Anne Gracie has written some great stories, but this is not one of them. I found Cal as a character very lacking in charm or empathy - he also seems really unnecessarily thick when it comes to handling the women in his life. I find the 90's sitcom bumbling type of guys pretty unappealing, so he didn't really do it for me. Emma, I'm sorry to say, just doesn't get enough page time.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

Marry in Haste by Anne Gracie

Series: A Marriage of Convenience #1
 Subgenre: historical romance
 Release date: 2 May 2017
 Publisher: Berkley
 Format: print and ebook
 Length: 304 pages
 RRP: print A$14.99; ebook A$10.99

Last year I was delighted to learn of Anne Gracie’s new ‘Marriage of Convenience’ series—a romance trope I’ve always enjoyed. I think it really is romance catnip to a lot of people, and fabulous to read in historicals where it makes every sense.

In this first book, returning war hero (and now spy, hunting for an assassin) Major Calbourne Rutherford discovers he’s become Lord Ashendon, with two wild half-sisters and an even wilder niece he didn’t even know he had, plus a neglected estate to manage. Wrangling the girls is a bit like herding cats, so he tries to engage the services of their previous teacher, Miss Emmaline Westwood.

This is the bit that’s brilliant: she refuses; she’s had a better offer—until Cal unexpectedly offers marriage. Even so, it’s a hard decision for Emmaline to make. Cal doesn’t exactly come across as romantic (which is code for Not Romantic At All, a true desperado to marry for reasons Other Than Romance), but he offers every marital advantage such as societal acceptance for someone standing on uncertain ground like Emmaline.

As in all Anne Gracie’s books, she creates a wonderful ‘family’ for us to enjoy, one that even Cal didn’t realise he had. Emm is a gentle, intelligent heroine, and Cal—well, he is terrific, apart from being prickly and hard to get to know … at first … I also loved the nod to the Chance Sisters series—hello, old friends, nice to see you again! A lovely start to another series. Thanks, Anne!

Reviewed by Malvina

I LOVE Historical Romance and especially a marriage of convenience.

Marry in Haste had great writing, great characters, strong women, a sexy hero, humor, and a very small amount of angst.

Miss Emmaline Westwood, the smart, strong and proud heroine, accepts the handsome Major Calbourne Rutherford’s offer of marriage and financial security in return for her help in guiding and controlling his “wild” sisters.

Cal’s version of married life is a scary one as far as he’s concerned.

He couldn’t imagine living a settled, domestic life in a quiet corner of England, having dull meetings with estate managers, going over account books, talking to tenants about repairs and leaking roofs.  And drainage.  And sheep.  Or the even duller duty of sitting in Parliament listening to long and dreary speeches.  And worse—having to make them.  Cal shuddered.

What a dreary look at marriage.  Not surprising as Cal is a military man and has never been in love.

Emm thought she was in love once, but now she tries to steel her heart against the reoccurrence of any such feelings.

Oh, he was as handsome a man as ever she’d dreamed of—handsome, and strong and powerful.  But he was so…businesslike.  There wasn’t a romantic bone in the man’s body.  Though why she should dream of romance when she was six-and-twenty and should be beyond that…They were schoolgirls’ dreams.  Or spinsters’.  Romantic and unrealistic.  Pure Fantasy.

I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for Emm to trust a man she hardly knew in order to secure her future.  She was smart and brave.  The women in Cal’s family, young and old, were hilarious.  Their feelings jumped off the pages.  Cal’s sisters, beneath their hard exterior, longed for their brother to love them.  Unfortunately, it was an emotion he had to learn and who better than Emm to teach him?

The story didn’t drag its feet and the secondary characters were wonderful.  The main characters evolved naturally in order to have their HEA.  The banter was great, and everyone spoke his or her mind when necessary instead of keeping it to inner dialogue.  I also enjoyed reading from the secondary characters’ points of view.  This was book 1 in the Marriage of Convenience series by Anne Gracie and I look forward to reading the upcoming books in this series.

Another hit by Anne Gracie. Cal and Emm's story could have been just your typical 'marriage of convenience' story, but a hunt for an assassin and three teenage girls to launch made it so much more fun and exciting.

I'm a huge fan of all her previous work, but this one lacked the charm and wit her previous books had. The story wasn't as interesting as I thought it might be, and I did not like the characters all that much.

DNF
I couldn't get into the story, mostly because I kept waiting for the romance to occur, and it took forever for it to even start going. Unfortunately, the book wasn't for me.

This Regency romance features a strong heroine, a likeable hero and an interesting plot. If you enjoy Georgette Heyer, this book will appeal.

When Major Calbourne Rutherford returns to London in pursuit of the assassin known as the Scorpion, he discovers his brother has died and he is now the Earl of Ashford. His new responsibilities include two half sisters, and later, an unknown niece. As a soldier, he knows his duty-as a guardian of three enterprising young ladies, he is at a loss-until he discovers teacher Miss Emmaline Westwood, who understands the girls in a way he can’t. He offers several times to hire her as governess/companion to the girls and when she continues to turn him down, he finally offers to marry her.

