A lonely and abused woman without a home. A Marshal who is given the sudden responsibility of two children. A mail-order bride situation that has fallen to ruin. Can Lottie find a home and a family by Christmas?December 1880When Lottie Reiner lost her father in the war, her mother fell to pieces. At the young age of eleven, Lottie began caring for her catatonic mother. But when both her mother … when both her mother and grandfather pass away months apart, Lottie becomes nothing but a burden to her family. Her grandmother pushes Lottie to get married before it’s too late. But Lottie is a twenty-seven-year-old spinster with no experience raising children. Isn’t it already too late?
Deputy US Marshal Archer King comes from a family of law keepers. His father was a US Marshal, and his mother worked as a Pinkerton Agent with Kate Warne. When his only sister passed on in childbirth, his brother-in-law swore he could care for the children on his own. And Archer was to check in on them, but in almost two years, he’s neglected that duty to his sister. When the father, Sam Hodge, goes missing, he finds out exactly what kind of dire situation the children have been subject to.
After being turned out of her home, Lottie heads to Durant, Oklahoma, where Sam Hodge and his two children live, in the hopes of becoming a new wife and mother. Only the mail-order situation does not turn out the way Lottie had hoped, and many of the things that Sam had told her in his letters turn out to be lies. The only thing true is the children, and Lottie is fast becoming attached to them. But what will happen when Sam is found? Will she have the opportunity to get a home and a family before Christmas?
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I enjoyed this story! A bit predictable because of the title, but enjoyable none the less! Although, I don’t think young Sam’s age was correctly described. There’s no way a 5 yr old could take care of a newborn, and as a 7 year old, I doubt he’d be able to handle a 2 yr old completely on his own. And if Sam was such a horrible father, why would he read the letters from his mail order bride to the children?
I belive a love story gone wrong? I highly doubt it, The Lord has a plan… this one gets juicy… plz read n enjoy…
I loved this book. It was very exciting for me to read. Every aspect about it was enjoyable!
This was a cute mail order bride story! It was sweet and satisfying! Bonus points for adorable kiddos!
At a young age Lottie lost her father & her mother didn’t accept it well & Lottie had to look after her mother. She lost her mother & not too long after she lost the only person that cared anything about her. Her grandfather. After he died no one cared about her she was just in the way more or less. She had felt neglected, unloved & unwanted all of her life. Her grandmother answers a mail-order-bride letter for. She is not happy about it & she keeps putting off leaving because she scared of having to go so far away. Her brother makes that decision for her. Doesn’t give her a choice. He gives her two to be out and he putting the house up for sale. So she packs her bags with her meagger belonging & leaves on a train for Oklahoma. She gets to to Oklahoma train station & Sam is not there to meet her. She can’t understand why he wasn’t there. Things go from bad to worse. She very little money left after buying her ticket although she had spend none. What was she going to do. Sam was missing & no one knew where he was & she could not afford food let alone a room! This is a short read but it was an good clean interesting read. I was not ready it to end? I got this book in exchange for an honest review and I have given an honest opinion of what I think of the book. I enjoyed it & I think you will also.
A mail order bride arrives, her intended gone missing, two abandoned children and the uncle of the children. This all makes for a fun sweet story.
I loved all the characters in this book! This book is set in a great little community where everyone is so kind and welcoming. The Sheriff and his wife remind me of grandparents who want to feed you and offer hugs. Lottie was so sweet and I felt so bad how her own family was toward her. This is such a sweet and clean story about the love of belonging, family and of course the romantic kind. I was very much enamored with this book, from plot to characters, this story filled me with joy!
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
This is Book #1 in this series and is Deputy U.S. Marshall Archer and Charlotte (Lottie’s) story. The character development is wonderful and there is a lot of elements to the story: missing men, a mail order bride, two abandoned children, romance and a HEA. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Once you start reading you will not be able to put it down.
This was a sweet mail order bride romance. Lottie’s grandmother and brother were nasty, forcing her to find another place to live after the bedridden mother she cared for died. Her intended Sam was a selfish drunk who left his young children in squalor while he went of in search of ill gotten riches. The children’s uncle Archer was a good man and much more deserving of them and Lottie than his brother-in-law. There was suspense as Sam and the man a bounty hunter is after is missing. But there’s also love as Lottie finds her self worth taking care of the children and spending time with Archer.