Narelle here. Today I’m sharing my book recommendation for A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy, Book 1 in Valerie Comer’s new Sweet River Ranch Romance series set in her Montana story world. If you follow Valerie’s series, you’ll likely remember Stephanie from Amethyst Attraction (Pot of Gold Geocaching Romance series) and Tate from Her Unlikely Hero (Easter in Gilead series).
Here’s the book description:
She’s never done a spontaneous thing in her life. Neither has he. But a marriage-of-convenience seems like a good idea to this embattled woman and grieving sudden dad in this Montana Ranches Christian Romance.
Everything hit all at once. Tate Sullivan became the guardian of his young nephew after his brother’s death, and now Grandfather has bought a failing guest ranch in Montana. Tate’s used to handling Fortune 5000 companies, but moving halfway across the country and learning an entirely new, rural business is a challenge, especially with a toddler in tow.
Nice girls finish last… or that’s what it seems like to Stephanie Simpson when her ex-boyfriend, a pastor, proposes to a former bad girl. It’s not that Stephanie wants her ex to rethink his life choices, but would it be so wrong to move on as quickly as he has? A quick wedding to that cute but faltering cowboy with the adorable toddler might get her what she wants. After all, it’s clear Tate needs a helping hand.
He’s a Christian, just like she is. What could possibly go wrong?
About the Sweet River Ranch Romance series:
Walter Sullivan is frustrated with the soft lives his entitled sons and grandsons lead. Yes, it’s because he’s given them an education and money, but now he’s just frustrated with the namby-pamby city kids. Working together to revive a failing guest ranch in Montana will give those young men a chance to prove their worth. And if they settle into the cowboy life and find romance in the bargain, it will be well worth the risk.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy, and I read it quickly, within twenty-four hours, because I couldn’t stop turning the page. This fast reading pace isn’t unusual when I read Valerie’s books because she consistently delivers CCR books that I love to read.
I was intrigued by Stephanie and Tate’s unique meet cute. Stephanie is struggling with unrealistic and unfair parental expectations. Her parents are disappointed that the youth pastor they’d chosen for Stephanie is now marrying one of her friends. Stephanie is dreading being single at the wedding, She’s ready to take a risk to find love, but her out-of-town dating plans go awry when she meets Tate and Jamie, his adorable toddler nephew.
Tate’s wealthy grandfather from Chicago has purchased a resort ranch near Jewel Lake. He has summoned his adult grandchildren to work in Montana and fix the ranch. Tate has been working remotely in Gilead, Kansas, where his mom was caring for his orphaned nephew. Tate’s now juggling single parenting and a demanding career in the family business that’s inconveniently relocating him and Jamie to Montana for a few months.
Stephanie and Jamie bond quickly, which draws Stephanie into Tate’s world and the family business that’s different to her small town life as a teller in her dad’s bank. A fun romance, including their surprise wedding, plays out in the story. Tate and Stephanie are challenged to evaluate their priorities and consider how their faith impacts their decision making.
I loved the cameo appearances by characters I’ve met in other books and series by Valerie. That said, the story can be read and enjoyed as a standalone first book in a new series. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, Jilted Bride for the Cowboy. I recommend A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy to contemporary romance readers who like small town ranch stories with a fun twist on the marriage of convenience trope and a strong faith element in the story.
Learn more about Valerie Comer and her books by exploring the Inspy Romance website, listening to StoryChats @ InspyRomance, and visiting the Books page at Valerie’s website.
Questions for you: Are you a fan of the marriage of convenience trope in CCR? (I confess I can be a hard sell for this trope and I don’t always like it). Have you read A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
I enjoy Valerie Comer’s books! I have not read A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy, but looking forward to reading it. I enjoy reading all types of book tropes.
Valerie’s books are great but I haven’t read A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy yet. I don’t mind the trope, except where they pretend it is something other than a marriage of convenience. Sounds perfect for the next 36 degree day here.
I love a marriage of convenience, it’s my favourite trope I think. I haven’t read this one yet but it’s high on my tbr list as I love the wound of the characters and I always really enjoy the world Valerie Comer creates. Thanks for the review, it’s good to know you enjoyed it.
I’ve read the book and enjoyed it. I also just finished the ARC of Mary Connealy’s Marshalling Her Heart. Mary has a lot of surprise, quick weddings in her books, so much so I expected it! :-) I did like in this new book of Mary’s that she goes back to one of the surprise, quick weddings in the previous book and shows the problems that can come. Anyway, I also always love Valerie Comer’s books!
I don’t think I have read any contemporary marriage of convenience stories but I have read some historical ones that I really enjoyed.
I LOVE Marriage of Convenience!!! It’s my all time favorite trope, probably because most of Betty Neels’ books had marriage of convenience for their tropes, and she’s still one of my favorite authors!
Thanks so much for the shout-out, Narelle! I’m glad you enjoyed Stephanie and Tate’s story… and Jamie’s!!!
no i have not read it yet. I really enjoy mail order brides, second chance, marriage of convivence plus more. they all have something a little different which makes them all fun to read
Hi, I have not read her book yet, and yes, I am a fan of Marriage of convenience, I love reading of why the couple decided having a marriage of convenience, I find it very interesting. Have a Great day.
I struggle with it. I see it as a marriage headed for destruction when it does not have a firm foundation. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
Hi Kathleen, I hope you’ll have a chance to read Valerie’s book soon. I’m always happy as a reader when an author hooks me into their story that includes a trope that’s not necessarily my favourite trope. The unique twists on the tropes are fun. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Dianne, I hope you’ll have a chance to read it soon. It’s a complicated trope and, depending on the circumstances, the pretending can be hard to stomach. I hope the weather cools down for a while longer. I’m back to wearing winter clothes again, which isn’t unusual here in October. Thanks for commenting. :)
Hi Ruthie, You’re welcome. Definitely bump Valerie’s book to the top of your tbr. It sounds like you’ll enjoy how the marriage of convenience plays out in the story, and book 2 is coming soon. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Margaret, I haven’t read a Mary Connealy book in ages, and I have a few sitting in my TBR. Quick weddings can be fun to read. I agree, an advantage of series books is we can see the newlyweds dealing with problems later in their married life. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Jessica, I’m much more likely to enjoy marriage of convenience in a historical than a contemporary. There are some great CCR stories where it work really well. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Trudy, Yes, I remember Betty Neels! My grandmother was a big fan and I read heaps of Betty Neels’ books when I was in high school. I had forgotten that she mostly wrote marriage of convenience. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Valerie, You’re very welcome. 😊
Hi Lori, I love the variety that comes with the different tropes and how they can be mixed together. I hope you’ll have an opportunity to read Valerie’s book soon. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Alicia, yes, the why’s behind the marriage of convenience decision are interesting to explore in the story. I hope you’ll have a chance to read Valerie’s book soon. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Debra, yes, I understand why it’s a struggle to read. For me, it all depends on the characters and the situation. Interestingly, in CCR, most of the stories I’ve loved reading have had single parent situations where a caregiver role needs filling. If the reason for the marriage is too flimsy, I’ll DNF the story. Thanks for commenting. 😊