Married for Christmas

Willow Park, Book 1

By: Noelle Adams

Narrated by: Jane Cramer

After years of dreaming, Jessica is finally getting married, but the marriage isn't exactly what she thought.

Daniel is her best friend, and she's known him all her life, but he's never gotten over losing his wife two years ago. His dream is to become the pastor of the church in their hometown, but the small-town congregation keeps balking over calling an unmarried minister. Since Daniel needs a wife and Jessica wants a husband and family, she proposes an arrangement that benefits both of them.

They can get married. They can build a life together. They can celebrate Christmas as a couple. It's fine that he doesn't love her. And it's fine that she's not exactly suited to be a small-town pastor's wife. And it's fine that she's more attracted to her sexy, brooding husband every day.

Jessica can be practical about this marriage. She knows what she's getting into, after all.

©2013 Noelle Adams (P)2025 Noelle Adams

Missing What You Have Lost

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Yes, but must buy all 3 short stories as they make a complete picture. Buy on Sale if you are a big fan like I am of reader, Ms Dawe.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)
The ending is not what’s important to know in this trilogy!
This had a good premise, and in full length, the author could have developed the story for better appeal. Since it was a short story, only our hero had redeeming qualities for me.
This read like an submission outline to an editor.

Which character – as performed by Angela Dawe – was your favorite?
Our hero Silas, yum. Ms Dawe can interpret authors’ work very well, but the content still needs to be uplifting for me to enjoy the story.

Any additional comments?
All 3 short stories have a happy ever ending and a soul searching mission on the part of the heroines. Their self doubt personalities just do not appel to me. If you like a heroine who fails the first time to appreciate her surroundings and lifestyle, but learns what is lost is not always gone forever, then these 3 short stories are for you.

4.5 stars. Realistic people with a strong love.

This is the third book in a series of short stories, but it can be read as a stand-alone. I listened to it second. This is the type of series that you can shuffle-listen to and you won’t get lost.

Cassandra and Silas fell in love when they were young - during high school. They married young but separated 3 years ago. Cassandra needs a divorce to move on with her life. Silas has been unwilling to entertain the idea of divorce. It’s no secret to either of them that there is still love between them, so why can’t they be together?

I loved that Silas was not a macho, alpha, domineering man. He was a quiet person not overly comfortable in a group of people, but he was loyal and steadfast with his love. He wanted to give Cassandra what she needed. He was reminiscent of realistic men. Cassandra was a lovely person, and I love how she reflected on the relationship to discover the cause of their problems. Very often we have dreams and expectations in our youth that age and maturity help us to adapt and modify.

This is only a 2.5 hour story, but Cassandra and Silas had me teary one moment, and happy the next when they sorted through their issues. They felt real, and I enjoyed their story.

Narrator Angela Dawe was marvellous yet again. I cannot say enough how wonderful she can make a story. However, in this case, she had excellent material to work with.

I highly recommend this story, and I especially recommend the Audible version for the exceptional narration.

Heartfelt Reconciliation Story

I liked the hero/heroine of the story. A man who who look at home on Duck Dynasty, Silas is a taciturn, reclusive metal work and stained glass artist. His estranged wife, Cassandra, is a painter whose life and marriage did not live up to her youthful dreams. Day by day, step by step the couple changes, comes to terms with issues that had earlier torn their marriage apart.

absolutely beautiful!!

best one yet from the Eden Manor books. Recommend it to anyone and everyone. The narrator is fantastic and the story is so realistic in many ways. Loved it

Cute and short

Cute shirt book. Characters are nice. Conflict is.minimal. Good listen in the car. Fairly clean and little foul language