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Immigrant Bride: A Story of Heartache, Inspiration and Love
Can an unconventional marriage lead to true love?
In the early 1900s, destitute in drought-stricken rural Italy, Sophia’s parents had no choice but to arrange a marriage for their beloved daughter at the tender age of sixteen. Devastated, Sophia, a naïve farm girl, is forced to marry a young man named Domenic and leave for the United States. As part of a large Italian exodus heading to the United States looking for a better life, Sophia must adjust to being in a strange country and build a life as a young immigrant bride in New York City.
Can Sophia overcome her fears and learn to build a life for herself and the ones she loves when fate steps in and steals her happiness away once more? And will she be strong enough to move forward when destiny hands her a new adventure?
In the early 1900s, destitute in drought-stricken rural Italy, Sophia’s parents had no choice but to arrange a marriage for their beloved daughter at the tender age of sixteen. Devastated, Sophia, a naïve farm girl, is forced to marry a young man named Domenic and leave for the United States. As part of a large Italian exodus heading to the United States looking for a better life, Sophia must adjust to being in a strange country and build a life as a young immigrant bride in New York City.
Can Sophia overcome her fears and learn to build a life for herself and the ones she loves when fate steps in and steals her happiness away once more? And will she be strong enough to move forward when destiny hands her a new adventure?
118 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 17, 2021
About the author
Jean Dunstan
3 books7 followersJean Louise Dunstan lives in Yuma, Arizona, with her husband. She has experienced many moves in her life, including Arizona, New York, Hawaii, Nevada, and California. An avid reader, she has always been fascinated with writing stories. In 2005 she obtained her lifelong dream when she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies from NAU Yuma. She is a mother of four and grandmother of five. After a 37 year career in Real Estate, she is enjoying her family and pursuing her interest in writing
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 25, 2023
Potential
The story was unique and creative. I believe the author set up an outline and named the chapters accordingly. However, way too much happened for this book length. It was simplistic and a lot of the thoughts were repetitive. Sophia kept crying and having the same thoughts. By the end, things had changed, but there was no development.
The story was unique and creative. I believe the author set up an outline and named the chapters accordingly. However, way too much happened for this book length. It was simplistic and a lot of the thoughts were repetitive. Sophia kept crying and having the same thoughts. By the end, things had changed, but there was no development.
December 22, 2021
A wonderful story about survival in the 1900s
October 20, 2022
Immigrant Bride was a fast and engaging story. Well written and held my attention through out. Sophia is a 16 year old girl who lives in Italy when people were starving due to the drought. Her family has no money and are going to end up in the poor house. Her father decides to marry her to a stranger so save her from the poorhouse. The story begins and she immigrates to America with a man she doesn’t know.
The emotions this girl goes though is very realistic. I found myself wondering how I would fair in her situation. As my own family, generations ago, immigrated to America I often wonder about the hardships they faced.
Great read!
The emotions this girl goes though is very realistic. I found myself wondering how I would fair in her situation. As my own family, generations ago, immigrated to America I often wonder about the hardships they faced.
Great read!
March 25, 2021
I could not imagine facing what Sophia and Domenic faced in this story as immigrants. Could I have been as brave?
What stood out above all else and was so inspiring was the courage Sophia embraced that helped her overcome the fears and uncertainty of starting out on a journey to an unknown land with a husband she knew nothing about...and then to face the trials that awaited her after she arrived in America.
What a remarkable story! Highly recommend!
What stood out above all else and was so inspiring was the courage Sophia embraced that helped her overcome the fears and uncertainty of starting out on a journey to an unknown land with a husband she knew nothing about...and then to face the trials that awaited her after she arrived in America.
What a remarkable story! Highly recommend!
November 30, 2021
Wonderful
What a fantastic transatlantic trip during America's
Beginning. This one is about Italy, I grew up with the verbal
Stories of my grandparents came from Ireland. This would
Make a great book for a history class. Especially for the current and future
Generations and had to find out about tenements and chamber pots
What a fantastic transatlantic trip during America's
Beginning. This one is about Italy, I grew up with the verbal
Stories of my grandparents came from Ireland. This would
Make a great book for a history class. Especially for the current and future
Generations and had to find out about tenements and chamber pots
June 15, 2021
Hope and loss
A terrifying look at what it must have been like to arrive in a foreign land without family or prospects. Couched in kind language with good people alongside, a story of transitions that continue for immigrants today.
A terrifying look at what it must have been like to arrive in a foreign land without family or prospects. Couched in kind language with good people alongside, a story of transitions that continue for immigrants today.
October 30, 2021
We!!, that was abrupt...
This was all about the struggle to emigrate to America, then overcome further obstacles that followed. The happy ending seemed like a weird afterthought and was summarized in just a paragraph or so. Just seemed weird to be rushed through the climax.
This was all about the struggle to emigrate to America, then overcome further obstacles that followed. The happy ending seemed like a weird afterthought and was summarized in just a paragraph or so. Just seemed weird to be rushed through the climax.
February 2, 2022
great read
Really enjoyed the slightly different approach to the mail order bride theme. It was good that some of the people living in the tenements were able to find a way to move further west with the green areas and mountains.
Really enjoyed the slightly different approach to the mail order bride theme. It was good that some of the people living in the tenements were able to find a way to move further west with the green areas and mountains.
July 19, 2022
Trusting Love
As this book begins, you want to cry. But, it is a good cry, for both a sad good bye and the happiness of a budding love. God’s hands work throughout this book, with everyday miracles occurring. I loved this book and the reality of life for immigrants.
As this book begins, you want to cry. But, it is a good cry, for both a sad good bye and the happiness of a budding love. God’s hands work throughout this book, with everyday miracles occurring. I loved this book and the reality of life for immigrants.
June 5, 2025
I feel like this was a rough draft of a great idea for a story with a lot of potential. The plot and characters need more description and development. It was a very simple, quick read. I just felt like I didn’t get to know the characters or get involved emotionally in the story.
March 20, 2026
Moving story
I feel that this story had a better depiction of immigrants. Vetted before they left and again when they arrived, nothing was guaranteed. Life was really rough, everyone was exploited. Wonderful but heartbreaking story.
I feel that this story had a better depiction of immigrants. Vetted before they left and again when they arrived, nothing was guaranteed. Life was really rough, everyone was exploited. Wonderful but heartbreaking story.
June 14, 2021
I loved it@
The characters were so simplistic, but real in nature . So full of life and love. I am sure this was the beginning for many immigrant people. Very intriguing.
The characters were so simplistic, but real in nature . So full of life and love. I am sure this was the beginning for many immigrant people. Very intriguing.
July 12, 2021
Too short
A bit infantile to me, but a good storyline. Would have liked a longer story, a good book for a teenager.
A bit infantile to me, but a good storyline. Would have liked a longer story, a good book for a teenager.
October 12, 2021
Interesting, but underwhelming
Interesting read, but felt more like a draft than a complete story. The bones are there. The rest of the story requires development.
Interesting read, but felt more like a draft than a complete story. The bones are there. The rest of the story requires development.
Read
October 25, 2021I enjoyed the book was a nice quick read.
March 12, 2022
Good story
I have to admit, I liked the story best when she was to go to Montana to marry Jamie and start her life.
I have to admit, I liked the story best when she was to go to Montana to marry Jamie and start her life.
September 18, 2022
I chose this as a free, kindle read while stuck home with covid. Turned out to be a very good book and a story that sadly is not all fiction.
August 13, 2023
Heartwarming Adventures
A wonderful tale of an immigrant teen coming to America and the hardships of not only leaving her family and Italy but being a female given away by her parents to a stranger to marry.
A wonderful tale of an immigrant teen coming to America and the hardships of not only leaving her family and Italy but being a female given away by her parents to a stranger to marry.
November 1, 2021
A moving story
Immigrants who came to the United States from Italy, as well as other European countries, had unbelievably rough lives when they arrived. Not knowing the language was the least of their worries. It is unbelievable to think that so little progress has been made in the work atmosphere for people who work in sweatshops around the world!
Pride and determination play a large part in shaping a person's future, as demonstrated in this saga.
It is uplifting to read a story about immigrant families with a happy ending.
Immigrants who came to the United States from Italy, as well as other European countries, had unbelievably rough lives when they arrived. Not knowing the language was the least of their worries. It is unbelievable to think that so little progress has been made in the work atmosphere for people who work in sweatshops around the world!
Pride and determination play a large part in shaping a person's future, as demonstrated in this saga.
It is uplifting to read a story about immigrant families with a happy ending.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews