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Sinclair Brothers #1
The Man Must Marry
Trying to escape marriage, they are snared by love.
When Sam Sinclair's self-made millionaire grandfather sends Willa Kent, a woman none of the three Sinclair brothers have even heard of, as his proxy to an ultra-important meeting of the Sinclair shipping company, most people would think the old man had lost his marbles. But Sam knows his grandfather too well. For some reason, the wily old man has decided that one of his three grandsons should marry Willa, and this is his way of trying to force the issue....
So Willa and Sam team up on what seems like a wild-goose chase to find some loophole in Grandfather Sinclair's crazy notion. But as Sam crews Willa's yacht en route to Maine, he finds to his surprise that his grandfather's offbeat scheme is growing more attractive by the moment. Willa is smart, beautiful...and has a wild streak that sends them soaring together above the clouds.
But Willa isn't about to let Sam fly away with her heart until she knows his true motives. If the man wants to marry for money, then the woman in her says that first he must fall in love.
When Sam Sinclair's self-made millionaire grandfather sends Willa Kent, a woman none of the three Sinclair brothers have even heard of, as his proxy to an ultra-important meeting of the Sinclair shipping company, most people would think the old man had lost his marbles. But Sam knows his grandfather too well. For some reason, the wily old man has decided that one of his three grandsons should marry Willa, and this is his way of trying to force the issue....
So Willa and Sam team up on what seems like a wild-goose chase to find some loophole in Grandfather Sinclair's crazy notion. But as Sam crews Willa's yacht en route to Maine, he finds to his surprise that his grandfather's offbeat scheme is growing more attractive by the moment. Willa is smart, beautiful...and has a wild streak that sends them soaring together above the clouds.
But Willa isn't about to let Sam fly away with her heart until she knows his true motives. If the man wants to marry for money, then the woman in her says that first he must fall in love.
340 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
109 people are currently reading
834 people want to read
About the author
Janet Chapman
51 books1,112 followersJanuary 22, 1956 – October 28, 2017
Hey guys its Jessica. Sorry I’ve been MIA for so long. I apologize for the long overdue wait for Janet’s next book. You’ve all been very patient and loyal fans that she loves. She has been working on this book over the last year and a half while dealing with her battle with cancer. It saddens me to say that she peacefully lost this battle this past weekend while her family was by her side. I apologize if this feels sudden, she was a very private person even to her family. And she truly thought of all of you as her family. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Janet Chapman is the author of twenty-two contemporary and magical romance novels, all of which are set in her beautiful state of Maine. She lives in a cozy log home on a beautiful lake with her husband, surrounded by an eclectic assortment of wildlife that she finds both entertaining and inspiring. Probably best known for her Highlander Series (a saga of twelfth century warriors rebuilding their clans in modern-day Maine that now spans three generations), Janet also has two spin-off magical series (Midnight Bay & Spellbound Falls) and several contemporary family series set on the coast and in the mountains. With over three million books printed in six languages, her stories regularly appear on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller’s lists.
When she’s not writing (well, when she should to be writing but isn’t), Janet and her husband are traveling the state in their camper throughout all four seasons; hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and generally rubbing elbows with Mother Nature while always keeping an eye out for colorful new characters—human and beast—to put in her stories.
author's obituary
Hey guys its Jessica. Sorry I’ve been MIA for so long. I apologize for the long overdue wait for Janet’s next book. You’ve all been very patient and loyal fans that she loves. She has been working on this book over the last year and a half while dealing with her battle with cancer. It saddens me to say that she peacefully lost this battle this past weekend while her family was by her side. I apologize if this feels sudden, she was a very private person even to her family. And she truly thought of all of you as her family. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Janet Chapman is the author of twenty-two contemporary and magical romance novels, all of which are set in her beautiful state of Maine. She lives in a cozy log home on a beautiful lake with her husband, surrounded by an eclectic assortment of wildlife that she finds both entertaining and inspiring. Probably best known for her Highlander Series (a saga of twelfth century warriors rebuilding their clans in modern-day Maine that now spans three generations), Janet also has two spin-off magical series (Midnight Bay & Spellbound Falls) and several contemporary family series set on the coast and in the mountains. With over three million books printed in six languages, her stories regularly appear on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller’s lists.
When she’s not writing (well, when she should to be writing but isn’t), Janet and her husband are traveling the state in their camper throughout all four seasons; hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and generally rubbing elbows with Mother Nature while always keeping an eye out for colorful new characters—human and beast—to put in her stories.
author's obituary
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
August 21, 2017
**Originally read in 2016. Re-read in 2017**
Enjoyed this JUST as much the second time around. I'm finding a lot of comfort in re-reads this year.
Original review:
Can’t aptly express how much I enjoyed this one!! This is the last series by Janet Chapman before I am all caught up on her books. sigh… (I see some re-reads in my future)
The premise of this book was a little silly, but the delivery of the story was AWESOME!!! Janet Chapman always impresses me with her well thought out characters, full of heart communities and heartwarming romances blended with quirkiness and humour. This story didn’t have the supernatural/magical aspect, but I think this is my favourite series by this author.
Though we never got to meet Bram, this series started off on both a funny and sad note when he sent spitfire Willa to deliver his last wishes to his three grandsons. He was dying and one of them must marry in order to save the company. Like I said, seems silly, right? But somehow, it just worked!!
We got to meet Sam, Ben and Jesse, Bram’s grandsons, who were intent on not marrying. But then Willa entered their lives and nothing was the same.
Did I buy into Sam’s practically insta desire to marry Willa? Hell, yeah. When you know, you know and Willa’s clumsy non-sea feet and strong vulnerability really tugged at Sam the right way. I totally bought into his attraction. I enjoyed watching her try not to be caught, as so many of Janet’s heroines do. The “hunt” was amusing and brought Sam to Keelstone Cove, another fantastic community that was such a great visit, I didn't want to leave.
Fantastic read!!!
Enjoyed this JUST as much the second time around. I'm finding a lot of comfort in re-reads this year.
Original review:
Can’t aptly express how much I enjoyed this one!! This is the last series by Janet Chapman before I am all caught up on her books. sigh… (I see some re-reads in my future)
The premise of this book was a little silly, but the delivery of the story was AWESOME!!! Janet Chapman always impresses me with her well thought out characters, full of heart communities and heartwarming romances blended with quirkiness and humour. This story didn’t have the supernatural/magical aspect, but I think this is my favourite series by this author.
Though we never got to meet Bram, this series started off on both a funny and sad note when he sent spitfire Willa to deliver his last wishes to his three grandsons. He was dying and one of them must marry in order to save the company. Like I said, seems silly, right? But somehow, it just worked!!
“As soon as the women left, Willa set down her fork. "I wish to clear the air, gentlemen," she said, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "You do realize your grandfather sent me here hoping one of you would capture my matrimonial eye? And that I might...interest one of you?" Her smile widened. "He was looking for a miracle, I'd say.”
We got to meet Sam, Ben and Jesse, Bram’s grandsons, who were intent on not marrying. But then Willa entered their lives and nothing was the same.
Did I buy into Sam’s practically insta desire to marry Willa? Hell, yeah. When you know, you know and Willa’s clumsy non-sea feet and strong vulnerability really tugged at Sam the right way. I totally bought into his attraction. I enjoyed watching her try not to be caught, as so many of Janet’s heroines do. The “hunt” was amusing and brought Sam to Keelstone Cove, another fantastic community that was such a great visit, I didn't want to leave.
Fantastic read!!!
November 2, 2008
Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Nov08
I just can’t resist the hero who has to work hard to win the love of his lady. Can you? If not, you won’t be disappointed with “The Man Must Marry” by Janet Chapman. I’m a big fan of her series about time-traveling highlanders, and enjoyed most of the other contemporaries she wrote. But this story rates right up there as my favorite of her contemporaries so far. I think it’s likely due to the engaging heroine with her many ‘faults’ and the sexy man who sets out to win her heart.
Willa has come to New York to do a favor for a friend. Bram is dying and he asked her to go to his company’s shareholder’s meeting and vote his proxy for the interim CEO, one of his three grandsons. And poor Willa is supposed to ‘get to know’ all three and decide which one should take over! While Willa is definitely NOT thrilled about Bram’s request, she finally gave in and here she is. She may not be a big-city type, but her own firm is successful and she has no intention of letting his three grandsons run roughshod over her!
Sam is Bram’s eldest grandson. At first glance, he can’t quite believe what his grandfather has sent—a brown wren. She even looks like a Willamina! Within a few hours, Sam realizes his grandfather is again trying to select a bride for his grandsons and he wants no part of it…and tells Willa just that. Within 24 hours, Sam begins to see exactly what his grandfather does, and his interest grows. But when Bram dies and his will requires one of his grandsons to marry Willa to keep their company from falling into the hands of their worst enemy, Sam realizes that he’s the only grandson that can really appreciate Willa. But now he’ll have to convince her that his offer of marriage isn’t just a business decision.
It’s hard not to give away too much from Chapman’s plot, but I was caught up in this story from the first page. Willa is a woman who’s hiding from her future and Sam quickly becomes the man determined to win her heart. His approach is one that had me either laughing or sighing while I was cheering on his efforts. And their attraction and passion will have you fanning yourself.
One of the biggest characters in this story is Bram, even though we never meet him and he dies in the first part of the book, he’s still larger than life. Through Willa and his grandsons and friends, Chapman paints a vibrant portrait of a man determined to see his friends and relatives settled and happy. Other secondary characters carry a large part of the plot and are crucial to understanding both the main characters. The setting in New England with its own quirky character comes through beautifully.
Now that I’ve read “The Man Must Marry”, I know that I will be heading for the bookstore to buy the stories of the other two brothers when they are released. So far there’s no word on the title or release date of Janet Chapman’s next in this series. So I’ll just visit her website at www.janetchapman.com on occasion and see what other goodies she may offer up!
I just can’t resist the hero who has to work hard to win the love of his lady. Can you? If not, you won’t be disappointed with “The Man Must Marry” by Janet Chapman. I’m a big fan of her series about time-traveling highlanders, and enjoyed most of the other contemporaries she wrote. But this story rates right up there as my favorite of her contemporaries so far. I think it’s likely due to the engaging heroine with her many ‘faults’ and the sexy man who sets out to win her heart.
Willa has come to New York to do a favor for a friend. Bram is dying and he asked her to go to his company’s shareholder’s meeting and vote his proxy for the interim CEO, one of his three grandsons. And poor Willa is supposed to ‘get to know’ all three and decide which one should take over! While Willa is definitely NOT thrilled about Bram’s request, she finally gave in and here she is. She may not be a big-city type, but her own firm is successful and she has no intention of letting his three grandsons run roughshod over her!
Sam is Bram’s eldest grandson. At first glance, he can’t quite believe what his grandfather has sent—a brown wren. She even looks like a Willamina! Within a few hours, Sam realizes his grandfather is again trying to select a bride for his grandsons and he wants no part of it…and tells Willa just that. Within 24 hours, Sam begins to see exactly what his grandfather does, and his interest grows. But when Bram dies and his will requires one of his grandsons to marry Willa to keep their company from falling into the hands of their worst enemy, Sam realizes that he’s the only grandson that can really appreciate Willa. But now he’ll have to convince her that his offer of marriage isn’t just a business decision.
It’s hard not to give away too much from Chapman’s plot, but I was caught up in this story from the first page. Willa is a woman who’s hiding from her future and Sam quickly becomes the man determined to win her heart. His approach is one that had me either laughing or sighing while I was cheering on his efforts. And their attraction and passion will have you fanning yourself.
One of the biggest characters in this story is Bram, even though we never meet him and he dies in the first part of the book, he’s still larger than life. Through Willa and his grandsons and friends, Chapman paints a vibrant portrait of a man determined to see his friends and relatives settled and happy. Other secondary characters carry a large part of the plot and are crucial to understanding both the main characters. The setting in New England with its own quirky character comes through beautifully.
