Books like The Wife He Always Wanted by Cheryl Ann Smith

Sarah Palmer is a young woman bereft of family after her father’s murder and her sibling’s death, left with no prospects and a desperate need for security. When an unkempt stranger, Gabriel Harrington, appears on her doorstep claiming a bond with her late brother and a dying wish for them to marry, Sarah sees no alternative but to consent, hoping the union will alleviate her suffering. Gabriel, whose rugged exterior belies his upbringing in one of London’s elite families, is not the groom Sarah’s brother had envisioned. Burdened by a wrongful promise, he enters the marriage with a cold reserve, treating Sarah as a means to an end. Yet Sarah is not easily turned away. Determined to uncover the truth behind her father’s murder and to prove that an unexpected partnership can thrive, she strives to win Gabriel’s affection. As their connection deepens, Gabriel begins to recognize the genuine warmth and resilience in Sarah, and the couple discovers a potential for love that neither expected.

First publish date: 2013