Linda Carroll-Bradd

In the third novella in the Deerbourne Inn series, Sidonie Demers is working with the Underground Railroad to help escaped slaves reach Canada and freedom. It’s 1855, and even though Vermont is a free state, the federal law requires all escaped slaves be returned to their masters. Even though she’s the daughter of an escaped slave, Sidonie can pass for white and uses that to her advantage in order to help others.
As an army corporal, it’s Colin Crawford job to uncover the abolitionist movement in Willow Springs, Vermont, but falling for the pretty maid at the local inn wasn’t part of his undercover assignment. Now, he has to make a choice. Follow the law or his heart.
Sidonie and Colin are wonderfully strong-willed characters, fighting for opposite sides, but their beliefs align. Luckily, Colin is conflicted about his duties and intelligent enough to not blindly follow orders he doesn’t believe in.
I love the historical setting and the detailed environment. The story is great, but it ended abruptly with a few unanswered questions. Still, I enjoyed it and would like to read more books by Ms. Carroll-Bradd.
5 Stars
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Typically I wouldn’t review a book this old for a holiday spotlight, as I would prefer to showcase newer books or books by authors with new books coming out soon. I chose to include this book though because I was intrigued by how it was written. Books by many authors is nothing new, however they are generally an anthology of short stories and this particular story was written in a round robin style. This is a popular online forum game that my son and I have played since he was old enough to make up stories, but I have to say there is nothing game-like about how this story turned out.

It is a short story, the culmination of two previous stories about the main characters, Luke and Rachel. In previous stories they meet and fall in love. In this story they are to be wed in a Valentine’s Wedding in a mountain resort. It wouldn’t be much of story ( or a wedding) if everything went smoothly. A freak storm has blown up delaying the flights of the guests, the Groom is missing, the Maid of Honor and the Best Man don’t seem to like each other and the hotel where the wedding is to take place is running on back up generators that have been damaged by the storm. At least the cake is perfect.

I kept reading expecting to see where one author leaves off and another begins and I couldn’t tell. It was a delightful, against the odds, romance story from beginning to end, with no obvious seams. The writing exercise that produced this story was a success and I am happy to have read it. Despite part of an on-going saga, this stood alone very well.… (more)

A QUILTER FOR QUINT by Linda Carroll-Bradd

This is book 2 in the Mail-order Mamas series. It is a stand-alone. A mail-order mama is a woman who arranges for a bride for her son.

Melisande (Meli), a Rhode Island native is scared that her mother will try to rule her life forever if she marries a local man. She takes the plunge and agrees to marry Quinton (Quint) from southern Texas. Her mother is friends with a Texas matchmaker who sets up the marriage.

Quint's young son Gabrio is in cahoots with Quint's mother in getting a new mama. Gabrio needs a mama and Quint has no intention of ever marrying again and setting himself up for the pain that comes from the loss of a most special person. Quint's mother and son do not mention that there is a mail-order bride on her way to their ranch. Quint has been lead to believe that Meli is a friend of his mother's that is coming to stay with them for a while.

Meli is just as shocked as Quint is when she arrives and finds that Quint has no idea of why she is there. Where will their lives lead? Gabrio is over the moon with happiness, telling everyone that Meli is his new mama. Meli creates beautiful quilt panels that tell a story. Highly recommend it.

Warm thanks to #netgalley for the complimentary copy of #aquilterforquint I was under no obligation to post a review.… (more)

A Bride for Jordan by Linda Carroll-Bradd

Jordan is a veterinarian who is trying to write a nonfiction book. Senta is a poor city girl that needs a job, she works as a stenographer for a local law firm.

Jordan realizes that if a female is sent to help him write his book, they will need to be wed, so as not to tarnish either of their reputations, with her staying at his house. They both find they have to make adjustments.

It was nice to read a book with the leading man concerned about propriety. It surely must have felt weird to be married by proxy.

The book was more like a novella than a full-length book. If it were longer, I would have given it 5 stars.

Thank you to #netgalley @netgalley for the complimentary copy of #abrideforjordan @abrideforjordan, I was under no obligation to post a review.… (more)