Edwina Ladoux has reached the end of the line financially in trying to keep her southern Louisiana family home in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War. Unable to pay the back taxes, Edwina made plans to marry a Colorado rancher in response to his ad for a wife. She and her half sister, Prudence (a reluctant participant) embark into the unknown and to say that she was underwhelmed by her new husband is an understatement. Declan Brodie is equally disappointed in the Southern princess that showed up instead of the sturdy woman he was looking for to help raise his four children and take care of his home.
I’m a sucker for a mail order bride story as it always holds the promise of two people determined to make the relationship work. Despite their initial disappointment with each other, Edwina and Declan have strong incentives to make their marriage a real and loving one. Both have strong personalities though he’s more taciturn in behavior, which made for an even more interesting romance. The children are wild and untrained so Edwina has her work cut out for her as she also doesn’t know much about cooking (thank goodness for Pru).
Historical fiction stories set in western America are also one of my favorites and the beauty and wildness of Colorado are on showcase here. It’s as much a part of the story as the characters. It’s not all romantic interplay and humor as Declan has trouble with a rogue Cheyenne native who is out to destroy his family. Danger is always in the background and there are some tough, frightening scenes and situations.
This story had so many wonderful elements that I was completely captivated. There’s a lot going on but I couldn’t get enough of everything. The two women Edwina meets and befriends upon her arrival in Heartbreak Creek are the focus of the next two books and they are equally well defined and intriguing. I’m reading this series with a group and we can hardly wait to start the next two books.
Book Info
- Release Date: July 5, 2011
- Series: Runaway Brides #1
- Page Numbers: 372
- Publisher: Berkley
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Blue Mood Café 
Mail order bride is like arranged marriages which is the norm in my country and they are often more successful than love marriages.
Lovely review. Awaiting the next 2 reviews
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Thanks, Shalini💜 It was more common in this country when in its infancy.
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Fab review!
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Thank you, Nicki💜
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I love you review, Jonetta, you make this one sound enticing, as usual, though I’m not sold on the cover artwork, which would put me off if I saw it in the shops.
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Thanks, Alexandra💜 Not crazy about the cover either and thank goodness I wasn’t the one selecting it for our group read…I probably would have passed on it, too😏
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Ha! Ha! Yeah, a little underwhelming, isn’t it. ☺️
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Great review, Jonetta! It sounds like a great setting for historical fiction. I’ve never read a story about a mail order bride – I might enjoy it, although the concept goes against my general values.
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Thanks, Stargazer💜 Unfortunately, this was a reality for many women in the 19th century.
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What a beautiful cover, Jonetta, and I love how this sounds. A promising series! Lovely review!
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I just saw I’m alone in enjoying the cover! 😂 I just think it’s such a pretty landscape!
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Haha! I don’t hate it, just am underwhelmed by it, especially after reading the strong story. Thank you, Jennifer💜
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I’m always a little worried about reading your reviews because then I want to immediately go get the book, even when it is in genres I don’t normally read. This is the case here but I do enjoy tales around the Civil War and the west. The mail order bride thing is scary to me. But this one sounds great.
Anne – Books of My Heart
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I wasn’t certain I’d participate but everyone in the group read was raving about this story. Then I found it in the library so I decided to give it a shot. It was a good decision.
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