Title: A Bride for
All Seasons: The Mail Order Bride Collection
Author: Margaret
Brownley, Debra Clopton, Robin Lee Hatcher, Mary Connealy
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (June 18, 2013)
Pages: 400
A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS: THE MAIL
ORDER BRIDE COLLECTION is an anthology of four stories by different authors. I
love how each story is connected by the Hitching Post Mail Order Bride, yet
stands alone.
AND THEN CAME SPRING, by MARGARET
BROWNLEY
Having only read two other books by
MARGARET BROWNLEY, I was excited to read AND THEN CAME SPRING. The story began
with a strong beginning, drawing me right in, just as MS BROWNLY has done in
previous books I’ve read by her.
MARY-JO PARKER crossed many miles to
meet the man she was to marry; just to discover he was the subject of the town
funeral. If it wasn’t bad enough that the man she was to marry passed away, she
discovered someone had tampered with the letters they’d shared, deceiving both
parties involved.
TOM GARRETT wasn’t sure what MS
PARKER was up too, but he intended to find out. He not only took on the
responsibility of his brothers kid when he passes away, he now had to figure
out what to do with his mail order bride.
AN EVER AFTER SUMMER, by DEBRA
CLOPTON
As a huge fan of DEBRA CLOPTON, I
snatch up any book with her name on it. The fact that I had read and loved a
couple of MARGARET BROWNLEY’S books, and I wanted to read a book by ROBIN LEE
HATCHER and MARY CONNEALY, only added to my decision.
I admit I haven’t read many
novellas, but what I’ve read, I’ve come to the conclusion that few can pull it
off. If you’ve never attempted to write a short story, you can’t begin to
understand the difficulties in producing a well written story in so few words.
I have to say I was impressed with MS CLOPTON’S ability to do so.
AN EVER AFTER SUMMER, if I’m not
mistaken, is MS CLOPTON’S first novella, as well as her first historical. MS
CLOPTON delivered in both areas. It’s the best novella to date that I’ve read.
Up until now, her stories have been contemporary. I wouldn’t mind seeing more
historical from her in the future. As so typical of MS CLOPTON’S writing, AN
EVER AFTER SUMMER captured me from the first to the last page. I can’t wait for
her next story to be published.
The nerve of that man! ELLIE
SMITH had never considered herself a “Bible thumper”. Just because MR
MCCONNELL was misinformed of her faith by someone who took it upon themselves
to alter their letters, didn’t mean she tried to hide her faith from him.
MATTHEW MCCONNELL took one look at
the woman holding a Bible in her hand and realized he’d been misinformed. As
far as he’s concerned, she can turn her pretty self around and head back where
she came from.
AUTUM’S ANGEL by ROBIN LEE HATCHER
I was pleasantly surprised by WINTER
WEDDING BELLS by ROBIN LEE HATCHER. It's well writing, with a wonderful plot.
That novellas are harder to write then novels, leaves me to believe I’ll be in
for a real treat in reading one of MS HATCHER’S full length novels.
I’ve been looking forward to reading
one of MS HATCHER’S books for some time. I hadn’t expected to be introduced to
her writing through a novella in a collection of stories that included one of
my favorite authors, DEBRA CLOPTON. MS HATCHER now has a new fan.
LUVENA ABBOTT hadn’t traveled for
days just to turn back around. No, just because CLAY BIRCH wasn’t expecting her
arrival to included children, didn’t mean she had the means to head back where
she’d just come from.
MISS ABBOTT was every bit as pretty
as her picture, but CLAY had made it perfectly clear he wanted no part of a
widow with children. He needed someone strong and courageous. One that
could handle the land. The small mining town he called home, wasn’t suited for
kids.
WINTER WEDDING BELLS, by MARY
CONNEALY
Some years ago I read a book by a
popular author with a heroin that was from Ireland. Throughout the entire book,
the character spoke with a heavy Irish dialect. To date it’s the most
exhausting fiction I’ve read. What I appreciated about MARY CONNEALY’S, WINTER
WEDDING BELLS, is the mention of the heroines Irish decent, giving the readers
just a touch of the dialect. The right amount to let the reader know she has an
accent, without bogging down the story.
DAVID LARAMIE has been told he
doesn’t have long to live. He placed an ad for a wife who is strong enough to
take care of his farm, as well as his children.
MEGAN MCBRIDE knew from MR LARAMIE’S letters that he was
sick, but she never imagined he didn’t have long to live, as David professes.
Megan plans to not only prove to David that she will be a good mother to his
children, but that he’ll be around for many years to come.
