Haven River Surprise

by Christie Williams

When Essie Martin sees a mail-order bride ad that would take her to the same tiny town where her best friend Laurie now lives, it’s impossible to resist. Her sister and toddler nephew don’t need her as much as they did when she moved in to help, and she’s tired of living Beth’s life instead of her own.

A mail-order bride seems Deputy Matthew Cooper’s best option after a run of disappointing first impressions with ladies thanks to his amputated arm. Hoping letters will give her the chance to get to know him before meeting face to face, he doesn’t expect to fall head over heels within the first few letters.

Though traveling West risks heartbreak and danger, can Matt and Essie turn their pen pal romance into true love?

Haven River Surprise is a sweet and clean romance set in 1880s Wyoming territory, perfect for fans of Mary Connealy, Charlotte Dearing, and Cat Cahill.

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 14, 2025

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essie Martin is a spontaneous, quick thinking young woman that really brings out the spirit of the frontier woman in this series. We briefly met Essie in book 1 as the best friend of Laurie, who is featured in Haven River Rescue, but now Essie is feeling trapped and unhappy with her city life. After watching her best friend leave as a mail-order bride and find her own happiness, Essie desires to return to that small town life of quiet farm and a wonderful man. She comes across a bridal article from the same town her friend left for and it feels like fate.

Matt is the deputy of Haven River Falls and ready to settle down with a wife and start a family, but that's not easy to do in a small mining and ranching town where there are very few women to choose from. After placing his ad for a bride, he starts to receive letters from Essie and they immediately connect.

What I loved most about this book was how well it puts you in the drivers seat of experiencing the frontier life from the perspective of two characters that really enjoy and embrace the elements needed to move into a brand new place and explore life. Essie desires adventure and isn't afraid to do hard work or protect herself with her pistol, and Matt is equally suited for this life. They make the perfect couple and bring out the rich history of settlers to the western front.

Matt's character is sweet and comforting, but Essie is a whirlwind of quick decisions that sometimes put her in a bad spot. But I adore her spontaneity and wouldn't want her any other way. It's always refreshing to read female characters that take charge and speak their mind, especially in these settings, the way that she did.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is between a 4 and 5 star read for me but went with 5 stars cause there really isn't anything wrong with the book per se, I think I just wish that there was a little bit more to it in the way of excitement or entertainment. Like the first book in the series, this is a clean read with nice characters and it's just a generally nice, easy read of a book. There is nothing super dramatic, exciting or angsty that happens in this book. A good part of this book happens in two separate locations- Essie on the East Coast writing to Matt while he is in Haven River. Of course it takes a lot of time for mail to get back and forth in those days and with the winter closing things in Haven River Falls, it takes quite awhile for these characters to get together. There is kind of an insta love happening with Matt and Essie. I think out of the two, I liked Matt the best. He is just a really good guy. Essie is a little whiny in the first part about being under appreciated and needing her freedom and then is super assertive and not liking to take directions once she's in Haven River Falls. I don't always like FMCs like that- who always think they know best and don't really like to listen, even though it's probably for the best.
There was a little bit of drama and mystery. If you read the first book you'd probably guess who was behind the mystery. But it all wrapped up nicely and the town really is fun with great characters who support each other and their little town. The third installment will be interesting to read as well.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! The first half of the book was rough for me! The writing back and forth didn’t captivate me as much! I really liked when Essie, and Matt finally met and all the stuff that came with that! I will say I’m pretty certain Essie and I would be besties! I loved her personality and wish we could be friends.

I actually started with book 3 and then read the prequel, then book one, then this book! I do kinda wish I had found this series with the prequel and the books 1 and 2 then 3, because I started with book 3 I kinda knew some of what was going to happen, and so this stuff wasn’t a surprise to me, which is kinda disappointing! But the books were still good anyway!

I want more books from Haven River Falls, and I want a longer story about the Johnson (the couple from the prequel) I’ve fallen in love with the people in this town and want to read more! Highly recommend!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven River Surprise is the second book in a three book series (four books, if you count the prequel available on the author's website!) and follows Essie Martin from her job as an assistant in her sister's dress shop in Harrisburg, all the way to a small town in Wyoming after she answers a mail-order bride advertisement and begins corresponding with the town Deputy.

This book is sweet, with a lovely clean romance that grows between the two main characters as the book progresses through various exciting and everyday events on the frontier. I love the surprise for Matt at the end of the book, and all the side-characters that help!

Definitely a quick, sweet read for those that like historical westerns and clean romance novels.

[Lia Lorimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite hating city life, Essie has helped her widowed sister, Beth, to care for her toddler nephew, Levi, for two years before deciding to follow her friend, Laurie’s example and apply to be a mail order bride. Discovering the Haven River Falls deputy sheriff’s advertisement reinforces her decision to join Laurie in the tiny Wyoming town.
Ms Williams’ new novel is a winner, detailing Essie and Deputy Matt’s long-distance romance and their subsequent meeting, followed by several exciting and rather frightening occurrences, making their courtship eventful.
A thoroughly enjoyable and well-written review copy received from the author.

[Kiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven River Surprise by Christie Williams is a sweet and tension filled mail order bride.

This book was full of fear and trauma and both of the characters were just absolutely lovable to be able to have the courage to get over them. Both of them felt like they were a sore thumb, and they didn't really have a place to be or go. But they had a place in each other. I loved the chivalry and the bravery of both Essie and Matt. And I just loved it!

If you want a sweet and happy ending filled mail order bride novel, this is the one for you!

Thank you Christie Williams for the free book!

[Cherilyn (Cherwhatyouread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite quote: Matt could have sworn that pieces inside him that he didn’t even realize were broken knit themselves back together at her words, at her gentle touch. He’d spent years believing he was incomplete, believing that everyone he met saw him that way. But Essie made him feel whole in a way he’d never expected.

[Brittany Rinehart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much!! I was so glad to see Eddie get her story!! This was such an enjoyable read. I can’t wait for the next one in the series!!