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Grace Church #1
Marriage by Mail
A match made in Heaven: Rose, a mail order bride, is recovering from an illness that took the lives of her family in Boston. Longing for adventure, she arrives in northern California to meet her handsome husband to be, Charles, a blacksmith with a heart of gold who yearns for a wife. As they fall in love and learn what marriage truly is, they rely on their faith in God and help from their neighbors to see them through.
A heartwarming and inspirational tale of grace and faith, Marriage by Mail is a sweet, historical, Western, Christian romance of just over 40,000 words.
A heartwarming and inspirational tale of grace and faith, Marriage by Mail is a sweet, historical, Western, Christian romance of just over 40,000 words.
- GenresHistorical Romance
135 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 2, 2015
24 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Jan Holly
14 books3 followersJan hopes that her stories inspire and comfort you. When not writing or reading or teaching or shopping for tea, Jan can be found spending time with her husband and their daughter and their dramatic and demanding two pets: an extremely large cat and a very small dog.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 5, 2016
I love this book! One of my favorite reads I have read all year! I would recommend this to everyone!
October 8, 2021
nice
This was a nice Christian western book. Nicely written by Jan Holly. From the East after a bad epidemic that killed Roses family, Rose arrives to marry Charles. Charles meets Rose at the station to find her very sick yet. A doctor is called to see her, where the doctor tells Charles his intended is gravely sick. Will Charles marry Rose? Have to read and find out. Great book.
This was a nice Christian western book. Nicely written by Jan Holly. From the East after a bad epidemic that killed Roses family, Rose arrives to marry Charles. Charles meets Rose at the station to find her very sick yet. A doctor is called to see her, where the doctor tells Charles his intended is gravely sick. Will Charles marry Rose? Have to read and find out. Great book.
June 11, 2019
Wonderful
This is a wonderful beautifully written Christian story. I enjoyed the characters, and the scriptures were great. Just goes to show authors do not need to use foul language and ad sex into their stories ..... Thank you much I am looking forward to reading more from this author!!!
This is a wonderful beautifully written Christian story. I enjoyed the characters, and the scriptures were great. Just goes to show authors do not need to use foul language and ad sex into their stories ..... Thank you much I am looking forward to reading more from this author!!!
September 20, 2019
Sweet,clean story
This was such a sweet, clean, Christian story and I loved it. The story line was perfect. The love that developed between Charles and Rose was so perfect and their faith in God even better. The author describes true Christian love also. I just wish there had been an epilogue. I look forward to reading more by this wonderful author.
This was such a sweet, clean, Christian story and I loved it. The story line was perfect. The love that developed between Charles and Rose was so perfect and their faith in God even better. The author describes true Christian love also. I just wish there had been an epilogue. I look forward to reading more by this wonderful author.
June 8, 2019
I think this is the sweetest book I have ever read!
Absolutely nothing to dislike. Romantic and sweet. I like mail order bride books, but this was so much more. Makes me think of a poem.
Absolutely nothing to dislike. Romantic and sweet. I like mail order bride books, but this was so much more. Makes me think of a poem.
June 11, 2019
Excellent
Love, love, love!! ❤
Wow, and I do mean wow! This novel was excellent and thorough without becoming explicit! I love romantic novels and this one had a wonderful storyline to keep me entertained! Fabulous!
Love, love, love!! ❤
Wow, and I do mean wow! This novel was excellent and thorough without becoming explicit! I love romantic novels and this one had a wonderful storyline to keep me entertained! Fabulous!
Read
August 6, 2020Rose and Charles
Such a heartwarming and inspiring story. I love all of Jan Holly's stories. This is the first one I read and it holds a special spot for me. Rose has gone through so much in life.
Such a heartwarming and inspiring story. I love all of Jan Holly's stories. This is the first one I read and it holds a special spot for me. Rose has gone through so much in life.
June 8, 2019
Precious
Really well written. When you read this, you understand about kindness, supportive community, loving and generous neighbours. This is what feeling cherished is like.
Really well written. When you read this, you understand about kindness, supportive community, loving and generous neighbours. This is what feeling cherished is like.
July 20, 2019
Inspirational and Romantic
Sometimes it is nice to recall how life used to be, we could all use a bit more simplicity in our lives. Love grows over time
Sometimes it is nice to recall how life used to be, we could all use a bit more simplicity in our lives. Love grows over time
August 22, 2015
Marriage by Mail (Grace Church #1)
By: Jan Holly
4/5 stars
After an illness took Rose’s entire family and left her too ill to take care of herself, she was taken into a nunnery & nursed back to health by nuns. But after her recovery, she has no other family to turn to and no one to help take care of her in her weakened state, thus making it impossible for her to return to her job as a school teacher. So her only option left was to travel west as a mail-order bride.
Charles, the blacksmith, was settled in his life and felt the need for something more. After a couple conversations with his pastor, he realizes that it’s time for him to search for a wife. But in the west the men outnumber the women by a large amount & he doesn’t want to be in such a competition with other townsmen for the same few women. Thus a mail-order bride would be the best fit for him.
When Rose arrives, it becomes apparent that she is not in the best of health and requires a doctor’s visit. Charles is afraid that Rose may over-exert herself and further weaken her heart, thus causing her death. Everyone from the church congregation bands together to make Rose’s transition to her new home & life with Charles an easy one.
Through their patience & taking care of each other, Charles & Rose learn about what love is & how a marriage works. This is a sweet/clean Christian romance with many religious themes throughout the book by all the characters involved.
By: Jan Holly
4/5 stars
After an illness took Rose’s entire family and left her too ill to take care of herself, she was taken into a nunnery & nursed back to health by nuns. But after her recovery, she has no other family to turn to and no one to help take care of her in her weakened state, thus making it impossible for her to return to her job as a school teacher. So her only option left was to travel west as a mail-order bride.
Charles, the blacksmith, was settled in his life and felt the need for something more. After a couple conversations with his pastor, he realizes that it’s time for him to search for a wife. But in the west the men outnumber the women by a large amount & he doesn’t want to be in such a competition with other townsmen for the same few women. Thus a mail-order bride would be the best fit for him.
When Rose arrives, it becomes apparent that she is not in the best of health and requires a doctor’s visit. Charles is afraid that Rose may over-exert herself and further weaken her heart, thus causing her death. Everyone from the church congregation bands together to make Rose’s transition to her new home & life with Charles an easy one.
Through their patience & taking care of each other, Charles & Rose learn about what love is & how a marriage works. This is a sweet/clean Christian romance with many religious themes throughout the book by all the characters involved.
April 11, 2015
Sweet Mail Order Bride story
A heartwarming, tender story that provides several inspirational reminders of God's love.I really enjoyed the letter writing that went on through the story. It was easy to feel compassion for Rose and Charles was such a wonderful man. I really loved the small town feel of the story, it was nice to watch the community rally around Rose to help. I hope that perhaps we might get the story of Annabelle, the other mail order bride that came on the train with Rose. A must read for fans of the mail order bride genre. I will certainly be looking for more from this author!
A heartwarming, tender story that provides several inspirational reminders of God's love.I really enjoyed the letter writing that went on through the story. It was easy to feel compassion for Rose and Charles was such a wonderful man. I really loved the small town feel of the story, it was nice to watch the community rally around Rose to help. I hope that perhaps we might get the story of Annabelle, the other mail order bride that came on the train with Rose. A must read for fans of the mail order bride genre. I will certainly be looking for more from this author!
May 19, 2015
Great read
This was such a sweet book. I loved how Rose and Charles' relationship grew slowly. They built their relationship on friendship and allowed each other to see their weaknesses. I definitely recommend this book and look forward to more by Jan Holly.
This was such a sweet book. I loved how Rose and Charles' relationship grew slowly. They built their relationship on friendship and allowed each other to see their weaknesses. I definitely recommend this book and look forward to more by Jan Holly.
October 15, 2015
This is the kind of book you cannot put down once you start reading it. The characters are real as they travel through the process of becoming acquainted after they marry and ultimately falling in love.
I would thoroughly recommend this book.
I would thoroughly recommend this book.
September 7, 2015
Mail order bride
When Charles Smith meets his bride, Rose Adams, she isn't what he expects. Recently recovered from a deadly fever Rose and Charles have much to overcome. Great read! Easy to get into the story. It was sweet how they wrote each other notes after they were married.
When Charles Smith meets his bride, Rose Adams, she isn't what he expects. Recently recovered from a deadly fever Rose and Charles have much to overcome. Great read! Easy to get into the story. It was sweet how they wrote each other notes after they were married.
February 7, 2016
Good story
This is a good story that could possibly be true. The characters were fun to get to know and the story came together quite well. Nice reading for an afternoon of relaxing.
This is a good story that could possibly be true. The characters were fun to get to know and the story came together quite well. Nice reading for an afternoon of relaxing.
January 29, 2015
Marriage by Mail
Very good read. I enjoyed it from beginning to the end. The character's were very believable and the story held my interest
Very good read. I enjoyed it from beginning to the end. The character's were very believable and the story held my interest
April 18, 2015
Marriage by mail
A good read. It was interesting but a little predictable. I would have liked to know if children were born to them.
A good read. It was interesting but a little predictable. I would have liked to know if children were born to them.
April 26, 2015
Wonderful
Such a sweet story I could have kept on and on with this story.I M now a huge fan of this author and look forward to anything she writes
Such a sweet story I could have kept on and on with this story.I M now a huge fan of this author and look forward to anything she writes
July 11, 2015
Good story
Nice little story for relaxed reading. Enjoyed the poetry and scriptures used through out the story. No bad languages used, which is a definite plus
Nice little story for relaxed reading. Enjoyed the poetry and scriptures used through out the story. No bad languages used, which is a definite plus
August 12, 2015
Sweet story
Although this is written in a simple style, the story is heartwarming and engaging. Pour a cup of tea, put your feet up, and enjoy.
Although this is written in a simple style, the story is heartwarming and engaging. Pour a cup of tea, put your feet up, and enjoy.
February 3, 2016
Christian historical romance
I enjoyed reading this book very much. It was very inspirational and romantic. We look for other books by this author
I enjoyed reading this book very much. It was very inspirational and romantic. We look for other books by this author
March 28, 2016
Marriage by mail
I must thank the author quite well written. The scriptures were well inserted in the story. Such a beautiful Christian love story. I recommend this book.
I must thank the author quite well written. The scriptures were well inserted in the story. Such a beautiful Christian love story. I recommend this book.
June 17, 2016
4 stars
A sweet mail order bride book. She arrives tired, recouping from the fever that took the rest of her family.
A sweet mail order bride book. She arrives tired, recouping from the fever that took the rest of her family.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews