Then Comes Marriage

by Christie Ridgway

Book Overview

After Honor Witherspoon is rescued from her kidnappers, all she wants is to live in Hot Water, a small town that symbolises safety. Her billionaire father, Warren, wants to ensure his daughter is... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0739431161
• ISBN13: 9780739431160
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Avon 2003/03
• Length: 372 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Enjoyable and different read

"Then Comes Marriage" is a different kind of book - while the plot is a standard if too-often used one (arranged marriage for convenience sake) and a bit unbelievable (arranged marriages in the twenty-first century??), the characters in this book are as different and unusual as they come. If you have had your fill of the usual storyline and protaginists, than you may find this book a welcome change of pace. I liked the heroine very much - she is not your silly, cookie-cutter spoiled brat, even though she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth - she makes sure to make that point over and over again. And she even comes across that way as well in this story - she has more guts, brains, and maturity than your average romance heroine. And Bram - when he first makes his appearance I thought he was really awful - but never judge by first impressions, they tell you, and Bram does sort of grow on you as the book goes on. It helps that I wasn't so shocked by the hero's obsession with his wife's grave thing - having encountered this exact story-line in the long-ago published "Red Threads" by Rex Stout - and seen that story resolved well. There are some loose ends to this story - the arranged marriage, the improbability of the hero being both a computer/science genius/geek and star football player?? - no, this book was not high on the realism scale. The style of this book was well-written and funny, but the somewhat slow pace and the obvious implausibility of parts of the plot turned this book into a four star, for me. If you are looking for a romance that is somewhat off the beaten path, unusual characters, and high quality writing, I would definitely recommend "Then Comes Marriage".

A delightful read...

Like one of the other reviewers I did not realize that this book was a sequel. After reading such a fun read like THEN COMES MARRIAGE I am now reading its prequel, FIRST COMES LOVE which is just as great. The characters in this book were well-written and I loved the secondary ones as much as the primary ones. Some of the scenes are laugh-aloud funny, i.e. the pumpkin patch scene. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading all of Ms. Ridgway's books.

Did Not Realize It Was A Sequel!!

This story follows "1st Comes Love", and it is really cute. We 1st met Bram as the tortured guy who visited his wifes grave daily (still does). Honor, who followed Dylan to Hot Springs in the last book, her father blackmails Bram into marrying her.Bram is a technical genius, who has a very modern household, all which is run from his palm pilot. Honor does not get along with electronics, and proceeds to put everything on the fritz. It starts off pretty typical, but is well written and enjoyable. Bram softens towards Honor, but still has a hard time opening his heart because he is afraid of losing her the way he did his 1st wife.There is a side story with Mia, (Bram's housekeeper) and Josh McCool, (Honor's Fathers assistant, who originally shows up to romance Honor but falls for Mia). I could have cared less about that part and kind of skipped it.It was great seeing Bram grow into a caring person and start opening up, and how they help each other heal, her from her previous kidnapping. If you liked the 1st one definately buy it. This story will stand alone if you don't want to get the 1st one. Fun story that I read in one sitting, but not one of my keepers.

warm uplifting contemporary romance

America's wealthiest heiress Honor Witherspoon marries its most famous security recluse Bram Bennett. Last year, Honor was a kidnap victim; Bram makes the security devices that keep "Celebs" safe. Many skeptics figure this is a business deal brokered by her daddy to provide affluence to Bram and security to Honor. The cynics think that Daddy Witherspoon brokered the deal, blackmailing and forcing Bram into marrying his daughter with the real threat to destroy his hometown of Hot Springs, California.Bram still mourns for his deceased wife, but Honor wants her marriage to work and not as a convenient deal sponsored by her dad. As Bram struggles to keep Honor safe and she still recovers from her harrowing experience, the impossible happen and they fall in love. However, can this couple turns their marriage of convenience brokered by an interested third party into a lifetime of happiness with he carrying eight years and she one year of baggage?The device seems to have been used, as many times as there are stars. The baggage seems to have been used as many pieces of sand. Put together, THEN COMES MARRIAGES should be a trite disaster, but in the hands of a magician readers receive a warm uplifting contemporary romance. The story line overcomes the banal almost corny mechanisms through the delightful lead couple, each unknowingly seeking someone to believe in even while they deny their love for one another. The townsfolk add a feeling of homecoming and a bit of wackiness, but Christine Ridgeway's latest Hot Springs' novel resides with the couple avoiding that elusive butterfly.Harriet Klausner

Bravo - another winner from Christie Ridgway!!

Bram Bennett sold his company to Warren Witherspoon, who then forced a marriage of convenience with his daughter Honor. Warren's ultimatum: marry Honor to keep her safe from her recent kidnappers, or he would destroy the economy of Bram's home town of Hot Springs. Bram, a techno wizard turned recluse since his wife's death eight years ago, reluctantly complies, unaware of how his life is about to change. Honor is bound and determined to start her life over in Hot Springs and embraces her new community, and reluctant husband, with her zest for life and refusal to be made an invalid by her kidnappers. The quirky characters of the community, along with yet another romantic liaison between Mia and bad man Josh, add life to a plot that has been used over and over again. In the hands of this gifted author, she turns it in to a poignant and hilarious love story, where everyone learns once again the value of love, trust and truly finding home. I enjoyed the fireworks and fun in this fabulous book!