While the two of them expect a marriage of convenience, fate has other plans in store. Can this teacher escape her shady past and can this soldier rediscover the goodhearted boy who gave his sisters piggy back rides when they were all younger? At the same time, can he discover who the Scorpion is and put a stop to his murdering ways.

There is some social commentary in the book, but its not too preachy. While this is a little hotter than some of the Regency books, don’t expect steamy detailed sex scenes.

A well-written book, this is highly recommended to anyone who loves the period pieces from the Regency genre.

Not as good as Gracie's other work; it felt rushed and I was disappointed. I love her older series, so I will keep up hope that the coming books in this series will be better!

I DNF'd at 45%.. They were not married yet and I felt like the hero and heroine barely had any page time together. It was all emphasis on the hero's half-siblings.

What’s it About? Calbourne Rutherford is tracking an assassin and the trail leads him back home to London where he is surprised to learn that he is now Lord Ashendon. An even bigger surprise to Cal is finding out he also has to help care for his half sisters who are used to running around and doing whatever they please! Then by chance he happens to witness the efficient way his sisters' former teacher, Emmaline Westwood handles their rebellious behavior and Cal is quick to offer Emm a job, which she quickly declines. Over and over again Cal tries to convince her to help him but when Emm refuses all of his offers of employment he becomes desperate and instead proposes a marriage of convenience which Emm agrees to. Of course convenience goes right out the window when Cal and Emm realize they have an undeniable chemistry and Emm decides to do more than just help Cal's sisters learn to be ladies.



Overall reaction to the story? It's been a while since a new-to-me author made me feel warm and fuzzy all while laughing like a dork at the characters' antics. What's more surprising to me is that it is a historical romance that made me feel like this. Marry in Haste delivers a marriage of convenience romance between two utterly charming characters and invites a small gaggle of hilarious characters to add an extra dose of humor. I am in love with Anne Gracie's engaging way of telling a story!



Describe the hero in five words: Valiant. Intelligent. Caring. Stubborn. Fun.

Did you like him? Total book boyfriend material.

Why? Cal is a reluctant peer but he's a responsible one. I loved how he behaved with his half sisters from the very start. He is bewildered at first, then baffled when his stern military attitude doesn't intimidate Rose and Lily. His inability to get them under control was entertaining and endearing at the same time. Cal is definitely a leader but I loved that he wasn't the type of hero that everyone bowed down to. The fact that two young women like his sisters challenged and bested him at times and left him wondering just what the heck he had gotten himself into. Cal wasn't used to having warm and fuzzy feelings either but he didn't spend most of the book fighting his growing feelings for his very unique family. He was kind even when he was scolding them, never resorting to using his gender to scare them into submission. I adored this character.



Describe the heroine in five words: Brave. Strong. Intelligent. Kind. Determined.

Did you like her? Yes!

Why? Emm is a definite underdog in the story. She doesn't have a title, isn't drop dead gorgeous, and has no family save for the girls she teaches. However her appeal is in her personality. Emm's determination to do things on her terms and to never allow her choices to be taken away from her is what drew me to her as a character. I live for unconventional heroines like her and she never disappointed. Emm may not have been as obvious in her rebellion as Cal's sisters but her strength was apparent in every interaction she had with Cal, his sisters, and anyone else she encountered. Even when she was at her most vulnerable, Emm was a survivor. I loved her.



Let’s talk about the romance: The romantic aspect of Marry in Haste was a bit different than I expected. Cal and Emm don't meet right away, in fact the first half of the story is mainly about Cal's combatative relationship with his sisters and his work trying to catch an assassin. I didn't mind though as author Anne Gracie kept me delightfully entertained with these three as well as a surprise addition to Cal"s family that no one expected. When Cal and Emm did meet and eventually marry, the romance progresses fairly quickly but I felt that some of the important bits happened "off page" thus making their romance feel almost like an insta-love thing when it actually isn't. A little more attention to the development of their relationship would have really made the romance feel more genuine. I did love the way Cal was gentle and understanding with Emm and how she made him feel safe emotionally and showed him how to be the head of a misfit family.



How about that supporting cast? Here is where I have to give huge props to Anne Gracie, her supporting characters really rocked! The women in Cal's care are unconventional to say the least, they're wild, unruly, a bit selfish, but completely likable. I sympathized with them even as I wanted to strangle them for their recklessness. They're not children but they're not adults either and can be forgiven because of that. I hope that they all get their own stories because with some maturity and guidance, they will definitely become memorable heroines. In the meantime they"re just finding their feet now that they have someone who does care for them.


Click It or Skip It? Click It! Anne Gracie's superb storytelling should not be missed!

Anne Gracie tells stories about relationships. Not only do her books focus on the love that develops between the main couple but just as much time is spent on how the bonds of friendship and family can evolve. A title like Marry in Haste would lead one to believe that the story is quick to throw characters into contrived situations. Instead the story takes its time, showcasing the intricate emotional connections that will forever join one person to another.

Upon his return to England, Major Calbourne Rutherford planned on making his report on the deadly assassin he’d been tracking in Spain and then returning to the field to capture his foe. He didn’t count on life altering his plans; however with the news that his dissolute elder brother had died, Cal is thrust into the role of a titled gentleman. Finding himself the new Lord Ashendon is more of an inconvenience than an honor as the title means a responsibility to his lands and taking care of his two younger half-sisters. The two girls have been living with their aunt in Bath for years and Cal hasn’t been home to see them in over a decade. His reintroduction to his family goes poorly as the little girls he remembers have blossomed into two beautiful but headstrong young women who are not particularly pleased to see him.

The Rutherford family dynamic changes again when Cal’s solicitor uncovers proof that his brother wed in secret and may have a legitimate heir. Traveling to Alderton believing he’s searching for a nephew named George, Cal instead is greeted by his angry and unkempt young niece Georgiana. With three young women now under his care and absolutely no knowledge about how to prepare them for a London season, Cal is desperate. He needs to find a suitable woman who can take over full responsibility for his charges when he returns to the field. Fortunately Cal knows the perfect candidate for the job. Unfortunately she’s already told him “No” on two separate occasions.

Miss Emmaline Westwood remembers the Rutherford girls when they attended the Bath finishing school where she’s been teaching. Her first encounter with the new Lord Ashendon was a brief conversation after he begged the school’s proprietress to take his sisters back. Emm’s physical response towards the man was overwhelming but she knows that lustful attraction can be dangerous and she has more pressing concerns than mooning over a handsome face. Her second meeting with Cal comes on the heels of receiving the offer of becoming headmistress at the school so his job offer to become a governess for the now three Rutherford women holds no appeal. Emm can see how urgently Cal needs to find someone to care for his sisters and niece; however his offer would expire once the women are married and as a single woman Emm needs the long term security of the school position. When Cal comes knocking on Emm’s door a third time she expects to gently turn him down again. Instead he comes with an offer that will give her something she’s desperately craved since leaving her own home in disgrace – the chance to be part of a family again.

Cal didn’t plan on proposing to Emm but a recent conversation with an acquaintance opened his eyes to the possibility that a new Lady Ashendon would solve all his problems. It doesn’t hurt that Emm is beautiful, intelligent and has an easy manner with the girls that he could never hope to achieve. Thinking that their marriage must benefit the ladies of the house, Cal is surprised by the little ways that Emm incorporates herself into his daily routine. His convenient wife becomes anything but when Cal finds himself torn between his drive to return to his life in the field and the desires Emm awakens in him. For a man used to serving King and Country, his next critical mission may be the one that benefits his home and heart.

There are so many wonderful introductions within Marry in Haste that any synopsis will fall short on explaining how closely each of the characters are connected and how the greater story unfolds. The opening chapters of the story barely touch on the romantic side of Cal and Emm’s relationship, instead it allows readers to get to know the Rutherford family inside and out. At first this was a little frustrating as Emm is there in Bath with the family but very separate from all the drama unfolding as Cal gets to know his sisters and niece. Once Emm is brought into the family as Cal’s new bride, the reason for keeping her separate is made clear as she becomes the peacemaker. Emm sees the fractures within the family dynamic and uses her gifts of patience and caring to mend the bonds. As a woman who knows herself she becomes a role model for the girls who are still struggling out of their adolescence to discover who they are as adults. Each girl blossoms under her guidance and it’s a joy to see how that in turn helps Emm feel wanted and loved for herself.

Another interesting part of Marry in Haste was how much of the story is told from Cal’s viewpoint. I am a very hero-centric reader, so spending page time understanding his motivations and learning who he is as a character made it special as I watched him grow and change through the influence of his family and with Emm by his side. I never saw Cal as selfish but he was always trying to ignore the obstacles that life put in his path in favor of getting to his goal. Upon becoming Lord Ashendon, Cal can no longer keep those blinders on and he’s awakened to a whole other life that is possible when he slows down and enjoys the smaller, quieter accomplishments in life.

I loved reading Marry in Haste! I’m very curious to know what happens next for the Rutherfords since there were almost no clues about which of the girls might be next for a marriage. Hopefully her Marriage of Convenience will be a benefit for all involved.

Honestly, I’ve never read an Anne Gracie book that I didn’t consider a keeper—and I’ve read them all, beginning with Gallant Waif and Tallie’s Knight. However, I have favorites among the keepers, and Marry in Haste has just been added to them. There are so many reasons I love this book, but I will limit myself to three. First, it is a marriage of convenience story, a trope I love when it is done well, and it is done exceedingly well in this book. Second, I have an abiding weakness for schoolteacher heroines, and Emmaline, sane, sensible, and strong in non-anachronistic ways, is a delight. Finally, I love lead characters who behave like adults, and Emm and Cal do. The chemistry between them is potent, but I believe in their HEA not just because they desire one another but also because they like one each other, they talk to each other, and they come to trust each other. I know I will reread Marry in Haste, and I eagerly await Gracie’s next Marriage of Convenience tale.


Look for a more detailed discussion of Marry in Haste at The Romance Dish later this month when PJ Ausdenmore and I share our thoughts about this latest book from an author whose work we both love.

Anne Gracie
Marry in Haste (Marriage of Convenience #1)
Penguin / May 2, 2017 / $7.99 print and digital

I love Marriage of Convenience stories and Anne Gracie begins a new series featuring these romances with Marry in Haste, about the marriage of a former soldier hunting an assassin and a girls’ seminary teacher with a shady past.

While the romance is quite nicely done, it is Cal’s relationship with his half-sisters and his niece that I found most illuminating in the progression of Cal’s character.

When Cal unexpectedly inherits the title from his ne’er-do-well brother, he only wants to settle his new responsibilities onto caretakers and get back to his “day job” of finding the assassin whose latest victim was his best friend. When he checks in on his half-sisters in Bath he finds them in the care of his too-nice Aunt Dottie who has absolutely no control over the hellions. Rose and Lily are not at all fond of Cal trying to exert his authority.
 

“He doesn’t care about us, Lily. He’s just like Papa and Henry – he doesn’t give the snap of his fingers about us, or how we feel, as long as we’re no trouble to him. He’s not even staying in England.”

“Perhaps, but – “

“Ten years he’s been gone, with barely a word, and what’s the first thing he does when he comes home? Stays up late to trap us and yell at us.”

Adding to the chaos is the acquisition of an unknown niece who was abandoned by her father and left to grow up alone. She, too, is a bit wild and prefers wearing breeches and goes by the name of “George.” These three girls are more than a handful and Cal longs to make them someone else’s problem. But he also takes some baby steps toward building a relationship with them.


“Don’t worry, George,” Lily said softly. “Of course Cal won’t beat us.”

“How do you know I won’t?” Cal growled. Did she think a toffee apple could change his mind?

Lily gave him a tremulous smile. “Because you gave me piggyback rides when I was seven.”

“What?” The logic of that escaped him completely.

“Yes, and because the first time he caught us comping in at night, he was absolutely furious, but the minute Lily started crying, he fell completely apart, didn’t he, Lil?” Rose said. “He went from being all cold and mean and nasty to being all worried and gruff. It was really rather sweet.”

Cal stared at her, dumbfounded. Sweet? Rather sweet? Ye gods! “Oh, just go.” He shoved the lantern across the table toward them. “I’ll speak to you tomorrow. Not another word, Rose,” he said as she opened her mouth to argue. “One word out of any of you and you’ll all be on bread and water for a week. Stale bread and no butter! Now go!”

They went.

But he heard Lily say, “He doesn’t mean that either, George.”

“He does. He’s threatened to starve me, twice.” George sounded aggrieved.

“Yes, but did he actually do it?” Lily asked. “No, of course not. Cal’s our big brother and even though he tries to hide it, he loves us and takes care of us. All of us.”

He discovers Emmaline Westwood, a former teacher to Rose and Lily, and a person the girls respect and obey. When Cal cannot hire her away from the school, he proposes marriage, so desperate is he to get back to his hunt. Marriage to a wealthy earl is job security Emmaline cannot pass up and she accepts. She takes to her job of making these near-strangers into a family and more than succeeds.


“We had a thoroughly delightful exchange. I enjoyed myself immensely.”

Cal could hardly believe his ears. “You’re sure it was Aunt Agatha you met, not some other lady? Skinny, elegant, dressed in black and white, tongue like an asp?”

”That’s her. She was utterly charming. We simply adored her, didn’t we girls?”

It was at that point that Cal realized his sisters and Georgiana were smothering giggles. And that his wife was teasing him.

Who knew that Aunt Agatha would turn out to be the very thing he needed? It should have occurred to him sooner: In the face of a common enemy a disparate group would usually unite. Good old Aunt Agatha.

It was fun watching the rapprochement between the family members and seeing Emmaline form a family for both Cal and herself. Cal doesn’t stand a chance.


He wasn’t used to being in a family, being part of a family, doing family things. He felt … he felt like Gulliver being slowly trapped by a multitude of tiny strings, none of them strong enough in itself to entrap a man, but together …

Might as well surrender now, Cal.

4.5 Stars
Major Calbourne (Cal) Rutherford has been a soldier for ten years.  As the second son of an earl, he had no expectations of any other life, so he's shocked to learn that his older brother has died, and he's now the Earl of Ashendon.  Though his superiors expect him to resign his commission, Cal insists on completing his current mission, which is hunting down an assassin known as "Scorpion."  His victims include Bentley, a dear friend of Cal's, so this mission is personal.  The area Cal is searching includes the home where his younger sisters, Rose and Lily, are staying under the care of his aunt, so he'll visit them briefly.  To Cal's surprise, his sisters are grown up.  In their eagerness to leave mourning and begin their adult lives, they have been running rings around their aunt, sneaking out at night, and doing whatever they wish.  Cal decides he needs to hire a governess, one with the ability to control the unruly young ladies, so he visits the finishing school they attended.

Emmaline (Emm) Westwood is now a teacher at the school she once attended.  Her comfortable life as the daughter of a baronet ended when her father chose to listen to rumors about her and disowned her.  As Cal visits the school, a forward young lady attempts to flirt with him, and Emm handles the situation admirably.  Cal is impressed and knows that Emm is the perfect person to handle his out-of-control sisters.  Though Cal's monetary offer is generous, Emm refuses him, even as he increases the offer.  Emm knows that this job would be short term, while she has the possibility of becoming headmistress of the school.  Eventually, Cal's desperation leads him to propose a convenient marriage, which Emm accepts.

Cal's life has been hard and the concept of love is foreign to him, as he never received any from his father or brother, and his mother is long dead.  He has experience with affairs, but his heart has never been touched.  He knows that he'd eventually have to marry for an heir, and he does find Emm attractive, so this marriage may work out just fine.  As for Emm, she does believe in love, even though she learned a brutal lesson when she was younger.  She originally hoped that Cal's proposal was prompted by more than convenience, but perhaps their love will grow in the future.

I love both Cal and Emm, and was delighted to see their marriage start off in a deliciously steamy manner.  Their physical chemistry is perfect, and that soon leads to their becoming closer in other ways.  Cal is understanding and accepting of Emm's past, and her whole new family comes to her defense when rumors start to surface again.  The transition from convenience to companionship to love  is beautifully done and a joy to read.  The gruff soldier really does have a great amount of love to share, both with his wife and his family.  So many of his actions show his true generous and heroic character, and Emm is a perfect match for him.  I highly recommend MARRY IN HASTE, a well written, tender, and romantic story.

I fell in love with Anne Gracie’s writing when I read her Chance Sisters series, and the one thing that struck me when I read her newest offering, Marry in Haste, was her unique way of bringing people together in her stories and creating a family. Cal’s attempts to catch an assassin bring him back to England and the remnants of the family he left behind. Things are a little tense as his younger sisters refuse to obey his rules, so he promptly decides they need someone who can keep them in line, and this is where he gets the bright idea of proposing marriage to one of their former teachers. Emmaline has always dreamed of having a family of her own but never thought it would happen for her, so she takes Cal up on his offer. Cal is thrilled, because the sooner he can get the girls in line, the sooner he can resume tracking the assassin. I adored Cal’s relationship with his aunt. He was so loyal to her and wanted to make sure she was taken care of. And I thought it was very sad that Cal was in such hot pursuit of the man who had killed his friend but couldn’t see how much the family right in front of him needed him. And it wasn’t until Emmaline stepped in that to show him that he was able to see. While I enjoyed Cal and Emmaline’s story (it was a slow burn, which is what I love,) I liked the familial aspect even more. The way Cal, Emmaline, and his sisters found their way together was so sweet. I’m excited to read more from this series, as Cal’s sisters are a colorful trio!

Marry in Haste is another stunning historical romance by Anne Gracie and I'm tempted to say that it even surpasses my love for The Winter Bride. Marry in Haste starts by introducing readers to a new family. Major Cal Rutherford has returned home on the hunt for an assassin only to discover he's inherited an earldom due to the death of his older brother. And with that inheritance comes two younger sisters as well as another unexpected family member. Cal would like nothing more than to drop off his unruly sisters to school and leave them there while he continues on his hunt for the assassin. Unfortunately, the girls are too old and their reputation precedes them. So, Cal launches his next plan: marriage. The girls former teacher Miss Emmaline Westwood has proven herself capable and Cal decides that they should marry, never mind that they hardly know one another. Cal's sure that Emm will be able to take the girls in hand, launch them into society, and marry them off, at least, after they marry. Naturally, this marriage of convenience soon becomes more meaningful than either would have expected. 

What's strange about Marry in Haste is that it takes a really long time for the romance to get started. Gracie takes her time in introducing Cal and his sisters, then Emm and her backstory. And more shockingly, I didn't mind. The level of character detail and development throughout this romance was phenomenal. The fact that the author took the time to set up Cal's relationship with his family made it all the more meaningful when Emm formally became part of that family. And what I really loved is that not only are readers told that our main characters are changing but are also more subtly shown how each character is changing, in particular Cal. For example, what Cal says and does is often very different. He will speak harshly with his sisters but then do something completely sweet for them. This level of detail in character development is something that I find missing more often than not in romance. 

Marry in Haste is an excellent historical romance and will appeal to fans that are interested in a more in-depth character study. This just might be one of my favourite historical romances of 2017.

Buy This Book
I will admit that I was a little apprehensive about picking up Marry in Haste, the first in Anne Gracie’s new Marriage of Convenience series, having been rather disappointed with the last couple of books in her Chance Sisters quartet.  But the premise of a hastily arranged marriage of convenience drew me like a moth to a flame, and I’m so glad it did because this is a delightful book and I loved it to bits.  The two principals are beautifully drawn, well-rounded characters, and the hero – who is simply adorable – experiences a lot of of genuine personal growth throughout, something the author shows us beautifully without feeling the need to post signposts or drop anvils on our heads.  There’s an entertaining secondary cast who likewise develop as the tale progresses, the romance is just lovely and I turned the final page feeling thoroughly satisfied with the outcome and confident that this hero and heroine were going to be happy together long after they’d reached their HEA.

Major Calbourne Rutherford – Cal to his friends – has spent the last decade fighting England’s enemies on the continent.  With the Napoleonic Wars ended, his army duties have changed somewhat in the direction of diplomacy and intelligence work; the map of Europe has undergone such major changes over the past few years, that there are many negotiations to be made and settlements to be reached, and Cal is anxious to return to his post and his role in those events.  But his current mission is one of a more personal nature.  He is on the trail of the notorious assassin who murdered one of his closest friends, and after searching for him for two years is pretty sure that he is an English sharpshooter.   Cal has returned to England determined to hunt him down once and for all – only to be greeted with the unexpected news of the death of his older brother.

Becoming an earl was never on Cal’s agenda.  A second son, he was sent to school at the age of seven and at seventeen, was given the choice of going into the army or the church.  The army suits him and he likes the life, but he knows he is ill-equipped to take on the responsibilities that go hand-in-hand with a large estate and a peerage.  And when he visits Bath to check up on his half-sisters, he also realises that he has absolutely no idea what to do with two suspicious, disobedient young women of eighteen and nineteen have a penchant for going their own way and making mischief.

It’s immediately obvious that Cal can’t leave the girls in the care of their Aunt Dottie, who, while she loves them dearly, has no control over them, so he approaches the headmistress of the school they attended to see if she will take them back – but she refuses.  While on his visit there, he encounters Miss Emmaline Westwood, one of their former teachers, and hits upon the idea of hiring her to look after the girls until such time as he can get them married off.  But she also refuses, leaving Cal with quite the quandary, which is then made worse when he discovers that his older brother left behind an eighteen-year-old daughter that none of the family knew about.

Faced with not two, but three female relatives he doesn’t know how to deal with, Cal again approaches Miss Westwood and practically begs her to come and work for him.  She calmly explains that while the money he is offering is attractive, her post will last only two or three years and doesn’t offer the sort of long-term security she is looking for.  Cal is about to leave – when he has a lightbulb moment.  Miss Westwood wants security?  She can have it as his countess; after all, he has to marry some time, and he’s already acknowledged to himself that he is strongly attracted to the lady so he could do much worse.  He proposes a marriage of convenience and – upon consideration – is accepted.  But a marriage between two virtual strangers is never going to be easy to navigate, especially when Cal seems to want to carry on as though nothing has changed.

I love a good marriage of convenience story, and this is a very good one indeed.  Ms. Gracie takes time to set up her characters and the situation so we are afforded ample time to get to know Cal and to see that under his rather brusque, authoritarian exterior is a good-hearted man capable of great kindness who wants to do the best for those in his care.  Having been in the army since he was seventeen, he’s used to making quick decisions and having his instructions and orders followed, and after a decade, such habits are hard to break.  He has to learn to be more flexible, to empathise and persuade rather than order and insist, and I loved the part when he – much to her surprise – adopts one of Emm’s strategies:

“I don’t know many men – no, make that any men – who would seek advice from a woman.”

He shrugged.  “Ten years in the army teaches a man to take advantage of local, expert knowledge, no matter what the source.”
It’s a telling exchange, showing clearly that Cal is adaptable and that he in no way sees Emm as beneath him or inferior.  He respects her intelligence, her skills, and her spirit, gradually coming to realise what an asset she is, and what a good thing he did by marrying her.  Of course, in the initial stages, all the convenience of the marriage is convenience for him, but as he and Emm get to spend more time with each other, talking and telling each other things they’ve told no-one else, they become friends, adding a deeper element to their relationship which has, up to this point, been mostly based on an intense physical attraction. The chemistry between them is terrific; there’s an element of slowly simmering sexual tension from their first meeting that ultimately leads to some sensually charged love scenes.

One of the things I really appreciated about the whole book is its aura of maturity.  Emm is keeping an old secret from Cal, but it’s dealt with quickly and sensibly without being turned into some big, overblown drama, which is incredibly refreshing in a genre that so frequently uses secrets and lies as plot points.  Cal and Emm actually talk to each other about important things, and their actions are generally properly thought-out and rational.  There’s no stupid running away or arguments based on flimsy plot-points; no, this is a look at a marriage which needs to be worked at and in which, if something isn’t right, the couple realises the need to face it and deal with it. Ms. Gracie also does a superb job in showing the way in which Cal’s family grows and develops around him, mostly thanks to his wife, but thanks to him, too, as he grows and develops with them, coming to see that he can’t continue with his life as it was before.

There’s a lot to love about Marry in Haste, not least of which is Cal, who is a truly wonderful hero.  He’s handsome, charming and sexy (of course!), but the way he turns from a man who wants nothing more than to escape to one who not only accepts but comes to enjoy his responsibilities, is skilfully done and a real delight to read.  And Emm is his perfect match in every way; insightful and compassionate, she helps Cal and the girls to become a real family, stands firm in the face of his formidable Aunt Augusta and, in the end, finds it completely impossible not to tumble head over heels in love with her husband.

The final section of the book – in which Emm also comes to see how loved she is in return – is nicely done, although a couple of last minute events are perhaps a little over-the-top (and account for the A- instead of a straight A).  But those are minor niggles. Marry in Haste is a gorgeously romantic read and one I’m only too pleased to recommend.

Grade: A-

This is the first time I have read Anne Gracie, but she has been on my list since I met her at the RT Convention last year. She was great fun! I am excited for this series as well because marriages of convenience and stolen brides are my tied for my favorite historical romance trope, and to have a whole series has me greedy for the next book. The setting of this story is Bath and London in the early 19th Century after the end of the Napoleonic wars, and our main characters are roughly 28 y/o.

Major Calbourne Rutherford returns from the continent on important government business to discover than he has acquired the title of Lord Ashendon following the death of his rakehell brother. The situation requires more responsibility than Cal has time for at the moment, but his two hoydenish and headstrong sisters need a firm guiding hand. At wits end with their antics, Cal is driven to offer the girls' former schoolteacher a marriage of convenience in exchange for her assistance. Cal was a bit of a gruff hero that genuinely cared for his family but he didn't know how to show it. And his family failed to take into account that he only really knew how to be a soldier, and his seemingly dictatorial actions were a demonstration of his care, not meant to make their lives miserable. I enjoyed watching Cal warm up to the abundance of females in his life, and vice versa.

Emmaline Westwood fled to bath in disgrace after a scandal, and has since been teaching girls at Miss Mallard's Seminary for the Daughters of Gentlemen. While Emmaline has become accustomed to her circumstances, you can tell that she never quite gave up her dream of marriage and children. She definitely had a knack for reasoning with younger girls and helping them make the right choices without stifling their spirit. I appreciated that she went to bat for Cal and worked to make their relationship a good one from the start. She was an understanding ear when he needed it and an intermediary between him and the girls until they grew accustomed to their new circumstances. I particularly liked the way she stood up to Aunt Agatha and didn't let the old goat run roughshod over her.

The relationship between Cal and Emma was not instalove, though they did marry early on. This romance started as an arrangement, then turned to a friendship and deepened to a love match. The building of the relationship was the best part, and you just knew that this would be a deep abiding love for the pair. Cal's "important government business" served as a nice secondary storyline to advance the plot and create a little suspense.

I'm not sure if this series will follow the Rutherford females in future books, or if we will have all new characters.  Either way, I am looking forward to it.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Berkley.

I will admit that I was a little apprehensive about picking up Marry in Haste, the first in Anne Gracie’s new Marriage of Convenience series, having been rather disappointed with the last couple of books in her Chance Sisters quartet.  But the premise of a hastily arranged marriage of convenience drew me like a moth to a flame, and I’m so glad it did because this is a delightful gem of a book and I loved it to bits.  The two principals are beautifully drawn, well-rounded characters, and the hero – who is simply adorable – experiences a lot of of genuine personal growth throughout, something the author shows us beautifully without feeling the need to post signposts or drop anvils on our heads.  There’s an entertaining secondary cast who likewise develop as the tale progresses, the romance is just lovely and I turned the final page feeling thoroughly satisfied with the outcome and confident that these two were going to be happy together long after they’d reached their HEA.

Major Calbourne Rutherford – Cal to his friends –has spent the last decade fighting England’s enemies on the continent.  With the Napoleonic Wars ended, his army duties have changed somewhat in the direction of diplomacy and intelligence work; the map of Europe has undergone such major changes over the past few year, that there are many negotiations to be made and settlements to be reached, and Cal is anxious to return to his post and his role in those events.  But his current mission is one of a more personal nature.  He is on the trail of the notorious assassin who murdered one of his closest friends, and after searching for him for two years is pretty sure that he is an English sharpshooter.   Cal has returned to England determined to hunt him down once and for all – only to be greeted with the unexpected news of the death of his older brother.

Becoming an earl was never on Cal’s agenda.  A second son, he was sent to school at the age of seven and at seventeen, was given the choice of going into the army or the church.  The army suited him and he liked the life, but knows he is ill-equipped to take on the responsibilities that go hand-in-hand with a large estate and a peerage.  And when he visits Bath to check up on his half-sisters, he also realises that he has absolutely no idea what to do with two suspicious, disobedient young women of eighteen and nineteen have a penchant for going their own way and making mischief.

It’s immediately obvious that Cal can’t leave the girls in the care of their Aunt Dottie, who, while she loves them dearly, clearly has no control over them, so he approaches the headmistress of the school they attended to see if she will take them back - but she refuses.  While on his visit there, he encounters Miss Emmaline Westwood, one of their former teachers, and hits upon the idea of hiring her to look after the girls until such time as he can get them married off.  But she also refuses, leaving Cal with quite the quandary, which is then made worse when he discovers that his older brother left behind an eighteen-year-old daughter that none of the family knew about.

Faced with not two, but three female relatives he has no idea what to do with, Cal again approaches Miss Westwood and practically begs her to come and work for him.  She calmly explains that while the money he is offering is attractive, her post will last only two or three years and doesn’t offer the sort of long-term security she is looking for.  Cal is about to leave – when he has a lightbulb moment.  Miss Westwood wants security?  She can have it as his countess; after all, he has to marry some time, and he’s already acknowledged to himself that he is strongly attracted to the lady so he could do much worse.  He proposes a marriage of convenience and is accepted.  But a marriage between two virtual strangers is never going to be easy to navigate, especially when Cal seems to want to carry on as though nothing has changed.

I love a good marriage of convenience story, and this is a very good one indeed.  Ms. Gracie takes time to set up her characters and the situation so we are afforded ample time to get to know Cal and to see that under his rather brusque, authoritarian exterior is a good-hearted man capable of great kindness who wants to do the best for those in his care.  Having been in the army since he was seventeen, he’s used to making quick decisions and having his instructions and orders followed, and after a decade, such habits are hard to break.  He has to learn to be more flexible, to empathise and persuade rather than order and insist, and I loved the part when he – much to her surprise - adopts one of Emm’s strategies:

“I don’t know many men – no, make that any men – who would seek advice from a woman.”

He shrugged.  “Ten years in the army teaches a man to take advantage of local, expert knowledge, no matter what the source.”

It’s a telling exchange, showing clearly that Cal is adaptable and that he in no way sees Emm as beneath him or inferior.  He respects her intelligence, her skills, and her spirit, gradually coming to realise what an asset she is, and what a good thing he did by marrying her.  Of course, in the initial stages, all the convenience of the marriage is convenience for him, but as he and Emm get to spend more time with each other, talking and telling each other things they’ve told no-one else, they become friends, adding a deeper element to their relationship which has, up to this point, been mostly based on an intense physical attraction. The chemistry between them is terrific; there’s an element of slowly simmering sexual tension from their first meeting that ultimately leads to some nicely sensual moments.

One of the things I really appreciated about the whole book is its aura of maturity.  Emm is keeping an old secret from Cal, but it’s dealt with quickly and sensibly without being turned into some big, overblown drama, which is incredibly refreshing in a genre that so frequently uses secrets and lies as plot points.  Cal and Emm actually talk to each other about important things, and their actions are generally properly thought-out and rational.  There’s no stupid running away or arguments based on flimsy plot-points; no, this is a look at a marriage which needs to be worked at and in which, if something isn’t right, the couple realises the need to face it and deal with it. Ms. Gracie also does a superb job in showing the way in which Cal’s family grows and develops around him, mostly thanks to his wife, but thanks to him, too, as he comes to see that he can’t continue with his life as it was before.

There’s a lot to love about Marry in Haste, not least of which is Cal, who is a truly wonderful hero.  He’s handsome, charming and sexy (of course!), but the way he turns from a man who wants nothing more than to escape to one who not only accepts but comes to enjoy his responsibilities, is skilfully done and a real delight to read.  And Emm is his perfect match in every way; insightful and compassionate, she helps Cal and the girls to become a real family, stands firm in the face of his formidable Aunt Augusta and, in the end, finds it completely impossible not to tumble head over heels in love with her husband.

The final section of the book - in which Emm also comes to see how loved she is in return - is nicely done, although a couple of last minute events are perhaps a little over-the-top (and account for the A- instead of a straight A).  But those are minor niggles. Marry in Haste is a gorgeously romantic read and one I’m only too pleased to recommend.

by AAR's Caz