The Bartered Bride Romance Collection 9 Historical Stories of Arranged Marriages by Cathy Marie Hake, JoAnn A. Grote, Kelly Eileen Hake, Amy Rognlie, Janelle Burnham Schneider, Pamela Kaye Tracy, Lynette Sowell

Nice long read. I hate a good book to end, so it's nice to read a collection like this that keeps it going. I also think it takes a little something extra to write a really interesting story with depth and still be novella length. These are all master storytellers. You don't feel like the story is cut short. Each is a unique experience, holds interesting experience and walk of faith.  A few of the stories are linked together, their being sisters who were an answer to an ad - or were they? God has plans for us that we don't always understand, but He knows what we need all along.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Publisher and Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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Searching for You by Jody Hedlund

"Maybe one day in the future, they’d no longer notice the cracks in pieces of their life that God had put back together."

It was so good to pick up the story of the orphan train and three sisters again. Sophie was the youngest,  who ran away from the other two sisters as they sorted out their lives, always trying to provide a way to support them all. Sophie also took on the responsibility of two other very small orphans from the time they were babies. So many orphans lived on the streets of New York City,

surviving any way they could. When Mr Brace started the orphan trains it gave so many a new start, although no system can be perfect. A dangerous situation forced Sophia and her friend to flee the city with the little ones, and they were lucky enough to be included on a train. But it's not all smooth sailing for them, and they continue to have trying times. Heart wrenching details and well written characters make you endeared to them and feel all the pain and frustration of trying to adjust. And feel the love they have for one another. You'll fervently want all the best for each of them. God can bring the best to rough trails and make a way that's better than anything we could imagine for ourselves. The journey makes us who we are.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Publisher and Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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Mountain Christmas Brides

by Mildred Colvin, Mary Davis, Susan Page Davis, Lena Nelson Dooley, Darlene Franklin, Debby Lee, Tamela Hancock Murray, Carrie Turansky, Gina Welborn 

Nine stories, two time frames. The first 1880 on a ranch in in Wyoming, the second in Washington territory at a logging camp area, the third in 1913 near Denver, Co during one of the worst snowstorms in it's  history. They share characters and friends, which I love in this type of book. A mail order bride the groom doesn't know about,  a tomboy, camp worker, some wealthy girls, a Parson's daughter to name a few. A delightful mix with tons of depth and characters you feel you know. If you want to cozy up with a good book that will keep you engaged, especially for the holidays, this is a great choice. Isn't that cover just gorgeous?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Publisher and Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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Once Upon a Christmas by Rosanne Croft, Linda Reinhardt, Sharon Bernash Smith

Mega book of stories. 55 very short stories about the true meaning of Christmas, the peace and learning process to realize it. You will find many gems here, historical to present day. You might want to start at the beginning of December and read just a couple at a time, like devotionals, giving yourself time to think about them. They're real life examples, with real people, and maybe a few angels. Great if you just want inspirational very short reads.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Publisher and Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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The Lieutenant's Bargain by Regina Jennings

Just when you think you know what you're doing with your life, God happens.

Nothing in life is a coincidence. Not to faithful praying people. God has a plan for us all, sometimes in ways we would never think of. Jack is a soldier at Fort Reno, working for years with the Indians to keep peace at the Darlington Indian Agency. There was a girl where he grew up that he had cherished since childhood, but she barely knew he existed. Then she appears here, not far from the fort, after a stagecoach ambush. And he accidently marries her in a ceremony performed by the Indians that
rescued her. All Hattie wanted was to go to Colorado to paint and be recognized for her talent. As she is forced to live at Fort Reno, she is learning to paint better. The emotions she feels and those of her subjects is exquisitely described. As Jack and Hattie are getting to know each other better, their relationship is like a dance where they're both getting closer together. The men involved with the stagecoach robbery come back into the story and the story really gets intense. A fabulous book that I didn't want to put down.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Publisher and Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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The Christmas Prayer by Wanda E. Brunstetter

In 1850 three wagons set out to go from Independence, Missouri to California. They were late and missed the larger group, but agreed to go ahead with one of the men leading them. Its a difficult journey of course, with lots of disagreement, but they all learn more about each other along the way. Their group becomes stranded at Christmas and find ways that God definitely worked in their lives, changing them in ways they never expected. This is a quick read with good depth of characters brought to life by this wonderful author.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Publisher and Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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The Christmas Secret by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Should you ever read someone else's diary?
A short story about two people truly in love who have something come between them just before they're to be married. This is the story of how they both weather the problem and get through it, trusting in God. Christian Historical set in 1880 in Allentown PA. I can imagine this being an interesting story you'd tell when sitting around a fire on a wintery day.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Publisher and Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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