Dearest Darling ~ Andrea Downing

• File Size: 246 KB
• Print Length: 82 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc (October 8, 2014)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00NGWT816

Purchase Dearest Darling here.

Publication Date: October 8, 2014

Stuck in a life of servitude to her penny-pinching brother, Emily Darling longs for a more exciting existence. When a packet with travel tickets, meant for one Ethel Darton, accidentally lands on her doormat, Emily sees a chance for escape. Having turned down the dreary suitors that have come her way, is it possible a new existence also offers a different kind of man? 

Daniel Saunders has carved out a life for himself in Wyoming—a life missing one thing: a wife. Having scrimped and saved to bring his mail-order bride from New York, he is outraged to find in her stead a runaway fraud. Even worse, the impostor is the sister of his old enemy. 

But people are not always as they seem, and sometimes the heart knows more than the head. 

My take on this book:

Dearest Darling by Andrea Downing is a page turning mail order bride tale that doesn't really follow the standard formula, instead the plot is fresh, after all it isn't often that a story starts out where the wrong woman receives tickets west and decides to use them! 

After the death of her parents twenty-eight year old Emily Darling finds herself  working as a servant in her family home thanks to her mean brother. While collecting the mail one morning a letter arrives, and while she quickly surmises it isn't for her or her brother, her curiosity is piqued so she opens it. She learns it is from Daniel Saunders,a Wyoming rancher, who has sent a packet for his mail order bride to come west.Emily sees this as the perfect way to escape from her brother and start over, after all anyone who is sending for a mail order bride can't be all the choosy can he? 

Don't let the size of this book fool you, even though Dearest Darling is only 88 pages Andrea Downing provides well fleshed characters, and an interesting plot that made me feel like I was reading a full length novel.With plenty of attention to detail, the author paints a clear picture of the setting, allowing me to visualize it as the characters did. Ms. Downing also provides plenty of emotion, it was easy to be drawn into Emily's longing to belong, and the peacefulness she felt with Daniel was sweet. Speaking of Daniel he was the perfect male lead, kind, considerate, but determined to send Emily back. I will say that there was one sexual situation, but it was very beautifully written.  I am a huge fan of the mail order bride genre and this story was certainly unique, instead of predictable I found several twists which kept me guessing as to  how the ending would eventually turn out! 

Reviewed for Readersfavorite.com