Bride at Last - A Review

Published - July 2015, Bethany House Publishers
Series - Unexpected Brides Book 3
Author - Melissa Jagears
Title - A Bride at Last
Format - ebook, paper
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Silas Jonesy's life hasn't gone the way he'd planned it. His mail-order bride left him after only a few months of marriage. Since then, he's fought an uphill battle to overcome addictions, and to actually become a productive member of the community. Then he receives a letter from his wife after ten years of silence. He's hopeful that she wants to reconcile and he sees the letter that his prayers have been answered. He doesn't expect to arrive in Missouri to find her dying and that she has a nine year old son. Could he be the boy's father? Kate Dawson has her own opinions regarding mail-order marriages. She was supposed to be a mail-order bride but never went through with the ceremony. Now she's a teacher.Over the past few years, she has grown to care for her student Anthony and his sick mother. She promises his mother to care for Anthony, and she intends to do that until a man shows up claiming to have been married to Lucinda ten years ago. Soon Kate and Silas must join forces to determine what is best for Anthony especially as another man claims to be the boy's father. With Silas doing all he can to prove his paternity, Kate only wants what is best for Anthony. Their tentative relationship is tested when Silas's past and Kate's fears come to light. Can they figure out their differences to be the family that all three desperately need?

This is the third book in the Unexpected Brides Series. Each one stands alone. While this one was not my favorite, I did enjoy it.

First I found that Silas had changed so much from the first book to this one. Seeing how he's changed and grown made him very believable. I loved how he struggled. I also loved how he was willing to do whatever he needed to for the sake of providing Anthony a safe place, even if he wasn't the boy's father.

I didn't really care for Kate. I didn't really like the way that she judged Silas on his past but didn't like having her own faults called out in question. I also didn't really care for how she just behaved in general. Don't get me wrong. I did come to like her, but it wasn't until much later in the book, like almost the end.

Still the book overall was a very good read. I enjoyed catching up with the characters from the other books as well.

I received this book from the author for the purpose of reviewing and promoting. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of mail-order brides, historical romance, Mary Connealy, Jody Hedlund, Karen Witemeyer

Rating - 4 stars

Bride in Store - A Review

Published - August 2014, Bethany House Publishers
Series - Unexpected Brides Book 2
Author - Melissa Jagears
Title - A Bride in Store
Format - ebook, paper
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Mail-order bride, Eliza Cantrell is so anxious to meet her future husband that she arrives a week ahead of schedule. Only things haven't gone as she planned. First the train she's on is robbed and she's relieved of her dowry. Then when she does arrive, she finds that Axel, her groom, isn't even in town. William Stanton, Axel's business partner, would make a much better doctor than store owner. When Eliza arrives, wounded, with no money and no groom in sight, Will feels responsible for her. Sparks soon fly between Eliza and Will. Matters are only complicated when Axel finally does make an appearance. What will Will and Eliza both be willing to sacrifice to chase their dreams or does God have a bigger plan in place for them?

After being delighted by the first book in this series last year, I was eager to read this one. I'd met Will in the first book and had no idea that his story would be in this one. Until I started reading it. And then I was delighted to read about Will as a grown rather than the teen he'd been in the first book.

I love the sparks that fly between Eliza and Will. I also love how even though he has no formal schooling or training, Will is the town's favored doctor. The journeys that both main characters go on shows how deep they really are. I also loved how each was willing to give up their own dream for the other's happiness.

For me, this was a quick read. The story moved along at a smooth pace and the characters were delightful. My heart broke for the family when their new baby died.

I'm really hoping that we get to catch up again with Eliza and Will in the third book.

I received a copy of this book for free from the author for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of historical romance, mail order brides, Karen Witemeyer, Jody Hedlund, Mary Connealy

Rating - 4 stars

Taming the Texas Rancher - A Review

Summary (from Amazon)
Race to the Altar 

Though he'd never planned to wed, Daniel Westland must marry and produce a grandchild before his brother does in order to inherit the family ranch. Leave it to him to pick a mail-order bride who insists on being courted! Yet every time Daniel wonders if Hannah Young is even suited to rugged living, the petite schoolteacher shows her gumption. 

What man sends away for a bride but doesn't really want to get married? Hannah came to Granite, Texas, hoping to find love and security, and she can't settle for less than a true partnership. If the brooding, handsome rancher can just learn to trust in Hannah, their future could be as filled with promise as this bountiful land..

My Thoughts:
I read a lot of the Love Inspired Historicals every month. Some of them I will actually post a review on my blog, Goodreads, or Amazon. Some I won't. Sometimes, I'll only post the review on Goodreads. I know my reading schedule is so full that I do not have time to review EVERY book I read, though my facebook page may show I've completed it. But every once in a while, I will decide to post a review of one these books.

Rhonda Gibson is one Love Inspired Historical author whose books always delight me. In this one, I loved how both Daniel and Levi are expecting their brides to arrive, yet only one does. And Hannah expects to be courted. The journey that Hannah and Daniel go on is fun and full of some interesting twists. I typically read Rhonda's books in a couple of hours and never really want the story to end.

I read this book for pure pleasure.

Rating - 4 stars

Recommended to fans of Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense, Love Inspired Historical, mail order brides

Rhonda's newest book, His Chosen Bride is due out this May. You can pre-order it here.


Where to buy Taming the Texas Rancher
Amazon

Bride for Keeps - A Review

Julia Lockwood answers an ad for a mail order bride. But when she arrives in Salt Flats, Kansas, she discovers that her prospective groom, Everett Cline, didn't advertise for one. At least not this time. Everett has been hurt more times than he can count in the hopes of finding a wife. After having one girl leave him, he decided to advertise for a bride. Yet each one that answered his ad ended up not marrying him. One died in route to him. Another married a man she met on the train. A third married someone else once she arrived. So Everett feels that Julia won't be any different. Julia's determined to prove that she will be a wife that won't leave him. She's also determined to have only a marriage of convenience. But what'll happen when the pair start to fall for each other? Will they turn their marriage of convenience into a real marriage?

Mail order brides are a popular theme right now. But as long as an author makes it seem new, then for me the stories never get old. This twist on the mail order bride story is one I'd not read before, so I truly enjoyed it. Debut author Melissa Jagers does an excellent job in showing Everett's pain and reluctance at trying his hand at a marriage - again. Julia is very complex. She was hiding something, but what I didn't know. Eventually the reader finds out. I loved the secondary characters of Dex and Rachel and their family. I am looking forward to more by this author.

I received this book for free from the author for the purpose of reviewing and promoting. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Love Comes Softly, mail order brides, Karen Witemeyer, Love Inspired Historicals, Lori Wick, Tracie Peterson, Lauraine Snelling

Rating - 4 stars - good solid debut

Bride for All Seasons - A Review

A mail-order bride catalog whose facilitator of the ads submitted has a tendency of editing the ads admits that his "edited" ads have helped four couples find happiness. But what happens when the couples find out about the "creative editing? Four talented authors combine to write these novellas.

And Then Came Spring - Margaret Brownley - Gambler's daughter, Mary Jo Parker, arrives in town to discover that not only has her fiance died, but that he left behind an 8 year old son that was never mentioned in his letters. Yet it's the boy's uncle that finds her hoping for more.

An Ever After Summer- Debra Clopton - Widower Matt McConnell was very specific in his ad for a mail order bride - Bible believers need not apply. All he wants is a practical woman to be a mama for his daughter. When Bible believer Ellie shows up, he's so desperate for help that he accepts her as is. But will love follow?

 Autumn's Angel - Robin Lee Hatcher - Aspiring opera singer Luvena Abbott from a privileged childhood arrives in rural Idaho with her nieces and nephew in tow to answer the ad that Opera House owner Clay Birch placed. He specifically stated that widows with children should not apply. What will Clay do when Luvena takes an add out of her own?

