In Name Only

by Janet Bieber

A straitlaced spinster and a rugged ship's captain discover a passion that's anything but proper ...

THE SAINT. When her sister dies, leaving four young children motherless, Valeriana MacPherson becomes determined to care for her nieces and nephews, despite her disapproval of their cigar-smoking, whiskey-drinking rake of a father, Ian Patterson. A shipping captain who refuses to conform to the rules of society, Ian riles her in ways no man ever has and awakens a passion in her that she never knew existed.

THE SINNER. Ian has never been confounded by any woman as much as his prim and proper sister-in-law. The minute Valeriana marches into his house, he is ready to send her packing --- until he sees the magic she works on his children ... and on his own jaded heart. And when her father's cruelty threatens to shatter all their lives, he boldly dares to make her his wife, challenging them both to the most tempestuous battle of all: true love.

Genres: Historical Romance, Marriage Of Convenience, Historical, Romance

346 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 5, 2000

About the author

Janet Bieber was born in 1942. She admitted to being a lifelong romantic and dreamer. However, she hadn't even thought of writing all those dreams until she met a fellow romance addict, Joyce Thies. She began her writing career as a coauthor with Joyce Thies, writing under the name Janet Joyce and Jenna Lee Joyce; together they wrote more than twenty romances. Later, she wrote six historical romances under her real name Janet Bieber.

After battling with cancer, Bieber passed away on September 27th, 2014.

Reviews

[namericanwordcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book set in Cleveland and then on an island in Lake Erie is a treasure. It may be for everyone as it is warm but not hot the steam factor and deals with unusual conflicts but the characters are rich and the drama of the novel human and compelling as the heroine struggles with the ridged beliefs she gained at her father's knee and the hero with circumstances of his first marriage. The author does a wonderful job with the historical part of this book as well as with the romance with is real. Some of the character transformations are bit quick and could have been more developed but they feel true none the less. It lacks a 5 star because there is some drama at the end that is a bit forced and quickly resolved, I would have liked a bit more time with the h and H together and I like to savor my HEA a bit more but I really recommend this thoughtful and carefully drawn romance.

Oh, and the hero is yum yum yummy a loving father, kind, generous heart, ship captain and irish lilt.

[Nicky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to skim and skip around this book after pushing myself through the first 100 pages.. I couldnt believe just how uptight this heroine was. Yes it's all she has known for 28 years but again she was just so unlikeable. Im not going to completely give up on the book but Im going to have to come back a little later and re-read it. I also didn't like all of the "Brother Ian" and "Sister" they did. Also, the heroine was very presumptuous (sp?) those children were the H's children not hers (at the time) she shouldn't have been such a wet blanket and explained her actions a little more, or asked the H about the decisions she was making.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Sweet and well-written, but its one of those "heroine is so stiff/stuffy/prim and has to learn to loosen up" historicals, a woman who's prone to crying even before she gets pregnant, and acts amazingly passively, while our hero is misunderstood but otherwise pretty perfect. 4 for the writing, 2 for the ideology.

[MBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

A marriage of convenience between prim and prissy Valeriana and her ex-brother-in-law Ian Patterson which turns into a love so beautiful is one worth sinking into.

Full review: http://bit.ly/d0ub6s

[Rogetwhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally read 8/3/18 Loved this one!!!!💕 I’ve been wanting to read this one for years!!!

Reread 10/20/21 still love it!

[Jacque · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read.
Valeriana moves into her brother-in-laws house after her sister dies to care for the 4 young children. She's strictly her fathers daughter, Reverend John MacPherson, against smoking, drinking, gambling and fornication.
Ian is a ships captain who is gone for weeks at a time but he stays home while spending his nights who knows where.
When her father realizes that his home is not being taken care of as it used to be, he insists that Valeriana (Ana) returns home and he'll send her sister Laurel. Ana refuses and he strikes out at her. Ian walks in and sides with Ana and tells her father they will be married.
The story gets more interesting from there.

[Clare]

What a treasure of a book! Two strong, yet vulnerable, characters who appear to be at odds with each other in their seemingly conflicting views, yet who are honourable and compassionate with a wealth of love and loyalty to those they hold dear. Ana and Ian were meant to be.

[Debby]

Valeriana MacPherson moves in with her brother-in-law Ian Patterson when her sister dies leaving 4 daughters. Her father has constantly criticized Ian, so she discovers she'd has significant misconceptions of him when put in close contact. To protect her and the children from the father, Ian proposes and they're able to work things out when they move to his private island (from Cleveland?)

Interesting story - realistic.