Now that I’ve read “The Man Must Marry”, I know that I will be heading for the bookstore to buy the stories of the other two brothers when they are released. So far there’s no word on the title or release date of Janet Chapman’s next in this series. So I’ll just visit her website at www.janetchapman.com on occasion and see what other goodies she may offer up!
September 25, 2010
Ok story but almost too sweet. Rich handsome guy falls for dowdy, accident-prone small town girl.
STORY BRIEF:
Abram built a shipping empire. He is dying and went to a small coastal town in Maine to spend his last days. He met Willa who owns a casket making company. He wants Willa to marry one of his grandsons, for her benefit and for their benefit. His three grandsons lost their parents at an early age and were raised by Abram. The three grandsons are confirmed bachelors. Abram retired and gave Willa his proxy to vote to choose one of them as his successor. Willa traveled to and attended the board meeting in New York City as a favor to Abram. For some reason, Sam (one of the grandsons) is nearby to see and help her survive accidents such as getting her purse caught in the elevator door, getting locked out of her hotel room, etc. Willa is suffering guilt over some things in her life. She doesn’t live a normal life due to guilt, and she’s a bit whiny.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This was a pleasant romance novel, but there was nothing new or different enough to make it stand out from the rest. I think Sam fell in love with Willa too soon and too easily. He dated a number of women over the years for no more than a few months each. I didn’t understand how he “fell in love at first sight” with a dowdy, unsophisticated, accident prone woman. I would have preferred watching things happen between them for awhile before he fell in love.
Minor irritation (publisher’s fault): Sam has hair on his chest. The guy on the cover does not.
DATA:
Story length: 340 pages. Swearing language: moderate to strong. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 9. Setting: current day New York City, Keelstone Cove, Maine, and sailing in the Atlantic. Copyright: 2008. Genre: contemporary romance.
STORY BRIEF:
Abram built a shipping empire. He is dying and went to a small coastal town in Maine to spend his last days. He met Willa who owns a casket making company. He wants Willa to marry one of his grandsons, for her benefit and for their benefit. His three grandsons lost their parents at an early age and were raised by Abram. The three grandsons are confirmed bachelors. Abram retired and gave Willa his proxy to vote to choose one of them as his successor. Willa traveled to and attended the board meeting in New York City as a favor to Abram. For some reason, Sam (one of the grandsons) is nearby to see and help her survive accidents such as getting her purse caught in the elevator door, getting locked out of her hotel room, etc. Willa is suffering guilt over some things in her life. She doesn’t live a normal life due to guilt, and she’s a bit whiny.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This was a pleasant romance novel, but there was nothing new or different enough to make it stand out from the rest. I think Sam fell in love with Willa too soon and too easily. He dated a number of women over the years for no more than a few months each. I didn’t understand how he “fell in love at first sight” with a dowdy, unsophisticated, accident prone woman. I would have preferred watching things happen between them for awhile before he fell in love.
Minor irritation (publisher’s fault): Sam has hair on his chest. The guy on the cover does not.
DATA:
Story length: 340 pages. Swearing language: moderate to strong. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 9. Setting: current day New York City, Keelstone Cove, Maine, and sailing in the Atlantic. Copyright: 2008. Genre: contemporary romance.
February 10, 2009
I was totally cracking up during this whole book! I loved it. It was so sweet and well, funny! I love all the characters and can't wait to read the other two books. Janet Chapman is the first author I read and since then I haven't stopped. She is my all time favorite author. Just thinking about the book makes me want to read it again. I was reading it on my iTouch while my husband was asleep and I was shaking the bed laughing so hard. She's a great writer!
October 11, 2010
2.5 stars
I thought the setup was great and I really enjoy the hero who has to work to get the heroine and who isn't afraid of his feelings. In fact, the first half of this book showed a lot of promise and had me readily flipping pages. I even like the tried and true ploy of the marriage caveat in an old man's will (don't know why, I just do).
The second half of the book just didn't fulfill the promise of the first half, IMO. The heroine started losing my sympathy as she first tried to run away from her situation and then tried to ignore it. I thought she was a coward, allowing herself to be beaten due to a few tragedies in her past.
The rest of the review is a massive spoiler, so if you haven't read the book and plan to, stop reading this review.
***Spoiler alert***
I was also highly annoyed when I discovered that the heroine had her tubes tied after the accident when she maimed her nice. I was annoyed for two reasons -- first, it rather confirmed my idea that she was a coward, running away from life. To permanently remove any chances of having a baby at 25 because she got into a car accident? But worse, she got pregnant anyway, so she didn't have to live with the consequences of her actions. Romance novels like to do that kind of thing as part of their HEA, but it's honestly one of my biggest complaints with the entire genre and it thoroughly cheapened the end of this book.
I thought the setup was great and I really enjoy the hero who has to work to get the heroine and who isn't afraid of his feelings. In fact, the first half of this book showed a lot of promise and had me readily flipping pages. I even like the tried and true ploy of the marriage caveat in an old man's will (don't know why, I just do).
The second half of the book just didn't fulfill the promise of the first half, IMO. The heroine started losing my sympathy as she first tried to run away from her situation and then tried to ignore it. I thought she was a coward, allowing herself to be beaten due to a few tragedies in her past.
The rest of the review is a massive spoiler, so if you haven't read the book and plan to, stop reading this review.
***Spoiler alert***
I was also highly annoyed when I discovered that the heroine had her tubes tied after the accident when she maimed her nice. I was annoyed for two reasons -- first, it rather confirmed my idea that she was a coward, running away from life. To permanently remove any chances of having a baby at 25 because she got into a car accident? But worse, she got pregnant anyway, so she didn't have to live with the consequences of her actions. Romance novels like to do that kind of thing as part of their HEA, but it's honestly one of my biggest complaints with the entire genre and it thoroughly cheapened the end of this book.
June 28, 2011
Excellent! I'm sorry I read this book so fast but I loved Willa and Sam and their compelling story so much I couldn't help it.
Sam's misconception of Willa and vice versa is what drove this story along. Add to that the odd bequest of his grandfather, the zany townspeople, and the way Willa and Sam rock the boat ;) and you'd want to know how it's all going to unfold quickly, too.
Btw, visiting Keelstone Cove is probably what living in Virgin River forty years from now is going to feel like, lol.
Sam's misconception of Willa and vice versa is what drove this story along. Add to that the odd bequest of his grandfather, the zany townspeople, and the way Willa and Sam rock the boat ;) and you'd want to know how it's all going to unfold quickly, too.
Btw, visiting Keelstone Cove is probably what living in Virgin River forty years from now is going to feel like, lol.
April 25, 2010
Janet Chapman writes what I consider "quick reads". No, they are not short stories, novellas or ever under 350 pages. They just read quickly. I enjoy her stories and get attached to the characters and their families and friends. This book was no exception.
While there are no literary gimmicks used by Ms. Chapman, and her books will not be used in high school english classes, she is the epitomy of a good romance writer: she tells a good tale, writes clearly (not cleverly) and always gives good "HEA". This first book in the Sinclair Brothers series had no surprises in the plot but got me very attached to the family, got me THINKING about family, and looking forward to the next book in the series.
While there are no literary gimmicks used by Ms. Chapman, and her books will not be used in high school english classes, she is the epitomy of a good romance writer: she tells a good tale, writes clearly (not cleverly) and always gives good "HEA". This first book in the Sinclair Brothers series had no surprises in the plot but got me very attached to the family, got me THINKING about family, and looking forward to the next book in the series.
February 2, 2009
I like this book a lot. Grandfather Sinclair has sort of dissapeared. He is dying and doesn't want anyone to know. Turns out, he's at Willa's staying in a small cottage and carving his own coffin. See, that Willa's business. They become friends and he sends Willa to stand in for him at a corporate meeting as his proxy vote. She's way out of her element and the 3 brothers know it. Sam, the oldest brother also knows that his grandda is up to something. Grandfather dies before the vote is cast and Willa is instructed to stay for the reading of the will. Wow, shock plus.
Great love story.
Great love story.
June 21, 2010
This is my third Janet Chapman book. I really enjoyed the two Puffin Harbor books. But this fell just a touch short of those. There were some funny moments. The dialog was good. I liked the flaws in the heroine. But I just never felt the connection.
Willamina Kent is a frumpy divorced woman with no taste. Sam Sinclair is the eldest grandson of a wealthy multi-millionaire who just passed away leaving everything to his casket maker, Willa. Much of the rest of the book is Sam pursuing Willa. Decent, just not great.
Willamina Kent is a frumpy divorced woman with no taste. Sam Sinclair is the eldest grandson of a wealthy multi-millionaire who just passed away leaving everything to his casket maker, Willa. Much of the rest of the book is Sam pursuing Willa. Decent, just not great.
July 25, 2025
*** MINOR SPOILERS ***
It did not take me very long into the book to start to be annoyed by the chauvinistic behavior of the three brothers in the beginning of the story. I think the author meant to show that they were protective and caring. That did partially come across, but they wanted to take the decision making away from the women. For example, when they get in a car crash, the men insist that the women get checked by the ambulance medics but they themselves do not get checked. When Willa does not want to get checked because she is not hurt, Sam picks her up and carries her over against her wishes.
The dates of the two brothers who were not the main characters were parodies of women who had no brains. After the car crash, one of the women got upset because her bracelet was broken. She did not think of anything else. I am sure that there are people like that in the world, but I am making the point related to the way the story was written.
I almost started skim reading which I do with books that I do not like very much, but I decided not to as I wanted to write a fair review. I am glad I did as I thought the book got better a few chapters in. Not great, but better.
Before the grandfather dies, Willa tries to keep their grandfather’s location a secret. Given technology available when the book was written, that is highly unlikely. Willa tries not to reveal where she lives so that they cannot track down her grandfather, but given the state of Maine has just over a million people in it, it wouldn’t have taken long for them to find her company and its’ location.
The driving force behind part of the story is the will that the grandfather wrote. The grandfather put some offensive conditions to the will which are allowed, but I did take issue with it for tangential reasons. Most wealthy people do have wills, but they use trusts or other means for handling the transfer of the majority of their money. Likely, the amount of money involved would not have been left in a will. In addition, the cash that was given to Willa would not have been shown to her in a bank book. When you are rich, you would have investments, you would not have everything in cash. It conveyed the point of the story, but it was not realistic.
The general messiness and clumsiness of the main character, Willa, was also exaggerated. I think it was meant to be charming and to invoke the protective nature of the hero of the story, Sam. When she gets locked out of her hotel room because she accidentally left her key card on her bed, she pounds on the door for several minutes. What good would that do? Most people might hit the door with their fist once or twice, but then they would head down to the front desk to get let back in. There were moments in the story where I thought she should take more control than she did. The author creates a character that wants to take care of others so you would think she would be a little less of a pushover.
Later in the story, you start to see things a bit differently as Sam seems to respect Willa a little more. Once in Maine, there are some good moments when the women have an equal say with the men.
There were some odd things that were not explained well. Why did Sam gain weight? Why did Richard and Shelby go to the dance together? Why did Sam not have work to do for Tidewater? He was a part of the company for years. His particular job there was never explained, but he never got called or seemed to have a problem with just taking off for Maine permanently. Finally, there was a surprise at the end of the book that was very unlikely.
I do not plan to continue reading the series.
It did not take me very long into the book to start to be annoyed by the chauvinistic behavior of the three brothers in the beginning of the story. I think the author meant to show that they were protective and caring. That did partially come across, but they wanted to take the decision making away from the women. For example, when they get in a car crash, the men insist that the women get checked by the ambulance medics but they themselves do not get checked. When Willa does not want to get checked because she is not hurt, Sam picks her up and carries her over against her wishes.
