An Amish marriage of convenience
Secretly pregnant and unwed, Gemma Lapp has a difficult
choice -- face her Amish community or raise her baby alone. But when a storm
strands Gemma in the wilderness with her former crush, Jesse Crump, she knows
her secret won't be safe for long. Gemma can't imagine trusting a man
again…until Jesse proposes a marriage of convenience. Could their arrangement
lead to love?
Good combination of a second chance romance with an
enemies-to-lovers story. Gemma and Jesse have an awkward history. Eighteen
months earlier Gemma had made a pest of herself, flirting with Jesse and
following him everywhere. Envious of her married friends, she chose Jesse as
the most likely candidate for her husband. Jesse wasn't interested. Eight years
older than Gemma, with a difficult past, Jesse saw her as spoiled. When Gemma
took the untraditional route of suggesting marriage to him, Jesse's response
wasn't kind, and Gemma retaliated with harsh words of her own. She then left
for Florida, looking for something different than her life in Maine. Now Gemma
has returned to Maine with her tail between her legs. The man she thought she
loved deserted her when he found out she was pregnant. She heads for home,
hoping for understanding and acceptance from her parents, but fearing the
worst.
I liked both Jesse and Gemma. Jesse hasn't had an easy
life and has a chip on his shoulder because of it. Son of a single mother and a
big man, he was bullied through most of his childhood. He tends to be something
of a recluse, doesn't talk much, and is insecure about his intelligence. Jesse
is also a good man with a kind heart. When he encounters Gemma, stranded and
broke, he gets her a motel room and offers her a ride home. He hasn't forgotten
the things she said, but he has other things on his mind - namely an auction
for some land he wants. Gemma is a changed woman. The spoiled girl who left for
Florida has been replaced by one who has learned some hard lessons. Jesse's
help makes her remember how horrible she was to him and adds to the stress she
feels. Her mind is consumed by thoughts of the future and decisions she has to
make.
The trip home doesn't go as expected. A blizzard and a
wrecked truck strand them in an isolated area as their driver goes for help. Things
are awkward at first as the mistakes of the past come between them. I liked
that Gemma made the first overtures by apologizing, though Jesse was a little
slow to believe. As the danger of their situation increased, I loved how Jesse
stayed cool and calm, eventually taking action to keep them safe. I liked how
the forced togetherness gave them the opportunity to clear the air and begin to
really get to know each other. I loved how Jesse appreciated Gemma's
outspokenness and she his somewhat dry sense of humor. Their teasing was fun to
see, especially the parts about tree bark and cattails. Rescue, when it came,
brought surprise revelations and changes.
I ached for Gemma and her fears for her future. Her
arrival home was painful as she confessed what had happened. Reactions were
mixed and left her wondering about the right thing to do. Jesse had decisions
to make, as well. He was surprised by his continuing concern for Gemma and
confused about what to do. He surprised me with his reaction to her father's
offer, and then his offer to Gemma. Both of them struggled with their feelings
and their reluctance to tell the other about them. A medical emergency forced
them each to face those feelings. Jesse melted my heart with his actions and his
overwhelming feelings of love and protectiveness. Gemma's strength and determination
were fantastic. I loved seeing how Hope brought them together and ached at how
their insecurities preyed on their fears. It took the advice from good friends
to help them past those final obstacles. I loved Jesse's big moment at the end.
I would have liked an epilogue, but hopefully, they will make appearances in
later books.
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