Linda Ford

To avoid succumbing to a winter storm, Flora Kinsley and Kade Thomas are forced to spend two whole days alone together in Kade's small dwelling. The year is 1884, and Flora's dad is a strict preacher, who she knows will not take kindly to the circumstances. With her honor and reputation at stake, will Flora's rebel heart be forced into a marriage she does not want, or will Kade be able to convince either of the two stubborn Kinsleys into an amicable arrangement?

This is a short, clean romance show more that hits the nail on the head in regards to a person of Flora's personality--simply that forcing her to do something will only lead to rebellion and hardship. I've always appreciated a well-done story about two characters who are thrust into a relationship or marriage and have to learn how to make it work. That isn't quite how this story plays out, but it was still a good read.

From early in the book, as Flora and Kade spend their two days together, it is clear that they are both completely different in the taking-risks department. Yet, they begin to learn from each other and minds and hearts are eventually changed. I really appreciated the depth we delve into the reasons behind why both of these characters are how they are, which I wouldn't have expected in such a short space. One thing that bothered me, though, is just how stubborn everyone in this book is. No one is willing to bend when it seems like they have no reason to be so firm. The preacher annoyed me in particular, given the way he acted toward Kade even way past the point when he had any reason to treat him that way.

There is one particular character who seemed a bit over-the-top, which I think is because I sensed his inclusion as a simple plot-driver more than I normally would. In the end, though, I was a little amused by him, which is pretty strange, given how he acted in the book. There's a large part of me that would like to hear more about him in the future--perhaps a change in perspective, maybe even a conversion.

There are points in the book that felt way too modern to me, given the time period. Overall, though, I enjoyed the story. It is the beginning of a series, which I do intend to continue at this point. I recommend this book to fans of Christian historical romances, and have high hopes for the rest of the series. show less

Kody Douglas is half-white, half-Native American, and despite his loving foster parents, he's never found a world where he feels he belongs. But if there's one thing his upbringing taught him, it's that he can't leave a damsel in distress. So when Kody finds Charlotte Porter alone in a dust storm with no food or water to speak of, he does what his mother would have wanted - he brings her to his parents. But Kody had a reason for leaving town - a secret daughter whom he doesn't want to see show more hurt the way he was. Charlotte, however, soon takes the little girl into her heart and fights for Kody to become a 'real' father to her.

The Good:
The Christian themes (though not to my taste) were nicely handled, I thought. Kody's reasons for his loss of faith were persuasive, and his return to the beliefs of his childhood struck me as believable, though I thought it got a bit short shrift.

Sometimes, Charlotte actually is spunky. There's a great scene where she takes on a couple of outlaws that are threatening her. Plus, I enjoyed watching her go to work and learning how valuable it was for her self-esteem to stand on her own two feet.

The portrayal of Kody as stuck between two worlds where neither accepted him was an interesting theme. I found his situation poignant.

The Bad:
The heroine is prejudiced against Native Americans. Although she practically blows up at the hero for daring to suggest such a thing, she nonetheless accuses him of stealing and thinks:
"She'd prayed for rescue, someone to offer her a home. The only person to do so was a half-breed. And Lother (a particularly loathsome individual bent on marrying her and using her as a brood-hen). She shuddered. [...] Of the
two, Kody seemed slightly less undesirable." Slightly? Then there's the time when some nasty persons call her a 'squaw' to which she replies "Of course they think evil of others."

The writing itself raises some of the same general issues. The Native Americans in this story cycle between speaking normally, and sounding like they stepped out of a stereotypical old Western movie. I'm not joking. They actually say things like: "Doctor say there are special shoes." and "Be satisfied she happy."

But what really got to me was the heroine. She persists in seeing the world through rose-tinted glasses. She completely dismisses every one of Kody's concerns about facing prejudice by claiming that it's just ignorant people making nasty remarks. Not once does she acknowledge the fact that those remarks are extremely painful. She doesn't stand up for him when such remarks are made, and she completely dismisses the more dire consequences of prejudice - seemingly utterly forgetting that being in her presence at the beginning of the book almost got Kody lynched! Lynching is not one of those situations conducive to turning the other cheek.

It really upset me that she kept nagging, badgering, and threatening to blackmail Kody into doing what she felt was right with a child that she neither knew nor had any responsibility for. She seemed to be a really presumptuous busybody to me. And while the author had Kody point out how kind and understanding she was, I never saw any evidence of it. Instead she seemed rather closed-minded and unwilling to empathize with any other point of view.

The Bottom Line: If you choose to write about prejudice, you really should address the real issues. This wasn't merely a case of childhood sticks and stones. Really nasty things happened and still happen because of prejudice. And in this book at least, the heroine never seems to comprehend that, even when the evidence is right in front of her nose. I couldn't deal with the characters or the way the topic was handled. I wouldn't recommend this one.

Also posted on my blog

FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy through the Tell Harlequin program. show less

I love reading books from this author because I am able to picture the time period easily with her vivid details. She brings the story to life with words that flow across the pages and helps readers relate to the characters with ease. I have read several marriage of convenience stories lately but this one really spoke to me. I loved how it was emotional and was not the typical couple gets married and suddenly they are in love story.

This story has depth and is realistic because it shows two show more people who struggle with their feelings and don’t rush into marriage right away. As you read the story you will find that Olivia was not who Riley had invited to become his bride. What Olivia does is decide to prove that she was meant to be at the ranch all along. Her determination and faith see her through difficult moments. Trying to convince Riley that she will not leave is a big task but I loved how her word was something you can count on. Her grace and quiet spirit is refreshing and I liked that she didn’t try to push the issue of marriage.

Riley is not happy when he discovers that the woman he thought was coming to marry him, sends a substitute instead. I think perhaps he was a little upset and wasn’t sure Olivia would last a day at the ranch. Riley is a hard worker and is very respectful of Olivia. There are some funny moments in the story when Olivia tries to cook eggs. Obviously she is not a cook which puts doubt in Riley’s mind that he can marry her. He learns a valuable lesson about judging someone by where they come from.

With a beautiful backdrop of the old west, we are transported back to the days where hard work happened from sunup to sundown. The women cooked, cleaned and made sure their family was cared for. Riley and Olivia both need to trust each other and allow God to show them that they were not brought together by accident. I enjoyed how their relationship was not rushed but allowed to slowly blossom as they began to share their past. It is a sweet story that illustrates how love can happen if you open your heart and allow the past to not define you.

I want to congratulate the author on her 100th published book. It is an honor to read books by an author who shares faith through stories that bring us closer to God.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. show less

Mail-Order Bride Substitute by Linda Ford is a Historical Western Romance. Imagine sending for a bride, but someone else arrives in her place. Riley Shannon finds himself in exactly that position. Olivia comes from a wealthy family back east, but when malicious rumors cause her to head west.

Losing a woman he loved because she did not love ranching life, Riley Shannon seeks out to find a mail-order bride who is the opposite. He wants a marriage of convenience. So when Olivia arrives, complete show more with a male servant and a piano, Riley is anything but amused.

I loved how the author developed both the characters and the storyline. The relationships between Riley and Olivia, as well as Riley and his family, plus Olivia and family, keep the story interesting. The author developed the storyline at a pace that kept me interested. With twists and turns, this book will keep you reading.

So if you enjoy HIstorical Western Romances, check out Mail-Order Bride Substitute by Linda Ford for yourself. I definitely recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own. show less