Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com
Summary:
Rich Manning and Jamie Warren have always been friends—and nothing but friends. However, that changes when she asks him to father the child she so desperately wants. Rich agrees—if she'll marry him. Because he thinks their Marriage of Inconvenience could become a real marriage instead.
Paul Manning, a grieving widower with three small children, turns to Leah Baker for help and comfort. When that comfort begins to grow into something else, Paul discovers that he wants more than a Stand-In Wife.
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Rating:
Original releases were better
Customer Rating:
The Manning Brides is the combination of Debbie Macomber's earlier "Those Manning Men" series that was published under the Silhouette Special Edition (Marriage of Inconvenience (Those Manning Men #1) and Stand-In Wife (Those Manning Men #2) (Silhouette Special Edition #744)).
"Marriage of Inconvenience" is Rich Manning and Jamie Warren's story. After getting her heart bruised, Jamie Warren turns to her friend, Rich Manning, to see about having a child the clinical way. Of course, the baby is conceived the old fashioned way and then it becomes a matter of whether or not Rich and Jamie will come to their senses to realize that what they have is real.
"Stand-In Wife" is the story of oldest brother, Paul Manning, and Leah Baker, the sister of his late wife. Admittedly, this is my favorite Debbie Macomber story ever. The standard heroine for romances is the plucky, outspoken woman and that makes reserved and understated Leah so unusual. Paul is a man who loved her first wife, Diane, and is confused about his growing feelings for Leah who is so different from his wife. The way Paul and Leah clumsily but sincerely come to understand their feelings for each other and for Diane makes for an unpretentious read that warms my heart no matter how many times I've read this story.
So why did I give it is 3 stars? Well, because this collection provides re-writes of the original releases and they took out all the sensuality and heat from the originals that I felt like the characters were de-sexed.
As such, my recommendation is that if you can find the originals, buy them rather than buying this 2-in-1.
Debbie Macomber Strikes Again!
Customer Rating:
Ms. Macomber always delivers a good stories with an interesting setting, good subplots, well defined characters and a happy resolution. The reader is never disappointed in her story line. Once again, she has written a miniseries about weddings. This time, it is the Manning Men who marry, and not without a few laughs and a few twists and turns as they make their way to the altar!! A Macomber novel is a joy to read and worth the wait!!!
A Review
Customer Rating:
This book was ok. I have read later books by Debbie and I like them so much better. I liked the book but her current books are a much better read.
Macomber Books
Customer Rating:
If you love Debbie Macomber books, you will love this one. I love this feel-good kind of reading right before bedtime!
Giving love a second chance.
Customer Rating:
Deb Macomber's second book is this breathtaking series, The Manning Brides, once again goes to prove why the crown of contemporary romance sits so snuggly upon her head and why it's not an easy one to take off. We were first introduced to this series with her bestseller: The Manning Sisters: The Cowboy's LadyThe Sheriff Takes A Wife (MIRA) Anyone familiar with this series knows the two story format and that holds true for book two.
The first tale is Marriage of Convenience and those who've read The Manning Sisters will recognize the brothers. In this first tale we have Rich who is asked by his friend Jamie to be the "donor" of a child she desperately wants. Well, he agrees (since they've been good friends for years) and finally realizes that Jamie is the perfect woman for him.
The second tale is Stand-In Wife and like the first story this time we read about Rich's brother Paul. Paul has lost his wife and is left grieving while trying to raise three young children. Leah Baker has also suffered the heart-ache of loss and does her best to help. Well, she finally takes the plunge and (after quitting her job) moves in with Paul who slowly begins to love once more.
Both tales have Deb Macomber's trademark stamped on them and why we read her to begin with. In both cases the characters are well-developed with a quality of humor while keeping the romantic chemistry light at first/steamy toward the end. All in all we're given an adequate romance with characters willing to give love a second chance.
I also would highly recommend reading "Sirens" by Tin Geo: Sirens: A Novel I just finished reading it and it was spectacular...don't miss it.
Select button not working? 
