Adelaide's Decision

by Amy Walsh

Sometimes the remedy you need isn’t the one you’d prescribe.

While her father and brother fought in the Civil War, Adelaide Breck kept the family apothecary—and the rest of her fraying household—from falling apart. She managed the shop, treated the sick, and politely resisted the urge to dose her quarrelsome sister-in-law with a sleeping draught.

Now, with her father gone and her inheritance halved, Adelaide finds herself squeezed out of the very life she held together. Just as she scrapes together enough to start fresh up north, her bank collapses—taking her dreams with it.
So she does the writes to a Mrs. Ella Milton, proprietress of the Pelican Rapids Bridal Agency in Minnesota. Her terms? A marriage of convenience. No romance, no children, and absolutely no nonsense.

Mrs. Milton, however, has other ideas. A widowed professor with four unruly sons has recently written for a bride, and while he’s the last man Adelaide would choose, Ella can’t help feeling he just might be the one she needs.

One woman chasing a second chance. One man barely treading water. And one meddling matchmaker who’s about to stir up a miracle.

189 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 12, 2025

About the author

Owner and designer at Blue Underground Studios, Inc. Amy is a former history teacher turned long-arm quilter turned pattern designer and art teacher.

Reviews

[Dawn Kinzer]

I'm always drawn to a marriage of convenience story, and being familiar with Amy Walsh’s writing, I knew I’d be in for an engaging read. But I didn’t expect to devour the entire novella in one afternoon.

Adelaide Breck has a passion for treating the sick, and she’s gained knowledge about medicinal herbs by managing the family’s apothecary shop. Now with her father deceased and her brother and selfish and irritating sister-in-law wanting control, Adelaide dreams of one day owning her own shop. But when Adelaide is left without her inheritance, she must find another way to claim her independence.

The answer—a marriage of convenience with no romance or children, and Adelaide contacts a bridal agency in Minnesota. At first, her dreams seem to come true when a store owner agrees to marry her and give her a corner in the building where she can set up her shop. But just around the corner lives a widowed professor with four young boys. He’s still trying to find his way since his wife’s death.

Adelaide is likeable, intelligent, and driven, but also caring. She seeks purpose in her life, and she truly has a heart for those suffering from any ailment. I found it refreshing that Adelaide has a career different from what is often given to heroines in this type of story, and it’s obvious the author researched natural medicines.

I grew fond of the characters like Minni, who traveled with Adelaide and stayed to make sure she was safe and ready to commit. Minni is protective, and she also has a quick wit. And then, there are the professor’s four boys. Georgie is a handful, and he speaks his mind! The professor is kind, he “sees” Adelaide, and he shows her the kind of respect she yearns for and deserves.

As a slow, tender romance grows between Adelaide and the professor, she must decide. Should she continue following the path that will bring her everything she wants? Or take an even bigger risk and choose a way of life she wanted no part of when she left her family behind?

I loved this delightful story from the beginning to the end.

[Evelyn Foreman]

Having read this author’s work previously, I eagerly opened the cover of this book and settled in for what I knew would be a story I would not only enjoy, but come away inspired, hopeful, encouraged and more. Well written doesn’t come close to describing what can only be labeled as prize worthy, as each scenario, each character, builds to a finale one hopes for and most likely prays for! Absolutely devoured this!

[Erralee Hendrian]

Adelaide enjoys her work at her late dad's apothecary shop with her brother. Things end up going bad for them when finances aren't wait they expected. Adelaide becomes a mail order bride and hopes for an understanding husband who let her do what she knows. The story is well crafted.

[Patti Wolf]

In this story, there is a whisper of hope that reflects the depth of a long-awaited love. Often, life turns out differently than we expect. Amy has done an excellent job of developing her characters, making this an outstanding story

[Shonda]

This is a fantastic read!