Sit back and enjoy four great stories. They are all new to this publication. Overall score = 4.5 stars.
AND THEN CAME SPRING (Margaret Brownley) -- E
This tale takes place in Colton, Kansas, in 1870. Mary-Jo Parker has arrived in town -- to learn that her intended husband (Dan Garrett) was busy attending his funeral (instead of marrying her). Unfortunately, Mary-Jo has strong beliefs in luck -- or rather her lack thereof. First, Mary-Jo lost her fiancee,' and now she's lost a second fiancee.' Devastated, she has nowhere to turn except back to her minimalist life in Helen, Georgia (with her aunt).
Adding to Mary-Jo's misery, Dan Garrett neglected to tell his brother, Tom (the town sheriff), about his pending nuptials. Tom has troubles of his own with his nephew Eddie. The child has become unsettled, and Tom has no idea where to turn.
The beauty of this story isn't the difficulties of the three main characters (Mary-Jo, Tom, and Eddie), although they tie the story together. Mary-Jo's conviction is that "if it weren't for bad luck, she'd have no luck at all." Everyone grows in this quick story, but Mary-Jo moves beyond her belief in luck which is the fascinating point of this engaging story.
AN EVER-AFTER SUMMER (Debra Clopton) -- VG
Matt McConnell has lost faith in God after the death of Beth during childbirth. Two years later, he is desperate for some help with his toddler and writes for a mail-order bride. He makes a point of telling "Bible-thumpers" not to apply. Of course, Ellie Smith arrives carrying a Bible. Matt is not pleased. However, Ellie comes with a load of baggage -- throughout her life, no one wanted her. She is so thrilled with Sophie, Matt's daughter, that Matt takes a second look at the woman.
AUTUMN'S ANGEL (Robin Lee Hatcher) -- VG
Luvena Abbott grew up in wealth but faced terrible hardships as an adult. She is the guardian of 3 children and has no skills to raise them alone. So she turns to become a mail-order bride. However, Clay Birch, her groom, is turned off by the three children, even though they are charming and well-behaved. Instead, Clay hires Luvena to help him start his opera house. In the meantime, Luvena needs to find another mail-order groom quickly.
WINTER WEDDING BELLS (Mary Connealy) -- E
David Laramie is looking for a mail-order bride to take care of his two children when he dies of heart trouble. No one responds until the mail-order catalog leaves out the mention of David dying within the year. Hard-working Megan McBride gets the altered letter; she's an Irish woman used to hard living and tending to her family's illnesses. She's uncowed by David's telling her he's dying. Instead, she creates potions and poultices that she uses on him.
AND THEN CAME SPRING (Margaret Brownley) -- E
This tale takes place in Colton, Kansas, in 1870. Mary-Jo Parker has arrived in town -- to learn that her intended husband (Dan Garrett) was busy attending his funeral (instead of marrying her). Unfortunately, Mary-Jo has strong beliefs in luck -- or rather her lack thereof. First, Mary-Jo lost her fiancee,' and now she's lost a second fiancee.' Devastated, she has nowhere to turn except back to her minimalist life in Helen, Georgia (with her aunt).
Adding to Mary-Jo's misery, Dan Garrett neglected to tell his brother, Tom (the town sheriff), about his pending nuptials. Tom has troubles of his own with his nephew Eddie. The child has become unsettled, and Tom has no idea where to turn.
The beauty of this story isn't the difficulties of the three main characters (Mary-Jo, Tom, and Eddie), although they tie the story together. Mary-Jo's conviction is that "if it weren't for bad luck, she'd have no luck at all." Everyone grows in this quick story, but Mary-Jo moves beyond her belief in luck which is the fascinating point of this engaging story.
AN EVER-AFTER SUMMER (Debra Clopton) -- VG
Matt McConnell has lost faith in God after the death of Beth during childbirth. Two years later, he is desperate for some help with his toddler and writes for a mail-order bride. He makes a point of telling "Bible-thumpers" not to apply. Of course, Ellie Smith arrives carrying a Bible. Matt is not pleased. However, Ellie comes with a load of baggage -- throughout her life, no one wanted her. She is so thrilled with Sophie, Matt's daughter, that Matt takes a second look at the woman.
AUTUMN'S ANGEL (Robin Lee Hatcher) -- VG
Luvena Abbott grew up in wealth but faced terrible hardships as an adult. She is the guardian of 3 children and has no skills to raise them alone. So she turns to become a mail-order bride. However, Clay Birch, her groom, is turned off by the three children, even though they are charming and well-behaved. Instead, Clay hires Luvena to help him start his opera house. In the meantime, Luvena needs to find another mail-order groom quickly.
