As a reader, I love historical romance as much contemporary. Sometimes, I might even love it more. (Shhh! Don’t tell!) One of my favorite storylines is a sudden marriage/marriage of convenience/arranged marriage. Ask pretty much any author I brainstorm with and I try to marry off their couple by chapter 8 (and, occasionally, try to add dinosaurs to their
World War II epic…).
For some reason, it doesn’t always work (I mean, seriously, who wouldn’t like a family of Triceratops at the Battle of the Bulge and I’m sure T-Rexes would have come in handy on Okinawa…), but I give it the old college try.
Some of my favorite historicals are those marriage plotlines. One of my most beloved books of all time is Karen Witemeyer’s Short-Straw Bride. In fact, it inspired my first (and only, to date) foray into writing historicals. The result was a charming story set in the 1870s Ozarks. But my true love, especially as a writer, is contemporary.
As much as I love those storylines, they’re much more difficult to come up with in a contemporary setting. For instance… a couple gets snowed in a cabin for a couple of days in a contemporary novel and there’s rarely a father standing there with a shotgun asking the hero if he’s going to “do the honorable thing” and marry the heroine, but those books do exist.
Our very own Ginger Solomon explored this concept in her new release, One Choice, wherein the heroine ends up with the Crown Prince of a fictional country after surviving an elaborate process of choosing his bride.
Amy Matayo used a Bachelor-esque game show in her debut release, The Wedding Game.
Abby Gaines (who writes inspirational historicals for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Historical line and non-inspirational (mostly) sweet/clean romance for Harlequin’s SuperRomance line) used a reality show and obscure law in Married by Mistake.
Denise Hunter’s The Convenient Groom has a best friend step in for a runaway groom.
Becky Wade (my special guest next month) has a variation on “drunk in Vegas” in her newest release Meant to be Mine. (Have you read it yet?! SO good!)
So it can be done.
But what contemporary plotlines are plausible and which ones are… a bit too difficult to accept?
Fictional country with ancient laws? Sure.
Shotgun wedding because of a pregnancy? Maybe?
Paperwork snafu after a pretend wedding? Denise Hunter’s The Accidental Bride used that scenario.
A confirmed bachelor inherits his sister’s kids and needs help raising them? Well…
/shrugs shoulders/ (That’s the plot of the historical I wrote, by the way.)
What do you think? Which historical sudden marriage/marriage of convenience/arranged marriage plotlines could transfer to a contemporary setting? Or is it just a matter of the author painting a plausible scenario? Even if it’s not something that you believe really WOULD happen in real-life, as long as you believe in this case it COULD happen, it’s all good?
Or is it more… if the couple gets married early-ish it’s no longer a “romance” but something else (even if said couple doesn’t profess their love for each other until near the end of the book)? In the romance genre, it’s generally considered a given that the hero and heroine will go through some tough stuff and still wind up together, so does the early addition of wedding bands really make a difference?
So… all of that to say… what kind of sudden marriage scenarios would you find plausible in a contemporary setting? Do you know of any other contemporary romances (especially inspirational) that fit the scenario but I left out?
I’d love to hear your thoughts! And because I’d love to hear your thoughts… one lucky commenter who addresses that question will win their choice of any of the books* mentioned in this blog ;). Be sure to leave your email address and check out the Sunday Edition on June 1 for the winner.
*I believe all of the books are “in print”, but one or more may be available only as ebooks, possibly only Amazon. Paperback optional wherever my Amazon Prime or Book Depository ships free… ebook everywhere else :).
When she's not writing about her imaginary friends, Carol Moncado is hanging out with her husband and four kids in the big yard of their southwest Missouri home, teaching American Government at a community college, reading, or watching NCIS. She's a member of ACFW and RWA, President and founding member for the MozArks ACFW group, and a category coordinator for ACFW's First Impressions.
So fun, Carol! It’s not out yet, but my critique partner just sold a modern mail-order-bride story to the Pelican Passport to Romance line. I’m thinking the Jane Eyre plot line would translate pretty well to contemporary as well.
Yes, I love these kinds of books. Elizabeth, that contemporary, mail-order bride story definitely has my interest.
This post makes me think of Streiker’s Bride by Robin Hardy. That’s a marriage by proxy book. It’s contemporary though.
Well, there’s always the tried and true plot. He wants to carry on the family name and get an heir for the family business/estate. I could see that carrying over to a contemporary setting very well.
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I do believe that marriage of convenience plot lines can work in contemporary settings! It’s just a matter of hitting on a plausible premise. Melissa Tagg had a ‘marriage in name only’ sub plot in Made to Last. And Meant to Be Mine is my spin on that same dynamic. I can definitely imagine ways in which an arranged marriage could work.
LIke you, I love marriage of convenience stories! In fact, taking a classic romantic plot and giving it a unique and modern twist is one of my *favorite* things to do. Thanks for the fun post!
Ooo! Make sure I know about it when it comes out?!
