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Solution: Wedding #3
First Comes Marriage
There are all the usual ways, of course, but here’s how Janine Hartman did it. My grandfather Hartman arranged a husband for me! Zach Thomas, the intended groom, was just as outraged as I was. But gramps insisted we’d be “a perfect match.” First Comes Marriage, according to him. Does Grandfather know best? You decide! “Debbie Macomber writes characters who are as warm and funny and real as your best friends.” - New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs
192 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1991
216 people are currently reading
438 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Macomber
901 books20.8k followersDebbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.
In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.
Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.
In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.
Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
June 12, 2011
First Comes Marriage is the 43rd stand-alone novel by Debbie Macomber. Janine Hartman is a well-off volunteer worker who lives with Anton, the grandfather who raised her after her parents were killed. Zach Thomas is a self-made man whose business has merged with Anton’s. When Anton tells Janine that he would like her to marry Zach, both she and Zach are shocked and surprised. This is the modern-day USA, not mid-century Europe! And anyway, they can’t stand each other! She’s rich, spoiled, illogical and stubborn (he says) and he’s arrogant, stubborn, rude, argumentative and unreasonable (she says). The marriage may look good in a practical and financial sense, but Janine wants to love (and choose) the man she will marry. And she wants grand passion. Anton says “first comes marriage, then comes love”. But somehow her interfering grandfather manages to throw Janine and Zach together a number of times, and things start to happen. This novel is filled with crossed purposes, misunderstandings and witty repartee. It is a lovely, funny and light-hearted Debbie Macomber classic.
June 29, 2019
Reprint of 1991, G-rated, short, contemporary, romantic-comedy novel
Janine is the 20-something granddaughter of a very wealthy man and, as such, has chosen not to have a career. She believes if she were to hold down a job, she would be taking away work from someone who actually needs the money. Instead, to keep busy, she volunteers for charities 30 hours per week.
Zach is the 30-something business partner of Janine's grandfather. A classic workaholic, he fancies himself far too busy to bother with getting married.
Both Janine and Zach are highly irritated when Janine's grandfather heavy-handedly promotes a match between the two of them. Janine informs her grandfather that she wants to pick her own husband and marry for love, but Grandpa claims, “First comes marriage, then comes love.” Which is what happened for him and his deceased wife, who were matched by their parents when they were teenagers in Germany prior to World War II.
Fans of G-rated romance novels with an HEA and no cheating will enjoy this light-hearted romantic comedy. There is no sensuality beyond a few kisses and, as such, its plot is very similar to that of a typical Hallmark movie. Which may possibly explain why so many of Debbie Macomber's novels have been successfully made into Hallmark TV series and movies. (My personal favorite DM, Hallmark movie is Trading Christmas.)
I experienced this novel as an audiobook. The narrator does a good job acting out all the parts, but I would recommend reading this book rather than listening to it. The frequent squabbles between the protagonists are usually experienced by those who silently read the book to themselves as humorous. Unfortunately, when the book is read aloud, it gets a little wearing listening to the narrator's seemingly constant angry yelling, as she dramatically portrays the fighting between the protagonists that occurs in virtually every scene of the book.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 4 stars
Hero: 3 stars
Subcharacters: 4 stars
Romance Plot: 3 stars
Writing: 4 stars
Overall: 3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars
Janine is the 20-something granddaughter of a very wealthy man and, as such, has chosen not to have a career. She believes if she were to hold down a job, she would be taking away work from someone who actually needs the money. Instead, to keep busy, she volunteers for charities 30 hours per week.
Zach is the 30-something business partner of Janine's grandfather. A classic workaholic, he fancies himself far too busy to bother with getting married.
Both Janine and Zach are highly irritated when Janine's grandfather heavy-handedly promotes a match between the two of them. Janine informs her grandfather that she wants to pick her own husband and marry for love, but Grandpa claims, “First comes marriage, then comes love.” Which is what happened for him and his deceased wife, who were matched by their parents when they were teenagers in Germany prior to World War II.
Fans of G-rated romance novels with an HEA and no cheating will enjoy this light-hearted romantic comedy. There is no sensuality beyond a few kisses and, as such, its plot is very similar to that of a typical Hallmark movie. Which may possibly explain why so many of Debbie Macomber's novels have been successfully made into Hallmark TV series and movies. (My personal favorite DM, Hallmark movie is Trading Christmas.)
I experienced this novel as an audiobook. The narrator does a good job acting out all the parts, but I would recommend reading this book rather than listening to it. The frequent squabbles between the protagonists are usually experienced by those who silently read the book to themselves as humorous. Unfortunately, when the book is read aloud, it gets a little wearing listening to the narrator's seemingly constant angry yelling, as she dramatically portrays the fighting between the protagonists that occurs in virtually every scene of the book.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 4 stars
Hero: 3 stars
Subcharacters: 4 stars
Romance Plot: 3 stars
Writing: 4 stars
Overall: 3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars
July 23, 2021
The Heroine’s grandfather who’s the matchmaker in this book holds the view that, “Love comes after marriage”. He manoeuvres to make a match between his granddaughter and his young business partner.
While there are no definitive statistics on the number of arranged marriages in the Indian Subcontinent, one can safely say that at least 80-85% of all marriages that take place are arranged. So, coming from a country where a vast majority of the marriages that take place are still arranged in one form or another, I’m always interested in reading about how this trope is treated in the western world of romance books.
A part of me wonders why this big fuss about “arranged marriage”, because had this been in India, the Boy and the Girl would have found themselves married without much ado!!!!!
But, since it’s set the world of M&B and HPLANDIA, it’s got to be the “LOVE”!!!!!
Hehe…..
Overall a cute quick and easy read.
No angst at all and no OM /OW drama.
May 20, 2024
First impressions can be misleading.
January 5, 2017
This was a quick, easy read that provided humor and escape. I enjoyed it.
July 25, 2024
znalazlam ta ksiazke kiedys na ulicy i juz rozumiem czemu ktos sie jej pozbyl
June 28, 2016
"Financial and practical advantages! You make it sound about as appealing as a dentist appointment. There's got to be more of a reason than that for us to get married."
It was her grandfather's idea, the whole notion of a marriage between Janine and Zach. An arranged marriage, at that. But the two of them don't exactly plan on going along with the dear old man's old-fashioned plan in First Comes Marriage by author Debbie Macomber.
Heeheehee, just look at that 90s cover. I'll admit it was some nostalgia that drew me to it, looking like something I would've pulled off the bookshelf in my seventh grade English class, back in the day. But, hey, sometimes nostalgia makes a book even better.
I enjoyed taking a little break with this romantic comedy. It's not all fun and games, as Janine and Zach do have to work through some serious stuff in the middle, but then it brightens again, fittingly ending on a delightfully comedic note. Quite a nice story for anyone who'd find pleasure in a sweet and easy romance read.
It was her grandfather's idea, the whole notion of a marriage between Janine and Zach. An arranged marriage, at that. But the two of them don't exactly plan on going along with the dear old man's old-fashioned plan in First Comes Marriage by author Debbie Macomber.
Heeheehee, just look at that 90s cover. I'll admit it was some nostalgia that drew me to it, looking like something I would've pulled off the bookshelf in my seventh grade English class, back in the day. But, hey, sometimes nostalgia makes a book even better.
I enjoyed taking a little break with this romantic comedy. It's not all fun and games, as Janine and Zach do have to work through some serious stuff in the middle, but then it brightens again, fittingly ending on a delightfully comedic note. Quite a nice story for anyone who'd find pleasure in a sweet and easy romance read.
October 9, 2013
I thought this was a great story. Some of the schemes the grandfather came up to get Zach and Janine together were hilarious. I can totally relate to this story because when my grandmother found out she had alzheimers disease she was determined to marry me off. I couldn't go anywhere because is she saw a guy she would ask if he was single and try to set us up, it was so embarassing. It is funny to read stories about people who are targets of matchmaking attempts unless you are the target. This is one of my favorites stories and one I read often. It's the story of a loving grandfather who is trying to get the two people he cares about together and while they try to fight his attempts - they wind up falling in love. I highly recommend this book.
February 28, 2016
I'm a fan of Debbie MaComber, and this book of hers just confirmed my great opinion if her. It's not part of a series, which is nice. I get tired of the small town series, since our library doesn't usually have all the books in one series..people check them out but don't return them. I enjoyed this delightful romance, though the arguing had started to get to me by the time it ended. The characters were full of life, especially meddling Grampa. I liked the part about him sending his partner & his granddaughter to Scotland separately to fulfill her dream of trysting in the Moors. Very cute! You'll enjoy this light hearted romance!
August 27, 2017
2 1/2 stars. This was the story of Janine and Zach. Janine's grandpa is Zach's boss and he thinks the 2 of them should get married so he sets up all sorts of situations to get them together. They start off hating each other but they fall in love, get married and decide to have kids. The book is only 195 pages so it all happened unbelievably quick. Cute enough for a short book, but you won't miss much if you don't read it!
February 20, 2020
Definitely her first published book & not up to her current talents as a writer.
It is a very perdictable arc for a fantasized romance. Not real life challenges. She is rich, he is rich. Her life is easy but she is a earnest voluteer. He is a self-made man. Grandfather approves of the merger.
It is a very perdictable arc for a fantasized romance. Not real life challenges. She is rich, he is rich. Her life is easy but she is a earnest voluteer. He is a self-made man. Grandfather approves of the merger.
October 13, 2025
DNF @ p. 101.
Jesus Christ. I suppose this is supposed to be a screw-ball style comedy but these two and their immature bickering is tedious at best. The plot is barely sustained by the flimsiest of reasons - if they want to avoid grandpa's machinations all they have to do is ignore him and each other. Job done. Simple.
The bit in Scotland was unbearably cringe. The author has zero idea about the geography of the place, in the morning the heroine is looking around Cawdor castle near Inverness, then trots off to do a spot of lunchtime shopping in Edinburgh then back to Inverness for supper. Are you kidding me?
She also, lord give me strength, wears a kilt out to a restaurant. I thought for a moment she was going to slip on a tam o shanter and a ginger wig to complete her authentic Scottish look. These are MENS CLOTHES, this is like having your male lead wearing a woman's kimono.
Oh - and they catch a fully booked direct flight from Inverness Airport to Seattle. What fucking word is Macomer living in?
All this utter nonsense aside, I quit this book because the main characters are unbearable immature, the dialogue is toe curlingly shit and the plot is annoying.
Jesus Christ. I suppose this is supposed to be a screw-ball style comedy but these two and their immature bickering is tedious at best. The plot is barely sustained by the flimsiest of reasons - if they want to avoid grandpa's machinations all they have to do is ignore him and each other. Job done. Simple.
The bit in Scotland was unbearably cringe. The author has zero idea about the geography of the place, in the morning the heroine is looking around Cawdor castle near Inverness, then trots off to do a spot of lunchtime shopping in Edinburgh then back to Inverness for supper. Are you kidding me?
She also, lord give me strength, wears a kilt out to a restaurant. I thought for a moment she was going to slip on a tam o shanter and a ginger wig to complete her authentic Scottish look. These are MENS CLOTHES, this is like having your male lead wearing a woman's kimono.
Oh - and they catch a fully booked direct flight from Inverness Airport to Seattle. What fucking word is Macomer living in?
All this utter nonsense aside, I quit this book because the main characters are unbearable immature, the dialogue is toe curlingly shit and the plot is annoying.
October 23, 2021
Janine Hartman and Zach Thomas are thrown together by her grandfather, who is a business partner with Zach.
Janine's grandfather is getting on in years and wants to see his granddaughter married. He is from the "old country" where marriages like his were arranged by the parents.
Seeing as how his granddaughter seems to pick the wrong guys and ones that he sees are weak, cheaters and disloyal.
So he hatches a plan to throw the prospective son in law together with his grand daughter.
Neither of them are interested in this plan, but find they actually like each other despite being thrown
together. And even though grandfather's ideas are old fashioned and "ridiculous" for modern times, what is he has the right idea?
An old fashioned look at love and a meddling old man who is trying to do right by his family. Cute story.
Janine's grandfather is getting on in years and wants to see his granddaughter married. He is from the "old country" where marriages like his were arranged by the parents.
Seeing as how his granddaughter seems to pick the wrong guys and ones that he sees are weak, cheaters and disloyal.
So he hatches a plan to throw the prospective son in law together with his grand daughter.
Neither of them are interested in this plan, but find they actually like each other despite being thrown
together. And even though grandfather's ideas are old fashioned and "ridiculous" for modern times, what is he has the right idea?
An old fashioned look at love and a meddling old man who is trying to do right by his family. Cute story.
March 4, 2024
Debbie Macombe crafts a story of arranged marriage - sort of - in modern-day America. This is one of Macomber's first novels. In this story, an active young woman is pressured to marry the staid, uptight partner in her grandfather's company. Gramps, an emigre from pre-World War II Poland (now part of Russia), plots to get his granddaughter to marry his rising young partner. He feels that modern ways do not work when picking a mate. He and his wife were arranged by their parents, and they lived happy life until her death.To heck with falling in love, romance "will come" after the wedding. So, he sets out to make this wedding happen.
Gramps efforts to create this marriage fall flat. But, his trials and errors make for a fun read. It works out in the end. He gets to semi-retire, the couple marry, and, as all good stories, "live happily ever after."
Gramps efforts to create this marriage fall flat. But, his trials and errors make for a fun read. It works out in the end. He gets to semi-retire, the couple marry, and, as all good stories, "live happily ever after."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2022
Arranged marriages have never thrilled me, but Janine's grandfather does just that, convinced that the businessman he's now in partnership with is perfect for her. Too bad Janine and Zach do nothing but aggravate each other and argue. Until they each find themselves in Scotland, she on vacation because she's always wanted to go there and he on a trumped-up business trip.
They come home and Janine finds herself attracted to Zach and finally, a bit reluctantly, go along with her grandfather's wishes. And, just as he predicted, love would follow from the marriage, if only they will give it a chance. But is it real? Will it last? After all, Zach had a first love that Janine is certain is more than he will ever feel for her.
They come home and Janine finds herself attracted to Zach and finally, a bit reluctantly, go along with her grandfather's wishes. And, just as he predicted, love would follow from the marriage, if only they will give it a chance. But is it real? Will it last? After all, Zach had a first love that Janine is certain is more than he will ever feel for her.
March 15, 2024
MY Joy is back to me
after a very long time which i and my ex
separated since i was alone my life change ,
every thing about me change a friend of
mine gave me an email address told me that
this was the email address she contacted
when she was in the same problem so i
contacted the email i got a reply he ask me
to send him my number so i did he was a
man call Dr Sarki . he is a spell caster he
casted a spell for me and told me that
within two day that my ex we be back for
good within that two days my ex was back,
i and my ex just got married
Dr Sarki
http://happinessgivelonglife.weebly.com
after a very long time which i and my ex
separated since i was alone my life change ,
every thing about me change a friend of
mine gave me an email address told me that
this was the email address she contacted
when she was in the same problem so i
contacted the email i got a reply he ask me
to send him my number so i did he was a
man call Dr Sarki . he is a spell caster he
casted a spell for me and told me that
within two day that my ex we be back for
good within that two days my ex was back,
i and my ex just got married
Dr Sarki
http://happinessgivelonglife.weebly.com
June 21, 2024
I read this book along with another novel by the author that are paired in Under the Summer Sky (June 2024). This has Zach and Janine who are pushed towards marriage by her meddling and well meaning grandfather. Zach originally is interested in merging their businesses and grandpa has bigger plans. Zach has had a lot of loss and grandpa wants her to teach him about love. This is a fluffy romances that can easily be devoured in a few hours. I enjoy Macomber's writing style and it is fun to see books from her earlier writing days. This was originally published in 1991.
February 2, 2022
Far fetched. I was not very impressed with this novel. I’m generally a Macomber fan, but this story was just too far fetched. The story details were lacking. Rich girl is forced to marry rich boy and they go from hating each other to falling in love in one night?!?! I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t get into this one.
May 21, 2022
Grandfather rang the wedding bells!
Janine Hartman loved her grandfather dearly -- but she balked at his plan to choose her a husband. Zach Thomas, the intended groom, didn't like it any better.
Zach had recently merged his business with the Hartman family firm, and that was the only Hartman-Thomas merger he wanted. But Grandfather had other ideas, ideas belonging to a different place, a different time, when marriages were arranged by families. "It would be a perfect match," he insisted. "You two suit each other."
Zach and Janine didn't agree. In fact, they agreed on only one thing -- that Gramps was a stubborn, meddling old man. But what if he was right?
Janine Hartman loved her grandfather dearly -- but she balked at his plan to choose her a husband. Zach Thomas, the intended groom, didn't like it any better.
Zach had recently merged his business with the Hartman family firm, and that was the only Hartman-Thomas merger he wanted. But Grandfather had other ideas, ideas belonging to a different place, a different time, when marriages were arranged by families. "It would be a perfect match," he insisted. "You two suit each other."
Zach and Janine didn't agree. In fact, they agreed on only one thing -- that Gramps was a stubborn, meddling old man. But what if he was right?
Read
March 7, 2024I mean, you can tell from the cover that this book is shockingly old fashioned. It's also quite tedious - the H and h bicker so much that by the time it moved into the relationship I definitely thought they would be better off without each other.
May 10, 2024
First Comes Marriage
What a delightful story about 2 stubborn people with her grandfather wanting her married. He played a couple of tricks on them to get them together but they managed to fall in love by themselves.
What a delightful story about 2 stubborn people with her grandfather wanting her married. He played a couple of tricks on them to get them together but they managed to fall in love by themselves.
February 16, 2018
Four stars
Predictable and kind of short, but very well written.
I would like to know what happens next. I’m hoping for more.
Predictable and kind of short, but very well written.
I would like to know what happens next. I’m hoping for more.
July 1, 2019
I used to like these light books by Debbie Macomber, but I guess my tastes have changed over the years. I found myself speed reading and skipping whole sections.
April 22, 2020
Solution: Wedding #3
Read
June 10, 2020I enjoyed this book. I'm reading this story in a 2 in 1 book. The characters are really interesting and I enjoyed the places that they visited in this book.
January 3, 2023
It was interesting
April 24, 2023
It's a great short read. Just wish we could've read a bit more of Janine and Zach's married life and children.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2023
Sweet story of an arranged marriage between Janine and Zach in Seattle.
December 6, 2023
Just like a Hallmark movie!
December 12, 2023
Very 90’s!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews