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Their Marriage of Inconvenience
Opposites in everything…
Except needing to marry!
For Adelia Worthington, only marrying railway magnate Simeon Morgan will secure her family’s home. In return, she’ll give Simeon a place in society. A marriage is the last thing either wants, especially when it’s clear this self-made man thinks she’s a pampered heiress! But what’s even more inconvenient than their marriage is that the sparks of fury that fly between them are igniting a simmering desire that won’t be ignored.
Except needing to marry!
For Adelia Worthington, only marrying railway magnate Simeon Morgan will secure her family’s home. In return, she’ll give Simeon a place in society. A marriage is the last thing either wants, especially when it’s clear this self-made man thinks she’s a pampered heiress! But what’s even more inconvenient than their marriage is that the sparks of fury that fly between them are igniting a simmering desire that won’t be ignored.
288 pages, Paperback
Published April 21, 2020
79 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Sophia James
175 books126 followersGeorgette Heyer novels formed Sophia James' reading tastes as a teenager, but her writing life only started when she was given a pile of Mills & Boons to read after she had had her wisdom teeth extracted! Filled with strong painkillers, she imagined that she could pen one, too. Many drafts later, Sophia thinks she has the perfect job writing for Harlequin Historical, as well as taking art tours to Europe with her husband, who is a painter.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 3, 2021
This one is light on plot, but I enjoyed it anyway—something of a feat, given my usual tastes. I guess SJ’s writing just agrees with me. 😬
James’ books definitely have an identifiable flavor, an oddness that doesn’t match other Harleys—even in lighter moments the prose feels somber, the plots run a bit sideways, & the characters, while they dialogue, never really ‘banter’ in the typical HR vein. But all this is fine by me. I like strange plots with a diagonal bent, darker underpinnings, & MCs that have conversations instead of quipping predicable rom-com retorts about female roles, male needs, etc. Purposeless battle-of-the-sexes banter bores me. Apologies if that makes me a traitor to the romance rulebook, but there it is. *shrug*
This particular novel deals with childhood abuses in various forms. True, it’s all in the past for our MCs, but they both carry scars & bruises both literal & metaphorical. It’s also a symbiotic interaction between them, particularly in terms of sex—Simeon’s delight in Adelia’s unblemished skin & virginity is symbolic of his lacking anything unspoiled or unbroken by others, whereas Adelia revels in Simeon’s scars as a visual representation of strength & safety after living without emotional or physical shelter. They both try to hide their sensual thoughts from the other, as the craving for intimacy is a route to potential vulnerability, but of course that obstacle is overcome by twu wuv. I mean, it IS a Harlequin. The outcome is never in doubt. :P
Various plot oddities include: Simeon sucking Adelia’s boob in chapter 1, a WTF ineffectual villain who drops in for the finale, Simeon receiving a book of erotic poems written by his mistress (which Adelia not only reads, but finds rather inspirational 😈), a manipulative (titled) heroine who needs more redemption than the (untitled) hero, & Simeon’s friendship with a police inspector named Tom Brady.** I lol’d. 👽
4 stars for daring to be different. ^__^
**There are hints that Tom Brady might get his own novel, &—as the kids say—I’m totally here for it. Hell yeah, I’d love to read a Harley about a Victorian policeman who finds a wife while touring pre-Civil-War USA! That plot is fairly screaming potential, Sophia James. Don’t let me down. :D
- ORIGINAL REVIEW -
Dear Harlequin:
This book is set in 1842. That makes it VICTORIAN, not REGENCY. 🙄 Please stop trying to annex other eras onto the Austen period by stamping “Regency” on the spine of books like this one. The Regency was long over by 1842–that’s historical fact, as much as current Historical Romance marketing departments might wish otherwise.