WINTER WEDDING BELLS (Mary Connealy) -- E
David Laramie is looking for a mail-order bride to take care of his two children when he dies of heart trouble. No one responds until the mail-order catalog leaves out the mention of David dying within the year. Hard-working Megan McBride gets the altered letter; she's an Irish woman used to hard living and tending to her family's illnesses. She's uncowed by David's telling her he's dying. Instead, she creates potions and poultices that she uses on him.
Kay M. (maydayzee) reviewed A Bride for All Seasons: A Prairie Romance Collection on + 749 more book reviews
This collection is written by four reader-favorite authors. The stories are tied together through:
"THE HITCHING POST
A mail-order bride catalogue for the
discerning, lonely, or desperate..."
And Then Came Spring by Margaret Brownley
This first story begins with a great twist, has interesting characters, and illustrates how satisfying and peaceful life can be, when we are willing to put our trust in God.
An Ever After Summer by Debra Clopton
The overzealous editor of the Hitching Post causes a huge dilemma for Ellie and Mathew, but God is in control and He works everything out for this couple. I love Ellie. She is a wonderful and caring woman with an overcoming spirit.
Autumn's Angel by Robin Lee Hatcher
Luvena is amazingly mature for being only 23 years old. Her quiet strength and trust in God are an inspiration. I love the storyline. It isn't what I was expecting.
Winter Wedding Bells by Mary Connealy
This unique story moves along very quickly with both the hero and the heroine being extremely adept at adjusting to adverse circumstances. Megan is a fun and spunky character.
A Bride for All Seasons is an entertaining and inspirational mail-order bride collection of stories. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys this type of historical fiction.
"THE HITCHING POST
A mail-order bride catalogue for the
discerning, lonely, or desperate..."
And Then Came Spring by Margaret Brownley
This first story begins with a great twist, has interesting characters, and illustrates how satisfying and peaceful life can be, when we are willing to put our trust in God.
An Ever After Summer by Debra Clopton
The overzealous editor of the Hitching Post causes a huge dilemma for Ellie and Mathew, but God is in control and He works everything out for this couple. I love Ellie. She is a wonderful and caring woman with an overcoming spirit.
Autumn's Angel by Robin Lee Hatcher
Luvena is amazingly mature for being only 23 years old. Her quiet strength and trust in God are an inspiration. I love the storyline. It isn't what I was expecting.
Winter Wedding Bells by Mary Connealy
This unique story moves along very quickly with both the hero and the heroine being extremely adept at adjusting to adverse circumstances. Megan is a fun and spunky character.
A Bride for All Seasons is an entertaining and inspirational mail-order bride collection of stories. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys this type of historical fiction.
Charity L. (kingsdaughter1611) -
When I saw the storyline for this book, I just knew I had to read it. I mean, who wouldn't want to read a book about 4 different women who became mail order brides? Especially when there are some mistakes that happen and they people they really are gets mixed up. So when this one arrived for review, I plunged right in:)
My favorite story was probably Autumn's Angel by Robin Lee Hatcher, but they were all a hoot to read. This four-in-one really delves into the life of a woman who responds to a mail order bride ad. I can't imagine going to marry someone who I have never met and yet these women all wanted a change, adventure or maybe a new life and so off they went. Of course, it doesn't help when the ad becomes changed around with some help from the editor. It can make for some very funny results! A man who wants nothing to do with a believer and yet he gets stuck with a Bible thumper:) And there are a couple more funny disasters that arise as well.
Overall this was a great book. The stories all varied by the author but I think they flowed well. It wasn't choppy like some 4-in-1 novels I have read. It made you want to read through to the end and see how they all got arranged. Some great happily ever afters in here!
I was provided a copy for review purposes. All thoughts are 100% mine.
My favorite story was probably Autumn's Angel by Robin Lee Hatcher, but they were all a hoot to read. This four-in-one really delves into the life of a woman who responds to a mail order bride ad. I can't imagine going to marry someone who I have never met and yet these women all wanted a change, adventure or maybe a new life and so off they went. Of course, it doesn't help when the ad becomes changed around with some help from the editor. It can make for some very funny results! A man who wants nothing to do with a believer and yet he gets stuck with a Bible thumper:) And there are a couple more funny disasters that arise as well.
Overall this was a great book. The stories all varied by the author but I think they flowed well. It wasn't choppy like some 4-in-1 novels I have read. It made you want to read through to the end and see how they all got arranged. Some great happily ever afters in here!
I was provided a copy for review purposes. All thoughts are 100% mine.
Mary N. (maggysue) reviewed A Bride for All Seasons: A Prairie Romance Collection on + 811 more book reviews
Nice collection of stories by some of my favorite authors. I liked them all and would recommend this book!