It’s probably awful of me to admit but I’ve never read Jane Eyre…
Didn’t Virginia Carmichael do something along those lines though?
Definitely a good idea! I’ll have to check out the one you mentioned!
I have a variation on “drunk in Vegas” in one of my WIPs too, Becky :). I LOVED Meant to be Mine!! I’d forgotten about Melissa’s, but it’s not really a marriage right? (It’s been a while since I read it.)
Thanks for stopping by, Becky!!
I think it’s easier to have marriage of convenience plotlines in a historical because the culture (and options for women) was so different back then. I did read one contemporary that had a marriage of convenience storyline and it was the woman’s deceased husband had left a lot of debt and her employer was willing to marry her to cover the debt. The premise was fine but the execution of the storyline was not what I was hoping for so I won’t mention the title. I’m curious to see what other contemporary scenarios people have discovered.
Betty Neels wrote several marriage of convenience stories. Some of her books are still in print. They would be considered contemporary although they have an old fashioned feel to them. Some of them were a parent’s dying wish, get married or loose an inheritance, some body has to take care of some kids so lets get married, sometimes the handsome rich doctor bachelor just wants to rescue the girl he is secretly in love with so convinces her to marry him and they will deal with the romantic part later. I love marriage of convenience stories, there is some tension to them that doesn’t exist in other plotlines, especially where there is no sex involved–yet.
Thanks for the shout out, Carol.
I also love marriage of convenience/necessity stories, which is why I wrote one. They are much easier to work out in a historical setting though. Writing a contemporary one was a bear when it came to making it sound at least somewhat realistic. I’ve had a request for a follow-up to One Choice (for Anaya — the prince’s sister), but she does not want to tell me her story. :)
I am like you. I love the sudden marriage/marriage of convenience/arranged marriage stories. I know that they fit better in historical stories, but if the scenario is right, it works in contemporary also. I read The Convenient Groom and thought it was handled really well. Grace Livingston Hill has several stories that are marriage of convenience. I know they are older, but they are good and a lot of hers are being reprinted. Elizabeth Maddrey mentioned a Jane Eyre type plot. There was a book out a couple of years ago called Jillian Dare by Melanie M. Jeschke that was a modern day retelling of Jane Eyre.
Lis – I read one not too long ago [which is part of what prompted this blog] which was the same way. The scenario was fine, but the execution was extremely poor.
I agree that’s why it’s easier in historicals. Gotta admit, though, I wish there were more contemporaries ;).
I’ll have to check out Betty Neels, Mary! Ooo! Condition of inheritance is another good one! I *think* I’ve heard that most of those conditions would get thrown out today – but you’d have to be willing to fight it…
I would LOVE Anaya’s story! So whenever she starts talking to you… ;).
I thoroughly enjoyed One Choice, Ginger! Thanks!
Marcia Schuyler is one of my all time favorite stories! It’s been quite a while since I read it though. I think that’s the only GLH I remember with one of those scenarios. She has several with marriages near the end (Honor Girl, maybe? Crimson Roses did.) Oh! Except for Best Man. It was a very early on marriage too. Barbour is reprinting… two a month I think it is. It’ll be a while before they’re all out ;).
I’ll have to check out Jillian Dare, too!
Thanks so much!
Oh Carol! What will you do if I figure out how to add a dino to my WWII epic? ;) (Beware the gears in my head are whirring away!) But since you’re asking about what historical marriage of convenience scenarios would be plausible I think with a few tweaks The Heiress of Winterwood would translate well to contemporary. :)
Will do! I’ll admit, Jane Eyre isn’t my favorite (really the Bronte girls needed some anti-depressants). Not sure about Virginia Carmichael, but it wouldn’t surprise me if someone had done it. :)
Carol, great post! I like marriage of convenience historical romance plots, but I have mixed feelings on the plot device in a contemporary setting. As Becky has mentioned, the premise needs to be plausible. The motivation for the marriage needs to be exceptional to hook me into the story.
Romance is often criticised because it perpetuates the myth that women need to be rescued by a man. In a contemporary Christian romance, I’d prefer to see the heroine seeking to be rescued by God, rather than a man through a convenient marriage. There isn’t a financial or security need for women to marry in a contemporary setting.
There’s also a sensitivity in the Christian community over the sanctity of marriage being attacked and broken down in our society. More often than not, the marriage of convenience either demeans the value of marriage or distorts it’s original Biblical intent.
I will do cartwheels, that’s what! And believe me, you want to see that ;). Maybe in St. Louis?! :D
Hmm… I’ve read Heiress but I’d have to go look at it to remember the plotline…
Hmm… that’s an interesting, Narelle. But weren’t most Biblical marriages at least somewhat for convenience? Whether to secure an alliance with another tribe/kingdom or for the financial well-being of the parents or something along those lines? I suppose it may have something to do with how the characters look at the longevity of the marriage of convenience? Is it we’re going to get married until x condition is met? (We’ve won the Bachelor-esque game/received the inheritance/etc.) Or is it a “till death do us part” and we’ll find a way to make it work?
