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Mail-Order Christmas Brides
Mail-Order Mistletoe Brides: Christmas Hearts / Mistletoe Kiss in Dry Creek
Big Sky Brides Find a Family--and Love--This Christmas
Christmas Hearts by Jillian Hart
Thirteen-year-old Amelia longs for a new ma. Little George needs a father's guidance. For their children's sake, Cole Matheson and Mercy Jacobs agree on a businesslike marriage. But though Cole tries to keep his distance, Mercy offers the very thing he's stopped believing in--the chance to forge a real family.
Mistletoe Kiss in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
"Passable cook wanted as wife. Marriage in name only." Noah Miller doesn't expect any replies to his plainspoken ad, though it's the only kind of offer the guarded rancher's prepared to make. Until widowed Maeve Flanagan and her sweet daughter arrive, turning his home and his heart upside down....
Christmas Hearts by Jillian Hart
Thirteen-year-old Amelia longs for a new ma. Little George needs a father's guidance. For their children's sake, Cole Matheson and Mercy Jacobs agree on a businesslike marriage. But though Cole tries to keep his distance, Mercy offers the very thing he's stopped believing in--the chance to forge a real family.
Mistletoe Kiss in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
"Passable cook wanted as wife. Marriage in name only." Noah Miller doesn't expect any replies to his plainspoken ad, though it's the only kind of offer the guarded rancher's prepared to make. Until widowed Maeve Flanagan and her sweet daughter arrive, turning his home and his heart upside down....
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
44 people are currently reading
277 people want to read
About the author
Jillian Hart
192 books599 followersJillian Hart grew up on her family's homestead in Washington state, where she raised cattle, rode horses and scribbled stories in her spare time.
After earning her English degree from Whitman College, she worked in travel and advertising before selling her first novel.
When Jillian isn't working on her next story, she can be found puttering around her rose garden, curled up with a good book and spending quiet evenings at home with her family.
After earning her English degree from Whitman College, she worked in travel and advertising before selling her first novel.
When Jillian isn't working on her next story, she can be found puttering around her rose garden, curled up with a good book and spending quiet evenings at home with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
December 23, 2017
This was an entertaining read, but like all other short stories I have read, it left me wanting more.
January 2, 2015
Christmas Hearts by Jillian Hart (Angel Falls, Book 4)
Thirteen-year-old Amelia longs for a new ma. Little George needs a father's guidance. For their children's sake, Cole Matheson and Mercy Jacobs agree on a businesslike marriage. But though Cole tries to keep his distance, Mercy offers the very thing he's stopped believing in--the chance to forge a real family.
Sweet story. Cole needs a new mother for his daughter, who desperately needs a woman's influence in her life, while Mercy's son George longs for a father to do guy things with. Cole and Mercy agree to marry for their children's sake without any expectation of feelings between them. Cole feels that his heart died along with his wife and son and that he's got nothing left to give. Mercy would like a real marriage but is willing to give that up to have a father for George. I really liked how quickly Cole and George bonded. I also enjoyed seeing the way that Mercy was able to get Cole to lighten up a little on Amelia. Mercy's care and compassion went a long way toward enabling Cole to open his heart up to love again.
Mistletoe Kiss in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad (Dry Creek Historical, Book 5)
"Passable cook wanted as wife. Marriage in name only." Noah Miller doesn't expect any replies to his plainspoken ad, though it's the only kind of offer the guarded rancher's prepared to make. Until widowed Maeve Flanagan and her sweet daughter arrive, turning his home and his heart upside down....
Noah's ranch hands had put the ad in the paper, wanting someone who could cook for them, but Noah went along with it. He'll marry for propriety's sake, but he doesn't plan to risk his heart again. He had married once before but wasn't good enough for his wife to stay around. He expects an older widow when Maeve answers the ad, not the Irish beauty and her daughter. It isn't long before Maeve has become an important part of his life, if he can just gather the courage to tell her so. Maeve had come west to start a new life after her husband was killed. It hadn't been a good marriage and she is wary but hopeful of finding true love with the man who sent for her. She is also pregnant with her late husband's child and worried that Noah won't want to marry her because of it. I loved the ranch hands and how determined they were to keep Maeve there. I found their care for Maeve's daughter really sweet and loved the lengths they went to to make her comfortable. There was a surprise visitor who could have made things bad for Maeve and Noah, but who turned out to be just the help they needed.
Thirteen-year-old Amelia longs for a new ma. Little George needs a father's guidance. For their children's sake, Cole Matheson and Mercy Jacobs agree on a businesslike marriage. But though Cole tries to keep his distance, Mercy offers the very thing he's stopped believing in--the chance to forge a real family.
Sweet story. Cole needs a new mother for his daughter, who desperately needs a woman's influence in her life, while Mercy's son George longs for a father to do guy things with. Cole and Mercy agree to marry for their children's sake without any expectation of feelings between them. Cole feels that his heart died along with his wife and son and that he's got nothing left to give. Mercy would like a real marriage but is willing to give that up to have a father for George. I really liked how quickly Cole and George bonded. I also enjoyed seeing the way that Mercy was able to get Cole to lighten up a little on Amelia. Mercy's care and compassion went a long way toward enabling Cole to open his heart up to love again.
Mistletoe Kiss in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad (Dry Creek Historical, Book 5)
"Passable cook wanted as wife. Marriage in name only." Noah Miller doesn't expect any replies to his plainspoken ad, though it's the only kind of offer the guarded rancher's prepared to make. Until widowed Maeve Flanagan and her sweet daughter arrive, turning his home and his heart upside down....
Noah's ranch hands had put the ad in the paper, wanting someone who could cook for them, but Noah went along with it. He'll marry for propriety's sake, but he doesn't plan to risk his heart again. He had married once before but wasn't good enough for his wife to stay around. He expects an older widow when Maeve answers the ad, not the Irish beauty and her daughter. It isn't long before Maeve has become an important part of his life, if he can just gather the courage to tell her so. Maeve had come west to start a new life after her husband was killed. It hadn't been a good marriage and she is wary but hopeful of finding true love with the man who sent for her. She is also pregnant with her late husband's child and worried that Noah won't want to marry her because of it. I loved the ranch hands and how determined they were to keep Maeve there. I found their care for Maeve's daughter really sweet and loved the lengths they went to to make her comfortable. There was a surprise visitor who could have made things bad for Maeve and Noah, but who turned out to be just the help they needed.
December 17, 2013
The Mail-Order Brides series by Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstad just keeps getting better with each book. This one is my favorite of the three.
Christmas Hearts by Jillian Hart - Jillian Hart really knows how to involve the reader in the character's lives, especially when she brings in animals and children. I loved seeing the relationships between the adults and the children develop, as well as the sweet romance, of course. The ending was very satisfying, and I highly recommend it!
Mistletoe Kiss In Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad - Another sweet, well-written holiday novella set in one of my very favorite fictional locations, Dry Creek, Montana. The way the ranch hands reacted to the new "cook" was delightful, and the sacrifice the men all made for her young daughter was touching.
If you have not experienced the joy of mail-order bride novellas written by these two authors, please make sure you do as soon as possible. My only wish is that every story was a full length book instead of just a novella.
Christmas Hearts by Jillian Hart - Jillian Hart really knows how to involve the reader in the character's lives, especially when she brings in animals and children. I loved seeing the relationships between the adults and the children develop, as well as the sweet romance, of course. The ending was very satisfying, and I highly recommend it!
Mistletoe Kiss In Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad - Another sweet, well-written holiday novella set in one of my very favorite fictional locations, Dry Creek, Montana. The way the ranch hands reacted to the new "cook" was delightful, and the sacrifice the men all made for her young daughter was touching.
If you have not experienced the joy of mail-order bride novellas written by these two authors, please make sure you do as soon as possible. My only wish is that every story was a full length book instead of just a novella.
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December 29, 2014Received 4 stars at RT Book Reviews
Harlequin Reader Reviews
"Classic Christmas and so much fun to read! Both novellas pack a wallop of romance guaranteed to curl your toes and warm your heart." To read more, go HERE.
Harlequin Reader Reviews
"Classic Christmas and so much fun to read! Both novellas pack a wallop of romance guaranteed to curl your toes and warm your heart." To read more, go HERE.
December 17, 2013
Another amazing book by these two ladies! I'm sad that it's the last one in the series! What will I do next Christmas? I will miss visiting these two towns in Montana! I love the character developments by Janet and Jillian. Even the secondary characters add so much to the stories. The two heroines meet on a train as they are going to Montana to meet the men they are going to marry as mail-order brides. They have no idea what they will discover in these two men. It must have been so difficult to do something like that, yet it happened often in the old west. Each story showed that it was not easy to develop a relationship so that was realistic. Both men did not want a "real" marriage at first, just one of convenience but grew to really love the women. It restored the true Christmas spirit!
August 23, 2016
Big Sky Brides Find a Family—and Love—This Christmas
Christmas Hearts by Jillian Hart
Thirteen-year-old Amelia longs for a new ma. Little George needs a father's guidance. For their children's sake, Cole Matheson and Mercy Jacobs agree on a businesslike marriage. But though Cole tries to keep his distance, Mercy offers the very thing he's stopped believing in—the chance to forge a real family.
Mistletoe Kiss in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
"Passable cook wanted as wife. Marriage in name only." Noah Miller doesn't expect any replies to his plainspoken ad, though it's the only kind of offer the guarded rancher's prepared to make. Until widowed Maeve Flanagan and her sweet daughter arrive, turning his home and his heart upside down
Christmas Hearts by Jillian Hart
Thirteen-year-old Amelia longs for a new ma. Little George needs a father's guidance. For their children's sake, Cole Matheson and Mercy Jacobs agree on a businesslike marriage. But though Cole tries to keep his distance, Mercy offers the very thing he's stopped believing in—the chance to forge a real family.
Mistletoe Kiss in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
"Passable cook wanted as wife. Marriage in name only." Noah Miller doesn't expect any replies to his plainspoken ad, though it's the only kind of offer the guarded rancher's prepared to make. Until widowed Maeve Flanagan and her sweet daughter arrive, turning his home and his heart upside down
January 7, 2020
Mail-Order Mistletoe Brides:
Overall 3.5 stars
Christmas Hearts By: Jillian Hart-
3 stars
Two widowers that agree to a marriage out of the convenience for their children. It’s a short story so I won’t say anything more to summarize it. I found this story really easy to get into. The characters were very likeable and the winter setting felt very festive. But it was really hard to differentiate between the two perspectives when it kept going back and forth so often. It made to story move a little slower. At times it was confusing which character had which thoughts and feelings because perspectives would change in the middle of a chapter, the middle of a paragraph and it would the change back just as quickly. I was a little disappointed in this story because it was the one that made me want to read this book in particular.
Mistletoe Kiss In Dry Creek By: Janet Tronstand
3.5 Stars
A rancher needs a cook on his ranch so Noah places an ad for a mail-order bride. No romance, no expectations, only a marriage of convenience. Maeve is a recently widowed mother and needs a home for her daughter and unborn baby. Unwilling to give love another try, she responds to Noah’s ad.
I loved that the main character, Maeve was an immigrant from Northern Ireland, it isn’t something I normally see in books. Her strong will and feisty personality is what made me fall in love with this story. The relationship that ranch hands had with the main characters reminded me of the movie, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. The ending in this story wasn’t my favourite, which is why it only got 4 stars. It felt thrown together and I was left wanting more from it, that could’ve been because it was a short story. The second story acknowledged some of the characters from the previous story which I really enjoyed. It made the stories feel more connected and unlike most anthologies where they are two completely different stories with maybe one underlying theme, it felt like we were reading two stories that friends sent each other in letters. You could see how much thought Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstand put into this book to make the two stories connect.
Overall 3.5 stars
Christmas Hearts By: Jillian Hart-
3 stars
Two widowers that agree to a marriage out of the convenience for their children. It’s a short story so I won’t say anything more to summarize it. I found this story really easy to get into. The characters were very likeable and the winter setting felt very festive. But it was really hard to differentiate between the two perspectives when it kept going back and forth so often. It made to story move a little slower. At times it was confusing which character had which thoughts and feelings because perspectives would change in the middle of a chapter, the middle of a paragraph and it would the change back just as quickly. I was a little disappointed in this story because it was the one that made me want to read this book in particular.
Mistletoe Kiss In Dry Creek By: Janet Tronstand
3.5 Stars
A rancher needs a cook on his ranch so Noah places an ad for a mail-order bride. No romance, no expectations, only a marriage of convenience. Maeve is a recently widowed mother and needs a home for her daughter and unborn baby. Unwilling to give love another try, she responds to Noah’s ad.
I loved that the main character, Maeve was an immigrant from Northern Ireland, it isn’t something I normally see in books. Her strong will and feisty personality is what made me fall in love with this story. The relationship that ranch hands had with the main characters reminded me of the movie, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. The ending in this story wasn’t my favourite, which is why it only got 4 stars. It felt thrown together and I was left wanting more from it, that could’ve been because it was a short story. The second story acknowledged some of the characters from the previous story which I really enjoyed. It made the stories feel more connected and unlike most anthologies where they are two completely different stories with maybe one underlying theme, it felt like we were reading two stories that friends sent each other in letters. You could see how much thought Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstand put into this book to make the two stories connect.
January 15, 2025
I like clean reads but not those that shove religion in my face. There are “discussion questions” after each story, like Sunday School lessons? Had I seen those, I’d have skipped this one altogether. But, if you like Christian books, you might love these interconnected stories.
First story: DNF. I knew by page 3 wasn’t for me.
Second: I finished it and like the storyline and characters. It didn’t push the religion until the end of the book and especially the epilogue.
First story: DNF. I knew by page 3 wasn’t for me.
Second: I finished it and like the storyline and characters. It didn’t push the religion until the end of the book and especially the epilogue.
May 8, 2020
2 novel set by Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstad. Maeve and Mercy are on a train going to meet there mail order husbands when they meet. Both have reservations about the meetings but are desperate. Mercy has a young son that needs a father and Maeve has a young daughter. Now it remains to be seen if they and the men who placed the ads can create a family together.
January 27, 2018
Great Story!
First l always love what Jillian Hart writes she is one of the best in romance stories. And she doesn't let her readers down this time .
The other story is good too,l like she put the herone with child. A good
holiday read!
First l always love what Jillian Hart writes she is one of the best in romance stories. And she doesn't let her readers down this time .
The other story is good too,l like she put the herone with child. A good
holiday read!
November 26, 2017
B+. historical fiction, Montana, mail order brides
February 1, 2018
Two more wonderful and heartwarming mail-order brides stories by Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstad. I hope they keep writing these stories.
March 25, 2020
Really excruciating read. Couldn't finish it. No flow, no depth, no plot.
November 27, 2020
Two sweet, historic stories featuring mail order brides desperate to find security, each with some measure of sadness, but eventually happy endings.
3☆ = I liked the book.
3☆ = I liked the book.
September 5, 2021
Mail-Order Mistletoe Brides
Two mail order bride meet on the train, hoping for a better life. Will they find it with these grooms? Good clean romance.
Two mail order bride meet on the train, hoping for a better life. Will they find it with these grooms? Good clean romance.
February 12, 2022
Loved both of these stories, aalthough *Christmas Hearts* by Jillian Hart wins #1. Really enjoyed that story.
December 22, 2025
2 stars for part 1 - insta love with a kinda unlikable ML
3.5 for part 2 - would have enjoyed more if it was longer and had more time to develop but cute story and good characters
3.5 for part 2 - would have enjoyed more if it was longer and had more time to develop but cute story and good characters
September 7, 2016
Christmas Hearts is the story of Mercy Jacobs and her seven year old son George. Since the death of her husband Mercy had done everything she could to take care of George, but the one thing he needed was a father, so when she answers an ad from Cole Matheson who happens to be looking for a mother for his 13 year old daughter Amelia she hopes Cole will be the father her son needs. Cole not only lost his heart when he buried his wife and son he also lost his faith as well. He only wants a mother for Amelia, but when he meets Mercy and George it seems his heart might have other ideas.
Mistletoe Kiss has Maeve Flanagan and her four year old daughter Violet headed to Dry Creek in the hopes of a new beginning. After the death of her husband Maeve couldn't find work in Boston and knew the only answer left was becoming a mail order bride. Noah Miller's ranch hands want a good cook and decide to send away for a mail order bride for their boss. Thing is Noah has had his heart broken once and plans on keeping his distance making it a marriage in name only. When he meets Maeve and Violet though his heart can't help but become involved, thing is Maeve has a secret that might cause Noah to change his mind!
One of my favorite types of historical read is mail-order brides. My curiosity is always piqued at what would make someone decide to marry someone that they intend to spend their life with sight unseen. With Mail Order Mistletoe Brides we get two such stories,two women with different backgrounds headed west to the Montana Territory at Christmastime in the hopes of a new beginning not only for themselves but for their children as well. I don't really remember reading very many mail-order bride tales where there were children involved, and with this one both mothers are willing to do whatever it takes for their children.The children add another layer to the story making the story more interesting. Young George was such a likeable child, and I couldn't help but think that Amelia would be a real handful in a few years.Violet was such a sweet child who had witnessed something horrible, and what the cowboys did in order to make her comfortable was so sweet. While each story is a short read the characters are well developed allowing the reader to understand who they are. Even though you really know what will ultimately happen in the end its the twists the stories take to get us to that ending that makes for such a sweet story. Anyone looking for a couple of mail order bride stories that are heart touching,and inspirational along with a historical western flavor will certainly enjoy Mail Order Mistletoe Brides. While these stories take place at Christmas I would easily recommend them any time of the year!
A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.
Mistletoe Kiss has Maeve Flanagan and her four year old daughter Violet headed to Dry Creek in the hopes of a new beginning. After the death of her husband Maeve couldn't find work in Boston and knew the only answer left was becoming a mail order bride. Noah Miller's ranch hands want a good cook and decide to send away for a mail order bride for their boss. Thing is Noah has had his heart broken once and plans on keeping his distance making it a marriage in name only. When he meets Maeve and Violet though his heart can't help but become involved, thing is Maeve has a secret that might cause Noah to change his mind!
One of my favorite types of historical read is mail-order brides. My curiosity is always piqued at what would make someone decide to marry someone that they intend to spend their life with sight unseen. With Mail Order Mistletoe Brides we get two such stories,two women with different backgrounds headed west to the Montana Territory at Christmastime in the hopes of a new beginning not only for themselves but for their children as well. I don't really remember reading very many mail-order bride tales where there were children involved, and with this one both mothers are willing to do whatever it takes for their children.The children add another layer to the story making the story more interesting. Young George was such a likeable child, and I couldn't help but think that Amelia would be a real handful in a few years.Violet was such a sweet child who had witnessed something horrible, and what the cowboys did in order to make her comfortable was so sweet. While each story is a short read the characters are well developed allowing the reader to understand who they are. Even though you really know what will ultimately happen in the end its the twists the stories take to get us to that ending that makes for such a sweet story. Anyone looking for a couple of mail order bride stories that are heart touching,and inspirational along with a historical western flavor will certainly enjoy Mail Order Mistletoe Brides. While these stories take place at Christmas I would easily recommend them any time of the year!
A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.
September 4, 2019
I absolutely loved both of these stories. It’s fun to read two shorter stories. I liked the characters in both books. I like books about mail order brides and their stories. It was light reading but so enjoyable. Thanks to both authors. I liked the tie in with the characters in both books and how their endings were revealed in the epilogue.
June 2, 2014
Mail-Order Mistletoe Brides by Jillian Hart& Janet Tronstad
Two young women Mercy and Maeve are on a train heading to men whom they have never met to marry. They have written a few letters and decided for better or worse this will be the best for their futures. They become friends on the train...
Mercy has a 7 yr old son who is interested in horses and life on a ranch, he also wants a father and this move will give him both of those things.
Cole Matheson has a daughter whom he wants a Mother to help her be a young lady, the children like one another right away and this helps the adults draw closer too. you will enjoy reading this story and seeing how they mesh as a family and each is more fulfilled. I know I did. thanks Jillian for a great story once again....
Maeve meets her young man Noah Miller in Dry Creek where everyone knows everyone and no one stays a stranger for long. Noah doesn't want a wife only a good cook for his ranch hands. truth be known the men wrote the advertisment to get a wife who was a cook for him. Maeve has a 4 yr old daughter and she wants a family. Noah cannot be deceitful so he tells her about the men and how they want a cook. they both decide to wait a bit before getting married to get to know one another. Noah even has thoughts of maybe just letting her be a cook and not marry till he sees many of the men want a wife and would gladly take her. You must read this story and see how the two get along and Noah gets a daughter and a wife.
Thanks Janet for a great story , I love your stories set in Dry Creek with all the wonderful folks there.
Two young women Mercy and Maeve are on a train heading to men whom they have never met to marry. They have written a few letters and decided for better or worse this will be the best for their futures. They become friends on the train...
Mercy has a 7 yr old son who is interested in horses and life on a ranch, he also wants a father and this move will give him both of those things.
Cole Matheson has a daughter whom he wants a Mother to help her be a young lady, the children like one another right away and this helps the adults draw closer too. you will enjoy reading this story and seeing how they mesh as a family and each is more fulfilled. I know I did. thanks Jillian for a great story once again....
Maeve meets her young man Noah Miller in Dry Creek where everyone knows everyone and no one stays a stranger for long. Noah doesn't want a wife only a good cook for his ranch hands. truth be known the men wrote the advertisment to get a wife who was a cook for him. Maeve has a 4 yr old daughter and she wants a family. Noah cannot be deceitful so he tells her about the men and how they want a cook. they both decide to wait a bit before getting married to get to know one another. Noah even has thoughts of maybe just letting her be a cook and not marry till he sees many of the men want a wife and would gladly take her. You must read this story and see how the two get along and Noah gets a daughter and a wife.
Thanks Janet for a great story , I love your stories set in Dry Creek with all the wonderful folks there.
August 26, 2016
Mail-Order Mistletoe Brides
By: Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstad
This book contains two stories, Christmas Hearts by Jillian Hart and Mistletoe Kiss in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad. I love anything written by these two authors. They are great together! The book starts out with two women, Mercy Jacobs and Maeve Flanagan, riding a train to meet their new husbands. They have answered mail-order bride ads and are on their way to meet their husbands.
Christmas Hearts is Mercy Jacobs’ story. She has a son George that needs a father and Cole Matheson needs a mother for his daughter Amelia. Will their marriage remain in name only or will they find true love? Cole’s wife has died and he figures since Mercy’s husband has died that she’ll understand. But he has nothing left to give. His heart is broken and grief has filled him. Can Mercy help him to love again? Mercy fills Cole’s life with grace and humor, loving his daughter as her own. Will she find what she needs in Cole?
Mistletoe Kiss in Dry Creek is Maeve Flanagan’s story. Her husband was killed and she needs a father for her daughter and unborn child. Noah Miller needs a cook for his ranch hands. Maeve decides she can do that, and hopefully Noah will decide he likes her enough to go ahead and marry even if she is already pregnant. But what happens when Noah’s ex-wife shows up? Will he still marry Maeve? Or will he remarry his ex?
These two stories are great and I can’t wait to read more! For a great Christmas read, pick up this book today. I received this book free from Janet Tronstad in exchange for a review.
By: Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstad
This book contains two stories, Christmas Hearts by Jillian Hart and Mistletoe Kiss in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad. I love anything written by these two authors. They are great together! The book starts out with two women, Mercy Jacobs and Maeve Flanagan, riding a train to meet their new husbands. They have answered mail-order bride ads and are on their way to meet their husbands.
Christmas Hearts is Mercy Jacobs’ story. She has a son George that needs a father and Cole Matheson needs a mother for his daughter Amelia. Will their marriage remain in name only or will they find true love? Cole’s wife has died and he figures since Mercy’s husband has died that she’ll understand. But he has nothing left to give. His heart is broken and grief has filled him. Can Mercy help him to love again? Mercy fills Cole’s life with grace and humor, loving his daughter as her own. Will she find what she needs in Cole?
Mistletoe Kiss in Dry Creek is Maeve Flanagan’s story. Her husband was killed and she needs a father for her daughter and unborn child. Noah Miller needs a cook for his ranch hands. Maeve decides she can do that, and hopefully Noah will decide he likes her enough to go ahead and marry even if she is already pregnant. But what happens when Noah’s ex-wife shows up? Will he still marry Maeve? Or will he remarry his ex?
These two stories are great and I can’t wait to read more! For a great Christmas read, pick up this book today. I received this book free from Janet Tronstad in exchange for a review.
January 16, 2016
Mail-Order Mistletoe Brides by Jillian Hart & Janet Tronstad
Christmas Hearts by Jillian Hart
When Cole Matheson agreed to marry a mail-order bride, it was for the sake of his thirteen year old daughter who needed a mother. And he was looking forward to raising her son as his own. Instead of a hardened world weary widow, Mercy Jacobs was kind and beautiful. Not what he was looking for in a bride. So now what does he do?
Mistletoe Kiss in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
Noah Miller's ranch hands sent out an ad for a mail-order wife, for him! They wanted someone who would cook for them and figured if she was married to Noah, she'd have to stay. Noah had been through one marriage and he wasn't good enough to keep her around. Not only that, he expected an older widow, not the beautiful Irish beauty that showed up. Maeve Flanagan has a secret though, one that might keep Noah from marrying her.
It was such fun visiting Angel Falls with Jillian and Dry Creek with Janet. Both stories were heartwarming and brought a few tears to my eyes as well. To think that women really took a chance of crossing hundreds to thousands of miles to marry someone they never met and the men on the other end took their chances as well. Another enjoyable holiday book by these two wonderful authors.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
Christmas Hearts by Jillian Hart
When Cole Matheson agreed to marry a mail-order bride, it was for the sake of his thirteen year old daughter who needed a mother. And he was looking forward to raising her son as his own. Instead of a hardened world weary widow, Mercy Jacobs was kind and beautiful. Not what he was looking for in a bride. So now what does he do?
Mistletoe Kiss in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
Noah Miller's ranch hands sent out an ad for a mail-order wife, for him! They wanted someone who would cook for them and figured if she was married to Noah, she'd have to stay. Noah had been through one marriage and he wasn't good enough to keep her around. Not only that, he expected an older widow, not the beautiful Irish beauty that showed up. Maeve Flanagan has a secret though, one that might keep Noah from marrying her.
