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American Mail-Order Brides #40
Cora: Bride of South Dakota
Cora: Bride of South Dakota is fortieth in the unprecedented 50-book American Mail-Order Brides series.
Cora Ancelet’s father hates her.
When a fire ravages the factory where she works, her father orders her to find another source of employment or marry his evil political ally, a man old enough to be her grandfather.
After being handed a Groom’s Gazette, Cora takes the desperate step of becoming a Mail Order Bride.
John Franklin wants a woman to wake up to. A woman who will love him and his ranch, and ultimately give him the children he craves.
Will placing an advertisement for a Mail Order Bride turn out to be the best decision he has ever made for both him and Cora – or is tragedy afoot?
Cora Ancelet’s father hates her.
When a fire ravages the factory where she works, her father orders her to find another source of employment or marry his evil political ally, a man old enough to be her grandfather.
After being handed a Groom’s Gazette, Cora takes the desperate step of becoming a Mail Order Bride.
John Franklin wants a woman to wake up to. A woman who will love him and his ranch, and ultimately give him the children he craves.
Will placing an advertisement for a Mail Order Bride turn out to be the best decision he has ever made for both him and Cora – or is tragedy afoot?
142 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 28, 2015
79 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Susan Horsnell
232 books174 followersI was born in Manly on the Northern Beaches in Sydney, Australia and grew up in the west after we moved there to help my brother’s eczema which was made worse by salt air. I now reside in the beautiful sunny state of Queensland.
My dad had the biggest impact on my life. I have always had an overactive imagination and would often tell him stories which floated in my mind. He encouraged me to put pen to paper convinced that one day they would become published books.
Apart from marrying the love of my life, the highlight of my life was being accepted into Nursing just before my 16th birthday. It had been a long-time dream and one which encompassed 37 years of my life. Along with nursing, being married to a Naval Officer for almost 47 years, and posted in numerous places, gave me experiences which I have written into many of my books.
We enjoy traveling the country with our Caravan/RV, and Jack Russell puppy by the name of Gemma who will be joining us.
As my parents were British, never Australian citizens, I hold dual citizenship and we plan to take advantage of this to spend two years traveling the UK and Europe in the near future. It will also give me the opportunity to catch up with many family members who reside in England.
My books are in various genres - Western Historical Romance-both steamy and sweet, Contemporary Romance-steamy and sweet, Male/Male, Australian Outback and City Romance. I also have one menage and one paranormal romance along with two children's books. As I said earlier, I have a rather overactive imagination.
I hope you will pick up one of my books and when you close the cover on one of my stories it will be with a satisfied sigh.
Author Links
Blog:
http://susanhorsnell.com
Web:
http://www.susanhorsnellromanceauthor...
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/susanhorsnel...
Bookbub:
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/susan...
You can email me at:
horsnells@yahoo.com.au
My dad had the biggest impact on my life. I have always had an overactive imagination and would often tell him stories which floated in my mind. He encouraged me to put pen to paper convinced that one day they would become published books.
Apart from marrying the love of my life, the highlight of my life was being accepted into Nursing just before my 16th birthday. It had been a long-time dream and one which encompassed 37 years of my life. Along with nursing, being married to a Naval Officer for almost 47 years, and posted in numerous places, gave me experiences which I have written into many of my books.
We enjoy traveling the country with our Caravan/RV, and Jack Russell puppy by the name of Gemma who will be joining us.
As my parents were British, never Australian citizens, I hold dual citizenship and we plan to take advantage of this to spend two years traveling the UK and Europe in the near future. It will also give me the opportunity to catch up with many family members who reside in England.
My books are in various genres - Western Historical Romance-both steamy and sweet, Contemporary Romance-steamy and sweet, Male/Male, Australian Outback and City Romance. I also have one menage and one paranormal romance along with two children's books. As I said earlier, I have a rather overactive imagination.
I hope you will pick up one of my books and when you close the cover on one of my stories it will be with a satisfied sigh.
Author Links
Blog:
http://susanhorsnell.com
Web:
http://www.susanhorsnellromanceauthor...
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/susanhorsnel...
Bookbub:
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/susan...
You can email me at:
horsnells@yahoo.com.au
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 4, 2020
This book winning phase is good, not so good, boring, great!
I love this mail order book Siri‘s and thoroughly enjoyed most of the books. However like with everything not all of them oh that’s great. This book started off strong, but then it took 60% of the book for her to even meet her betroved. Not to mention a lot of things were mentioned or happened and then never talked about again. For example when they rescued Cora the Indians brought the guy who helped the Daddy back to the village, but they never said what happened to him never mentioned him again. They have other things that made no sense but it was during the boring part of the book which is pretty much the whole metal and I really can’t remember them. The beginning in the end I think it’s totally worth getting the book for, because once I got to the end I forgot I thought this book was boring. I did think Cora was a bit of a baby and cried too much for my liking and John almost struck me as creepy. On the wedding night he tells her that he was going to make her a woman as if at first she was just a little girl. There were other things to like how he always put her in his lap like consoling a child. I don’t know maybe people like that, I did not. Not to mention course said things that normal people didn’t say, when John sister asked Cora if she wanted a lot of children; Cora said , Oh I never thought about it I never thought I would be married my daddy always said I was fat and ugly. Who talks like that? This is the first time she’s meeting these people do you really lead with the ugliest part of your life most people would not… Cora did. There were other things that made no sense like when his parents were nice to her and in front of everyone she starts crying and John explains no one ever has been nice to her in her life. So despite million her mother took her in until she heard from John that wasn’t being nice oh no I don’t know what you would call that. That was just so much that made no sense in this book but as I said the beginning in the end was really good.
I love this mail order book Siri‘s and thoroughly enjoyed most of the books. However like with everything not all of them oh that’s great. This book started off strong, but then it took 60% of the book for her to even meet her betroved. Not to mention a lot of things were mentioned or happened and then never talked about again. For example when they rescued Cora the Indians brought the guy who helped the Daddy back to the village, but they never said what happened to him never mentioned him again. They have other things that made no sense but it was during the boring part of the book which is pretty much the whole metal and I really can’t remember them. The beginning in the end I think it’s totally worth getting the book for, because once I got to the end I forgot I thought this book was boring. I did think Cora was a bit of a baby and cried too much for my liking and John almost struck me as creepy. On the wedding night he tells her that he was going to make her a woman as if at first she was just a little girl. There were other things to like how he always put her in his lap like consoling a child. I don’t know maybe people like that, I did not. Not to mention course said things that normal people didn’t say, when John sister asked Cora if she wanted a lot of children; Cora said , Oh I never thought about it I never thought I would be married my daddy always said I was fat and ugly. Who talks like that? This is the first time she’s meeting these people do you really lead with the ugliest part of your life most people would not… Cora did. There were other things that made no sense like when his parents were nice to her and in front of everyone she starts crying and John explains no one ever has been nice to her in her life. So despite million her mother took her in until she heard from John that wasn’t being nice oh no I don’t know what you would call that. That was just so much that made no sense in this book but as I said the beginning in the end was really good.
July 22, 2022
I was unable to finish the book. I made it about halfway through. The premise was interesting but the writing was so poor that it was distracting. I’m shocked so few reviews mention how badly this book needed some proofreading. I’ve enjoyed about 10 other books in this series and this was the first one I came across that was so poorly written.
February 13, 2017
This one was more on the dark side with the abuse. It was a little uncharacteristic to think someone who had gone through that could be so emotionally together. Learning about the
Indians was very interesting and saved the book!
Indians was very interesting and saved the book!
December 24, 2018
Nice Sweet Story Until the Father Snapped
This is the 40th story in the American Mail Order Brides series. The romance is sweet but strong and very believable. The crazy father is a rather nasty person. All in all this book is a nice addition to the series.
This is the 40th story in the American Mail Order Brides series. The romance is sweet but strong and very believable. The crazy father is a rather nasty person. All in all this book is a nice addition to the series.
December 31, 2019
Not a city girl at heart
I enjoyed reading about Cora very much. Yo be a city girl she adapted to ranch life as though she was born to it. A sweet mail order bride story. More to come....
I enjoyed reading about Cora very much. Yo be a city girl she adapted to ranch life as though she was born to it. A sweet mail order bride story. More to come....
June 7, 2022
A good book!
This was a good read, but for a odd reason it seemed like I was reading two books at the same time. Maybe it was me, I did enjoy it a lot and couldn't help but cringe over her shoulder!
This was a good read, but for a odd reason it seemed like I was reading two books at the same time. Maybe it was me, I did enjoy it a lot and couldn't help but cringe over her shoulder!
July 23, 2023
The sweetest story
Cora's emotional story won my heart early on. I love how resilient Cora is and how incredibly sweet, thoughtful, and romantic John is. He might be my favorite groom so far. In addition, I love the family dynamics and John's relationship with Gopher's tribe.
Cora's emotional story won my heart early on. I love how resilient Cora is and how incredibly sweet, thoughtful, and romantic John is. He might be my favorite groom so far. In addition, I love the family dynamics and John's relationship with Gopher's tribe.
October 15, 2018
I loved this beautiful, sweet romance.
Susan Horsnell has a touch if everything in this story. There is adventure, fear, evil and good, suspense, romance and a HEA!
Cora is a young woman of 18 who needs a job to be able to live. Her life had never been easy and isn't now. She decides to take a chance, one that will truly take her on an adventure. John is a young rancher who is ready to settle down and start a family. He is a man of high morals and very level headed.
Fantastic character and scenery descriptions make this stand out, as a reader you really get taken into their world. I enjoyed the travelling I did with Cora on her way to get away from he evil father. The interaction with the Indians was fascinating and beautifully written.
I can honestly say I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a light romance that makes the reader feel great!
Susan Horsnell has a touch if everything in this story. There is adventure, fear, evil and good, suspense, romance and a HEA!
Cora is a young woman of 18 who needs a job to be able to live. Her life had never been easy and isn't now. She decides to take a chance, one that will truly take her on an adventure. John is a young rancher who is ready to settle down and start a family. He is a man of high morals and very level headed.
Fantastic character and scenery descriptions make this stand out, as a reader you really get taken into their world. I enjoyed the travelling I did with Cora on her way to get away from he evil father. The interaction with the Indians was fascinating and beautifully written.
I can honestly say I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a light romance that makes the reader feel great!
April 19, 2020
Almost DNF
I’ve read a number of the books in the series, and this one was hard to stick with. The characters weren’t well developed and the book desperately needed proofread.
I’ve read a number of the books in the series, and this one was hard to stick with. The characters weren’t well developed and the book desperately needed proofread.
March 4, 2021
A lot of tedious detail, but overall, not bad.
December 28, 2015
I had the pleasure of receiving this ARC for review. Thank you Susan Horsnell for bringing me back to these wonderful sweet romances that I used to read before other genres took over.
This story is part of a collaboration between 45 authors to write 50 stories in this Mail Order bride collection across all states of the USA.
Cora is an 18yr old girl promised by her brutal father to an older man. She escapes taking the desperate step to become a mail order bride across the country. I had to google to see where South Dakota was, my first impression was it must be cold and can't imagine it in those primitive times.
I read most of this in one sitting, it certainly was hard to put down. I cried in the middle, the emotions of Cora pulled me in. The author has obviously done her research capturing the time, place and snippets of history in the country and that region at the time.
This was no easy sailing with a young girl on the run, there were twists and turns and just when I thought it was smooth, something major happened (no spoils, read it for yourself).
There is a beautiful HEA and I imagine their life was wonderful into old age. But I'm secretly hoping for a sequel. I highly recommend you buying this story.
This story is part of a collaboration between 45 authors to write 50 stories in this Mail Order bride collection across all states of the USA.
Cora is an 18yr old girl promised by her brutal father to an older man. She escapes taking the desperate step to become a mail order bride across the country. I had to google to see where South Dakota was, my first impression was it must be cold and can't imagine it in those primitive times.
I read most of this in one sitting, it certainly was hard to put down. I cried in the middle, the emotions of Cora pulled me in. The author has obviously done her research capturing the time, place and snippets of history in the country and that region at the time.
This was no easy sailing with a young girl on the run, there were twists and turns and just when I thought it was smooth, something major happened (no spoils, read it for yourself).
There is a beautiful HEA and I imagine their life was wonderful into old age. But I'm secretly hoping for a sequel. I highly recommend you buying this story.
March 8, 2016
Cora: Bride of South Dakota (American Mail-Order Bride #40)
By: Susan Horsnell
4/5 stars
Cora has lived with her father’s abusiveness her entire life. He has always hated her and blamed her for causing her mother’s death. He has obviously favored his eldest child, his son. Cora had a so-so relationship with her brother, but he never went out of his way to hurt her. After the factory fire, Cora’s father gives her an ultimatum to find another job in a week’s time or he will force her to marry his friend. But his friend is much older than Cora, old enough to be her dad, and is also rumored to be very abusive towards women. But it will be politically advantageous and he and this man and her father also share secrets.
John is ready for a wife and all that comes with marriage. He wants companionship, friendship, and children. He’s ready to build his life with a woman. He and Cora have a connection and are married. Cora adapts to life on John’s South Dakota ranch very quickly and easily. They both fall in love and know that this is the best decision that either one has ever made.
But danger lurks when powerful men have been confounded and shamed with the loss of what was promised.
By: Susan Horsnell
4/5 stars
Cora has lived with her father’s abusiveness her entire life. He has always hated her and blamed her for causing her mother’s death. He has obviously favored his eldest child, his son. Cora had a so-so relationship with her brother, but he never went out of his way to hurt her. After the factory fire, Cora’s father gives her an ultimatum to find another job in a week’s time or he will force her to marry his friend. But his friend is much older than Cora, old enough to be her dad, and is also rumored to be very abusive towards women. But it will be politically advantageous and he and this man and her father also share secrets.
John is ready for a wife and all that comes with marriage. He wants companionship, friendship, and children. He’s ready to build his life with a woman. He and Cora have a connection and are married. Cora adapts to life on John’s South Dakota ranch very quickly and easily. They both fall in love and know that this is the best decision that either one has ever made.
But danger lurks when powerful men have been confounded and shamed with the loss of what was promised.
April 7, 2016
I thought the book was pretty good and I was enthralled with the story of Cora Bride of South Dakota. I read the book in just two days. There is some language in the 2nd have the book and some bit of raciness but overall pretty good.
Cora Ancelet's father has long made known his dislike of her and is threatening to throw her out on the streets or marry her to an evil man if she doesn't find aanother job, since her last job literally burned up. Fearing she has no choice Cora responds to a mail order bride add. With her brothers help she escapes to ajobs friends place while awaiting for a reply.
John Franklin is tired of being alone, even though he's partnered with two of his brothers and a close friend, on his ranch. So when he receives a lettera clearly written in a ladies hand ,everyone in town is curious and John decides to respond. Not realizing the chain of events that will unfold for better or worse.
Cora Ancelet's father has long made known his dislike of her and is threatening to throw her out on the streets or marry her to an evil man if she doesn't find aanother job, since her last job literally burned up. Fearing she has no choice Cora responds to a mail order bride add. With her brothers help she escapes to ajobs friends place while awaiting for a reply.
John Franklin is tired of being alone, even though he's partnered with two of his brothers and a close friend, on his ranch. So when he receives a lettera clearly written in a ladies hand ,everyone in town is curious and John decides to respond. Not realizing the chain of events that will unfold for better or worse.
