Captain Matthew Leland has come home from India (where he was reported as dead) to discover he appears to have a wife - but he knows he didn't marry Emily. His unexpected return gives great joy to his family, but he's more interested in knowing what Emily - his purported wife - is planning. He pretends to have amnesia to give himself space to discover more about her and her motivations.

Despite the deception that both undertake, they begin to create something of a life together. When their trust is tested, can they believe enough in each other, despite the lies, to make a future?

Never Marry a Stranger is an enjoyable read with appealing main characters. Despite some flaws - the blackmail subplot doesn't work entirely well, nor is the occasional focus on sister Susanna and Matthew's parents completely successful - overall this is a good read as well as an uplifting one. It's solace to read of people who, despite having every reason to turn against each other, are able to forgive and forget and move on.