When Love Blooms

Normally I love Robin Lee Hatcher's books. This is the first real dud.

Here's a spoof summary: (spoilers)

-Heroine: Wow, I have loads of guys wanting to marry me. I guess I won't yet because I want to do something worthwhile in life.

-Hero: I'm going to be so sad when my wife dies. My ugly wife with a big heart who I really like.

-Hero's wife: I'm sad to be dying but I need to make sure of doing a few things first. I'm going to hire a governess for my daughters to go out alone with us to the ranch.

-Heroine: Oh, this sounds interesting. Teaching kids sounds worthwhile.-Hero: I'm not sure about this silly girl. But she is pretty.-Wife: I see that look. He thinks she's pretty. This might work.-Heroine: He's actually really nice. Look how he treats his wife and stepdaughters. Why do I get self-conscious around him? He's really handsome.-Hero: She's beautiful, lovely, kind...my wife is in name only and is dying. I have to remember I'm still married, though in name only.-Wife: Oh, look. They're feeling attraction!Snowstorm: oh, let's trap the two alone in the barn for a few hours. Heavy sexual tension.-Heroine: I can't fall in love. Dru is my friend.-Hero: Patience. She isn't dead yet. I can't kiss the girl now.-Wife: Sweet friend, if I die soon, please promise you won't leave here before your promise is up (even if it does mean you are here alone with a man).(Events. Death. Everything goes wrong.)-Heroine: Oh my goodness. The world is ending. What did I mean about doing something worthwhile? Everything is over. How about I just pick a suitor and get married...this guy is handsome and nice.(Events)Okay, serious now. If a dying wife wants to match up her husband with a friend, she just does it. She doesn't play around and do it secretly. Women often did so in the Victorian era and told everyone about it because death was a real problem. She would have been considered doing her duty to her family by making sure she promoted a friend who would treat her children well and take care of her husband. She wouldn't have had to sneak around and try to make her friend and husband betray her by their growing affection.

Also, for most of the book the hero isn't a Christian but that doesn't seem to stop the heroine.