Review: Sweet and caring
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 3, 2013
Very enjoyable and touching story of a marriage of convenience that became more. I actually felt the story was geared more about Ben Tanner than Annie Brand. Ben is the responsible mainstay of his family running the Tanner ranch and handling the investments to continue the priviledged life that his mother and younger brother expect. He leads a lonely life without expecting any thing to change. He has no desire to marry the woman his mother has decided she wants as her daughter-in-law.Annie Brand is the daughter of the local town wastrel. She is used to being judged and shunned by locals who expect the worst of her. But Annie has a plan to leave the town of Blue Spruce and make a life for herself where she wouldn't be judged by her name. Working at a local bar and saving as much money as she could would help her meet her goal. Meeting Brad Tanner was not in her plans but he was patient and dated her for six months without giving her a hassle by expecting more from her. Annie felt they had a chance at a real relationship but Brad changed all that by forcing himself on her and as a result she became pregnant. Her plans hadn't changed just become harder to complete.When Ben hears about Annie after his mother announces that she will have a "another bastard grandchild" he decides to see what he can do to help. This is not the first time that Brad has gotten a woman pregnant and refused to help her. Ben has regrets about the first woman who came forward about her relationship with Brad. Meeting Annie he realizes that she is not what her reputation suggests. She's honest and doesn't want or expect charity from anyone. Ben insists that they talk and he also insists that he wants to be a part of the childs life. To that end he proposes that he and Annie marry so that the child will have the Tanner name. After the child is born Annie can divorce him and leave Blue Spruce as long as he can visit the child and be a part of his/her life. Annie agrees to his offer when she realizes that she will never have enough to raise the child as she wants to.The real subject of this story is the hate they face from his mother just because Ben didn't do what she wanted. I did feel that the situation was not believable although there are people like her. I did enjoy the story and of course it was easy to predict what would happen. I did really like the characters, Annie and Ben didn't have all the drama that some stories like this have. They were quiet people who respected each other and were honest with each other, I liked that aspect of the story. This is a winner.