Sarah Anne's Expedient Marriage by Cathy Lynn Bryant and Jessica Marie Dorman

Knowing he was about to die, Sarah Anne’s beloved father had arranged for her to marry Alexander Swyndhurst II. Alexander, a recent widower, had no intention of taking another wife; but after learning the young woman’s situation—that she had been the object of at least one man’s unwanted attentions, and that she would soon be left alone and unprotected—he had agreed to the marriage. He had one stipulation, however: He and Sarah Anne would live separately—he in Bristol, England, and she in Amesbury, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Sarah Anne had agreed wholeheartedly with this arrangement.
Will Alexander have a change of heart? What of the dangerous man from her past? What will happen while her husband is away—leaving her alone with only the servants?

This book is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble


About the Authors:

 

Mother and daughter writing team, Cathy Lynn Bryant and Jessica Marie Dorman live in beautiful New England. Inspired by interesting characters and events uncovered while doing genealogical research, they weave the stories of real people and fictional characters from the 17th and 18th centuries into inspirational and romantic works of historical fiction. 
Lost Love and Shipwrecked: Madeline Pike Finds Hope in the New Land is the first in the series, Unshakable Faith. 
Book 2: Grandmother's Namesake was released on 6/19/2013. 
Book 3: Sarah Anne's Expedient Marriage was released 10/1/2014.

To connect:

website:  http://www.bryantdormanbooks.com/
twitter:  https://twitter.com/cathy73280175
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Authorsbryan...
pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/cathylynnbry...

I received this book compliments of the author in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own and I was not asked to give a positive review. 

My Thoughts:
This book grabbed my attention from the start. 
What would it be like to marry someone you had never met, much less someone you were not in love with?  And to make matters worse, while you were still grieving your previous wife.  Arranged marriages happened often, years ago, but it is quite different to think in this day and time. Can two people really fall in love when they have been thrown together unexpectedly? 

Cathy and her daughter do an incredible job of making the story intriguing and mysterious. The language is a bit odd, since its written in the language of the day - circa 1800's. But that doesn't take away from the story itself, just makes it more appealing. They incorporate an amazing display of love, faith in God, as well an incredible cast of characters mixing together to make the outcome special. There are quite a few unexpected twists and turns to the plot, that will keep you guessing as to what comes next. 

Sarah is a young women grieving the loss of her father. Alexander is grieving the loss of a wife. And both have agreed to the arranged marriage for the sake of convenience. Her - to please her dying father and for protection. Alexander - because he is a gentleman and feels sorry for a young woman in distress. Unbeknownst to them, both fathers have been praying for their children to fall in love with each other in-spite of the circumstances. 

For that to happen though... they actually should be living in the same house, but Alexander leaves for England soon after the marriage, leaving Sarah in the care of his trusted household staff.  Sarah, in effort to keep from focusing on herself and her grief, and also because she possesses such a caring heart, buries herself in the art of helping others. She spends most of her days being a blessing to others. But then.... the unexpected happens...

Alexander returns home unexpectedly ...
Sarah's health takes a turn for the worse ...
And her stalker - the man who was the cause of this arrangement in the first place - has boldly shown his face in town ...

To find out what happens.... I suppose you will just have to read this book!