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Ada's Secret
Ada was everything a man in the old west could want. Not only was she raised with the arts and music, but she could also shoot and ride as well as any man. However, she had a secret, a little white lie that her husband could never learn. She was born and raised in The Silver Dove.
Still virtuous and untarnished by the bordello she had once called home, Ada realized that The Silver Dove was no longer safe for a woman such as herself. With no good options left, she offered herself up as a mail order bride, and surprisingly found love.
Ada knew that with the morality of her husband, Patrick, she could never reveal the truth of her past life. However, when fate forced her hand, Ada must prove that one’s virtue and honor are not dependent on their past. Could the passionate fire between Ada and Patrick melt away the secret that could drive them apart?
Still virtuous and untarnished by the bordello she had once called home, Ada realized that The Silver Dove was no longer safe for a woman such as herself. With no good options left, she offered herself up as a mail order bride, and surprisingly found love.
Ada knew that with the morality of her husband, Patrick, she could never reveal the truth of her past life. However, when fate forced her hand, Ada must prove that one’s virtue and honor are not dependent on their past. Could the passionate fire between Ada and Patrick melt away the secret that could drive them apart?
215 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 7, 2015
While I had a few problems with this book, I didn't dislike it. I-like other reviewers-didn't quite "connect" with the characters. I found the idea of a prostitute's daughter being raised "chastely" to be quite intriguing, and this is what "drew" me to get the book. The timeline was rather "scattered" with you not being sure how much time elapsed at times. I did like the way that Ada went to her mother-in-law's aid, despite Patrick's desertion. This fact alone depicted that she'd been taught family was important. Simply put, though, there were a few too many things I found a problem with for me to give it a better rating. Sorry.
May 8, 2015
Although I love westerns and mail order bride books, this one was not my cup of tea. There were a couple of issues that did not sit well with me that I will describe towards the end.
Ada was well educated and well rounded in the arts and music but she could shoot and ride as well as any man, maybe even better. Her virtue was intact but she had a secret. She was raised in a bordello and it had gotten more and more dangerous there. With very few choices left she chose to offer herself as a mail order bride.
Patrick, her new husband, was loving but very judgmental and prejudice, especially against bordellos and women of the evening. He had zero tolerance for anyone who did not live the kind of life he saw as fitting. There is an explanation for that later in the book.
I was never truly drawn into the story. Usually I get so into a story that I feel a part of it, but with this book I just felt like an outsider looking in who was having difficulty connecting to main characters. I did not feel a connection between Ada and Patrick and was never certain if it was day 2, day 40 or day 100 of their marriage. In some places the time skipped without much detail, jumping ahead but never quite revealing the passage of time. For instance, in one scene it seemed to me the story had jumped a couple of months into the marriage but the scene after that one let me know they had been married three weeks. It was confusing at best.
There was one other item that was a bit troubling for me, but maybe not for others. It could be because of the way I was raised and I am conservative. There was talk of church, prayer multiple times, mentioning of God, even a sermon, (which is fine by me) but on the next page Ada would be stroking Patrick's 'member' or receiving oral sex. I read both secular and inspirational books and this is the first one that has combined both in the same book. It was just different from what I have been used to. That doesn't make it wrong but, for me, it made it a bit confusing and I was never certain what genre this really belonged to.
Read it for yourself and see what you think.
Ada was well educated and well rounded in the arts and music but she could shoot and ride as well as any man, maybe even better. Her virtue was intact but she had a secret. She was raised in a bordello and it had gotten more and more dangerous there. With very few choices left she chose to offer herself as a mail order bride.
Patrick, her new husband, was loving but very judgmental and prejudice, especially against bordellos and women of the evening. He had zero tolerance for anyone who did not live the kind of life he saw as fitting. There is an explanation for that later in the book.
I was never truly drawn into the story. Usually I get so into a story that I feel a part of it, but with this book I just felt like an outsider looking in who was having difficulty connecting to main characters. I did not feel a connection between Ada and Patrick and was never certain if it was day 2, day 40 or day 100 of their marriage. In some places the time skipped without much detail, jumping ahead but never quite revealing the passage of time. For instance, in one scene it seemed to me the story had jumped a couple of months into the marriage but the scene after that one let me know they had been married three weeks. It was confusing at best.
There was one other item that was a bit troubling for me, but maybe not for others. It could be because of the way I was raised and I am conservative. There was talk of church, prayer multiple times, mentioning of God, even a sermon, (which is fine by me) but on the next page Ada would be stroking Patrick's 'member' or receiving oral sex. I read both secular and inspirational books and this is the first one that has combined both in the same book. It was just different from what I have been used to. That doesn't make it wrong but, for me, it made it a bit confusing and I was never certain what genre this really belonged to.
Read it for yourself and see what you think.
January 22, 2014
I'm a sucker for a good mail order bride book and this did not disappoint. Although Ada's upbringing has been unconventional she's a beautiful, educated innocent young woman and yes she's been raised by prostitutes but she's always been surrounded by love. Ada's happy but since turning eighteen it's becoming impossible for her to remain where she is, since she doesn't want to move to Chicago and attend finishing school to become a proper lady she takes matters into her own hands and becomes a mail order bride.
This is a very enjoyable read with some fabulous characters and the story contains a lot more than I'd expected, why then have I only given 3 stars, well 3 stars is my rating for a book that I enjoyed but probably wouldn't re-read and while it's an entertaining read at times it seemed to lack something. I know this book is written mainly from Ada's side but I would have liked a little more on Patrick especially while he's working
This is a very enjoyable read with some fabulous characters and the story contains a lot more than I'd expected, why then have I only given 3 stars, well 3 stars is my rating for a book that I enjoyed but probably wouldn't re-read and while it's an entertaining read at times it seemed to lack something. I know this book is written mainly from Ada's side but I would have liked a little more on Patrick especially while he's working
August 30, 2014
Stories of the Old West or mail order brides are some of my favorites. This book was lacking in a couple of ways. The characters were shallow, the writing weak. What surprised me most was the fact we had Bible verses quoted and a few pages later, plenty of graphic sex, which wasn't that well done.
One of the things that makes a good story for me is when you feel as though you're part of it. I didn't have that at any time in this book. The little bit of suspense with the mother, sheep and train didn't add anything to the story. It was as though the author was trying to fill a requirement to include some of everything.
I also need some degree of believability and this book didn't have it. It wasn't terrible, it just didn't live up to the somewhat questionable five star reviews.
One of the things that makes a good story for me is when you feel as though you're part of it. I didn't have that at any time in this book. The little bit of suspense with the mother, sheep and train didn't add anything to the story. It was as though the author was trying to fill a requirement to include some of everything.
I also need some degree of believability and this book didn't have it. It wasn't terrible, it just didn't live up to the somewhat questionable five star reviews.
January 25, 2014
I love historical romances. "Ada's Secret" was so well written. I can't imagine what it felt like to live in those times, and be a mail order bride, not knowing what kind of situation you were going into. Ada was such a strong woman who truly loved Patrick but was always on edge due to her secret. This book points out that a family is whatever and whoever makes you feel safe and loved, and no family or person is perfect. I highly recommend this book.
January 21, 2014
Amazing
I loved the stories that where twisted with in the main story .This was a modern day love story with all the trimmings.
I loved the stories that where twisted with in the main story .This was a modern day love story with all the trimmings.
August 11, 2016
Slow read; skipped over some pages. I really thought the husband was a little stiff. No connection at all
October 18, 2015
This book was absolutely wonderful. I have recommended this book to several people. If you can get his book, read it. It was really good in my opinion.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews