Saturday, January 21, 2012

Mail Order Christmas Brides by Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstad ~ review

Product Details

  • Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Love Inspired (November 29, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0373828950
  • ISBN-13: 978-0373828951

About the book from Amazon.com
Her Christmas Family by Jillian Hart "Please be my ma for Christmas." Felicity Sawyer can't resist little Gertie's heartfelt letter. Tate Winters seeks a bride for Gertie's sake, not his own. But as his reserve thaws before Felicity's sunny optimism, this new family learns that togetherness is the best way to celebrate the season. Christmas Stars for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad Eleanor McBride's outgrown her dreams of romance—but not her wishes for motherhood. Wedding Sergeant Adam Martin will give her a daughter to cherish. Yet it's not just shy, sweet Hannah who's captured her affections. And Eleanor's arrival in Dry Creek could be the start of a journey to true love...

My take on this book:
"Mail Order Christmas Brides" contains to short novellas that take place during Dec. 1884 in Montana Territory. While the stories are written by two different authors, Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstad the two stories do connect, because the mail order brides ride the train to Montana Territory together.
"Her Christmas Family" by Jillian Hart is the story of one little girls hope for a new mother for Christmas. Tate Winters life was in a shambles, but he couldn't say no to his eight year old daughter Gertie when she wished for a mommy, he puts an ad in the paper for a mother for his daughter. Felicity Sawyer  has always wanted a family of her own, and when she reads an ad in the paper for someone looking for a mother for their little girl she decides to respond, and heads off for Montana Territory. Will she find the family she longs for, and will Gertie have a mother for Christmas?
Even though this story was short it was rich in detail and characters. The plot of this story drew me in immediately making me hope for the best for the characters. I also enjoyed the inspirational message woven in.


"Christmas Stars for Dry Creek" by Janet Tronstad is the second story in the book.
It's a rocky start for Eleanor McBride when she answers an ad for a mail order bride for Sergeant Adam Martin. Twelve days had passed and still Adam Martin hadn't showed up at the cabin that was supposed to become their home. His daughter Hannah had been staying in Ohio with Adam's mother but the plan was that Hannah was coming home to stay with her and Adam. When they finally show up Eleanor falls in love with Hannah, but the mother-in-law to be is determined that Eleanor won't marry her son. Will things work out for Adam and Eleanor?
I really enjoyed the character of Eleanor. She was such a strong, smart woman. It seemed that no matter what problems Adam's mother threw at her Eleanor managed just fine. I always love when an animal is included in a story and in this one there is the tiny calico kitten that Eleanor rescued from the railroad tracks. A very well written story with the message of forgiveness and faith woven in. 

I really enjoyed both stories in this book, and would recommend them to anyone who enjoys historical romance with a Christmas theme. If you have never read anything by these two authors then this book allows you to sample their fantastic writing skills.
rating 5/5





1 comment:

  1. oh my gosh, i LOVE the harlequin historical Christmas anthologies!! i'm not sure if I bought this one or not, i'll have to check.

    i love your valentine's day layout!

    ReplyDelete

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