Preacher'S In-Name-Only Wife (Bachelors Of Shotgun Ridge) (Harlequin American Romance) [Paperback]

Mindy Neff (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin; Harlequin American Romance #906 : Bachelors of Sho edition (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 037316906X
• ISBN-13: 978-0373169061
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,789,074 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Lively and fresh! - Very highly recommended, January 15, 2002

By 

C. Penn "WordWeaving" (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Preacher'S In-Name-Only Wife (Bachelors Of Shotgun Ridge) (Harlequin American Romance) (Paperback)

Shotgun Ridge's matchmakers gain a little help from beyond the grave in Mindy Neff's PREACHER'S IN-NAME-ONLY WIFE. The four geezers have successfully meddled and interfered in the love lives the town bachelors until most are married and have children. Llyod, Henry, Vern and Ozzie might be unlike matchmakers, but they are successful. This time Ozzie's old war buddy aids the matchmaking in the form of a will designed to marry photojournalist Amy Marshall to preacher Dan Lucas.

Amy needs to marry Dan for ninety days in order to fulfill her grandfather's will. Otherwise her mother's home will be sold and the proceeds donated to charity. Neither Amy nor Dan have the means to buy her mother's home themselves, so marriage and fulfillment of the will's conditions seem the only solution. Amy has just enough time to fill the will's conditions and then leave on an assignment for the National Geographic to fulfill her lifelong dream. Her father had also been a photojournalist, and she longs to walk in his footsteps and prove that following a coveted dream is worth the personal sacrifices that it entails.

Dan finds himself in quite a conundrum. He can either desecrate sacred wedding vows by knowingly entering into them temporarily, or he can follow his instinct and help a woman in need. Amy's grandfather had risked his life to save his grandfather. Somehow it seems only right to return the gift. After all, ninety days of friendship and companionship and then an annulment doesn't seem like much of a chore. Then Dan's loving, generous spirit leads to providing a home for a homeless infant, and suddenly Amy and Dan are thrust into a much deeper emotional commitment than either bargained for.

Unlike most marriage of convenience plots, PREACHER'S IN-NAME-ONLY WIFE boldly announces to the town why they are getting married and for how long. Despite the fact that this is a marriage of convenience, the town rallies around the couple. The entire tone shifts away from the typical "no one can know" formula because no one's keeping secrets or presenting a false front, giving PREACHER'S IN-NAME-ONLY WIFE a lively freshness. In addition, these are imperfect main characters. Amy has imperfect motivations for pursuing her career, and must endure much self-honest and reevaluation of priorities if she's have what her heart truly desires. Dan likewise makes a fascinating preacher with his chili pepper tie (who would have thought a preacher could be such hot stuff?) and hula dancer night-light. Dan finds himself falling into the emotional trap of lashing out at one point because he fears loosing Amy.

Favorite characters from previous books of the Bachelors of Shotgun Ridge also put in appearances, providing updates and further enriching the background. I must admit that if I could pick a fictional hometown where I'd like to live, Mindy Neff has created it. I'm going to miss these wonderful matchmakers and their fabulous town. Very highly recommended.