Well written marriage of convenience story. The characters could have been a bit more filled out, but it was really a fairly lighthearted story of a couple working out the kinks of a marriage of convenience. This story was not deep in introspection, not much of it took place deep in the characters' thoughts. The hero and heroine were both nice people who did a good job finding each other. One minor thing I didn't really care for.He never actually told her he loved her, she just figured it out. Sort of a cop out for a romance. ( )

Eleanor lives with her Uncle Zeb and Aunt Dorinda and her cousin Anabel after the death of her father 6 years ago

They took her in not out of love but because they felt it was their duty to do so. Shes made to earn her keep by cooking,cleaning,mending and more or less being her relatives servant.
And also her beautiful/spoiled rotten/vain cousin Anabel is constantly belittling her efforts and her appearance.

Eleanor would very much like to get away from them and is even considering encouraging the suit local widower,wich she feels would take her away from one unbearably situation but land her in a loveless marriage.But still...it would be a way out she resignedly thinks.

The next day there is church and people are all buzzing about the arrival of the two Mcclaine brothers come to look for a wife for the eldest brother Luke.

Luke and Daniel Mcclain had drawn straws about who of them will have to take a wife.Because their house needs cleaning really badly and there needs to have children who can inherit the prosperous ranch they have created.

So they are going around being introduced to the unmarried young women,but its not until Luke lays eyes on Eleanor that he thinks he has find a good wife candidate. She is demure and not at all badlooking so after a few more meetings,he proposes to her.

They are married quickly and he takes her back to the ranch where they have to get to know each other better.The marital relations part goes well but Eleanor cant help but wish they would talk a bit more during the day.-In the meanwhile she tries to be a good wife and not complain too much about things.

That is until she learns of the drawing-straws-to-decide-who-will have to-marry buisness...

She may be demure but she is no pushover! as Luke finds out pretty soon when she throws a book at him.


This was a sweet read,nothing too original,but good in its own way. You can really call it a Cinderella story what with the mean relatives and the heroine having to work so hard.

It was really gratifying to see them shocked speechless when Luke proposed to Eleanor,especially the spoiled Anabels reaction :P

It was also nice to see Eleanor show some temper and stand up for herself against Luke.

Just because you are shy doesnt mean you are weak,being a shy person myself I like this sort of heroine over the constantly feisty and tiresomely spirited heroines.

( )

The McClain brothers have a problem. They need a bloodline to pass their ranch on to should they have an unlikely accident. Unfortunately neither brother actually wants to get a wife and start a family so in a moment of mild drunkeness, they decide to let chance decide the matter and pull straws to see who will take the plunge.

Luke sees Eleanor in church, where his appearance is causing quite a stir, and thinks she would be perfect. Presentable but not so pretty that her face would cause him problems, with a nice figure and what seems to be a pliable, biddable personality, Luke sets his cap for her.

Eleanor has no reason to expect Luke's proposal. She lives with her Aunt and Uncle who use her as a free servant, and the most heinous cousin a girl could have. Everyone is surprised when Luke asks Eleanor to marry him but she jumps at the chance to have a husband who is so handsome, well mannered and, if she is honest, who her cousin had intended to have for herself.

Eleanor has managed at last to find a home of her own, even if it is filthy and screaming for some tender loving care. She is positive she will be able to make herself a pleasant life here with Luke.

Luke has managed to find himself a biddable bride who will do as she is told and not give him a moment's trouble. He is well pleased with himself until he realizes he may have miscalculated exactly how biddable his wife is. ( )

This book was allot of fun. When Luke and Daniel McLain decide one of them has to get married so that the house gets cleaned, cooking done and a heir is needed. Drawing straws, Luke pull the short one and fun begins. ( )