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American Mail-Order Brides #49

Poppy: Bride of Alaska

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Poppy: Bride of Alaska is #49 in the unprecedented 50-book American Mail-Order Brides series.

She wants a new life. He wants his old one back. They need each other to make it happen.

Power, prestige, wealth. Life was good for Matthew Turner, until his family was swindled out of their fortune. Now he must hunt down the man responsible to recover his inheritance. When the trail leads to Sitka, Alaska, stone-broke Matthew resorts to signing on with a missionary group willing to pay his way.

The only catch? He needs to be married.

Poverty, hunger, abuse. Fiercely independent Poppy Adams is desperate to escape her old life but her only chance is to do the one thing she vowed to never do: Become a mail-order bride.

Poppy knows better than to trust any man at his word, but there’s something about her new — gulp! — husband that threatens to break down her defenses. Matthew doesn’t want a wife, but he can’t resist being charmed by her no-nonsense manner and cerulean blue gaze.

In order for them to have a future, however, they must first let go of the past.

184 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 6, 2016

261 people are currently reading
123 people want to read

About the author

Cassie Hayes

21 books162 followers
Cassie Hayes grew up pretending she was Laura Ingalls (before that pesky Almonzo arrived on the scene) in the middle of Oregon farm country. She lives with her husband and cat on the Pacific Ocean and loves to hear from her readers.

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5 stars
193 (54%)
4 stars
95 (26%)
3 stars
53 (14%)
2 stars
12 (3%)
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2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for Mara.
1,513 reviews114 followers
April 9, 2017
Poppy has always wanted to go to Alaska so when a letter for a mail-order bride for a guy headed for Alaska (Matthew) comes in she takes it. She hates leaving her mother behind, but she doesn't mind leaving her abusive father to start a new life for herself. Matthew is a doctor headed for Alaska to get revenge on the person he thinks is responsible for his family losing all of their money. Poppy and Matthew both want a "marriage in name only" but for different reasons. Of course they're attracted to each other but both of them have issues trusting others to avoid being hurt. It's a sweet love story with a happy ending. This book is part of the American Mail-order Brides collection but can be read alone. I received a free copy of the book from the author but it had no influence on my review.
2,361 reviews11 followers
January 31, 2017
Matthew needs a wife so that he can get passage go to Alaska and reclaim his family's money. Poppy lost her job as a seamstress when the factory went up in smoke.
She answers his advert for a mail order bride and he sends for her. They marry but he doesn't intend for her to accompany him and this is where the story takes off.
She is sharp and cunning and he finds this quite difficult to comes to terms with. It's like she is one step ahead of him all the time. This story has many an amusing incident because of this and I loved it.
Of course they eventually realize that what was growing between them was a warm love...
I love Cassie Hayes' style. She has a lovely sense of life and laughter and writes this into her story and wholeheartedly recommend this book to all lovers of Mail Order Bride tales and of romance.
I received this book in a free promotion and the above this is my unbiased review.
Profile Image for Barbara.
1,918 reviews6 followers
July 30, 2018
This was a warm historical romance set mostly in Alaska. Poppy must get away from a brutal father and Matthew needs a bride to get to Alaska. He has signed up with a company that requires their employees to be married in order to get to Sitka. The man who has stolen everything from his family is there and he is seeking revenge.

Poppy and Matthew's beginning was very rough and she didn't trust him or any man. He had no room in his heart for love because it was filled with hateful vengeance. They both had lessons to learn about themselves and others.

