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Mail-Order Matches
The Most Wonderful Bride of the Year
Eli Farley wasn’t having a good year when it came to marriage. Twice, he was engaged, and neither time led to a marriage. He finally made a choice to send for a mail-order bride, but his letter was destroyed on the way to the post office. Enough is enough, he decided. Marriage wasn’t meant for him.
Or was it?
Cora Barnett’s life hadn’t been an easy one. Her only living parent was a drunken, good-for-nothing Pa, who ruined all her marriage prospects. Barely surviving, she jumped at the opportunity presented to her by an aunt she hadn’t seen in years.
Will the union between Eli and Cora only be a means to an end or will they find love this Christmas?
Dear Reader: Please note this is a sweet and wholesome, holiday short story of forty (40) pages and has faith elements.
Or was it?
Cora Barnett’s life hadn’t been an easy one. Her only living parent was a drunken, good-for-nothing Pa, who ruined all her marriage prospects. Barely surviving, she jumped at the opportunity presented to her by an aunt she hadn’t seen in years.
Will the union between Eli and Cora only be a means to an end or will they find love this Christmas?
Dear Reader: Please note this is a sweet and wholesome, holiday short story of forty (40) pages and has faith elements.
47 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2014
90 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Leah Atwood
94 books124 followersLeah is a small-town girl at heart and currently lives in a rural town in South Louisiana, though Maryland will always be home. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in International Business but gave up a career in sales and marketing to follow love, a decision she's never regretted.
Always a dreamer, she loves to think of times gone by and discover what the American West was really like as the frontier was bring tamed. Because time-travel doesn't really exist, she uses her stories as an outlet to transport back in time and experience the days of old. Never one to ignore inspiration, she is also branching out into contemporary romance.
Her works have reached best-seller status and have topped the categories of Western and Inspirational Romance. She gives thanks to God for blessing her with the amazing opportunity to share her faith in a way to inspire people and bring a smile to their faces.
10 Random Facts about Leah
1) Her favorite book is A Moveable Feast
2) She was once in a governor's inaugural parade
3) Her daughter and she share the same initials
4) Diet soda is her coffee. Every morning must with a glass of the fizzy beverage.
5) On the day of her daughter's birth, Leah's family was so excited they ran out to the car and locked all the keys inside the house. Her husband had to break in the house through a window before they could leave for the hospital
6) She loves to garden despite her black thumb
7) When Leah was a kid, she and her cousin would write their own songs
8) Her favorite movie is Gone with the Wind
9) Holidays bring out her inner child
10) She has a mild obsession with anything pumpkin
Always a dreamer, she loves to think of times gone by and discover what the American West was really like as the frontier was bring tamed. Because time-travel doesn't really exist, she uses her stories as an outlet to transport back in time and experience the days of old. Never one to ignore inspiration, she is also branching out into contemporary romance.
Her works have reached best-seller status and have topped the categories of Western and Inspirational Romance. She gives thanks to God for blessing her with the amazing opportunity to share her faith in a way to inspire people and bring a smile to their faces.
10 Random Facts about Leah
1) Her favorite book is A Moveable Feast
2) She was once in a governor's inaugural parade
3) Her daughter and she share the same initials
4) Diet soda is her coffee. Every morning must with a glass of the fizzy beverage.
5) On the day of her daughter's birth, Leah's family was so excited they ran out to the car and locked all the keys inside the house. Her husband had to break in the house through a window before they could leave for the hospital
6) She loves to garden despite her black thumb
7) When Leah was a kid, she and her cousin would write their own songs
8) Her favorite movie is Gone with the Wind
9) Holidays bring out her inner child
10) She has a mild obsession with anything pumpkin
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 17, 2017
Sweet Christmas Romance!
November 3, 2015
Beautiful Sweet Simple Romance.
I love Christmas romances and this is my first one of the year, it's a little sweet innocent tale of love.
Eli Farley has given up on love, he's been engaged twice and he's still single so he figures marriage is just not for him, that is until Widow Anderson decides to play match maker. Eli is a good kind man with a big heart and lots to offer, Chloe is Widow Anderson's niece and her life is one of poverty, hunger and hard work, she's no marriage prospects since her drunken father scares everyone away.
Can these two come together and find happiness for Christmas and the years that follow.
This is a beautiful simple sweet romance the first of many Christmas romances I'll read this year.
July 28, 2015
3.5
Short mail-order bride story set at Christmas time. Religious feel but not preachy. Clean happily ever after.
Short mail-order bride story set at Christmas time. Religious feel but not preachy. Clean happily ever after.
December 19, 2021
Eli Farley has had two engagements fall through for various reasons, so now he's considering a mail order bride. But an older lady suggests he write to her single niece and see if they can connect. When they realize they need each other, romance begins to flourish. Set in Dakota Territory in 1888, this was a short Christmas story that felt complete in just 54 pages and was a quick, enjoyable read.
November 9, 2014
What a charming historical read! I love this time era and the simplicity of the world. I crave the simpler times and always enjoys reads that reflect that.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. You won't be sad to pick up this novella!
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. You won't be sad to pick up this novella!
December 13, 2014
Inspiring
Lovely characters and a heart melting plot makes for a wonderful read. Ms Atwood provides plenty of story in this short novella.
Lovely characters and a heart melting plot makes for a wonderful read. Ms Atwood provides plenty of story in this short novella.
January 13, 2021
Short but Sweet
For a romance novella, this story had all the details needed to really make it feel complete. That's a big problem with a lot of shorter books I come across. I'm so glad this one was different.
There's a peaceful but hard-working and considerate hero, a strong but down-on-her-luck heroine, a sweet and mischievous aunt, and an HEA. The story is clean and inspirational, and I enjoyed seeing the characters pray and ask forgiveness when they hurt someone.
If you're looking for a short book to cozy up with which will also warm your heart, give this one a try!
For a romance novella, this story had all the details needed to really make it feel complete. That's a big problem with a lot of shorter books I come across. I'm so glad this one was different.
There's a peaceful but hard-working and considerate hero, a strong but down-on-her-luck heroine, a sweet and mischievous aunt, and an HEA. The story is clean and inspirational, and I enjoyed seeing the characters pray and ask forgiveness when they hurt someone.
If you're looking for a short book to cozy up with which will also warm your heart, give this one a try!
October 16, 2017
This was a great, quick read. I loved Eli and Cora and Aunt Patricia. Eli and Cora both had to overcome some insecurities, but Aunt Patricia helped with that. This was such a sweet story and I recommend it.
November 21, 2019
Good story, quick read
Fun, brief Christmas tale that was way too short for me! There was plenty of info on the characters but the plot needed fleshed out a bit more.
Fun, brief Christmas tale that was way too short for me! There was plenty of info on the characters but the plot needed fleshed out a bit more.
December 27, 2020
From victim to Victor
This is a short story with a big meaning! I can relate to Cora’s insecurities. I’m glad she had the Lord and other people to help her. Very well done!
This is a short story with a big meaning! I can relate to Cora’s insecurities. I’m glad she had the Lord and other people to help her. Very well done!
December 15, 2016
When a door shuts in life, a window of opportunity is sure to open; you only have to look. Eli Farley owns a mercantile in the town of Tarling, Dakota Territory and is one of its many upstanding citizens. One could say that he was particularly unlucky in love. Within the last year, he has been deserted by his fiancées. Not for what he did or didn’t do but rather what they did. This left him understandably somewhat shy and hesitant of continuing his pursuits for love and companionship.
Loneliness is a heavy burden to bear. Cora Barnett knows that more than she would care to admit. She lives with her father and tries to care for him. Since her mother’s death, Cora has tried to care for her father. That has become increasingly more difficult as her father has committed himself to the bottle; forsaking all others. When she receives a letter from her Aunt Patricia, suggesting that she move to Tarling and marrying Eli, she views it as a Godsend.
Although this could technically be called a Christmas story, as it takes place in that festive season, I would prefer to just call it a historical romance. This is a grassroots story set in 1888, in a small rural community where everyone knows you and won’t hesitate to help you if the need ever arises. It is a story of faith and the counting of all of life’s small blessings. It is a feel good story that leaves the reader with a smile on their lips and a tear in their eyes.
Loneliness is a heavy burden to bear. Cora Barnett knows that more than she would care to admit. She lives with her father and tries to care for him. Since her mother’s death, Cora has tried to care for her father. That has become increasingly more difficult as her father has committed himself to the bottle; forsaking all others. When she receives a letter from her Aunt Patricia, suggesting that she move to Tarling and marrying Eli, she views it as a Godsend.
Although this could technically be called a Christmas story, as it takes place in that festive season, I would prefer to just call it a historical romance. This is a grassroots story set in 1888, in a small rural community where everyone knows you and won’t hesitate to help you if the need ever arises. It is a story of faith and the counting of all of life’s small blessings. It is a feel good story that leaves the reader with a smile on their lips and a tear in their eyes.
November 9, 2014
The Most Wonderful Bride
By Leah Atwood
Lot of story packed in a small novella. Eli Farley wants to be married and has tried a few times and both ladies left him before the ceremony. decides he will write for a mail order bride. Decides is the last time he is trying if this doesn't work then he is done. But on the way to mail the letter while helping a widow from falling he drops the letter ends up in a mud puddle. By this happening he decides that's it the Lord gave that as a sign for him not to marry. But the widow has something else in mind for him. Get this novella and enjoy some sweet romance and faith of God message in it. I give 5 star very well written.
By Leah Atwood
Lot of story packed in a small novella. Eli Farley wants to be married and has tried a few times and both ladies left him before the ceremony. decides he will write for a mail order bride. Decides is the last time he is trying if this doesn't work then he is done. But on the way to mail the letter while helping a widow from falling he drops the letter ends up in a mud puddle. By this happening he decides that's it the Lord gave that as a sign for him not to marry. But the widow has something else in mind for him. Get this novella and enjoy some sweet romance and faith of God message in it. I give 5 star very well written.
January 16, 2016
A simple but sweet story. This was very predictable and kind of unbelievable and yet it was also very enjoyable. This is what I look for in a Christmas story. I want it to be sweet, romantic, magical, and Christmassy. This one wasn't really magical except for the "love st first sight", I guess thst was kind of magical.
This was one of those - makes you feel good, warms your heart kind of stories. And - I love, love, love the mail order bride theme. I am going to stick with that for a couple of books.
This was one of those - makes you feel good, warms your heart kind of stories. And - I love, love, love the mail order bride theme. I am going to stick with that for a couple of books.
December 13, 2014
Short but sweet
Lonely jilted bachelor was giving up on finding a bride when he saved a widow from a fall. She knew he was a good man and she wanted a better life for her niece. Would that work out? Read this sweet story to find out.
Lonely jilted bachelor was giving up on finding a bride when he saved a widow from a fall. She knew he was a good man and she wanted a better life for her niece. Would that work out? Read this sweet story to find out.
December 9, 2015
This is a quick, short read. It's about two people who need each other and are drawn together by someone who sees the need on both sides. It's similar to a mail order bride story, but different. I enjoyed it.
November 8, 2014
This is an excellent, really nice and clean read for all ages. Rescue, love, forgiveness are only a few topics in this story. Highly recommend this book.
November 14, 2014
A great read of forgiveness and love, this novella has Eli failing in love twice before the widow steps in with a solution for her niece and Eli. I was given this for an honest review.
December 13, 2014
It's
Christmas and what story could better illustrate Forgiveness and peace on earth
That our heavenly father sent to us in the form of of a baby , Christ the Lord.
Christmas and what story could better illustrate Forgiveness and peace on earth
That our heavenly father sent to us in the form of of a baby , Christ the Lord.
December 20, 2014
A sweet and innocent little love story. It was just the insta-love that turned me off, I think.
January 13, 2015
A cozy short Christmas story
A very short book, but filled with love and the Christmas spirit. I would recommend this to those who enjoy mail order bride stories.
A very short book, but filled with love and the Christmas spirit. I would recommend this to those who enjoy mail order bride stories.
August 21, 2016
Sweet, little feel-good story about ordinary life and people.
An enjoyable, slightly different mail-order bride tale.
An enjoyable, slightly different mail-order bride tale.
March 30, 2020
Eli and Cora -
April 28, 2018
A sweet story about a mail order bride who needed to be loved.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews