We’ve finished the eighth month of the Unlocking the Past 2022 Reading Challenge: Around the World. This month we traveled to North America, and my choice of story was Love in the Bargain by Lucette Nel. Once you read my review, don’t forget to comment to be entered for your chance to win a book from my prize pile.
*Want more interaction and/or suggestions each month? Join the Facebook Group. Want a bookmark with the monthly themes? Fill out this Google Form. Need a reminder on the details of the challenge? Go to the Unlocking the Past Reading Challenge page.*
Love in the Bargain
by Lucette Nel
This book isn’t actually out until September 30th, but being a member of the author community has its perks. Lucette Nel weaves a unique and engaging marriage of convenience story. Both Micah and Amelia are desperate to have some control over their lives and futures. When Amelia’s grandfather offers an ultimatum of marriage or return to New York, she is determined to have a paper-only marriage with the man of her choosing. Although Micah is an ex-convict, he was once her friend and the only prospect that she can entertain being stuck with for the rest of her life. Besides, it will mutually benefit them as he is struggling to raise his orphaned niece and nephew. But nothing is as simple as it looks on paper. Micah has no intention of living in a loveless marriage, and though he is a patient man, Amelia is determined to keep him at arm’s length. When life-threatening dangers arise, it’s more than their lives at stake. Their marriage and hearts may not survive.
Love in the Bargain is a wonderful story of learning to release control and open oneself up to the vulnerability of loving another. I highly recommend this story for fans of historical romance, marriage of convenience, friends to more, danger-filled romance, and realistically flawed characters.
Genre: Historical Romance, Texas 1889
Plot Overview:
Driven to rekindle her relationship with her ailing grandfather, Amelia Scott returns to her childhood home. However, her unyielding grandfather is determined to control her future and poses an ultimatum. Marry and inherit the iconic Scott Hotel or return to New York penniless. Amelia is determined to stay, and formulates a plan to ensure proprietorship of her last connection to family. But love is not a part of the deal. She can’t risk another man having control of her.
Ex-convict, now town carpenter, Micah Kelly struggles to raise his deceased sister’s children. When Amelia proposes marriage without love as the answer to both of their problems, he knows better than to say yes. While partnering with his childhood friend may yield an answer to his monetary challenges, he cannot agree to a marriage in name only. His heart is already involved, and that always leads to trouble.
Circumstances put them together, and while they struggle within their new marriage, outside forces are determined to snatch the Scott Hotel from them. Even if it means killing them.
Purchase your copy at Amazon
Giveaway
For your chance to win a print copy from my prize pile (OR an e-copy of Lucette’s book), comment with what book YOU read for this month and you will also be entered into the year-end Grand Prize Reader Basket. Use the Rafflecopter below for extra entries and to mark that you left a comment. Entries end on September 7th at midnight EST, and the winner will be notified by email and announced on the Rafflecopter widget.
*Open to all residents of the contiguous USA, legally able to enter, and an e-book format or Amazon Gift Card will be awarded to those outside that range who are legally able to enter.
I read Love By The Book by Cara Lynn James.
Oh! I think I’ve read that one. I’ve enjoyed Cara Lynn James whenever I’ve read her.
I read Best of Intentions by Susan Anne Mason.
Nice! I haven’t read one of hers yet.
The Water Keeper by Charles Martin
I’ve heard great things about Charles Martin.
I read Jody Hedlund’s Colorado Cowboys series
I’ve only read one of her young adult books. I’ll have to look into this series.
Read The Dress shop on King street by Ashley Clark
Oh, I’ve heard great things about that!
I read an early copy of The Santa Run by Beth Pugh. Its set in Kentucky at Christmas time and its a great book to get you in the mood for the Christmas season.
Oh that is a lot of fun! and Kentucky is my home state so that is even more fun!
I had several books that I read that took place in North America. These are the books that were historical: The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck, Souls of Lost Lake by Jaime Jo Wright, Night Bird Calling and A Hundred Crickets Singing by Cathy Gohlke
Great selections. I think Night Bird Calling is next month’s book club read so I need to get on the ball about grabbing it and reading it.
Well, I’m too late for the challenge, but I did read Sisters in Time – Emily Makes a Difference: A Time of Progress and Problems by Joann A. Grote.
I really enjoyed learning so much about the era, the 1893 World’s Fair, and Midwestern and US history. Esp railroads and the origin of US time zones. I’m gonna have to look up some of those fair attractions (esp. the ‘water train’). Though I do feel that some of the dialogue that gave this info isn’t really how people talk/ed, even back then.
I liked that the main characters were caring people, eager to learn about the world, and realistically imperfect. I think its funny given this is a “Sisters” book with “Emily” as the title character, that her cousin Ted is narrator nearly as much.
I’m pleasantly surprised that they managed to find a 3rd solution to Emily’s ‘flaw’ of not being enough of a lady. I thought they’d either have to be a little sexist about it, or unrealistically modern and feminist. But there was another way.
I’m glad to hear that the charitable project at the end of this story really happened thanks to real schoolkids back then.
Overall an enjoyable, educational, and exciting read 🙂 .
I did also read another historical fiction book in this theme from my TBR for a July reading challenge. An award winning 70s YA book: “My Brother Sam is Dead” by the Collier brothers.
I appreciate that it is based on real history, towns, and people from the American Revolution. It is interesting to learn so much, esp. how the war affected civilians, regardless of which ‘side’ they were on. And because it’s based on real events, it has a true to life ending.
I like the main character and his family. The story is also very exciting, hard to put down.
I was unpleasantly surprised by some mild cursing, and a couple scenes and mentions of graphic violence.
However, I appreciate that these were put here to realistically demonstrate the true human cost of war instead of glorifying violence. These negative aspects were also mild compared to recent movies and tv shows. They also made the teenage main character and his brother seem more true to life.
Overall a good read for someone okay with a PG 13 drama.
Oh! I remember reading that book a long time ago. It was definitely one that leaves an impact. Great review of it. I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts!
It sounds like a fascinating book with lots of interesting historical points. It’s interesting that Ted had such a large POV section. Was it considered a romance book? Oftentimes that is the style of romance genres.
The main characters are 12 year old first cousins, so no romance whatsoever. I think it was just to give more perspective. Emily (due to her dad’s job) is richer, Ted (due to his dad’s job) is more humble. So they think about different things in the same settings.
I just almost feel like if the book series hadn’t called for a female protagonist, maybe the author would have done just Ted.