Definitely something to ponder…
Carol, that’s why the marriage of convenience plots works really well for historical romance. It fits the social norm of the times. It makes sense because it wasn’t uncommon for marriages to be arranged. The only arranged marriages I know of in real life have taken place overseas in a different cultural context. It’s a foreign concept in our modern day Western lives, which makes it a harder, but not impossible, sell for readers to buy the premise. Talented writers will find a way :)
I do like the marriage of convenience plot, it is difficult to make it work well in a Christian contemporary. Accidental Bride succeeded. Ruth Ann Nordin wrote a good one, and while the characters were Christians (I think), the book doesn’t meet CBA standards (I’m sure you can guess what that means!).
Streiker’s Bride (mentioned above) was good, but was allegory , so the marriage plot was about how the bride was required to accept the groom before he could show her the extent of his power and influence, and I think it worked for that reason (I also have to say that while I very much enjoyed Streiker’s Bride, it’s close to twenty years since I read it, and I didn’t enjoy the sequels. And it wouldn’t work today, because of how the internet has changed the nature of communication).
I’ve read Meant to be Mine, and I actually saw that as Secret Baby/Other Woman rather than MOC, so it’s interesting to see you see it differently!
I agree with Narelle’s point about how romance shouldn’t perpetuate the myth that a woman is incomplete without a man. I don’t like that in contemporary romance (I can live with it in historical fiction, because of the historical context). I prefer a woman with a full physical, emotional and spiritual life who finds a man will add to that life, not a woman who *needs* a man. It’s interesting to note that a lot of historical romance now features this type of heroine, even though it’s anachronistic.
Thank you for an excellent, thought provoking post, Carol.
Many of my books have themes about a Christian main character marrying the non-Christian main character.
Over many years now I have been saddened too many times by couples we know where the believer ends up finding it too hard keeping faith active and also problems when children arrive and the mother and father do not have the same heart towards God. This element should be remembered in any convenient or arranged marriage themed inspirationals.
Also, I agree that the Bible does have stories of arranged marriages, Carol. However, as in other differences Christ taught us better ways. Ephesians chapter five teaches us well about marriage relationships and if both hero and heroine are committed Christians, it would have to be a VERY plausible plot to work for me in an inspirational contemporary – or historical even.
I like some marriages of convenience in historical like the mail order brides. I actually have a pen pal who meet her husband through mail and while she meet him before they married when she went out to meet him it was with the idea they would become engaged which happened and he then moved to where she lives and they have been married around 16 or so years.
For a Christian book I wouldn’t like to see a forced marriage because of a baby as I don’t think that should be in a Christian book if even one of the couple is a Christian. I do know of some people who have lost a partner and they have remarried more for companionship than anything else. I could see it happening for money. If you don’t have money and don’t have people to help you there are times when I could see this happening. For example a single female who is alone needs somewhere to live but due to circumstance she cant afford to rent or is discriminated against do to low social economic status and there could be a guy who is having the same issue but if they rent together they can afford a place but they have to be either defacto (partners) or married. Both are Christian they could marry for convenience. They would have to be friends and know it was for long term to make it work.
Thank you for this post as it has answered a question I’ve had concerning a half-written contemporary MS of mine. My plot contains a type of MOC which no one has mentioned and I’d been wondering if it would be acceptable in our Christian market. After reading all the posts I’m beginning to think it just might. Thanks for providing the encouragement to finish it :)
Jenny – Thanks for your response! Out of curiosity – what’s your reasoning for a couple not getting married because of a baby? While I agree that shouldn’t be the ONLY reason, it does happen in real life. I have family members who got married because she was pregnant. As I understand it, they likely would have gotten married anyway, but that certainly moved things up. They’ve been married nearly 25 years and the child is married now.
I also know friends who met online – some who’ve been married over a decade. One couple met in the early internet days of the mid-90s.
Thanks so much!
Thanks for stopping in, Andrea! Be sure to let me know when you’re done?! I have several of these types rattling around in my head. Whether any of them will see the light of day is, of course, another story ;). I think most people are probably willing to suspend disbelief if it’s plausible – I know I am :D!
Thanks!
probably didn’t explain myself well there. the baby one is more I know Christians are not perfect but I don’t like reading books where the hero and heroine who were Christians suddenly find out they are pregnant. I guess I am old school and as a Christian think sex should be in a marriage not before. I do know it happens and I have friends who it has happened too but in a Christian books I would rather it didn’t happen.
I tried the mail penpal at one stage but I seemed to get responsed from men who were more looking for someone to take care of them.
Ah! Gotcha! A personal preference for a not in fiction kind of thing :). I understand completely! I think we all have some of those :).
[FTR: I agree sex belongs in marriage. I also know otherwise good Christian couples who sin in that fashion.]
thanks Carol. I understand it also. I just think in fiction I like it clean and I got so sick of secret baby stories that I don’t enjoy them as much.