The dates of the two brothers who were not the main characters were parodies of women who had no brains. After the car crash, one of the women got upset because her bracelet was broken. She did not think of anything else. I am sure that there are people like that in the world, but I am making the point related to the way the story was written.
I almost started skim reading which I do with books that I do not like very much, but I decided not to as I wanted to write a fair review. I am glad I did as I thought the book got better a few chapters in. Not great, but better.
Before the grandfather dies, Willa tries to keep their grandfather’s location a secret. Given technology available when the book was written, that is highly unlikely. Willa tries not to reveal where she lives so that they cannot track down her grandfather, but given the state of Maine has just over a million people in it, it wouldn’t have taken long for them to find her company and its’ location.
The driving force behind part of the story is the will that the grandfather wrote. The grandfather put some offensive conditions to the will which are allowed, but I did take issue with it for tangential reasons. Most wealthy people do have wills, but they use trusts or other means for handling the transfer of the majority of their money. Likely, the amount of money involved would not have been left in a will. In addition, the cash that was given to Willa would not have been shown to her in a bank book. When you are rich, you would have investments, you would not have everything in cash. It conveyed the point of the story, but it was not realistic.
The general messiness and clumsiness of the main character, Willa, was also exaggerated. I think it was meant to be charming and to invoke the protective nature of the hero of the story, Sam. When she gets locked out of her hotel room because she accidentally left her key card on her bed, she pounds on the door for several minutes. What good would that do? Most people might hit the door with their fist once or twice, but then they would head down to the front desk to get let back in. There were moments in the story where I thought she should take more control than she did. The author creates a character that wants to take care of others so you would think she would be a little less of a pushover.
Later in the story, you start to see things a bit differently as Sam seems to respect Willa a little more. Once in Maine, there are some good moments when the women have an equal say with the men.
There were some odd things that were not explained well. Why did Sam gain weight? Why did Richard and Shelby go to the dance together? Why did Sam not have work to do for Tidewater? He was a part of the company for years. His particular job there was never explained, but he never got called or seemed to have a problem with just taking off for Maine permanently. Finally, there was a surprise at the end of the book that was very unlikely.
I do not plan to continue reading the series.
September 15, 2017
Janet Chapman is one of my favorite authors of romance novels. Her stories are lighthearted romances with frequent conflicts and twists and turns that create both intrigue and passion.
The Man Must Marry meets those standards. Here we have a hunk (Sam) unwillingly paired off with a dowdy woman (Willa) whom he initially calls a "partridge." Sam's attraction to Willa surprises him and she does not appreciate his sudden interest in her. She flees and he follows. What ensues has both comical and serious elements as both of them realize they must change their ways to create a successful relationship.
The book also contains a sneak preview of the next novel in this series featuring Sam's brother, Ben. Looking forward to reading that!
The Man Must Marry meets those standards. Here we have a hunk (Sam) unwillingly paired off with a dowdy woman (Willa) whom he initially calls a "partridge." Sam's attraction to Willa surprises him and she does not appreciate his sudden interest in her. She flees and he follows. What ensues has both comical and serious elements as both of them realize they must change their ways to create a successful relationship.
The book also contains a sneak preview of the next novel in this series featuring Sam's brother, Ben. Looking forward to reading that!
July 27, 2020
I really enjoyed this story very much. Sam Sinclair’s grandfather disappears for six months because he wanted to be alone. He kelp up with his three grandsons but would not tell them where he was. As he was stepping down as CEO of his company, he sent a young woman who had been his landlord, his boss and his friend while he was hiding to be his proxy vote. She was from Maine and was not accustomed to New York or the elevators when she made quite an arrival by losing part of her luggage trying to exit the elevator car. She normally wasn’t this clumsy but she was out of her element and just wanted to go home. This is a great story with lots of excitement and romance, great story
December 23, 2019
I love this book. I generally like paranormal but when I read Janet Chapman's Highlander series I decided to try her other writings and this is a contemporary romantic fiction. But it's great. The main character when she first shows up they call her a partridge because that's what she reminded them of. But boy she lets them know where she's at right away and doesn't take crap from anybody. This is the start of the Sinclair Brothers and it's one of the best romantic comedy series I have read
June 21, 2022
I really did enjoy this book. This is about Willa Kent and how she becomes involved with an older man, who rents her cabin for the summer and ends up to inheriting everything of his multibillion dollar company but with strings. The biggest string is she has to marry one of his 3 grandsons and then she can turn the shares over to them. There were a lot of funny moments in this book and also some very serious matters in that she tries to bring the family closer together. Highly recommend.
November 26, 2017
1 -1/2 stars
Throwing in the towel at 89%
I just can't do it any more.
How did this book get such high ratings? It's absurd and silly.
The heroine is so overly dramatic it's ridiculous.
And so inconsistent, I believe the author didn't know her any better than I did.
And the hero goes from rudely hating her to loving her in a week. Please.
Gawd.
Throwing in the towel at 89%
I just can't do it any more.
How did this book get such high ratings? It's absurd and silly.
The heroine is so overly dramatic it's ridiculous.
And so inconsistent, I believe the author didn't know her any better than I did.
And the hero goes from rudely hating her to loving her in a week. Please.
Gawd.
October 23, 2021
Enjoyable but for the rushed ending. I like how Chapman used this story to explore the effect guilt can have on an entire family.
It was also good to read a novel where the older generation were both valued and respected.
Overall 3.5 stars rounded down as Chapman missed several opportunities to take this story to the next level, especially in the action / romance department.
It was also good to read a novel where the older generation were both valued and respected.
Overall 3.5 stars rounded down as Chapman missed several opportunities to take this story to the next level, especially in the action / romance department.
January 5, 2022
Not sure about this one. A fairly straight forward romance, but there were a few "red flags" that deterred from the enjoyment. Biggest one for me - and acknowledged by Willa - was that Sam would kiss her to shut her up. Sam also had very little respect for her boundaries & beliefs. Also very tired of the ending (not simply the HEA, but everything else that came with it).
October 17, 2025
Lovely sweet love story
What makes a good story? Emotions that feel real and wanting to know what happens next.
Every book Janet Chapman wrote makes you fall in love with Maine and hope the people are even half as wonderful.
We lost a wonderful writer in Janet. Rest in glorious peace.
What makes a good story? Emotions that feel real and wanting to know what happens next.
Every book Janet Chapman wrote makes you fall in love with Maine and hope the people are even half as wonderful.
We lost a wonderful writer in Janet. Rest in glorious peace.
October 5, 2017
Sam and Willa, have a crazy whirlwind romance, though the lengths he went to to win her were a bit crazy. If my future Father-in-law had done that to me, I would be irate also. No one likes being forced to do things they don't want.
July 7, 2019
This book just didn't click with me. Too many premises that just seemed forced. Well written with good characters. That was all good, and I will try the next in the series, but this one wasn't for me.
February 8, 2022
Definitely will be reading the next book in this series! Loved the characters, the settings and the story. I did not even realize that it was written over 13 years ago until I read the publishing date on the Goodreads.com website. The story is timeless!
July 27, 2017
It was nice read I glad it worked out and that Willa no longer felt guiltily.
October 12, 2017
Loved the book!
April 20, 2018
Sweet love story, with scheming old folks and a tender hearted woman. His grandfather wanted her for one of his grandsons. Sam is willing but he has to convince her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2018
Love Janet Chapman, and love her characters she is an amazing writer.
March 25, 2019
Love the story. I literally cried and laughed with the characters. I lived and 😍 the story...
July 12, 2019
3.5 stars
March 28, 2022
Delightful
Loved revisiting this book. Wonderful, loveable, characters. Real issues. Good solutions. Charming side characters. Looking forward to reading the others in the series.
Loved revisiting this book. Wonderful, loveable, characters. Real issues. Good solutions. Charming side characters. Looking forward to reading the others in the series.
July 29, 2024
A good read. Looking forward to to book 2 and 3 in this series.
October 19, 2025
A slow read, but not a bad story.
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