staying married and professing their love, but it demeans the whole reason to get married. I guesss some people do get married for a variety of reasons, but call me old fashion and think love should have something to do with it. Not a book I would recommend.

[Uthie · Rating 3 out of 5]

ceritanya ringan namun menyentuh... perasaan Savannah sebagai seorang perempuan difabel cukup tepat disampaikan oleh Debbie Macomber... Jarang-jarang ada roman yang mengangkat cerita tentang mereka yang berkebutuhan khusus...

Beberapa bagian khususnya tentang Savannah, masa remaja dan kecacatan yang dialaminya membuat saya sebagai pembaca merasa nyesek. Sedikit banyaknya novel ini memberikan gambaran untuk saya kalau para disabilitas juga ingin dianggap normal oleh orang lain, bahwa mereka mampu melakukan banyak hal tanpa dicap tidak mampu, bahwa mereka butuh dianggap mampu dan mandiri oleh orang lain.

[Charis Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a feel good read just in time for Valentine's. This was different from most of the other marriage of convenience novels that I've read before in the sense that these two were obviously very much in love with each other before they entered the marriage of convenience. It was also very refreshing how honest they were with each other, since most conflicts in other books stem from keeping secrets, ending up unintentionally 'using' the other person for their benefit, which leads to hurt and anger that gets wrapped up before the great finale. It wasn't that profound, but it was a very fun, light read that was really really fluffy.

[Mirella Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cerita ini bagus. Tentang Dash yang merupakan pengacara perceraian, sehingga dia tidak bisa lagi percaya adanya cinta sejati dan pernikahan.

Sementara Savannah adalah yang -kalau tidak salah ingat- merupakan organizer untuk pernikahan adik Dash. Akhirnya, Dash malah melamar Savannah, dengan alasan, mereka menikah tanpa cinta, hanya berdasarkan pertemanan. Savannah bersedia menerima.

Tapi lama kelamaan, Dash malah jatuh cinta pada Savannah.