I enjoy Debbie Macomber's books and although these two novellas were published earlier, I had never read either one of them. I enjoyed them both, short and sweet.

Marriage Wanted Savannah Charles is a wedding planner. Dash Davenport is a divorce lawyer, and Savannah is planning a small wedding for his sister. He does not want her to get married, but agrees to pay for her wedding, of course that means that he and Savannah will be spending time together. Dash is trying to get a partnership at the law firm he works at, but the partners want to see him settled, so, he and Savannah pretend to be a couple. Savannah has her own issues with marriage. She was in an accident when she was little and has an injury to her leg that still causes issues and pain. She is sure that no one would want to be saddled with her. The fake dating trope is one of my favourites and I enjoyed seeing them fall for one another. When he asks her to marry him, a marriage of convenience, they must reconcile their feelings to decide it they will go ahead with it. A sweet, predictable story that was an easy and enjoyable read.

First Comes Marriage I really enjoyed this story. Janine Hartman was raised by her grandparents after the death of her parents. Now, just her and her grandfather, they live a comfortable life, with him owning a well off business. He recently became partners with Zach Thomas, but that is not the only merger he is looking for. Being raised in Eastern Europe, marriages were arranged, and he has an arranged marriage in mind for Zach and Janine. This story was a hoot. Neither Janine or Zach wants to get married and they are like oil and water when they meet, but Gramps was sure they were perfect for each other. At times, their mercurial interactions were a bit too much, but for the most part, I found them funny. They were both stubborn, independent, careful characters, but they respected one another. I find that when they rubbed each other the wrong way, it was only because they had feelings for the other, but didn't want to admit it. There were a few little twists along the way that helped them finally see that they did have feelings for each other, a bit of romance and a very stubborn gramps to "help them along" all added up to a romance at the end. Of the two, this was the one I preferred, although I liked them both.

In Under the Summer Sky, Debbie Macomber weaves two delightful, heartwarming tales of unexpected love and second chances. The book features two intertwined stories that explore the complexities of marriage, trust, and the surprising ways love can sneak up on you.

In "Marriage Wanted," Savannah Charles, a wedding expert, is so focused on helping others achieve marital bliss that she hasn’t considered her own happiness. Enter Dash Davenport, a skeptical divorce attorney who proposes a marriage of convenience. What starts as a practical arrangement soon evolves into a deeper, unexpected connection as Savannah and Dash discover a passion they never anticipated.

The second story, "First Comes Marriage," follows Zach Thomas and Janine Hartman, who are forced into an arranged marriage by their meddling grandfather. While both are initially resistant to the idea, their growing chemistry challenges their initial resistance, and they begin to question whether love can blossom from the most unlikely of circumstances.

Macomber’s signature warmth and charm shine through in these stories, filled with relatable characters and the perfect balance of humor, tension, and romance. Under the Summer Sky is an enchanting read for fans of contemporary romance, delivering a message that love has a funny way of finding you when you least expect it. Whether through a marriage of convenience or a forced pairing, the book reminds readers that sometimes the most unexpected unions are the ones that last.

This is another good book. There are two stories in this book. Both stories have the two main characters are married for a purpose. During the marriage both main characters fall in love. There is an instant attraction.

This book took me longer to read than most of hers. I didn't realize at first that it was two short stories, so I was disappointed when the story ended (that is my own lack of prep). They were still both nice easy reads.

Debbie Macomber is one of my favorite authors. Good old fashioned love stories with no sex and violence. This book has two shorter stories. Marriage Wanted and First comes Marriage.
Marriage Wanted
Weddings were Savannah Charles’s business and she was an expert on marital bliss, but she’d given little thought to her own day of joy. Until divorce attorney Dash Davenport offered a proposal that would benefit them both. Dash claimed he’d never be convinced “I do” could last forever. So when he asked Savannah Charles to marry him, it was out of mutual necessity—not love. Yet he never expected to marry Savannah—the most passionate woman he’d ever tried not to love…
First Comes Marriage
When Zach Thomas merged his business with the Hartman family firm, that was the only Hartman-Thomas merger he wanted. But Janine Hartman’s grandfather had other ideas—ones belonging to a different place, a different time, when marriages were arranged by families. “It would be a perfect match,” he insisted. “You two suit each other.” Zach and Janine didn’t agree. In fact, they agreed on only one thing—that Gramps was a stubborn, meddling old man. But…what if he was right?

Under the Southern Sky is a book with two of the author's older short stories. I don't usually like her older books and these two were just ok. Both books are romances with little depth to the plots. The characters were not developed and were all difficult to like or care about.

Marriage Wanted
Savannah owns a bridal salon and believes in happily ever after for her clients but knows that no one will want to marry her due to her disability. Along comes Dash, a divorce attorney who doesn't believe in marriage at all. They disagree over their different views and when he asks Savannah to marry him it is to keep his job and not because he loves her.

First Comes Marriage
Zach merged his business with the Hartman family business. When he first meets the granddaughter of the family, he doesn't think much of Janine. Her grandfather wants to arrange a marriage between them - after all it worked in the old country! They don't agree with her grandfather and fight to cancel his plans. But will her grandfather have the best idea?

Two sweet romances. One is a marriage of convenience, and the other is an arranged marriage. Savannah thinks she will never find someone who will want to marry her and have a family. She thinks she is defective because of an accident she had as a child. Her parents are afraid to leave her to go traveling and she is desperate for them be able to go and leave her. Nash is looking at becoming a partner in his law firm, but the partners think he needs to be married. It seemed best for both of them to have a marriage of convenience. Can it turn into a real marriage?
Janine's grandfather is getting up there in years and has plans to retire. He is giving control of his company to Zach, and he also wants Janine to marry Zach. Janine and Zach are not particularly happy about an arranged marriage, but her grandfather doesn't see anything wrong with that. After being thrown together a few times, they decide to give it a try. Can they find a lasting happiness together and make her grandfather happy too?

Stories were nice ...it was an okay read. They were mostly slow read.
Not my most fav book of Debbie Macomber

It isn’t summer until I have read a new Debbie Macomber book. She writes such beautiful romance stories, and this one didn’t disappoint. I loved the characters, but the setting was definitely my favorite!

First thing I will mention about Under the Summer Sky by Debbie Macomber is that this is not one singular story but two novella length romance stories which are roughly the same length and combined into the one book. Both stories in Under the Summer Sky have different couples on their way to marriage which ties them together while being very different plots.

First we have Marriage Wanted where we meet Savannah Charles who makes a living out of helping others find their way to the alter. Savannah has a new client excited for her wedding but finds the client’s brother, Dash Davenport, is completely against the wedding so Savannah does everything she can to show Dash that marriage is as magical as she believes it to be.

Next in First Comes Marriage Janine Hartman is thrown for a loop when her grandfather introduces her to Zach Thomas. Zach has been preparing to merge his business with Janine’s grandfather’s but her grandfather has his eye on a different merger and suggests to the couple that they marry. Well, Janine of course is completely against an arranged marriage even if it worked for her grandfather back in the day but the more time she spends with Zach planning against her grandfather the closer they become.

Debbie Macomber is an author I’ve read many times before so I will admit to picking this one up without paying attention it being more than one story. Being split into two I was left with my usual novella feel of wanting more to each to get to know the characters better when the story ends so quickly. Pushing that to the side though I’d say I enjoyed Marriage Wanted a bit more than First Comes Marriage with I think the arranged marriage idea just making feel a bit dated or something. Overall I’d give both combined stories three and a half stars having enjoyed them but preferring the authors longer full length novels.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Under the Summer Sky is a charming collection of two short novels that serve up a delightful mix of wholesome women's fiction and romance. Both stories are imbued with warmth and a touch of humor, making them perfect for readers who enjoy heartwarming tales with a splash of romantic tension.

"Marriage Wanted"

In Marriage Wanted, the battle of wills between the protagonists drives the narrative. This story explores the classic "opposites attract" trope, pitting two very different characters against each other in a clash of personalities and desires. Their interactions are engaging and filled with playful banter, keeping readers invested in the ongoing struggle to see who will give in first. The resolution is satisfying, as the characters' journey to understanding and compromise is both realistic and rewarding. The eventual union of the couple feels earned, providing a happy and fulfilling conclusion that will leave readers with a smile.

"First Comes Marriage"

The second novel, First Comes Marriage, continues the theme of unexpected pairings with a fresh twist. Here, two individuals who seem worlds apart are brought together by the well-meaning machinations of a meddling uncle. The story excels in building tension and anticipation as the characters navigate their differences and discover common ground. The push and pull between them is handled with skill, creating a compelling dynamic that propels the narrative forward. The gradual realization that their union might be more beneficial than initially thought adds depth and warmth to their relationship, culminating in a satisfying and heartwarming resolution.

Overall, Under the Summer Sky offers a delightful escape into a world where love conquers differences and opposites attract. The novels provide a perfect blend of romance, humor, and emotional depth, making them a wonderful choice for readers seeking light, yet engaging, women's fiction.

Debbie Macomber has another great summer read with Under the Summer Sky and fans will not be disappointed. Bravo Debbie and look forward to Christmas Duet in the fall. Bravo Debbie to your Canadian book reading fan.🙋‍♀️🇨🇦🙏❤️📚💐👏🙌

Two wonderful Debbie Macomber stories in one book! We love an aloof man like Dash who can convince a woman like Savannah that she is worthy of love. I also enjoyed the story of Zach and Janine, brought to together against their will (or so they thought) by her meddling grandfather!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was a wonderful summer book!

This was actually my very first book by this author, and I really liked it! Now I can’t wait to go back and read more from her!

Typical sweet Debbie Macomber book, but a bit predictable. It was sweet and I loved the brother/sister relationship. Fans of Debbie Macomber will love it.

When I chose this book I didn’t realize that it is two novellas combined in one book. The stories themselves were basically good, but, as is the case with most novellas, they were lacking details. I don’t really care for novellas because they seem disjointed and feel unfinished. I normally love Debbie Macomber books, so I won’t let my dislike of novellas stop me from reading more of her books in the future.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Under the Summer Sky is the perfect summer quick read the book has 2 stories both about marriages that begin in an unconventional way.

Marriage Wanted and First Comes Marriage. I found both to be enjoyable reads.
Marriage Wanted involves a wedding planner and a brother of a client who is not in favor of marriage.
Read this one to see if his attitude changes by the end of the story.
First Comes Marriage is a twist on an arranged marriage. Neither person involves is interested. Read this one to see if that changes.
Both stories were fun, quick reads.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advance ARC.

I loved these stories , marriage is more than just a name on paper , though these characters seem to want that, their hearts have other ideas . As the characters get to know each other , their mindsets on marriage just may change , This author always writes from her heart!

Two heartwarming stories revolving around marriage.
Both stories are heartfelt and just pull you in.
The humorous aspect in Debbie Macomber books is always a plus to me. She writes such entertaining and fun books.
Perfect summer reading!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. Al opinions expressed are my own.