I have been going back and forth between names for my story in the anthology, A Groom’s Promise. I’m not happy with The Shy Groom. I want to do something else.
This morning, all I could come up with is The Rejected Suitor. My question to all of you is, is this title something that would grab your attention if you were browsing for books? Or is there a better title I can use?
Here’s the brief description I came up with: She and awkward Jack Warren has finally found the woman of his dreams, but her father wants her to marry his brother instead.
Here’s the long description:
This is a story about a stuttering hero who has a tendency to bump into things when he’s nervous. Since he’s endured a lot of ridicule, he and his brother decide to make a new start in a place. His brother comes across an ad looking for hired hands in Lincoln, Nebraska, and with this position comes the opportunity to buy some acreage from the owner. This is Jack’s chance to live out the rest of his life in peace since he’ll be far removed from others. What he doesn’t count on is the owner’s attractive daughter who happens to be available.
When the new hired hands arrive at her pa’s farm, Maybell is immediately drawn to Jack. Though he wasn’t the most graceful of all men to work for her pa, there’s a certain charm and sweetness about him that appeals to her. Her pa, however, has other ideas. Certain someone as timid as Jack wouldn’t make a good husband, he rejects Jack’s suit. Instead, he plans for her to marry his brother, and he’ll do everything he can to make that happen.
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So that is the information about the book. Does The Rejected Suitor fit for a title, or is there something better? I’m open to any suggestions. 😀
Ruth Ann Nordin's Author Blog 
I like the title The Shy Groom. From your synopsis, it sounds really good. I will most definitely be purchasing this book. In fact, sure wish it were ready for print! I can’t wait to read it!
Maybe the unexpected suitor because he isn’t what anyone would expect her to be interested in.
I don’t really like The Rejected Suitor. The Shy Groom is better. Or The Awkward Groom. The Clumsy Groom? LOL The Timid Groom?
Rejected sounds like she is rejecting him not the father. The timid suitor or the overlooked groom. The bumbling groom lol.
I like the Shy Groom. How bout the Forsaken Groom….the Jilted Groom….the Bashful Suitor….hmmmmmmm….or maybe the Neglected Groom…the Forgotten Suitor or Forgotten Groom…..Nameless Groom….
You are so good with titles but here is my two-cents worth: The Unlikely Couple. You have quite a few suggestions to choose from and that is great. God bless.
The Is He or Isn’t He Going to Make It Groom. Or same, but delete “Going to Make It”. That is the true storyline & I’d jump on it. The other titles almost give a negative impression of the poor guy. I want to root for him.
Hi!
What a treat! Picking up a title for a story…..
I offer mine and just feel free to not choose it: “Picking up the right groom”
See you
I thought of this one, Ruth, early this morning. What about The Reluctant Groom? Just a thought. God bless. Whatever you choose is going to be wonderful.
I’m going to respond to everyone in this comment. 🙂 After reading through them, I can see how people would think The Rejected Suitor means Maybell is the one rejecting Jack, and that is not what happens. So I’m tossing that one out for this book. However, it did give me a story idea for a future book where the heroine or hero is rejected by the person they were hoping to marry. 😀
What about something simple like Jack’s Bride or Maybell’s Groom?
Too generic. I would have to see a very unusual cover to even pick up the book. And no offense, but the only Maybell I’ve heard of was a cow.
LOL I already picked the name out in Bride by Arrangement, so I’m stuck with it. 😀 Maybell already knows who she wants to marry. Otherwise, something with “Choice” or “Picking” would work. The problem is that her father has arranged for her to marry someone else. (This “someone else” is the hero in Janet’s story, and he’s already interested in another lady. The conflict in her story is that he feels obligated to marry Maybell.)
I really wanted to do The Marriage Bargain, but Janet’s story (which impacts mine) doesn’t lend itself to Jack making a bargain for Maybell. Maybe I should focus on something to do with an arrangement since that is the conflict.
I could always just title my story A Groom’s Promise since Jack promises Maybell he’ll find a way to marry her despite her father’s schemes.
I don’t usually have this horrible of a time with titles. This one is a doozy. LOL
What about a synonym check on shy and reject? Such as skittish, wary, timid or bashful.
Or denied, passed by, discarded. Sorry. all I got for now.
Since about 50% of the feedback I’ve gotten has been stuff like “shy, timid or reluctant” turns them off, I’m going to have to go in another direction.
Hmm…
How about The Marriage Arrangement? It could work since the father has an arrangement set up with the brother, so the hero has to arrange something else in order to marry her. Not sure if that is the message people think of when they see a title like that though. I don’t want my title to give the wrong impression of the book like The Rejected Suitor would have.
I like that. I have another suggestion to go along with your idea, The Marriage Promise. Just a thought. It is difficult to come up with a good one. Remember when we pitched around ideas for my original title of Sustaining Love? It can make your mind whirl. Now, back to finish a scene and write another one tonight. God bless.
Hmm… The Marriage Promise might work. I’ll have to think it over.
I like The Rejected Suitor, if I was scanning through titles I would take note and want to read what it is all about. Since I have all your books that is one I would purchase. Keep writing I love you books and the way you put word together.
I like the title, too. I did get the beginning of a new plot for another book from it. Based on what people have said that title won’t work for this storyline only because the hero is rejected by the father instead of the heroine. They have a good point. I would probably think that too if I was browsing through titles.
Thanks for the compliment. That’s very sweet of you. 😀