Reviews for When a Man Marries

The average rating for When a Man Marries based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2017-10-09 00:00:00 Irina Blain 4.5 STARS Objectively, this is probably more of a four star book but I so thoroughly enjoyed it I'll bump it up to five stars. I thought it was delightful! Just enough mystery to be intriguing, a dash of romance, winsome humor and keen characterization. Kit is such an engaging narrator and Mr. Harbison so swoon-worthy, I kept hoping he would be found innocent and that Kit would swallow her pride! (No spoilers here, just saying what I hoped would happen.) It's a breezy read without being fluff and I enjoyed every moment of it (well, except for the few un-PC comments about the Japanese butler and South Americans.)

Review # 2 was written on 2012-09-16 00:00:00 Richard Upchurch 3.5 stars Mary Roberts Rinehart is best remembered today as a mystery writer, but When a Man Marries is a classic screwball comedy - complete with a feisty female lead, mistaken identities, romance, witty repartee and a cast of befuddled high-society types. Jewelry thefts and mysterious happenings are part of the plot, but what kept me turning the pages was the humor, the improbable twists and turns and the desire to see if two obviously mad-for-each-other couples would stop being stubborn, already. Kit McNair just wants to help a friend distraught over the approaching second anniversary of his divorce. She encourages Jimmy Wilson to host a small dinner party at his fashionable New York home. As the group gathers, a frantic Jimmy informs them his wealthy Aunt Selina is coming for an unexpected visit. Aunt Selina disapproves strongly of divorce - and she holds Jimmy's purse strings. The rest of the group persuades the reluctant Kit to pose as Jimmy's wife, just for the duration of Aunt Selina's short stay. Of course, a whole host of complications ensue. Jimmy's butler falls ill with what appears to be smallpox, and the rest of the frightened servants flee the house. Jimmy's REAL ex-wife, Bella, shows up unannounced, forcing Kit to hide her in the basement. Then the public-health authorities arrive to lock up the entire dinner party in quarantine. Thus the stage is set for an outrageous, wild romp. Used to being fed and dressed by servants, the trapped guests muddle along as best they can. Aunt Selina unleashes her domestic tyranny on the household. Jimmy tries to give Bella the cold shoulder, but it soon becomes obvious he still adores her (all while he's supposed to be playing the part of Kit's devoted husband). And while pretending to be Jim's wife, Kit finds herself increasingly attracted to a handsome new acquaintance, Tom Harbison, an engineer with little use for the "non-producing parasites" of the upper crust. The characters are all appealingly human as they tease, quarrel and flirt with one another. After awhile, I felt like I was stuck in the house with them, laughing one moment and growing exasperated the next. I wanted to shake Kit at times for so relentlessly denying her feelings and doubting her own judgment. Then a chapter or two later I would be chuckling at her quips or admiring her pluck. I despaired of the coldly arrogant Bella until she unexpectedly and touchingly revealed she had a heart. Think too much about a story like this, and it falls apart. It's just too ridiculous to take seriously. This breezy novel is best enjoyed as the tongue-in-cheek, fun romp that it is. First published in 1910, When a Man Marries is in the public domain and available for free, but I opted for the 99-cent Kindle edition by Legacy Vintage Collection, which includes an introduction and a gorgeous gallery of period photographs and artwork.