Mistaken Bride

by Janice Cole Hopkins

Danielle Gregory grew up in the saloons, where her mother worked, and she has never been able to escape that lifestyle. However, she’s promised herself never to work upstairs the way her mother did. When she goes to Redbud, Arizona, to work in a saloon that doesn’t have soiled doves, the sheriff mistakes her for his mail-order bride. She would have liked to marry him and have a normal life, but she’s too honest to deceive him for long. As she expected, he has problems with her past. But when a godly pastor and his wife accept her, she has hope for the first time. Now that she's become a new child of God, what will her future hold?

171 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 4, 2025

About the author

Janice Cole Hopkins grew up in the Appalachian Mountains. As an only child, she learned to love the stories of Appalachian culture, and when she started school, she discovered a even wider world of stories through reading. She was writing her own by third grade and had published poetry by eighth grade. After graduating from Appalachian State University, she first wrote for magazines because the shorter articles were more manageable while she taught school. She retired early and became her mother’s caregiver, which is when she wrote that first novel, and she hasn’t stopped since. Soon she will have over a hundred books listed on Amazon with more to come.
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Reviews

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mistaken Bride is a story of second chances and showing that you better than people picture you and your past. Danielle has come to town to start a new life. The sheriff thinks she is the Mail Order bride that he was waiting for. With the help of the pastor and his wife, she finds God again and hopes her life is on the right track, until her past catches up with her again. this story will allow you to hope for the best and give you insight on how people see you and hope that they see the good. Inspirational!
I was given a copy of this book by the author for an honest review.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mistaken Bride
By: Janice Cole Hopkins
Narrated by: Douglas Birk, Jennifer Groberg

It was time to for Danielle to start a new. Going to Rosebud Arizona to work in a saloon would hopefully let her begin a fresh life. But the sheriff made the mistake of thinking she was his mail order bride. She could have taken him on on it, pretending it was her, but she is an honest person. The two spend some time together and he brings her to church. The pastor and his wife find her work other than the saloon, and her new life begins. That is until her past comes to haunt her. Will the people of Rosebud look upon her with the same fondness? Such a good message in this one, but to hear them all, you need to give this gem a listen. It's relevance is true today just as much as it was back in the historic west. Loved this one.

Douglas Birk and Jennifer Groberg bring this wonderful story alive. The build up of feelings, the layer of suspense and the growing faith all comes through in each voice, each nuance making the characters feel real I enjoyed this listen!

[BrendaLee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this audiobook with both a man and a woman narrator. It really brought the book alive. The story was great by itself but I love audiobooks. The story of Danielle getting a new start really put a person to thinking. Do we judge a person by their past or can we look past that to the person they have become? Do we forgive as God forgives? Danielle wanted to put the past behind her but will the sheriff be willing to forgive her past? I loved the whole concept of this story. There is a lot more to the story but I’ll leave you to read or listen to it for yourself. I highly recommend this book to my friends and family.
I received a copy of this audiobook from the author but was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian Historical Romance

I seriously LOVED the theme of this book! We are new creations in Christ, and our past, no matter what it was, is forgiven, WHEN we put our hope in Jesus for our salvation and resurrection!
The sheriff took too long to accept this truth, in my opinion, but it made for an excellent story!
The pastor truly exemplifies Jesus, and encouraged his congregation to as well! And the bride was incredible for having lived as she had too! She was definitely gifted and God had prepared her before time, for her life in faith!
I thought the two narrators did an excellent job telling this tale, and making it come alive! 5 stars all around!

[Viola · Rating 5 out of 5]

a nice book to read

This was a nice book to read. It is written by Janice Cole Hopkins which is written very well. A young woman steps off the train in a new town to be mistaken for his bride. His bride never did show up so he asked the young woman. The answer is no, only because she was a saloon girl, and the young man wanted something else. There are a few surprises in this book and a lot of joy. A very enjoyable book to read.

[Debbie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book! Danielle came to Redbud for a job in a saloon that did not have a brothel. Cullen was the sheriff of Redbud. When Danielle arrived, Cullen thought she was his mail order bride. Danielle told him about her past which made him uncomfortable and he knew he could never marry her. This is a clean wholesome book where the characters rely on their Christian faith. I highly recommend reading this book!

[ReadingWench · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the multi narrators. The female and male narrators bring another level to the book. Janice Cole Hopkins is a very talented writter. She creates characters that you know, that you want to know.

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sweet, inspirational romance. I thought the premise was unique and they both grow a lot spiritually throughout the story.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

This was a great book and by a great author. I highly recommend this book and author. I can’t wait to read the next book by this wonderful author.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable book without a lot of excitement. Also the man is portrayed as judgmental and unkind and she ends up falling for him. 🙄