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American Mail-Order Brides #12

Dacey: Bride of North Carolina

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Dacey: Bride of North Carolina is #12 in the unprecedented 50-book American Mail-Order Brides series.

A conniving mother, a reluctant groom and a desperate bride make for a lively adventure full of sweet romance.

Braxton Douglas spends his days managing the family’s plantation and blissfully avoiding the state of matrimony. Unbeknownst to him, his mother tires of waiting for him to choose a wife and sends for a mail-order bride. When the woman arrives, ready to wed, Braxton has his work cut out for him if he plans to remain unaffected by the lively, lovely Dacey.

Dacey Butler has nothing to lose when she agrees to travel to North Carolina to marry a stranger. Eager for an opportunity to put her past behind her and enjoy a new beginning, she embraces the adventure of traveling south to marry a man she thinks is a simple farmer. Upon her arrival in Asheville, she immediately decides Braxton Douglas has no idea of her existence, and there is nothing simple about the man.

140 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2015

280 people are currently reading
202 people want to read

About the author

Shanna Hatfield

163 books1,318 followers
A hopeless romantic with a bit of sarcasm thrown in for good measure, Shanna Hatfield is a best-selling author of clean romantic fiction written with a healthy dose of humor.

In addition to blogging and eating too much chocolate, she is completely smitten with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

She is a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, and Romance Writers of America.

To learn more about Shanna or the books she writes, visit her blog http://shannahatfield.com
or find out news at her facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/shanna.hatfield

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5 stars
257 (57%)
4 stars
117 (26%)
3 stars
65 (14%)
2 stars
9 (2%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
Profile Image for Sanderella.
518 reviews
May 19, 2016
What a delightful book!! I started reading it this morning during breakfast and I couldn't put it down until the last page!!
Dacey flees Oregon to Massachusetts, only to work a brief time in a factory, due to the factory burning down. What's a single girl to do?? Become a mail order bride. So Dacey travels to North Carolina to get married. Can't anything go right for this sweet, spunky young lady?? Dacey finds that her "groom's" mother is the one who sent for her, not Braxton. Will Dacey and Braxton fall in love or will she be on the train traveling to who knows where next?? Another fantastic book from Ms Hatfield.
Profile Image for Joleen.
2,658 reviews1,227 followers
May 26, 2017
Dacey: Bride of North Carolina
I chose this book because it's located in Asheville, NC, a 45 minute drive over the Smoky Mountains from where I live.

The characters were great, especially Braxton's mother and Dacey...oh...and the recipe at the end is one I might try.

Sadly, there's not much beyond those things that I cared for about this book. I guess it was a bit young for my taste. I don't mind books about young people. In fact one of the best books I read this year was by Jan Karon, about two young people putting together their wedding on a ranch.

This, however, was all about appearances, or the electric shocks when they touched, or the sway of her hips, or her mouth watering at the sight of him, or wanting to taste her. Surely this isn't romance. Surely attraction can be stated in a less sophomoric way than constantly verbalizing the other's physical attributes.

It gets old. Not a fan of this sort of writing, especially when it's classified as Christian fiction, yet Jesus is never once mentioned, no one went to church and God is only brought up twice, not in reference to their lives, but about His creativity in nature.

The premise of the book was great, but the execution was tiresome. I do believe I will put Ms. Shanna Hatfield on the shelf for a good long time.
489 reviews2 followers
November 26, 2015
This was a fun, sweet read. Although she had weathered difficult circumstances in her life, Dacey had not allowed those experiences to make her bitter or to steal her hope in a better future. Her enthusiasm for life and her skill with horses won Braxton's admiration, but he refused to concede that it was time to take a wife and that Dacey was the perfect match for him. But, Mother knew best and had just the plan to show Braxton what he would be missing if he let Dacey slip out of his life. Throw in a vindictive woman scorned who plants seeds of doubt about whether Braxton is an honorable man or a scoundrel, and you have the recipe for misunderstanding and eventual reconciliation.
My thanks to Ms. Hatfield for the opportunity to read an ARC of this delightful story.
Profile Image for Donna Rogers.
280 reviews4 followers
November 30, 2015
Great Read!!!

What a outstanding book must say this is another one of my favorites in the series!!!
12 down 38 more to go!!!
Profile Image for Jane.
33 reviews1 follower
July 3, 2025
This had the ingredients for a charming historical romance—likable characters, an interesting setting, and the promise of a sweet mail-order bride story—but unfortunately, it just didn’t deliver what I was hoping for.

While I liked Dacey and her love interest well enough, the story seriously lacked meaningful conflict. The misunderstanding trope felt too thin to carry the weight of the plot, and I kept waiting for a deeper complication or challenge that never really came. There was so much more potential for character growth and tension, but it all wrapped up a little too easily for my taste.

It’s not a bad book—but ultimately, it felt a bit underdeveloped and forgettable.
Profile Image for Karen Hadley.
540 reviews19 followers
May 22, 2017
I love to read books by Shanna Hatfield. They are full of emotions, love, craziness and humor.
Dacey is a hoot of a character and she touches everyone she meets.
Braxton is determined not to marry. Can Dacey break down his defenses
I read this in one day. It's that good!! I liked the characters and the
western way Dacey speaks, it's plumb entertaining. So, grab your
cowboy hat, saddle up and be prepared for a great book.

Karen Hadley
Rating: 5*
I received this book as a gift and all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Elaine.
Author 29 books29 followers
November 30, 2017
Dacey arrived in North Carolina expecting to be met by the man who by letter, asked her to be his bride. Unfortunately, it was the man's mother who wrote for a mail-order bride for her son. Dacey, a true proud lady, doesn't want any charity and wants to leave immediately, but she is convinced to stay, on her condition that she works with the horses, being an expert horsewoman, and do other chores around the ranch.
Brax, who at first, wants no part of this marriage deal, finds himself falling in love.
A sweet romantic tale set in other times!
1,279 reviews10 followers
April 23, 2021
Usually, mail-order brides traveled from East to West. However, Dacey went the other way and ended up in North Carolina – Gods county – I might add…nothing better than the mountains of North Carolina!
Little did Dacey know, but her soon-to-be-husband did not write the letters advertising for a bride. He is as surprised to find out she is his ‘chose’ bride as she is to find out he did not advertise.
She is not like anyone he has ever met! She is challenging, direct, and quite taken with helping out around the stables.
Great story by an equally great author.
Profile Image for Sheryl Robert.
227 reviews1 follower
August 10, 2017
A happy ending

I really loved this story .Dacey is different than other girls,raised on a farm,she loves horses and has a way with them.she answered a letter and arrived not knowing that the man she was writing to was not who sent for her.
This is a series of mail order brides,but can be a stand a lone book. She falls in love,but has to battle some demons before she has a happy ending.a must read.took me a few days to read .
Profile Image for Cindy Harris.
89 reviews2 followers
March 27, 2020
Enjoyed this novella very much. For me, novellas are either a waste of time, or they are so well written that I want for more. Dacey falls in the latter category. Shanna Hatfield is now on my list of good authors. I'm pleased to have met another new to me author that I truly enjoy.
This book was written as part of a large set of books, but is definitely a stand-alone book. The characters are fun, lively, and beautiful. Enjoyed reading this book, even laughed out loud!
Profile Image for MaryEllen.
2,897 reviews29 followers
December 23, 2024
Dacey and Braxton are intrigued with each other at their first meeting. She's in town as a mail-order bride, so she refuses to take a second look at the handsome cowboy, though. He expected the woman he was to pick up at the train station was an older lady, a friend of his mom. When he discovers she's a young mail-order bride, for him, he's furious and decides to keep his distance.

I loved the characters, and the story had fun twists.
Profile Image for Phyllis.
1,288 reviews35 followers
May 20, 2017
This was another great story by an author I already like. Yet this book didn't sound like all the others - it had its own voice. Dacey was a fun, clean romance taking place in the late 1800s in North Carolina, far away from where the other books by the author take place. I thought it was fun that she had Dacey be originally from Pendleton, OR, where one of her other series takes place.

