My Review: A Most Inconvenient Marriage

May I brag for a moment on Bethany House's cover designers?  Because I love this cover!  It's beautiful!  And I love how the theme continues on the back (which you obviously can't see unless you buy your own copy).  The horse shoe intrigued me when I first picked it up and I was wondering how it would tie in.  I'm slow, so I figured it out about half way through the book. LOL  :)

Description:
Abigail Stuart Thought She was Jeremiah Calhoun's Widow.
But Jeremiah Calhoun Is Very Handsome, Very Alive, and Very Perplexed.
Most Inconvenient Indeed.

With few options of her own, nurse Abigail Stuart agrees to marry her patient, a gravely wounded soldier calling himself Jeremiah Calhoun. They arrange a quick ceremony before he dies, giving Abigail the rights to his Ozark farm and giving Jeremiah the peace of knowing someone will care for his ailing sister after he's gone--a practical solution for both of them.

After the war, Abigail fulfills her side of the bargain--until the real Jeremiah Calhoun shows up, injured but definitely alive, and wastes no time in challenging Abigail's story. Abigail is flummoxed. After months of claiming to be his widow, how can she explain that she's never seen this Jeremiah Calhoun before? How can she convince him that she isn't trying to steal his farm? And will she find a way to stay, even though this practical arrangement has turned into a most inconvenient marriage?

About the Author:
Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. In addition to her own books, she contributed a novella to the novella collection A Match Made in Texas. Regina has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with her husband and four children and can be found online at www.reginajennings.com.
(Description, cover photo, and about the author copied from Christian Book.  No infringement intended.)

My Review: 4.5 stars
A new favorite author!
 A Most Inconvenient Marriage is the first book in Regina Jennings’ new Ozark Mountain Romance series. This is the first book I’ve read by her, not counting her novella in A Match Made in Texas. I’d heard great things about her books and was very excited to read this one. I am happy to say that I loved it!
Ms. Jennings does an excellent job with the descriptions and details. She brought the story to life and it seemed as though I was there with the characters. I was drawn into the story from the very first page and didn’t want to put it down! I also loved the setting being just after the Civil War, which is an era that is somewhat overlooked, especially in the “fringe” states that were just fitting to keep their homes and land. I found the history behind it fascinating and hope the upcoming books are set in a similar area. 
Abigail Stuart is a great heroine and I loved her almost immediately! I found her very relatable and realistic. Abigail has spent the past few years feeling alone in the world and unwanted, so when offered the opportunity for a forever home, a place to belong, she takes it. I was a little afraid that her convenient marriage would seem too farfetched, but it didn’t. It was actually quite sweet and touching. The man she marries asks for her hand so that he could be certain his loved ones would be cared for. I loved getting to know Abigail. She is strong, determined, and loves with all her heart. Even though she has been dealt a difficult hand, she does her best to make the most of it and she continues to trust in the Lord. I loved her faith, even when doubts attempted to kill her dreams.
Jeremiah Calhoun is an interesting hero. He isn’t someone you just instantly love, which I think is part of why I did care for him. He is stubborn, harsh, determined, and feels he must prove himself. He is also quite controlling, an aftereffect of all he faced in the war, plus the issues from his injuries. I actually found myself softening toward him, despite all of his faults. He invoked a surprising compassion in me and I just wanted someone to reach out to him. I really enjoyed getting to know him and find out who he is behind the hard exterior he presented in the beginning.
I really enjoyed Jeremiah and Abigail’s relationship. They start out as little more than enemies, then slowly become friends as they are forced to work together. They are both very stubborn and often butt heads over decisions concerning the farm or the people they love. They also sharpen one another and Abigail definitely keeps Jeremiah on his toes, and vice versa. The romantic tension between them was very realistic, and while it may bother some, I appreciated that Regina portrayed them as struggling with keeping their thoughts pure. It made them that much more relatable. 
The spiritual aspect was great, as well. Both Abigail and Jeremiah struggled with feeling forsaken by God and both have a lot of questions. I appreciate how Regina handles this rather difficult subject with finesse, not placating anyone, but instead answering the questions they had, or showing them learning to accept it. I found it to be very realistic and definitely relevant to my life.
The only negative comment I have is that the ending seemed a bit abrupt. I would have enjoyed it stretching over a couple more pages, though that may have caused to become tedious, so I can understand why Regina ended it as she did.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and romance!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishing for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed my review!  In case you're interested in learning more about the book, or perhaps purchasing your own copy, here are some links to get you started.  Have a lovely day!

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