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Daisy
Welcome to Garden Belles Mail-Order Brides. Established in 1850, during the height of the westward wagon train exodus, and the various land runs. Men, desperate for a partner, a wife, turned to Saint Louis sisters Dahlia and Zinnia Williams (aka the Garden Belles) for assistance.
The sisters, both spinsters, are especially proud of three things in the their garden, filled with every type of imaginable flower; their penchant for finding perfect wives for most suitable husbands; and more importantly, the orphaned niece they raised from a baby.
***
About Daisy...
After completing her final year of college at Vassar, Daisy Chambers left for England to spend two years traveling around Europe with her maternal grandmother and interning at one of London’s most prestigious libraries.
She’s home now, and eager to begin her chosen career as a librarian. What Daisy doesn’t realize is her well-planned life is about to reach a fork in the road that no one, least of all her, saw coming.
Luke Addison is raising his five-year-old son alone after his wife left him when the boy was barely one. As the only trained veterinarian in Carriage Creek, California, he relies on his housekeeper to keep things running in his absence.
Determined to remarry and provide his son with a mother, and himself with a wife, Luke applies to Garden Belles Mail-Order Brides for a match. Unfortunately, despite months of exchanging letters, his first match changes her mind at the last minute in favor of her career. The experience has soured him on the idea of a new relationship, and when the matching service offers him a replacement bride, he accepts under the condition that it’s a marriage in name only, and that the woman’s sole focus be his son.
Can his substitute bride change his mind? More importantly, can he change hers?
The sisters, both spinsters, are especially proud of three things in the their garden, filled with every type of imaginable flower; their penchant for finding perfect wives for most suitable husbands; and more importantly, the orphaned niece they raised from a baby.
***
About Daisy...
After completing her final year of college at Vassar, Daisy Chambers left for England to spend two years traveling around Europe with her maternal grandmother and interning at one of London’s most prestigious libraries.
She’s home now, and eager to begin her chosen career as a librarian. What Daisy doesn’t realize is her well-planned life is about to reach a fork in the road that no one, least of all her, saw coming.
Luke Addison is raising his five-year-old son alone after his wife left him when the boy was barely one. As the only trained veterinarian in Carriage Creek, California, he relies on his housekeeper to keep things running in his absence.
Determined to remarry and provide his son with a mother, and himself with a wife, Luke applies to Garden Belles Mail-Order Brides for a match. Unfortunately, despite months of exchanging letters, his first match changes her mind at the last minute in favor of her career. The experience has soured him on the idea of a new relationship, and when the matching service offers him a replacement bride, he accepts under the condition that it’s a marriage in name only, and that the woman’s sole focus be his son.
Can his substitute bride change his mind? More importantly, can he change hers?
75 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 3, 2024
17 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Fraser
116 books699 followersNancy Fraser has been writing since she was a child, most often on walls and with crayons or (heaven forbid) permanent marker.
Since first becoming published in 1996, Nancy has received numerous five star reviews for her futuristic, time travel romance.
She’s also published in short contemporary, historical romance and is contracted for a series of ten vintage historical romances set during the Golden Decade of Rock & Roll (1955-1964).
When not writing fiction, Nancy likes to spend time with her five wonderful grandchildren.
Since first becoming published in 1996, Nancy has received numerous five star reviews for her futuristic, time travel romance.
She’s also published in short contemporary, historical romance and is contracted for a series of ten vintage historical romances set during the Golden Decade of Rock & Roll (1955-1964).
When not writing fiction, Nancy likes to spend time with her five wonderful grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 3, 2024
great book
This was a good book. I like this author. I recommend this book and author. I cannot wait to read the next book soon by this author.
This was a good book. I like this author. I recommend this book and author. I cannot wait to read the next book soon by this author.
May 23, 2024
THE SUBSTITUTE BRIDE
“The Garden Belles Mail-Order Bride agency was located in St. Louis, Missouri, and began in 1850 during the height of the westward wagon train exodus. They helped match men desperate for a wife and sought the help of sisters, Dahlia and Zinnia Williams. The sisters, both spinsters, are especially proud of three things in their lives: their garden, filled with every kind imaginable flower; their penchant for finding perfect wives for most suitable husbands; and more importantly, the orphaned niece they raised from a baby.”
The first story in this series is a novella of about 67 pages. Each story is unique and part of the series revolving around the Garden Belles Mail-Order Bride agency. The story begins in 1860 with the Chambers family moving to St. Louis next door to the Williams. Daisy Chambers and Tulip Williams become fast friends and grow up together. Both of these young women are destined for a great future—with Tulip wanting to be a doctor and Daisy a librarian.
It is now 1875, and what a surprise when Daisy returns from spending two years traveling Europe with her grandmother to discover that the impending marriage of Tulip to a man in California is now canceled. Luke Addison isn’t happy with Tulip canceling, and making threats against her aunts for the breach. The only way to make things right is to find a suitable bride to send in her place. Tulip believes that Daisy is the perfect woman for wife and mother to five-year-old Josh. But will Daisy be willing to accept Luke’s terms? To be mother to his son, and a marriage in name only.
“Can his substitute bride change his mind? More importantly, can he change hers?”
I enjoyed the story and characters. Luke is leery to want to trust another woman after Josh’s mother abandoned them and arranged for a divorce. Then for him to seek a mail-order bride, and the correspondence with Tulip had him believing he found the perfect mate and mother—only to have that shatter too. Only time will tell how this family will handle things. Joshua is excited when Daisy arrives and now he has a mother, like the other children he knows. Josh is easy to accept her, and Daisy him—but convincing Luke will be a harder sell.
I liked that Luke and Daisy took their time getting to know each other before making their marriage more than just in name. Daisy has fallen in love with her husband but never pushes him for more. When Luke sees that she unconditionally loves his son and that Josh adores his new mother, it softens him and allows him to release the chains holding his heart prisoner.
“The Garden Belles Mail-Order Bride agency was located in St. Louis, Missouri, and began in 1850 during the height of the westward wagon train exodus. They helped match men desperate for a wife and sought the help of sisters, Dahlia and Zinnia Williams. The sisters, both spinsters, are especially proud of three things in their lives: their garden, filled with every kind imaginable flower; their penchant for finding perfect wives for most suitable husbands; and more importantly, the orphaned niece they raised from a baby.”
The first story in this series is a novella of about 67 pages. Each story is unique and part of the series revolving around the Garden Belles Mail-Order Bride agency. The story begins in 1860 with the Chambers family moving to St. Louis next door to the Williams. Daisy Chambers and Tulip Williams become fast friends and grow up together. Both of these young women are destined for a great future—with Tulip wanting to be a doctor and Daisy a librarian.
It is now 1875, and what a surprise when Daisy returns from spending two years traveling Europe with her grandmother to discover that the impending marriage of Tulip to a man in California is now canceled. Luke Addison isn’t happy with Tulip canceling, and making threats against her aunts for the breach. The only way to make things right is to find a suitable bride to send in her place. Tulip believes that Daisy is the perfect woman for wife and mother to five-year-old Josh. But will Daisy be willing to accept Luke’s terms? To be mother to his son, and a marriage in name only.
“Can his substitute bride change his mind? More importantly, can he change hers?”
I enjoyed the story and characters. Luke is leery to want to trust another woman after Josh’s mother abandoned them and arranged for a divorce. Then for him to seek a mail-order bride, and the correspondence with Tulip had him believing he found the perfect mate and mother—only to have that shatter too. Only time will tell how this family will handle things. Joshua is excited when Daisy arrives and now he has a mother, like the other children he knows. Josh is easy to accept her, and Daisy him—but convincing Luke will be a harder sell.
I liked that Luke and Daisy took their time getting to know each other before making their marriage more than just in name. Daisy has fallen in love with her husband but never pushes him for more. When Luke sees that she unconditionally loves his son and that Josh adores his new mother, it softens him and allows him to release the chains holding his heart prisoner.
May 13, 2024
Is second choice second best?
Or is it that the first choice wasn't right and fate intervened?
Luke can be just a little stubborn! And when his first choice of Mail-Order Bride has to give back-word he is determined that this replacement will be a marriage on paper only....a decision he regrets the moment he meets Daisy. Not only is she a perfect mother for his son, but she is also perfect for him. It is amusing to see him dig his heels in further, fighting with himself as he falls deeper and deeper in love with his gorgeous and caring wife. This is a really lovely book, packed with not only self discovery but also sweet surprises and unexpected love.
A delightful read on Kindle Unlimited.
Or is it that the first choice wasn't right and fate intervened?
Luke can be just a little stubborn! And when his first choice of Mail-Order Bride has to give back-word he is determined that this replacement will be a marriage on paper only....a decision he regrets the moment he meets Daisy. Not only is she a perfect mother for his son, but she is also perfect for him. It is amusing to see him dig his heels in further, fighting with himself as he falls deeper and deeper in love with his gorgeous and caring wife. This is a really lovely book, packed with not only self discovery but also sweet surprises and unexpected love.
A delightful read on Kindle Unlimited.
October 14, 2024
Daisy is a quick and delightful story. Daisy has just returned to Missouri from traveling around Europe and interning in England, as a Librarian. She is surprised to hear her best friend, Tulip was supposed to become a mail order bride to a veterinarian, Dr Luke Addison in California. When Tulip is offered a great position for the Women's Hospital, she must change her plans. Tulip and her Aunts want Daisy to take her place and marry Luke. Daisy finally accepts, only to make sure that the aunts business, Garden Belles Mail Order Brides doesn't suffer. Luke is not happy with the change, but he needs a mother for his son, Josh. The are always changes in life, and sometimes they are for the better.
May 23, 2024
A good kickoff to a new series. I love that ladies with flower names are going to be matched for grooms by a mail order “company” known as Garden Belles Mail Order Brides. Daisy is matched after her best friend, Tulip’, who is also the niece of Zinna and Dahlia, the owners of the Garden Belles. Okay, we all know that Luke’s decision for an “in name only” marriage isn’t going to work, but the surprise is Josh, Luke’s precocious son. You will fall in love with this sweet boy. This book was fun, entertaining and I enjoyed it very much.
May 11, 2024
I had my doubts this would work out, especially since the husband-to-be had his heart set on someone else, and had determined to marry in name only. But the sweet sincerity of Daisy, showing through especially with his five year old son, started working on his heart. I really love how they dealt with the child's disability, and the lack of not having a 'real' mother, not letting him feel anything but normal. This was a great story!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews