Then Comes Marriage

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable and different read
Review: "Then Comes Marriage" is a different kind of book - while the plot is a standard if too-often used one (arranged marriage for convenience sake) and a bit unbelievable (arranged marriages in the twenty-first century??), the characters in this book are as different and unusual as they come. If you have had your fill of the usual storyline and protaginists, than you may find this book a welcome change of pace.

I liked the heroine very much - she is not your silly, cookie-cutter spoiled brat, even though she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth - she makes sure to make that point over and over again. And she even comes across that way as well in this story - she has more guts, brains, and maturity than your average romance heroine. And Bram - when he first makes his appearance I thought he was really awful - but never judge by first impressions, they tell you, and Bram does sort of grow on you as the book goes on. It helps that I wasn't so shocked by the hero's obsession with his wife's grave thing - having encountered this exact story-line in the long-ago published "Red Threads" by Rex Stout - and seen that story resolved well.

There are some loose ends to this story - the arranged marriage, the improbability of the hero being both a computer/science genius/geek and star football player?? - no, this book was not high on the realism scale.

The style of this book was well-written and funny, but the somewhat slow pace and the obvious implausibility of parts of the plot turned this book into a four star, for me.

If you are looking for a romance that is somewhat off the beaten path, unusual characters, and high quality writing, I would definitely recommend "Then Comes Marriage".

Rating:
Summary: warm uplifting contemporary romance
Review: America's wealthiest heiress Honor Witherspoon marries its most famous security recluse Bram Bennett. Last year, Honor was a kidnap victim; Bram makes the security devices that keep "Celebs" safe. Many skeptics figure this is a business deal brokered by her daddy to provide affluence to Bram and security to Honor. The cynics think that Daddy Witherspoon brokered the deal, blackmailing and forcing Bram into marrying his daughter with the real threat to destroy his hometown of Hot Springs, California.

Bram still mourns for his deceased wife, but Honor wants her marriage to work and not as a convenient deal sponsored by her dad. As Bram struggles to keep Honor safe and she still recovers from her harrowing experience, the impossible happen and they fall in love. However, can this couple turns their marriage of convenience brokered by an interested third party into a lifetime of happiness with he carrying eight years and she one year of baggage?

The device seems to have been used, as many times as there are stars. The baggage seems to have been used as many pieces of sand. Put together, THEN COMES MARRIAGES should be a trite disaster, but in the hands of a magician readers receive a warm uplifting contemporary romance. The story line overcomes the banal almost corny mechanisms through the delightful lead couple, each unknowingly seeking someone to believe in even while they deny their love for one another. The townsfolk add a feeling of homecoming and a bit of wackiness, but Christine Ridgeway's latest Hot Springs' novel resides with the couple avoiding that elusive butterfly.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: warm uplifting contemporary romance
Review: America's wealthiest heiress Honor Witherspoon marries its most famous security recluse Bram Bennett. Last year, Honor was a kidnap victim; Bram makes the security devices that keep "Celebs" safe. Many skeptics figure this is a business deal brokered by her daddy to provide affluence to Bram and security to Honor. The cynics think that Daddy Witherspoon brokered the deal, blackmailing and forcing Bram into marrying his daughter with the real threat to destroy his hometown of Hot Springs, California.

Bram still mourns for his deceased wife, but Honor wants her marriage to work and not as a convenient deal sponsored by her dad. As Bram struggles to keep Honor safe and she still recovers from her harrowing experience, the impossible happen and they fall in love. However, can this couple turns their marriage of convenience brokered by an interested third party into a lifetime of happiness with he carrying eight years and she one year of baggage?

The device seems to have been used, as many times as there are stars. The baggage seems to have been used as many pieces of sand. Put together, THEN COMES MARRIAGES should be a trite disaster, but in the hands of a magician readers receive a warm uplifting contemporary romance. The story line overcomes the banal almost corny mechanisms through the delightful lead couple, each unknowingly seeking someone to believe in even while they deny their love for one another. The townsfolk add a feeling of homecoming and a bit of wackiness, but Christine Ridgeway's latest Hot Springs' novel resides with the couple avoiding that elusive butterfly.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the first time
Review: Bram Bennett sold his company to Warren Witherspoon, who then forced a marriage of convenience with his daughter Honor. Warren's ultimatum: marry Honor to keep her safe from her recent kidnappers, or he would destroy the economy of Bram's home town of Hot Springs. Bram, a techno wizard turned recluse since his wife's death eight years ago, reluctantly complies, unaware of how his life is about to change.

Honor is bound and determined to start her life over in Hot Springs and embraces her new community, and reluctant husband, with her zest for life and refusal to be made an invalid by her kidnappers. The quirky characters of the community, along with yet another romantic liaison between Mia and bad man Josh, add life to a plot that has been used over and over again. In the hands of this gifted author, she turns it in to a poignant and hilarious love story, where everyone learns once again the value of love, trust and truly finding home. I enjoyed the fireworks and fun in this fabulous book!

