Beginning in Gatlinburg, Tennessee in 1887, this lively
historical romance loses no time in introducing a young
lady with trouble on her mind and a brawny Scots lad with
dancing on his mind. It's Independence Day, and there's a
celebration. WED BY NECESSITY is in a series called 'Smoky
Mountain Matches'.
Caroline Turner is furious about a blackmail note. She's
from a good family of industrialists and may have to pay to
keep their reputation. This is quite spoiling her evening,
after she worked so hard to organise the volunteers. She
doesn't give another look to Duncan McKenna after turning
down his offer of a dance; he's new in town. Duncan turns
out to be the new stable manager for her family. He thinks
she's snobbish, and he might be right. He also wonders why
Miss Caroline is constantly in such a bad mood.
I enjoyed reading the setting descriptions; chandeliers and
wallpaper in the dining room, cantaloupe and tomatoes in
the vegetable patch. However I found it highly unlikely
that Caroline would go for a woodland ride in her evening
dress and slippers. I wouldn't. This incident just seems
too contrived. Anyway, Caroline, who squabbles with every
eligible young man, is seen as a drain on the family's
finances, all of which contributes to her being ordered to
marry the stable manager. This will keep her good name
after they have been obliged to spend time in each other's
company. I don't entirely buy it, but her father was
looking for an excuse to be rid of her. Mr Turner doesn't
know that Caroline has been told by the blackmailer that
her father is conducting shoddy business practices, and she
can't decide which to believe.
Entertainingly, Caroline, who thinks charity work means
donations, is obliged to part with her fine clothing and
start keeping a house and produce garden. She can't access
her own bank account now - because she has a husband. She
does have a handcraft project, which might bring an income.
I found it hard work getting to like Caroline, but she
changes through the story and discovers that being a
married woman has advantages. The earthy Duncan allows her
to sleep apart; they need to get to know each other. WED BY
NECESSITY they may be but the way Karen Kirst tells it,
romance with a suspenseful ending lies in store. This is a
gently inspirational book suitable for any age from teen to
adults.
When a riding accident strands socialite Caroline Turner
overnight with the new stable manager, she gets the one
thing she never wanted—a husband! Marrying the infuriatingly
stubborn Duncan McKenna wouldn't have been her first choice,
but with her reputation damaged, it's her only option.
Still, there's something about the brash, rugged Scotsman
that fascinates Caroline.
If Duncan wanted to wed a society girl, he would have stayed
in Boston with his family and his fortune. He expects
Caroline to balk at her new modest lifestyle, but instead
the strong-willed beauty seems determined to prove him
wrong, making her all the more irksome…and irresistible. The
marriage of convenience isn't what Caroline and Duncan
planned, but could they be a perfect match?
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