About the Book
Book: Practically Married
Author: Karin Beery
Genre: General Market, clean fiction, women’s fiction, contemporary romance
Release Date: October 22, 2019
She moved to a new town to marry her fiancé. Instead, she’s burying him.
Ashley Johnson moved to northern Michigan to finally meet her fiancé face-to-face, but she arrived in time to attend his funeral. With no home back in Ohio, she decides to stay in what would have been their house, except his cousin Russ lives there too, and Russ has never heard of Ashley. To complicate matters, her fiancé accidentally willed her the family farm house. Eager to please everyone and desperate to disappoint no one, she proposes a marriage of convenience that could solve her and Russ’ problems, if they can get past her aunt, his sisters, and an ex-girlfriend.
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My Thoughts:
This book was the epitome of bittersweet. Bitter, because of the tragedy that lead the main characters together, as well as the losses they suffered in their respective pasts. Sweet,
because they kept on living, holding fast to their families, and finding a new kind of support in each other.
The hero is dealing with the loss of his best friend and cousin… who has accidentally made him homeless. And the heroine put her whole future on the life of a dead man who made
her his secret. It was hilarious to watch the two try to figure each other and everything out that put them legally at odds, even when their mutual attraction and special bond pulled them closer together.
Their decisions made sense, though I couldn’t blame his sisters’ reactions either… I especially emphasized with the heroine, though, with her struggles with sleepwalking
and fear of snow. Ew, snow… But, oh, the ending- if only it didn’t come so soon.
I received a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
Reviewed by Jes
About the Author
Karin Beery grew up in a rural Michigan town where she wrote her first novel in high school. Today, she writes contemporary stories with a healthy dose of romance. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s reading, editing, or teaching it. In her free time, she enjoys being at home with her husband and fur babies watching University of Michigan football and action-adventure movies.
More from Karin
Why would two contemporary American’s agree to a marriage of convenience?
That’s what I asked myself when I sat down to write Practically Married. I love reading historical books about mail order brides and other arranged marriages, but I wanted to see if I could make that historical theme more modern (and still be believable).
That’s how Ashley and Russ came to be, and—after several revisions—I think I did it! It takes two to get married, but this is really Ashley’s story—it’s her past that inspires her future, and it’s up to her to decide where that inspiration with lead her.
The story couldn’t just be about their relationship, though. I’ve always thought it would be fun to have a big brother, so I gave Russ little sisters. And nieces and nephews. And a pie-baking mom who doesn’t like his beard (which may have been inspired my mother-in-law, who tried desperately to get my husband to shave his beard before our wedding). I also threw in some real buildings and places in northern Michigan (even though Boyne Falls is fictional). And it’s possible that some of my character names came directly from friends and other local inspirations. Practically Married isn’t only set in northern Michigan, it’s inspired by it.
Blog Stops
Among the Reads, October 22
Blogging With Carol, October 22
Reflections From My Bookshelves, October 23
Where Crisis & Christ Collide, October 23
Texas Book-aholic, October 24
CarpeDiem, October 24
Maureen’s Musings, October 24
Emily Yager, October 25
Rebecca Tews, October 25
Older & Smarter?, October 26
For Him and My Family, October 26
janicesbookreviews, October 27
Quiet Quilter, October 27
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, October 27
Cultivating Us, October 28
April Hayman, Author , October 28
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 29
SusanLovesBooks, October 29
Through the Fire Blogs, October 30
Vicky Sluiter, October 30
A Reader’s Brain, October 31
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, October 31
Moments, November 1
Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections, November 1
EmpowerMoms, November 2
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, November 2
Inklings and notions , November 3
Remembrancy, November 3
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 3
Godly Book Reviews, November 4
Pause for Tales, November 4
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Karin is giving away the grand prize of a copy of her book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
I'm so glad you liked it! And I'm considering an epilogue because so many people have asked, "Then what??"
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