The Unexpected Bride: (The Brides #1)

Lena Goldfinch

Oct 2014 · The Brides Book 1 · Indigo Road Publishing

About this ebook

"A great curl-up-on-a-cold-night read, so go grab a copy for yourself!" (USA Today)

What’s a man to do when his father orders him a bride?

Rebecca Sullivan has been “Becky” all her life, a real hoyden. Her childhood sweetheart taught her to ride bareback and shoot a rifle, but then he chose a “perfect lady” for a wife—a real Southern belle, who’s now expecting a baby. Heartbroken, Becky signs up to be a mail-order bride to a Seattle man, sight unseen. She resolves to squelch her hoydenish ways and become a “perfect lady” for her future husband.

If logging-operation owner Isaac Jessup had wanted a bride, he’d have chosen a sturdy frontier woman, not some fragile lady from back East. Ready to explain the mistake, honorable Isaac takes one look into Rebecca’s vulnerable eyes...and knows he’ll marry her, even though this delicate waif is obviously unsuited for wild Seattle.

Could an unexpected marriage be a match made in heaven?

Sweet Historical Romance / Western Romance

A Mail-Order Bride Novel

THE BRIDES SERIES

The Unexpected Bride
Sleigh Bells & Mistletoe
The Bartered Bride
Only the Heart Knows


Excerpt

The lean-to was chilly and not for the first time, Isaac considered boarding it up proper and calling it a barn. He sat on the stool and began milking the goat, all the while mentally preparing for the worship service they planned to go to later that morning. The Scriptures he'd read first thing that morning were fresh in his mind, and his prayers kept returning to the problem of Rebecca. One inner voice urged him to send her back home, but another voice spoke of commitment. He'd said vows before God to love and keep her till death do them part. Those weren't words he was willing to dismiss lightly.

"What's her name?" Her voice was suddenly in his ear, quite close.

Isaac jumped. The goat bleated at him.

"Sorry, girl." He patted her side and resumed milking her with slow, careful hands. He glanced over his shoulder toward the subject of his thoughts.

Rebecca stood watching him, leaning over the rail and peering in at them with curious eyes. He was surprised to see her out this early. She usually left him to his morning chores, and most times he'd get back inside the cabin and find her already up preparing breakfast.

"What's her name?" she repeated.

"Name? The goat?" He looked at the goat dumbly. It was a goat. He'd never gotten much further than that. She gave them a daily supply of milk, but other than that she was generally a nuisance. She liked to butt down the stall door. And whenever she got loose, she'd eat what few vegetables he was able to grow in the summer. She also liked to nip at his shirts and underthings when he hung them out on the line--if he was lucky. Most times she'd tug the whole line down and drag it through the mud.

"Yes, the goat," Rebecca said, a pleasant-sounding smile in her voice. "Don't tell me she hasn't got a name?"

There was something nice about hearing a woman's voice in the morning. It reminded him a little of when he was young, and his mother had chatted with him in soft tones while they ate breakfast. As if speaking too loud would jar them too quickly out of whatever dreams they'd had the night before.

Rebecca's soft voice put him much in mind of those times.

"All right. I won't." Isaac focused on his milking.

"She doesn't have a name?" Rebecca pressed. "How can you have an animal that doesn't have a name?"

"Never gave it much thought. She's good for milk, but other than that she's nothing but trouble, always munching on the laundry."

"Well, then I think your choice is clear. Either you call her Milky or you call her Trouble." Her teasing tone brought a reluctant smile to his lips.

"Well, then, if I have to choose, then I guess she's Trouble."

The real Trouble was standing behind him, her elbow propped against the top of the rail, her chin cupped in one dainty hand.

***

Ratings and reviews

Becky fell in love with the only person she could be herself with but when he leaves home and comes back with a wife, Becky runs for the hills in the form of a mail order bride. Sam the father of the groom Isaac has a little surprise in store for his son. It was a enjoyable story. Wish Becky had revealed her inner hoyden earlier in storyline though ;)

Pretty darned preachy for a romance novel... I like a good clean, sweet romance as much as anyone but why all the bible passages and biblical themes while mentioning knee-buckling kisses and sexual yearning almost in the same paragraph? It was just, well, odd.

I couldn’t find anything I disliked about this book. I certainly like this book. I was so engrossed in it from the start that I read it all in one night. The characters were unique and human-like, the plot entertaining. The setting was realistic and would have been beautiful if I could have seen it. I also appreciated the added drama in the climax. (I’ll leave you, readers, to figure that out. I wouldn’t want to spoil the ending). The book’s message, self-confidence, is something that applies to everyone—everyone needs to see themselves as valuable and not be afraid to show their true selves. The best friends are the ones who love you no matter what, anyway, and that includes God, who created you perfect the way you are. Many different characters throughout the novel played a role in Becky’s growing self-confidence, which gives realism to the story. How many times in life do we learn everything we need to know at one time from one person? The romance was sweet, just as the cover said. I love that the characters, Isaac and Rebecca, took time to get to know each other and work through their problems before truly falling in love. It makes the romance seem realistic.

About the author

LENA GOLDFINCH writes sweet historical western romance, inspirational romance, and books for teens. She's always been a sucker for a good old-fashioned romance, whether it's a novel or short story, young adult or adult, fantasy or realistic, contemporary or historical. Lena has been a finalist in several national writing contests, including the RWA Golden Heart and ACFW Genesis contests.

Discover THE BRIDES SERIES!

* THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE (The Brides #1)
... A Mail-Order Bride Novel
... "This old-fashioned mountain romance is an unexpected treat!"

* SLEIGH BELLS & MISTLETOE (The Brides #2)
... A Holiday Short Story, Sequel to THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE


* THE BARTERED BRIDE (The Brides #3)
... "Fans of Janette Oke’s LOVE COMES SOFTLY series will find much to love in Lena Goldfinch’s THE BARTERED BRIDE..."

* ONLY THE HEART KNOWS
... New Release! A Standalone Companion Novel to The Brides Series

Books for Young Adult & Teens

* AIRE
* SONGSTONE
* THE LANGUAGE OF SOULS
* HAUNTING JOY
* CHAIN REACTION: A Short Story (Prequel to HAUNTING JOY)
* TAKE A PICTURE

* HAPPY, a toddler picture book

"With unexpectedly fresh characters and twists, the imagination is kept on its toes, even while feeling entirely comfortable with the familiarity of the mail-order bride storyline... a great curl-up-on-a-cold-night read, so go grab a copy for yourself!" USA Today on THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE

"SONGSTONE...an original fantasy world inhabited by superstitious tribal nations and intriguingly developed characters." SERENA CHASE, USA Today