Judy D. -
Helpful Score: 2
The Unlikely Wife by Debra Ullrick
I did not see this marked as a series but you will want to read The Unexpected Bride if you enjoy series type books. In the first book Michael Bowen is a teenager. Now he is twenty-seven and wants a wife, just like his brother's wife Rainee. To say he is shocked by the woman he meets at the train station is an understatement. Mans trousers, cowboy boots, a cowboy hat and a rifle about as big as her. Sure she's got a pretty face and nice hair but this is not the woman in the letters or his dreams. He had married her by proxy sight unseen and will hold to his vows, even if it means not having a real marriage.
Selina Farleigh Bowen fell in love with Michael through his letters. Being she cannot read or write she depended on her friend Aimee to write to Michael and read her his letters. What she did not find out until arriving was that Aimee forgot to mention a few things like most of who Selina is. She realizes her husband had fallen in love with Aimee not her. They butt heads as Michael tries to get her to change and she refuses to ever let a man tell her what to do. Can Michael ever learn to love this backwoods wonder?
I found that Debra did a wonderful job of getting the emotions through in this book. I was teary eyed through much of it as they struggled. And she had plenty of humor as well. Her characters even struggled with the difference with words or phrases and different foods between Michael's Idaho and Selina's Kentucky.
I did not see this marked as a series but you will want to read The Unexpected Bride if you enjoy series type books. In the first book Michael Bowen is a teenager. Now he is twenty-seven and wants a wife, just like his brother's wife Rainee. To say he is shocked by the woman he meets at the train station is an understatement. Mans trousers, cowboy boots, a cowboy hat and a rifle about as big as her. Sure she's got a pretty face and nice hair but this is not the woman in the letters or his dreams. He had married her by proxy sight unseen and will hold to his vows, even if it means not having a real marriage.
Selina Farleigh Bowen fell in love with Michael through his letters. Being she cannot read or write she depended on her friend Aimee to write to Michael and read her his letters. What she did not find out until arriving was that Aimee forgot to mention a few things like most of who Selina is. She realizes her husband had fallen in love with Aimee not her. They butt heads as Michael tries to get her to change and she refuses to ever let a man tell her what to do. Can Michael ever learn to love this backwoods wonder?
I found that Debra did a wonderful job of getting the emotions through in this book. I was teary eyed through much of it as they struggled. And she had plenty of humor as well. Her characters even struggled with the difference with words or phrases and different foods between Michael's Idaho and Selina's Kentucky.
Ashley B. (Ashley1010) reviewed The Unlikely Wife (Bowen, Bk 2) (Love Inspired Historical, No 122) on + 67 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Selina might be my most favorite female "Love Inspired Historical" character. Her caring soul for the world around her is awesome, but she also teaches those around her that our differences make us unique and special. She definitely shocks Michael Bowen, her new husband, with her way of doing things! He's surprised every night when he opens the door, not knowing what will be served for dinner or what guests will be in the home. The conversations they have together as they learn each others ways put such a smile on my face and made me laugh quite a few times!
Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Helpful Score: 1
Good book. Michael is twenty-seven and ready to settle down with a wife of his own. He admires his sister-in-law Rainee and wants a wife like her - sweet, genteel, educated. He corresponds with a woman back East who seems to fulfill his every dream and marries her by proxy. But when she arrives, Selina is far from what he expected.
Selina is a woman from the hills of Kentucky. She was ten when her mother died and left her father sunk in grief. She took it upon herself to care for the family, learning to hunt, fish, cook, clean, and do many other things. This left her with no time to go to school herself, though she made sure that her brothers went. Because she can't read, she depends on her friend to read Michael's letters to her and respond to them for her. Selina falls hard for the man who wrote such wonderful letters and can't wait to join him. Their first meeting is quite a shock for both Michael and Selina. Michael is stunned that she is the complete opposite of everything he wanted and doesn't hide his disappointment and anger. Selina is hurt that the man she has come to love so obviously doesn't want her. Michael is an honorable man, however, and will abide by his vows.
I have to say that I did not care for Michael at first. I thought he was judgmental and snobby and had no consideration for Selina's feelings. He won back a few points when he stood by her to introduce her to his friends and family. But he still has his vision of the perfect wife stuck in his mind and spent a fair amount of time and energy trying to get Selina to change to meet his expectations.
I liked Selina from the start. She is a strong and capable woman who has adapted to all the curveballs life has thrown at her. She is comfortable with who she is and refuses to be bullied into making changes just to please a man. She is kindhearted and sweet most of the time, but she can be stubborn when the situation calls for it.
I enjoyed the development of Michael and Selina's relationship. They are determined to make their marriage work; they just have to figure out how to deal with each other. I loved seeing Selina make a place for herself in her new world. It didn't take long for everyone else to accept her just as she was. It was great fun to see Selina refuse to change who she is inside. At the same time, she wanted Michael to come to love her. I liked the ways that she found to adapt to his ideals without losing her own. Her vivacity and uniqueness slowly began to work past Michael's tunnel vision, and he began to appreciate her. There were several sweet scenes where he does something that shows he's beginning to understand her, but he doesn't see that his feelings for her are growing and changing. It takes an unexpected visitor to show him that he has had what he wanted all along if he had just opened his eyes and heart to see it. The epilogue was a terrific update on their lives a few months later.
Selina is a woman from the hills of Kentucky. She was ten when her mother died and left her father sunk in grief. She took it upon herself to care for the family, learning to hunt, fish, cook, clean, and do many other things. This left her with no time to go to school herself, though she made sure that her brothers went. Because she can't read, she depends on her friend to read Michael's letters to her and respond to them for her. Selina falls hard for the man who wrote such wonderful letters and can't wait to join him. Their first meeting is quite a shock for both Michael and Selina. Michael is stunned that she is the complete opposite of everything he wanted and doesn't hide his disappointment and anger. Selina is hurt that the man she has come to love so obviously doesn't want her. Michael is an honorable man, however, and will abide by his vows.
I have to say that I did not care for Michael at first. I thought he was judgmental and snobby and had no consideration for Selina's feelings. He won back a few points when he stood by her to introduce her to his friends and family. But he still has his vision of the perfect wife stuck in his mind and spent a fair amount of time and energy trying to get Selina to change to meet his expectations.
I liked Selina from the start. She is a strong and capable woman who has adapted to all the curveballs life has thrown at her. She is comfortable with who she is and refuses to be bullied into making changes just to please a man. She is kindhearted and sweet most of the time, but she can be stubborn when the situation calls for it.
I enjoyed the development of Michael and Selina's relationship. They are determined to make their marriage work; they just have to figure out how to deal with each other. I loved seeing Selina make a place for herself in her new world. It didn't take long for everyone else to accept her just as she was. It was great fun to see Selina refuse to change who she is inside. At the same time, she wanted Michael to come to love her. I liked the ways that she found to adapt to his ideals without losing her own. Her vivacity and uniqueness slowly began to work past Michael's tunnel vision, and he began to appreciate her. There were several sweet scenes where he does something that shows he's beginning to understand her, but he doesn't see that his feelings for her are growing and changing. It takes an unexpected visitor to show him that he has had what he wanted all along if he had just opened his eyes and heart to see it. The epilogue was a terrific update on their lives a few months later.
Jacquetta A. reviewed The Unlikely Wife (Bowen, Bk 2) (Love Inspired Historical, No 122) on + 4 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoyed this book. The twists and turns of the storyline were great.
