To Have and to Hold

To Have and to Hold

by M.A. Nichols

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A marriage of convenience was supposed to make their lives easier.

Matthew Bixby despises social politics. Good manners and small talk weren’t prized in the slums, and despite having freed himself and his family of their poverty, Matthew never saw a need for such frivolous things. Until now.

A war between the masters and workers is brewing, and if Matthew isn’t careful, it will destroy everything he’s built. But with so much of the battle being waged in ballrooms and parlors, he needs someone who can help him navigate society without adding to his burdens—a wife who won’t expect anything more than a partnership.

If only he had the time to find one…

A spinster knows better than to hope for more than a comfortable home, but a marriage of convenience to a stranger is another thing altogether. Especially when the groom sends his man of business to procure a bride because he cannot bother to do so himself. But Charlotte Fordyce-Whittaker is no fool, and her prospective groom’s offer is a good one—if she can fulfill his marital requirements.

Surely, it won’t be difficult to overcome her wallflower tendencies. Will it?

A mutually beneficial arrangement. That seems simple enough. But with the workers rising up, the masters at each other's throats, and a mountain of lies standing between them, Matthew and Charlotte discover happiness requires more than saying, “I do.”

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Genre
Historical Romance
Subgenre
General Historical, Georgian 1714 Inspirational Regency 1811
Audience
Adult
Bell Peppers
🫑
Profanity
1 None
Violence
2 Mild
Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco
1 None
Publication Date
October 2, 2024
Language Versions
English
Narration Type
Human
Fiction Form
Novel
Sensitive Themes
Body image struggles
Representation
Body diversity (plus-size/curvy lead)

Customer Reviews

Based on 11 reviews
73%
(8)
18%
(2)
9%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
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S
S.B.
Easy Reading

Lovely story.

K
Kathy
Definitely worth a read.

Being honest with each other will help husband and wife to grow - as individuals and as one. This is a lesson for all married couples to learn.Yet another great story from this clever writer - each story is so different, but always rewarding.

j
jmcgloin
Didn't want it to end!

Loved this book - in fact I've loved all the books I've read and listened to on Audible. I also think Madeleine Brolly is a lovely narrator. When I buy an audible book I have to listen to a sample because a poor narrator ruins a good book. I felt the story To Have and To Hold could havegone on and on. That would have suited me! I want to read all the books in these series.

K
Kgsi
An Engaging Story

I loved this book that felt a bit like one of my favorite British classics, “North and South”. I appreciate how Matthew and Charlotte kept persevering in their relationship, and even in their own personal growth, discovering that they could trust each other and be authentic in their relationship - a relationship that became a beautiful partnership in life. Was fun to have Ambrose and Mary Ashbrook from “Shameless Flirt” (one of my favorite M.A. Nichols stories) as part of this story too. Another wonderful romantic story with depth!

E
Evelina
Just Okay

I've read all of Nichols' books in her Regency and Victorian series. Some I've loved (A True Gentleman), one I did not like at all (Flame and Ember), and some are in between. This book is one of my least favorites. Character development is important but so is plot. Nothing really happens. It can be argued that yes, mill workers revolt and do violence. A huge issue in industrial England at the time, Nichols misses an opportunity to further explain the effects it had on many. Rocks are thrown, buildings are burned, but the emotional and practical impacts are missing.However, this is not so with heroine Charlotte and hero Matthew. They emote continuously with each other and in their heads, to the point that I question whether they were even aware of their surroundings. All remaining characters are two-dimensional, and if I hadn't read "A Shameless Flirt", Ambrose and Mary would have been included.This book is clean and well-edited. Even though I didn't care for this installment, I have her next novel on pre-order and hope I like it better. 2.5 stars

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