It was such fun visiting Angel Falls with Jillian and Dry Creek with Janet. Both stories were heartwarming and brought a few tears to my eyes as well. To think that women really took a chance of crossing hundreds to thousands of miles to marry someone they never met and the men on the other end took their chances as well. Another enjoyable holiday book by these two wonderful authors.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
January 1, 2016
SUMMARY: Christmas Hearts by Jillian Hart
Thirteen-year-old Amelia longs for a new ma. Little George needs a father's guidance. For their children's sake, Cole Matheson and Mercy Jacobs agree on a businesslike marriage. But though Cole tries to keep his distance, Mercy offers the very thing he's stopped believing in—the chance to forge a real family.
Mistletoe Kiss in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
"Passable cook wanted as wife. Marriage in name only." Noah Miller doesn't expect any replies to his plainspoken ad, though it's the only kind of offer the guarded rancher's prepared to make. Until widowed Maeve Flanagan and her sweet daughter arrive, turning his home and his heart upside down…
REVIEW: Clean, easy to read Love Inspired historicals involving mail-order brides. Both brides are brought into situations in which the husband-to-be does not want to remarry based on past experiences but find it necessary. Neither of the men plan to fall in love with their mail-order bride, but circumstances and different personalities upset their plans. I particularly enjoyed the children in each story and the role they played in their indirect roles as cupid.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "Better to lose your pride than lose your husband."
Thirteen-year-old Amelia longs for a new ma. Little George needs a father's guidance. For their children's sake, Cole Matheson and Mercy Jacobs agree on a businesslike marriage. But though Cole tries to keep his distance, Mercy offers the very thing he's stopped believing in—the chance to forge a real family.
Mistletoe Kiss in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
"Passable cook wanted as wife. Marriage in name only." Noah Miller doesn't expect any replies to his plainspoken ad, though it's the only kind of offer the guarded rancher's prepared to make. Until widowed Maeve Flanagan and her sweet daughter arrive, turning his home and his heart upside down…
REVIEW: Clean, easy to read Love Inspired historicals involving mail-order brides. Both brides are brought into situations in which the husband-to-be does not want to remarry based on past experiences but find it necessary. Neither of the men plan to fall in love with their mail-order bride, but circumstances and different personalities upset their plans. I particularly enjoyed the children in each story and the role they played in their indirect roles as cupid.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "Better to lose your pride than lose your husband."
December 25, 2013
Two stories in one book.
in christmas Hearts we take another trip to Angel Falls where we run into several old friends from Jillian Hart's Buttons and Bobbins series. Awesome!!
Cole has been living with a lot of pain since losing his wife. His daughter is growing up and in need of a mother, so he sends for a mail-order bride. He gets a long wished for son in the deal.
Mercy does not want her son to miss out on the whole father-son issue so she willingly goes into a marriage of convenience to give her son what he needs.
This story is very heart warming and shows that love can break down all barriers!
The second story is Mistletoe Kisses In Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad. Janet has a lot of Dry Creek stories and this one is as awesome as the rest. A recently widowed Maeve Flanigan and her daughter Violet come from Boston to cook for the ranch hands. Only recently has Maeve realized that she is with child and needs to convince Noah that he can accept her as a wife even though she's having another child. This is a very fun, loving story. Love Violet and her creativity with a pillowcase doll and teaching it about 'misty toe.'
in christmas Hearts we take another trip to Angel Falls where we run into several old friends from Jillian Hart's Buttons and Bobbins series. Awesome!!
Cole has been living with a lot of pain since losing his wife. His daughter is growing up and in need of a mother, so he sends for a mail-order bride. He gets a long wished for son in the deal.
Mercy does not want her son to miss out on the whole father-son issue so she willingly goes into a marriage of convenience to give her son what he needs.
This story is very heart warming and shows that love can break down all barriers!
The second story is Mistletoe Kisses In Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad. Janet has a lot of Dry Creek stories and this one is as awesome as the rest. A recently widowed Maeve Flanigan and her daughter Violet come from Boston to cook for the ranch hands. Only recently has Maeve realized that she is with child and needs to convince Noah that he can accept her as a wife even though she's having another child. This is a very fun, loving story. Love Violet and her creativity with a pillowcase doll and teaching it about 'misty toe.'
December 7, 2016
This is the second time I've read a 'collection' by Jillian Hart an Janet Tronstad. As with the first, I appreciated how the authors made mention of each other's main characters in their stories: with the mail order brides meeting on the train to their various locations in Montana. This time, we had the added bit of the train's conductor, Mr. Blake, talking to both Mercy and Maeve, and giving them each a sprig of mistletoe for their first Christmas kisses with their new husbands.
Of course, the fact that both Mercy and Maeve are heading into 'marriages in name only' is not mentioned to the kindly Mr. Blake. That said, I love how each author was able to work that sprig of mistletoe into their story, and how each marriage was able to start on a better footing that originally thought possible. (Of course the characters found love . . . this is, after all, a Love Inspired book!)
I liked the theme of the books, too: that even when we don't think that God is with us, He is there, giving us more blessings than perhaps we realise!
Of course, the fact that both Mercy and Maeve are heading into 'marriages in name only' is not mentioned to the kindly Mr. Blake. That said, I love how each author was able to work that sprig of mistletoe into their story, and how each marriage was able to start on a better footing that originally thought possible. (Of course the characters found love . . . this is, after all, a Love Inspired book!)
I liked the theme of the books, too: that even when we don't think that God is with us, He is there, giving us more blessings than perhaps we realise!
December 19, 2013
Mail Order Mistletoe Brides
This is an historial two novels in one by Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstad. It's two wonderful tails about two women Mercy Jacobs and Maeve Flanagan who want new beginnings, hoping for love and a better life than what they and their children have left behind them. A change to start over and make it right this time.
They travel far from their home towns on the east coast, traveling through cold, snow, mountains and the unknow to total strangers hoping and praying that they have not made a mistake coming so far.
This takes guts and lots of prayers as they reach their new homes, Mercy to Cole Matheson and his daughter Amelia. Can Mercy win the love of his daughter, can she win Cole's love instead of a business like arrangement? Can Cole love her son? Maeve Flanagan answered an ad for a cook and a marriage in name only. Can she win Noah Miller love's and will he love her daughter?
These are two really good books in one, I gave it 5 stars.
This is an historial two novels in one by Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstad. It's two wonderful tails about two women Mercy Jacobs and Maeve Flanagan who want new beginnings, hoping for love and a better life than what they and their children have left behind them. A change to start over and make it right this time.
They travel far from their home towns on the east coast, traveling through cold, snow, mountains and the unknow to total strangers hoping and praying that they have not made a mistake coming so far.
This takes guts and lots of prayers as they reach their new homes, Mercy to Cole Matheson and his daughter Amelia. Can Mercy win the love of his daughter, can she win Cole's love instead of a business like arrangement? Can Cole love her son? Maeve Flanagan answered an ad for a cook and a marriage in name only. Can she win Noah Miller love's and will he love her daughter?
These are two really good books in one, I gave it 5 stars.
December 18, 2013
Janet Tronstad, shows her charm in her writing again. In her story of a widow left pregnant and with a young daughter, she is poor and unassisted after her wayward husband gets killed. She trusts God for her future instead of caving to fear, even though the rancher she travels to wed seems very unlikely to ever want to be a husband in the truest sense. He want a cook! With Christmas coming soon, the story takes a turn for the sparkle! I enjoyed reading this novella so much! Jill's story was the beginning of the train-ride for the two awaiting brides. Cole's daughter wants a new mother so bad so he posts an ad in the newspaper. Mercy's son needs a new father after his dies. A cold heart becomes warm when Cole realizes he might be able to have a real family after all. Can you fight love? Just try. A nice tale.
Whoo Hoo! I loved it!
Whoo Hoo! I loved it!
December 4, 2014
Two stories that are just what you think about when you think about Christmas romance. The first one is good and the second one is even better. Curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and your favorite slippers for these.
Mercy Jacobs needs a husband to take care of her and be a father to her little boy. Cole Matheson needs a mother for his wayward daughter, but has no desire for another wife. Can Mercy bring joy to his house again?
Maeve Flannagan is running from her past and hiding a secret. Noah Miller has a bunkhouse full of men who need to be fed in an area where cooks are hard to come by. Can the copper-haired beauty actually cook? And is there room for her in his heart as well as his kitchen?
Mercy Jacobs needs a husband to take care of her and be a father to her little boy. Cole Matheson needs a mother for his wayward daughter, but has no desire for another wife. Can Mercy bring joy to his house again?
Maeve Flannagan is running from her past and hiding a secret. Noah Miller has a bunkhouse full of men who need to be fed in an area where cooks are hard to come by. Can the copper-haired beauty actually cook? And is there room for her in his heart as well as his kitchen?
December 25, 2014
Since I've only read Christmas Hearts that is what I'll be reviewing. I enjoy mail-order bride stories and this was no different in that respect. I've read of many reasons for the "marriages" but I think one of my favorites has to be for the sake of the child/children. It adds a little extra to the story I think. The story was good, characters well developed and I found no problems with editing. I liked so much about the book that it's hard to just write about a couple. I enjoyed the fact that so much of the story was devoted to the interaction between Cole and George and Mercy and Amelia. Of course the HEA was everything you'd wish for.
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