Just Married by Debbie Macomber, read by Nicole Wood. This story felt rushed in their connections to each other. Definitely all about the physical draw. Two sets of couples Zane and Lesley, Carl and Candy coming together. Wasn’t my favorite of her books for sure. This is an older released book. I definitely am a fan of her newer work. Thank you to #NetGalley

I am an avid Debbie Macomber fan. I listened to the audiobook of Just Married narrated by Nicole Wood.
I just could not connect with the characters. They had no depth to them for me to really want to get vested in what happens with them.
The narrator was flat and did not give me anything to grasp on to the characters.
Thank you NetGalley, Debbie Macomber and Harlequin Audio for the audiobook of Just Married. This is my personal honest review.

The story of friends and friendship that have the usual HEA by this author. Zane a mercenary on the mend realizes that the next mission will be his last. He wishes for a child to leave his legacy to. Renovating his family home he meets Leslie who feels the time is ticking away and she desperately wants a baby. When the two feel the sparks and realizes their want for a baby. Zane next logical step is to propose a marriage of convenience.
Carl lives in the huge house that Zane owns, friends and fellow mercenaries his last wish is to settle down. Life is too short and he is determined to live it to the fullest. Of course Candy at the local feed store is thorn in his side, but as the saying goes opposite do attract. And a one night stand isn’t enough but was enough to find Candy pregnant.
Sweet stories with the predictable storyline. The narrative was good, I only wished that there be a pause between chapters and maybe state Candy pause or Leslie. Sometimes it ran together and I thought it was the wrong character. Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own. #JustMarried

I felt this was a very simple romance. The characters were not very well developed, but likeable. The plot was obvious the whole way throughout the book; there were no surprises, very easy to predict. I did not like the narrator very much. Consequently, I wouldn't really recommend this as there are many better reads out there.

I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading this book because it turns out it is a sequel to one of my favorite Debbie Macomber books. The book was a typical silhouette special edition romance. I also liked the. “Subplot” of candy and Clive. I think those were the names. I can’t remember. I think that could’ve been a book by itself. I think some people would have a problem with the macho attitude of some of the characters. I think it was just the norm of when the book was originally published in paperback. I think this book is good. However, the previous book in the series is one of my favorite so it had a lot to live up to.. It didn’t quite meet it. The book was fine, but I like the first one better.

Let me preface this by saying, I usually love Debbie Macomber’s stories. I did not connect with this book or these characters. I did not realize there was a story that preceded this one, so it may have helped with the understanding of the character and overarching story. The book intertwined two love stories, Zane and Leslie and Carl and Candy. It seemed to tell the story of each of the couple with the equal focus. I was thrown by the description of wholesome as that is what I was expecting and that is not what I found this to be. I felt the character development was rushed, even lacking, and there was an unnecessary focus on their physical need for one another. All four of the main characters were whiny and emotional, making it difficult to enjoy their interactions. I also felt like the narrator heightened these painful interactions and emotional outbursts, so it was difficult to separate the disagreeable dialogue from the narrator’s representation of these interactions. This does not close me off to Debbie’s books, I just realized that this series is not for me.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This is a re-release of a book Debbie wrote almost 30 years. It was cute and short but I didn't love it maybe because of how kong ago it was written.

Lesley is an architect. She was hired to update Zane's house. Even though he was disfigured, she was attracted to him and he felt the same. She wanted a child. He wanted an heir. He kept secrets - serious secrets from her. And they decided to go into a marriage of convenience. But she wanted more.

Candy runs the feed store, formerly managed by her father. It's a well run business and she doesn't need a man, but she wouldn't mind having one. Carl is attracted to her, but he wants only a casual, sexual relationship with her. Although they had one sexual event together, Candy says no more without a ring on her finger. Carl is more than dense and stubborn. The guys in this book have attitudes that certainly don't make me swoon over them. Some women might be OK with them.

How the two couples eventually work out their relationships is the point of the story. The sex is behind closed doors. The book can be ready by almost any reader.

I listened to the audio version of the book. The narrator was very good.

***Four Stars***

It's been so long since I've read a Debbie Macomber but I don't remember them being like this. Maybe because I mostly read smuttier books now. I don't know. Maybe I feel differently about Harlequin novels now. Who knows.

Anyway, this book follows two couples and I enjoyed their stories. The book is quick paced and things just keep moving along. Sometimes I stumbled on which couple we were with for a second. In the end there was a HEA and I have no real complaints.

Zane Ackerman wants an heir to leave his legacy to. He’s a former mercenary, but he has one last mission that may well be his last, so he must get his affairs in order.

He hires local architect Lesley Walker to do the drawings for the renovations he would like to do to his home. Lesley also wants a baby, a family…
Zane suggests that they get married so they’ll both get what they want; however, Lesley doesn’t know the full story.

I liked the story, but the idea of meeting and getting married within a few weeks just isn’t realistic even close to thirty years ago when it was originally published.

I enjoyed the narrator and would listen to other books narrated by Nicole Wood.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for allowing me to listen to an ALC of this novel. #NetGalley #JustMarried

This audiobook contains two love stories that are intertwined.
One belonging to former mercenary soldier Zane Ackerman and architect Lesley Walker. Zane is a loner with a past and no goals of finding love or getting married. But when Lesley arrives at the mansion to assist with the restorations, he is smitten by her . But their path to happiness is abruptly stopped , leaving one heartbroken.
The other couple are secondary characters. Carl is a former military friend of Zane and Candy is the feed store owner. While one is adverse to relationships and getting married, the other is wanting all of it. Will Carl be able to open his heart and realize that Candy is the one for him?
All, in all, this was an entertaining audiobook. That said, this listener felt that she would have benefited from having read/listened to the previous story, since the main characters in this one, were introduced and had a story of their own on that previous story.
I was entrusted a copy of this audiobook by Netgalley and Harlequin Audio.The opinions expressed are solely my own.

This was an enjoyable easy to listen to romance by Debbie Macomber. The characters are well developed and the story has lots of ups and downs with the inevitable HEA that we all look for in romance books. It was a quick listen and the narrator did a great job.

This was a quick and fun romance. I listened to it on audiobook and had difficulty with the dual points of view. I think I would have had a different experience reading the physical copy since I typically love Debbie Macomber's books.

A hopeful marriage of convenience romance.

Former mercenary Zane Ackerman has hopes of a family with a child as his legacy. But fulfilling an upcoming mission may end everything that he desires.

Architect Lesley Walker also has a desire for a family and a baby of her own.

So when Zane suggests a marriage of convenience that will give them both what they want she agrees. But this marriage of convenience grows to mean so much more.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This book was so rushed that it felt uncomfortable. The main characters just met, and they were in love by what felt like chapter three. It just wasn't for me.

This heartwarming romance by Debbie Macomber combines passion, personal growth, and a touch of suspense to deliver a memorable love story. After a mission gone wrong, Zane returns to his hometown to reclaim his family’s ancestral home. Determined to restore the house to its former glory, he enlists the help of Lesley, an architect captivated by the house’s beauty and potential. But their shared passion for the house quickly turns into something much deeper.

Zane and Lesley’s connection is undeniable, and their mutual desire for family brings them together in a marriage of convenience. Zane wants an heir, and Lesley longs for a child of her own. But their budding relationship is tested when Zane keeps a dangerous secret—another mission he must complete, one that might mean he won’t come back.

The romance between Zane and Lesley is heartfelt and filled with passionate, emotional moments. Both characters are strong and well-drawn, and their journey toward love is both compelling and satisfying. Adding to the story is a delightful secondary romance between Zane’s best friend and a local store owner, which is nearly as engaging as the main love story. Of course, both couples ultimately get their well-earned

Who doesn’t love a Debbie Macomber and her ability to create realistic, relatable characters and emotional, sensual storylines is undeniable. This was a perfect pick for romance lovers!

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC for this audiobook. The narration was great.

In the past, I read a great deal of Debbie Macomber's books and I have always loved the way she develops her characters and their relationships. She is a master story teller in my opinion. This story stumbled me a little bit because their are two romances that are discussed and that take on lives of their own. Both new relationships where one man wanted marriage and a baby and another man who says that he doesn't but you can tell he does. Macomber's descriptions on their story drew me in and I could not wait to finish.. I am happy I was able to listen to this novel.

Zane is a “gun for hire” and wants to avenge his friends death but he feels he has no legacy. Zane has been disfigured by the blast that took his friends. After purchasing his grandfather’s house where he spent the happiest times of his childhood, he wants to restore it. Enter Lesley, an architect, who Zane feels an immediate attraction. Lesley desperately wants a child and Zane a legacy. Zane keeps his plan to kill a terrorist a secret, but how will it affect his union and possibly his unborn child? Another arc contains Carl who is clueless about relationships and many of his adventures help to lighten the heaviness of the main plot.