Bride for Keeps by Nicole Helm

They all said it wouldn’t last….

Sierra McArthur never could have imagined they were right, but ever since her husband’s world was rocked by a family secret, it’s clear that their happily ever after isn’t to be. But one last night of passion with her husband creates a lasting consequence neither of them planned on….

Or is it?

Carter McArthur doesn’t want a divorce. But he doesn’t know how to fix all the mistakes he’s made in the wake of his family’s betrayal. But when a surprise pregnancy gives them one last chance at forever, Carter is determined to make her understand, she’s not his bride by accident. She’s his bride

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33259027-the-duchess-deal

Title: Bride for Keeps
Author: Nicole Helm
Series: Big Sky Brides
Pages: 212
Genre(s): Contemporary, US
Hot Buttons: Divorce <-- highlight to reveal (may contain spoilers)

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I was a bit worried when I started this book as I’d (stupidly) read the reviews and didn’t want them to sway my opinion - I’m a bit of a sucker for a second chance romance, you see.

I shouldn’t have worried, within the first chapter of the book the characters had already convinced me, regardless of the other reviews, that this book was not one that I was going to enjoy. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever disliked a heroine more.

Carter is 31 and Sierra is younger. I didn’t catch her actual age (I did go back and try to see if it was mentioned but I just got myself angry all over again) but she acts like a spoiled, petulant child all throughout the book. I still wouldn’t have liked the book had Sierra’s character grown-up and evolved throughout the book - but she didn’t. She was a brat from beginning to end.

Here are just some of the ways that the author explained Sierra’s character and her relationship with her husband.

“…she usually threw a little fit, and he’d come after her trying to make things right. It was the pattern of their relationship. Sierra didn’t know that it was the best pattern, but it was always how they’d worked.”

“She’d thrown she didn’t know how many fits lately, and Carter had simply let her.”

“Her flouncing wasn’t even enjoyable anymore, but she didn’t know how else to get Carter’s attention.”

“Usually a good fit got his attention, pulled him out of all he kept himself caught up in.”

Honestly, I could go on.

Why would staid, stand-up guy Carter be interested in such a girl?

No really - I just didn’t get it.

And since this is a romance book, my intense dislike of Sierra and my scorn of Carter’s actions and feelings, made this book a complete dud for me. I’m sorry to say, I didn’t care if they got together at the end - or stayed together. I’m adding my voice to those that said that their marriage won’t last!

I did give the book 2 stars since I did force myself to the end - even if some skim-reading was involved. I also don’t think that the writing was terrible - it was just the subject matter, or more accurately, the characters and the situations they were in, that was.

Sorry to say - but I recommend that you avoid this book at all costs.