Category: adult

Series: From this Day Forward #1-2

Aleksandr Berinksi is a Russian biochemist in the U.S. on a visa that is about to expire. Marriage will allow him to stay – marriage to Julia Conrad.
If Julia’s going to save her Seattle-based company, she needs him as much as he needs her. There’s a Groom Wanted in Julia’s life. And not just any groom!

A billboard on the side of a Seattle road is common enough – but one advertising for a bride? It’s Chase Goodwin’s solution to the problem of finding a wife quickly, a wife to bring home to Alaska.
Lesley Campbell has her own reasons for responding – and in no time she’s the Bride Wanted in Chase’s life!

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4 Drink Me Potions

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Let me just first say that these two stories by Debbie Macomber are some of her older ones and seemingly different from the kinds of plots she writes more after the 2000s, but there’s still something about them that make it enjoyable and applicable no matter the audience (although I do suggest you’re at least 16+).

In Groom Wanted, there was a tangible chemistry between Julia and Alek. Although it was a marriage of inconvenience but one that would help save the company, Alek genuinely seemed to have very fond feelings for Julia even in the beginning. I’m glad that Macomber differentiated that his feelings weren’t equated to love, at least not initially, ’cause that’d be way too unrealistic.

Julia, on the other hand, made me wanna strangle her sometimes. Yes, she went through a horrible ordeal with the betrayal from the man she loved that kept her from trusting in Alek and his very true feelings for her. I suppose the fact that I didn’t give up when she drove me crazy a little is a mark of how invested I was into their story. Overall, it was a very easy read that I gobbled up in practically one sitting. Perfect for a summer day (or evening until the wee hours of morning…)

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In Bride Wanted, Lesley’s story was harder to digest. She too had been used and left behind by a man, making her wary about men in general. Chase needed a woman to bring back to the far unknowns of Alaska, using the most amusing way to do that. I was more amused than anything when reading their story. Definitely not as invested, although there were sweet moments here and there as well.

Lesley’s insistent love for her ex was the most annoying trait. Chase wasn’t the most romantic kind of guy. He’s very straightforward (I think you can tell by his extremely direct method of finding a wife). So between the two of them, there was some chemistry but it wasn’t as fun to read when I just wanted to knock some sense into her and to tell him to maybe woo her a little more.

Overall Recommendation:
Both stories were overall cute and had its moments. These were situations where marriage was something they needed for their own reasons, but not because of love. As a hopeless dreamer myself, finding love after the fact is a wonderful storyline to watch unfold. Macomber executes the stories with heated passion that slowly builds and people who find that they did indeed marry for love after all. Groom Wanted was particularly enjoyable, while Bride Wanted wasn’t far behind but the individual personalities of the characters were a little harder to manage. Overall, it was a quick and nice summer read when you feel like a good romance that ends happily.

 

There’s more than one way to capture a man’s heart…

On the day of her best friend’s Las Vegas wedding, Clare Gilroy fears that her own walk down the aisle will never happen…until she finds herself falling for best man—and town outcast—Reed Tonasket.

After a dizzying night in the glitter of Vegas, Clare wakes to find a ring on her finger and a husband by her side. It should be everything she’s ever wanted, but can a man like Reed ever fit into the life she left back home?

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4 Drink Me Potions

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Um, before I start, I will say, this book was completely a guilty pleasure. It was just one of those days, ya know? Quit judgin’ me while you’re ahead, though. Just keep on moving along. I needed one of these brainless romances today and this novel sufficed. More than sufficed, really.

Reminiscent of another story with a similar plot, I normally don’t read Vegas-married romances. But I was intrigued. And even more so when it turned out our male interest is half Native American.

Clare and Reed’s romance was almost tangible. There was never any doubt about that. The crazy things that went on after their so-called hurried romance took the brunt of the story. It was kind of understandable so it didn’t infuriate me as much as other stories did (thank goodness!).

Clare was kinda innocent but she wasn’t as weak as Reed thought she’d be when confronted with the hardships of life. Meanwhile, Reed had a lot to think about. He may have thought his actions that caused so many problems were noble to him, but it really wasn’t the best for them both. Thankfully, this story touched a more solid conclusion and didn’t just abruptly end there when the two decided things were all hunky-dory. Oh no. I’m glad for that. It may not resolved too deeply into the issues that may come up when marrying someone of Native American descent, but it left us with a taste of hope that things at least could turn out well for this couple.

Altogether, for a guilty pleasure indulgence, this book wasn’t bad. If you ever have one of those days – well, look no further, I guess.

Overall Recommendation:
Clare and Reed’s fast-paced romance could be considered insta-love but it didn’t quite feel so bad since their chemistry was clearly tangible. Would this happen in real life? Heck if I know, but one thing’s for sure. This satisfied the criteria of a guilty pleasure novel for me. It wasn’t all brainless romantic craziness. It covered issues of racial prejudice as Reed is half Native American. I thought it probably was what made all the misunderstandings and problems for the married couple more bearable because it was somewhat understandable. Overall, it was an interesting read. Interesting being the key word ’cause I don’t know what else to describe it as.