What do you think?
Rate this book
Kansas Brides #1
Stranger's Bride
Nathan McClain is backed into a corner. Either he must marry, as dictated by his father's will, or he will lose the ranch that has been in his family for three generations. Angry and bitter about his choices, he seeks a woman who will join herself to him in name only. Desperate to escape her abusive stepfather, Sara Donaldson accepts a long-distance marriage proposal from Nathan. Because of her stepfather's tyranny, Sara finds herself intimidated by her new husband. Added to this are the lies she told in her initial communications with Nathan. Will Sara find the courage to make her marriage work? Will the faith she pretends to have become real in her heart?
167 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
30 people are currently reading
497 people want to read
About the author
Denise Hunter
85 books4,700 followersDenise Hunter is the award-winning author of more than 40 novels, three of which have been adapted into Hallmark movies.
Denise writes heartwarming, small-town romances, peopled with layered characters who have real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.
In 1996, Denise began her first novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books contain a strong romantic element, and her husband says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!
Denise and her husband live in Indiana, where they raised three sons, and are currently enjoying an empty nest.
Denise writes heartwarming, small-town romances, peopled with layered characters who have real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.
In 1996, Denise began her first novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books contain a strong romantic element, and her husband says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!
Denise and her husband live in Indiana, where they raised three sons, and are currently enjoying an empty nest.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 1, 2018
First novella story in Hunter's Kansas Bride collection. Nathan McClain is backed into a corner. Either he must marry, as dictated by his father's will, or he will lose the ranch that has been in his family for three generations. Angry and bitter about his choices, he seeks a woman who will join herself to him in name only. Desperate to escape her abusive stepfather, Sara Donaldson accepts a long-distance marriage proposal from Nathan. Because of her stepfather's tyranny, Sara finds herself intimidated by her new husband. Added to this are the lies she told in her initial communications with Nathan. Will Sara find the courage to make her marriage work? Will the faith she pretends to have become real in her heart?
This was a quick, enjoyable read; but it is obvious this was some of Hunter's earlier writing and was not as well developed as some of her more recent books such as her Chapel Springs series.
This was a quick, enjoyable read; but it is obvious this was some of Hunter's earlier writing and was not as well developed as some of her more recent books such as her Chapel Springs series.
December 16, 2015
I've been really enjoying Denise Hunter's contemporary fiction, but at heart I'm more of a historical kind of person. So when I found out Hunter has written some Historical fiction I was excited to give it a try. I have read two of her historical fiction books now and it's convinced me that I enjoy her contemporary books more. The two books I've read in the Kansas Brides series were a lot more preachy. There were whole chapters that were made up by sermons, or insights from the scriptures. Now, I'm a Christian, and I appreciate a good religious discussion, or even reading a religious book. I just don't like it in my fiction. I feel like her contemporary books are more enjoyable, because their beliefs are there, but it's not as in your face.
January 1, 2018
Faith, patience, and love combined together - built a happy marriage that was blessed by God.
Clean read with H.E.A.
Clean read with H.E.A.
May 29, 2021
Christian Historical Romance
I read this series out of order, but they don't seem to interconnect. So, I just have some reading to catch up on!
This is a wonderful story of a young woman who comes to faith and relies on Him to fix her marriage! He's a much harder character! He doesn't want marriage and can't envision love. So, even though he marries, he's not really in it personally. His lack of participation leads to painful and unnecessary feelings His wife suffers through!
My favorite part is her end of herself, and her greatest risk. Both lead to life and a hope for a brighter future!
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
I read this series out of order, but they don't seem to interconnect. So, I just have some reading to catch up on!
This is a wonderful story of a young woman who comes to faith and relies on Him to fix her marriage! He's a much harder character! He doesn't want marriage and can't envision love. So, even though he marries, he's not really in it personally. His lack of participation leads to painful and unnecessary feelings His wife suffers through!
My favorite part is her end of herself, and her greatest risk. Both lead to life and a hope for a brighter future!
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
June 15, 2020
Nathan McClain must marry, as dictated by his father's will or lose the ranch. Angry and bitter about his choices, he seeks a woman who will join herself to him in name only. Sara Donalson escapes her abusive stepfather and accepts a long-distance marriage proposal. Will faith become real?
I enjoyed this book. Relationships build through good characters. The plot held tension and kept me interested. Abuse is never good, and we see Sara being able to not only physically escape, but also emotionally crush it. This is a story of forgiveness and love.
I enjoyed this book. Relationships build through good characters. The plot held tension and kept me interested. Abuse is never good, and we see Sara being able to not only physically escape, but also emotionally crush it. This is a story of forgiveness and love.
March 14, 2021
So after feeling a huge like on Denise hunter books but seeing some of her books of my recent reads and other readers opinions (not that I take it too serious) but still I've felt a lil off with her romance.. so I wanted to read some Denise hunter good books so I've decided to give her initial novels a try ..
So here I am writing a review of her debue novel .. it was good.. I had a good time reading it.. you can definitely enjoy it with the Christian element (that's my favorite part of any book).. I want faith content to be real and I had it here.. have a good time if your planning to read it
So here I am writing a review of her debue novel .. it was good.. I had a good time reading it.. you can definitely enjoy it with the Christian element (that's my favorite part of any book).. I want faith content to be real and I had it here.. have a good time if your planning to read it
August 3, 2025
After her mother's death, Sara needs to be away from her abusive stepfather. Her best friend found an ad in the Boston newspaper and showed it to Sara. A rancher in Kansas, Nathan, was advertising for a bride, so Sara decided to answer. Nathan didn't ever intend to marry but his father left stipulations in his will saying Nathan had to marry within a year of his death or he wouldn't inherit the ranch. That made him rather surly to Sara. This is the classic case of two people who need to learn to communicate. Working it all out made for an entertaining story that I enjoyed.
June 1, 2021
Christian Historical Romance
I read this series out of order, but they don't seem to interconnect. So, I just have some reading to catch up on!
This is a wonderful story of a young woman who comes to faith and relies on Him to fix her marriage! He's a much harder character! He doesn't want marriage and can't envision love. So, even though he marries, he's not really in it personally. His lack of participation leads to painful and unnecessary feelings His wife suffers through!
My favorite part is her end of herself, and her greatest risk. Both lead to life and a hope for a brighter future!
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
I read this series out of order, but they don't seem to interconnect. So, I just have some reading to catch up on!
This is a wonderful story of a young woman who comes to faith and relies on Him to fix her marriage! He's a much harder character! He doesn't want marriage and can't envision love. So, even though he marries, he's not really in it personally. His lack of participation leads to painful and unnecessary feelings His wife suffers through!
My favorite part is her end of herself, and her greatest risk. Both lead to life and a hope for a brighter future!
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
June 18, 2018
Fun mail order bride story
A fun read, but nothing groundbreaking. I’d recommend it to anyone wanting an easy, safe read. Some things (lack of communication) drove me nuts, but it was still a fun read.
A fun read, but nothing groundbreaking. I’d recommend it to anyone wanting an easy, safe read. Some things (lack of communication) drove me nuts, but it was still a fun read.
August 20, 2018
I thought I'd read all Denise Hunter's books, but I missed her first one somehow! What a great debut novel. I enjoyed it from the very beginning. I found her characters real as ever and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
August 4, 2020
A sweet story
What a sweet story about God's grace, forgiveness and salvation. It was a touching story that was a great reminder that we need to forgive and let God's plan be revealed.
What a sweet story about God's grace, forgiveness and salvation. It was a touching story that was a great reminder that we need to forgive and let God's plan be revealed.
January 18, 2025
I was torn between 3-4 stars. I really enjoyed this read, I stayed up way too late reading it. However, it ends so abruptly, all the sudden everything is fine, the end. I feel like there could've been more story here and I'm missing it.
July 1, 2018
Overly simplistic and preachy, but sweet
September 4, 2018
A mail order bride story about patience, truth and love. Both of the characters grew in their walk with Christ and learned to accept each other.
October 14, 2018
Oh dear. So bad it was almost comical. Don’t waste your time or your 99 cents!
December 11, 2019
Nathan and Sara were very likable and relatable. The book was an easy and very enjoyable read.
November 5, 2020
Absolutely love this book
Wow this book is amazingly and beautifully written and what a joy it was to read. Lovely Christian book. Must read
Wow this book is amazingly and beautifully written and what a joy it was to read. Lovely Christian book. Must read
May 28, 2021
A lovely read.
This is a reread for me but I love it just the same. It’s a quick and easy book. Maybe even a beach read if you’d like. No racy parts.
This is a reread for me but I love it just the same. It’s a quick and easy book. Maybe even a beach read if you’d like. No racy parts.
January 22, 2024
Super cute! 🥰
November 15, 2016
One of Denise Hunter's first stories and book one in the Kansas Brides series. You can certainly see why Denise Hunter has become a well respected name in Christian romance fiction. This is a sweet, clean romance set in the late 1800's mid-west (Kansas) when mail-order brides were an opportunity for many women to travel and begin a new life for themselves; especially in the male-dominated west! This story offers a heart-touching story with strong biblical points, made through scripture references, that lead the main character, Sara, to leave her troubled past behind, and embrace her new marriage with hope and joy. The story is predictable and may be perceived as 'preachy' to some readers, but the characters, especially the secondary characters make the story enjoyable.
October 15, 2011
Kinda suprised to find I enjoyed this one.
Nathan is given the ulimatum of finding a wife or losing the family farm after his father dies (by his father's own will). Sara just wants to escape her abusive step-father. Nathan decides to put an add in the paper for a mail order bride and Sara's friend encourages her to answer.
Things just seem to get tangled mainly because of things left unsaid for so long. But slowly facts are revealed and dealt with.
Did not like Mara and would like to know if she finally stops pulling her stunts!
Nathan is given the ulimatum of finding a wife or losing the family farm after his father dies (by his father's own will). Sara just wants to escape her abusive step-father. Nathan decides to put an add in the paper for a mail order bride and Sara's friend encourages her to answer.
Things just seem to get tangled mainly because of things left unsaid for so long. But slowly facts are revealed and dealt with.
Did not like Mara and would like to know if she finally stops pulling her stunts!
July 13, 2016
Rebecca, North River patron, June 2015, 5 stars:
When Sara answers an advertisement placed by a rancher looking for a bride, she hopes that she has found a way to escape her abusive step-father. When Nathan placed the advertisement for a bride he wasn't looking for a loving wife - he only did it so that he could keep his ranch. They both get so much more than they were looking for. Great Christian Historical Fiction.
Janice, Central patron, July 2016, 3 stars:
Good Christian historical fiction with a plot that works out toward the end of the book. Easy reading.
When Sara answers an advertisement placed by a rancher looking for a bride, she hopes that she has found a way to escape her abusive step-father. When Nathan placed the advertisement for a bride he wasn't looking for a loving wife - he only did it so that he could keep his ranch. They both get so much more than they were looking for. Great Christian Historical Fiction.
Janice, Central patron, July 2016, 3 stars:
Good Christian historical fiction with a plot that works out toward the end of the book. Easy reading.
September 21, 2016
3.3 stars
Stranger's bride was just what the doctor ordered. It was an enjoyable read that kept me interested. Now, the issues: 1) Too preachy. 2) I feel like the author took the easy way out. 3) A lot of things were just unbelievable, especially the closure. 4) Too rushed. 5) Unnecessary complications.
Things I enjoyed: The characters, the setting, and the writing, which was very easy to get into even if it was kind of average.
I felt like this book's execution was inspiring, just not up to the potential it could have lived up to.
Final thoughts: Two words: Better. Editing.
Stranger's bride was just what the doctor ordered. It was an enjoyable read that kept me interested. Now, the issues: 1) Too preachy. 2) I feel like the author took the easy way out. 3) A lot of things were just unbelievable, especially the closure. 4) Too rushed. 5) Unnecessary complications.
Things I enjoyed: The characters, the setting, and the writing, which was very easy to get into even if it was kind of average.
I felt like this book's execution was inspiring, just not up to the potential it could have lived up to.
Final thoughts: Two words: Better. Editing.
November 29, 2016
I didn't really like this book as much. It was a bit too preachy. Sara's conversion and forgiveness seemed very abrupt; I've never liked the idea of simply saying you accept Christ to "become a Christian." The ending seemed very rushed. I read the last chapter and then I got to the epilogue .. .wait, what? The characters were ok, but the plot was very predictable, boring and it lacked depth and interest.
I like Ms Hunter's contemporary fiction much much better!
I like Ms Hunter's contemporary fiction much much better!
October 26, 2011
Sweet, simple little story; a little preachy in places.
March 18, 2016
A simple read but enjoyable. It satisfied my hankering for a decent, historical-setting romance.
April 10, 2016
I've read several books of Denise Hunter.. I enjoy them, when i find this book a couple weeks back i knew i had to read it.. Ohh what a wonderful story, just lovely.. I really enjoy it.
September 14, 2022
I honestly wasn't expecting much from this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was enjoyable from start to finish! Well-rounded characters, good story, well-written.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews