Marry in Haste

Absolutely delightful! I really enjoyed this book, more than I anticipated, given the back cover blurb. What really won it for me was the characters. As others have mentioned, it is refreshing to have main characters who are (and act) like mature adults. No angsty-wangsty drama here, mucking up the delightful setup of my favorite trope, the marriage of convenience. These characters communicate and learn and grow together, and they all are willing to give it a go, beyond the hero/heroine.

I really loved Emm. She's a strong woman who refuses to be pushed around. Betrayed by her father, she runs back to her school for solace and builds a life for herself, and she is content in that life - she's not someone who feels like she won't be show more complete without a man. She marries Cal to secure her future, not because he's an earl with an endless supply of wealth. She genuinely cares for "the girls," taking them all under her wing again, even the harridan George.

All of the characters are wonderfully complete, and this is the sort of book that makes you feel happy as you read it, and after. I was having a pretty rotten day and this story lifted me right out of the doldrums.

The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars and an A++ recommendation is that the two strands of plot were uneven. The "hunting the assassin" arc felt tacked on and fizzled out into nothing in the end.

I have really enjoyed both of the books in this series so far and am looking forward to Rose's and George's stories! They are also strong-willed ladies who deserve strong stories to support them! show less

It official now, author Anne Gracie has been added to my list of favorite romance writers. I just finished [Marry in Haste] and I loved it. This author pulls you into her stories and immediately has you rooting for her characters. In this marriage of convenience story the new Earl of Ashendon marries a school teacher in order to have her look after his younger sisters and a young niece that he just learned about. These young girls are all 18 to 20 years old and need a loving, careful hand to guide them.

The Earl himself would rather be off doing his secret work for the government. Of course, the newly weds fall deeply in love with each other. The story has plenty of humor and even gives us a glimpse of one of the Chance sisters from the show more other series of this author that I am reading.

I am looking forward to continuing on with both of these series. With her rich descriptive writing, subtle sent of humour, and enjoyable characters, this author knows how to deliver a pleasing romance. show less

Well... I was quite excited about this one. But in the end something was missing. And the characters and world building seemed a bit too modern. I mean telling a girl in a regency novel that she is fat, when obviously she just have a bit more figure, which would've been an advantage at that time. I could've even overlooked the problems with historical things, but Emm was just a bit too perfect and traditionally feminine and Cal was bit of a tool, but also too perfect. There was no real conflict, no misunderstandings, no drama that would definitely arise from marrying a perfect stranger.

Marriage of convenience is definitely my catnip, but this book really didn't deliver. Also, considering that this was supposed to be a romance, it took show more way too long for the couple to meet and I felt there was much more stuff about the other characters than the ones that the book was supposed to be about. Maybe it was a setup for Cal's sisters and nieces, who no doubt will have their books, but really I wished a bit more actual romance in a romance book. Many people who felt the same about this book have liked the Chance sisters books, so I might try those still. show less

Major Calbourne Ruherford is hot on the heels of an assassin when he discovers that he has inherited the role of Lord Ashendon and with it his half-sisters, and if that's not complicated enough he discovers that his brother had married someone and left him a niece as well. The two half-sisters get on well with their former teacher Emmaline Westwood who has had her share of heartbreak along the way. After offering to hire her doesn't get her to work for him he eventually convinces her to marry him. But there are more hidden secrets and it's complicated. There are layers in this story that made it interesting and Emmaline was good at getting the various people around her to go to her plan but I wasn't really convinced by the romance. He show more needs to work at it. show less

It was a little slow starting for me, quite a bit of set up for the rest of the series and things, but the characters grew on me and I ended up really enjoying them. They generally acted reasonably, which I appreciate, and I could easily follow what was motivating their actions. There were also a lot of little touches that kept it from feeling run of the mill. It had a solid ending.

Cal Rutherford has returned to England to track down an assassin, only to find that he is the new Earl of Ashendon. What's more, he also has to care for two (then three) young women who have become his wards. All three are running wild and the only person who seems able to rein them in is their former teacher, Emm Westwood. At his wit's end, Cal decides to marry Emm so he can return to his real love, the army, once he's captured the assassin.
As you'd expect in a marriage of convenience, this is a slow-burning romance. There's a lot of story about the three girls and Cal's interactions with them. I liked that as all three girls are fun, each in her own way. Emm was a good match though I found it somewhat unbelievable that Cal wouldn't show more ask anything about her life before marrying her. I also found the assassin plot boring and a bit of a stretch; Cal has responsibilities as a new Earl so it didn't make a lot of sense that he'd track the man down himself. But I like Ms. Gracie's writing, and the story is charming and witty. This is the first book in her new series, and I can't wait for the next one. show less

After a youthful indiscretion and later gossip, Emm becomes an outcast and returns to her former school as a teacher.
Cal returns from the war to discover that he is now heir to the family estate and title. Along with 2 half-sisters and a cousin, he finds everything has been neglected. If he has any hope of bringing order to the chaos and launching 3 girls on society, he will need a partner. However, sin Emm isn't interested in his short-term job offer, he proposes a marriage of convenience. The agreement suits both--Cal will have help with his family and Emm will gain a family. However, will Emm's past impede her future happiness?