Read and Review #13 - Married for Christmas (Noelle Adams)

Title: Married for Christmas
Author: Noelle Adams
Publication date: 1 December 2013
Publisher: Noelle Adams
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Synopsis:

After years of dreaming, Jessica is finally getting married, but the marriage isn't exactly what she thought.

Daniel is her best friend, and she's known him all her life, but he's never gotten over losing his wife two years ago. His dream is to become the pastor of the church in their hometown, but the small-town congregation keeps balking over calling an unmarried minister. Since Daniel needs a wife and Jessica wants a husband and family, she proposes an arrangement that benefits both of them.

They can get married. They can build a life together. They can celebrate Christmas as a couple. It's fine that he doesn't love her. And it's fine that she's not exactly suited to be a small-town pastor's wife. And it's fine that she's more attracted to her sexy, brooding husband every day.

Jessica can be practical about this marriage. She knows what she's getting into, after all... 

This book includes fully-developed sex scenes between a husband and wife.

My rating:

5 out of 5 women wants to marry their best friend

My review:

This book made me cry. So hard. It was emotionally painful, I don't know how but I couldn't stop crying until the end. There was just this emotional roller coaster half of the time I just want to bash Daniel in the head. 

Jessica Cameron suggested marriage to her best friend, Daniel when it was discovered that he needed a wife to be accepted as pastor at the church in their hometown. It was a marriage a convenience; Daniel being accepted into the position easily while Jessica gets the married life that she had always wanted. So what if it was a loveless marriage? At least they would have each other.  

The thing about this story is that Jessica and Daniel had known each other since they were little. She never fell in love and he had already lost his first love. His wife Lila, had been friends with Jessica and they all grew up together, although not as close friends.

"I've had a real marriage, and I know I won't be blessed that way again. But you've never been married. You need to wait for the right man—someone you can really love, someone who loves you more than anything."

From the beginning, I can already sense it was going to be one of those relationships. Daniel wouldn't be able to love Jessica fully and Jessica would eventually want more than just a convenient marriage. But Daniel, the extent of his attitude towards Jessica! It made my heart ache but I understand why he's feeling that way.

"You know that what God does is make us whole when we're nothing but broken. But you're not acting like you believe it. And if you don't believe it, then what are we doing here?"

I didn't know how intense this story would affect me. But it did. The whole premise revolves around Jessica and Daniel's life as a married couple and while he is a gamma hero, it was nice to read about this sort of marriage of convenience between a pastor and a computer geek. And it totally change my thinking that pastors don't usually indulge in sexual activities.

It's a good tear-jerker for Christmas (because I love tear-jerkers). There was a little holiday spirit weaved into the story line towards the end. If you like romance between married couples then this is the book for you!