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A Bride in the Bargain
A Bride in the Bargain
Author: Deeanne Gist
In 1860s Seattle, a man with a wife could secure himself 640 acres of timberland. But because of his wife's untimely death, Joe Denton finds himself about to lose half of his claim. Still in mourning, his best solution is to buy one of those Mercer girls arriving from the East. A woman he'll marry in name but keep around mostly as a cook...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780764204074
ISBN-10: 0764204076
Publication Date: 6/1/2009
Pages: 368
Rating:
  • Currently 4.3/5 Stars.
 189

4.3 stars, based on 189 ratings
Publisher: Bethany House
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed A Bride in the Bargain on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
What a sweet little book this is. No really. Throughout the book I kept thinking to myself, oh, how sweet. Surprisingly enough this didnt make me roll my eyes and toss the book over my shoulder. You see, to me sweet usually means blah, or boring, or possibly a diabetic coma, but not this time. What saves it from being too good to be true is the authors attention to historical detail. She doesnt pretty it up a whole lot which makes the secondary cast of characters much more human, therefore much more interesting.

I loved the use of Mercers Girls to drive the story forward, but its only the catalyst for the meaty part of the book. This is a true love story; love of self, friends, land, career, children and spouse. The only thing that bothered me about this book is that the hero and heroine are a bit unbelievable. Both are a little too good to be true and carry enough guilt to fell a horse. Annas feelings of responsibility for her deceased family rang especially untrue and I wish the author had resolved the issue much sooner than she did.

I cant say this is the best book Ive ever read or that I want to tell all my friends to run right out and buy it, but its a solid read. I found it to be an enjoyable and comfortable book. And since my interests tend toward action, excitement and steamy love scenes, thats saying something.
lvp avatar reviewed A Bride in the Bargain on + 41 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
I absolutely adore this book and I think I've found a new favorite author! Lately with the books I've been reading I've had trouble getting into them... They didn't keep my interest or the words just didn't flow. This book however was the complete opposite. I found myself reading one hundred pages at a time without taking a single break and I was really drawn into the story and It's characters. I have to admit Anna made me a little annoyed at times, but that's part of what kept me reading. I wanted to know if she came to her senses.
This book is a picture of a true historical romance novel. I would even go as far as to say it's reminiscent of Gone With the Wind.
reviewed A Bride in the Bargain on
Helpful Score: 3
I am actually surprised that this book is being criticized for discussing physical attraction... so i am writing a review myself. :)

I discovered this author by accident with a free Kindle edition of MAID TO MATCH. Before becoming a Christian, i spent nearly 2 decades reading mainstream, secular romance novels (with scences that would make most of these reviewers blush). Then i met Jesus, and those books made ME blush.

So, after 2 years of struggling to find an author i could read (and enjoy rather than yawn) and still face Christ each day, i have found a few treasures. Deeanne Gist, Denise Hunter, Francine Rivers, being among them.

Yes, the books speak of physical attraction. But it is quaint compared to our culture, and frankly, God never intended us to be prudes! He gave us physical attraction to be used in the right context, and there is no violation of that context within these books. (in my opinion) :)

Feel free to pick up a Deeanne Gist book and give her style a try without feeling 'oppressed' by your faith. As a child of sexual abuse and the wife of infidelity, i applaud anyone who can remind me that intimacy between a husband and wife is something of God. And Deeanne Gist's books give me exactly that hope/promise to hang onto, a lovely reminder of God's plan for His children.
reviewed A Bride in the Bargain on + 22 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
In post war Seattle, women are few. The men have engaged a professor to return east and find widows to secure as brides. In the east, women are alone due to the ravages of the Civil War. Anna Ivey is alone and penniless. She convinces Professor Mercer to let her accompany him to Seattle to pursue a job cooking. But when she arrives she finds herself handed over to a lumberjack who needs to marry to save his land.
The merry mix and courtship of these two very different people make a pleasurable read. This is one of those stories you don't want to end. . .and when it does you wonder will the next book I read be as good as this book?
reviewed A Bride in the Bargain on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Very cute book, a fun and easy read.
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reviewed A Bride in the Bargain on + 18 more book reviews
I am a huge Deeanne Gist fan. This book is tied for first place with Maid to Match. I loved the story and read it in one day. I know that this is a book that I will read over and over again. The only complaint I have is that the male characters in her books are a tad unrealistic. It may just be me, but in the years I have spent living in on this earth, I have yet to come across a man who is as incredibly handsome and muscular as her heros seem to be. But that's just me.
livinglibrary avatar reviewed A Bride in the Bargain on + 7 more book reviews
This book is purely "Christian" candy. I put Christian in quotes because as Christian fiction, it was a bit surprising to me how much physical attraction made it's way into the pages. (However, I have to admit I couldn't put it down and it made me giggle alot.) I liked the plot, the characters, and especially the setting. Joseph Denton's love of the land was exciting, as well as Anna's growing understand of him in his environment. I am not sure I should have liked this book as much as I did, but we all have our treats from time to time- this one was mine.
reviewed A Bride in the Bargain on + 69 more book reviews
A Bride in the Bargain is a hoot! It is a sweet story with fun characters, but over all (to me) it was a book that made be laugh and smile the whole time I read it. Joe Denton has his land... he has worked to prove it and has a thriving lumber business. What he doesn't have is a wife and if he doesn't get one soon, or prove he had one at the time he started this endeavor, then he will loose it all. Asa Mercer is promising brides... orphans and widows of the Civil War who have no one. Desperate, Joe purchases one of Mercer's brides and then waits for her to arrive.

Anna Ivey needs to escape... the pain of all she lost to the war and the clutches of an unscrupulous boss who wants more than a cook. She signs on with Mercer to move west and cook for a lumber business in Seattle. What he fails to tell her and many of the other women is there is more to the bargain!

When Joe Denton escorts Anna to the preacher she is appalled! She came to be a hired cook not a wife and she wants nothing to do with marriage! With only a few months left before he loses all he has, can Joe convince Anna that marriage would serve them both well?

There are so many twists and turns and hilarious happenings in this book.. not only with Joe and Anna, but with some of the other characters like Mrs. Wrenne and her lack of teeth or the Judge and his nameless children called One, Two, Three and Four!

Delightful book! Put it on your "to read" list. You will not be disappointed!
lvp avatar reviewed A Bride in the Bargain on + 41 more book reviews
I absolutely adore this book and I think I've found a new favorite author! Lately with the books I've been reading I've had trouble getting into them... They didn't keep my interest or the words just didn't flow. This book however was the complete opposite. I found myself reading one hundred pages at a time without taking a single break and I was really drawn into the story and It's characters. I have to admit Anna made me a little annoyed at times, but that's part of what kept me reading. I wanted to know if she came to her senses.
This book is a picture of a true historical romance novel. I would even go as far as to say it's reminiscent of Gone With the Wind.
reviewed A Bride in the Bargain on + 15 more book reviews
rich historical detail, good story
reviewed A Bride in the Bargain on + 2 more book reviews
A great story!


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