Although this is a romance, there are no steamy scenes so this is what I consider a "clean" love story. It was well-written and enjoyable.
Profile Image for Nancy.
376 reviews1 follower
February 22, 2016
I loved the story line. It wasn't your typical mail order bride theme of both parents dead. It was also educational which was a bonus! However, the misspelling of Poppy's name to Poopy name was funny but sometimes in a serious situation not appropiate! Needs to be fixed :0)
Profile Image for Kelly Fountain.
998 reviews5 followers
January 16, 2020
Poppy has such a sad and beautiful story. She came from very little. She still had her parents but her father was a mean and a shove drunk. She thought she had escaped that when she got her job at the factory and lived with friends. Then the factory burned down and she was forced back to her parents and back into that abusive situation. She learned quickly to never trust a man and she had promised herself she would never marry but it seemed she had no choice. She chose a man from the Grooms Gazette that wanted a wife in name only to travel to Alaska. Matthew was on a mission. A man had stolen everything from his family and he was going to get it back. Only to get there, he had to sign on with a mission and had to have a wife to do so. They clashed at first but time and understanding goes a long way and soon love blooms. Sweet story with a happy ending!
Profile Image for Sarah.
619 reviews43 followers
August 3, 2018
Book 49 of the American Mail-Order Brides series. Poppy lost her seamstress job due to a factory fire. Back to her home, conditions were not ideal. An ad for a mail order bride, promised Alaska. Matthew, once very rich, is only seeking a marriage of convenience. He needs to be married in order to obtain his upcoming job in Alaska. Looking to claim back his family fortune, he intends to go back to Boston. Will these two eventually become true man and wife? This tale is an excellent addition to this wonderful series that I so love!
417 reviews
January 19, 2019
Another Unique Story

This is the 49th book in the American Mail Order Brides series and it has been amazing how each story has had a unique storyline. In this story, neither person has the intent of staying in the marriage. But circumstances occur and a nice story evolves. I highly recommend this series.
3,748 reviews18 followers
June 2, 2022
Maybe the best of the series yet!

First of all, I loved the humor in this book, it's a sad story in many ways but the author came up with the perfect blend! Willie reminded me of a wonderful aunt, rest her soul, who always had a wise word of advice that would also send you into laughter! Well done!
Profile Image for Melissa.
1,143 reviews5 followers
October 5, 2022
Poppy: Bride of Alaska

Poppy went on a train to meet Dr. Matthew to marry in name only. Poppy to get away from her abusive father and Matthew to save his fortune from a villain. Later Matthew found the fortune was lost by his own father. Author Cassie Hayes finds a way for true love for a few of her characters.
Profile Image for Liberty.
423 reviews1 follower
August 30, 2023
I loved everything about this book!

Poppy and Matthew's story is so fun and full of love and family. Sometimes, family is the people you love and who choose to love you. Vladimir's nickname for Poppy is one of my favorite parts of the story, but I also love the many different relationships.
Profile Image for JackEllena.
430 reviews
March 31, 2020
A delightful western romance!

I really enjoy stories of intelligent , strong, brave women. The men who learn to value such women. The love that can be found in their stories. This novel has met and surpassed my expectations, thank you, Jack.
Profile Image for Barbara R. Cady.
1,086 reviews4 followers
November 22, 2025
What a sad yet sweet story

Two people from different sides of the track , yet each with hidden scars in their hearts. Add in a new life in wild Alaska and you have quite an adveture.
Profile Image for Kasey.
278 reviews7 followers
September 17, 2017
I really enjoyed this story. I do enjoy an independent woman in these stories and especially one that stands up for what is right. The characters were awesome!!
259 reviews10 followers
February 1, 2018
True Love Prevails

Suspenseful and yet romantic without going over the top with romance! I loved yet another American Mail Order Bride Book Keep them coming!
Profile Image for Dystopian Mayhem  .
683 reviews
July 24, 2018
It's an okay read at best. The plot is good and I liked the humor but it wasn't all about the romance and even when it was it came out very predictable.

Profile Image for Ann Marie.
220 reviews3 followers
April 23, 2020
Am enjoyable ready read.

I liked the different tale on the characters. Also Alaska was very interesting. A little too much dwelling on the physical.
Profile Image for Don.
1,069 reviews5 followers
May 19, 2025
Wow, she really puts all sorts of emotions into her writing . This one was full of lovely insights and family relationships. I highly recommend this read.
Profile Image for gary c lehn.
1,724 reviews7 followers
February 23, 2017
Great story....

I enjoyed this story of adventure, romance, and suspense. The author has done a great job of putting the characters in her historic story of the past.
Profile Image for Jennifer Guffey.
1,113 reviews41 followers
March 9, 2016
Poppy: Bride of Alaska (American Mail-Order Bride #49)
By: Cassie Hayes
5/5 stars


Poppy grew up with a loving mother, and with an abusive drunk for a father. When she began working at the textile mill, Roberta took her under her wing and invited Poppy to move in with her and a couple other girls. After the fire, Poppy knew she couldn’t stand to live under the same roof as her father. But Poppy never wanted to marry, giving up her independence and giving a man control over her. After she realizes she has no other choice but to become a mail order bride, she scours the ads very carefully, choosing the man who fits her wants.

Matthew grew up in a privileged life amongst Boston society and went to college to become a doctor. His family was wealthy and considered one of the pillars of the community. But when they lost their fortune, due to his father being swindled by a friend, they were shunned. He sets out to confront the man, but is completely broke and has no way to follow the man to Alaska, but to sign on with a group of missionaries. However, to be accepted into this program, it is a condition that he be married.

Their marriage is solely one of convenience and not a real one that may lead to love and a real marriage. Poppy has loved reading John Muir’s novels about his travels to Alaska and has dreamt of living there. But Matthew has no intentions of staying in Alaska for the length of his 2 year contract. He plans on retrieving the family money and returning to Boston ASAP.

I loved this novel of adventure, disappointment and love. I do with that we got more of the HEA before the epilogue. I wish that we could have read about what led up to the epilogue.
Profile Image for Rocky.
209 reviews9 followers
January 7, 2016
Bride of Alaska: Poppy and Matthew's story

Poppy Adams is a young lady who grew up with a mean and abusive father. If he wasn't beating on her he was beating up on her mother. She grew up very poor and on the mean streets of Lawrence, Massachusetts. She was finally able to find work at Brown's Textile Mill, but lost it when the owner burned it down. She doesn't want to move back home so, reluctantly, she answers an ad for a mail-order bride. Matthew Turner doesn't want or need a wife but to be able to catch a freighter going to Sitka, Alaska, to try and find the man who swindled his family of everything they had, he had to travel with a missionary group with the rule that he needs to be married. He advertises for a wife and Poppy answers. She doesn't trust men and he doesn't want to be saddled with a woman. Will these two ever realize that they're meant to be together?
Profile Image for Sharon Rudolph.
2,160 reviews
February 9, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, the storyline was wonderful. This book was engaging and kept me glued from the first page!
Profile Image for Lynda.
1,150 reviews9 followers
July 30, 2016
A special wife

Poppy meets Matthew for an arranged marriage that is to be in name only. Poppy doesn't really like men so that is ok with her. Their adventure in the early days of Alaska is fun, crazy, and different than anything they have both experienced. Great story in the 50 brides series.
Profile Image for Sheryl Robert.
230 reviews1 follower
February 5, 2017
I loved the book.you can read it as the series or as a stand a lone.poppy always wanted to go to Alaska,she did as a mail order bride. I have read one other in the series.I am not disapppointed.
800 reviews6 followers
January 7, 2016
Fabulous!

An amazing story of great love and adventure! Alaska! A great frontier. The characters are so realistically true to themselves and helping others. Such a wonderful story.
Profile Image for EvilAntie Jan.
1,616 reviews13 followers
January 8, 2016
Poppy is one tough lady....

Poppy isn't the most likeable character at first-pushy, abrasive, gritty determined and a survivor. That said she grows on you because of all of these qualities. She is Alaska! She is amazing..
Profile Image for Babs Wenk.
1,082 reviews5 followers
January 13, 2016
Poppy

I knew I would love this and could not wait to read it! Yes I read them mostly in order unless they were by the same author and sister books. So now I have only #50 Hawaii to read. I will miss the series- Barbie
2,330 reviews82 followers
August 24, 2016
This is an incredible story of finding your riches in relationships and love instead of material things! Plus the beauty of Alaska is openly displayed in this book! Makes me want to visit Alaska even more than I did before!
Profile Image for Cindy.
2,010 reviews40 followers
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews