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Unexpected Brides #2
A Bride in Store
Impatient to meet her intended groom and help him grow his general store, mail-order bride Eliza Cantrell sets out on her travels a week early. But her plan goes sadly awry when her train is held up by robbers who steal her dowry, and Axel, her groom-to-be, isn't even in town when she finally arrives.
Axel's business partner, William Stanton, has no head for business and would much rather be a doctor. When his friend's mail-order bride arrives in town with no money and no groom in sight, he feels responsible and lets her help around the store--where she quickly proves she's much more adept at business than he ever will be.
The sparks that fly between Will and Eliza as they work together in close quarters are hard to ignore, but Eliza is meant for Axel and a future with the store, while Will is biding his time until he can afford medical school. When Axel finally returns, their troubles are far from over, and soon Will and Eliza must decide what they're willing to sacrifice to chase their dreams--or if God has a new dream in store for them both.
Axel's business partner, William Stanton, has no head for business and would much rather be a doctor. When his friend's mail-order bride arrives in town with no money and no groom in sight, he feels responsible and lets her help around the store--where she quickly proves she's much more adept at business than he ever will be.
The sparks that fly between Will and Eliza as they work together in close quarters are hard to ignore, but Eliza is meant for Axel and a future with the store, while Will is biding his time until he can afford medical school. When Axel finally returns, their troubles are far from over, and soon Will and Eliza must decide what they're willing to sacrifice to chase their dreams--or if God has a new dream in store for them both.
368 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2014
109 people are currently reading
1057 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Jagears
22 books877 followersI would love to connect with you through newsletter! I only send big updates, releases, and important stuff: http://newsletters.melissajagears.com/
My Review Star System:
A rare solid 5 means I LOVED it or was so impressed that I bring these books up in random conversations.
4.5-4 means great story. Recommended.
I don't post 3 star or below for newer Christian fiction (conflict of interest--I might have to work with the author). But any 3s mean the author wrote a good story, just something about it made it not a favorite.
2 was not that great and never redeemed itself.
1 aggravated me so much or was so poorly done I DNF or if I did finish, I wished I could get my time back.
My Review Star System:
A rare solid 5 means I LOVED it or was so impressed that I bring these books up in random conversations.
4.5-4 means great story. Recommended.
I don't post 3 star or below for newer Christian fiction (conflict of interest--I might have to work with the author). But any 3s mean the author wrote a good story, just something about it made it not a favorite.
2 was not that great and never redeemed itself.
1 aggravated me so much or was so poorly done I DNF or if I did finish, I wished I could get my time back.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
January 6, 2019
4.5 stars
I liked this even better than the first in the series. It feels like I’m right there with Eliza and Will in small-town Kansas as they work through what their dreams really mean to them and how much they are willing to give up for a true calling. When one man’s actions threaten both of their dreams, they each face having to start over with nothing.
The characterization is great and I especially appreciated the spiritual lessons that are worked into the story so naturally. Life isn’t easy on the prairie and faith gets tested. Well done story.
I liked this even better than the first in the series. It feels like I’m right there with Eliza and Will in small-town Kansas as they work through what their dreams really mean to them and how much they are willing to give up for a true calling. When one man’s actions threaten both of their dreams, they each face having to start over with nothing.
The characterization is great and I especially appreciated the spiritual lessons that are worked into the story so naturally. Life isn’t easy on the prairie and faith gets tested. Well done story.
June 29, 2020
A shopkeeper story? Yes please! I love the Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman feel of this story. Sure, the doctor character was a guy and the shopkeeper a woman. But the western-town feel of the story was what brought to mind one of my favorite shows of all time. The compassion and heart and neighbors taking care of each other and looking out for each other… this definitely felt like a throwback sort of story.
I think we need more of those.
This tale was an entertaining romp from the beginning, and I especially loved the healthy competition between Eliza and William. It was fun to see them learn from each other and banter and fall in love, all while seeing each other as competition for the town’s business. This book was a delight.
Content: one expletive, alcohol
I think we need more of those.
This tale was an entertaining romp from the beginning, and I especially loved the healthy competition between Eliza and William. It was fun to see them learn from each other and banter and fall in love, all while seeing each other as competition for the town’s business. This book was a delight.
Content: one expletive, alcohol
September 19, 2014
I'll start with what you really want to know - this is a good book. My favorite aspect of this story was the unexpected characters. There's a lady who's a former side-show oddity, a hero with a girly sneeze, a well-respected citizen with a secret (and that's all I will say about that), and a guy who faints at the sight of blood. Just when I'd get lulled into thinking I knew everything about this sleepy little town, some fresh quirk would appear.
Now for the official information:
Eliza Cantrell doesn't like suspense. Eager to meet her pen pal/intended, she leaves for Salt Flatts a week early which throws her smack dab in the middle of a train robbery. Her nest egg is stolen, she's beaten and when she gets to Salt Flatts she finds her fiance is out of town.
Lucky for Eliza, her intended's business partner William Stanton is there to greet her, but William is soon put to the test. He can't ignore his partner's bride-to-be - someone needs to help her until he returns - but how can he work with this intrepid young lady without losing his heart?
This is a sweet story with the perfect balance of thought-provoking conviction and romantic attraction.
(A Bride in Store was given to me by my friends at Bethany House so I thought I'd go ahead and post a review about it since I liked it so much.)
Now for the official information:
Eliza Cantrell doesn't like suspense. Eager to meet her pen pal/intended, she leaves for Salt Flatts a week early which throws her smack dab in the middle of a train robbery. Her nest egg is stolen, she's beaten and when she gets to Salt Flatts she finds her fiance is out of town.
Lucky for Eliza, her intended's business partner William Stanton is there to greet her, but William is soon put to the test. He can't ignore his partner's bride-to-be - someone needs to help her until he returns - but how can he work with this intrepid young lady without losing his heart?
This is a sweet story with the perfect balance of thought-provoking conviction and romantic attraction.
(A Bride in Store was given to me by my friends at Bethany House so I thought I'd go ahead and post a review about it since I liked it so much.)
February 19, 2022
So I might be falling in love with this town and all its charming characters! I'm sure I'm not alone. :) This author has a distinct gift to create characters with such deep personalities and emotions, showing their strengths and weaknesses in ways that are relatable to everyday life. She also boldly shares the love of God through her stories, and that is something I haven't seen in a LONG time. It's not subtle like what I see from other authors; you'll KNOW when you reach those moments in the story. Some may find it preachy, but it blends perfectly within the scene that it's been designed for.
Comparing the heroine of this story to the one in the first book (A Bride for Keeps), these two ladies are as different as night and day. Julia from book one hesitates to reveal her true self, while Eliza in this book has a strong backbone and knows exactly what she wants to accomplish in life. Eliza's plans take an unintended turn when she is robbed of all her money right before she is supposed to arrive in Salt Flats to meet her soon-to-be husband. The only problem is that he's not there to meet her, but his business partner is and they become acquainted the instant she comes into town. Their connection with each other is reserved at first since Eliza is planning to marry someone else, but there's no doubt that they have an undeniable connection with one another.
I simply love that this entire series focuses on mail order brides and their marriages of convenience, but I promise not to say anything more to spoil your enjoyment of them! This author is starting to inch her way onto my favorites list, and I'm eager to read the final book in this series (oh, and the prequel, too)!
Comparing the heroine of this story to the one in the first book (A Bride for Keeps), these two ladies are as different as night and day. Julia from book one hesitates to reveal her true self, while Eliza in this book has a strong backbone and knows exactly what she wants to accomplish in life. Eliza's plans take an unintended turn when she is robbed of all her money right before she is supposed to arrive in Salt Flats to meet her soon-to-be husband. The only problem is that he's not there to meet her, but his business partner is and they become acquainted the instant she comes into town. Their connection with each other is reserved at first since Eliza is planning to marry someone else, but there's no doubt that they have an undeniable connection with one another.