Profile Image for Sarah.
606 reviews42 followers
June 13, 2017
Book 12 in the American Mail-Order Bride Series. Dacey travels to North Carolina to marry a stranger. Braxton Douglas has no idea that his mom placed an ad for a mail order bride for him. Dacey loves horses and Braxton meets her riding bare back. Fancy and rich are the Douglas family. Will Dacey fit in? Does Braxton know she exists? Another great read in this series!
417 reviews
August 24, 2018
Good, but a Few Flaws Prevent it from Being Great

This is the 12th book in the American Mail Order Brides series and the female is from the Brown Textile Factory. It's a typical romance storyline without made up drama. But being in the South one generation after the Civil War this story lacks some obvious details that should have been included. All in all, it's a good story.
22 reviews
June 15, 2019
Couldn’t Put Book Down!

Wonderful love story! Dacey and Braxton are perfect together and I was so engrossed in their story . Hated for it to end and would have liked a series on their lives together. In North Carolina and their visits to Eastern Oregon. I would buy this series Shanna Hatfield if you write it!!
870 reviews4 followers
January 26, 2020
Dacey is a bit of a wild westerner. She was expecting to marry a farmer but turns out her intended lives on a plantation. His mother is the one who arranged for her to come and Braxton refuses to marry her. I thought the story was ok but she wouldn't have fit in that easily with his way of life and family. Even a breath of fresh air can be trying after a while.
The story was ok though.
Profile Image for Debbie Odachowski.
491 reviews
September 26, 2022
I can't believe I left this for last.

After reading the whole Pendleton Petticoats series I fell in love with Davey and her story. All the women in the series are strong feisty women it was wonderful to see where her daughter got her spunk from. I loved the series and can't wait to read more of Ms. Hatfield ' s stories. Enjoy!
Profile Image for Abbie.
115 reviews3 followers
May 22, 2017
Romantic fun

This author does romance in her signature fun way. She is a prolific writer and once you read each of her stand alone books there are additional stories that continue the tale with characters that you, if you're like me, enjoy reading about instead of watching the tv.
488 reviews2 followers
May 22, 2017
Enjoyable!

I definitely recommend this book. I know that books by Shanna Hatfield are going to be well-written and a ton of fun to read. Dacey was a fun character especially on a southern plantation with the way she was raised in the Northwest.
Profile Image for Ed Burke.
126 reviews3 followers
September 24, 2017
Heads above...

I've read all of the Pendleton books and found a reference to this book, Dacey, as a prequel. It's fun, energetic with wonderfully developed characters. Some of the MOB books are bleh but Shanna Hatfield always delivers an entertaining read...always!
Profile Image for Kate Aquilino.
144 reviews
July 28, 2021
This is a really cool story! I live in Asheville, NC & was shocked to see that this story was set here! I just knew it had to be the Biltmore Estate. It is a super cool place to see, especially at Christmas! Great read!!!
797 reviews
Read
August 19, 2021
Dacey

Pendleton, Oregon to Asheville, North Carolina... With a short 'lay over' between the two points. One farm to another, but what a huge difference in cultures to be found, but love can be found almost anywhere when an horse are involved.
Profile Image for Liberty.
422 reviews
March 5, 2023
Mother knows best

Dacey's story is unique and enjoyable. I love how her story develops and how she battles the ups and downs. Her personality is one of my favorite things, and I appreciate how Braxton is drawn to her fire and spunk.
Profile Image for Vickie Jameson.
367 reviews37 followers
September 2, 2024
Mail Order Match

What happens when a "meddling" mother decides her son needs a wife? She's sends for a mail order bride, of course. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books in the series.
185 reviews3 followers
June 5, 2017
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. Great historical details.
Profile Image for Kayla Thomas.
Author 15 books29 followers
November 21, 2017
Light and sweet, everything I look for in a Shanna Hatfield story. Love her strong-willed, capable female characters.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
423 reviews
July 27, 2018
Really cute story. Well written. Can’t wait to read more of this series and from this author. Happy Reading 🤓
Profile Image for Merry.
470 reviews
June 20, 2019
Strong willed

Laughter as always and such a joy to read Shanna’s books. I look forward to reading more of them. She has a way with words and a great sense of humour. Enjoy 😉
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews

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