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mellied1975 's review for:
An Infamous Marriage
by Susanna Fraser
I love a marriage of convenience story more than almost anything, and this was a very good one. Major-General Jack Armstrong, has been away from England and his wife, Elizabeth, for five years. They'd married after Giles, Jack's best childhood friend and Elizabeth's husband of only a fortnight, fell horribly ill and made them promise to wed if he should die. Elizabeth had no family to take care of her, and Giles wants his friend to make sure she was secure and safe after his death.
Jack takes his word of honor as a soldier and a gentleman seriously, so even though he has no desire to marry the thin, mousy, grief-stricken Elizabeth and she has no desire to marry a total stranger, they go through with the wedding days after Giles' death. Less than two weeks after they meet, Jack returns to his army duties in Canada, leaving his marriage unconsummated and his bride to take care of Jack's invalid mother and the family's farm. During their first two years apart, Jack and Elizabeth write letters back and forth, getting to know and become quite fond of one another. But then a gossipy neighbor tells Elizabeth the news she's heard from a friend in Canada -- that Jack has been carrying on affairs during the years he's been gone. Elizabeth is hurt and betrayed, not because she expected her stranger husband to remain celibate for years, but because he was so indiscreet that he made a laughingstock of her back home. Without ever telling him why, her letters to Jack become cold and distant. His become distant in return, and for three years they barely communicate. And then peacetime forces Jack to come home and face the wife he'd left behind.
One of the best things about this book is that the characters actually talk to each other about the things they're feeling. From the minute Jack walks back into the house after half a decade away, Elizabeth is clear with him about why she is angry, and he's honest with her about how hurt he was by her sudden, inexplicable coldness. As they get to know each other and fall in love, they are truthful and adult in their conversations -- with the exception of one guilty secret Jack keeps to himself, which later threatens to destroy the love, trust, and passion that has grown up between them.
These two characters felt very real and believable to me -- their vulnerabilities, as well as their strengths. Well-written, well-paced, with lovely, honest relationship development; it's a really good book. Some of the other reviewers here on Goodreads said it reminded them of a Carla Kelly novel, and based on the one Kelly book I've read so far, the beautiful [b:The Wedding Journey|222807|The Wedding Journey|Carla Kelly|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1392275841s/222807.jpg|215767], I can see why. I highly recommend An Infamous Marriage, especially for those with a soft spot for stories where a marriage begins with duty and ends with devotion.
Jack takes his word of honor as a soldier and a gentleman seriously, so even though he has no desire to marry the thin, mousy, grief-stricken Elizabeth and she has no desire to marry a total stranger, they go through with the wedding days after Giles' death. Less than two weeks after they meet, Jack returns to his army duties in Canada, leaving his marriage unconsummated and his bride to take care of Jack's invalid mother and the family's farm. During their first two years apart, Jack and Elizabeth write letters back and forth, getting to know and become quite fond of one another. But then a gossipy neighbor tells Elizabeth the news she's heard from a friend in Canada -- that Jack has been carrying on affairs during the years he's been gone. Elizabeth is hurt and betrayed, not because she expected her stranger husband to remain celibate for years, but because he was so indiscreet that he made a laughingstock of her back home. Without ever telling him why, her letters to Jack become cold and distant. His become distant in return, and for three years they barely communicate. And then peacetime forces Jack to come home and face the wife he'd left behind.
One of the best things about this book is that the characters actually talk to each other about the things they're feeling. From the minute Jack walks back into the house after half a decade away, Elizabeth is clear with him about why she is angry, and he's honest with her about how hurt he was by her sudden, inexplicable coldness. As they get to know each other and fall in love, they are truthful and adult in their conversations -- with the exception of one guilty secret Jack keeps to himself, which later threatens to destroy the love, trust, and passion that has grown up between them.
These two characters felt very real and believable to me -- their vulnerabilities, as well as their strengths. Well-written, well-paced, with lovely, honest relationship development; it's a really good book. Some of the other reviewers here on Goodreads said it reminded them of a Carla Kelly novel, and based on the one Kelly book I've read so far, the beautiful [b:The Wedding Journey|222807|The Wedding Journey|Carla Kelly|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1392275841s/222807.jpg|215767], I can see why. I highly recommend An Infamous Marriage, especially for those with a soft spot for stories where a marriage begins with duty and ends with devotion.