"A Bride of Convenience" by Jody Hedlund--Bride Ships, book 3

Upon discovering an abandoned baby, Pastor Abe Merivale joins efforts with Zoe Hart, one of the newly arrived bride-ship women, to care for the infant. With mounting pressure to find the baby a home, Abe offers his hand as Zoe's groom. But after a hasty wedding, they soon realize their marriage of convenience is not so convenient after all.
A Bride of Convenience is a fast, entertaining read, and it's one more example proving why marriage of convenience stories are so popular. Early-days British Columbia was depicted beautifully (or rather, accurately--I wouldn't necessarily call mud beautiful on an everyday basis). Sadly, hypocrisy within the church was also depicted accurately, but I appreciated how Abe and and Zoe were able to be a good witness within an imperfect human institution.

What tended to pull me out of the story was the extremely public displays of affection; weddings and high school hallways are the only occasions I've ever seen the like. It's a romance--kissing is expected. But they don't try to seek privacy for all their kissing--neither Abe and Zoe, nor Pete and Arabella. They just make out regardless of whoever or however many are watching. I'd have died of mortification ten times over. But it is uplifting to watch them develop friendship and love after their hasty marriage, and I really like what their ministry becomes in the end.

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

The Bride Ships
1. The Reluctant Bride
2. The Runaway Bride
3. A Bride of Convenience
4. Almost a Bride