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To Have and to Hold Paperback – August 15, 2022

by M.A. Nichols (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 680 ratings
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A marriage of convenience was supposed to make their lives easier.

Matthew Bixby despises social politics. Good manners and small talk weren’t prized in the slums, and despite having freed himself and his family of their poverty, Matthew never saw a need for such frivolous things. Until now.

A war between the masters and workers is brewing, and if Matthew isn’t careful, it will destroy everything he’s built. But with so much of the battle being waged in ballrooms and parlors, he needs someone who can help him navigate society without adding to his burdens—a wife who won’t expect anything more than a partnership.

If only he had the time to find one…

A spinster knows better than to hope for more than a comfortable home, but a marriage of convenience to a stranger is another thing altogether. Especially when the groom sends his man of business to procure a bride because he cannot bother to do so himself. But Charlotte Fordyce-Whittaker is no fool, and her prospective groom’s offer is a good one—if she can fulfill his marital requirements.

Surely, it won’t be difficult to overcome her wallflower tendencies. Will it?

A mutually beneficial arrangement. That seems simple enough. But with the workers rising up, the masters at each other's throats, and a mountain of lies standing between them, Matthew and Charlotte discover happiness requires more than saying, “I do.”

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  1. Print length
    262 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    August 15, 2022
  4. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.66 x 8 inches
  5. ISBN-13
    979-8846569492
  6. See all details
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From the Publisher

The Generations of Love Series Family Tree

All of M.A. Nichols’ romances take place in the Generations of Love universe. Each book is a standalone story and can be read in any order with the titles being grouped together into family sagas.

Generations of Love Timeline

This is the chronological order in which the stories take place, but they can be read in any order.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B9RXHYDV
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (August 15, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 262 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8846569492
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.66 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 680 ratings

About the author

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M.A. Nichols

M.A. Nichols

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Born and raised in Anchorage, M.A. Nichols is a lifelong Alaskan with a love of the outdoors. As a child, she despised reading but through the love and persistence of her mother was taught the error of her ways and has had a deep, abiding relationship with it ever since.

She graduated with a bachelor's degree in landscape management from Brigham Young University and a master's in landscape architecture from Utah State University, neither of which has anything to do with why she became a writer but is a fun little tidbit nonetheless. And no, she doesn't have any idea what type of plant you should put in that shady spot out by your deck. She's not that kind of landscape architect. Stop asking.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
680 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely story
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2024
Verified Purchase
Flame and ember is a favorite book of mine and now I will add this one as a favorite. Such a very lovely story. I love amatthew and Charlotte. The story was written perfectly. Difficulties, thoughts and worries did not drag on chapter after chapter as some stories do. That is something I really dislike. This story did not do that. The characters resolved things quickly and the story moved along at a good pace. I highly recommend this book.
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JKom
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent 'marriage of convenience to love' story
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2023
Verified Purchase
Well-crafted story of a plain but genteel spinster who accepts a marriage of convenience from a wealthy mill owner during the period of worker unrest as Britain's march into industrialization gathered momentum. From its inauspicious beginnings, the marriage begins to affect both Matthew and Charlotte.

Both suffered from childhood upbringings where each learned to never depend on anyone else. Slowly they realize there is much more to marriage than just Matthew running his mill and Charlotte tending the house. They each begin to question their original assumptions - is convenience all they really want from one another?

The tumultuous times of rebellious workers and heavy-handed government response is a turning point as the town goes up in flames. Will it bring Charlotte and Matthew truly together, or tear them apart forever?

I deducted one star as Matthew's family is a huge burden to him, but is never mentioned in the epilogue. The burning of the mill and his home would be a massive financial loss - but it's only lightly touched upon in the epilogue with the general air of "everything will be all right". Those kinds of losses weren't insured in those days, so did Matthew have a rainy-day stash of Consols at the Bank of England?? We will never know, I guess.
3 people found this helpful
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mlsco
5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpected love
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2022
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As always, MA Nichols delivers another amazing story. Charlotte is a 30 year old spinster, with a bleak future in her fathers house. When a dear friend, who is a solicitor, proposes a marriage of convenience to one of his clients., Charlotte jumps at the opportunity to leave her bleak future and take a chance. Matthew was raised poor and worked in a mill starting at 8. He has worked hard and now owns his own mill. He is looked down upon because of his humble beginnings. He needs a wife that can help him navigate society. You become invested in both characters. The love and understanding that grows between them and as individuals, had me crying, worrying, and satisfied with each new chapter. Do not miss this read!
4 people found this helpful
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Wilhelmina
5.0 out of 5 stars A Poignant Marriage-of-Convenience Historical Romance
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2022
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The writing of To Have and to Hold gripped me from the very first page with its poignant poetic prose, drawing me in to the charming (and sometimes jarring) regency-era world painted by author M. A. Nichols.

Nichole has such a gift with words and a deep understanding of the inner-workings of her characters’ minds and hearts, not shying away from uncomfortable topics or situations, but rather leaning into them and unearthing gems of wisdom and meaning as her characters navigate through them. Her wry wit often put me in mind of Jane Austen’s writing style, and her understanding of the regency era with its myriad customs and traditions gives credence to her work. Where many regency romance novels are littered with inaccuracies for the sake of convenience and palatability for modern readers, Nichols’ ability to accurately depict the era while still weaving a captivating story is phenomenal.

This book is clean (PG) and can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel. I highly recommend this read if you enjoy Austen-esque regency romance and “marriage of convenience” stories.
3 people found this helpful
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Evelina
3.0 out of 5 stars Just Okay
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2022
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I've read all of Nichols' books in her Regency and Victorian series. Some I've loved (A True Gentleman), one I did not like at all (Flame and Ember), and some are in between. This book is one of my least favorites. Character development is important but so is plot. Nothing really happens. It can be argued that yes, mill workers revolt and do violence. A huge issue in industrial England at the time, Nichols misses an opportunity to further explain the effects it had on many. Rocks are thrown, buildings are burned, but the emotional and practical impacts are missing.

However, this is not so with heroine Charlotte and hero Matthew. They emote continuously with each other and in their heads, to the point that I question whether they were even aware of their surroundings. All remaining characters are two-dimensional, and if I hadn't read "A Shameless Flirt", Ambrose and Mary would have been included.

This book is clean and well-edited. Even though I didn't care for this installment, I have her next novel on pre-order and hope I like it better. 2.5 stars
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Unexpected match
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2022
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This couple starts with an arranged marriage and it grows to much more. I really enjoyed seeing both leads develop and their romance is delightful. Their weaknesses are practical and they build each other up which is really nice. I'd love more epilogue later on.
One person found this helpful
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Jane E Lowe
5.0 out of 5 stars To Have and to Hold
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2022
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A good read with rich characters and a interesting story line. I enjoyed the whole series, and the informative history.
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LauraJ
5.0 out of 5 stars interesting, warm characters
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2022
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Charlotte is the eldest daughter of a baron who is a 30 year old spinster. At best, her family ignores her. When she gets a marriage proposal via Mr. Bixby’s solicitor, she accepts. Both characters’ fears, strengths, hopes and vulnerability are slowly discovered thru what was suppose to be a marriage of convenience and appreciated by each other.
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Top reviews from other countries

S.B.
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy Reading
Reviewed in Germany on May 4, 2023
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Lovely story.
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jmcgloin
5.0 out of 5 stars Didn't want it to end!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 14, 2022
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Loved this book - in fact I've loved all the books I've read and listened to on Audible. I also think Madeleine Brolly is a lovely narrator. When I buy an audible book I have to listen to a sample because a poor narrator ruins a good book. I felt the story To Have and To Hold could have
gone on and on. That would have suited me! I want to read all the books in these series.
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Cat Lady58
4.0 out of 5 stars Spinster and stoic are joined in a marriage of convenience.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2024
Verified Purchase
Thirty year old, put upon spinster, Charlotte, is selected by Mr Davies to be the 'convenient' bride of a 'rags-to-riches' mill owner, Matthew Bixby. He needs to raise his social standing and what better than to marry a Baronet's daughter.

Thar's trouble at t'mill. The workers are wanting to form unions, which are illegal. The mill owners - with the exception of the Matthew Bixby and Ambrose Ashbrook - are complacent and refuse to acknowledge that riots are coming. They think that the Army will sort it all out!

At home Matthew finds everyone in his family dependant on him, especially his older brother, James, a worry wart! Despite a slow start, Matthew and Charlotte's marriage seems to be flourishing. However, Matthew hadn't got the bride, or in-laws, that he expected. The other mill owners - and their wives - look down their noses at the couple. Things get worse when Charlotte tells one of them what she thinks of him and retribution follows!

What lies ahead and can the town and it's people survive hatred and violence?

Can Matthew and Charlotte's marriage survive, after a poor start?

I loved the Bixby's and the Ashbrooks (featured in 'A Scandalous Flirt'). I thought there might have been a bit more danger and drama than there was. One minute they don't touch each other (even in bed), then, out of the blue, we discover that they have been kissing and doing other marital things! 😍 The realism is ruined by an, out of the blue, chapter of Charlotte's 'angst', just when things had seemed to be all 'lovey dovey' and she'd been a 'tower of strength'. I could have understood it if it had come a lot earlier in the story but not where it did.

Like most of these books, in the 'Universe of Love', we don't find out if the main characters get all that they'd wished for. Some character cross between books. Others are never heard of, or mentioned, again. I can't remember if the Bixby's are mentioned in Lydia's book (A Tender Soul), when she goes to live with the Ashbrooks. Having read the books in family groups, I think that it would have been better to read them chronologically. Although, they are supposed to be stand alone books, the crossover of characters can cause spoilers, if you read them in family groups. The characterisations are all great. The books all have a sad/happy/funny thread to them, with good character devopment.
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