Helpful Score: 2
I was lucky to receive this book to read before it's debut. A bride for keeps was an amazing & inspiring story to read. Everett and Julia both experienced pain in their past causing them to shut each other out. Reading their struggles and pain felt like I was right there in the story. This was the first book I read by Melissa Jagears and I must say she has made my favorite author list with this book. So far A bride for keeps is the best mail-order-bride story I read so far this year, and the ending was touching! This book is a must read!!!
This is an outstanding novel in every way, but perhaps one of the best parts of this story was the deep characterization. I have rarely read a novel that did such an excellent job of taking me inside the characters' heads. Julia's constant battle within herself was fascinating: the war between her fear and her desire to experience love was poignant and wonderfully fleshed out for the reader. Everett's own struggle to be the husband God wanted him to be, even as his wife held him at arms' length, was also well-written and entirely believable. I could not help but root for this couple, even as the author did a fantastic job of scaring me that a happy ending would be near to impossible with these two.
The most beautiful struggle in the novel, however, had to be Julia's coming to terms with God as a loving Father, and with herself as a child He loved. The resolution of that particular part of the story brought tears to my eyes.
Although my copy came free in exchange for an honest review, I would not hesitate to highly recommend this novel to any fan of historical or inspirational fiction. The storyline caught and held my attention from the first few pages and did not let go until the book came to it's satisfying conclusion.
The most beautiful struggle in the novel, however, had to be Julia's coming to terms with God as a loving Father, and with herself as a child He loved. The resolution of that particular part of the story brought tears to my eyes.
Although my copy came free in exchange for an honest review, I would not hesitate to highly recommend this novel to any fan of historical or inspirational fiction. The storyline caught and held my attention from the first few pages and did not let go until the book came to it's satisfying conclusion.
Bride For Keeps By Melissa Jagears
Unexpected Brides Series Book 1
Everett Cline is about the unluckiest man on earth when it comes to women. He's told that he's not so bad looking and yet still he's had four women reject him in different ways. When he finds his best friends wife has written yet another mail-order bride on his behalf he does the only thing he can when she arrives, ignores her. Which isn't easy being she's the most beautiful woman he's ever seen.
Julia Lockwood is so busy running from the past that she won't even stop long enough to see what her future could be with Everett. She blames herself for things she had no control over and lives with a boat load of guilt. She's only ever been used by men for her beauty, never loved. Julia can only be released from her past if she accepts God and His love. That's a wall only He can knock down. She's a city girl but will do what she must to prove herself worthy of being a country wife.
A good storyline with believable characters that come to life. As a reader I really felt for Everett, he'd been rejected so often that he couldn't bear to let hope in. Julia had no clue that her fears from the past were adding to Everett's past rejections. There are some secondary characters that really add to the story as well. The free novella, Love by the Letter, is a prequel to this book. It is Dex and Rachel's story.
**Book received through Bethany House for review
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2011/10/bethany-house-publishers.html
Unexpected Brides Series Book 1
Everett Cline is about the unluckiest man on earth when it comes to women. He's told that he's not so bad looking and yet still he's had four women reject him in different ways. When he finds his best friends wife has written yet another mail-order bride on his behalf he does the only thing he can when she arrives, ignores her. Which isn't easy being she's the most beautiful woman he's ever seen.
Julia Lockwood is so busy running from the past that she won't even stop long enough to see what her future could be with Everett. She blames herself for things she had no control over and lives with a boat load of guilt. She's only ever been used by men for her beauty, never loved. Julia can only be released from her past if she accepts God and His love. That's a wall only He can knock down. She's a city girl but will do what she must to prove herself worthy of being a country wife.
A good storyline with believable characters that come to life. As a reader I really felt for Everett, he'd been rejected so often that he couldn't bear to let hope in. Julia had no clue that her fears from the past were adding to Everett's past rejections. There are some secondary characters that really add to the story as well. The free novella, Love by the Letter, is a prequel to this book. It is Dex and Rachel's story.
**Book received through Bethany House for review
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2011/10/bethany-house-publishers.html
Since I was old enough to read Christian fiction, mail order bride stories have been one of my first loves. Fostered through Al and Joanna Lacy and Janette Oke, if it said mail order bride it didnt take me too long to think about reading it and the same still holds true to this day. But could you image ordering three bridesand all of them picking a different spouse? Oh I cringed for the hero for such is his lot.
Julia is an interesting and at times, confusing character. Her angst goes deep and needed much tender love, which Everett learns to give to her, however she at times confused me. A façade that seemed happy and cheerful when viewed from other characters, but timid and fearful when we saw the world from her eyes. The extremes were so distant I had a hard time reconciling the two, though it became a smoother transition the further I read.
I think what I missed the most in this particular title was the lack of a subplot. I would have loved to see more depth added by weaving in another characters story.
Otherwise, the story is a sweet and simple love tangle about characters the reader quickly grows to care for.
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my copy to review.
Julia is an interesting and at times, confusing character. Her angst goes deep and needed much tender love, which Everett learns to give to her, however she at times confused me. A façade that seemed happy and cheerful when viewed from other characters, but timid and fearful when we saw the world from her eyes. The extremes were so distant I had a hard time reconciling the two, though it became a smoother transition the further I read.
I think what I missed the most in this particular title was the lack of a subplot. I would have loved to see more depth added by weaving in another characters story.
Otherwise, the story is a sweet and simple love tangle about characters the reader quickly grows to care for.
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my copy to review.
A very good story! I couldn't put the book down. Highly recommended!
