The American Heiress Brides Collection

by Lisa Carter, Anita Mae Draper, Patty Smith Hall

Meet nine young women in America between 1880 and 1911 who have been blessed by fortunes made in gold, silver, industry, ranching, and banking. But when it comes to love, each woman struggles to find true love within a society where “first comes money, second comes marriage.” What kind of man can they trust with their greatest treasure—their hearts?
 

The Heiress and the homesteader / Lisa Carter
The reluctant heiress / Mary Davis
In for a penny / Susanne Dietze
Sweet love grows / Anita Mae Draper
Hometown heiress / Patty Smith Hall
Savannah's trial / Cynthia Hickey
A family inheritance / Lisa Karon Richardson
Maggie's Newport caper / Lynette Sowell
All that glitters / Kimberly Woodhouse

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Collections, Historical Romance, Anthologies

442 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Writer. Book Lover. Avid Gardener. World Traveler.

Lisa Carter is the Publishers Weekly bestselling and award-winning author of more than thirty books. She writes the contemporary Truelove Matchmaker romance series with Love Inspired. She also writes romantic suspense—best described as “Sweet Tea with a Slice of Murder.” When not hard at work on her next fictional adventure, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family. A native North Carolinian, she has strong opinions on barbecue and ACC basketball. www.lisacarterauthor.com

Follow Lisa on BookBub for the latest book news at https://bit.ly/3G2iWGv.

Join her newsletter mailing list for book happenings at https://rb.gy/2ilkh7.

Reviews

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful cover on this book! I really love reading these collections by different authors. Some of the authors I've already read and love and some were new to me authors. I loved reading the new to me authors and would love to check out more of their books. The perfect book for when you have a small amount of time you can read one story quickly or like me settle in for a longer,enjoyable read.
I recommend this to lovers of Collections and Historical Christian Romances.
Pub Date 01 Jan 2017

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Books for a complimentary copy of this e-book. The review is my honest opinion.

[Susan Snodgrass · Rating 4 out of 5]

These collections of novellas are wonderful when you have time for a quick read. They are thoroughly entertaining and engage the reader in the story. I have now read many of these collections. A varied list of authors that are sure to please any reader. Note: the offering from Susanne Dietze was my favorite.

*I received a copy of this book by the publisher via Net Galley. My opinion is my own.

[Tish · Rating 5 out of 5]

The American Heiress bride collection was delightful. There are a total of nine stories about a heiress. Each one was a great story and how they found love. Some never looking but found it anyway. All great stories and catches your interest. from the first to the last. The stories are from the 1866 to 1905. It tells there story of wealth and the love to have a marriage of true love.

[Alexis Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The American Heiress Brides is another romance collection of nine short stories. I enjoyed some of them very much, but I didn't like the characters in others. I know authors work really hard on getting characters and things right, but a character makes an entire story. For this reason I gave the book a four out five star review.
The first story, written by Lisa Carter, is about a young debutante, Eugenia Rutherford, who decides she doesn't want to marry for anything but love. After rejecting man after man she takes off on her own adventure with nothing but a trunk and a train ticket. Eugenia ends up in Silver Strike, California. She ends up in the street without any food to eat and no money to spend until a man named Cort hires her to take care of his aging grandmother. This one was my personal favorite just because of its ironic twists and turns that make the story totally unpredictable and fun.
Next up Mary Davis gives us a neat spin with The Reluctant Heiress. It's a story about Victoria Dewitt, whose deceased rich uncle has left everything to Victoria-if she marries a successful man, and stays married, within the allotted time period. After having dinner party after dinner party she realizes that these men aren't what she's looking for in a spouse.
I liked it well enough, but it was a little predictable, and I didn't like her attitude about everything. I liked the storyline and the idea of the concept.
Susanne Dietze writes about Penny, an heiress that's engaged to a widowed, English Earl whom she's never met before. She's okay with the marriage and the idea of being married until she mistakenly meets the Earls brother and falls in love with him.
The next short story is about a lawyer who is working to see a heiress thrown of her title and wealth. After completing the rather nefarious tasks of his employer he falls in love with her and proves her legitimacy. It is written by Anita May Draper.
They're all great stories and you should read the book to find out the plots and other stories of the book. I just wanted to give you a little insight. In short I would recommend this book to someone if they asked, but I would also tell them about my dislikes as well.
If you have any questions, please, let me know below in the comments.


I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley for a complete and honest review.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The American Heiress Brides Collection (2017) is a darling collection of short stories. This anthology is part of the Barbour Bride series, and was published last January. This collection reads as a stand-alone; it is not necessary to read any of the other books in the Barbour Bride series to understand the stories in this collection. Being on break from school for the holidays, one would imagine oodles of free time to read, BUT it seems I am more busy with free time than I am when I am working. With that said, this book took me one week to read. I purchased a copy of this book from Amazon on December 11, 2017 in order to review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I give this book 4 STARS. This book is a collection of Christian Historical Romance short stories.

Story #1: "The Heiress and the Homesteader" by Lisa Carter
1880 -- Montana
Running from the suitor of her father's choosing, haughty silver heiress Eugenia falls for a most unsuitable , proud but poor, homesteader as she tends to his ailing grandmother during harvest. From separate worlds can they find a place for love to flourish?

I loved two things about this story. First, Eugenia is so well written I wanted to slap her at first, BUT she has great character growth. By the end of the story, I loved her. The second thing I enjoyed is that I was so absorbed by what was happening between Eugenia, Cort, and Cort's grandmother that I truly didn't see the end coming until it happened. I really love when a story sucks me in like that!

Story #2: "The Reluctant Heiress" by Mary Davis
1905 -- Boston, MA
Victoria must decide whether to accept her inheritance with its proviso of a forced marriage or walk away from a fortune. Her attorney, Graham, finds it difficult not to cross the line from business to love with the enchanting heiress.

I LOVED this story. Of the nine stories, this is my #2 favorite! Victoria is awesome and has the best lines. For example, "[Victoria] narrowed her eyes at the young attorney. He had no clue about the plight of women and servants. Both dependent on the generosity of men in a society constructed by men to benefit men" (60). I love this so much. For me, the most impressive aspect to this story is the writing. Mary Davis crafted a fantastic story in "The Reluctant Heiress," a short story I will definitely read and enjoy again.

Story #3: "In For a Penny" by Susanne Dietze
1894 -- Philadelphia, PA
Banking heiress Penelope Beale is pushed by her status-conscious parents to marry a lofty English lord, but she's drawn instead to a lowly art historian who shares her passion for service -- Emmett Retford, the lord's younger brother.

I will read anything that Susie writes. She is SO good. While I did enjoy this collection very much, and do recommend it, three stories really stood out as my favorite. "In For a Penny," to me, is the best story in this collection. Of the nine short stories, the characters in "In For a Penny" are the most realistic. The romance between the two characters never felt rushed or impossible. And, the story line has a clear beginning, middle, and end. This story reads like a novel. I was thoroughly satisfied with this story, and a little sad when it ended.

Story #4: "Sweet Love Grows" by Anita Mae Draper
1890 -- McLeod County, MN
Amelia Cord never doubted her father's love -- despite her illegitimacy. When he dies without a will, handsome by-the-books attorney Jeremy Moore produces a vindictive legal heir who demands her eviction without an inheritance. Can sweet love grow in spite of the odds?

Overall, this short story is an engaging read. There is a lot of action. And, I did enjoy it. BUT, I did not buy the main characters falling for each other. With a short story, I have to feel some attraction between the characters right off the bat, or the romance will feel rushed. I loved the main characters and felt they were well written as individuals, but the romantic aspect for me was simply not there in a realistic manner.

Story #5: "Hometown Heiress" by Patty Smith Hall
1895 -- Mills of South Georgia
Journalist Matthew Langley strives to make a difference in the world through his writing, but it's not until he meets textile heiress Dania Eison that he learns that changing people's lives starts at home.

This is my #3 favorite story. I love, love, love stories where the lead male character falls for the girl at the first meeting because the girl does something amazing and shatters his preconceived notions. Dania is an awesome character. She is smart, generous, thoughtful, tough, and feminine. "Hometown Heiress" is a fast-paced and highly engaging story with very believable and relatable characters. This is definitely a story I would read again and again!

Story #6: "Savannah's Trial" by Cynthia Hickey
1866 -- Ozark Mountains
The fate of the ranch rests on Savannah Worthington's shoulders. Can she trust the handsome stranger her mother hired to help her, or is he one of many who wants what Savannah has struggled to save?

