Kelly Eileen Hake

In Nebraska Territory, 1857, there is a longstanding feud between two neighboring families, the Specks and the Grogans. When Opal Speck’s father discovers Adam Grogan on their property, he threatens to kill him. Opal saves Adam’s life the only way she can think of: by lying that he is the father of her unborn child. Thanks to her lie, Adam’s life is saved, but it also results in Opal and Adam being forced into a shotgun marriage.

From the start, Adam doesn’t want a real marriage. Not show more realizing that Opal made up the entire story to save his life, he believes that Opal is pregnant with another man’s child, and her purpose in lying was to give her child a name. He is frustrated that Opal continues to refuse to tell him who the child’s real father is. Opal doesn’t know how to tell Adam that what he is believing is wrong, that she isn’t pregnant and only wished to save him from her angry father. When she begins to fall in love with her husband and longs for their marriage to be a real marriage, but she doesn’t know if Adam, who was forced to marry her, could ever love her for real. Can she manage to set things right with him?

The Bride Backfire is an enjoyable western romance for readers who like inspirational romances or clean love stories that don‘t have graphic adult content. At times I got frustrated with Opal and wished she’d just tell Adam the truth already, but that didn’t keep me from enjoying the story, and I would give other books by this author a try. show less

Jessalyn was bold and independent enough to take risks, such as the risk of breaking her neck climbing down stealthily out of dorm room windows to rendezvous with her horse Morning Glory in early mornings or afternoons. She was bold and rebellious enough to eschew four different boarding schools in seven years, and brash and daring enough to board a ship crossing the ocean to American from an English port--alone. She was bold and foolish enough to take a train and eventually a stagecoach, show more alone, to Texas and the Bar None ranch, her home. To top it off, she was bold and skilled enough on her horse, dressed in split skirts that looked like chaps, a Stetson and common duster and a scarf over her face to approach the ranch and pass for an itinerant hand, given a job, a bunk and a meal by the ranch boss, Tucker Carmichael.

Tucker Carmichael was not only the foreman for Carson Culpepper's Bar None ranch, he was part owner. Before his death, Carson charged his son Ed, and Tucker with Jess's care. Tucker took that job to heart, perhaps a bit too much, especially after he had seen her. What happens when spunk and impulsive meets responsible, stubborn and controlling?

I loved the author's attention to detail, especially in her description of the round-up, the preparations the women had to make for the drive, and the meals cooked for these events. I could easily picture all of it in my mind from her detailed accounts. It gave this book a unique point of view, from the cook's perspective.

Another thing I appreciated about this story is the relationship between Aunt Desta and Jess that developed in the short span of time this book covers. The author skillfully conveys the warmth of understanding between the more mature woman and young Jess, who needs Desta for spiritual guidance as well as her friendship and the sense of family she was deprived of for so many years. It was Desta who ferreted out that under her bold and brash exterior Jess was insecure and in need of stability and a sense of belonging. And it was Desta who realized that Jess's attitude toward God reflected her feelings of anger and abandonment from her father because he sent her away to school. Through the hardships of the cattle drive, Desta played an important role in helping Jess resolve these issues.

Thirdly, I enjoyed see the evolving relationship between Jess and Tucker. Both needed to dig deeply inside themselves to find compromises they could live with. Their journey toward a romance was filled with potholes, but endearing nevertheless. I enjoyed how the author used humor to help iron out some of those wrinkles. Overall, this was a fun book to read and I can heartily recommend it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of Barbour Publishing, Inc. 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

". . . if God found the earth perfect enough to create people, then we should never be too proud to till the soil .”
Beautiful. Christian Historical Romances set 1631 to 1865, England to Scotland, some are linked by Kennerith castle. Nothing boring here! Unique love stories that keep you entertained and eager to know how they turn out. Not possible to choose a favorite.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers show more 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.”
#TheBritishBridesCollection #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout show less

"The British Brides Collection" features a variety of different stories by different authors. These are like novellas, each complete within itself. Some of the stories share the thread of a masquerade mask that is owned by different characters in the novellas. The novellas appear in chronological order. The Christian message is overt in these novels, but not in a way that would come across as offensive to most Christian readers.

I enjoyed the stories overall, although I liked some more than show more others. Each story had a different and interesting twist, and the settings varied. I especially enjoyed the story about the rare book library (A Treasure Worth Keeping) and the one about the apple orchard (Apple of His Eye).. A few of the stories needed a more complete ending, as I felt they left the reader hanging. An epilogue or postscript would have wrapped things up more completely. Readers who enjoy romantic historical fiction should find this collection worthy of their time. Each story can be read in one sitting.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. show less