Then Comes Marriage [Mass Market Paperback]

Christie Ridgway (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 2002

Honor Witherspoon suddenly found herself up to her neck in the most delicious trouble she'd ever been in: Marriage!

After she was rescued from a harrowing kidnapping, Honor's billionaire father decreed she'd be completely safe in the hands of Bram Bennett -- small-town, high-tech security genius. Now, with her globe-trotting days behind her, Honor must settle into a quieter life in Hot Water, California -- married (technically) to a disarmingly attractive stranger who seldom ventures beyond his fortress walls. Well, this is one situation -- and one man -- that could definitely use some shaking up ... and Honor's just the one to do it!

To Bram, Honor only reminds im of the happiness he's lost. But he promised to marry her, and Bram is a man who believes in keeping his promises. He longs to be left alone with his memories, but is that possible once this tantalizing intruder has breached his tight security? And now that she's inside his house, what will keep her out of his heart?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set in the imaginary town of Hot Water, Calif., Ridgway's newest contemporary romance (after First Comes Love) puts a sexy spin on an old romance cliche-the marriage of convenience. Near strangers Honor Witherspoon and hunky computer genius Bram Bennett are temporarily forced into marriage by Honor's millionaire father. The justifications for this preposterous act are murky at best, but the result is crystal clear: instant attraction. Despite the sexuality that simmers between the pair, they hold back for much of the story. Bram is still grieving the death of his young wife, Alicia, tragically murdered eight years earlier, and the innately gregarious Honor is still suffering post-traumatic stress from a terrifying kidnapping. Even after they succumb to temptation, both resist giving their hearts to each other. Ridgway's warm, energetic voice masks plot and characterization points as flimsy as Honor's red negligee. Comic subplots-such as an alien sighting by a local man (an event that overruns the tiny town with loony thrill-seekers hoping for another close encounter)-also serve to pad the story and will remind readers that this is a world of fantasy, after all.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Christie Ridgway has never lived east of the Pacific Ocean, north of San Francisco, or south of San Diego. To put it simply, she's a California native who loves to travel but is happy to make the Golden State her home,

She began her writing career in fifth grade when she penned a volume of love stories featuring herself and a teen idol who will probably be thrilled to remain nameless. Later, though, after marrying her college sweetheart, Christieagain took up writing romances, this time with imaginary heroes and heroines.

In a house full of males-one terrific husband, two school-age sons, a yellow dog, and tankfuls of fish, reptiles and amphibians-Christie makes her own place(and peace) writing the kinds of stories she loves best.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 382 pages
• Publisher: Avon; First Edition edition (December 31, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380818965
• ISBN-13: 978-0380818969
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #940,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Christie Ridgway is a California native and author of over thirty contemporary romances. A five-time RITA finalist and USA Today bestselling author, she writes sexy, emotional reads starring determined heroines and the men who can't help but love them. Married to her college sweetheart, Christie lives in Southern California in a house filled with boys and pets. She writes as an escape from sports equipment, football on TV, and dog hair.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Cute, btu not as good as its predecessor, May 12, 2005

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Then Comes Marriage (Mass Market Paperback)

Honor Witherspoon and Bram Bennett are first introduced as minor characters in Ridgway's "First Comes Love." In "Then Comes Marriage," they take center stage as unlikely newlyweds.

After being kidnapped and held captive for two weeks, Honor is thrown together with Dylan Matthews, an FBI hostage negotiator who helps her pass the time awaiting rescue by telling her about his hometown. She decides that after her rescue, she will move to the small country in the California Gold Country.

Bram, Dylan's oldest and closest friend, is in a self-imposed exile as he mourns the murder of his wife Alicia. He visits her grave every evening at dusk and has become an unapproachable shell of a man.

Honor's father purchases Bram's security company, where he will stay on as a consultant. Because Honor's father is leaving the country on business, and he fears for his daughters safety, he forces Bram and Honor into a marriage of convenience, must to both of their horror.

Bram looks at Honor as a nuisance to his fortress of solitude, while she thinks he is a cold and unfeeling techno-geek. He even has a computerized guard dog. Honor promises that she will be out of there within six weeks. Then goes about turning his life upside down, as they both give in to the lust they have for each other, while still trying to maintain the sham of a marriage to the rest of the town who are so elated that Bram has found love again.

It is a cute story, though not as good as its predecessor. Check out Dylan and Kitty's story in "First Comes Love" for more adventure in the Gold Country.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and different read, January 12, 2005

By 

a-wish-upon-a-star (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Then Comes Marriage (Mass Market Paperback)

"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".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A delightful read..., March 27, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Then Comes Marriage (Mass Market Paperback)

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.