Having lost her Georgia home, along with her brother and mother, to the war, Molly Stewart is left penniless with a broken father. She signs up with the Pelican Rapids Mail-Order Brides agency in Minnesota, and Mrs. Ella Milton matches her with local farmer, Luke Ferrell. An attraction develops between Molly and Luke after months of corresponding, and they decide to marry. Knowing her father will … will never agree to the match, Molly runs away to Pelican Rapids, taking her grand piano with her—the only thing saved when Sherman’s army burned her home.
Luke is smitten with the sweet, beautiful Molly, and will do anything to win her love, even building onto his small farmhouse to accommodate her piano. Molly admires her handsome fiancé, but rumors that he still loves another woman disturb her, and he wants to keep delaying their wedding day. And why is he reluctant to discuss his past?
But Molly realizes she hasn’t been totally honest either. When she reveals to Luke the reason her piano is so important to her, it opens wounds in Luke’s past that threaten their happiness.
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I loved reading “Molly’s New Song” by Author Elaine Manders. Heartwarming, sweet, romantic, and funny, the book kept me turning the pages all the way through.
I love Elaine Manders’ books, and Molly’s New Song is another wonderful story written by this author. Vivid description evoke the atrocities and difficulties of war experienced separately by Molly and Luke, leaving both broken and hurting. A product of her time, Molly understands how deeply she is breaking societal mores by running away from her father to become a mail-order bride. Luke is strong yet gentle, and filled with integrity. His frustrations with a friend’s mother who tries to push her daughter off on him are realistic and at times amusing. I felt bad for him as he tried to remain polite yet firm about his plans to marry Molly. Molly is sweet and her guilt at leaving home without telling her father and her grief over the loss of her mother and brother was handled with sensitivity. Historical details are accurate and provide information about the era without feeling dry or textbookish. Messages about salvation and forgiveness are woven throughout the story.
I received a copy of this book from the author, and a review was not required, positive or otherwise. All opinions are my own.
Molly and Luke both ran away to escape difficult situations. The Civil War was terrible especially in the Union’s treatment of southern civilians in the war zone. I don’t blame Luke for going to extreme measures to escape it. Molly’s father has never gotten over how his wife died when Union soldiers burned their plantation and he won’t let her marry one of them. She runs away to marry Luke, who has a dark past she doesn’t know about. This was a story of redemption and working together to build a new future. It was nice to catch up with the mail order brides from the previous stories in this series.
Molly and Luke’s story is a sweet story to read. The author maintains the story around the two lead characters. The plot of the story held my attention page after page. The tragedy of the families during the war, pulled me into the story. The writer helped the reader to see the trials that both Luke and Molly go through. This is a good story to read and see love bloom. I voluntary reviewed this ARC after receiving a free gifted copy.
Wonderful story that was so good to read. Great hero, great heroine, great supporting characters, wonderful plot. It’s all good. I highly recommend this story and the rest of this series
I love mail order bride books for their historical information and the wonderful love stories. This author made the story come very much alive and show the need for forgiveness no matter what. I received an advance reader copy from the publisher. Opinions are my own.
As happened to so many young women after the Civil War split the country in two, Molly Stewart, a young lady from Georgia felt a devastating loss. Her Mother and her Brother both perished. She decides not to accompany her father to her Aunt’s home, and signs up with a Mail Order Bride Agency in town. She is eventually matched to Luke Ferrell, a young man in Pelican Rapids, MN.
Luke had fought against the Confederacy during the War and had issues with the way his unit handled things. He eventually was transferred and put the past behind him. Now he just needs to share a secret with Molly that he has kept hidden from her. Will Luke marrying a southern girl bring back the horrors he felt while fighting the war? Can he share his past and will Molly come to forgive him?
I truly loved how the characters developed and came to life in this book. The plot was a little different than many in that Molly’s prize possession arrived in Pelican Rapids a week before she did! I highly recommend this book and this series. They are all fun and exciting, holding you to the read until the end.
I received an ARC of this book and am choosing to leave an honest review.
This is a wonderful historical christian romance that is full of drama, romance and forgiveness. I loved how the author had a bible verse at the beginning of each chapter of this beautifully written book. Once you start reading, you don’t want to stop, you just have to know what happens next.
A masterful and vivid read that gave way to a beautiful faith message of forgiveness, God’s grace and love. Molly was a resilient young lady that lost a lot during the Civil War. When an opportunity came to be a mail order bride she had fortitude and determination to follow through despite the circumstances of her dad. Luke was a strong and hardworking man wanting the best for Molly. What an amazing twist of events for him to be able to have her grand piano in his home. But watch out, trouble brewed on their wedding day. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Molly’s New Song and the 4th of July celebration that brought happiness and a new song. I look forward to reading more books by Elaine Manders, as I’ve enjoyed each one of her Christian Historical stories.
I received a complimentary e-book from the author and was under no obligation to write a review. All thoughts are my own opinion.