Mildred Colvin

First let’s acknowledge how beautiful the cover of this book is! It really evokes that country holiday feel. I always tend to read more faith based fiction during the holidays and Mountain Christmas Brides is perfect for that. There are nine short romance stories in this book (and isn’t it easier to find time to read short stories during the busy holidays?). Some of the stories are better than others, however I did have a couple of favorites. A Trusting Heart by Carrie Turansky is a show more sweet story involving a mail order bride. The writing was simple and straight-forward and included elements of Swedish Christmas traditions which I found really interesting. My other favorite was One Evergreen Night by Debby Lee. It includes interesting historical elements of life in a logging camp and a piglet named Bacon! If you enjoy sweet, romantic holiday fiction stories, then I recommend you give this book a try.
*I was provided with a copy of this book via Net Galley in exchange for my review. show less

Two baby girls switched at birth and the truth isn't discovered until they are about 18 months old--old enough to be calling the people who raised them mama and dada. A single mother who loved her late husband so much that she doubts she'll ever find someone to love like that again. A single father whose late wife didn't want to be a mother--so much so that she threatened abortion repeatedly and apparently only didn't go through with it because her husband said he'd divorce her and give her show more minimal alimony if she harmed their unborn child (she wanted the money and the lifestyle) but who then caused a car accident that took her life, though the child survived.

When the single mother accepts the job of nanny to both the girls so as not to disrupt their lives by exchanging the biological children and ripping them away from the parent they know and recognize, neither realizes that they will also come to care for each other. The author uses the tried and true genre plot of the man thinking all women are like his late wife--only in it for the money/not caring about the child/etc. and insisting that he won't fall for another woman. This goes on far too long and it felt like the author was just marking time to get to the required number of pages.

The little girls are cute. I have no idea if their dialogue is age appropriate. I know some of their antics are. I'm glad they bonded as sisters at such a young age.

When I first saw the name Mrs. Garrett, it reminded me of the TV show "Facts of Life". There was a housemother with that name, who spun off from the TV show "Diff'rent Strokes" where she'd been a housekeeper--except her first name was Edna where this characters first name was Mary. Other than the name and similarity in job titles, there wasn't much in common between the two Garrett characters, but it was a fond memory. show less

Nine stories, two time frames. The first 1880 on a ranch in in Wyoming, the second in Washington territory at a logging camp area, the third in 1913 near Denver, Co during one of the worst snowstorms in it's history. They share characters and friends, which I love in this type of book. A mail order bride the groom doesn't know about, a tomboy, camp worker, some wealthy girls, a Parson's daughter to name a few. A delightful mix with tons of depth and characters you feel you know. If you want show more to cozy up with a good book that will keep you engaged, especially for the holidays, this is a great choice. Isn't that cover just gorgeous?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Publisher and Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. show less

A Trusting Heart by Carrie Turansky is the first novella in this collection of nine stories that as the descriptions notes--celebrate faith and love in the Rocky Mountains. This sweet story begins with Annika leaving her twin sister and only relative to travel from Chicago to Wyoming as a mail-order bride. When she arrives in Laramie, surprises greet her. Just where is her husband to be? Will she be able to become a rancher's wife when she is fearful of horses? With a few twists and turns, a show more gentle hero, and a sense of strong faith in God woven throughout the author brings the reader a tender story with a satisfying ending. I look forward to reading the rest of the stories in this collection. show less