The Teacher's Temporary Bride

by London James

Nathanial Craig never expected to find himself under contract for marriage. At forty-eight, he was content with his books, his quiet routines, and his solitary life in the coastal town of Gull Harbor, Maine. But when the school board insists he must take a wife before the term begins—or forfeit the post entirely—Nathanial sees no option but to comply. A wife, they argue, will anchor him to the town and lend respectability to his classroom.

At forty-five, Miss Cora Hollingsworth has long accepted that love and courtship are for other women. Sensible, independent, and well past the age of girlish dreams, she agrees to a marriage in name only—grateful for the chance to escape a lifetime of service and finally live on her own terms.

But what begins as a practical arrangement soon grows complicated. Cora finds herself drawn to the quiet strength behind Nathanial’s clipped words, while he’s undone by her steadiness, wit, and grace under pressure. Yet both carry secrets—truths they’ve withheld from the town. With the weight of a lie pressing on their hearts and the stirrings of something real beginning to take root, Nathanial and Cora must decide if honesty will cost them everything… or if, just maybe, it’s the very thing that will set them free.

Sometimes the sweetest love stories begin with a single, unexpected vow.

They ask for quiet, obedient brides. Mabel sends them the ones with fire.

Full of laugh-out-loud banter, heartfelt faith, and sweet frontier romance, The Brides of Miss Mabel’s Registry is a series of wholesome, charming love stories where opposites attract, sparks fly, and happily ever after comes with a few unexpected detours.

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2025

About the author

Welcome to my little corner of the internet! So who am I? Well, it’s quite simple actually. Of course, first and foremost, I’m a wife and mother. However, along with those two hats, I’m also a Sweet Historical and Contemporary Romance author who writes in her fuzzy pants and loves her horses and her cats!

Love historical romance? Well, then strap on those petticoats, travel back in time, and go on adventures with my sweet Historical Romances. Not feeling historical today? I have a few sweet Contemporary Romances, too!

And if you are looking for something with a little more heat (not too much, but more smooching and some fade-to-black scenes), then check out my titles written under the name Angela Christina Archer

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF Way to many inconsistencies within the story line. Cora is introduced to Nathanial's Uncle as Phineas Craig and they late you say he was his moms brother then he last name won't be Craig. Then the Deacon said on page 59 that school would start on Wednesday and Nathanial said as in the day after tomorrow and the Deacon said yes. Then on page 72-3 the date was changed to Monday. Then on page 74-75 Nathanial stated he parents died of Typhoid fever when he was 8. I've read a few of your books and you really need to have someone on your team to make sure facts aren't changing. I could go on as I found a few others, but as I find more inconsistencies the more upset I get.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Teacher's Temporary Bride is a winner. I am so enjoying this series and the matches that Miss Mabel comes up with. This time we have Cora and the Nathaniel who Miss Mabel feels we will be perfect together, eventually. Let's just say, that what was supposed to be a temporary fix, might become permanent. Fun times.
I was given an ARC of this book by the author for an honest review.

[Shonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story with wonderful characters!

[Charline Romine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cora ♥️ Nathaniel

Did they really believe the deception would really work? A pretend engagement while he got the job he needed? The Deacon really fixed them on this! ♥️