One of my very favorite tropes is the marriage of convenience love story. It’s a common one in romance, perhaps more so in historicals–we have 85 books tagged as such here and I’m sure we’ve missed a bunch. My favorites, off the top of my head, are Ravishing the Heiress and (loosely) Dukes are Forever. (I cannot believe the first isn’t a DIK.)
What are your favorite MOC romances?
Also, as I was thinking about this, I wondered how ChatGPT would define the term. But I wasn’t clear enough in my first question. The AI thought I was asking for it to WRITE a MOC story. So it did. I share it here. It’s… something.
In a world where love and convenience collide, welcome to the wacky universe of the “Marriage of Convenience” trope! It’s like ordering a pizza for dinner but ending up with a lifetime of commitment instead. Brace yourself for a rollercoaster ride of unexpected hilarity as two people decide to tie the knot without any emotional entanglements.
Meet our protagonists, Alice and Bob, two strangers thrown together by a series of bizarre circumstances. Alice, a free-spirited artist, needs a green card to stay in the country, while Bob, a workaholic accountant, desperately wants to inherit his eccentric aunt’s fortune. Fate, with its twisted sense of humor, introduces them at a speed-dating event for the romantically challenged.
They start off as the ultimate odd couple. Alice’s idea of a romantic gesture is painting portraits of Bob snoring during their sleepless nights, while Bob can’t comprehend why anyone would need more than one color in their life. Their wedding ceremony becomes a theatrical spectacle, with Alice’s paintings as decorations and Bob calculating the cost of each flower petal.
From the moment they exchange vows, their lives become a never-ending sitcom episode. Alice fills the house with her whimsical art installations, which Bob insists on labeling and categorizing like an overzealous librarian. Every morning begins with an absurd routine where Alice attempts to inject some creativity into Bob’s accounting spreadsheets, leading to equations like “1 + 1 = an existential crisis.”
As the days pass, they find themselves trapped in comical situations. Picture Bob trying to impress Alice by baking a cake from scratch, only to end up summoning the fire department. Meanwhile, Alice attempts to teach Bob the meaning of spontaneity by introducing him to interpretive dance classes, causing him to move with all the grace of a wounded walrus.
Of course, no marriage of convenience is complete without the meddling of well-meaning friends and nosy neighbors. They find themselves tangled in a web of misunderstandings, as their relationship is misconstrued by the local gossip mill. Soon, the couple becomes the talk of the town, with rumors ranging from secret spy missions to an underground art heist.
But amidst the chaos, something unexpected begins to blossom—a genuine friendship. Through their shared misadventures, Alice and Bob discover that even though they might have gotten married for all the wrong reasons, they have inadvertently found a partner in crime, an ally against the absurdity of life.
In the end, the marriage of convenience becomes a story of love that sneaks in through the back door, triumphing over logic and absurdity. Alice and Bob realize that while their union may have started as a practical arrangement, it has transformed into something truly special—a reminder that sometimes, love can blossom even in the most unexpected and hilarious ways.
So, fasten your seatbelts and get ready for a ride filled with laughter, mishaps, and a love story that no one saw coming. In the world of “Marriage of Convenience,” the only thing more unpredictable than the plot twists is the unpredictable journey to finding true love in the most ludicrous of circumstances.
Mary Balogh, The Temporary Wife.
My all time favourite!
What a great topic! Love stories blooming from a marriage-of-convenience setting can be wonderful and truly rewarding. When done well, I very much enjoy the character development, the journey of self-discovery, the way the main characters’ feelings evolve. Having said that, I also think this trope is not always easy to get right.
Personally, I’d add “First Comes Marriage” by Mary Balogh to the list. And if it didn’t have what (to me at least) seems like a very OTT element towards the end, I’d also include “Only Beloved” by Mary Balogh.
I really enjoyed Bec Mcmaster’s “Dukes are Forever” too.
While I absolutely love Sherry Thomas’ writing style and enjoy the level of angst in her novels, I’m afraid “Ravishing the Heiress” didn’t work for me at all. I must confess that story was a bit problematic for me, perhaps because I perceived it as very unbalanced (both in terms of pacing and, particularly, in view of the relationship between the two protagonists). However, that’s just my opinion, of course 🙂
I think I enjoyed the next book in the series, “Tempting the Bride”, much more. I suppose the latter can also qualify for the marriage of convenience trope, even though the story, in addition, relies heavily on another plot devices/trope that has been perhaps… overused in Romancelandia 🙂
Thanks for the discussion!
