A Sensible Arrangement

Lone Star Brides, Book 1

By: Tracie Peterson

Narrated by: Barbara McCulloh

Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

Marty Dandridge Olson is a widow looking for a way out of Texas. Widower Jake Wythe has secured a job as a bank manager in Denver, only to discover that the bank board wants him to be a married man. With Texas in his roots, he advertises for a Lone Star bride, and Marty answers the call. They both agree they are done with romance and love and will make this nothing more than a marriage of convenience. Marty works to carve out a new life in high-society Denver as Jake works to guide the bank through a collapsing economy.

But when money goes missing at the bank and accounting discrepancies point to Jake, he must find a way to prove his innocence. Yet all he wants to do is go back to Texas and own his own ranch. Marty, on the other hand, owns a ranch - one she's never told her husband about. She hates Texas because it represents the losses in her life. But as the couple grows closer and love begins to bloom, Marty realizes she needs to tell Jake the truth. Can she come to terms with the past and her anger toward God in order to make room for love?

©2014 Peterson Ink, Inc. (P)2014 Recorded Books

Great story!

This was a great story but ended very abruptly. Glad to know there was a sequel. The narrator did a great job.

A religious sermon

In the end, a good book turned over-the-top religious. What a disappointment. I was looking forward to the ending but stopped listening early because of the overt preaching.

A Talented Author

This story was engaging, well-written, and performed very well. I would have given it five stars if it weren’t for the incredible amounts of preaching by the author. I am a religious, Christian person, but I don’t understand why Christian authors feel the need to pontificate and scold the audience about religion. This is such a good story, with a slow, believable romance with beautiful relationship building—which I find missing in most romances—but enough! We get it. Don’t lie. Pray. God is your friend. But don’t smack me in the face with it!

But it wasn’t so bad that I stopped listening. Like I said, between all the preaching, it was a good story.

Way Too Preachy

Enjoyed the narration. Storyline kept going off track to preach. Book should have had a warning label to let readers know.

My first by Tracie.....

But not my last! Loved this book! This is a heartwarming story about life, love and God. I can't wait to read the second book in the series.

Cute but incomplete

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I really enjoyed this book and even though the voice of the narrator seemed too old for the main character I was able to see through that. However, the ending seemed rushed and I feel too many items were left unsolved and incomplete. I never write reviews because I am no scholar and usually read just for enjoyment. However, this ending truly left too much. Maybe I missed something? Like two more chapters?

Less than expected

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Only when accompanied by a warning. I enjoyed it until the final chapter.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Marty

What does Barbara McCulloh bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I liked her voice and characters.

Any additional comments?

A marriage of convenience somehow turned into a very one-sided arrangement that only considered the feelings and needs of one party. How is it that Marty is supposed to share every personal thing she owns with a man with whom she only agreed to have a platonic relationship to secure his career? Does he not need to consider her fears of losing another husband? How about her desire to leave Texas? After all that was her reason for accepting the position in Jakes life. In the end she has somehow lied to him because she did not share about owning a ranch. Her property had nothing to do with her arrangement with Jake. She doesn't 'fall-in-love' with him until the end and then when she tells him of the ranch (his dream/her nightmare) she is the villain and he was lied to?? I strongly disagree with the conclusion and even became angry with the one-sided situation for which only Jakes feelings were considered. I have really enjoyed Tracie Peterson's books and story lines. (17 Tracie Peterson books are in my library) This one didn't fit the quality of the other books I have read of hers.

You Can’t Live in the Past

The story was fast moving and full of suspense. The characters were believable. It ended in my mind with the question as to what would come next.

More than I thought

I enjoy stories about marriage of convenience so when I came across this book I was eager to listen to it. This book had a bit of everything in it - drama, mystery, romance and Christian living. Marty rediscovers her faith by taking a chance of hiring a girl who has no qualifications for the job...

I also thought the narrator was very pleasant to listen to and did a good job- narrators can make or a break an audiobook.

Great story!

This is a unique historical Christian story, set right before the 1800s depression. Lots of interesting settings in the city opulence. Love this narrator, too!!

Did I miss the plot?

The only thing enjoyable about this book was the narration, I kept waiting for the moment Jake thinks he will be blamed for the banks missing money to see what happened but it never came- I must have missed that bit?? Can't be bothered to see what happens in the next book! Which is disappointing as I really enjoy the narrator.