Make-Believe Matrimony is the first book I've ever read by Kathern Shaw. On a scale of 1 - 10 I'd give it an 7.  This book has many wonderful points. The plot is entertaining, the heroine, f inds that winning 50 million dollars in the lottery isn't all it's cracked up to be and needs some assistance dealing with the problems that come along with her winnings. The story is well written, making you feel as if you were a part of the book not just the reader, and the humor of the first few pages of the book grabs your attention. 

But, what makes this book is the hero; Detective Ryan Armstrong is almost perfect. He's an obviously caring, protective, well-built man, and the baggage he comes with only makes him better. Through out the book he does everything he c an to help our heroine, Annie. And here is where the book hits a snag. Ryan, while very caring often misses out on some very obvious clues to Annie's personality and occasionally tries to help when he shouldn't. Annie, alternates between acting like a mature adult ready to face her feelings and deal with her problems with at least a modicum of maturity, and a brat who'd rather run from her feelings or distort them without thought to how it may affect others, namely Ryan.  There are parts of the book where Annie, our heroine, makes me want to reach out and smack some sense into her.  Fortunately, Ms. Shaw was able to instill Annie with a major dose of intelligence and maturity before the book ended, and that smack was never needed. Through an action on Ryan's part, which I felt was about fifty pages or so overdue, Annie was forced to realize that you can't let the past ruin your future. She finally became a woman I enjoyed reading about. 

Make-Believe Matrimony is a relatively quick read. The characters, while problematic are interesting and you will be thoroughly satisfied with the way things end.