A Bride for Keeps
by Melissa Jagears
Recieved from Bethany House Publishers
334 pages
Published October 1, 2013
My rating // 4.5 out of 5 stars
About the Book
from Goodreads
Although Everett Cline can hardly keep up with the demands of his homestead, he won't humiliate himself by looking for a helpmate ever again--not after being jilted by three mail-order brides. When a well-meaning neighbor goes behind his back to bring yet another mail-order bride to town, he has good reason to doubt it will work, especially after getting a glimpse at the woman in question. She's the prettiest woman he's ever seen, and it's just not possible she's there to marry a simple homesteader like him.
Julia Lockwood has never been anything more than a pretty pawn for her father or a business acquisition for her former fiance. Having finally worked up the courage to leave her life in Massachusetts, she's determined to find a place where people will value her for more than her looks. Having run out of all other options, Julia resorts to a mail-order marriage in far-away Kansas.
Everett is skeptical a cultured woman like Julia could be happy in a life on the plains, while Julia, deeply wounded by a past relationship, is skittish at the idea of marriage at all. When, despite their hesitations, they agree to a marriage in name only, neither one is prepared for the feelings that soon arise to complicate their arrangement. Can two people accustomed to keeping their distance let the barricades around their hearts down long enough to fall in love?
My Review
Set in 1876 Kansas, this novel by Melissa Jagears is a mail-order bride story with a twist. I can't remember the last time I was so taken with a story as I was with this one. I would have stayed up later reading it had it not been for school in the morning.
I loved many things about this book: Melissa's easy-to-read writing, her excellently molded characters, the setting (yay Kansas!), the subtle suspensfulness of the story line, and the great ending.
It reminded me of Janette Oke's books a bit (which a have read mulitple times because I like them so much) in how it was a sweet story in a rough pioneer setting. One of my favorite parts was how Julia and Everett got to know each other better as they slowly released information about their pasts.
The only draw back of this book was that at times it had a more romance in it than I perfer also there was as bit of a fighting scene. Overall, though, this was a very good book and I really enjoyed it!
*I would like to thank Bethany House Pulishers for provding me with this free copy of A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears. All opinions expressed here are my own and unbiased.*
I loved many things about this book: Melissa's easy-to-read writing, her excellently molded characters, the setting (yay Kansas!), the subtle suspensfulness of the story line, and the great ending.
It reminded me of Janette Oke's books a bit (which a have read mulitple times because I like them so much) in how it was a sweet story in a rough pioneer setting. One of my favorite parts was how Julia and Everett got to know each other better as they slowly released information about their pasts.
The only draw back of this book was that at times it had a more romance in it than I perfer also there was as bit of a fighting scene. Overall, though, this was a very good book and I really enjoyed it!
*I would like to thank Bethany House Pulishers for provding me with this free copy of A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears. All opinions expressed here are my own and unbiased.*
oh, this book looks so good. I want to read it now. :D
ReplyDeleteI saw this book at the library on the new release shelf last week, and thought of you since I'd seen you were reading it from Good Reads. :) I'm so glad to hear you liked it, I'll have to check it out sometime! Wonderful review, by the way!
ReplyDeleteHave a splendid day, dear! :D
Bethany
Just discovered your lovely blog! Thanks for doing this book review... too many books, so little time!
ReplyDelete♥ Aspirer
www.heavenly-aspirations.blogspot.com