Bride by Mail

by Richard Puz

Independent and spirited, Eva is determined to seek a life that includes adventure and travel. Living in Ohio with her parents in the 1880s, her prospects reduce to Will’s marriage proposal. Through fateful twists, she begins corresponding with Frank, a stranger who lives in the wilds of Washington Territory. As the love story unfolds, he asks her to come west and marry him. The prospect of a long trip is exhilarating yet daunting.

All the while, Frank's letters detailing his adventures captivate Eva’s imagination. Along with his brother, the young men head west with a wagon train and encounter dangers—stampedes, cutthroats, and stumbling onto the “silent killer” of early western trails. Unexpectedly reuniting with their uncle, they track outlaws and a stolen gold shipment. Adding to their peril is the scheming owner of the Sourdough Wind Mine in the gold-mining camp of Yreka.

The novel folds together two stories set thirty years apart, and shared through an exchange of letters. This fictional historical tale is based on a true story of love and adventure, during the period 1855-1880. Crisp action scenes, historical authenticity, and unique writing style elevate this novel among its peers.

Character Briefs:

Eva Helms- It is 1888, and she joins the local association’s project to write to men in Washington Territory, “to quiet the hearts and souls of the brave and lonely men on our frontier.” She is intrigued, yet unsure. Through the correspondence, love unfolds with the “wild man from Washington Territory." His letters captivate her with tales about his life and adventures. The prospect of traveling over two thousand miles across the plains and mountains to Washington Territory is an exciting prospect. Yet, what does she really know about Frank? Her doubts and fears build as she shares these and Frank’s letters with Viola, her sister. Finally, Frank issues an ultimatum. Throughout, she stubbornly clings to her beliefs. “It’s my future and I’ll live it as I choose, not what’s customary or expected, nor birthing one youngster after another, until I’m worn-out.”

Frank Sommer- Thirty years earlier as a teenager, he runs away from the family farm in Missouri. He and his brother are hired by a wagon train bound for Oregon. They encounter thrilling adventures and, through a series of events, become owners of a cattle herd headed west to the California gold country. Eventually, Frank travels alone to Washington Territory and builds a life in the vast forests on the Wallace River. Writing to Eva, he shares his life, while falling in love with her and proposes. At the time of the letters in 1888, he is older and has already led an adventurous life, knows what he wants, and leads the life of his choosing.

Captain Renke Vogel- He is the aging uncle of the two Sommer boys. He's also the enforcer in the wild gold mining town of Yreka, looking after the interests of his boss, Thorne Cort. Leading a shipment of gold, murdering thieves steal the ore and kill his men. He tracks them, seeking justice . He and his two nephews retrieve the gold and the boys share a sizable reward. The gold mine owner seeks the return of the reward. Confrontation becomes inevitable.

Jonah Sommer- He is Frank’s older brother, who looks out for him. The two share many adventures. On the Oregon Trail, he falls in love with beautiful, green-eyed Tennie, who longs for her bow back in Tennessee. At Fort Laramie, fate steps in.

Viola-She is Eva’s older married sister, best friend, and sounding board, all rolled together. Eva shares Frank’s letters, and Viola is enthralled with his tales. Recognizing that her sister is falling in love with Frank, she encourages the letter writing.

Isaac Helm- Eva’s father fears that she is becoming a spinster. The many confrontations with Eva push her to make a decision between Will and Frank. During one of his many tirades, he says. “Girl, you’re no longer a spring chicken nor a featherhead loon!"

268 pages, Paperback

First published July 24, 2013

Reviews

[pdarnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this from Goodreads - First Reads giveaways.

This was an interesting and enjoyable read. It is fictional based on historical records, therefore my listing it as fictional/non-fictional in my book lists. Once I began reading I was hooked. Although this book is the fourth in the series it stood well enough on it's own and needed no information from prior books in the series. The book is set in 3 different but related stories which come together in the end. The first portion being more romance and letter writing between Eva and Frank. The second is more about Franks uncle and the mining camp. The third bringing the conclusion.

Romance, gun fighting, ambush, bride by mail, family, prospecting, gold mine camps, dirty deals, cattle driving, humor, wagon trains, railroad and settling of the west.

[Richard Puz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bride by Mail novel is the last of a four-book series, and ends the author's historical anthology of American western migration in the 1800s. Over the course of the four novels, settlers from North Carolina and Ohio take to the trails and big rivers to migrate ever westward. The common factor is that all eventually begin new lives in Six Bulls country, located in southwest Missouri. From there, they or their offspring’s continue to the western horizon, covering a broad geographical canvas from Texas to the Plains of Nebraska Territory, across the Rocky Mountains and, finally, to the California gold country, Oregon, and Washington. True family tales are incorporated in all the books.
I'm the author, so I give it five stars.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished reading Bride by Mail. While the story and characters were the predictable romance- genre sorts, I did like the story-within-a-story. The adventures of the lead male characters were introduced by way of letters, then the story action switches to the action. Many interesting details to the time period. Would have been a better book had the author made the premier part of the book (the woman writing and reading letters)secondary to the action.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book a solid 4.5 stars. It says it's the final novel in the series but I didn't need to read the others to know what was going on. There were blurbs about the previous books and I don't think they included the characters in this one.

I loved the way the perspective changed between the two main characters. I absolutely loved the sister Viola, I thought she was very funny. I would definitely recommend it to any one who loves historical romances with some adventure.

[Beth Yeary]

Thanks to Goodreads, I read Bride by Mail. Using a small historical fact, it tells the story of how it must of worked. Along the lines of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, or the old series, Here Come the Brides. This tells how the brides and grooms "met".

[Robert Keck · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a nice end to the series. Eva remains strong and resilient. this story has more intrigue and adventure. Richard Puz has carefully researched the 1880's and has put his trademark attention to detail to the test. Enjoy.

[RACHEL · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Bride by Mail' is a fun read with a look into the settling of the American west.

My copy came through Goodreads First Reads.