I simply love that this entire series focuses on mail order brides and their marriages of convenience, but I promise not to say anything more to spoil your enjoyment of them! This author is starting to inch her way onto my favorites list, and I'm eager to read the final book in this series (oh, and the prequel, too)!
April 12, 2023
This book was pretty interesting.
It had a good a storyline, the characters where well-rounded, and I absolutely loved the plot twist, even though I sort of guessed who it would be.
It was a pretty sweet story that I would recommend, especially if you are not a fan of heavy romance. I will probably not read it again though, at least for a while.
It had a good a storyline, the characters where well-rounded, and I absolutely loved the plot twist, even though I sort of guessed who it would be.
It was a pretty sweet story that I would recommend, especially if you are not a fan of heavy romance. I will probably not read it again though, at least for a while.
September 22, 2014
It was okay. 2.5 stars
A Bride in Store is Melissa Jagears’ sophomore novel. It comes after A Bride for Keeps though you don’t really have to read them in order. I had really enjoyed A Bride for Keeps and had high expectations for this book. I’m sorry to say that it fell a bit short of my expectations.
The descriptions were well done and I could easily picture each scene. I enjoyed the historical details included, though it isn’t set around any particular event, so there weren’t many. There is a lot of information about stores and the goods they sold, which was interesting, but they sometimes seemed to clutter the story instead of enhancing it.
Eliza Cantrell is the heroine in this story. She is strong, determined, and not overly feminine. I wasn’t able to connect with her much at all and struggled to continue reading. She isn’t a very likable character and I found her somewhat annoying. She is portrayed as not being very attractive and that seemed to be something of a sticking point for her. She kept thinking about how Will was more attractive than her and that she hoped her fiancé would like her. She is also quite selfish, though we do see some resolution on this point. She becomes more aware of it and does her best to be more selfless, though it seemed to me that she tried to do it on her own strength, instead of relying on the Lord.
William Stanton is the hero and he’s interesting. He isn’t much the stereotypical hero, which was nice. He’s a store owner, but is called to be a doctor. He cares for the people around town, even though he isn’t certified and doesn’t often get paid for it. He is very selfless and kind, a nice change from Eliza. But those traits get him into trouble, because he won’t say “no” to anyone and is taken advantage of often. He meets Eliza when he is asked to care for her after she arrives. He then goes out of his way to help her and make her feel welcome, but she doesn’t seem to notice. All she can think about is owning her own store and her hopes and dreams. I admired his tenacity and willingness to overlook her faults and forgive her when she inadvertently wounds him. He has trouble accepting the death that comes with being a doctor. He feels like a failure whenever he can’t help someone and questions God. I thought Ms. Jagears did a great job of portraying his struggle realistically.
I actually didn’t care for their relationship. It starts out very one sided and doesn’t change until about half way through the story. Will had some of what I would consider borderline inappropriate thoughts about Eliza almost immediately, which was a little strange. That is dealt with shortly thereafter and it turned into a good lesson on controlling your thoughts, so thankfully that was resolved pretty quickly. They end up becoming something of friends, but that seemed rather awkward, considering Will was half in love with her and Eliza was still suspicious of pretty much everyone. She is pretty cold to him at first and considered him to be a bit of an idiot, at least when it came to business matters. When they do become more than just friends, it seemed to me they were constantly making up excuses for why it wouldn’t work, instead of just talking about it and trying to work it out. I quickly became frustrated with them and seriously considered skipping to the end. I refrained, but it was tempting.
One thing I will say that I did enjoy quite a bit was the spiritual aspect. I liked that it kind of progressed throughout and didn’t focus on just one subject. It changed as the characters grew in each area. I do think Ms. Jagears took the sacrifice part a little bit too far, because then it became a road block for the characters. Eliza was trying to become more selfless, so she was attempting to let go of Will so he could follow his dreams, and Will was letting go of Eliza so she could have her dreams. It just grew into this huge issue, which neither of them would talk about (see above complaint). Also, they rarely consider what God might desire for them, but rather pursue their own thoughts and desires through the majority of the story.
The ending was little odd and I didn’t think it really added to the story. For me, it just drug it out and left me wanting something different. As negative as this review is, the book truly wasn’t awful or I wouldn’t have finished it. I obviously found it lacking in a few areas, but it was an okay read. It will not be a book I reread, but I will definitely read this author again in hopes her next book is as good as the first.
I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher through The Christian Manifesto for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
A Bride in Store is Melissa Jagears’ sophomore novel. It comes after A Bride for Keeps though you don’t really have to read them in order. I had really enjoyed A Bride for Keeps and had high expectations for this book. I’m sorry to say that it fell a bit short of my expectations.
The descriptions were well done and I could easily picture each scene. I enjoyed the historical details included, though it isn’t set around any particular event, so there weren’t many. There is a lot of information about stores and the goods they sold, which was interesting, but they sometimes seemed to clutter the story instead of enhancing it.
Eliza Cantrell is the heroine in this story. She is strong, determined, and not overly feminine. I wasn’t able to connect with her much at all and struggled to continue reading. She isn’t a very likable character and I found her somewhat annoying. She is portrayed as not being very attractive and that seemed to be something of a sticking point for her. She kept thinking about how Will was more attractive than her and that she hoped her fiancé would like her. She is also quite selfish, though we do see some resolution on this point. She becomes more aware of it and does her best to be more selfless, though it seemed to me that she tried to do it on her own strength, instead of relying on the Lord.
William Stanton is the hero and he’s interesting. He isn’t much the stereotypical hero, which was nice. He’s a store owner, but is called to be a doctor. He cares for the people around town, even though he isn’t certified and doesn’t often get paid for it. He is very selfless and kind, a nice change from Eliza. But those traits get him into trouble, because he won’t say “no” to anyone and is taken advantage of often. He meets Eliza when he is asked to care for her after she arrives. He then goes out of his way to help her and make her feel welcome, but she doesn’t seem to notice. All she can think about is owning her own store and her hopes and dreams. I admired his tenacity and willingness to overlook her faults and forgive her when she inadvertently wounds him. He has trouble accepting the death that comes with being a doctor. He feels like a failure whenever he can’t help someone and questions God. I thought Ms. Jagears did a great job of portraying his struggle realistically.
I actually didn’t care for their relationship. It starts out very one sided and doesn’t change until about half way through the story. Will had some of what I would consider borderline inappropriate thoughts about Eliza almost immediately, which was a little strange. That is dealt with shortly thereafter and it turned into a good lesson on controlling your thoughts, so thankfully that was resolved pretty quickly. They end up becoming something of friends, but that seemed rather awkward, considering Will was half in love with her and Eliza was still suspicious of pretty much everyone. She is pretty cold to him at first and considered him to be a bit of an idiot, at least when it came to business matters. When they do become more than just friends, it seemed to me they were constantly making up excuses for why it wouldn’t work, instead of just talking about it and trying to work it out. I quickly became frustrated with them and seriously considered skipping to the end. I refrained, but it was tempting.
One thing I will say that I did enjoy quite a bit was the spiritual aspect. I liked that it kind of progressed throughout and didn’t focus on just one subject. It changed as the characters grew in each area. I do think Ms. Jagears took the sacrifice part a little bit too far, because then it became a road block for the characters. Eliza was trying to become more selfless, so she was attempting to let go of Will so he could follow his dreams, and Will was letting go of Eliza so she could have her dreams. It just grew into this huge issue, which neither of them would talk about (see above complaint). Also, they rarely consider what God might desire for them, but rather pursue their own thoughts and desires through the majority of the story.
The ending was little odd and I didn’t think it really added to the story. For me, it just drug it out and left me wanting something different. As negative as this review is, the book truly wasn’t awful or I wouldn’t have finished it. I obviously found it lacking in a few areas, but it was an okay read. It will not be a book I reread, but I will definitely read this author again in hopes her next book is as good as the first.
I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher through The Christian Manifesto for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
August 18, 2014
I am excited about my latest read! In a town where mail order brides are being scooped up before they have a chance with their intendeds, we find our story. Eliza Cantrall is anxious to meet her own husband-to-be, Axel, and takes off early to surprise him. On the way, she is robbed of all her savings and is now showing up without the money she promised him.
Will Stanton is Axel's business partner and town preferred doctor. He has no practicing license, or schooling for that matter, but cares for his patients and they adore him. When Eliza arrives, Axel is nowhere to be found and Will finds himself drawn to her.
I love that this novel isn't just a love story, but a spiritual journey, as well. Both, Eliza and Will, have to work through their dreams, hopes and desires while learning to trust God. They both have to realize what is most important in life and trust that God loves them enough to provide through all things.
I am giving this 4 stars because I really enjoyed reading it, I liked Will and Eliza and their strong character. It was a light, easy read, but fun and had some depth. Great story. Thanks, www.netgalley.com and Bethany House for giving me this book for an honest review. Here's to many more!!
Will Stanton is Axel's business partner and town preferred doctor. He has no practicing license, or schooling for that matter, but cares for his patients and they adore him. When Eliza arrives, Axel is nowhere to be found and Will finds himself drawn to her.
I love that this novel isn't just a love story, but a spiritual journey, as well. Both, Eliza and Will, have to work through their dreams, hopes and desires while learning to trust God. They both have to realize what is most important in life and trust that God loves them enough to provide through all things.
I am giving this 4 stars because I really enjoyed reading it, I liked Will and Eliza and their strong character. It was a light, easy read, but fun and had some depth. Great story. Thanks, www.netgalley.com and Bethany House for giving me this book for an honest review. Here's to many more!!
October 25, 2014
A Bride In Store
by Melissa Jagears
Bethany House Publishers (August, 2014)
Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels
Sweet Story with Rich Layers!
Eliza Cantrell, the daughter of a Eastern businessman, arrives in Kansas only to be robbed on the train enroute. She has come as a mail-order bride, bringing funds to assist the mercantile owner of what is primarily a men's shop. But her intended isn't even in town when she arrives. Instead Eliza begins helping William Stanton, her husband-to-be's business partner at the store. Except William doesn't seem to know much about business at all. He wants to be a doctor. Not only that but he is generous to a fault, failing to charge for services and goods. Will Eliza marry the man who sent for her? Will William find a way to attend medical school? Their sweet romance affects everything!
Bibliotherapy elements: Robbery and attack with injury so there is some PTSD, abandonment by her family, self concept issues, sexism against a woman being a business owner, honesty in relationships, and more! This novel has lots of lovely layers of meaningfulness. Not a light fluffy mail order bride story!
December 23, 2014
Eliza is not having a good day. She is a mail-order bride and had decided to meet her future husband early. But the train she is on is robbed and she loses all of her inheritance. It’s the money that she was going to use to invest in her husband’s store. She receives a nice gash to the face as well and inadvertently meets her new associate when he stitches up her face. Her husband, on the other hand, is nowhere to be found.
I’ve enjoyed every one of Melissa Jagears books and this one was no exception. I enjoyed the interaction between the couple. The message of grace that is woven throughout the story is prominent without being pushy or preachy. The full of life characters definitely add to the plot. There is heartbreak and sacrifice, but the overall theme is redeeming. If taken to heart, this book can help you grow in your Christian walk as well as entertain you. I can’t wait to read her next book.
I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.
I’ve enjoyed every one of Melissa Jagears books and this one was no exception. I enjoyed the interaction between the couple. The message of grace that is woven throughout the story is prominent without being pushy or preachy. The full of life characters definitely add to the plot. There is heartbreak and sacrifice, but the overall theme is redeeming. If taken to heart, this book can help you grow in your Christian walk as well as entertain you. I can’t wait to read her next book.
I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.
October 16, 2014
Another sweet mail order bride story by Melissa Jagears!
I must admit I enjoyed A Bride for Keeps a bit more, but both were enjoyable reads.
I must admit I enjoyed A Bride for Keeps a bit more, but both were enjoyable reads.
January 20, 2019
A train robbery, a pistol butt across the face, a missing fiancé, a facial scar, an "almost" doctor practicing medicine, competing mercantile and a five and dime, missing money, missing merchandise, break-ins, debt, a selfish banker, and two people who clearly love each other but can't seem to admit it. Add to that several plot twists and there's a recipe for a fairly good book.
Oh, I had my frustrations with the story, like:
Crucial decisions without discussion
Or silence about someone's feelings for another. Ugh, just be honest!
A hero who is wish washy, and way too kind for his own good.
A heroine whose life goal of a business venture took priority over love.
I may not have loved the story, but it did keep my interest.
Oh, I had my frustrations with the story, like:
Crucial decisions without discussion
Or silence about someone's feelings for another. Ugh, just be honest!
A hero who is wish washy, and way too kind for his own good.
A heroine whose life goal of a business venture took priority over love.
I may not have loved the story, but it did keep my interest.
July 13, 2022
Classic
January 2, 2015
Enjoyed it even more than the first one! :) full review to come.
A Bride in Store is a worthy follow-up to the first novel in this series. In fact, I believe that her characters are even more developed, the writing more finessed and the plot tighter. I was especially taken with the unique plot points that she included in the story. Bereft of the store she used to run for her father, Eliza Cantrell travels to Kansas to be a mail-order bride for a man who owns a store, hoping that she will find a willing partner in both the store and marriage, if not complete happiness. The story starts with a bang in an unexpected train robbing scene. From the get go, it’s obvious that our Eliza is a quick-thinker and is not afraid to fight for what is rightfully hers. I really enjoyed her personality; she is entirely a lady of the times, but also unique in that she wants to be the owner and proprietor of her own store. She is not so forward-thinking that she wasn’t realistic to the time-period, but is still certainly distinct.
The setting of 1881 Salt Flatts, Kansas feels authentic, as do the details about businesses at that time. I also found the details about healthcare back then fascinating; they really added a lot to the story. Some of the tidbits were tragic, but true to the time period when sickness and often death were simply an everyday matter. The side characters added great layers to the story; I especially loved Mrs. Lightfoot, the proprietor of the boarding house where Eliza lived. Without giving away too many details, I found her story to be intriguing and unexpected, and the relationship she and Eliza developed to be engaging.
I admit that Will Stanton is not my typical favorite male lead, but he definitely grew on me as the story progressed. He is a thoughtful and somewhat reserved, yet he is selfless and doesn’t find worth in himself. Will dreams of studying to become a doctor, but in the meantime, takes care of his friend Axel’s store. Thrown off by Eliza’s early arrival, he allows her to work in the store until Axel’s return. I could really feel the tension and pull of attraction between them as Axel’s absence stretches into weeks. As their dreams and hopes for the future pull them in different directions, they navigate this new territory that springs up between them. Though I was never unsure of what the outcome would be, the journey getting there was a satisfying one. There was one plot twist regarding Axel that I actually did not see coming at all, so that was fun. Overall, there was quite a bit more action than what I originally thought.
The spiritual aspect of the novel touched on several things, but the most prominent one for me was seeking God’s will for your life, and how sometimes your ideals and dreams don’t always align with that will. Sometimes you have to be willing to adapt and change your mind about things. I enjoyed watching Eliza and Will work through these things, even though at times it is painful, the outcome was better than they imagined.
A Bride in Store was a great blend of unique historical details, endearing romance and well-rounded characters who experienced relatable dilemmas. Just an all-around fun read for me. I’m looking forward to Melissa Jagears next book. 4.5 stars!
A Bride in Store is a worthy follow-up to the first novel in this series. In fact, I believe that her characters are even more developed, the writing more finessed and the plot tighter. I was especially taken with the unique plot points that she included in the story. Bereft of the store she used to run for her father, Eliza Cantrell travels to Kansas to be a mail-order bride for a man who owns a store, hoping that she will find a willing partner in both the store and marriage, if not complete happiness. The story starts with a bang in an unexpected train robbing scene. From the get go, it’s obvious that our Eliza is a quick-thinker and is not afraid to fight for what is rightfully hers. I really enjoyed her personality; she is entirely a lady of the times, but also unique in that she wants to be the owner and proprietor of her own store. She is not so forward-thinking that she wasn’t realistic to the time-period, but is still certainly distinct.
The setting of 1881 Salt Flatts, Kansas feels authentic, as do the details about businesses at that time. I also found the details about healthcare back then fascinating; they really added a lot to the story. Some of the tidbits were tragic, but true to the time period when sickness and often death were simply an everyday matter. The side characters added great layers to the story; I especially loved Mrs. Lightfoot, the proprietor of the boarding house where Eliza lived. Without giving away too many details, I found her story to be intriguing and unexpected, and the relationship she and Eliza developed to be engaging.
I admit that Will Stanton is not my typical favorite male lead, but he definitely grew on me as the story progressed. He is a thoughtful and somewhat reserved, yet he is selfless and doesn’t find worth in himself. Will dreams of studying to become a doctor, but in the meantime, takes care of his friend Axel’s store. Thrown off by Eliza’s early arrival, he allows her to work in the store until Axel’s return. I could really feel the tension and pull of attraction between them as Axel’s absence stretches into weeks. As their dreams and hopes for the future pull them in different directions, they navigate this new territory that springs up between them. Though I was never unsure of what the outcome would be, the journey getting there was a satisfying one. There was one plot twist regarding Axel that I actually did not see coming at all, so that was fun. Overall, there was quite a bit more action than what I originally thought.
The spiritual aspect of the novel touched on several things, but the most prominent one for me was seeking God’s will for your life, and how sometimes your ideals and dreams don’t always align with that will. Sometimes you have to be willing to adapt and change your mind about things. I enjoyed watching Eliza and Will work through these things, even though at times it is painful, the outcome was better than they imagined.
A Bride in Store was a great blend of unique historical details, endearing romance and well-rounded characters who experienced relatable dilemmas. Just an all-around fun read for me. I’m looking forward to Melissa Jagears next book. 4.5 stars!
August 18, 2016
This review is also posted on Book by Book.
I always find reading a Western historical romance novel such a fun treat, and of course, Melissa Jagears’ A Bride in Store is no exception. After recently reading A Bride for Keeps, the first book in Jagears’ Unexpected Brides, I could not wait to pick up this second crazy mail-order bride adventure and revisit the familiar Kansas town and its characters. In this story, Eliza Cantrell sets out earlier than planned to meet her arranged groom, Axel Langston, and encounters train robbers en route. Then, after arriving in town, Eliza finds her groom missing and while waiting for him, must work in close proximity to his handsome, kind-hearted business partner, William Stanton. The series of nearly comical and unfortunate mishaps naturally continues as Eliza and Will unexpectedly develop feelings for one another and then Axel returns to town. In sorting through these circumstances, Jagears tells a heartfelt tale of achieving dreams, making sacrifices for those dreams and believing self-worth. I loved it immensely and believe other fans of Western historical romance will enjoy it as well. Now, I’m eager to see who is next to the altar in the series. I can’t wait.
Thanks to Bethany House, I received a copy of A Bride in Store and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
I always find reading a Western historical romance novel such a fun treat, and of course, Melissa Jagears’ A Bride in Store is no exception. After recently reading A Bride for Keeps, the first book in Jagears’ Unexpected Brides, I could not wait to pick up this second crazy mail-order bride adventure and revisit the familiar Kansas town and its characters. In this story, Eliza Cantrell sets out earlier than planned to meet her arranged groom, Axel Langston, and encounters train robbers en route. Then, after arriving in town, Eliza finds her groom missing and while waiting for him, must work in close proximity to his handsome, kind-hearted business partner, William Stanton. The series of nearly comical and unfortunate mishaps naturally continues as Eliza and Will unexpectedly develop feelings for one another and then Axel returns to town. In sorting through these circumstances, Jagears tells a heartfelt tale of achieving dreams, making sacrifices for those dreams and believing self-worth. I loved it immensely and believe other fans of Western historical romance will enjoy it as well. Now, I’m eager to see who is next to the altar in the series. I can’t wait.
Thanks to Bethany House, I received a copy of A Bride in Store and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
August 29, 2015
Thoroughly enjoyed this not-your-typical-mail-order-bride story by Melissa Jagears! I was so glad that we got to see Will as a grown man (though there were plenty of times I wanted to shake him lol) and to catch up with Dex & Rachel and Everett & Julia.
Will is one of those book heroes that you can't help but fall a little in love with - he's just so good and true and steady. Even if he would argue that he's exactly the opposite of all those things. To me, that just makes him more good and true and steady - and maybe just a little irritating at times. ;)
Eliza storms into town, all feisty and determined ... and uncertain. She is a wonderfully spunky character who refuses to let society's expectations determine her future. She has dreams and she won't let anything stand in her way! Only three problems with all of her grand plans. 1) The sparks & chemistry between her and Will almost singed my ereader app! Delightful - except Will isn't the person she's committed to marry.(So...maybe four problems lol) 2)She was robbed on the train ride to her new home and is basically penniless. And 3) she quickly comes to a crossroads where she feels she has to choose between the dream of her heart and the love of her heart.
This book has it all - romance, mystery/suspense, romance, gentle faith, romance (did I mention that one already? lol), friendship, and uhhh let's see.... oh yeah! Romance :)
Will is one of those book heroes that you can't help but fall a little in love with - he's just so good and true and steady. Even if he would argue that he's exactly the opposite of all those things. To me, that just makes him more good and true and steady - and maybe just a little irritating at times. ;)
Eliza storms into town, all feisty and determined ... and uncertain. She is a wonderfully spunky character who refuses to let society's expectations determine her future. She has dreams and she won't let anything stand in her way! Only three problems with all of her grand plans. 1) The sparks & chemistry between her and Will almost singed my ereader app! Delightful - except Will isn't the person she's committed to marry.(So...maybe four problems lol) 2)She was robbed on the train ride to her new home and is basically penniless. And 3) she quickly comes to a crossroads where she feels she has to choose between the dream of her heart and the love of her heart.
This book has it all - romance, mystery/suspense, romance, gentle faith, romance (did I mention that one already? lol), friendship, and uhhh let's see.... oh yeah! Romance :)
September 16, 2014
What a chance of circumstances Eliza has that makes her end up early in a town far from home. She ends up there early, and as she is a mail order bride, her groom to be is not there to meet her. Not only that he is anywhere to be found, now what?
This poor girl not only does not know where her future husband is, but also is robbed of her dowry on the train to Kansas. Can’t imagine how this poor girl managed, yes she is very smart, but could see the hand of God in all that proceeds to happen. I really enjoyed this story and how things all worked out, not always how you hope, or expect.
Come along and enjoy this rather spunky young woman, and see if she gets the chance of a lifetime, and her dream fulfilled. Then there is her fiancé’s partner, who takes her under his wing, and he has his own demons. William is a doctor without a degree, and is really not paid for his services, even though he has helped many. I loved being in this early American town. You won’t be able to put this one down until you find out how all of the answers.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.
This poor girl not only does not know where her future husband is, but also is robbed of her dowry on the train to Kansas. Can’t imagine how this poor girl managed, yes she is very smart, but could see the hand of God in all that proceeds to happen. I really enjoyed this story and how things all worked out, not always how you hope, or expect.
Come along and enjoy this rather spunky young woman, and see if she gets the chance of a lifetime, and her dream fulfilled. Then there is her fiancé’s partner, who takes her under his wing, and he has his own demons. William is a doctor without a degree, and is really not paid for his services, even though he has helped many. I loved being in this early American town. You won’t be able to put this one down until you find out how all of the answers.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.
October 3, 2014
Melissa Jagears knows how to deliver a well-crafted story that engages both the mind and the emotions. She's become a 'must read' author for me.
I have a soft spot for mail-order bride stories and the author delivers a doozey with this one. It has it all, action, romance, thwarted purposes, even a bit of a mystery and it starts out with a bang. A very interesting first meet for a hero and heroine.
Love bungling Will. Heart of gold, unwavering determination...except when it's wavering and an unhealthy (in his opinion) attraction to his missing friend's mail-order bride. Eliza shares that determined character trait, to the point of stubbornness. She has her future all mapped out for her and doesn't quite know what to do when her plans go drastically awry. Watching sparks fly as they both work towards a future that might or might not include each other made for an exhilarating read. Jagears kept me on my toes and surprised me a time or two with great plot twists.
Awesomely awesome read!
I have a soft spot for mail-order bride stories and the author delivers a doozey with this one. It has it all, action, romance, thwarted purposes, even a bit of a mystery and it starts out with a bang. A very interesting first meet for a hero and heroine.
Love bungling Will. Heart of gold, unwavering determination...except when it's wavering and an unhealthy (in his opinion) attraction to his missing friend's mail-order bride. Eliza shares that determined character trait, to the point of stubbornness. She has her future all mapped out for her and doesn't quite know what to do when her plans go drastically awry. Watching sparks fly as they both work towards a future that might or might not include each other made for an exhilarating read. Jagears kept me on my toes and surprised me a time or two with great plot twists.
Awesomely awesome read!
August 5, 2014
This is one of those books that extends bedtime with the thought: "just one more chapter." I've read a few mail order bride books but this one had a different twist. There were several surprises in store for the characters as well as for me. I look forward to future work from Ms. Jagears.
May 6, 2016
3.5 Stars
February 5, 2018
This story follows Eliza and Will and their adventures. Eliza is a mail-order bride and arrives early to find her groom is not in town. Where is he? So many twist and turns and surprises around the corner. This was a fun book to read and look forward to the next book in the series.
I listened to this book by audio book and it was very fun to listen to. The narrator did a good job and kept it interesting to listen to.
I listened to this book by audio book and it was very fun to listen to. The narrator did a good job and kept it interesting to listen to.
October 17, 2017
Great quick read I will continue the series.
September 6, 2014
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First of all, a huge thanks to Bethany Publishers and Melissa Jagears for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review! I really appreciate it.
Eliza Cantrell is ready to love again after being conned in her previous relationship. Her position as a mail-order bride sees her traveling out to Kansas to hopefully marry a man she’s been in correspondence with, but never met. After being robbed on her path to her new home, she arrives in Kansas completely broke a week early to find out that Axel Langston isn’t even there. Instead, she meets Axel’s best friend, William Stanton, who is taking over Axel’s storefront until he gets back (and doing a bad job of it, at that). Eliza utilizes her uncanny business sense to help William with the business and, quite unexpectedly, romance blooms between the two. Ooooh! Ahhhh! Pick up the book to discover more. Duh.
MORAL RATING
PG: Honestly, this book could be G depending on how you look at your ratings. Kissing, warm embraces, the like. This is Christian Historical Fiction! Nothing close to scandalous.
THE GOOD
The last time I read a novel in the Christian Historical Fiction genre, I felt pretty let down. When I picked this one up, I was more than ready to be swept away in the world of Eliza Cantrell and William Stanton. And swept away I was! I haven’t read any of Jagears other works, but I think I will after reading this one. The writing flowed well and there was a great balance of narration, dialogue, and descriptions of the events throughout. I loved the switched narrations of Will and Eliza. I wondered what the other was thinking and it was wonderful to find out so conveniently. Will and Eliza were a treat to read. Both were believable in their character arcs and their growth as people founded in Christ. I loved how they both pushed each other to become better people (isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?). Instead of writing a flawlessly beautiful woman, I enjoyed how Eliza “wasn’t the prettiest woman in the world” (as described by Will early in the book). Will really fell in love with her soul, not her physical appearance (though he did think she was beautiful). I can dig that! :)
Christian themes were incorporated well and flawlessly throughout. I didn’t find mentions of Christ annoying or clunky which was refreshing. Plus, to be completely honest, I felt convicted by some of the words of advice the characters offered to each other in this novel. I think it’s pretty cool that God can use anything to touch people.
Also, though this isn’t really important, I’m kind of in love with the “pun” in this title. A Bride in Store? And they both run stores? HAHAHA. Nice one, Melissa Jagears. I applaud you. Only the Great Ones put puns in the titles of their novels. And the William Stanton model that they had on the cover is pretty attractive, too — have to admit.
THE BAD
Though the book kept my attention throughout, there were portions where the plot seemed to lag. For the most part, though, I have absolutely no complaints about this one!
MY VERDICT
Overall, I’d give this Christian Historical Romance a 4/5! It was a sweet story and I won’t be forgetting about Will and Eliza for awhile to come. There were plenty of twists and turns to this one and I’ll definitely be reading more of Melissa Jagears’ work soon!
First of all, a huge thanks to Bethany Publishers and Melissa Jagears for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review! I really appreciate it.
Eliza Cantrell is ready to love again after being conned in her previous relationship. Her position as a mail-order bride sees her traveling out to Kansas to hopefully marry a man she’s been in correspondence with, but never met. After being robbed on her path to her new home, she arrives in Kansas completely broke a week early to find out that Axel Langston isn’t even there. Instead, she meets Axel’s best friend, William Stanton, who is taking over Axel’s storefront until he gets back (and doing a bad job of it, at that). Eliza utilizes her uncanny business sense to help William with the business and, quite unexpectedly, romance blooms between the two. Ooooh! Ahhhh! Pick up the book to discover more. Duh.
MORAL RATING
PG: Honestly, this book could be G depending on how you look at your ratings. Kissing, warm embraces, the like. This is Christian Historical Fiction! Nothing close to scandalous.
THE GOOD
The last time I read a novel in the Christian Historical Fiction genre, I felt pretty let down. When I picked this one up, I was more than ready to be swept away in the world of Eliza Cantrell and William Stanton. And swept away I was! I haven’t read any of Jagears other works, but I think I will after reading this one. The writing flowed well and there was a great balance of narration, dialogue, and descriptions of the events throughout. I loved the switched narrations of Will and Eliza. I wondered what the other was thinking and it was wonderful to find out so conveniently. Will and Eliza were a treat to read. Both were believable in their character arcs and their growth as people founded in Christ. I loved how they both pushed each other to become better people (isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?). Instead of writing a flawlessly beautiful woman, I enjoyed how Eliza “wasn’t the prettiest woman in the world” (as described by Will early in the book). Will really fell in love with her soul, not her physical appearance (though he did think she was beautiful). I can dig that! :)
Christian themes were incorporated well and flawlessly throughout. I didn’t find mentions of Christ annoying or clunky which was refreshing. Plus, to be completely honest, I felt convicted by some of the words of advice the characters offered to each other in this novel. I think it’s pretty cool that God can use anything to touch people.
Also, though this isn’t really important, I’m kind of in love with the “pun” in this title. A Bride in Store? And they both run stores? HAHAHA. Nice one, Melissa Jagears. I applaud you. Only the Great Ones put puns in the titles of their novels. And the William Stanton model that they had on the cover is pretty attractive, too — have to admit.
THE BAD
Though the book kept my attention throughout, there were portions where the plot seemed to lag. For the most part, though, I have absolutely no complaints about this one!
MY VERDICT
Overall, I’d give this Christian Historical Romance a 4/5! It was a sweet story and I won’t be forgetting about Will and Eliza for awhile to come. There were plenty of twists and turns to this one and I’ll definitely be reading more of Melissa Jagears’ work soon!
January 27, 2015
Ever the impatient woman, Eliza Cantrell leaves a week early to meet her intended, excited to begin her dream of running her own store. Her quirk of timing proves to be something of a problem, however, when the train she takes is robbed before reaching Salt Flatts. When she arrives without the promised dowry despite her best efforts, will her groom still be interested in his mail order bride?
Will Stanton finds himself in a predicament as well: he longs to be a doctor, a school-educated one, but he cannot seem to save up enough money to get there. To complicate things further, while his business partner is away, Axel’s unmentioned fiancée arrives in town. He struggles to assist her but she has no money and a missing groom, and when he tries to work with her in the store, he finds he is developing feelings for Eliza. Women are scarce, but Will has no desire to steal his friend’s bride-to-be. Or does he?
I thought I knew what to expect from this novel when I picked it up. It seemed to be laid out rather nicely, but nothing out of the ordinary for a mail-order bride storyline. Girl meets boy, but not the boy she is supposed to meet, feelings develop, and they have to decide whether love trumps duty and the promises already made. It was an interesting read, but nothing that really gripped me and forced me to turn the pages.
I am not sure how or exactly when it happened, but it transitioned from a story I was simply reading to one that I was living. I think it must have happened as the first twist was revealed—it amazed me in no small measure, probably because I had been lulled into not expecting anything out of the usual. And there was not just that one twist to be had—they kept coming, one after the other, with little time to mentally adjust and process new information before being surprised yet again. This novel was painstakingly plotted and expertly crafted.
The story was in no way predictable. Another very unique aspect to this novel is that while there are obstacles keeping the hero and heroine apart, I never felt like they encountered a problem simply to prolong the story; all of the issues were natural and, to be honest, I sometimes wondered if I was going to get a happy ending. Jagears puts her characters in seemingly impossible situations and somehow works it out both realistically and in a satisfying manner.
I truly enjoyed this story. It is peppered with enough humor to keep the novel from becoming morose, which is a good thing considering the often-heavy subject matter that, in fact, did bring me to tears once. For a while, I was worried that Jagears’ sophomore novel would not live up to the expectations created by her debut, but it certainly did—it just took some time to get there. Despite the slow start, this is a great story with enough twists, turns, and romance to have readers coming back for her next novel.
This review originally appeared at The Christian Manifesto: http://thechristianmanifesto.com/arch...
Will Stanton finds himself in a predicament as well: he longs to be a doctor, a school-educated one, but he cannot seem to save up enough money to get there. To complicate things further, while his business partner is away, Axel’s unmentioned fiancée arrives in town. He struggles to assist her but she has no money and a missing groom, and when he tries to work with her in the store, he finds he is developing feelings for Eliza. Women are scarce, but Will has no desire to steal his friend’s bride-to-be. Or does he?
I thought I knew what to expect from this novel when I picked it up. It seemed to be laid out rather nicely, but nothing out of the ordinary for a mail-order bride storyline. Girl meets boy, but not the boy she is supposed to meet, feelings develop, and they have to decide whether love trumps duty and the promises already made. It was an interesting read, but nothing that really gripped me and forced me to turn the pages.
I am not sure how or exactly when it happened, but it transitioned from a story I was simply reading to one that I was living. I think it must have happened as the first twist was revealed—it amazed me in no small measure, probably because I had been lulled into not expecting anything out of the usual. And there was not just that one twist to be had—they kept coming, one after the other, with little time to mentally adjust and process new information before being surprised yet again. This novel was painstakingly plotted and expertly crafted.
The story was in no way predictable. Another very unique aspect to this novel is that while there are obstacles keeping the hero and heroine apart, I never felt like they encountered a problem simply to prolong the story; all of the issues were natural and, to be honest, I sometimes wondered if I was going to get a happy ending. Jagears puts her characters in seemingly impossible situations and somehow works it out both realistically and in a satisfying manner.
I truly enjoyed this story. It is peppered with enough humor to keep the novel from becoming morose, which is a good thing considering the often-heavy subject matter that, in fact, did bring me to tears once. For a while, I was worried that Jagears’ sophomore novel would not live up to the expectations created by her debut, but it certainly did—it just took some time to get there. Despite the slow start, this is a great story with enough twists, turns, and romance to have readers coming back for her next novel.
This review originally appeared at The Christian Manifesto: http://thechristianmanifesto.com/arch...
November 26, 2014
Eliza Cantrell, the heroine, is a mail-order bride. She decided she just couldn't wait any longer and came one week earlier than expected. Her intended groom is a man named Axel. (Did I believe for one second that he would be the hero? No. From the earliest chapters, I knew he was non-essential, that no matter when he entered the story, how he entered the story that Eliza would never, could never be his.) Eliza came by train. A train that happened to be robbed. During the robbery, her face is cut. She arrives in town and discovers that Axel is out of town. His business partner and friend, Will, however is very much in town. He, for one, is happy to welcome her to town. He basically starts fantasizing about Eliza from the moment they meet. He's a doctor, of sorts. Not officially. But he's got the dream bad. He stitches up her face, introduces her around, establishes her at a local boarding house, shows her around the store, in general proving that he's very good at being the nice guy. She's attracted to him as well. Though I don't believe she starts fantasizing about him as quickly. I've mentioned his dream: being a doctor. Eliza's dream is owning a store. It's a family thing. Her brother may have gotten the store when their father died, but, she got the know-how. She's unimpressed with Will and Axel's store. But she's willing to make suggestions for how to improve it to anyone who will listen. Will listens. He doesn't have a problem listening to her talk about her dreams. But the store, well, it isn't his dream. And he doesn't have the money and the time to transform it into something wonderful to please someone else's bride. Axel remains missing for the first half of the book. I don't think I'm exaggerating. During his absence, Will and Eliza get real cozy with one another. Instead of admitting to each other openly that they should be the ones to get married, they cling to the idea of Axel being the one. In some ways, I was irritated with Axel long, long before he shows up. Will Axel and Eliza marry? Will she marry anyone? Will she ever see her dream achieved? Will Will ever pursue his dream of medical school?
I liked A Bride in Store by Melissa Jagears well enough to keep reading. It is the second in a series, and, I'm wondering if I'd read the first book if I would have gotten more out of this one. You never can tell with historical romance series. I can't even decide exactly what it was about A Bride in Store that kept it an almost. Was it the fact that the hero and heroine spend most of their time fantasizing about one another? Maybe. Was it the fact that except for the hero and heroine there is little depth to the characterization? It's certainly possible. Was it the fact that it was all so predictable? Probably not. I don't mind predictable and familiar if I like the characters and writing well enough.
I liked A Bride in Store by Melissa Jagears well enough to keep reading. It is the second in a series, and, I'm wondering if I'd read the first book if I would have gotten more out of this one. You never can tell with historical romance series. I can't even decide exactly what it was about A Bride in Store that kept it an almost. Was it the fact that the hero and heroine spend most of their time fantasizing about one another? Maybe. Was it the fact that except for the hero and heroine there is little depth to the characterization? It's certainly possible. Was it the fact that it was all so predictable? Probably not. I don't mind predictable and familiar if I like the characters and writing well enough.
November 17, 2014
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Bethany House Publishers. I was not too sure about this one since it is a Historical Romance. I don't do well with either of those genres. And it was book 2 in a series of books called Unexpected Brides. I have not read the first one. With this one I was pleasantly surprised. I really quite enjoyed it. It was very refreshing and also fluid and easy to read.
In this story We have Will who convinced his long time friend Axel, to order a mail order bride. Apparently this was common on the 1800's. Eliza, the 'mail order bride' decided to show up early to marry her new fiancé with hopes of helping to run his store and be part owner, a lifetime dream of hers. Only problem is the train she was on was robbed and she was hurt which led her to Will so he could patch her up. In the meantime, penniless and scarred, she discovers that Axel is away on business. During his absence she decides to help Will out with the store after discovering that he was part owner of the store. Both Will and Eliza begin to have feelings from one another and the story goes on from there.
I think the story was constructed beautifully. I really liked the great imagery, and found I could really immerse myself into the story, visualize it and get a real feel for this era. I loved the frontier/western feel. It also has great premise and has an amazing cast of characters that I found easy to connect with. The story flowed very well I think and at no point was confusing or hard to follow.
I really loved Will the most I think, he was a great character with a lot of personality. I loved watching him grow into a different person as the story went along. He never felt like he was worth much and even though people would tell him he was, he rarely believed it until he met Eliza. Eliza was a different kind of woman for that time. She great aspirations to be someone big in business and own her own store, but she also was kind of hard on herself. She to learn that life was not always about making the money but also about learning to care and understand unconditionally.
Overall, it was a fun, quick read and I would definitely pick up other books by this author and others in this series. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a bit of history and romance without all the 'sexy times' in it.
In this story We have Will who convinced his long time friend Axel, to order a mail order bride. Apparently this was common on the 1800's. Eliza, the 'mail order bride' decided to show up early to marry her new fiancé with hopes of helping to run his store and be part owner, a lifetime dream of hers. Only problem is the train she was on was robbed and she was hurt which led her to Will so he could patch her up. In the meantime, penniless and scarred, she discovers that Axel is away on business. During his absence she decides to help Will out with the store after discovering that he was part owner of the store. Both Will and Eliza begin to have feelings from one another and the story goes on from there.
I think the story was constructed beautifully. I really liked the great imagery, and found I could really immerse myself into the story, visualize it and get a real feel for this era. I loved the frontier/western feel. It also has great premise and has an amazing cast of characters that I found easy to connect with. The story flowed very well I think and at no point was confusing or hard to follow.
I really loved Will the most I think, he was a great character with a lot of personality. I loved watching him grow into a different person as the story went along. He never felt like he was worth much and even though people would tell him he was, he rarely believed it until he met Eliza. Eliza was a different kind of woman for that time. She great aspirations to be someone big in business and own her own store, but she also was kind of hard on herself. She to learn that life was not always about making the money but also about learning to care and understand unconditionally.
Overall, it was a fun, quick read and I would definitely pick up other books by this author and others in this series. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a bit of history and romance without all the 'sexy times' in it.
September 22, 2014
An enterprising and engaging historical romance set in 1881; ‘A Bride in Store’ delivers with interest! Author Melissa Jagears pens a story with a generous supply of intrigue and romance guaranteed to satisfy every customer. Betwixt the pages, you’ll encounter appealing, realistically-flawed characters, searching for approval from others as well as themselves and God. Come join these endearing personalities on their journey in discovering truths that will eventually free them to find love, contentment, and God’s will.
The business-savvy Eliza Cantrell leaves Pennsylvania a week early feeling excited and eager to start a whole new life in Kansas as a mail-order bride to a general-store owner. She didn't count on getting viciously robbed on the train trip there, nor finding Axel, her groom-to-be, out of town when she arrived. Keeping herself busy until her fiancé returns, she works on improving the store’s sales alongside Axel’s not-so-business-savvy partner, William Stanton. Eliza is frustrated at William, herself, and her treacherous feelings. Yet she stubbornly refuses to give up her dreams, because she knows they don’t include a man like William - whose aspirations differ so vastly from her own.
Any wonder William doesn't run the store at huge profit; he’s way too kindhearted and generous! Obviously his passion is not in business, but it IS in doctoring, and William longs to save enough to afford medical school. That’s not working out too good for him though. It doesn't help that he’s finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate and work beside Eliza, but his errant thoughts refuse to stay off the straight-talking, smart, and pretty lady working in his store. Unfortunately Eliza is promised to another, and that fact is driving him crazy!
Life is never straightforward, and this is true for this surprisingly unpredictable story also. How can Eliza’s and William’s paths ever connect when they are going in two completely different directions? ‘A Bride in Store’ is a pilgrimage of seeking God’s will, of self-discovery, and of sacrifice and love. Beautifully penned, it is a heart-warming treat for the romantic soul that enjoys seeing God work all things together to give us new dreams when our old ones fall flat!
The business-savvy Eliza Cantrell leaves Pennsylvania a week early feeling excited and eager to start a whole new life in Kansas as a mail-order bride to a general-store owner. She didn't count on getting viciously robbed on the train trip there, nor finding Axel, her groom-to-be, out of town when she arrived. Keeping herself busy until her fiancé returns, she works on improving the store’s sales alongside Axel’s not-so-business-savvy partner, William Stanton. Eliza is frustrated at William, herself, and her treacherous feelings. Yet she stubbornly refuses to give up her dreams, because she knows they don’t include a man like William - whose aspirations differ so vastly from her own.
Any wonder William doesn't run the store at huge profit; he’s way too kindhearted and generous! Obviously his passion is not in business, but it IS in doctoring, and William longs to save enough to afford medical school. That’s not working out too good for him though. It doesn't help that he’s finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate and work beside Eliza, but his errant thoughts refuse to stay off the straight-talking, smart, and pretty lady working in his store. Unfortunately Eliza is promised to another, and that fact is driving him crazy!
Life is never straightforward, and this is true for this surprisingly unpredictable story also. How can Eliza’s and William’s paths ever connect when they are going in two completely different directions? ‘A Bride in Store’ is a pilgrimage of seeking God’s will, of self-discovery, and of sacrifice and love. Beautifully penned, it is a heart-warming treat for the romantic soul that enjoys seeing God work all things together to give us new dreams when our old ones fall flat!
September 2, 2014
It was nice to return to the town of Salt Flatts, Kansas for A Bride in Store. This is book two in the Unexpected Brides series, but can stand alone if you have not read book one, A Bride for Keeps. I highly recommend reading both of these books. They are each a mail order bride story, but they have twists to them that keep the stories unique. I would also recommend the wonderful, prequel novella, Love by the Letter, which is a free ebook. All three of these books have been ones I really enjoyed.
I really liked both of the main characters in this story, even though they could, at times, be a bit frustrating in their inability to tell each other how they really felt. They were also so sure that they could never be together! Just a little communication and flexibility could have solved things quicker for them. But where would the fun be in that?
In all seriousness, William and Eliza truly both had very good reasons for behaving the way they did and for thinking that they weren’t what the other person needed in a spouse. I really enjoyed the tension that arose between the two of them once Axel, who was Eliza’s intended, eventually showed up in the story.
The side story involving a very sick baby was heartbreaking, as was the way Mrs. Lightfoot was treated. The author did a wonderful job highlighting a scary medical issue, as well as reminding us of the need to recognize that we are all God’s children, regardless of our outward appearances.
William and Eliza both grew a lot emotionally and spiritually in this book and many times each of them questioned what God’s will actually was for them. It was refreshing to see Eliza and William realize, at different points in the story, that they needed to relinquish control of their lives over to God.
I definitely recommend to fans of Christian, historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.
You can read this review on my blog at:
http://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.co...
I really liked both of the main characters in this story, even though they could, at times, be a bit frustrating in their inability to tell each other how they really felt. They were also so sure that they could never be together! Just a little communication and flexibility could have solved things quicker for them. But where would the fun be in that?
In all seriousness, William and Eliza truly both had very good reasons for behaving the way they did and for thinking that they weren’t what the other person needed in a spouse. I really enjoyed the tension that arose between the two of them once Axel, who was Eliza’s intended, eventually showed up in the story.
The side story involving a very sick baby was heartbreaking, as was the way Mrs. Lightfoot was treated. The author did a wonderful job highlighting a scary medical issue, as well as reminding us of the need to recognize that we are all God’s children, regardless of our outward appearances.
William and Eliza both grew a lot emotionally and spiritually in this book and many times each of them questioned what God’s will actually was for them. It was refreshing to see Eliza and William realize, at different points in the story, that they needed to relinquish control of their lives over to God.
I definitely recommend to fans of Christian, historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.
You can read this review on my blog at:
http://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.co...
September 14, 2014
Eliza Cantrell likes to do things her way. After arriving one week early in the town where her husband-to-be resides Eliza's face is split open by an outlaw who steals all of her money. Obviously promptness did not pay in this case. Once in town she discovers Axel, the man she is to marry, is out of town and no one seems to know where. On top of that there seems to be something rather bad about him that no one is willing to discuss. Never one to sit back and wait for something to come to her Eliza gets started on work in her fiancee's store while butting heads with Axel's business partner, Will. Determined to make a good life for herself and hoping dearly that her money will be found, Eliza settles in for what looks like will be a very eventful life.
Like A Bride for Keeps, A Bride in Store is jam-packed with characters to love and hate. It helped that it had been awhile since reading the former book that I had only a vague idea of what kind of person Axel was. So it was like starting with a clean slate so to speak (I still didn't like him). There are plenty of twists in the plot and lots of things I didn't see coming. Melissa Jagears knows how to write a unique story, I'll say that much. In the end book one is still my favorite in the series but I still recommend the latest. Looking forward to more stories by this author!
DISCLAIMER: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” we would like to note that we received an electronic copy of “A Bride for Keeps” provided by the publishers, Bethany House, through Netgalley.com in exchange for our honest review.
reetchampionbookreviews.wordpress.com
Like A Bride for Keeps, A Bride in Store is jam-packed with characters to love and hate. It helped that it had been awhile since reading the former book that I had only a vague idea of what kind of person Axel was. So it was like starting with a clean slate so to speak (I still didn't like him). There are plenty of twists in the plot and lots of things I didn't see coming. Melissa Jagears knows how to write a unique story, I'll say that much. In the end book one is still my favorite in the series but I still recommend the latest. Looking forward to more stories by this author!
DISCLAIMER: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” we would like to note that we received an electronic copy of “A Bride for Keeps” provided by the publishers, Bethany House, through Netgalley.com in exchange for our honest review.
reetchampionbookreviews.wordpress.com
September 29, 2014
Eliza traveled by train to a small town as a mail order bride. The train ride ended in catastrophe when robbers held up the train and took her savings, and left her with a scar on her face.
One of the first gentleman she met stitched up her face and helped her find a place to live. Will was a gentleman in every sense of the word. She was immediately attracted to him, but there was a small problem, he was the business partner of her intended. Her fiancee, Axel, was away from town without a way to get in touch with him. Axel's place in the story is pivotal, his secrets revealed added a great twist to the story.
I liked the subtle attraction that Will and Eliza fought. He couldn't stand the thought of her with Axel, and she tried not to like Will knowing that she was soon to marry another man. Both had a sense of honor and integrity. Neither wanted to compromise their standards to follow the desires of their hearts.
There were many unique characters to the story that added a layer of entertainment and enjoyment to the story. Some were a little hard to like, while others who were shunned by society, were the most remarkable people and added a wonderful feel to the story.
Both Will and Eliza had dreams that didn't seem to match and they didn't feel they could overcome. Neither felt that they could be selfish enough to ask the other to give up their dreams so that they could have a future together. It showed quite a bit about their characters that they were willing to sacrifice happiness so that they other may have their dreams come true.
As I thought about the title, I appreciated the cleverness depicted. Eliza came as a mail order bride so that she could have a store to run. I thought it was cute and that I would throw that out there.
I enjoyed the book and the characters. This is a clean historical romance with Christian nuances.
One of the first gentleman she met stitched up her face and helped her find a place to live. Will was a gentleman in every sense of the word. She was immediately attracted to him, but there was a small problem, he was the business partner of her intended. Her fiancee, Axel, was away from town without a way to get in touch with him. Axel's place in the story is pivotal, his secrets revealed added a great twist to the story.
I liked the subtle attraction that Will and Eliza fought. He couldn't stand the thought of her with Axel, and she tried not to like Will knowing that she was soon to marry another man. Both had a sense of honor and integrity. Neither wanted to compromise their standards to follow the desires of their hearts.
There were many unique characters to the story that added a layer of entertainment and enjoyment to the story. Some were a little hard to like, while others who were shunned by society, were the most remarkable people and added a wonderful feel to the story.
Both Will and Eliza had dreams that didn't seem to match and they didn't feel they could overcome. Neither felt that they could be selfish enough to ask the other to give up their dreams so that they could have a future together. It showed quite a bit about their characters that they were willing to sacrifice happiness so that they other may have their dreams come true.
As I thought about the title, I appreciated the cleverness depicted. Eliza came as a mail order bride so that she could have a store to run. I thought it was cute and that I would throw that out there.
I enjoyed the book and the characters. This is a clean historical romance with Christian nuances.
October 13, 2014
I got this book free for an honest review from Bethany House. So what is my honest review? I really do NOT know!! I am so torn about this book. First of all it took me FOREVER to get through it. There were parts where I was like reading like a mad woman.. but then there were parts I just had no desire to pick it up. I guess that indicates some good parts and some mediocre parts. The writing was a little hard to follow as far as who was saying what. It would say.. She said... and then a new paragraph with talking and it sounded like something she would say but seemed to be something he would say also.. I went back and reread quite a few parts I was confused on. Then I caught some issues that bothered me.. like first they were eating mashed potatoes and then they were cutting the potatoes.. hmmm... CONFUSED! Ok, so I can overlook all that if the story is intriguing. And in some areas it was, but it also felt like it dragged on and went over and over the same issues to the point of killing them.. So, do I agree with the premise of the book.. that you must sacrifice a dream to find true love and be totally selfless. Nope. I think you have to give in some areas and definitely should not be selfish. But our life is not revolved around the love of one person. That person can change or become abusive and we have given up our dream for them. Not a good plan. Yes, I believe material things should not be our focus or our careers should not take first place in our life and how the story ended up (in the epilogue) it seems as if the decisions made were correct, but I don't know if I agree with the overall message of the book. But all it all it was a decent read. I would give it 3.5 stars.. leaning more toward 4 but not a full 4. Am I sorry I read it? NO! Would I read another of her books? Yeah, I would give them a chance, but not top of my list.
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