This is a fun read. A beautiful, young woman trying desperately to save her ranch. A handsome and generous man doing all he can to help her. And, a wickedly bad villain bent on taking everything from Savannah one way or another. I found this story to be highly engaging and sweet. 

Story #7: "A Family Inheritance" by Lisa Karon Richardson
1883 -- San Francisco, CA
Anne Shepherd has made her own fortune in the California gold fields, but what she's always wanted was a family. When the aunt she's invited to live with her arrives with Jack Wilberforce in tow, Anne may have gone bust or she just might have hit pay dirt.

The best part of this short story is Anne. She is an amazing character. I totally bought her as a sassy, strong, and smart woman. Anne wants to fit in and be a part of a true family that loves and accepts her, so she lays down some roots in San Francisco buying a very large home in a very prestigious part of town. She invites her aunt, the only living blood relative that she has left, to live with her. The aunt, from Boston, does not find Anne all that acceptable. Anne is too "countrified" and "backwoods" for her taste. There are some really excellent scenes between Anne and her aunt.

Story #8: "Maggie's Newport Caper" by Lynette Sowell
1895 -- Newport, RI and New York City
A Gilded Age heiress throws caution to the wind during the Newport summer season to hunt down a jewelry thief targeting the wealthy after her family is robbed.

This story is fun. I did feel the romance was a little off. I didn't really buy Maggie and James as being in love. Perhaps it is because Maggie is 18 and James is clearly nearing 30. Maggie's character just came off as so young to me. But, I did enjoy Maggie's and James's characters. I thought they were very well written as individuals. I also liked that there is a bit of mystery to this story. One crime would solve, but two more would pop up. The mystery aspect definitely kept my interest.

Story #9: "All That Glitters" by Kimberly Woodhouse
1895 -- Juneau, AK and Denver, CO
Investing in Alaska gold mines, a Denver heiress and her father enjoy the repreive from money-hungry relatives back in Colorado when disaster strikes. A trusted employee agrees to escort the heiress home, but keeping her alive proves almost as difficult as preventing himself from falling in love with her.

There is a ton of action in this short story. Mary Margaret has to fend off assassination attempts and two sisters who hate her and want the company their father left to her. It's actually crazy all that Mary Margaret has to go through, but she pulls herself up by her boot straps and perseveres. She is able to do this with the help of her dear Uncle Dillard and a very handsome and capable man, Charles Delaney. There are a few tears, a lot of laughs, and some very near-miss moments. This short story definitely had me at the edge of my seat.

Overall, I felt The American Heiress Brides collection to be a lot of fun to read. The short stories penned in this anthology are all highly engaging and very enjoyable. Clearly the authors who penned this collection are gifted storytellers. If you are looking for some well written and sweet historical romance stories, this is definitely the collection for you!

[MJSH · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice collection of novellas featuring nine America heiresses. The novellas are completely separate stories (not like Seven Brides for Seven Texans which features seven novellas all tied together in one big storyline).

The stories were well-written and thoughtfully put together. Some featured suspense and twists to the plots, and some were just pure, clean romance. Each had a component of faith to the plot which was nicely done. Novellas seem very difficult to write well since there is a limitation on how complicated the plot and characters can be in such a short span of words and pages. These novellas were well crafted, from beginning to finish.

I enjoyed the first novella - The Heiress and the Homesteader - the best. The heiress of this story transforms greatly and learns to see herself in a different light. I enjoyed her journey and her personal as well as spiritual growth.

There were a few heiresses and heroes that I didn't appreciate as much in the novella collection but, overall, the book was a worthwhile read.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

The American Heiress Brides Collection is such a great olio of novellas, I had a hard time putting it down. Some of the stories had me in tears, some had me laughing out loud, some had me reaching for wishes that I could befriend the protagonists. In each of the narratives, each girl was wealthy, or at least had been wealthy at one time, and she had the challenge of finding a man who would not be gold-digging money-grubber. In many cases, the men had wealth of their own and did not need his bride's money.

This was a perfect book for my Sunday this past weekend--I spent most of the day in one airport or another, or in one airplane or another, where I had almost unlimited time to read. I was thrilled to have such a good collection of narratives to read.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and an unexpected inheritance.

My thanks to Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nine authors have come together to write novellas about about wealthy heiresses in a sweet historical collection. Each story is tied into the book by the theme, but otherwise stands alone. Each author has brought her sense of writing style and strong Christian faith to play in the books.

I enjoyed each of these stories. Each one was different and yet fit together. The characters were well developed and the surroundings and circumstances were well described. Each story was sweet, romantic, and had elements of faith. I also found quite a bit of humor in several of the stories, which I really enjoyed. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian historical fiction. It would also work if you are limited on time as each little novella stands alone.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts expressed are my own.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The American Heiress Brides Collection: 9 Wealthy Women Struggle to Find Love in a Society That Values Money First is a collection of 9 stories. These stories include:
The Heiress and the Homesteader by Lisa Carter
The Reluctant Heiress by Mary Davis
In for a Penny by Susanne Dietze
Sweet Love Grows by Anita Mae Draper
Hometown Heiress by Patty Smith Hall
Savannah’s Trial by Cynthia Hickey
A Family Inheritance by Lisa Karon Richardson
Maggie’s Newport Caper by Lynette Sowell
All That Glitters by Kimberley Woodhouse
This collection has many authors I have not read before. I look forward to reading more by each of them in the future.
4 stars

[Diamond Jones-Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's rare that I come across a book with this many stories and love it. The American Heiress Brides Collection is a great read. I enjoyed all of the stories and found myself thinking about the stories even after I was done the book. The Authors were all new to me and they didn't disappoint.
If you enjoy reading novellas & Historical books this is a must read!!!

[Betty Strohecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful collection of nine short stories set between 1880 and 1905 and taking place in various areas throughout the US. Locations are as diverse as Alaska, San Francisco, Boston, Newport, Rhode Island, Georgia, and Montana. As the title suggests, each story revolves around an heiress and the trials or challenges she faces due to her fortune or future inheritance. All of the stories are completely different and give a flavor of the time and place in which they are set.

I had not read any of these authors before, but enjoyed each story. My favorites were "The Reluctant Heiress", "In for a Penny", "Hometown Heiress", "A Family Inheritance", and "All That Glitters". If you happen to find yourself in a situation with limited reading time, I heartily suggest this collection as a way to satisfy your joy of reading. And of course, it's enjoyable to read any time.

[Patina Malinalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a collection of short stories - Christian historical romances in the late 1800s to early 1900s. There are 9 stories in a single book, so they are much quicker paced than you would see in a traditional novel. Other than that, Scripture is often included, which I enjoyed.

I rate this book 4/5 stars!

I would recommend this book for readers who enjoy Christian historical romances, but these are very short stories with very short chapters. A reader who enjoys a more thorough plot development would not enjoy this book.

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

The problem I have this short story romances is that everything feels rushed and shallow. One minute they are fighting and the next there is a proposal. Not my favorite way to read about relationships that should take time to develop. My favorite story was the last in the book - All that glitters by Woodhouse.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

9 different stories of American heiresses during the 1800’s (only one based in 1905), and each one so different! The Love of God was the one constant throughout each story as the women found the loves of their lives - very wholesome writing!

No foul language, romantic while still being clean, and very historically accurate.

Can’t recommend this book enough!

[Sherri Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from the moment I saw it. Loved the cover, loved the paper the book was printed on, and who doesn't like Love and Romance. Great short stories. I was able to read a story and go back later and read another.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

In general, a cute and humourous collection of stories. I do wish there had been just a *smidge* more emphasis put on God's truth in each story, though some stories did a better job of this than others.

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Between two and three stars. I normally whip through these novella collections, but this one just seemed really long to me. I don’t know why, because most of the individual stories were pretty decent. But it felt like it took forever to get to the last one.

[Marvy Herrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful collection!

[Audra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only story i struggled to read was Maggie's Newport caper. It just didn't grab my attention as well. I enjoyed all of them. If you like historical, Christian fiction, these are great.

[Terry Yaceyko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed all the stories in this collection.

[Melissa Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

It amazes me how the authors can spin such wonderful tales in such a short story.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

the American Heiress Brides novel is original at it's core. It is full of redemption, trust, callousness, eliteness, courage, courtesy and JESUS - AMEN. There is a kaleidoscope of emotions that comes over you as you read each story it is amazing. The book is full imagination and wit and I enjoyed every single word of it and so will you - each and every story of it. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
if you would like to read anymore of my Christian book reviews go to christianlybookreviewers.blogspot.com

[Oluwatosin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this collection of books overall. I particularly enjoyed The reluctant heiress by Mary Davis and A family Inheritance by Lisa Karon Richardson. Each story had an added message.

The Heiress and the Homesteader to me spoke against pride. One line in particular stood out for me. "No one is good enough, not compared to God's indescribable goodness. Yet God loves us anyway." I liked the underlying message although the story moved a little fast for my liking, understandably though cause novella's are not the easiest to write. I give it 3*.

The reluctant heiress by Mary Davis 4*s I liked each and every character.

In for a Penny by Susanne Dietze 4*. I discovered Susanne Dietze while reading another romance collection (yes there is a trend) and I really enjoy her stories.

Sweet Love Grows by Anita Mae Draper 4*. This story had me thinking about questioning whether actions where morally right. I really loved the heroine, I admired her strength and her resolve to trust God in the midst of uncertainty also helped me decide to trust God in every circumstance. The ending seemed a bit rushed but overall I loved the story.

Hometown Heiress by Patty Smith Hall 3*. I liked that the hero could admit that he had made some wrong assumptions and to see the changes in him as time went.

Savannah's Trial by Cynthia Hickey 3*. I liked that the heroine was not a helpless character.

A Family Inheritance by Lisa Karon Richardson 5*s!!! I really enjoyed this book, from beginning to end, the characters were well developed I loved each and every character especially Anne she was so easy to identify with I admired the way she spoke her mind, her bubbly nature in general.

Maggie's Newport Caper by Lynette Sowell 3*. The twist at the end was so unexpected. I also saw the need to trust God cause we can't see what the future holds and it's so much better to leave it in His hands than try handle it on our own.

All That Glitters by Kimberley Woodhouse 4*. I enjoyed this story, the reader is drawn into the characters emotions and views. I personally became quite attached to the characters, a combination of the story being well written and the fact that it was the last in the collection, I didn't want it to end.

Overall a lovely book. Thanks to netgalley for providing a free copy of the book and to Barbour Publishers for allowing me to read and review the book

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The American Heiress Brides Collection: 9 Wealthy Women Struggle to Find Love in a Society that Values Money First

I enjoy reading Christian historical novella collections and this collection has nine romantic stories from 1866-1905 America to enjoy. Each authors’ own writing style shines through in her story offering a wide variety of story-lines. We read about gold, silver, banking, industry and ranching; all involving wealthy women struggling to find that one person to love. I enjoyed the humor in some of the stories and the faith elements woven within the story-lines. A fun, heartwarming collection.

1-The Heiress and the Homesteader by Lisa Carter
1880 Montana
2-The Reluctant Heiress by Mary Davis
1905 Boston, MA
3-In for a Penny by Susanne Dietze
1894 Philadelphia, PA
4-Sweet Love Grows by Anita Mae Draper
1890 McLeod County, MN
5-Hometown Heiress by Patty Smith Hall
1895 Mills of South Georgia
6-Savannah’s Trail by Cynthia Hickey
1866 Ozark Mountains
7-A Family Inheritance by Lisa Karon Richardson
1883-San Francisco, CA
8-Maggie’s Newport Caper by Lynette Sowell
1895 Newport, RI and New York City
9-All that Glitters by Kimberly Woodhouse
1895 Juneau, AK and Denver, CO

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection of nine separate, (not connected) novellas. I read one novella a night. Each one has a bit of a twist, each one has a romance, often an unexpected romance. A couple of the novellas have some very dramatic, tense scenes. There are some very funny moments too.
A little bit of something for everyone!
I gave the book 4 stars for the speed at which some people suddenly had feelings for each other and decided to marry.

*I requested and received a complimentary digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories. Among my favorites is one written by Patty Smith Hall, Hometown Heiress. I enjoy reading historical stories, and with this being a collection of them I wasn't disappointed.

I highly recommend this collection, especially Patty Smith Hall's work. I found it to be fluid, forward-moving, and unique.

[Mary Hake · Rating 5 out of 5]

The subtitle states it well: “Nine Wealthy Women Struggle to Find Love in a Society that Values Money First.” Each of these unique stories held my interest, and the variety of scenarios offered plenty to enjoy. From homesteaders to mine owners and from nineteenth century America to the Alaska gold rush, travel with these intrepid women as they discover their place and the love they long for. Their challenges make for exciting reading. I like these compilations of novellas, and this one did not disappoint. I received the book through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this grouping of books loved to read it.