Fake relationships/marriage of convenience are favorite tropes for me if well done. Here are few of my favorite MOC books:
A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer
A Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer
Friday’s Child by Georgette Heyer
The Mesalliance by Stella Riley
The Marigold Chain by Stella Riley
Marrying the Royal Marine by Carla Kelly
Morning Glory by LaVryle Spencer
An Interesting take on a MOC is Until the World Stops by L.A. Witt. It’s a M/M romance of two men who don’t really care for each other decide a marriage of convenience is what they need (for reasons) but are then “trapped” together by the pandemic. then they’re forced to actually get to know each other. It deals quite realisticly with the anxiety and emotions of the early pandemic as well as being a good romance.
It’s interesting that, other than the Witt, all your MOC books were published decades ago. So are the Baloghs mentioned below.
I wonder if, as the strictures around traditional marriage are fading in many Western cultures, if those stories are harder to do well.
I think MoC is much harder to pull off in contemps – apart from Harlequin Presents, you don’t see them all that often!
I’ve picked a few that are newer than the Heyers and Baloghs – some of mine might skirt the “forced marriage” trope as well. Now I come to think about it though, the trope does seem to be used less than perhaps it was.
I see it in a lot of mob romances…..
I forgot Ten Things I Hate About the Duke, which is more recent, but not contemporary.
Instead of the actual MOC trope more contemporary stories tend to have Fake Relationships. On my GR account I lump them on the same shelf. Some I’ve enjoyed:
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall (M/M)
The Plus One Pact by Portia McIntosh (M/F).
Best Man by Lily Morton (M/M)
A Rake of His Own by A.J. Lancaster (M/M)
To your list, I will add Lisa Kleypas Devil in Winter
Yes – see, I knew I’d forgotten some biggies! (added now, thanks!)
I would describe the chat quote as an outline or proposal or summary or review or blurb for a story rather than a story.
That’s a very interesting observation. It does read like a blurb, doesn’t it?
Dabney, would it be possible to post your initial ChatGPT request/question?
I’d be interested to see the phrasing.
“write a humorous sum up of the trope marriage of convenience”
Love this troupe as well. I recommend The Admiral’s Penniless Bride by Carla Kelly,Marriage of Inconvenience by Cheryl Bolen,The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews, A Heart Caught Unaware by Audra Wells (in KU), A Notorious Vow by Joanne Shupe,The Mistress of Tall Acre by Frantz (most of her backlist is in KU),all of Carolyn Davidson backlist, Matthew by Emma Lange (spicy) and many of Anne Gracie’s backlist Jeb’s Wife by Patrica Johns,Courting His Amish Wife by Emma Miller,Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robison, and Wolf Creek Weddomg by Penny Richards and The Lost Lieutenant by Erica Vetsch
It’s a favourite trope of mine, too, and I agree Ravishing the Heiress rates a DIK, although it has pacing problems near the end (i.e, it’s too rushed). The McMaster would also be on my list.
I know I’ve read/reviewed a lot of MoC historicals – some of my favourites (not in any particular order):
Mia Vincy – A Wicked Kind of Husband
Mary Balogh – A Christmas Promise, The Notorious Rake, The Ideal Wife
Stella Riley – The Marigold Chain – an all time favourite! – also, The Mésalliance
Anne Gracie – Marry in Haste
Louise Allen – His Christmas Countess
Marguerite Kaye – Strangers at the Altar & The Inconvenient Elmswood Marriage
Martha Waters – To Marry and to Meddle
Caroline Linden – An Earl Like You
Amanda Weaver – A Duchess in Name
Elizabeth Rolls – His Convenient Marchioness
Candace Camp – A Perfect Gentleman & A Momentary Marriage
I have a bit of a soft sport for The Viscount Who Loved Me – it was the first JQ book I ever read – although maybe it’s more of the “forced marriage” trope than MoC because they aren’t married for most of the book.
I’d also agree with Carrie on Heyer’s Friday’s Child- which is a hoot – and A Civil Contract (I’m not as fond of A Convenient Marriage), and Kelly’s Marrying the Royal Marine is wonderful
It’s not a trope that lends itself well to contemporaries, but I liked Lyssa Kay Adams’ Isn’t it Bromantic – about a Russian hockey star and the woman he married so she could get out of the country. As Carrie Says, Until the World Stops makes the trope work fairly plausibly, and Layla Reyne’s recent Perfect Play series makes use of it, but they’re solid B grades rather than all-time-faves.
I’m sure I’ve forgotten some, but those are the ones that sprang most readily to mind.
ETA; *smacks forehead*! How could I have forgotten Devil in Winter???
Noelle Adams writes enjoyable contemporary MOCs. My favorites are Part-Time Husband and Married for Christmas (featuring a pastor).
One of my favorite tropes! One I read recently and really liked is Mimi Matthews’s The Matrimonial Advertisement. A contemporary option is Allison Ashley’s Would You Rather, in which two best (platonic) friends marry because one needs to get on the other’s health insurance.
Needing health insurance is part of the deal in Until the World stops. I can understand why it’s such a powerful motivation.
Many excellent choices already mentioned but here are three of my favorites:
My favorite Balogh in this trope: Slightly Married (first in the Slightly series), in which a military vet has promised a dying comrade in arms that he will take of the man’s sister.
Mary Jo Putney – The Bargain, in which a military vet is dying and thinks he can better a woman’s life by marrying her before he dies . . . except he doesn’t.
Maggie Osborne – Silver Lining, set in a mining camp in the American west.
And I’m surprised no one has mentioned Outlander . . .
I didn’t mention Outlander because I found it underwhelming! I did like The Bargain, though 🙂
I love the first Outlander book–I can’t believe I didn’t think of it. It gets lost in the vastness of the series, I guess.
I was totally coming here to say The Bargain. I love David and Jocelyn and their bargain that doesn’t go quite the way they expected. I think Mary Jo Putney gets kind of forgotten these days.
Mary Jo Putney, Betina Krahn, Laura Lee Guhrke, Madeline Hunter, Judith Ivory. . . All HR writers who get lost in the shuffle of bigger names, with decent backlists (If you can find them).
I’d add Liz Carlyle, Victoria Alexander, and Cathy Maxwell to that list too 😉
Most books by these authors are available as ebooks!
Joan Wolf wrote several. I remember enjoying American Duchess.
I forgot to mention a few I have enjoyed: My Darling Caroline By Adele Ashworth, More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer, The Marriage Bargain by Angel Moore, In Name Only by Janet Bieber, and Lord Blackwell’s Promise Ashtyn Newbold
I too really like the Ashworth.
More than Words Can Say is a lovely tale and I also love Witemeyer’s Short Straw Bride another marriage of a convenience story.
Dallas Schulze also wrote a Western/MoC romance titled Short Straw Bride.
This is by far my favorite trope. Two that haven’t been mentioned yet are Rose Lerner’s In For a Penny, and True Pretenses. They both feature likeable and sensible protagonists
Yes – they’re both excellent, too!
Lovely choices all around. Some of my favourites are Luck Be A Lady by Meredith Duran and The Mad Earl’s Bride by Loretta Chase
Both excellent choices!
I was going to include Flowers From The Storm but wasn’t sure if it qualified as a MoC story. Do you think it does?
Enough to count. I ADORE that book.
Just thinking about it puts a smile on my face. I’m in book heaven whenever I read it. It’s such a wonderfully good book; would that every romance was that good
SFR/FR
Prime Mating Agency series by Regine Abel
Radiance (Wraith Kings, #1) by Grace Draven
The Winter King (Weathermages of Mystral, #1) by C.L.Wilson
A Heart of Blood and Ashes (A Gathering of Dragons, #1) by Milla Vane
Winter’s Orbit (Winter’s Orbit #1) by Everina Maxwell
Iron and Magic (The Iron Covenant #1) by Ilona Andrews
The Bridge Kingdom (The Bridge Kingdom, #1) by Danielle L. Jensen
R/CR
Wildest Hearts by Jayne Ann Krentz
The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
Duncan’s Bride (Patterson-Cannon #1) by Linda Howard
HR
Seduction by Amanda Quick
Annie’s Song by Catherine Anderson
The Matrimonial Advertisement (Parish Orphans of Devon, #1) by Mimi Matthews
Luck Be a Lady (Rules for the Reckless #4) by Meredith Duran
A Marriage Made in Scandal (Rescued from Ruin, #8) by Elisa Braden
MR
Desire by Amanda Quick
The Prize by Julie Garwood
Enchanted (Medieval Series #3) by Elizabeth Lowell
This Is All I Ask (de Piaget, #6; de Piaget/MacLeod, #3) by Lynn Kurland
The Deed (Deed, #1) by Lynsay Sands
I love Luck Be A Lady.
Ooh good call on Radiance and Winter’s Orbit!! Had not thought about SF/Fantasy at all.
I really enjoyed Iron and Magic – I keep hoping the promised sequel (and rest of the trilogy) will materialise, but no sign so far 🙁 I liked Winter’s Orbit, but I had a few problems with the story/storytelling that put it in the mid-B range for me.
I love the MOC trope, and many of my favorites have already been mentioned. I’d like to add that Jo Beverley had several that fall under this heading: The Viscount Needs a Wife, Seduction in Silk, An Arranged Marriage, An Unwilling Bride.And there’s Miranda Neville’s Lady Windermere’s Lover.
The Cinderella Deal, by Jennifer Crusie
Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand, by Carla Kelly
I’d entirely forgotten that both these books are MOC stories! The Cinderella Deal is one of my favorite Crusie books and I enjoyed Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand, as well. It might be time for a reread!
Pamela Morsi had a few. I cannot remember the names tight now…