Heartland Christmas Brides

by Maureen Lang, Amy Lillard, Vickie McDonough

Heartland Christmas Brides is the first book in 'The 12 Brides of Christmas' series. Four historical Christmas romances from the Heart of America take readers into the heartland of historic America and dish up a tasty reminder of Christmases past.

Genres: Christmas, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

344 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Maureen Lang

Maureen Lang has always had a passion for writing. She wrote her first novel longhand around the age of 10, put the pages into a notebook she had covered with soft deerskin (nothing but the best!), then passed it around the neighborhood to rave reviews. It was so much fun she's been writing ever since.

Most of her books are historical, with an emphasis on faith and romance.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are four short, adorable, heartwarming stories set at Christmastime. Each story has a theme, such as nutcrackers, fruitcake, or gingerbread. These are Christian stories. I just really enjoyed them.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like all books with a collection of stories... some were good, some were mehhh, and some stories were just stories :P

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE NUTCRACKER BRIDE by Margaret Browning:
When Texas ranger, Chad Prescott, wakes up from a gunshot injury in Kansas, he finds himself surrounded by German nutcrackers and nursed by the feisty Lucy Langdon. Could this be the start of a beautiful friendship or just a bad dream?

My thoughts: Margaret Brownley is another of my favorite historical authors. I absolutely loved THE NUTCRACKER BRIDE. I thought Lucy’s character was beautifully done and I couldn't help but fall in love with Chad. I wanted to see these two get together. Great Christmas novella. 5 stars.

THE GIFT-WRAPPED BRIDE by Maureen Lang: Sophie Stewart’s family has just moved to Chicago to join her brother and help start a church. Sophie is an artist with big dreams, but she feels her parents are pushing her to marry someone like Noah Jackson, a young man from their Ohio hometown. But forgiving the past and recognizing Noah’s maturity and changes may take a miracle.

My thoughts: THE GIFT-WRAPPED BRIDE is a typical hatred to love romance. Sophie was not happy with her parents for moving to Chicago and parading her around as a horse gone to auction to eligible bachelors. She's also less than thrilled that her enemy Noah Jackson seems to be relentlessly pursing her. Noah made some mistakes, but now he has a heart for God and for troubled youth. Not only that, but he knows how to reach them. I really liked Noah and his wisdom and persistence in pursing Sophie. Sophie I wanted to sit down and have a good talking to about her rudeness. The ending was very rushed. 4 stars.

THE GINGERBREAD BRIDE by Amy Lillard: Maddie Sinclair loves Harlan Calhoun, but feels like she can’t get his attention, so she visits an eccentric woman in the Ozark Mountains for an herbal mixture—a love potion—that she bakes into a batch of gingerbread cookies. When Harlan suddenly proposes, Maddie is torn by guilt and confusion. Is this true love or just the herbs talking?

My thoughts: THE GINGERBREAD BRIDE is such an adorable story! I have never read any of Ms. Lillard’s books – not even her Amish which is what she’s most known for – so when I was offered a chance to review her Christmas novella I jumped at it—for several reasons. I absolutely love Christmas stories and if they are laced with fun, snow, cookies, and mistletoe all the better. Ms. Lillard includes all of the above in this fast paced novella.

If you are looking for a good Christmas story to read, you’ll want to read Ms. Lillard’s THE GINGERBREAD BRIDE. Highly recommended. 5 stars:

THE FRUITCAKE BRIDE by Vickie McDonough: Pastor Clayton Parsons waited a year to bring his fiancée, Karen Briggs, to his new church post. They plan a Christmas wedding, but in the meantime Karen helps the church ladies with various projects, including a bake sale. But revealing her fruitcake recipe could spell disaster for her future in Bakerstown, Missouri.

My thoughts: THE FRUITCAKE BRIDE is cute. A pastor, appropriately named Parsons, is marrying his long time friend, Karen. Karen thinks of Clay as more of a big brother than a groom, and is sure it's just a marriage of convenience. Plus, she's not at all sure she'll be a good pastor's wife. Her welcome to Bakerstown sign broke in half upon her arrival for pity's sake. I wasn't at all sure how this book would go. At first, with Karen's thoughts I figured that Clay would marry another woman and she'd marry someone else. But things changed, almost two quick. Some of the misunderstandings and accusations seemed contrived, but it did keep the tension high. This wasn't my favorite story in this collection, but it was okay. 3 stars.

Recipes are included after each story. Over all 4.25 for the collection.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gingerbread Bride**** part of Heartland Christmas Brides
by Amy Lillard

This is a cute and funny story set in 1870 in a very small town of Calico Falls in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, Arkansas. Maddie Sinclair is in love with Harlan Calhoun but is impatient and decides to see a local woman for one of her herbal remedies to make Harlan fall in love with her. She bakes some gingerbread cookies, adding the love potion, in hopes it works. Her sister Grace finds out what she had done and confronts her with not trusting God, His timing and answering her prayers. Little does Maddie realize, Harlan had plans to propose all along. It is humorous to watch as the sisters try to keep Harlan from talking about love and marriage the whole evening, hoping the love potion will wear off before he proposes. Filled with feelings of guilt and confusion, how will she know if he really loves her and it's not the love potion “talking”? What does Harlan think of Maddie's plan? Has she ruined everything or will love win over all, even love potions?

NOTE: this is one story in the book

Merged review:

The Gingerbread Bride**** part of Heartland Christmas Brides
by Amy Lillard


This is a cute and funny story set in 1870 in a very small town of Calico Falls in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, Arkansas. Maddie Sinclair is in love with Harlan Calhoun but is impatient and decides to see a local woman for one of her herbal remedies to make Harlan fall in love with her. She bakes some gingerbread cookies, adding the love potion, in hopes it works. Her sister Grace finds out what she had done and confronts her with not trusting God, His timing and answering her prayers. Little does Maddie realize, Harlan had plans to propose all along. It is humorous to watch as the sisters try to keep Harlan from talking about love and marriage the whole evening, hoping the love potion will wear off before he proposes. Filled with feelings of guilt and confusion, how will she know if he really loves her and it's not the love potion “talking”? What does Harlan think of Maddie's plan? Has she ruined everything or will love win over all, even love potions?

NOTE: this is one story in the book

[Tammy Bernadt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great small stories by Margaret Brownley, Maureen Lang
Amy Lillard, Vickie McDonough

[Mary Schenk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book every story was great!!! I highly recommend if you want something light and witty!!

[BlueJeansAndTeacups · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nutcracker Bride ☆☆☆☆☆ Cozy Christmas read
Gift-wrapped Bride ☆☆ Bad attitude- pass
Gingerbread Bride ☆☆☆☆☆ Fun
Fruitcake Bride ☆☆☆ meh, soft pass