The Marriage Bargain is the fourth book in Stephanie Dees’ Family Blessings series, and while there are a lot of characters in this book, I started here and didn’t feel confused. I think reading the books before it may have enhanced my reading experience a little bit, but that’s assuming I found them enjoyable. And I really am not interested enough to go back and read them. I found this book to be very middle of the road and ‘surface,’ introducing what should have been deep issues but never delving into them. There were so many important things that happened, none of which were ever fully explored. The fact that we were just sort of left with these issues made it so I didn’t really enjoy the rest of this book. And I don’t trust that the author can bring a plot to its completion. I doubt I’ll pick up another book of hers in the future.

Congratulations! Your review for The Marriage Bargain, captioned
below, has been published. Visit
<http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=68122> to view your
published review.

This is the first book by Stephanie Dees and it won’t be my last. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a wonderful story.

Jules is the sister to Joe, Ash and Wynn who are main characters in books 1-3. I love reading about the Sheehan family and I hope there are more to this series! There is so much love, fun times, and real life situations portrayed in every book.

After the death of her friend Glory; Jules is granted custody of her 2 young girls. However, Glory’s brother Cam comes back into town from traveling abroad and wants custody of the girls as well. Cam and Glory had a terrible upbringing and it’s hard for Cam to want to trust and love others. Jules and Cam have to decide if they are going to work together for the good of the girls or remain apart.

The author did a beautiful job of expressing emotions of grief and personal love & acceptance.

The kindle version will be available Feb 1st and the paperback version will be available January 15th.

This is book four in The Family Blessings series. It is the first in the series for me and I had no trouble following along, however I could tell it was part of a series. I feel I missed lots of history and some good books as well, by just jumping into this one.

Jules Sheehan finds herself in need of help, when Cam Quinn may be the answer to her prayers, that is where the excitement happens. There is much to overcome, problems to solve, feelings to figure out and so much more.

Stephanie Dees has created a heartwarming, emotion filled story! I loved this one. The characters are charming and the plot line is filled with hope and inspiration. Each page turn brought something new to the story, and by the end, I was left with a feeling of renewal and hope. Well done, on a fabulous 4 star read, Ms. Dees!

THEIR MARRIAGE BARGAIN is the fourth book in the Family Blessings series. I loved everything about this beautiful story and I'm sad that the series is over. Stephanie Dees has a way of grabbing her readers and she never lets us go. Cameron Quinn has returned home to Alabama to take care of her sister's two small children. He left away years ago when his step father kicked him out at the tender age of fifteen. Jules Sheehan is taking care of the kids since that is what their mother Glory wanted. Will Cam fight her for custody? Will his mother try and get the kids?


Jules and Cam come up with a great plan to save the kids from going with his mother. Call it a marriage of convenience. But will it work or will they both be broken hearted in the end? THE MARRIAGES BARGAIN shows Jules just how different her childhood was from Cam's and how it still effects him. He thinks he isnt good enough for anyone and doesn't deserve to be happy. Can Jules show him just how wrong he is? Will he stay or will he go?


THE MARRIAGES BARGAIN is filled with twists and turns and had me staying up way too late one night to finish! I had to know where Stephanie Dees was taking us and what would happen to Jules and Cam. I really loved how the whole community came to Cam's aid and only wanted him to feel loved and welcomed back! The same goes for the kids. There is so much heart in Stephanie's writing that I was left with a huge smile on my face and my heart very happy. The very real situations that come up in this book could be taken right out of the newspapers today. I could totally see The Family Blessings becoming a television series and I would love to watch it. All of the characters are very interesting and believable, so much so that I felt as if I've known them for a long time.

What a sweet and compelling story! I instantly loved the characters of Juliet and Cam. They had a great love for Cam’s orphaned nieces and acted in very unselfish ways to make sure the little girls had a safe, loving home. This is the best type of a “marriage of convenience” story and you know long before the story ends that all the members of this little family will find the happiness they are seeking. But don’t think this story is all sweetness and light. The author does a great job in telling Cam’s story of childhood rejection and abandonment and highlights in a realistic way some of the challenges that families who do foster parenting face every day. She also tackles the subject of racism and the perceptions that a multi-racial family can face. Cam must come to terms with the hurts of his childhood and see himself the way that his Savior sees him. This is truly a “Love Inspired” story written by a talented author.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Jules Sheehan has been caring for the children of her friend, after a terrible accident leaves the girls, Emma and Eleanor, orphans. She has grown to love them dearly and takes her promise their mother very seriously, and will do what she can to fulfill her duty.



Cam Quinn hasn't been to his hometown since he left and never looked back when his stepdad kicked him out. After the death of his sister he wants to be there for his nieces. He is surprised when Jules approaches him with a proposal of a marriage of convenience so that they can both keep the girls and keep them from their unstable grandmother who also wants custody.



Jules has a lot on her plate, caring for the girls, running a bakery, and her mother's restaurant. She is used to making a plan and sticking to it, so when she comes up with the idea to marry Cam, she prays that it is the right thing to do.



Cam has a lot of baggage from his past, and struggles with feelings of inadequacy, wondering if he is up to the task of raising his nieces and if he has a chance at winning Jules' heart. He is a natural with Emma and Eleanor, and wants to be a stable person in their lives.



Overall, a story about two people overcoming the challenges before and behind them, taking a chance on love and finding a home. The children are adorable. Jules and Cam must trust God and take a leap of faith, they grow a lot over the course of the book. It was a sweet romance, though at times frustrating.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

This is such a special story with some seriously realistic issues and experiences people deal with today. Juliet, Jules Sheehan's world is upended when her best friend Glory, and her husband tragically die in a car crash. Glory's will stipulates that her daughters are to be cared for by Jules. The perfectionist now balances life with children and her business, Take the Cake.
Cameron Quinn is a successful author and world traveler. The handsome biracial man quickly comes back to the town his stepfather drove him out of when he learns of his sister's death. It is important to him that his two nieces feel safe and loved as he never did as a child.
Jules shows kindness to Cam despite the fact that he is a stranger to the girls, despite the fear that he could try to take them away. All too soon there is a blood relative who does try to do just that.
This book is jam packed with tests of faith, family and even the community itself as Cam and Jules enter a bargain in order to protect and keep the girls together as a family. It's an excellent, sometimes tense, story of friendship, family reality and love. I liked it very much.

This story pulled me right in! I'm always looking for modern day marriage of convenience books to read and this one is a winner. I loved the characters from the opening lines and the obstacles just kept dropping in their paths and they kept right on fighting for what truly mattered. The chemistry between Cam and Jules is fantastic, and the little girls are super adorable. I appreciated the deeper issues expertly woven throughout the story: the need for loving homes for foster kids, false assumptions made about a black man that aren't often made about white men in similar scenarios, dealing with our heartache over past hurts, and loving one another even when we feel like we aren't equipped. I can't wait to read more books from this author, and I'm thrilled to see diverse characters featured in contemporary romance.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions shared here are my own.

The Marriage Bargain is a well written inspirational romance. I throughly enjoyed the plot and the characters. A good clean and quick real. I received an arc from Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

This was my first book by Dees. It caught my eye on NetGalley because I love marriage of convenience stories. But this was so much more. I love how this book included so many deep and difficult themes in life including but not limited to: abandonment, racism, abuse, adoption, foster care...

I love when two people grow to love each other through challenging circumstances. And I loved all the precious moments with the kids.

I also loved the realistic difficulties and conversations in this book.

I'll definitely be adding Dees to my list of authors to follow!

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

From beginning to end, the character development of Jules and Cam drew me into the story. I had moments that had me laughing and others that had me feeling emotional. I really enjoyed this story and finished in hours. I loved the themes of family, faith, and love that resonated and brought warm feelings to my heart. Love is powerful.
Memorable Quote:
"She liked everything to be perfect and she wasn't comfortable with a mess, even if she knew logically the mess was the way to something better. And come to think of it, that sounded like a great metaphor for her life these days..."
Thank you, Netgalley! Loved this inspired read.