Rating:
Summary: Bravo - another winner from Christie Ridgway!!
Review: Bram Bennett sold his company to Warren Witherspoon, who then forced a marriage of convenience with his daughter Honor. Warren's ultimatum: marry Honor to keep her safe from her recent kidnappers, or he would destroy the economy of Bram's home town of Hot Springs. Bram, a techno wizard turned recluse since his wife's death eight years ago, reluctantly complies, unaware of how his life is about to change.

Honor is bound and determined to start her life over in Hot Springs and embraces her new community, and reluctant husband, with her zest for life and refusal to be made an invalid by her kidnappers. The quirky characters of the community, along with yet another romantic liaison between Mia and bad man Josh, add life to a plot that has been used over and over again. In the hands of this gifted author, she turns it in to a poignant and hilarious love story, where everyone learns once again the value of love, trust and truly finding home. I enjoyed the fireworks and fun in this fabulous book!

Rating:
Summary: The best book I've read in AGES!!!
Review: I don't think I've enjoyed a book so much since I read Christie's last one! If I could give it 10 stars, I would!! This author can write a story that is so good it just blows me away!!! I laughed, I cried, I gulped, and then I laughed some more. The ending left me going "AAWWWWW!!!" "Oh my goodness, that was sooo nice!!" *sniffle* *sniffle* It was just so good!! All of her books are that way. You can't put them down, unlike some of the current big name authors that are writing too many books and they are all just boring! (heaven knows I read a lot of them or end up only reading half of them!) The story and the characters have real depth. I couldn't put the book down! A must read for anyone who likes an intelligent well written and well thought out story line. Granted it's full of fantasy, but what amazing FUN!!! I'd recommend reading all of her books! If she doesn't become as famous as some of the other big name authors out there, then life just isn't fair! ha One thing is certain; I'm anxiously awaiting her next book!!! ...

Rating:
Summary: The best book I've read in AGES!!!
Review: I don't think I've enjoyed a book so much since I read Christie's last one! If I could give it 10 stars, I would!! This author can write a story that is so good it just blows me away!!! I laughed, I cried, I gulped, and then I laughed some more. The ending left me going "AAWWWWW!!!" "Oh my goodness, that was sooo nice!!" *sniffle* *sniffle* It was just so good!! All of her books are that way. You can't put them down, unlike some of the current big name authors that are writing too many books and they are all just boring! (heaven knows I read a lot of them or end up only reading half of them!) The story and the characters have real depth. I couldn't put the book down! A must read for anyone who likes an intelligent well written and well thought out story line. Granted it's full of fantasy, but what amazing FUN!!! I'd recommend reading all of her books! If she doesn't become as famous as some of the other big name authors out there, then life just isn't fair! ha One thing is certain; I'm anxiously awaiting her next book!!! ...

Rating:
Summary: Light funny read.
Review: I thought that this book was good. It was on the lighter side and had its funny moments. It also had it own little drama that while was big enough to be there, it was also light enough to fit in and give the book its edge. In the first book you are introduced to the characters Honor and Bram. you learn of Honors situation in the first book and see how sad Bram is cause of his dead wife. I think Bram was still a little too dramatic being that it was eight years sience his wifes death, and it was not the death itself, so much as his "questions" and then fear, that kept him from living. Maybe so much time should not have passed for that to be more plausable. Who knows. It did not kill the book or anything, Honor's story is pretty emotional and fits the scene. Kinda makes up what could be better as far as Brams reasoning. Honor is a good woman, no matter what the other reviews make her out to sound like. It was an OK book, kept a smile on my face and will have a spot on my keeper shelf for a while at least.

Rating:
Summary: A delightful read...
Review: Like one of the other reviewers I did not realize that this book was a sequel. After reading such a fun read like THEN COMES MARRIAGE I am now reading its prequel, FIRST COMES LOVE which is just as great. The characters in this book were well-written and I loved the secondary ones as much as the primary ones. Some of the scenes are laugh-aloud funny, i.e. the pumpkin patch scene. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading all of Ms. Ridgway's books.

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the first time
Review: The premise of this sequel was set up very well in "First Comes Love." The widower and kidnap victim, both survivors and in need of love. Seems like a great set up but I was very dissappointed with the actual story and character development.

First of all what I fell in love with in "First Comes Love" was the characters interaction with the town AND each other. In this sequel there was more dialogue in the minds of the characters than each other and the town characters. I found that the author could have done a better job in letting Honor's light shine with the town.

I did not like the secondary story. It was very contrived and not at all as good as the secondary story in "First Comes Love."

Although I liked Honor and her need to optimistic at the end of the book she seemed to be very selfish by inviting all those people to Bram's home especially when there was a true risk to her and his safety. It seemed her need to belong outshadowed him.