Seven women seek husbands to help them rebuild a Kansas town. Meet seven of Turtle Springs, Kansas’, finest women who are determined to revive their small town after the War Between the States took most of its men. . .and didn’t return them. The ladies decide to advertise for husbands and devise a plan for weeding out the riff raff. But how can they make the best practical choices when their … practical choices when their hearts cry out to be loved?
Abigail’s Proposal by Cynthia Hickey
When her father never returned from the war, Abigail Melton stepped into his role as town mayor. The town needs men, and she needs a husband–and she has a big idea how to find both–but her first duty is to hire a sheriff. And drifter Josiah Ingram will do just fine.
The Kidnapped Groom by Susan Page Davis
Riding through the Flint Hills on his way to Dodge City, cowboy Sam Cayford finds himself the kidnapping victim of two children. When he meets their lovely mother, Maggie Piner–whom the kids insist he should marry–Sam starts to question God’s plans versus his own.
A Clean Slate by Susanne Dietze
Schoolmarm Roberta “Birdy” Green won’t marry any of the prospective grooms flocking to town. After losing her fiancé in the war, the only love her broken heart can bear is for her students. But then she takes on a new pupil–Drew Cooper, one of the gentlemen drawn to Kansas by the advertisement for grooms.
Sunshine of My Heart by Darlene Franklin
Debbie Barker longs to bring beauty to her new home on the prairie, where her family moved after the war, and seeks a husband to help her father run the ranch. Zack Gage returned home from the war to a life in ruins–family dead and business bankrupted. He answers the mail-order husband ad to seek a fresh start. But neither Debbie nor Zeke know what they are doing when it comes to ranching. . .or love.
Come What May by Patty Smith Hall
Chardy Stevens is at the end of her rope. Between running her late father’s store and tending to her four younger brothers, she barely has time to breathe, much less look for a husband to help her. The boys scare off most of her prospects and throw Chardy together with her childhood friend Luke, a disabled veteran who seeks her happiness above his own.
Dime Novel Suitor by Carrie Fancett Pagels
Widow Caroline Kane is the proprietor of a restaurant and inn–and responsible for her five teenaged siblings. But she has no plans of finding a mail-order groom. Britisher Barden Granville IV is on a “cowboy holiday” when he finds himself flat broke in Kansas. When he answers an old “help wanted” ad, Caroline misconstrues Barden is there as a potential husband. Will the beautiful and fiesty widow cause the new vicar to make Kansas his home?
Louder than Words by Gina Welborn
After years of writing abolitionist pamphlets and chronicling soldier life during the war, J.R. Lockhart is bored and jumps at the opportunity to investigate an advertisement for husbands for an article in Godey’s Lady’s Book. Jane Ransome would like to help the charming-but-oblivious-to-life-out-West man chronicle the courtships developing in town, but she has her own husband to find–one who will fit perfectly in her picket-fenced Kansas home.
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This collection of novellas is excellent! The last 2 weren’t quite as exceptional as the first ones, but they were still amazing. I can’t believe how well connected and well written they were. I rarely give novella collections like this 5 stars, but this one really deserved it.
This is a delightful novella collection!
I thoroughly enjoyed each of the seven stories. All of the main characters are wonderful. This collection has an aspect I’d never seen before. All of them are set in one town during the same time period. That means that there are lots of crossovers of characters among the different stories. At the same time each story is definitely separate. I loved seeing how they all interacted with each other.
I really liked the variety of situations the women were in at the beginning of their stories. There were so different and yet they all had the very same problem. There were no men of marriageable age in their town after the Civil War
I understood the dilemma that each of the women faced and why they wanted to find a husband. Then there was the odd woman out who didn’t want to find one and found herself falling in love anyway.
Some of the authors were new to me. Actually that’s my favorite part of reading a novella collection. I have found a lot of great authors through them. This collection is no different. My list of authors to look for has grown thanks to this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.
Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions 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.*
I loved this book. Such great stories that took place mere miles away from here. It makes sense that women who had lost husbands in the Civil War would look for new ones.
This caught my eye because it was about mail order grooms instead of brides. It was very entertaining. Loved how the men written about were mostly ones who didn’t “audition”. Truly liked the one with the kids who took matters into their own hands.
Amazing Collection! 7 novellas each telling its own story with its own main characters yet connected through the community and shared experiences. I loved the interaction between the townspeople throughout the entire book.
Not all of the brides and grooms meet at the auditions. Some were not even looking but found love anyway. There are happily ever after endings, there are some very suspenseful moments, funny moments and heart-tugging moments as well. There’s even a kidnapping or two.
This book is one you can read over and over and still love each character. I loved the strong minded Abigail and Josiah in “Abigail’s Proposal”.
The Piner boys stole my heart in “The Kidnapped Groom”. “A Clean Slate” found me rooting for more than one relationship. Debbie had a clever question of the men at the audition in “Sunshine of My Heart” and proved that a woman can get what she wants. “Come What May” had me reaching for tissues more than once. I loved the misunderstanding at the center of “Dime Novel Suitor”. Barden was one of my favorite characters. The soldiers coming through town added a nice historical touch to the story as well. I enjoyed “Louder Than Words” because of Jane Ransome she was so helpful behind the scenes of so many people’s lives yet she seemed to be somewhat overlooked because of the color of her skin. It was also the story of a reporter looking for more out of his life, and what lengths he went to when he finally decided what it was he truly wanted.