James’ books definitely have an identifiable flavor, an oddness that doesn’t match other Harleys—even in lighter moments the prose feels somber, the plots run a bit sideways, & the characters, while they dialogue, never really ‘banter’ in the typical HR vein. But all this is fine by me. I like strange plots with a diagonal bent, darker underpinnings, & MCs that have conversations instead of quipping predicable rom-com retorts about female roles, male needs, etc. Purposeless battle-of-the-sexes banter bores me. Apologies if that makes me a traitor to the romance rulebook, but there it is. *shrug*
This particular novel deals with childhood abuses in various forms. True, it’s all in the past for our MCs, but they both carry scars & bruises both literal & metaphorical. It’s also a symbiotic interaction between them, particularly in terms of sex—Simeon’s delight in Adelia’s unblemished skin & virginity is symbolic of his lacking anything unspoiled or unbroken by others, whereas Adelia revels in Simeon’s scars as a visual representation of strength & safety after living without emotional or physical shelter. They both try to hide their sensual thoughts from the other, as the craving for intimacy is a route to potential vulnerability, but of course that obstacle is overcome by twu wuv. I mean, it IS a Harlequin. The outcome is never in doubt. :P
Various plot oddities include: Simeon sucking Adelia’s boob in chapter 1, a WTF ineffectual villain who drops in for the finale, Simeon receiving a book of erotic poems written by his mistress (which Adelia not only reads, but finds rather inspirational 😈), a manipulative (titled) heroine who needs more redemption than the (untitled) hero, & Simeon’s friendship with a police inspector named Tom Brady.** I lol’d. 👽
4 stars for daring to be different. ^__^
**There are hints that Tom Brady might get his own novel, &—as the kids say—I’m totally here for it. Hell yeah, I’d love to read a Harley about a Victorian policeman who finds a wife while touring pre-Civil-War USA! That plot is fairly screaming potential, Sophia James. Don’t let me down. :D
- ORIGINAL REVIEW -
Dear Harlequin:
This book is set in 1842. That makes it VICTORIAN, not REGENCY. 🙄 Please stop trying to annex other eras onto the Austen period by stamping “Regency” on the spine of books like this one. The Regency was long over by 1842–that’s historical fact, as much as current Historical Romance marketing departments might wish otherwise.
May 9, 2024
This had potential, but I think it could have immensely benefited from a few more chapters, a better set-up of the story - especially the romance - and a little tweaking of a few details. There were just too many elements thrown into its 288 pages that weren't followed through to the end.
November 27, 2020
This is a very well-written, tightly plotted category romance. And if you like the marriage of convenience trope, it hits all the right beats. I liked Their Marriage of Inconvenience particularly because both characters absolutely loathe each other at the start of this—usually, marriage-of-convenience plots have the protagonists start on a more neutral footing with each other. Not so here.
This book's big failing—and it's pretty large, is the way James approaches sex, virginity, race, and the Dark Moment in general. The entire final act of the book revolved around the protagonists consummating their marriage and then thwarting a big bad villain immediately after. I just...blech. Fetishizing of "purity" + ableist portrayals of mental illness as the reason people are evil. Additionally, there was some weird fetishizing of the heroine's very pale white skin and equating it (as well as her intact hymen) with purity. Her skin is compared to the hero's "brown" skin, and there's a one-off comment that he might be mixed race (although this is of course not explicitly dealt with). Nope.
Overall, a good book with a major caveat.
📌 . Blog | Review Database | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads
This book's big failing—and it's pretty large, is the way James approaches sex, virginity, race, and the Dark Moment in general. The entire final act of the book revolved around the protagonists consummating their marriage and then thwarting a big bad villain immediately after. I just...blech. Fetishizing of "purity" + ableist portrayals of mental illness as the reason people are evil. Additionally, there was some weird fetishizing of the heroine's very pale white skin and equating it (as well as her intact hymen) with purity. Her skin is compared to the hero's "brown" skin, and there's a one-off comment that he might be mixed race (although this is of course not explicitly dealt with). Nope.
Overall, a good book with a major caveat.
📌 . Blog | Review Database | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads
November 23, 2020
Their Marriage of Inconvenience contained a depth of feeling that I wasn't expecting.
About to lose her ancestral home, Adelia forces rich entrepeneur Simeon into a marriage of convenience. At first, they cannot stand each other - their deception standing in the way of trust. Slowly, they discover they are more alike than they thought.
Although the story starts off somewhat oddly, the core of the story is about two very traumatised people flourishing in a safe and comforting environment. The treatment of trauma wasn't perfect (a 200 page romance is unlikely to dig too deep), there were plenty of gems of how healing it is to be in a loving relationship with someone you can trust. Both Adelia and Simeon were abused as children, and the topic was handled quite sensitively, acknowledging the horror of it never quite leaving you, but also providing a hopeful vision of not being defined by the past, and being able to break cycles of abuse.
The heroine is a virgin and the first time they have sex her "pure innocence" is remarked upon. Luckily this was only very brief - and despite the hymen apparently sitting somewhere deep in her vagina - the sex scene included enthusiastic consent, which I appreciated.
I had some minor quabbles with the writing, which is somewhat rough around the edges occasionally. The two characters and their journey together, however, was engrossing enough for me to overlook the minor faults.
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Content warning: domestic abuse, physical abuse of child, (mention of) sexual abuse of child, sexual harrassment, (pretty vivid description of) suicide, death of parent, kidnapping of child
About to lose her ancestral home, Adelia forces rich entrepeneur Simeon into a marriage of convenience. At first, they cannot stand each other - their deception standing in the way of trust. Slowly, they discover they are more alike than they thought.
Although the story starts off somewhat oddly, the core of the story is about two very traumatised people flourishing in a safe and comforting environment. The treatment of trauma wasn't perfect (a 200 page romance is unlikely to dig too deep), there were plenty of gems of how healing it is to be in a loving relationship with someone you can trust. Both Adelia and Simeon were abused as children, and the topic was handled quite sensitively, acknowledging the horror of it never quite leaving you, but also providing a hopeful vision of not being defined by the past, and being able to break cycles of abuse.
The heroine is a virgin and the first time they have sex her "pure innocence" is remarked upon. Luckily this was only very brief - and despite the hymen apparently sitting somewhere deep in her vagina - the sex scene included enthusiastic consent, which I appreciated.
I had some minor quabbles with the writing, which is somewhat rough around the edges occasionally. The two characters and their journey together, however, was engrossing enough for me to overlook the minor faults.
---
Content warning: domestic abuse, physical abuse of child, (mention of) sexual abuse of child, sexual harrassment, (pretty vivid description of) suicide, death of parent, kidnapping of child
May 13, 2020
4.5 stars. This is an intense story. Both hero and heroine have a dramatic past, him more than her. It was not an easy book to read at times. But the characters felt real and their growing feelings for each other entirely believable.
February 5, 2022
An unexpected theme for romance. Two seriously damaged, determined people find themselves compromised into marriage. Awareness and respect grows, tumbling into love. Superb seduction, sizzling love scenes. I couldn't put this down and read it in one sitting. (Borrowed from library.)
May 13, 2020
Great book loved it. Fresh new story. Could not put it down.
October 22, 2025
Enjoyed this Regency romance.
June 21, 2020
The relationship in this was cute, and they did spend quite a lot of time getting to know each other which I normally enjoy in the romances I read, but quite frankly I just found this to not be written all that well.
The plot went all over the place, the structure was confusing and really rushed in the beginning, and there were times that I just ended up rereading huge chunks because I didn't understand what as happening. There was just a lot of information missing, or characters randomly doing things without any information being given as to why.
I was looking forward to this after my last Mills & Boon read, but I'll probably be avoiding the author.
The plot went all over the place, the structure was confusing and really rushed in the beginning, and there were times that I just ended up rereading huge chunks because I didn't understand what as happening. There was just a lot of information missing, or characters randomly doing things without any information being given as to why.
I was looking forward to this after my last Mills & Boon read, but I'll probably be avoiding the author.
December 29, 2024
Historically romantic
Perfect in to a perfect read. I love all of the justice delved out and that the H and h got exactly what they each deserved; caught in the whirlwind of others’ poor choices, they still prevail.
Perfect in to a perfect read. I love all of the justice delved out and that the H and h got exactly what they each deserved; caught in the whirlwind of others’ poor choices, they still prevail.
May 2, 2021
It was OK. Nothing to write home about. Typical Harlequin format of a happy ending.
June 30, 2021
2 - 1/2 stars
July 4, 2023
3 Stars
Beautiful characters. Interesting story. Fresh storyline. Interesting villains. Beautiful love story.
Beautiful characters. Interesting story. Fresh storyline. Interesting villains. Beautiful love story.
October 31, 2025
[nudity, adult situations, premarital sex, pedophilia, sexually explicit, prostitution, offensive language, alcohol, gangs, violence, violence against women, suicide, mature themes, lying, dysfunctional family, depression, psychosis/neurosis/sociopathy]
The plot was good, but it has graphic sex in it. At the same time, it was big on morality. Prayer and references to God were throughout--albeit not necessarily in the same context that you would find in a Christian romance. Adelia is impoverished nobility who throws herself at Simeon's feet--quite literally. She goes to his house and strips for him in his room. He laughs and sends her away, but she finds another way to make him (unwillingly) marry her.
As with most books, this one could have used a better editor--there were typos throughout. However, the story was solid.
The plot was good, but it has graphic sex in it. At the same time, it was big on morality. Prayer and references to God were throughout--albeit not necessarily in the same context that you would find in a Christian romance. Adelia is impoverished nobility who throws herself at Simeon's feet--quite literally. She goes to his house and strips for him in his room. He laughs and sends her away, but she finds another way to make him (unwillingly) marry her.
As with most books, this one could have used a better editor--there were typos throughout. However, the story was solid.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews