A Bride for All Seasons: The Mail Order Bride Collection

A Bride for All Seasons

by Margaret Brownley (Contributor), Robin Lee Hatcher (Contributor), Mary Connealy (Contributor)

1800s mail-order bride catalogs facilitated many happy marriages. Here are the stories of four couples who owe their wedded bliss to creative editing by The Hitching Post publisher.

"And Then Came Spring"--Margaret Brownley
When mail order bride Mary-Jo Parker arrives in town she receives the shock of her life; not only is her fiancé dead, he left behind an eight-year-old son he neglected to mention. But the biggest challenge of all is the boy's way-too-handsome uncle.

"An Ever-After Summer"--Debra Clopton

Widower Matt McConnell wrote his ad with no room for misunderstanding--Bible believers need not apply. But then Bible-thumping Ellie shows up on his doorstep. Matt's so desperate for her help that he accepts.

"Autumn's Angel"--Robin Lee Hatcher

Luvena Abbott's privileged childhood didn't prepare her for the hardship she now faces as an adult, especially when it comes to being the guardian of her nieces and nephew. Marriage seems the only answer to her dilemma. Clay Birch hopes to change the hurdy-gurdy house he won in a poker game into the finest opera house in the Northwest, but he'll need help to do it. Could this unlikely couple actually be the perfect match?

"Winter Wedding Bells"--Mary Connealy

David Laramie is looking for a woman to care for his children. In exchange he'll make her financially comfortable for life. But no woman wants to marry a dying man. Then Megan responds to his ad. It seems his "edited" letter contained no mention of him dying.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Christian, Westerns, Historical Romance, Fiction

401 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2013

About the author

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR MARGARET BROWNLEY has penned nearly forty novels and novellas. Her books have won numerous awards, including Readers' Choice and Award of Excellence. She's was a two-time Romance Writers of American RITA® finalist and has written for a TV soap. She is currently working on a new series. Not bad for someone who flunked eighth grade English. Just don't ask her to diagram a sentence.

Reviews

[Robin Hatcher]

I am so proud to be part of this collection. The stories are charming and tied together with an unusual hook that I believe readers are going to love. I don't rate my own books, but since I am only 1/4th of this one, I feel I can at least tell others about it. It is a fun read.

Here are what a few others had to say:

"Delightful at every turn, A Bride For All Seasons gives the "mail order bride plot" a creative––and addictive––new twist. I couldn't read fast enough. With spunk, humor, and tenderhearted romance this anthology is truly made to order!" ~ Tamera Alexander, USA Today bestselling author of To Whisper Her Name and The Inheritance

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"Grab a glass of sweet tea and settle in for a spell because you won’t be able to put this wonderful book down! Penned by some of the best western romance writers in Christian fiction, this collection will become an instant, page-turning  treasure." ~ Lorna Seilstad, award winning author of The Gregory Sisters series and the Lake Manawa series

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"Great mail-order bride stories! They're funny. They're poignant. A round-up of wonderful authors that you won't want to miss." ~ Janet Tronstad, USA Today Best Selling Author

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"Four popular authors have penned an engaging novella collection with a creative and humorous premise. From distressing to delightful, A Bride for all Seasons bounces your emotions around like they’ve been on a bumpy 1800s stagecoach ride, with each story arriving at a highly satisfying ending." ~ Vickie McDonough, award-winning author of 27 books and novellas, including the Pioneer Promises series

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"Four talented writers, four unique stories of women seeking happiness—and a man!  Inspirational reading doesn’t get any better than this." ~ Lori Copeland, author of Sisters of Mercy Flats and co-author of The Amish of Apple Grove series

[Aerykah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say I really, truly enjoyed this novella collection! :)

[Shannah Mauney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this collection of novellas from some of my favorite authors. Each story was short and sweet, full of romance and faith, and very enjoyable. I loved all of the characters! I only wish they were a little longer! Because of the shortness of the stories, some of the romance could feel a little rushed, but I kept in mind the fact that these were novellas, not full fledged novels and it helped keep my perspective.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable collection of short stories!

[Christina Sinisi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed all four of these novellas. For some reason, I like the Mail-Order Bride trope, even though my historian son tells me that most didn't end so well. At the same time, as a psychologist, I know that cross-cultural research shows that arranged marriages are just as happy as otherwise.

Ah, well, these are sweet, relaxing romances. I like the first two the best...with the third, they literally only had to sit down and talk and they did, voila, the end.

I recommend this book for short, fast, uplifting reads.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first found out about A Bride for All Seasons by some of my favorite authors I was excited, but did not know what to expect. What I have found is a book with four stories, each about 100 pages individually. This is great for summer reading, when I want a story maybe a little bit faster than normally, but at the same time, once all four are read, it's the same as reading an average historical book these days.

posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2...


“And Then Came Spring”—Margaret Brownley

Start out the year right with a story in spring on marriage for convenience or love, it's hard to decide. It's a fun 100 pages with a character of Mary-Jo that reminds me of A Lady Like Sarah . I have mixed feelings on Sheriff Tom Garrett, the brother of the original man who ordered the mail-order bride. But the situation and events that occur make it all work. It's short, but a worthy read.

“An Ever-After Summer”—Debra Clopton

I'm not sure that I have read something by Debra Clopton before, but I enjoyed this short story. Reading these two together makes me recall a few years back around Christmas when some authors did a pick up and write Christmas story. Follow up your spring story with a summer tale on a character that is as unforgettable as her name Melvina Eldora or as more fitting Ellie and a broken-hearted widower Matt McConnell and his toddler Sophie. This one made my smile plenty and think of writing like Mary Connealy.

“Autumn’s Angel”—Robin Lee Hatcher

Reading about an opera singer makes me want to go back to read Lisa Bergren's Sing. Luvena Abbott as guardian to her brother’s children, is not what Clay Birch was looking for, but both the editor of the Hitching Post and apparently God knew what they really needed in matrimony. This was an okay read, but not as good as the rest.

“Winter Wedding Bells”—Mary Connealy

I have to admit Mary Connealy is one of my all time favorites and I started "Autumn's Angel" but was just a little too eager so I skipped over to "Winter Wedding Bells". I read it during the girls' nap time and loved every second of it! Just watching the characters unfold little bits of their history makes me want more, I want a whole series dedicated to David (Stewart) Laramie's past and future in Wyoming. After reading of this one it makes me want to go back through Lassoed in Texas and Montana Marriages again because her characters are just that fun. While I think this is the first Irish lass I've found from Mary, she was appropriate and quaint and of course amusing. The children in this story just happen to be there, but the real events are between David and Megan. It's just great for a short story.

All of the stories in here are based on one man Hitchcock's Hitching Post mail-order bride catalogue. It is funny and a great starting point. After the end of the stories there is a section with reader discussion questions and then a five way interview which is delightful to read and see where these authors came from and how they became connected on this opportunity to write a collection book. I give it four out of five stars, because one story just wasn't for me, but the rest I loved!

I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gotta love a man who meddles with the content of the mail!

This book consisted of four inspirational themed mail - order bride novellas, written by four different authors. Each story averaged about 100 pages. The stories were enjoyable. Definitely a curl up with a mug of hot chocolate, winter read, kinda book.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 stars:
And Then Came Spring
Autumn's Angel
Winter Wedding Bells

1 star:
An Ever After Summer

The stories that I liked had drama and romance and humor. The journeys that the characters took were interesting and enjoyable. The story that I disliked was mostly due to the characters. I didn't like them. All of the stories have a happy ending and take place in the West.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

***MINOR SPOILERS ***
This book contains 4 novellas about mail order brides. The stories are not connected to each other except the couples used the same mail order catalogue. The man who runs the catalog changes people’s ads to help people make connections but at the same times deceives the people involved. Each novella is named after a different season. In addition, there is a religious aspect to them.
I was not familiar with any of the authors so I thought this would be a good opportunity to discover one I might like. I gave each novella its own review. I gave the book a 5 star rating as I usually do for anthologies because I think it is a good way to try out new authors, though I do not plan to continue reading any of them..
And Then Came Spring
Rating 3 stars
I had a poor first impression of the female main character, Mary-Jo, who came across initially as judgmental and selfish. When she arrives in town to marry, she is impatient that she is kept waiting. When she physically runs into a young boy in town, she thinks to herself that she could give him a lecture. When she is told to look for her fiancé at the church, she enters and finds out it is his funeral. She rushes to the front of the church to see him and then rushes back out. She is upset for herself but does not think about all the mourners who are there who knew the man personally and the disruption she is causing.
As the book continues, you realize she regrets barging into the funeral. She also helps look for a lost boy and is concerned about him.
Mary-Jo thinks of herself as having bad luck. There are many, many references to her worrying about a superstition. She does not want to step on a crack, she avoids ladders and black cats, she throws salt over her shoulder, she worries about a stopped clock, etc, etc, etc. It gave me the impression of someone who is not well educated or informed. Tom, the main male character, tells her once that he does not believe in luck but trusts in God. This one reference is enough to break a lifetime of superstition.
There was not a lot of relationship development in the story. Tom asks Mary-Jo to marry him because she bonds with his nephew who is now an orphan. Tom is committed to taking over his care but is a bit lost about how to be a father. I was a little surprised by this because Tom and his brother, Dan, lived in the same town. I would have thought they spent time together and that Tom would have had a relationship with his nephew. Being a father is different from being an uncle, of course. I thought the relationship between the brothers could have been explained more, though Tom feels guilt that he was not there when his brother died.
Because of the short nature of the story, the author spent more time on the skeleton of covering the basic events of the story and did not flesh out the rest. I think she could have taken at least one relationship and brought it out more. Even a few sentences about Tom’s feelings about Mary-Jo, Mary-Jo’s feelings about him, Tom’s relationship with his brother and his nephew would have added body to the story. Mary-Jo’s act of heading into the unknown to marry someone could have been brought out more. It seems like a desperate act of hope.
This story takes place shortly after the Civil War. Mary-Jo is from Georgia , a confederate state, and Tom is from Kansas which was a free state. The potential conflicts related to that were not explored. They did not need to be, just mentioning it.
I do not plan to continue reading the author. I know that novellas mean that the stories are short and do not have the depth of a book, but I have read some that are able to convey at least some depth anyway.
An Ever After Summer
Rating 4 stars
Ellie grew up with an aunt who blamed her for the death of three people in her family. Her mother in childbirth, her father of a broken heart, and her uncle in a runaway buggy (this was explained later). All her life, her aunt encouraged this view of her and other people believed it and ostracized her. When she became an adult, her aunt wanted her to leave and handed her a mail order bride catalogue.
Ellie is strong willed and outgoing. She did not have any friends except a neighboring rancher but is a big talker. She challenges Matt, her mail order husband. She also relates to his daughter, Sophie, who lost her mother in childbirth as she did. Despite the short length of the story, the author is able to create some relationship development.
Matt is determined to keep the relationship at arm’s length as he was devastated by his first wife’s death. When Ellie tells her story, Matt comes to realize that he has been pushing his daughter away in his grief and vows to do better.
Matt has a mule named Prudence who has a lot of personality. It added a bit of levity to the story.
Ellie has a strong Christian faith. Matt has turned his back on his faith because of his wife’s death. During the book, he faces both his wife’s death and the effect it had on his faith.
This story had more substance and connections than the first novella. I do not plan to continue reading the author.
Autumn’s Angel
Rating 4 stars
This novella is the second in the Grand Couer series. The characters from Heart of Gold appear in this story. It can be read as a standalone.
Luvena cares for her sister’s three children after she and her husband die. Luvena accepts a mail order proposal from Clay, who does not want to marry someone with children. Neither of them are aware that the mail order operator has connected them and deceived them both.
However, both Luvena and Clay share an interest in singing. Clay owns an opera house and Luvena was trained as an opera singer. What is a bit surprising is that Clay’s opera house is in Grand Couer, Idaho, and the population is not that large. It seemed surprising that he thinks he can make a living at it. Luvena invites someone she knows to be the opening act for the opera house, but the author does not reveal if it was a success which was disappointing.
I was impressed with Luvena’s decision to take care of her sister’s children. The age difference between her and her sister was not explained. The oldest of her sister’s children is 14 and Luvena is only 23. It is young to take on the responsibility. I also liked that Luvena challenges Clay on why they can not get married. He has a difficult past and she helps him see past it.
The oldest child offers to begin working at the dressmaker’s shop. At the time, people often began working young, but Luvena did not want her to do so. It was an interesting choice given their lack of funds. Also, the town does not have a school and this problem was not resolved.
When Luvena meets Clay and he says that he does not want to marry her because of the children, she faints. It felt like an overreaction.
In a minor nitpicky point, the author makes a common mistake that bugs me. When she is mentioning the older and younger daughters of her sister, she says the oldest daughter. While Esmeralda is the oldest child, she is the older daughter. Older would refer to two, oldest refers to three or more.
Both Clay and Luvena have faith. It is something that they appreciate in each other.
I thought this novella had some relationship development despite its short length.
Winter Wedding Bells
Rating 4 stars
David believes he is dying and advertises for a mail order bride because he wants someone to watch over his children after he dies. I was a little surprised that he would trust a random stranger to watch over his children.

Megan cared for her younger brothers until they grew up and accepts that she will be nursemaid to David and caretaker of her children. However, she was unaware that he believes he was dying. The person at the mail order catalogue removes that information from his letter before passing it along.

I thought it was a bit unrealistic that her brothers would not be in touch much after they grew up. It did not speak well of them or their relationship with her.

Megan uses her knowledge about caretaking to begin giving David a home grown recipe that she learned from a doctor. Over several weeks, he begins to get better. During that time, they begin growing closer but there could have been more relationship development.
I do not plan to continue reading this author.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mail-order bride catalog whose facilitator of the ads submitted has a tendency of editing the ads admits that his "edited" ads have helped four couples find happiness. But what happens when the couples find out about the "creative editing? Four talented authors combine to write these novellas.

And Then Came Spring - Margaret Brownley - Gambler's daughter, Mary Jo Parker, arrives in town to discover that not only has her fiance died, but that he left behind an 8 year old son that was never mentioned in his letters. Yet it's the boy's uncle that finds her hoping for more.

An Ever After Summer- Debra Clopton - Widower Matt McConnell was very specific in his ad for a mail order bride - Bible believers need not apply. All he wants is a practical woman to be a mama for his daughter. When Bible believer Ellie shows up, he's so desperate for help that he accepts her as is. But will love follow?

Autumn's Angel - Robin Lee Hatcher - Aspiring opera singer Luvena Abbott from a privileged childhood arrives in rural Idaho with her nieces and nephew in tow to answer the ad that Opera House owner Clay Birch placed. He specifically stated that widows with children should not apply. What will Clay do when Luvena takes an add out of her own?

Winter Wedding Bells - Mary Connealy - David Laramie wants a woman who will care for his children when he dies. But no young woman with dreams of her own would even consider his ad. Then Megan shows up. Seems that David's edited letter made no mention of him dying.

My thoughts

I have read books by each of these authors before. So when I saw that they were writing a novella book together, I knew I had to add it to my to-read list.

I wasn't disappointed in the book. Each author brought her own style to the book, and each story had characters that were endearing. I laughed my way through one of the stories, and sighed happily after reading others. This is a very enjoyable read. I'd have to say that my favorite story was Winter Wedding Bells mainly because I just adored Megan. I think that this book would be great for a beach, a pool side, a family vacation, or anything else going on in the summer.

I received the Kindle edition of this book for free from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Mary Connealy, Debra Clopton, Robin Lee Hatcher, Margaret Brownley, fun reads, historical romance, mail order brides.

Rating - 4 stars

[Hallie (Hallie Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It all started with an ad in a mail-order bride catalogue..."

It's 1870. Reminders of the Civil War remain littered throughout the country. Scarred by the past, like the slowly healing land, four women seek a better future. Turning to the Hitching Post Mail-Order Bride Catalogue and its altruistically scheming editor, Melvin Hitchcock, to facilitate a new beginning, each woman finds herself headed West, full of happiness and hope for a fresh start with her unfamiliar groom-to-be. As the couples meet for the first time, they find that behind-the-scenes embellishments and purposeful miscommunications have left them unprepared, and sometimes unwilling, for what lies ahead. As the four individual novellas, each written by one of the authors and then compiled in A Bride for All Seasons, follow the both humorous and heartbreaking moments that result, each woman discovers that love and second chances often come in ways unplanned and unexpected.

In this nostalgically whimsical approach to mail-order brides, A Bride for All Seasons did not disappoint. At first, I was a bit wary of its novella format, as I am a lover of long novels, full of engaging characters, dramatic histories and unexpected turns of events. But once I started reading, my wariness faded. The form of the novella did not preclude all of this things I have grown to love about novels - it simply condensed them into a shorter amount of pages, making each story all the most addicting and hard to put down. Story after story, I was hooked from the get-go, lost in the unique style of each author, and found myself reaching the end sooner than I was ready. Needless to say, I would recommend this collection to anyone looking for a quick and compelling read, with an interest in historical romance. I am truly grateful to BookSneeze for providing me with a free copy of this novel and the opportunity to review it honestly.

http://pagebypagebookbybook.blogspot....

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually don’t pick up collections of novellas because I don’t like the lack of development throughout the story. But having enjoyed books by a couple of these authors, I knew I couldn’t pass up the chance to read their novellas as well. I was glad I picked this book up because I found four sweet stories about mail-order brides.

Each of these novellas take place in different seasons (hence the “A Bride for All Seasons”). Each of these couples has been placed together through The Hitching Post, a catalog designed for setting up mail-order couples. But what each couple doesn’t realize is that someone at The Hitching Post is editing their letters and each of these couples are in for quite a surprise when they finally meet each other.

Mary Jo arrives in town only to find out her fiancé is dead! And he has a son she knew nothing about.

Ellie is looking to escape her unlucky past and find love. Matthew just wants a practical wife to care for his daughter.

Clay wants a woman who has no children but then Luvena shows up with her two nieces and nephew that she has custody of.

And then there’s David who believes he has less than a year to live. When Megan arrives on the scene, she is determined to give David a reason to live.

Each of these stories are sweet and touching and are bound to bring a smile to your face. I enjoy stories about mail-order brides, so to have four novellas right at my hand was very enjoyable. I only wish that each story was longer and I could see more development in the couples’ relationships. But the authors did a great job of bringing each story to life in the small amount of space that they had.

I received a free ebook copy of this book from the publisher through BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review. I received no compensation for this review nor was I required to write a positive review. All opinions stated are my own.

Leah B.
Must Love Books
mustlovereading.wordpress.com

[Stephanie Ziegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never been a fan of short stories together in one book. That is the only reason to take away a star. I feel that sometimes you cannot connect with the characters. You are just reading a story. I love connecting with characters, like I am a part of the story.

"And Then Came Spring" by Margaret Brownley

In this story, you think the mail-order bride catalogue brings the two main characters together, when it was really Eddie. For a child known to be unruly, he is very smart. Even after the death of his father, he connects with Mary-Jo and knows just what to do to stop her from returning home.

"An Ever After Summer" by Debra Clopton

I thought this story was so cute. Despite the horrible environment Ellie was raised in, she was strong, independent, funny, stubborn and had a heart filled with so much love to give. Reading Ellie's shenanigans reminded me of an I Love Lucy episode. She gets into hilarious messes and it only makes you love her more. Though I must say my favorite character in this story is Prudence.

"Autumn's Angel" by Robin Lee Hatcher

I liked this story a lot. The author stepped the story up a level from the first two stories in this book. Not only were the man and woman not what each other asked for (the only opera experience Luvena had was attending them), but Luvena came with three times the baggage. Both were strapped for cash and stuck with each other. They were good sports and made the best out of a bad situation.

"Winter Wedding Bells" by Mary Connealy

They saved the best story for last. A true miracle story. Megan is such a loving and caring character. She nurtures everyone, even the cowhands. She believes in God and prayer with every thing she has. And she is quite the comedian on a horse.

Until next time, live life one page at a time!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R330HYLW...

I'm typically not a huge fan of novellas, but this collection of four "Mail-Order Bride" novellas was great! The first two, "And Then Came Spring" by Margaret Brownley and "An Ever-After Summer" by Debra Clopton, were very good and had me laughing a lot. "Autumn's Angel" was my least favorite of the four, probably because it felt way too short and rushed (especially towards the end). My favorite was the last one, "Winter Wedding Bells" by Mary Connealy - it was just so good!

Melvin, The Hitching Post publisher, and his interference in the couples' lives/letters added such a neat element to A Bride for All Seasons. I just couldn't help shaking my head (and sometimes laughing out loud) at some of his antics! Oh, and I loved the glossary of terms at the end of Margaret Brownley's novella - too funny!

Overall, I enjoyed reading all of the novellas and loved three of them. I definitely recommend A Bride for All Seasons - it had great characters, romance, and humor! If you enjoy historical reads (especially mail-order bride ones), I think you will like A Bride for All Seasons.

*I received this book for free for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Bride For All Seasons is a compilation of four authors. All stories are based on the services of The Hitching Post Mail Order Bride Catalogue and its editor Melvin Hitchcock. Now Melvin had the habit of changing words in his applicants letters, quite often he did a lot of embellishing. The four novels are all based on Melvin's plotting, but maybe God had more of a hand in these couples lives than Melvin??
Can you imagine, arriving and meeting your Fiancé, and learning he is dying, and needs you to be a mother to his children? Or how about arriving and finding he isn't there to meet you, and they are having his funeral?? Or maybe you arrive and he is so happy and can't believe your luck, beautiful woman, but what are those? Children?? No Children!! Then their is a sweet fellow who lost his wife in childbirth, and he never wants that pain again. He needs a mother for his darling little girl, but definitely wants no "Love"!
Travel along with these wonderful, can't put down till the end stories. I loved this collection, only wished there were more!!

I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Book Tours and was not required to give a positive review.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four different brides from four different places and walks in life all answer an ad in the newspaper to become a mail order bride. But the letters must be mailed to the newspaper and then sent on to the prospective groom. And an interfering newspaper editor decides to take love into his own hands and change just a few things. So each bride and groom meet each other with a calamity of misunderstanding and confusion.

When dealing with novellas I take into consideration that the stories are short and thus don't have much time to create an engaging plot and wrap things up. That being said, I enjoyed this book. The stories were funny and sweet. While I could have cheerfully strangled the newspaper man, the stories all ended with love and there were some very amusing parts. While I definitely had my favorite among the four, I enjoyed all of them.

I received this book free of charge from Booksneeze in exchange for my honest review.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable novella collection. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the second novella collection, "Four Weddings and a Kiss", simply because of how exquisite that collection was. (I sure hope these ladies do another set of stories this year!)
I enjoyed all the stories, but the last was my favorite. How spunky Megan took hold with both hands and fought for her husband's heart in more than one sense was endearing and such a picture of true womanhood.
The only thing I'd change was to have the editor go over it one more time. There was a sentence in the first story with a hilarious misplaced modifer--I couldn't help laughing at the mental picture of this: "wearing a white dressing gown, the boardinghouse owner's grey hair hung..."--and the several instances of incorrect homophones used. Read aloud it sounds fine, but the spelling makes the sentences incorrect. A curse of spellcheck and a pet peeve of mine.

[Margaret Tidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super cute book! I loved that each of the stories were short and it made the book seem to fly by. I also loved how each story was written by a different author. I loved all 4 of the stories and I was sad when each of them ended. I think my favorite one was "Winter Wedding Bells" because I couldn't help but laugh at David and how he was convinced he was going to die. All the stories are super sweet and I can't wait to check out some of the other books the authors have written.

[Tamera Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful at every turn, A Bride For All Seasons gives the "mail order bride plot" a creative––and addictive––new twist. I couldn't read fast enough. With spunk, humor, and, of course, tenderhearted romance, this anthology is truly made to order!
~Tamera Alexander, USA Today bestselling author of To Whisper Her Name and The Inheritance

[Vickie McDonough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four popular authors have penned an engaging novella collection with a creative and humorous premise. From distressing to delightful, A Bride for all Seasons bounces your emotions around like they’ve been on a bumpy 1800s stagecoach ride, with each story arriving at a highly satisfying ending.

[Colletta Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book to get me out of my reading slump. All the stories within are sweet and interesting. I love mail-order-bride books :)

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful collection of heartwarming stories!

[Lisa Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not something I would normally go for (contemporary suspense not old west sweet) but still a delightful read that flew by.
very enjoyable.

[Kathleen E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tuesday, July 16, 2013
A Bride for All Seasons ~The Mail-Order Bride Collection~ Brownley*Clopton*Connealy*Hatcher, ©2013

What fun and unexpected happenings all in one place!

There are three sections in the back. For each of the four novellas in this book there is a Reading Group Guide. And... An Interview with the Authors ~ Behind the Scenes with Your Favorite Matchmakers; followed by About the Authors.

Hitching Post Mail-Order Bride Catalogue 1870

The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the Lord.
--Proverbs 16:23 NKJV

And Then Came Spring by Margaret Brownley

There is a fun Glossary of Mail-Order Bride Advertising Terms (And What They Really Mean) following the story.

Melvin Hitchcock owns and edits the Hitching Post Mail-Order Bride Catalogue and "finds it his duty to present clients in the best possible light" ~ so a little rewording here and there before their ads are posted are sometimes in order. Sometimes a necessity, if the truth be told, and definitely Melvin wants a happily-ever-after union, not a frowned upon stretching of the apparent-upon-sight!

Miss Parker needs to be represented correctly if she is to linger. Superstitious at that! Mary-Jo has traveled from her home in Georgia to be wed to Mr. Garrett. Traveling on a Friday has caused his demise, she is sure of it. Not his traveling; hers. She arrives in town a little too late and is first greeted by young Master Garrett and then by his uncle, who happens to be the county sheriff. Of all the luck, or lack of it. In all of her travels to Kansas, she is out-of-luck. Completely.

Now what!

She hated to compare the sheriff to her gambling father, but Tom treated his nephew in much the same way Pa treated her. Eddie wasn't just running to catch up; he was knocking on the door of an empty house.
--And Then Came Spring, 45

Young Eddie's uncle is unprepared to care for his newly deceased brother's eight-year-old son. In a short time, Mary-Jo Parker has already gotten Eddie out of a couple scraps standing up for him. All she has had to compare the sheriff to was what she had known. What is she to do? This is not at all what she expected.

I really enjoyed this story by Margaret Brownley. Once they get acquainted, Mary-Jo finds she is the one who needs a little changing.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares
the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm
you, plans to give you a hope and a future."
--Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

An Ever After Summer by Debra Clopton

Ellie leaves home at the request of her aunt and is hoping for a happy-ever-after. She has been accused of causing the demise of her family ~ her mother at her birth, her father, following of heartbreak, and on and on gossip acknowledges that she is not one to stay around.

There is a curly-haired little girl needing her mothering and Purdy needing to be the protector of the little girl too. Her daddy has already settled his ever after.

Right then and there he resolved he'd offer this woman his last name and his protection in exchange for care for his daughter. But not his love. Not his heart.
--An Ever After Summer, 122

Toss in some cattle rustlers, and a dance to remember.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

This means that anyone who belongs to
Christ has become a new person.
The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
--2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

Autumn's Angel by Robin Lee Hatcher

Love the handwritten letters within!

As long as he is good to me and kind to the children, as long as he is a Christian and has integrity, it doesn't matter who he is or where he lives or what he looks like. I'm not marrying for love. I'm marrying because it's the practical thing to do. The same reason hundreds of other women choose to travel west and marry complete strangers. People have been arranging marriages since almost the beginning of time. It will be all right. It will.
--Autumn's Angel, 201

Has Mr. Hitchcock tampered with this to suit his perspective outcome of his magazine successes?

Luvena turned toward the stagecoach and pointed toward the luggage that the Wells Fargo driver and station agent were unloading. "Those" two smaller trunks there and those two carpetbags are ours."
Ours. He liked that she said it that way, even if she hadn't traveled light. Good thing he'd borrow a wagon instead of a buggy. Still, she'd said ours instead of mine, and he knew they were going to get along. It was a good start for their union.
--Ibid., 207

Well, well. Mr. Hitchcock has ad-libed ~at liberty~ omitting three important children, for sure. Especially when Clay Birch made it quite plain in his first letter he wasn't interested in a widow with children; never mind that they are her nieces and nephew. He sent fare for Luvena Abbott to come as his mail-order bride to foresee them doing good for others together. Hmm...

Grand Coeur Opera House. Clay is having the stage rebuilt in the old Grand Theater. He desires to have the folks of Grand Coeur see beauty and grace to make a difference in their daily lives.

"I don't suppose anyone would consider me a refined or cultured man, Miss Abbott, but I've seen how people can be transformed by performances of great artists. The audience may think they're just being entertained for a few hours, but it can be so much more than that. It can make them long for something better...."
--Ibid., 228

Will he discover the change in him, beyond what he regards himself to be?

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
--2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV

I especially liked how Luvena found the practical thing was not to be determined by circumstance.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art
with me; thy rod and they staff they comfort me.
--Psalm 23:4 KJV

Winter Wedding Bells by Mary Connealy

Mr. Hitchcock has again edited the letters. He has sent on pages 1 and 3 of David Laramie's letter to Megan McBride.

And an Irish lass, for sure!! This half-Irish Kathleen likes that! [That would be me.] ~*~ Back to the story.... Fortunate for Megan she has had experience with five younger brothers. The sleek carriage arrives dispelling David and his two young sons as bedlam proceeds. A need for David and Megan each to rescue one from the Chicago streets. They are used to the country life and not the crossing hoofs of horses in both directions carrying their wares and supplier of transportation.

Megan looked down at the boy she held. She asked, "And can I be trusting you to stay at my side, laddie? No running off? No horseplay?"
The boy nodded as if he was quite terrified to disobey. Megan released the child, took a few moments to dust herself off. She straightened her bonnet, which had been knocked nearly off her head. Then she tidied Zachary with quick, efficient motions. Regaining Ben's hand, she said, "I'm ready to go in then. We can have our visit and decide if we'll be suited to one another, Mr. Laramie."
"You just saved my son's life," Mr. Laramie said with grim satisfaction. "I reckon we'll suit just fine. In fact, we'll suit well enough you oughta call me David."
--Winter Wedding Bells, 300-301

That's what I call "an introduction and referral."

engrailhistory.info/r024.html
David Laramie has his own train car; a borrowed one because of his health. He is in a slow recovery from pneumonia. They are preparing for their wedding meal.

Megan stepped onboard and gasped. A velvet couch, brass lamps. A table with four chairs to her right, the table laden with platters covered by domed metal lids for keeping food warm. Her stomach growled.
"We'll eat first." David pulled the door shut. She wondered if he'd heard her stomach.
He threw a latch, which blocked off a means of escape for the rowdy boys.
--Ibid., 303

Megan's new sons are four and five. The four of them are on their way to their ranch home in Wyoming. David met Megan in Chicago as he was there for doctoring care. They marry the day after meeting and go directly to the train. David married for his sons to have a mother's care, with his illness extinguishing his life ~ mentioned on the center page she did not receive. However, his eyes do not have death in them, nor does Megan's belief and heart.

Many plans occupy the mind of a man, but the LORD's purposes will prevail.
--Proverbs 19:21 ISV
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

I thoroughly enjoyed these four novellas. ~ All together in one place. ~ Endearing, they will remain with you after the last written page.

***Thank you to Litfuse Publicity Group for inviting me to be part of this blog tour for the four novellas and sending me a copy of A Bride For All Seasons ~ Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter ~ they have been delightful reads! This review is in my own words. No other compensation was received.***

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Bride for all Seasons, The Mail-Order Bride Collection*****

Excerpt from book: “Following the War Between the States, mail-order bride catalogues sprung up like mushrooms, none could claim as many successful marriages as the Hitching Post.” There are many different reasons a single woman or man wrote and advertized for a bride or groom. Each one of these women traveled from the East to the mid-west/West to marry. Generally, these women have no money or family to return to back East if things do not work out for them to marry.

Melvin Hitchcock owner and editor of The Hitching Post, “a mail-order bride catalogue for the discerning, lonely or desperate...”. Melvin personally reads each clients ads or letters in case he has to “edit the wording”, adjusting the contents of the ads/letters before placing the ads, thereby showing his clients in their best light to their prospective bride/groom. His way of looking out for his clients best interests and insuring they do get married. Of course, his “editing” of their correspondence brings about all kinds of misunderstandings which in turn lead to some interesting and sometimes funny situations.

This is a wonderful collection of four mail-order bride stories:
1. And Then Came Spring by Margaret Brownley, spring of 1870 Colton, Kansas
--Mary-Jo travels from Georgia to Kansas to marry David. However, he is very late in meeting her at the train station. The longer she waits for him the angrier she gets, as well as scared. After waiting over 2 ½ hours, she approaches the ticket operator again requesting location of the hotel. What should have been her wedding day turns out far different than she ever imagined. On the way to the hotel a young boy runs into her. She learns the boy is her intended's son and he tells her she can find his Pa at the church. Why is David at the church instead of meeting her at the train station? Very angry now, she charges into the church and is shocked with what greats her. Now what does she do? In tears she flees from the church. Sheriff Tom, David's brother, runs after her. What was his brother thinking advertising for a bride in that mail-order bride catalogue? What is he to do about her now? Is there an answer they all can be comfortable with?

2. An Ever-After Summer by Debra Clopton, summer of 1870 Honey Springs, Texas
--Ellie has longed to be a wife and mother, but since everyone she cared about dies, which is her fault according to her Aunt. No decent man in Fort Worth will marry her least they die too her Aunt reminds her and urges her to leave and not return. Ellie answers an ad in the Hitching Post Mail-Order Bride catalogue for a husband far away. Matthew, a widowed rancher with a two year old daughter answers an ad in the same catalogue and invites Ellie to come to Honey Springs, Texas to be his bride. Once Ellie arrives in Honey Springs she finds that all is not what she expected. Matthew is a widower with a two year old daughter but there are things that don't add up with his letters. Matthew is wondering the same about Ellie, she isn't anything like he pictured her from her letters. One of them must have lied, but which one is telling the truth and which one is lying? Can they work through the apparent lies to the truth and continue with the wedding?

3. Autumn's Angel by Robin Lee Hatcher, September of 1870 Grand Coeur, Idaho Territory
--With no other prospects of a husband Luvena answered an ad in a mail-order bride catalogue. She receives an answer and travels from Boston, Massachusetts to the Idaho Territory to marry Clay. Along with her are her 14 and 8 year old nieces and her 10 year old nephew whom she is guardian to.
Living in an old mine town there are not many women who are not already married. So Clay advertised for a “young woman who is strong, willing to work hard, has a keen mind and good business sense for a bride”. And NO widows with children! Once the stage finally arrives he watches as three children descend from the stage coach followed by a lovely young woman. Is she his intended? Once he learns that she is indeed his intended, he asks about her luggage. She nods and informs the stage driver which bags belong to her and the children. Children! He goes cold all over. The children climb aboard the waiting wagon and Luvena glances at Clay. Questions fly back and forth as they try to untangle the misunderstanding. Obviously someone has mislead the other in their letters. Why would Clay send money for the children along with hers if he did not want children? Why did she not inform him she had three children she is guardian to? Anger and confusion mount as questions and accusations fly back and forth. As Luvena learns of Clays offer does not include children she crumbles in a faint at his feet. Clay picks her up and places her in the back of the wagon. This has to be unraveled after they make it to Grand Coeur and have rested the night. And strong letters will be written to Mr. Hitchcock of the Hitching Post Mail-order Bride catalogue immediately.

4. Winter Wedding Bells by Mary Connealy, November of 1870 Wyoming
--Melvin Hitchcock of the Hitching Post Mail-Order Bride Catalogue scanned the thee page letter from David to Megan shaking his head. This will not do at all. How does he expect to secure a wife and mother for his two sons-4 and 5-by telling her he is about to die? No woman will travel all the way to Wyoming to marry knowing her future husband is on deaths door. He threw two of the three pages away and proceeded to add another page to the first and mailing it to Megan with the assurance he was helping those two young people find their mates.

--Megan arrives from Chicago weary and proceeds to the hotel to wait for David inside. But the doorman refuses to let her in the front door, informs her to go to the servants entrance. Leaving her no option but to wait out in out of the bitter cold November air. A coach stops not far from her and two boys scramble down followed by a finely dressed man. Before Megan and David can introduce themselves the boys struggle over a hat, one boy lands under the carriage they just left and the other boy ends up in the street about to be trampled by the stage coach. Without thinking Megan dashes after him and manages to grab him but rolls into the middle of the busy street. One of the horses hooves scrap across her back knocking her further into traffic. David rushes to help as best as he is able. Once everyone is safe, David escorts them all into the hotel to talk he is racked with a terrible cough and clutches his chest. Apparently he is not over the pneumonia yet she thinks. But David is determined for them to marry as soon as possible to ensure his sons will be taken care of once he is gone. As they travel to Megan's new home in a private train car David learns that she is just as determined to make him well not matter what the “top doctor” says. Will David recover enough to live and see his sons grow up? How can he teach her everything she needs to know to run a ranch as well as his sons and home? Is he sicker than he told her in his letters? What will she do if he really dies?

I really enjoyed each of these stories. They are by different authors and the characters are not connected in any way other than the ads they posted in the Hitching Post Mail-Order Bride Catalogue. I can't imagine answering an ad for a bride and then moving across country to marry a man I have never met. It was not easy as the prospective brides and grooms soon find out. Mr. Hitchcock's editing of their letters/ads brings about some interesting problems, unexpected situations, misunderstandings and even humor that they must muddle through and find that they are indeed suited to each other.

~~~I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publisher in return for my honest opinion~~~
~~Posted review on DeeperShopping.com, Goodreads.com, BarnsandNoble.com, Christianbook.com and Amazon.com~~

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sit back and enjoy four great stories. They are all new to this publication. Overall score = 4.5 stars.

AND THEN CAME SPRING (Margaret Brownley) -- E
This tale takes place in Colton, Kansas, in 1870. Mary-Jo Parker has arrived in town -- to learn that her intended husband (Dan Garrett) was busy attending his funeral (instead of marrying her). Unfortunately, Mary-Jo has strong beliefs in luck -- or rather her lack thereof. First, Mary-Jo lost her fiancee,' and now she's lost a second fiancee.' Devastated, she has nowhere to turn except back to her minimalist life in Helen, Georgia (with her aunt).

Adding to Mary-Jo's misery, Dan Garrett neglected to tell his brother, Tom (the town sheriff), about his pending nuptials. Tom has troubles of his own with his nephew Eddie. The child has become unsettled, and Tom has no idea where to turn.

The beauty of this story isn't the difficulties of the three main characters (Mary-Jo, Tom, and Eddie), although they tie the story together. Mary-Jo's conviction is that "if it weren't for bad luck, she'd have no luck at all." Everyone grows in this quick story, but Mary-Jo moves beyond her belief in luck which is the fascinating point of this engaging story.

AN EVER-AFTER SUMMER (Debra Clopton) -- VG
Matt McConnell has lost faith in God after the death of Beth during childbirth. Two years later, he is desperate for some help with his toddler and writes for a mail-order bride. He makes a point of telling "Bible-thumpers" not to apply. Of course, Ellie Smith arrives carrying a Bible. Matt is not pleased. However, Ellie comes with a load of baggage -- throughout her life, no one wanted her. She is so thrilled with Sophie, Matt's daughter, that Matt takes a second look at the woman.

AUTUMN'S ANGEL (Robin Lee Hatcher) -- VG
Luvena Abbott grew up in wealth but faced terrible hardships as an adult. She is the guardian of 3 children and has no skills to raise them alone. So she turns to become a mail-order bride. However, Clay Birch, her groom, is turned off by the three children, even though they are charming and well-behaved. Instead, Clay hires Luvena to help him start his opera house. In the meantime, Luvena needs to find another mail-order groom quickly.

WINTER WEDDING BELLS (Mary Connealy) -- E
David Laramie is looking for a mail-order bride to take care of his two children when he dies of heart trouble. No one responds until the mail-order catalog leaves out the mention of David dying within the year. Hard-working Megan McBride gets the altered letter; she's an Irish woman used to hard living and tending to her family's illnesses. She's uncowed by David's telling her he's dying. Instead, she creates potions and poultices that she uses on him.

[Linda R · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Bride For All Seasons is a collection of four mail-order bride novellas by four authors. Each story takes place in a different part of the year 1870.

And Then Came Spring by Margaret Brownley. Mary-Jo Parker has traveled from Georgia to Kansas to marry Daniel Garrett. Upon her arrival, she finds Daniel has been killed, and he has an eight-year-old son that he never mentioned. Mary-Jo meets Sheriff Tom Garrett, his brother, who disapproves of mail-order brides.

An Ever-After Summer by Debra Clopton. Melvina Eldora "Ellie" Smith leaves Fort Worth for Honey Springs, Texas, to wed Mathew McConnell. She believes she is answering the call for a godly wife and mother. He is searching for a non-believer to care for his two-year-old daughter.

Autumn’s Angel by Robin Lee Hatcher. Luvena Abbott arrives in Idaho Territory from Massachusetts with her two nieces and nephew as the mail-order bride of Clay Birch. Clay made it clear in his ad that he was not interested in marrying a woman with children but does not have the money to send her back.

Winter Wedding Bells by Mary Connealy. A doctor in Chicago told David Laramie that his heart was giving out, and he had less than a year to live. He is seeking a mother for his two young sons at his ranch in Wyoming. Megan McBride responded to his advertisement, believing he was only recovering from pneumonia.

This historical romance was easy to read with a fun twist. I liked it. The first two authors were new to me. I have read Mary Connealy before. I bought this to read Robin Lee Hatcher's story.

I purchased a paperback copy of this book.

[Genevieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like the first story.

The second story had to be my favourite. I loved Ellie and her love for the country and for Sophie. I loved that she could lasso a donkey even when her mind was distracted with thoughts of him dying.

The third story I didn't mind but I cant say that I loved it.

The forth one I liked. I liked how it started and how it finished. I liked the boys. I loved how David was a such a devoted father and that he was great with a gun.

[Dianne Sidebottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is good to be able to read stories on ebook as these were published sometime ago 2013.
It also is good to have read these stories. Going past them in the library with the someday to read. Well, I can tick the box as read,

what stands out is that the catalogue editor changed all of the letters to misinform.
Prudence the donkey stood out to me as a special character.
Mary wrote a longer story of O T Rider in a series.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book of novellas so much! I don't have a favorite -- I loved every story. I empathized with every want-to-be bride. And the common thread with all of them was a great twist. This group of authors did a great job.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only good story was Mary Connealy's at the end. The others had odd timelines and the characters didn't seem to have depth at all. I know it's hard to achieve in 100 pages, but the first three stories just fell very flat.