A man might homestead, but it takes a woman to turn that place into a home! This matchmaker will settle the West one couple at a time.Under suspicion after his wife’s murder, Elias Kline knows he has to leave Mills Bluff. Learning a lynch mob is planning to kill him, he slips away from town. Taking only his smithy tools and his young son, he chooses a new name—Ezra King. Heading west seems a fine … a fine way to start over, but he’ll need a wife to raise his son and cook his meals. One sent by an agency shouldn’t expect love, he decides.
A matchmaker convinces lonely Ruby Hastings to take a risk on Ezra King. After all, the man is helping fulfill the nation’s destiny of settling the west. Reading the man’s letter, Ruby aches for the widower’s little boy and seizes on this chance to be a mama to him. After all, with a brother on the run from the law and a newly married sister, her siblings no longer need Ruby and this motherless boy does.
It should be a convenient arrangement. What happens when the mail-order wife begins to push past the walls guarding Elias’ heart, challenging him spiritually and emotionally? When danger follows him from Mills Bluff, will Elias be able to keep his family together?
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This was a great adventure. Ruby helped her siblings grow to adults then she finally gets her own family. Elias and Frank are what she gets. A loving husband and a cheerful boy. Plus a bonus little Letty too. They are tracked by evil ppl and have to stick together and trust just the right ppl to help them. Their forever home is a great little town.
So different than any mail order bride story I’ve read! A widower flees with his son and marries a spinster with a secret of her own! I loved the instant connection with the couple and the children!
The narration was perfect!
Marisa Masterson wrote a wonderful book. Lots of action, and an absolute pageturner. You never knew what would happen next. The characters were full-bodied, and they had their happy ever after ending.
Highly recommended.
Another good story by this author with lots of action and false accusations. A new name, new wife, and a new baby make the trip West so much better. Too many miss understandings with both her brother and new husband, and crazy and menacing men following them to a new town. All’s good and well, now for this growing family. Highly recommended story for sure. So far this series is really good. But you must read for the entire story and why they were chased after.
This is a wonderful story!! It is beautifully written and will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. It has action, drama and romance; but most important it shows how God can turn something bad into something wonderful. I received an ARC copy of this book and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own
Ruby’s Risk is a delightful book. The author gives the characters a unique style that fits the storyline. The suspense kept me so interested, I did not want to stop reading until it ended. The plot is well-written with the mystery and romance. I highly recommend reading Ruby’s Risk by Author Marisa Masterson. I enjoyed reading this book and it’s a fantastic book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. This review is one hundred percent my opinion.
This is Book #2 in the Home and Hearts Mail Order Bride series and is Elias and Ruby’s story. The character development was excellent with a widower who some suspect killed his first wife, a motherless little boy, a spinster who fears she is too ugly for anyone to love her, and a matchmaker who is determined to help settle the west. The story has many twists, turns and action which will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it…you are going to love it!!!
Elias needs to leave because he got accused of committing the murder of his wife. He leaves with his four year old son. To build a new life he needs a wife, for housekeeping and to take care of his son, he doesn’t need love. After raising her young siblings Ruby is now alone and is happy to get the chance to be a mail order bride. Even before meeting each other their adventure starts.
I really loved this story, it will keep you reading until the end. Great story telling.
This was a great book!! There were some unexpected twists, and a great love story. It shows how God’s always working behind the scenes, even when we don’t always realize it at the time, working things to the good of those called to His purposes. God can take what we think is bad and use it to bring us to Him, and show us how He took care of us all along.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to leave a review. The opinion expressed is totally mine.
As she watches her youngest sibling marry, Ruby sees her life stretching out in front of her as the sad life of a spinster. One she has no idea how to change. She seeks to shake these feelings and start her life anew… but how?
Elias Kline is in need of a new life and identity to keep his son with him. There are past secrets that will come to life, but for now he must get away! He is a widower in need of a wife and mother for his son.
Can these two somehow form an alliance to better both of their lives? A matchmaker is what they need. One that will come into their lives and bring them together.
Can her sisters new husbands Aunt be what they both need? Will she convince Ruby that her life is not meant to be lived alone, but as the mother she has always dreamed of being?
Marisa Masterson is an extraordinary story teller and her books bring you to a world of romance with a little bit of mystery. Her characters give you time in another era. You will enjoy this book as much as I did.
I received an ARC of this book and am choosing to leave an honest review.
A lot happening in this story and it’s all good. Elias gathers his son and goes on the run as he is being falsely accused of murdering his wife. Ruby who has raised her siblings, is now considered to be a spinster. She allows herself to be talked into answering the letter for mail order bride. From here the story is action-packed and keeps you turning the pages. I love stories with children in them, how trusting they can be and how they just want to be loved… Ruby slips right in and loves Elias’ son as if he were her own and it is this love that compels her to action toward the end of the story.
The narrative was done very well.
I received a free audiobook from the author and I voluntarily leaving this review.
A page-turner about a brave (and desperate?) young woman, and the choices she makes to survive, and to find love.
Marisa’s books are awesome. Loved the book.
I finished this book yesterday. I loved it. It was a short book and I read it in one day.
I read book two before book one. I liked it enough to go back to read books one and three. I loved the focus on the plot and not on intimacies.
Mystery and Matchmaker…this great combination makes for a marvelous story!
Audible review:
A story of loss and love found with a little mystery along the way. I love stories on settling in the west and mail order brides so this was perfect! Being accused of murdering his wife, Elias takes off with his young son to find a new place to settle far from his accusers. But he knows he needs a wife to take care of his son and hone and sends off a mail order bride. Plus she would not expect love which he knew after his first wife, he might never feel again. Ruby is lonely. Her sister is married and her brother is on the run. She hopes by answering the ad she can be a mother to Ezra’s son. Right before she begins her trip to marry, she is left with a surprise. . A journey of unexpected trials and joy that warms the heart. The narrator Caroline Cole did a wonderful job and I did not want it to end!
Good Wins Over Bad!
Two strangers on the run, each of them with a young child and trying to keep them safe. This is what Ruby and Elias find themselves committed to as they meet and slowly fall in love after being brought together by a Matchmaker.
This is a tender love story written with warmth and caring about some very special characters. There is a good level of excitement and adventure with evil doers written in as well but good wins over bad so there is a very welcome happy ever after in the end.
I am happy to say that I have found another author whose writings I admire and would be happy to read or listen to more of her books.
I enjoyed the narration by Caroline Turner Cole, also a new artiste to me and also someone I would happily listen to again.
I listened to the audiobook version of this story and my voluntary and unbiased review of it is recorded above.
Calm and relaxing I enjoyed the peaceful feeling Ingot from these character coming together for the good of each other and the children
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator and the story. I could just picture the bride and groom meeting and the trip west. Rest assured there is going to be trouble when someone wants the son of Elias (Ezra). I loved Ruby and her characterization. She was kind and took care of her siblings taking no thought of herself until she raised all of them.
Romance, action and great characters, that’s what makes a great book!
I received a free audiobook but was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.