Kit Morgan

I was honored to receive a four-story sampler of Once Upon a Courtship, and it truly delivers on the promise of sweet historical romance. While this collection spans 12 stories from beloved Christian authors, the sampler offers a captivating glimpse into four unforgettable tales that blend faith, love, and history.

MaryLu Tyndall’s The Privateer’s Prize pulls you into the heart of the Revolutionary War with a heroine who must rely on the very man who once broke her heart. The tension, show more adventure, and sparks between them make for an exhilarating read that keeps you on edge.

In Leftover Mail Order Bride by Regina Scott, Victoria’s journey from being left at the altar to finding unexpected companionship on a rugged ranch is both heartwarming and uplifting. Scott masterfully weaves a story that’s full of charm and hope, showing that love often finds us when we least expect it.

Marlene Bierworth’s Clara’s Compassion brings a touching story set in the Canadian Rockies, where Clara’s kindness and strength challenge the tough exterior of railroad boss Graham. The emotional depth in this story is profound, making it a standout in the collection.

Finally, Chautona Havig’s Courting Miss Darling offers a delightful twist on a Western romance. Muriel Darling’s letters to a cowboy’s boss lead to unexpected love, showing that sometimes the heart finds its way in the most surprising places.

This sampler beautifully showcases the variety and richness of the full collection. With stories set in the Colonial era, Regency ballrooms, Victorian society, Western frontiers, and the Gilded Age, these tales sweep you across time and place, immersing you in the struggles and triumphs of unforgettable characters. If these four stories are any indication, Once Upon a Courtship is not just for fans of historical romance—it’s for anyone who longs to be transported to different worlds, where love, faith, and adventure intertwine in the most captivating ways.

I received a digital sampler ARC of Once Upon a Courtship from the publisher and Celebrate Lit Publicity. I am not required to write a positive review in any way or for any reason. My honest and unbiased opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing style, the pacing, and the story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability. show less

It started sort of interesting and cute and then, around mid-point, I actually wanted to bash my head on the wall. One way to describe this story : insecurity times millions. I mean, enough already! Yikes!

I wanted to slap some senses into Summer... a lot and I do mean a LOT. I don't mind some fragility in my female protagonists but she was beyond simpering and no matter how beautiful she was, there is no recovery from that.

I am sure some people go for those type of women but my feminist show more lioness just can't stand them. To each its own, I guess. show less

Fieldnotes:
Half a Day's Ride from Nowhere, Washington, March 1871

1 Largely Unnecessary Prologue with Characters Not Seen Again
1 Tragically Orphaned Heiress (Unbeknownst to Herself)
1 Greedy Lecherous Uncle
13 Years of Skivvy Work
1 Mail Order Bride Agency (Non-Sketchy Variety, to the Extent the Concept Can Be Non-Sketchy)

1 Romantically Minded Farmer Who Despite Being Popular Amongst the Local Womenfolk Decides to Send Away for a Mail Order Bride Rather Than Doing Any Courting
3 Overgrown Hoodlum show more Brothers Who Specialize in Dangerous Pranks
0 Comeuppance / Socialization
0 Farmwork

1 Conniving Hussy
1 One-Eyed Bandit (Non-Euphemism Variety)
1 Complicated Kidnap/Wedding Plan

The Short Version
A sweet (kisses/fade-to-black) romance about nice people believing they have fallen in love VERY quickly because the plot demands it. I would have liked a few more Little House in the Big Woods descriptions of farming life (as she didn't seem to be expected to do much other than cook and she had never experienced life outside of New Orleans). It felt more like an episode of Little House on the Prairie / Anne with an E (more soap opera than substance).

I got cranky at the sequel-bait brothers and their pranks - many of which are dangerous and none of which are adequately dealt with (I wanted Samijo to refuse to cook for them if they behaved this way). The only real conflict surrounds a conniving hussy with her wiles set on Arlan for the flimsiest of reasons - and then a complicated climactic scene with three different parties of ill intent showing up at the Weaver farm largely independent of one another... and all of this was so soon after Samijo's arrival that their affection felt incredibly rushed / unearned.

Sweet but insubstantial. show less

Once Upon a Courtship is an anthology of twelve different novellas by different authors. All are Christian-themed, sweet, and clean. They range from the Colonial to the Gilded Era. I read a sampling of four authors’ works: MaryLu Tyndale, Regina Scott, Marlene Bierworth, and Chautona Havig.

MaryLu Tyndale’s story, The Privateer’s Prize, was just as enjoyable as her other pirate stories I’ve read. Jilted at the altar by Isaac, Thea encounters him as a hostile privateer as she attempts show more a journey North as a spy during the Revolutionary War. Attempting to force Isaac to band to her wishes, Thea’s actions cause damage that is hard for Isaac to forgive, even as he attempts to keep her safe. As the two struggle to stay ahead of their pursuers, they begin to see themselves as they had been years earlier, with flaws that would have torn them apart. Even now, God is refining each of them.
Isaac regrets the way he treated Thea in the past,
“He had not only broken her heart, but he had pushed her away from God, a far worse condition than being jilted.”
Even as Isaac realizes a deeper, truer love for Thea( and she for him) he still holds one possession firmly in his fisted hands.
“Isaac had turned back to God, had committed his life to Him, but he had never fully given Him everything. He had never put Him first. How could he justify such selfishness when Jesus had given His all, His very life, for Isaac?
***********

“Humility. One more item to add to the list of characteristics Mrs. Dalrymple expected Victoria’s husband to possess, along with patience, faithfulness, fiscal responsibility, kindness to animals, and frequent tithing. He would have to be an absolute paragon among men. She’d never find a groom to match.”

In Leftover Mail-Order Bride by Regina Scott, Victoria Milford has traveled west in 1870s Washington Territory to be the answer to a mail-order bride ad. Upon finding the gentleman already married when she arrives, Victoria must find work or a husband. Her hostess, Mrs. Dalrymple, fancies herself a matchmaker. Will Victoria follow Mrs. Dalrymple’s advice or her own heart? What happens when the gentleman who most appeals, Jack Willets, only wants a wife who will be an assett to the ranch?

***********

In Clara’s Compassion by Marlene Bierworth, a young woman travels West to the Canadian frontier, the Rockies, and the end of the current railroad. By marrying the railroad master there, Clara can still teach like she wants and receive her inheritance that may soon be lost. But will her compassion for all people, no matter their origins, blend with that of her husband-to-be, whose railroad exploits these same people?
When confronted about her activities that offend the self-righteous townspeople, Clara avers,
“Compassion for the needy holds no boundaries where God is concerned.” What will it take to make these two hearts like-minded and the townspeople willing to accept both Clara and her husband-to-be?

Notable Quotables:

“Does being accepted by the majority make ignoring the minority acceptable?”

“You are like my conscience taking bodily form.”

*************

In Courting Miss Darling, Chautona Havig does it again! She at once amuses me, admonishes me, teaches me, and entertains me. Muriel answers a letter of introduction and begins corresponding with a Dakota Territory rancher. We follow the correspondence of these two lonely people as they slowly reveal who they are on paper. I really admired Muriel for her strength, wisdom, and love she shows teaching the Casper, Wyoming children. Pete also has many good qualities, one being an ability to remember a “conversation” and ask more questions about someone in connection to that. That was one quality that endeared him to Muriel, and it was a real-life quality that endeared my hubby to me as we corresponded for awhile during our long-distance dating.

I enjoyed reading Pete’s mom’s admonition about self-confidence:
“you are a son of the King of Kings. That means you are to be humble, for you are not the King Himself, and confident because your Father is the King and will protect you against all manner of things.”

Ms.Havig leads her characters on a very twisted path to matrimony. But, oh, the lessons they and you, the reader will learn as you journey together!

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. show less