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Chance at Love #2
The Mistaken Mail Order Bride
Eric Johnson has been writing to his mail-order bride for months, and at long last, the day she’s due to arrive has come. Only, the young lady who comes off the stagecoach isn’t at all what he expected. She's homely in appearance, and she has an orphan child with her.
However, he is a man of his word, so he's going to marry her. He had enjoyed their correspondence over the past year, after all, and really, initial impressions aren’t everything. But when the preacher pronounces them husband and wife, he finds out she’s the wrong lady.
Caroline Benton’s just as shocked as he is, not realizing she’d gotten off at the wrong town and followed the wrong man home. Why, oh why, didn’t she think to ask him his name? Now she and the orphan child she brought with her are stuck in a strange town with a man who’d been waiting for someone else.
She can’t imagine he’s at all happy to be paired up with her for the rest of his life. Not only is she rather unattractive, but she doesn't know the first thing about housekeeping. Just what is she supposed to do to convince him it’s not the end of the world that he married the wrong mail-order bride?
However, he is a man of his word, so he's going to marry her. He had enjoyed their correspondence over the past year, after all, and really, initial impressions aren’t everything. But when the preacher pronounces them husband and wife, he finds out she’s the wrong lady.
Caroline Benton’s just as shocked as he is, not realizing she’d gotten off at the wrong town and followed the wrong man home. Why, oh why, didn’t she think to ask him his name? Now she and the orphan child she brought with her are stuck in a strange town with a man who’d been waiting for someone else.
She can’t imagine he’s at all happy to be paired up with her for the rest of his life. Not only is she rather unattractive, but she doesn't know the first thing about housekeeping. Just what is she supposed to do to convince him it’s not the end of the world that he married the wrong mail-order bride?
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2016
167 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Ann Nordin
172 books714 followersWhat's to say? I write a lot. I read often. I sleep little. Once in awhile, I've been known to clean the house. A number of kids live in my house and there's this guy they call dad and I call husband. All in all, it's a pretty good life. :-)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 17, 2017
I liked this book as much as the first one. The plot was cute. The Mistaken Mail Order Bride, was a sweet easy read. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I was really glad that the hero was so good to the heroine and didn't regret marrying her instead of his real mail order bride. I also love the sweet build up of their relationship. Caleb, the little boy was cute and added a little something special to the story. I do wish this book didn't end in a cliffhanger-ish way. I hope Lydia's murder is solved in the next book!
August 20, 2022
Almost unintentionally and especially when I can't decide which book from my massive tbr shelf to choose I pick up this author historical and sweet romances.
I like just about every book from her I have read even though the characters start to fade from my memory rather quickly.
They are all fleshed enough and have a believable love story that develops in these pretty short-ish stories. The main characters have similar backgrounds that make them search for mail order spouses but those stories are my guilty pleasure. I just love the thrill of reading a book with characters that maybe expect one thing and get something completely different when the stage coach leaves the small towns the books are set in. There always are decent and less than nice or gossipy neighbours that muddy the main love stories but they can also be a fun part of the book.
So what I like the most about this author's works is thar her characters are cute, we see them fall in love slowly in a believable way and they are so low on angst and general misunderstandings that happens in nearly every historical romance book. They are a sweet comfort reads and it's truly a joy to read them in one sitting.
I like just about every book from her I have read even though the characters start to fade from my memory rather quickly.
They are all fleshed enough and have a believable love story that develops in these pretty short-ish stories. The main characters have similar backgrounds that make them search for mail order spouses but those stories are my guilty pleasure. I just love the thrill of reading a book with characters that maybe expect one thing and get something completely different when the stage coach leaves the small towns the books are set in. There always are decent and less than nice or gossipy neighbours that muddy the main love stories but they can also be a fun part of the book.
So what I like the most about this author's works is thar her characters are cute, we see them fall in love slowly in a believable way and they are so low on angst and general misunderstandings that happens in nearly every historical romance book. They are a sweet comfort reads and it's truly a joy to read them in one sitting.
March 14, 2025
Rating: 4.5 / 5
The best way to describe this is as a truly charming romance that expands on what it means to "take a chance on love".
Eric Johnson, our beloved Sheriff from book 1 of this series, is waiting for his mail-order bride to arrive. Well, she does, except she's the wrong woman, as it turns out. Now, based on what highlights I've noticed in this book (and will be sharing on Goodreads), I think this could have been easily avoided by just, oh, I don't know, the hero and heroine introducing each other by their names rather than just ASSUMING that they're each the right person, but it's fine.
They're both fine with it.
They go with it.
They're chill.
They make a go at it for marriage, and it turns out they're very compatible in all ways, and end up having a happy life together.
This stands out a bit more than Book 1 of this series because it's got some more action--nothing angsty, thank goodness, because that's not what I read Ruth Ann Nordin for--than the first book, and overall just felt more exciting and with more going on. Still the same benign cuteness in relationship development--which I love and somethings NEED from authors like this--but overall it just ups the ante for what happens.
Love this book, really excited to read the third one in the series. (Which I will be doing right away, actually.)
The best way to describe this is as a truly charming romance that expands on what it means to "take a chance on love".
Eric Johnson, our beloved Sheriff from book 1 of this series, is waiting for his mail-order bride to arrive. Well, she does, except she's the wrong woman, as it turns out. Now, based on what highlights I've noticed in this book (and will be sharing on Goodreads), I think this could have been easily avoided by just, oh, I don't know, the hero and heroine introducing each other by their names rather than just ASSUMING that they're each the right person, but it's fine.
They're both fine with it.
They go with it.
They're chill.
They make a go at it for marriage, and it turns out they're very compatible in all ways, and end up having a happy life together.
This stands out a bit more than Book 1 of this series because it's got some more action--nothing angsty, thank goodness, because that's not what I read Ruth Ann Nordin for--than the first book, and overall just felt more exciting and with more going on. Still the same benign cuteness in relationship development--which I love and somethings NEED from authors like this--but overall it just ups the ante for what happens.
Love this book, really excited to read the third one in the series. (Which I will be doing right away, actually.)
April 19, 2021
There are some Ruth Ann Nordin novels that I like and some that aren't so interesting, however The Mistaken Mail Order Bride part of the "Chance at Love" series was just down right nice. I loved both characters especially the Eric (hero) and his patience and open heart to the Caroline (heroine). I liked the fact that he undertook becoming a father to a Caleb, a child of color and poverty, that was taken in by his mail order bride rather than leaving him hungry and orphaned.
As with the first book in this series that deals with bigotry, this story also touches on the same. I enjoyed the growing relationship of both and them overcoming the somewhat idiotic people who clearly don't understand that its not all about perception but about the heart.
A 3.5 stars (rounded 4 Stars) on this one.
As with the first book in this series that deals with bigotry, this story also touches on the same. I enjoyed the growing relationship of both and them overcoming the somewhat idiotic people who clearly don't understand that its not all about perception but about the heart.
A 3.5 stars (rounded 4 Stars) on this one.
April 1, 2021
3.5🌟 for Eric. He was an awesome hero. Too bad we didn't had a better glimpse on his background. But all in all an amazing person. Loved their story.
April 13, 2025
Kobo + Mad About Series Challenge 2024 HRBC. HR: Tropes: Novella, Mail order Bride, American Historical R, Romance/Mystery.
MC's h Caroline Benton (Caleb) mail order bride from South Carolina after the Civil War and orphan Caleb a 7 year old black boy. H Sheriff Eric Johnson, town Sheriff for the last few years waiting for his mail order bride, originally from New Hampshire. They live in a small town in Colorado.
This was a sweet prairie romance. The writing was simple and plain. An old fashioned romance. Reminded me of Gunsmoke. I gave this a 3 star rating.
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MC's h Caroline Benton (Caleb) mail order bride from South Carolina after the Civil War and orphan Caleb a 7 year old black boy. H Sheriff Eric Johnson, town Sheriff for the last few years waiting for his mail order bride, originally from New Hampshire. They live in a small town in Colorado.
This was a sweet prairie romance. The writing was simple and plain. An old fashioned romance. Reminded me of Gunsmoke. I gave this a 3 star rating.
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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2025
3.5 Stars
Sweet story, just wished a bit more length & romance.
Sweet story, just wished a bit more length & romance.
July 7, 2022
dnf at 58%. I was very excited to read about a couple that gets married with mistaken identities, and the very beginning was pretty good. But then everything about Caroline’s past started to give me the ick.
The author is really writing this former slave owner as a sympathetic victim, and like I don’t feel sorry for her. I could’ve finished the book if she denounced slavery and said something about how she learned how horrible it was and she was sorry to participate in it, but instead she’s literally describing the slaves as “like family” because they took care of her. No. No no no no no. NO. N.O. I don’t care if her family was the nicest slave owners ever, they still held people against their will and took away their ability to choose their own future. Disgusting. (and don’t get me started on her just casually taking a presumably orphan black child with her because she thinks she can give him a better home, that’s whole other issue)
Of what I read, the actual romance between Eric and Caroline was nice. They seemed like a good couple, but I cannot read anymore about how hard the war was for her, because yuck.
The author is really writing this former slave owner as a sympathetic victim, and like I don’t feel sorry for her. I could’ve finished the book if she denounced slavery and said something about how she learned how horrible it was and she was sorry to participate in it, but instead she’s literally describing the slaves as “like family” because they took care of her. No. No no no no no. NO. N.O. I don’t care if her family was the nicest slave owners ever, they still held people against their will and took away their ability to choose their own future. Disgusting. (and don’t get me started on her just casually taking a presumably orphan black child with her because she thinks she can give him a better home, that’s whole other issue)
Of what I read, the actual romance between Eric and Caroline was nice. They seemed like a good couple, but I cannot read anymore about how hard the war was for her, because yuck.
September 17, 2016
Good book in the Chance at Love series
This is a good book in the Chance at Love series. The book deals with what happened to a Southern belle after the Civil War. It continues strands from the previous book and introduces new strands. Well worth reading.
This is a good book in the Chance at Love series. The book deals with what happened to a Southern belle after the Civil War. It continues strands from the previous book and introduces new strands. Well worth reading.
January 8, 2018
Eric Johnson the local sheriff has expecting his mail order bride Allie Jones. When the stagecoach arrives and a woman comes off the coach with a little boy he thinks that she is Allie. Only after Eric marries Caroline Benton does he realize they have married the wrong people. In all the confusion with the sick little boy they hadn't thought to ask each others name. Eric is a wonderful sheriff who is trying to turn a judgmental town into a town to be proud of. Caroline has a heart of gold, and little Caleb has been through a lot in his short life. This is a great historical romance!
October 20, 2017
Questo è stato il secondo libro che ho letto dell'autrice che seguo da wattpad. Una bella sorpresa, una storia accattivante e misteriosa, senza troppo angst. Ho adorato l'eleganza e forza di volontà di Caroline, che ha sfidato la città e la sua ignoranza, la dolcezza di Eric che ha accolto nella sua casa anche Caleb.
Solo una cosa rimprovero all'autrice:
Aggiungi qualche momento di passione in più, a volte sembra una christian fiction T_T
Solo una cosa rimprovero all'autrice:
Aggiungi qualche momento di passione in più, a volte sembra una christian fiction T_T
July 19, 2020
This book started off with mistaken identity on his part and hers. Eric wrote an ad for a mail order bride and had been corresponding with Allison Jones ... when the stagecoach arrives the lady who disembarks is Caroline who doesn't realize she was let off at the wrong town. While I feel bad for Allie and whatever caused her to not arrive in time, Caroline is a good fit for the sheriff.
March 19, 2024
Enjoyed this book. Really liked Caroline’s character very realistic. You don’t just know how to do stuff overnight and we get to see the progress. Eric is sweet and naive but generally a levelheaded character.
Loved loved Caleb’s character such a sad life for a young boy.
Overall what I enjoyed most of the book is that it is a book about good people showing kindness.
Loved loved Caleb’s character such a sad life for a young boy.
Overall what I enjoyed most of the book is that it is a book about good people showing kindness.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2019
Me gusto como se fue desarrollando esta historia de amor, como se enamoran, las situaciones que pasan y pues me intriga que pasara con los personajes secundarios, quiero seguir leyendo la serie...
June 16, 2022
Who is the "Wrong Bride?"
This story was captivating from the very first. It has love, laughter and mystery. I sure didn't get much housework done until I finished it and I don't regret it at all!!!
This story was captivating from the very first. It has love, laughter and mystery. I sure didn't get much housework done until I finished it and I don't regret it at all!!!
March 20, 2023
Este es el segundo libro que leo de la autora y em ambos casos, aunque la historia es buena, los personajes son super planos, no tienen nada de carisma ni carácter. En cualquier caso se leen rápido porque no hay drama pero es muy difícil conectar con los personajes.
November 4, 2024
**2.5**
I love all the tropes in this book but for some reason all the books in this series have just felt flat to me. I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters or feel a connection between the mc’s.
- small town romance
- mail order bride
I love all the tropes in this book but for some reason all the books in this series have just felt flat to me. I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters or feel a connection between the mc’s.
- small town romance
- mail order bride
September 30, 2017
BIG cliffhanger but the next book is going to pick up right where this one left off. Caleb takes a long time to open up but when he does his insights save Caroline.
October 8, 2017
Sweet & fun read. I'm ready to dive into the next book to see how things go.
October 15, 2021
Addictive
These books are addictive and I love them, I will try to read every book this author has written …one of the best
These books are addictive and I love them, I will try to read every book this author has written …one of the best
May 13, 2024
Great.
This is a great story full of action and real mystery as well and all the descriptions too. I love how the sheriff gets things done too. Truly a great story that I loved
This is a great story full of action and real mystery as well and all the descriptions too. I love how the sheriff gets things done too. Truly a great story that I loved
May 20, 2022
Brilliant
Another great book gripped from the start I absolutely loved it well written and a great cast of characters and story line
Another great book gripped from the start I absolutely loved it well written and a great cast of characters and story line
May 28, 2017
In the first book we were introduce to Eric Johnson, the town's sheriff. We were also told about Allie, his bride to be. And so, when the stagecoach arrived and Eric was married to the woman who got off it, everything seemed to fall at its place. The only problem, her name was not Allie.
Caroline Benton lost her family in the war. She hope to start her own family and on the way to meet her groom, she end up with an orphan. She was glad when she met him and he easily accepted Caleb into their soon to be family. The only problem, his name was not Charles.
Eric accepted everything readily. He needed a wife and if Allie was not there, he did not mind having Caroline as his. Yes, Caroline was plain and did not hold the torch he was hoping for in a wife, but Eric knew there more than just appearance.
Caroline knew she was plain. Back home, if it's not because of her father's wealth, no man will spare her a look. But now she have nothing except her own strength and she needed every inch of it with the rumors swirling around her.
Again, it was a light read. There was some repetition on certain topic, maybe to keep the mystery going. But it was enjoyable.
Caroline Benton lost her family in the war. She hope to start her own family and on the way to meet her groom, she end up with an orphan. She was glad when she met him and he easily accepted Caleb into their soon to be family. The only problem, his name was not Charles.
Eric accepted everything readily. He needed a wife and if Allie was not there, he did not mind having Caroline as his. Yes, Caroline was plain and did not hold the torch he was hoping for in a wife, but Eric knew there more than just appearance.
Caroline knew she was plain. Back home, if it's not because of her father's wealth, no man will spare her a look. But now she have nothing except her own strength and she needed every inch of it with the rumors swirling around her.
Again, it was a light read. There was some repetition on certain topic, maybe to keep the mystery going. But it was enjoyable.
March 23, 2017
Loved the hero. He was just awesome. His principals, his caring nature everything was great. Heroine was also good but for me the hero made the story. The way he fought for his ideals & principals was worth reading. Overall a good mail order bride story for a quick read.
March 4, 2022
◾ES CUESTIóN DE CASARSE CON LA Q NO ES Y YA! 😄😄😄
◾CAROLINE & ERIC
◾EL "POLIPATRó" Y LA MUJER CON EL NIñO HUéRFANO Q ENCONTRó EN EL CAMINO Y Q SABE SI UNA PERSONA ES BUENA O NO...
◾Me gusta mucho como escribe esta autora, quiero leer más de sus historias
◾CAROLINE & ERIC
◾EL "POLIPATRó" Y LA MUJER CON EL NIñO HUéRFANO Q ENCONTRó EN EL CAMINO Y Q SABE SI UNA PERSONA ES BUENA O NO...
◾Me gusta mucho como escribe esta autora, quiero leer más de sus historias
March 5, 2017
LOVED IT! LOVED IT!! LOVED IT!!! I'm actually starting to feel sad that the next book is gonna be the last in this series (since i read book 4 first) I don't think I can say anything different from what I'v said previously. The writing has consistently been interesting, nice plots, lovely characters (how adorable was Erik and Caleb!) wonderful books. Definitely my favourite Mail order series!
May 21, 2024
2.5/5
Overall the love story was okay, nothing super out of this world. Eric was a likeable, good man. But the fact that the heroine was the daughter of a former slave owner… I just rolled my eyes every time she cried about how she suffered during the war and how much her pampered life had changed blah blah blah. Like ok??? Am I supposed to feel bad for her??? Even if her personality was sweet and naive and she couldn’t help how she grew up, I couldn’t look past it. And the whole Caleb thing… was taking in a black orphan supposed to make up for the fact that SHE GREW UP WITH SLAVES?? Caleb was a sweet boy though and his story made me cry. The towns people were also very judgemental and annoying.
Overall the love story was okay, nothing super out of this world. Eric was a likeable, good man. But the fact that the heroine was the daughter of a former slave owner… I just rolled my eyes every time she cried about how she suffered during the war and how much her pampered life had changed blah blah blah. Like ok??? Am I supposed to feel bad for her??? Even if her personality was sweet and naive and she couldn’t help how she grew up, I couldn’t look past it. And the whole Caleb thing… was taking in a black orphan supposed to make up for the fact that SHE GREW UP WITH SLAVES?? Caleb was a sweet boy though and his story made me cry. The towns people were also very judgemental and annoying.
May 18, 2016
The characters were really likable in this book, and I enjoy a good mail order bride story. The idea of the mistake actually being fate was nice, but didn't need to be repeated so many times. Also, although the author says that she rarely leaves loose ends at the close of a book, this one felt sort of like a placeholder. It wasn't deep enough to feel like a complete story on its own; the only resolution in the book came way too early and the rest didn't really lead anywhere. So.... placeholder?
May 20, 2016
Merry Mistake!
Caroline is a mail-order bride who got off the stagecoach in the wrong town. Eric is waiting for his mail-order bride, but she doesn't arrive. The driver told Caroline that this was her stop, perhaps because he was tired of dealing with the "stagecoach-sick" child traveling with Caroline. These are the mistakes that lead these two to the altar, and they are very glad it worked out that way.
Caroline is a mail-order bride who got off the stagecoach in the wrong town. Eric is waiting for his mail-order bride, but she doesn't arrive. The driver told Caroline that this was her stop, perhaps because he was tired of dealing with the "stagecoach-sick" child traveling with Caroline. These are the mistakes that lead these two to the altar, and they are very glad it worked out that way.
July 18, 2016
I liked this little tome a lot.
So many cliche phrases it'll make your ears burn, but the characters are awesome and lovable. While the story is a cliffhanger (which I discourage and am not fond of) it's still worth a read.
So many cliche phrases it'll make your ears burn, but the characters are awesome and lovable. While the story is a cliffhanger (which I discourage and am not fond of) it's still worth a read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews