The Substitute Bride

by Janet Dean

Fleeing an arranged marriage, debutante Elizabeth Manning exchanges places with a mail-order bride bound for New Harmony, Iowa. Life on the frontier can't be worse than forced wedlock to pay her father's gambling debts. But Ted Logan's rustic lifestyle and rambunctious children prove to be more of a challenge than Elizabeth expects. She doesn't know how to be a mother or a wife. She doesn't even know how to tell Ted the truth about her past—especially as her feelings for him grow. Little does she know, Ted's hiding secrets of his own, and when their pasts collide, there's more than one heart at stake.

Genres: Love Inspired, Romance, Christian, Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Love Inspired Historical, Historical Romance

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Janet Dean grew up in a family who cherished the past and had a strong creative streak. Her father recounted fascinating stories, like his father before him. The tales they told instilled in Janet a love of history and the desire to write.

She married her college sweetheart and taught first grade before leaving to rear two daughters, but Janet never lost interest in American history and the accounts of strong men and women of faith who built this country.

With her daughters grown, she eagerly turned to Inspirational historical romance. Today Janet enjoys spinning stories for Love Inspired Historical.

When she isn’t writing, Janet stamps greeting cards, plays golf and is never without a book to read. The Deans love to travel and spend time with family.

Reviews

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Substitute Bride was an easy, fun read. The story seemed to flow naturally, which kept me interested in reading it. Elizabeth had a lot of spunk and I enjoyed the banter between her and Ted. Even though my favorite character was Ted, at times he seemed almost too good to be true. Although there were some things that didn't seem quite realistic, I still really enjoyed the book and liked that faith and scripture were included in the story. I recommend this book to fans of both historical fiction and mail-order bride novels!

[Donna Hatch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute premise and plot about a marriage of convenience (my favorite plot devise) and overall extrememly well-written. However, the author really over did the similes and metaphors—no need to have one on every page! Also, it was also a bit too preachy for me, even for an inspirational, and I didn’t believe the bad guy having such a drastic change of heart at the end. Still, the romance was tender and unfolded beautifully.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story! I think it's one of my favorites that has come out this year...so far! Elizabeth cracked me up! I love the banter between her and Ted. I love the fact that despite living a privileged lifestyle she tackeled the task of caring for two children and learning to cook and take care of a home without making excuses. Times got tough, but relying on God to forgive them, as well as forgiving others in their lives, helped them get through it and learn new things about themselves.

[Sherrinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was delightful and I loved how Janet wove conflict into the budding relationship between Elizabeth and Ted. Poor Elizabeth had determination to be a great farm wife, but was so frustrated at her lack of abilities. And Ted...sigh...he was so encouraging and patient and I just fell in love with him. He was a strong, steady, manly type and just right for Elizabeth and her independent spirit. I'll definitely be reading more of Janet's books!

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing how quickly she learned to take care of a home. It shocked me right out of the story when she was doing laundry, including boiling the diapers, without any instructions. She took to everything too easily, only a bit of trouble with cooking.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1HEGZG5...
Review on my blog: http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...

The Substitute Bride was a good Love Inspired Historical read. I really loved the first half of the book, but the last half (in my opinion) wasn't as good...hence the four stars rating. I loved how Elizabeth took the place of a mail-order bride who had cold feet and Elizabeth met the potential husband instead. I thought that was really unique.

The characters were nice. I liked how Ted overcame the things in his past and showcased a redeemed life. Elizabeth annoyed me a little bit with what she did towards the end (won't say what to avoid spoilers), but she also made me laugh at times. :)

All in all, a good read. I loved the first half and liked the last half. If you enjoy quick inspirational historical romance reads, I think you'd like The Substitute Bride.

*I did not get this book for review - I won a copy and was not required to review it, but chose to. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE SUBSTITUTE BRIDE in the perfect mail order bride story. Elizabeth Manning never intended to be a mail order bride. Changing places with one cold feet bride, Elizabeth sets off to marry a man she has never even communicated with!
This was such a fun book to read. When Ted finds out this is not the bride he intended, there is bound to frustration, but I loved that he married her anyway. He needed a bride and she needed a home.
The love that grew between them was a joy to watch unfold. When Elizabeth struggled with cooking and managing Ted’s wayward daughter, I wanted to laugh, but felt empathy for her struggles. And I just howled when Ted refused her biscuits and then turned around and later made them. You’ll have to read the book to find out the rest.
There was drama between the married couple, a sweet romance, and enough conflict to keep the pace of the novel moving and intriguing. The historical detail was great and the characters real. I loved this novel and hope I can read more by this author soon! A unique take on the mail order bride scene, I would recommend this book to all lovers of this time period.

[Rachel Brand · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading a lot of mail-order bride stories lately just to see how they compare to my own, and this is definitely one of the best I've come across. It had just the right amount of humour and suspense intertwined with the romance. I found myself grinning several times while I read this during my commute, both at Elizabeth's hilarious cooking attempts and the slowly blossoming romance between Elizabeth and Ted. In all honesty, I think my only complaints would be that Elizabeth's father's change of heart seemed too good to be true, and the part of the book where Elizabeth and Robby briefly live away from the farmhouse didn't entirely seem to fit with the story. I'm sure they couldn't have figured out what was bothering Robby without moving away. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and will definitely be reading more from Janet Dean. 4*

[Myra Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Janet Dean has crafted another compelling historical romance, complete with a spunky, determined heroine and a strong but gentle hero who will capture your heart from the start. To pay off his gambling debts, Elizabeth Manning's father has arranged her marriage to a decidedly unsavory character. She escapes by switching places with a reluctant mail-order bride pledged to an Iowa farmer and finds herself married to Ted Logan, a widower with two motherless children. With the perils of gambling underlying the plot, Dean leads her characters through a compelling maze of secrets and broken hearts, until the inevitable happy ending. The joy is in watching how both Elizabeth and Ted grow through their trials and learn to see God's hand in bringing them together.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extremely well-written story about a mail order bride and her experiences with her new, ready made family. Elizabeth Logan is a delightful lady; she is bold and daring enough not to be taken advantage of, but also needy in her own way. She has the type of personality that draws people to her. That alone would make this an interesting book, but on a deeper level the author deals with the effects dishonesty and fear can have on a relationship, the amount of trust it takes to believe someone can truly change for the better as a person, and the way God can guide our lives through circumstances we encounter. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, although there didn't seem to be as much historical detail in this one as in others I have read.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, and I hope I don't offend anyone, but these types of books are often cheesy. I read them once in awhile because I need something that doesn't make me think. This one; however, was really good!

Elizabeth is a classic debutante. She's always had everything done for her and when her father promises her to someone she finds completely appalling, she takes off. She winds up taking the place of a mail order bride she meets at the train station. When she arrives, she marries Ted Logan, a farmer who's wife died, and gets thrown into the role of wife and mother to two children.

It's all about how they learn to get along with one another, overcome their pasts and, of course, fall in love.

[Xondra Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read, but I didn't like the heroine. I didn't like the fact that she lied to get what she wanted. I also didn't like that she treated the hero badly in my opinion. Tom was too good for her. When she decided to leave him towards the end of the story I was floored. Even though things worked out in the end it left me feeling bitter towards her. I give the book three stars because the writing itself was good and I did like Tom.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE IT!

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read with moments of humor and pain. Elizabeth going as a substitute bride found her learning to do a lot of domestic skills quickly. Ted was grieving but wanted the best for his children with his heart being called to doing something different. How will Elizabeth and Ted overcome their past when they are exposed in their small rural town?

This was a purchased used book from our library sale without any obligation to write a review. I have expressed my own thoughts.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay. Not my usual historical fiction; it was set in the Midwest in the 1800s in the USA! But I needed something to read on the exercise bike. Inspirational romantic story highlighting the addiction of gambling and the saving grace of the Lord.

[Abigail Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy, fun read that I enjoyed and finished in a day.

[Tambra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this could not put it down. Great story.

[Val Rider · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, cute, and quick read!

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth escapes her home in order to avoid having to marry an old man who will forgive her father's gambling debts. It breaks her heart to leave her little brother behind, so she promises she will return for him and take him with her when she has figured out a way to support them. Elizabeth meets a girl at the train station not wanting to get on the train to meet her husband, as a mail-0rder bride. Ah - as an out, Elizabeth takes her ticket and becomes another lady. She meets her fiance and confesses the swap just before marrying the handsome Ted, who lives on a farm and has 2 children. Needless to say, Elizabeth struggles in her new roles. Who would have thought God had brought them together when past secrets are revealed?

[Carol Rankin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Substitute Bride

Fantastic adventure story with a lot of action, surprises, and love. It was a story full of love and surprises.

[Shantelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t always really enjoy these short novellas, but The Substitute Bride was a lovely, refreshing story. I enjoyed the prairie/farmer life and the connections I found to Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke.

A widower with two small children and a black past. A desperate young woman fleeing an arranged marriage who switches places with a mail-ordered-bride. Gambling that ruins lives. Debts that threaten lives. A call from God. A beautiful love story written by God.

A cute, enjoyable story to be sure. There was some important lessons and deep themes as well, that made The Substitute Bride into more than just a fluffy romance.

There were a few things that weren’t settling so well with me. –Like little Anna’s snotty, disrespectful attitude; and the women of the town acting like their home life is such a drudge! But overall, those things worked out smoothly and satisfying.

A sweet, faith-filled romance overall. The Substitute Bride was a charming, short read for me.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story that caused tears to roll down my cheeks a few times.

Ted Logan is the father of a 7 year old girl and 14 month old boy. A widower for 13 months. Several local woman in his small town of New Harmony, Iowa would marry him but he wants a marriage for convenience and several of the women in town don't seem to take to his children.

Elizabeth Manning is running away from a marriage that will get her gambling father out of debt. He is pushing her to marry an older man. All Elizabeth wants is a stable home for her and her 8 year old brother, Robby.

Elizabeth finds her money is gone from her purse and she is not sure how to get a train ticket but finds a girl crying. Sally was suppose to be a mail-order bride but decided she will miss her family. She willingly gives her ticket and the new life of marriage to a farmer to Elizabeth.

Two people full of secrets and lacking in trust are thrown together in this great tale of what God can overcome to bring peace in lives.

[Linda C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth flees an arranged marriage to pay off her father’s gambling debt. At the Chicago train station she meets a girl having second thoughts about being a mail-order bride. The prospective groom is a Christian farmer in Iowa. Elizabeth takes the girl’s place assuming she will get a job and repay the farmer for the cost of the ticket. Ted meets her and realizes that something is not right but proposes a marriage bargain. What I liked about this story is the fact that she tells him she is not the expected bride, so there is no lie about identity entering the marriage. Both partners have other secrets that come out as they learn to trust each other. There are some fun scenes of mishaps around her lack of skills, i.e. city girl on the farm. The year is 1898, so there is a substantial difference is life style. This is Christian fiction and it is a big part of the story but it was not preachy. Well done.

[Michelle Robinson]

I could not like this book. I don't care for novels with big secrets, the deceit impedes my ability to believe in the couple's eventual HEA. However, the lie about her brother was understandable.

The thing that I could not really get comfortable with was how soon she was comfortable giving orders, at the home, when she had not added one thing of real value to the home and where, even a spoiled self indulgent young woman would be a little bit reticent about giving so many orders so soon, what if he decided she was too bossy to allow to stay? It would seem that this would be a real possible concern. She just dives in and becomes very bossy without really much concern for all of the things she cannot help with at the farm. That did not feel very realistic, to me.

I looked forward to reading this book but I could not appreciate it at all. Maybe at a later date it will appeal to me?

[Kandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really can't believe I wasted a credit on paperback swap.com to claim this book. I trusted all the positive comments I read here on goodreads! This book was written by a grandmother, which should have been my first clue, I guess, that it might not be to my taste. The writing style wasn't the worst I have ever endured really; it was just ...odd. What is "chuffed"? The characters "chuff" from time to time. I guess I need to refer to a dictionary.

The only other complaint I have is that it was amazingly predictable yet far-fetched. So many things happened so abruptly, with no transition between parts of the plot. It was so unrealistic and fake. My advice: don't waste your time. Unless you are a grandmother too.

[Haley Whitehall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Janet Dean. I liked both Ted and Elizabeth, but the story aggravated me. Both of the main characters held back secrets, didn't trust each other, and Elizabeth put up walls unable to let Ted into her heart until the very end. Even for a Christian romance this story didn't have much romance. The best scene was when both of the MC's were making biscuits. I did see that Ted and Elizabeth made a good couple but would have liked to see them acting as a married couple more. This book didn't have anything extra. I was waiting for a surprising plot twist or something, but that never came. I was expecting the bad guy to show up at the end and he did. This is a very predicable read.

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Substitute Bride by Janet Dean is a sweet book about a marriage of convenience, the effect of secrets on a relationship, and the ability for personal change.

Elizabeth Manning, escaping an imminent arranged marriage, becomes the wife of Ted Logan. Both the characters and the setting are enjoyable and believable. What is intriguing about this book are the dichotomies: city girl/farmer; pampered daughter/farm wife; honesty/deceptiveness; strong faith/shaky trust in God, etc. What unifies the book, and the marriage, are the compassion and generosity of Elizabeth and Ted.

This book is best read when you, The Reader, need an emotional or spiritual lift. It will deliver.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Running from an arranged marriage, the girl takes the place of another who is supposed to be going out to Iowa as a mail order bride. Hoping to find a safe place to bring her young brother, she marries the man, even though she knows nothing about running a house or caring for children. Of course they fall in love, but things get in the way.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. a great read and hard to put down.