An Engagment In Seattle: Groom Wanted/Bride Wanted (2000) - Plot & Excerpts
This book has two novellas in it, both published in the 1990s (with updating). "Groom Wanted" features an ambitious business woman managing the family's corporation, who enters into a "green card marriage" with the plant's star researcher so he won't be deported. "Bride Wanted" features an Alaskan good guy who comes to Washington to seek a wife, and finds a jilted teacher eager for a new start. I'm a big fan of Debbie Macomber, and these stories did not disappoint.I loved them both as light, quick reads, but Bride Wanted worked a little better for me. Groom Wanted was surprisingly touching (I confess it made me cry at a point or two); yes, it had a bit of cheese, but in a nice way. With another author some of the hero's "this will be a real marriage, so you will sleep with me" pressure could have gone very, very wrong (i.e. forced seduction or marital rape), but Macomber definitely didn't go there - thankfully! The premise is not really unique (immigration marriage), but not a sickeningly-common one in romance novels. Also, it's rather refreshing to see a (1) Russian hero and (2) a scientist who does actual work. The secondary characters were fairly well done, as well, considering this is a short.Bride Wanted, my favourite of the two, was lighter and a bit more fun. I enjoyed the secondary characters, and the Alaskan angle. Also, the "small town knight in shining armour seeking companion", while not new, is adorable to me. I'm a sucker for small town heroes. The heroine was very likeable. I would have done the ending slightly differently, but overall it was a very fun read.In terms of negatives, I have very little. The books, in my opinion, did what they were supposed to, and delivered some nice, romantic entertainment. However, I am finding myself increasingly frustrated by fade-to-black love scenes. I don't know - they worked well for me for decades, but now that more and more romance novels "go all the way," the FTB ones seem somehow anti-climactic (sorta-pun not really intended). The stories were so engaging, the characters so attractive, and the chemistry so vivid, I did find myself put out when the text went to "..." and suddenly it was the next day. Sigh. However, if you normally have no trouble with FTB (or you prefer them), this won't be a problem for you.Very nice pair of stories from what I like to think of as "old school contemporary romance," the kind of which seem to be rather rare these days, sadly. Recommended! an engagement in seattle by debbie macombergroom wanted - scientist needs to get married to stay in US. he can make their company survive and thrive with the knowledge he has. he only believes marriage is for life. the family is trying to talk her into marrying him and the pre-nup offers him a part of the company which he turns down. just why would he want to get married then?she wants to please her grandmother and get married before she passes away, she's had another heart attack.now they have to convince the immigration people that they are in love or they could send him back to his home country and send her to jail for fraud.can they learn to live with one another as husband and wife? and the problems at the office: someone is giving others secrets about the new paint line. everything points to her new husband.bride wanted by debbie macomberChase needs a wife and they need to leave Seattle for Alaska in a few weeks time.he advertises on a billboard. Leslie thought she'd be marrying Tony who she dated all through college up til a few months ago whenhe told her he needed more time but he then dated another teacher and they had married.her friends come to her rescue to help her get through the loss.she saw the billboard and thought the one who left the ad was a moron.Leslie meets Chase when a mugger takes her purse=she had started to pursue him but Chase took over and caught him.he agrees to a coffee in payment. she's emotional as this was to be her wedding day. she tells this all to Chase and he sits and listens intently.She agrees to have dinner with him and they meet at the public entrance to the aquarium. they stroll to a restaurant for dinner as she educates him about the area and stories about mail order brides. after getting to know one another better they agree to meet the next day. Problem is she finds out it was he who posted on the billboard before he can tell her himself. He has started to return and meet the 500+ women who've left a message for him.She is interested in why the women responded and they discuss the many reasons.He forfeits interviewing the 800+ now respondents to spend time with her at Paradise at Mr. Rainier, a picnic lunch, hike to the meadows.they take the neighbor's boys fishing early in the morning and we learn how to smoke a fish they caught. her old boyfriend wants to hook up with her again so Chase leaves her to make that decision.The reason why i like this book so much is we do travel to Seattle area a few times a year to spend time with my daughter and her family and have been to the area and like it very much-good to hear more details about new places we need to visit when there. The stories are easy to follow as there are NOT a ton of characters to keep track of.
What do You think about An Engagment In Seattle: Groom Wanted/Bride Wanted (2000)?
This book is 2 stories, both almost Harlequin romance in tenor. Ok read.
—Ken
2 novels in one....very entertaining....love Debbie Macomber!
—KadyHavens