April 17, 2016
Amateur writing
If I had paid for this book I would have returned it for a refund. "Brutish" seemed to be this writer's favorite descriptive word, and the dialogue.......Pierre went from being a French immigrant speaking proper "upper class" English to speaking like an illiterate cowboy. The Indians alternated between speaking fluent English with contractions to speaking broken English. If this is what the other 49 books are like, I'll pass. There are many other mail order bride stories that are much better written.
If I had paid for this book I would have returned it for a refund. "Brutish" seemed to be this writer's favorite descriptive word, and the dialogue.......Pierre went from being a French immigrant speaking proper "upper class" English to speaking like an illiterate cowboy. The Indians alternated between speaking fluent English with contractions to speaking broken English. If this is what the other 49 books are like, I'll pass. There are many other mail order bride stories that are much better written.
December 28, 2015
Scary amazing
Wow, did you put some serious issues into this one. Cora is an absolute winner, too bad we don't get to meet the baby.... But John and Cora are so very good together, it just makes you want to smile.
Wow, did you put some serious issues into this one. Cora is an absolute winner, too bad we don't get to meet the baby.... But John and Cora are so very good together, it just makes you want to smile.
January 30, 2016
Great story
I enjoyed this one. John was kind to Cora from the start. I liked all the characters. The good guys are really good and she made the bad guys extremely bad. This one leaves you with a good feeling.
I enjoyed this one. John was kind to Cora from the start. I liked all the characters. The good guys are really good and she made the bad guys extremely bad. This one leaves you with a good feeling.
April 13, 2016
Cora and Jim’s story is a sweet little historical with all the necessary elements for a good romance.
Read full review in the 2016 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2016 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.
August 2, 2016
I enjoyed this book a great deal. The characters were likeable and although not a totally unique story (hateful parent/running from an arranged married), the author does a good job of throwing interesting pieces in the story to make it seem fresh and new. One of my top faves in the series so far!
July 8, 2017
This series was my first experience with multiple authors working together to write a series on a large scale. I enjoyed every book in the series and found several new authors that I hadn't read before.
January 7, 2016
Loved this one!
I really enjoyed the South Dakota bride. I cried and smiled as I read it. I would love to read about the other 3 men on the ranch and see whom they end up with.
I really enjoyed the South Dakota bride. I cried and smiled as I read it. I would love to read about the other 3 men on the ranch and see whom they end up with.
December 28, 2015
Great read!!
What a fantastic book, it hooked me from the get go and I couldn't put it down.. I hope Susan Horsnell writes Millie story and move where Cora is..
What a fantastic book, it hooked me from the get go and I couldn't put it down.. I hope Susan Horsnell writes Millie story and move where Cora is..
January 23, 2016
Well worth the read......
February 19, 2016
Very good story... This is one of those books I wish was expanded to more.
March 5, 2016
Best of the series
This was my favorite of the whole 50-book series. It was a good hearty read, fun characters and juicy plot. Going to get more books by this writer.
This was my favorite of the whole 50-book series. It was a good hearty read, fun characters and juicy plot. Going to get more books by this writer.
December 6, 2016
Cora was probably my favorite so far in the series. She had a hard life but she fought hard. She is great and her man was so sweet and awesome.
Read
June 4, 2018Has potential, needs editing and proofing.
I just finished reading Holland's Montana Sky series and this book was a disappointment. First of all, a Native American medicine man in a shaman, not a Sharman. The dialogue need proofing as the use of quotations is erratic. There isn't enough description to make situations real. What do people look like, what do they wear, what was the Native American village like? Yes, I taught English, can you tell?
I just finished reading Holland's Montana Sky series and this book was a disappointment. First of all, a Native American medicine man in a shaman, not a Sharman. The dialogue need proofing as the use of quotations is erratic. There isn't enough description to make situations real. What do people look like, what do they wear, what was the Native American village like? Yes, I taught English, can you tell?
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews