The Doctor's Convenient Marriage

About the Book

Book: The Doctor's Convenient Marriage

Author: Lauralyn Keller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance Fiction

Release Date: January 20, 2026

She wants the freedom to practice medicine, and he needs a wife. But their bold escape from Boston’s high society rests on a marriage vow neither intended to make real.

Victoria Mountbatten has fought hard to earn her medical degree, but her powerful father uses his influence to block any doctor from hiring her. Faced with an ultimatum—marry a society gentleman or face disinheritance, Tori sees only one path to freedom. She makes a bold proposition to Dr. Harrison Blake, a colleague she’s worked alongside for years: a plan that will take them far from Boston’s stifling society.

Harrison Blake has always dreamed of building a hospital in the untamed West where he can truly help people. But his inheritance comes with a catch—he must marry before his thirtieth birthday. So even though Tori’s proposal is shocking, a marriage of convenience may be the perfect solution for both of them.

In the quiet moments of Harmony Springs, feelings grow and lines blur. Can their partnership blossom into true love, or will the walls around their hearts destroy the fragile trust they’ve built?

About the Author

Lauralyn Keller loves to combine history and romance in stories that touch the heart.
She lives in beautiful Colorado and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and reading.

More from Lauralyn

You might have noticed all three books in the Second Chances in Harmony Springs series feature a marriage of convenience. While that was partly for continuity, it also spoke to my own heart.

I love this trope. There’s something beautiful about the type of romance where two people agree to something practical and unemotional, only to slowly discover all the messy, tender, unexpected feelings they absolutely did not plan for. It’s a popular trope because beneath the external circumstances—inheritance rules, social expectations, survival needs—lies a universal truth: sometimes love grows in the unlikeliest places.

For me, the appeal isn’t just the forced proximity or the slow-burn tension, though I love both. It’s the way a practical arrangement forces two people to reveal their truest selves. A marriage of convenience strips away the excitement of courtship and goes straight to the heart of compatibility. The characters must ask: Can we build a life together? Can we rely on each other? Can we trust each other with our hopes, fears, and futures?

Those are deeply romantic questions, even when the relationship begins with a contract instead of a kiss.

In The Doctor’s Convenient Marriage, Tori and Harrison enter their agreement not out of despair, but from determination. Tori refuses to sacrifice her dream of practicing medicine, even as Boston society tries to conform her to their expectations. Harrison is more heart-driven, longing to build a hospital in the untamed West where he can serve those who need it most. Their marriage isn’t about survival. It’s about carving out the freedom to become who they were meant to be.

That mutual ambition changes the dynamic. Instead of one rescuing the other, they rescue each other, and in doing so, they learn to see beyond professional camaraderie into something far deeper and more vulnerable.

What I love most about their journey is the way real affection steals up on them quietly. They start as friends and coworkers, but then things begin to change. Little glances. Quiet confessions. Moments of care neither expected to give or receive.

A marriage forged for convenience becomes a partnership rooted in respect. And that becomes the foundation for love. That’s the irresistible beauty of this trope: the idea that love can flourish not in spite of practicality, but right alongside it.

I hope you love this story as much as I do. It’s a heartfelt conclusion to a series that’s been in the works for years. I’m deeply grateful to all who’ve come along on this journey, and I look forward to seeing where the road takes us from here.

Devoted to Hope's Review of As Far As The West

This is a five-star read that understands healing as something deeper than physical recovery. It honors covenant, vocation, and quiet faithfulness with integrity and grace. The final pages felt like a steady heartbeat settling into rhythm. Strong. Assured. At peace.

The marriage of convenience unfolds with remarkable care. This relationship grows through proximity, responsibility, and small mercies rather than dramatic declarations. The characters feel wholly human. Thoughtful. Guarded. Willing to do the next right thing even when clarity arrives slowly. Their affection develops through shared burdens and faithful obedience, which makes every emotional shift feel earned and honest.

Faith is not ornamental. Prayer, Scripture-shaped thinking, and submission to God’s timing are woven naturally into the narrative bloodstream. The story treats spiritual growth with seriousness and warmth, allowing belief to guide decisions rather than decorate them. The result feels reverent and grounded, never hurried.

From the opening pages, the historical medical setting feels lived-in and purposeful. The details carry weight without showmanship. Healing here is both profession and calling, practiced with steady hands and reverent restraint. Every scene feels calibrated, as if nothing is wasted. Each moment advances trust, deepens tenderness, and strengthens conviction.

What impressed me most was the author’s control. The writing carries a calm confidence that trusts the reader to notice nuance. The pacing breathes. The setting supports the story rather than competing with it. Even the title’s promise of “convenience” is gently redefined through sacrificial love and growing unity.

Highly recommended for readers who cherish clearly Christian historical romance or love marriage-of-convenience stories that unfold through responsibility, proximity, and steady devotion.