Cheryl Reavis is one of my favorite authors; she is exceptionally talented and I'm always on the lookout for her books (even short stories). I'm not as familiar with the other two authors. The great ratings by other readers made this a 'sure thing.'
THREE BRIDES AND A WEDDING DRESS (Judith Stacy) -- Anna Kingsley travels from Virginia to marry a man she met socially at her home in Virginia. They wrote to each other several times and then Henry asked her to travel to his home in California and marry him. He explained he owned a lumber company. Henry was fibbing and he cleared out of town before Anna got there. Cousins Cade and Ben Riker had to tell her the bad news. They hired her to cook for them while she figured out what to do with her life. This was a very satisfying story.
THE WINTER HEART (Cheryl Reavis) -- Eleanor Hansen has come to Wyoming Territory to teach children; which is a fresh start after her loss during the Civil War (it's 1869). People warn Eleanor that she will be taking the next train out of town. When she has to fire her revolver at a man less than 10 hours after arriving, she begins to wonder if maybe they are right.
Cheryl Reavis seems to specialize in stories about people damaged by the Civil War. This is a unique, complex, and fascinating story about two people trying to pick up the pieces of their lives after their experiences in the war.
MC CORD'S DESTINY (Pam Crooks) -- This story claimed it took place in 1892, but it had a contemporary ring to it. Juliette Blanchard, an architect, has designed the perfect deluxe resort for 300 acres near Omaha, Nebraska. The oil in the ointment is that the land is held by Tru McCord, a former love interest of Juliette. Tru refuses to sell; then, he agrees only if she will marry him.
Her ailing sister Camille (the parents were killed in a scarlet fever epidemic and Camille is forever frail) is with Juliette on the trip to Omaha. They live in New York. But Camille has just announced that she plans to marry Tru's younger brother, Ryan, and stay in Omaha. Then, Juliette learns the truth about her mother and (especially) her father. The visit to Omaha turns into a real downer and Juliette has to face some difficult truths. It was unfortunate that the publishers put this story immediately after THE WINTER HEART. After that stellar story, any story would appear ho-hum.
***Overall ratings from fave-to-least-fave = Reavis, Stacy, and Crooks.
THREE BRIDES AND A WEDDING DRESS (Judith Stacy) -- Anna Kingsley travels from Virginia to marry a man she met socially at her home in Virginia. They wrote to each other several times and then Henry asked her to travel to his home in California and marry him. He explained he owned a lumber company. Henry was fibbing and he cleared out of town before Anna got there. Cousins Cade and Ben Riker had to tell her the bad news. They hired her to cook for them while she figured out what to do with her life. This was a very satisfying story.
THE WINTER HEART (Cheryl Reavis) -- Eleanor Hansen has come to Wyoming Territory to teach children; which is a fresh start after her loss during the Civil War (it's 1869). People warn Eleanor that she will be taking the next train out of town. When she has to fire her revolver at a man less than 10 hours after arriving, she begins to wonder if maybe they are right.
Cheryl Reavis seems to specialize in stories about people damaged by the Civil War. This is a unique, complex, and fascinating story about two people trying to pick up the pieces of their lives after their experiences in the war.
MC CORD'S DESTINY (Pam Crooks) -- This story claimed it took place in 1892, but it had a contemporary ring to it. Juliette Blanchard, an architect, has designed the perfect deluxe resort for 300 acres near Omaha, Nebraska. The oil in the ointment is that the land is held by Tru McCord, a former love interest of Juliette. Tru refuses to sell; then, he agrees only if she will marry him.
Her ailing sister Camille (the parents were killed in a scarlet fever epidemic and Camille is forever frail) is with Juliette on the trip to Omaha. They live in New York. But Camille has just announced that she plans to marry Tru's younger brother, Ryan, and stay in Omaha. Then, Juliette learns the truth about her mother and (especially) her father. The visit to Omaha turns into a real downer and Juliette has to face some difficult truths. It was unfortunate that the publishers put this story immediately after THE WINTER HEART. After that stellar story, any story would appear ho-hum.
***Overall ratings from fave-to-least-fave = Reavis, Stacy, and Crooks.