Winter Wedding Bells - Mary Connealy - David Laramie wants a woman who will care for his children when he dies. But no young woman with dreams of her own would even consider his ad. Then Megan shows up. Seems that David's edited letter made no mention of him dying.

My thoughts

I have read books by each of these authors before. So when I saw that they were writing a novella book together, I knew I had to add it to my to-read list.

I wasn't disappointed in the book. Each author brought her own style to the book, and each story had characters that were endearing. I laughed my way through one of the stories, and sighed happily after reading others. This is a very enjoyable read. I'd have to say that my favorite story was Winter Wedding Bells mainly because I just adored Megan. I think that this book would be great for a beach, a pool side, a family vacation, or anything else going on in the summer.

I received the Kindle edition of this book for free from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Mary Connealy, Debra Clopton, Robin Lee Hatcher, Margaret Brownley, fun reads, historical romance, mail order brides.

Rating - 4 stars

Twice Promised - A Review

 Greta Olsen arrives in Central City, Colorado as mail-order bride. When she steps off the train, she finds out that she's not the only bride for Jess Gifford, his brother, Zach, meets the train, and her prosepctive groom has no idea that he even ordered one bride, let alone two! Both Greta and the other bride, Cora, find themselves being courted by a different brother. Will the women fall for the brother that is courting them? Or will they fall for the one courting the other bride? Will both women get the happy endings and new starts that they long for?

This is book 2 in the Blue Willow Bride Series, and they don't have to be read in order. I'd met Greta on the pages of Deeply Devoted and enjoyed being able to read her story now. While this was a fun, light-hearted read, there were times I was a bit annoyed with the characters, especially when it came to their lack of communication! I'd have to say my favorite character in the book was by far Granny. She's got a lot of spunk and knows how to put her grandsons in their place. Looking forward to reading the third book, Anna's story.

I received this book for free from the publisher, Revell Books, for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Find Twice Promised in October, 2012 at your local bookstore from Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Recommended to fans of tender romances, mail-order bride stories, Lori Wick, Janelle Mowery

Rating - 4 stars

Deeply Devoted - A Review

Catharine Olsen leaves Holland as a mail-order bride with her two sisters in tow. When they arrive in Wyoming, Catharine and her groom, Peter Andersen, immediately marry and begin their life together. Catharine's keeping some secrets from her new husband about her past. Peter's mother is hurt that her son had the nerve to marry someone without her permission, so she seeks to find out all she can about her son's bride's background. Peter finds himself falling for Catharine yet torn between his wife and his mother. When the truth of Catharine's past comes to light, will Peter be able to forgive Catharine and will Catharine find the love she longs for?

This is the first book in the Blue Willow Brides series. I enjoyed reading it. Trust is an important theme in the book and both Catharine and Peter have to learn to trust not only each other but also God. A tender love story, fans of Janette Oke will be sure to pick up this book. I look forward to reading others in the series because I want to see if my questions are answered.

My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating - 4 stars

Marshal's Promise - A Review

Mail-order bride Rebecca Ramsey arrives in Cottonwood Springs, New Mexico only to find that her groom, Jesse Cole, has been killed. US Marshal, Seth Billings, made a promise to Jesse to look after Rebecca. Rebecca has no money and no reason to return to her home in Maryland, so the offer of a job as housekeeper and cook for the marshal is just what she needs. As Rebecca begins to fall for the gentle marshal she senses that he is holding a secret from her. Will Seth open his heart up enough to share the secret his holding? And what will Rebecca do when she learns the truth behind Jesse's death?

I loved reading this book. I got home late Friday evening and was already over halfway with the book and before I knew it, it was 1 am and not only was the book finished, but I had to be up early to get ready to head to my Mary Kay Career Conference. The characters are very relaxing. I loved how both Seth and Rebecca depended on their faith. When Seth's secret is shared, Rebecca doesn't react the way that Seth thought. But she still needed time to process her thoughts.

I look forward to reading more set in the little town of Cottonwood Springs. At least I hope that there are more.

Rating - 5 stars

This book is due out in May, 2012. I received my copy through Reader Service.