The Warfield Bride

by Bronwyn Williams

When she answered an advertisement seeking a bride at a remote lifesaving station on faraway Hatteras Island, Hannah Ballinger was desperate. Recently widowed, with only enough money to pay her passage, she was also pregnant.

Of the three men in uniform who meet her at the landing, she is immediately drawn to Penn Warfield, the eldest of five brothers and the keeper in charge of the station. It was Penn who had placed the advertisement seeking a bride for his younger brother Adam. Only Adam has other ideas.

Penn intends to send Hannah back on the next boat. Determined to stay, Hannah makes herself useful at the station. She cooks, cleans, and tends the injured better than any of the brothers can, despite continual clashes with Penn and his no-women-allowed rulebook. When Hannah goes into premature labor, it is Penn who delivers her baby, with the help of a veterinary manual.

Little Sara Mirella Ballinger has all five Warfield brothers for her godfathers. She will need their protection-and her mother will need a husband-if they are going to escape the man who is searching for Hannah to lay claim to her baby.

THE WARFIELD BRIDE won a Maggie Award as best historical romance of the year in 1994.

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical, Romance, Historical Fiction

267 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1994

About the author

Dixie Burrus was born on September 09, 1930 in North Carolina's Outer Banks, U.S.A, where her family had lived for generations, to sea captain Dozier Burrus and Achsah Williams. Her father was the professional baseball player Maurice Lennon "Dick" Burrus, she has two sisters, Mary and Sarah Burrus.

Dixie is an artist and romance writer. She began writting contemporany romance novels as Zoe Dozier, now she writes her contemporary romances with her married name, Dixie Browning, and historical romances with her sister, Mary Burrus Williams as Brownwyn Williams, one combination of their married names. She has been awarded a Romance Writers of America RITA Award, and been a five-time RITA finalist. She has also won three Maggies, and numerous awards from the National Federation of Press Women and the NC Press Club.

Reviews

[SheLove2Read]

culling my shelves. decided not to read.

[SusanwithaGoodBook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up during our trip to North Carolina's Outer Banks. We were in the gift shop at the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site. I always enjoy looking at the books on offer, and this one caught my eye. It seemed like a nice little read that would immerse me in the history and culture of the outer banks around the turn of the last century.

What I *didn't expect* was a full-fledged Historical Bodice Ripper. LOL The cover of my book is very tame, so I wasn't expecting what I got. The book started out really well. The writing is descriptive and shows you who the characters are and what's going on in a really lovely bit at a time way, so I was really getting into it when BAM! I was hit by traditional chick-lit descriptions of muscles, eyes, and desires. Oh, dear. I went to Amazon to see what others had to say about this book and discovered a completely different cover on the original publication. It turns out this is a reprint of a very old novel with a very different cover.

With a few edits, this could be pretty good literature. Unfortunately, it's ruined by a few passages that give you a bit TMI. Fortunately, it's pretty easy to skip over those parts and get to the main story. I felt like the story could have been better, but it was hampered by the traditional trope of the "undiscussed problem" so common in romances (and sitcoms).

So, this isn't great literature, but still, I'm glad I read it. I did gain more of an understanding of the daily lifestyle of those who lived and worked at the Life-Saving Stations, and overall it kept my attention and was a quick, fun read.

[Monica Walser · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Warfield Bride, originally published in 1994, was republished in 2018 with a new cover by a different publisher. I personally like the 2018 cover over the original since it shows more of the historical nature of the book. The love story was well written and gave a sense of anticipation as to who Hannah would marry. I also enjoyed reading about the lifesaving job these men had as US Lifesaving Servicemen, the predecessor of the US Coast Guard. They not only put their lives on the line but did it with courage and through personal hardships. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and NC history, especially as a beach read if you're on the coast of NC.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book although the cover was different? Maybe a later printing? It was fun to read a historical fiction piece set on the Outer Banks!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

predictable but an easy beach read
My cover did not look like this one - LOL

[Nancy Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was super fun and did enemies-to-lovers, pining, and found family v well don’t @ me

[•• fateemz •• •• · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was suppose to be a slow burn I guess but it was just frustrating

like at some point we all know so just stop being so stubborn and love each other omg put ur pride aside

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating a book 5 out of 5 stars is a strong endorsement, but when I add it to my all-time favorite books, then that speaks volumes. Such is the case with Bronwyn Williams' The Warfield Bride, a true gem that solidifies her place as a favorite author. This isn't just a historical romance; it's a captivating journey filled with remarkable characters, a unique setting, and a love story that truly stands the test of time.

From the very first pages, we're drawn into Hannah Ballinger's desperate plight. Widowed, pregnant, and penniless, she heads to a remote Hatteras Island lifesaving station, hoping for a new beginning as a mail-order bride. Though intended for Penn Warfield's younger brother, fate and Penn's own hidden feelings quickly intervene. The initial clashes between independent Hannah and the unyielding keeper set the stage for a delightful enemies-to-lovers dynamic, crackling with tension and undeniable chemistry.

Readers widely praise The Warfield Bride's incredibly rich, authentic historical setting. Williams masterfully transports us to the rugged 19th-century US Life-Saving Service. Detailed descriptions of surfmen's arduous duties, coastal realities, and Outer Banks dangers are integral to the plot and character development, immersing us in a story both grand and personal.

Beyond the compelling romance, the novel shines through its exploration of found family. The five distinct Warfield brothers become a central, endearing force, surprisingly embracing Hannah and her infant daughter, Sara Mirella. Penn delivering the baby with a veterinary manual highlights the unexpected, heartwarming, and often humorous bonds formed. This strong community support is a celebrated theme.

As Hannah proves indispensable, the slow-burn romance with Penn deepens. Their evolving relationship is incredibly satisfying, built on mutual respect and growing affection. A suspenseful subplot, involving a dangerous figure from Hannah's past seeking her child, amplifies the stakes, keeping readers on edge and rooting for Hannah and the Warfield family.

Winner of the 1994 Maggie Award, The Warfield Bride showcases Bronwyn Williams' exceptional writing—engaging narratives with strong characters, emotional depth, witty banter, and thrilling plots. This book truly delivers, offering a powerful story of resilience, love, and finding home. Highly recommended, it only gets better with time.

[M— · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had vivid recollections of reading this book as a teen, but it's taken me more than ten years to recall the title and track now a copy to reread. And it was worth rereading, if maybe only once. The heroine was a bit to passive for my taste. Sure, she smuggled herself away from sexual bondage in a rather cold-eyed gamble, but her constant thought monolog of wanting to give the hero a piece of her mind, um, later; grated on me. And I was annoyed that only two of the five brothers paired off in this book, leaving three actively seeking mates. Williams has written other romances featuring mail-order brides in the Outer Banks region, but none of them were continuances to this one. Grrrr.

For all that it's dated and stuffed with fisherfolk brogue, this book is worth reading if you happen to find it. Three stars. Nearly four.

[penelopewanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

in the romance box, quick read before sending one. This is the first I've read by this author and I was captivated by the original setting and tone. I read it quickly as I have to send on the bookbox in the next few days, but might have kept it otherwise...

[Katrina Passick Lumsden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one, but it's yet another book that wore me down with how much emotional conflict there was throughout its duration. I got so tired of people fighting, I just wanted it to end.