With this ring…
They're temporarily wed!
Heiress Jane Dryer will do anything to escape her controlling father and the life of domestic drudgery he decrees -- even elope with the handsome stranger she meets in a speakeasy! Wealthy railroad owner David Albright needs a temporary wife and Jane needs her independence, so the plan is to marry, then walk away. Only very soon, their fake marriage feels seductively real!
Good conclusion to the series. Jane is the only sister left at home, Patsy and Betty having married earlier in the year. The three girls spent months sneaking out of their home at night, desperate to escape their controlling father and have some fun. Going to speakeasies isn't nearly as much fun without her sisters, but being stuck at home is even worse. Jane dreads the day when her father informs her that he's chosen her husband, the way he tried to do with her sisters. In an unexpected twist, he tells her that he won't arrange a marriage for her; instead, she will remain at home to assist her mother with the house.
Jane is horrified. She doesn't want to get married and be stuck under the control of another man, but she doesn't want to be an unpaid maid for the rest of her life either. The problem is, she doesn't know what she does want. That evening she escapes to the Rooster's Nest, hoping to take her mind off her troubles. For some reason, it isn't the distraction she hoped for, so she spends time talking to David, the piano player.
For David, playing the piano is a way to relax. For the last six months, he has worked his way across the country from Chicago, researching his family's railroad business. It is time to go home, make his report to the board of directors, and celebrate his grandfather's birthday. Unfortunately, David's older brother has been pressuring him to come home, marry, and settle down. David has no interest in doing so as he enjoys the traveling he does. He was also burned by love when his brother married the girl that David loved.
Jane and David find it very easy to talk to each other, though the things they share aren't the whole truth and nothing but the truth. When Jane tells David that she doesn't want to be a maid for the rest of her life, he thinks she is a real maid. David tells Jane about being pressured to marry, but not that it's a merger between two wealthy families. Thinking back to her sister Betty's wedding, Jane offers to come along and "object" at David's wedding. After some discussion, David proposes a temporary marriage that will save him and, at the same time, give Jane the escape she's looking for.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between David and Jane. Both of them are good people caught in bad situations. Each wants to live life their own way, not be forced into an unwanted marriage. They begin their "elopement" full of high spirits and optimism, driving their way from Los Angeles to Chicago. Though each has second thoughts about what they are doing, neither wants to let the other down. A brief stop in Arizona takes care of the wedding, and they spend the next few days on the drive. The description of their trip along Route 66 was vividly described. I loved the little details about the gas stations, the frequency of the flat tires, and the sights they saw along the way. I especially enjoyed their stop at the Grand Canyon.
Neither one expected the growing attraction between them. David is fascinated by Jane and her unrestrained joy in every new sight and experience. Jane sees David as a kind and caring man. But as they get closer to Chicago and their planned deception, both of them start feeling guilty. That guilt increases when they arrive at David's home. Their time there is full of ups and downs, from the fun of Jane's first snowball fight to the frustration of dealing with others' expectations. I loved seeing Jane and David grow closer and ached for them both as they fought their feelings. I liked watching both Jane and David change for the better thanks to the other's influence. Jane's reaction to the soup kitchen was especially moving.
Things come to a head when Jane's brother-in-law, Henry, tracks her down and arrives to check on her. Both David and Jane react in their usual ways, by avoidance. Jane's sends her running home, leaving David to decide what he wants. Advice for him came from an unexpected source, and I loved the change in attitude. There were some surprising revelations when Jane returned home, which gave her a lot to think about. The ending was wonderful as David and Jane moved past deceptions and misunderstandings to admitting they belong together. I loved the scene at the Rooster's Nest as the three couples returned to where it all began.
I enjoyed the secondary characters. David's grandfather, Gus, was my favorite. He was kind and down-to-earth and took to Jane as quickly as David did. David's brother Joshua was a real pain for most of the book. I loved the way that Jane stood up to him both for herself and David. I liked how Jane brought him and David together to resolve their issues and the change in Joshua after they did. Rebecca, the woman that David was supposed to marry, was a piece of work. Jane's handling of her was a delight to see.
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