Today’s Topic: Freebie (Make up your own topic, or use a previous TTT topic you might have missed.)
Hosted by: That Artsy Reader Girl
Do you ever feel like you are slow to learn certain things about yourself? I sure do. It’s only in the past year that I have discovered that I actually enjoy reading stories featuring the marriage of convenience trope. Although, I’ve read many such books over the years, it’s only recently I realized my own reading pattern in choosing these types of books.
There’s just something about two people who aren’t initially in love making a lifelong commitment that fascinates me. Many times, they are strangers, sometimes they are known to each other. But either way, I love “watching” them discover each other in a new light as they work to combine their lives.
Although this trope is easier to write into a historical fiction story, there are also several well-written contemporary tales of these marriages on this list.
I really enjoyed this contemporary take on the biblical story of Queen Esther. A young missionary girl marries a Bedouin prince and finds it a bit more difficult to adapt to the culture than she expects.
In order to keep custody of his infant son, a young man must marry his sister’s best friend who has secretly always wanted a family of her own.
I have yet to read a book by Connilyn Cossette that I didn’t love. Including this tale of a female warrior who must marry her captor.
Diamond of the Rockies Series; The Rose Legacy, Sweet Boundless, The Tender Vine
This is one of my all time favorite series. A privileged young woman travels to gold country in Colorado to open her own restaurant. She ends up married to a surly, reticent but poetic man with a mysterious background.
I adore this contemporary romantic tale of love and music set in Vienna. I’ve read it more than once. And I love that the author modeled her hero after Oliver O’Toole from Hallmark’s Signed, Sealed and Delivered series.             My Review
I don’t know why it took me so long to read this L.M. Montgomery book. It is delightful. A young woman impulsively marries to escape her over bearing family and in doing so discovers herself. My Review
The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn
The story of a privileged young woman who learns she is of mixed race origins. Fleeing her evil stepfather, she marries a man who was raised by Indians.
A compelling tale of an early British suffragette who marries an Anglican priest even though she prefers to remain single for the cause. My Review
This is the last in a historical series about California in the tumultuous years it transitioned into statehood. It’s a well-researched fascinating, multi-cultural account written by a California native. I enjoyed this one about a half Russian, half Indian woman who finds herself married to a white man who wins her in a card game.
If you’ve never read one of Austrian born Eva Ibbotson’s books, what are you waiting for? This one has a young Austrian fleeing Nazi rule, marry a British professor.
An English lady finds herself married to an early American tobacco farmer.
A conquered Irish warrior queen must marry the man who not only defeated her but saved her life.
 An earl and his wife navigate the complexities and intrigue of the Elizabethan court, while slowly learning to love each other.
Four brothers named after Texas heroes, one injured woman. Which one will marry her after drawing the shortest straw? It’s a bit like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
What are some tropes that you enjoy? Do you have a favorite marriage of convenience story?
Ha! Your post just made me realize I like the marriage of convenience theme too! I’ve read A Bride Most Begrudging and have A Constant Heart on my bookshelf. I also love Connilyn Cossette’s books but I have yet to read The Wings of the Wind. Oh my, my TBR list just grew after reading your post.
I’m glad I’m not the only one! Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
What a unique TTT prompt! Loved reading your list.
Here is my TTT: https://ichleseblog.wordpress.com/2018/12/11/top-ten-tuesday-freebie/
Intriguing topic you’ve selected for this week!!
Here’s a link to my Top Ten Tuesday post for this week: https://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/2018/12/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-free-little.html
I *still* have to read “The Blue Castle,” but one of my favorite stories with this trope is a contemporary (*name escapes me*) by Kristen Heitzmann. It’s an old release though, but so (so) good. Most of the time I like this trope fine, but I really appreciate it when it has some unique elements to the story. 🙂
Rachel McMillan finally talked me into reading The Blue Castle and she was right! I love Kristen Heitzmann and have read all her books. I can’t remember which one you are thinking of either.