Bygone Christmas Brides

Ah with Christmas just around the corner, time seems to slip away from us with simply too much to do. We all want to get into that perfect mood, to sit by the fire, on a cold night, sip our favorite beverages and just relax and find ourselves perhaps some place else for just a little while. Novella's or short stories that feel like novels are the perfect way to take that virtual vacation and escape into the historical past and visit different time periods and places all set during the Christmas season with romance at the heart of each of them. Bygone Christmas Brides offers readers six short novellas from six wonderfully talented authors. Not only do these feel like more than short stories, it also gives readers a look at each authors unique and heartwarming writing styles.

In Lost and Found by Ginny Aiken, takes us to Wales in the year 1870, where we meet Rhiannon Wylie who is taking care of her aging father and questions the faith she has despite the fear of the mines both her father and Trefor Davies works at. Will she be able to find the faith she needs to trust God when there is no other choice in order to find true love and a chance at happiness?

In Tis the Season by Carla Gade, introduces readers to Schooley's Mountain Springs of New Jersey in 1820's where Annaliese Braun finds herself in need of someone to repair her broken wagon after the accident where the wheel comes off. Enter our hero, carpenter, Stephen Yost, who is just in town to make a living repairing some businesses and homes, but may have met his match that fateful day.

I Saw Three Ships by Pamela Griffin takes readers back to 19th century Scotland where a long lost love between Malcolm Sinclair and Rachel McIvor might just be rekindled. But can Rachel forgive the man who left her once to find his fortune, in order to try and win back her heart or will she be willing to walk away as he once did?

In Colleen of Erin by Tamela Hancock Murray, can Donohue's Mercantile owner Finn Donohue find a way into Collin Sullivan's heart? After all whenever she visits him, he will always order whatever she fancies, but what will it take for her to notice him? Will the hardness he experienced in his own past keep him from ever opening his heart up to someone like Colleen's gentleness?

A Right and Proper Christmas by Jill Stengl, finds a soldier returning home to England from the war and happens upon a small church, believing that God has called him to preach. He finds something in common with the class of people he came from, those of a lower class, but it seems he can't find someone willing to teach him how. As he stumbles into the church, he finds something he never expected, a willingness to give him a second chance at life, and possibly a chance at love with a woman who sets her heart on marrying a local man. Will she see something in him that no one else possesses?

Mercy Mild by Gina Welborn is the final novella that takes readers into the brokeness of one young woman who has faced abuse at the hands of her own parents. She refuses to ever have children believing that she will do the same to a child of her own. But will a man with a love for war orphans teach her that she can change so she doesn't have to fear she will be like her parents. Will the love a child be able to break her hardened heart?

I received Bygone Christmas Brides compliments of Barbour Publishing and Net Galley. Just looking at the cover of this collection, brings a much wanted anticipation to what each of these six novellas contains. A trip back into the historical past, in various time periods and find true love in this heartwarming collection of wonderful Christmas themed stories. While I have read others novels from some of the authors in this collection, I also got the chance to meet new ones like Tamela Hancock Murray and Pamela Griffin. They each keep the stories authentic to both the country they are set in as well as the language and traditions of those historical time periods. I give this collection a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and makes it easy to just take time to read one each night.

For more information about Bygone Christmas Brides, any of the authors or where you can pick up this book today to add it to your Christmas collection, please click on the links below:

Bygone Christmas Brides by Barbour Publishers

You can find Gina Welborn on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

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You can find Tamela Hancock Murray on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Bygone Christmas Brides, please visit Barbour Publishing. 

The Promise Bride

Love Christian western romance novels? What about Christian murder mysteries? What if you could find both in the same novel? You might just want to pick up The Promise Bride by Gina Welborn and Becca Whitman. I really LOVED this first novel in the Montana Bride series, and features Emilia Stanek who wants a better life for herself, her two siblings and her father, working for Spiegel as a Customer Service Manager. Living in a run down tenement in Chicago in the late 1800's, she struggles with the filthy living conditions and what the outcome will be if they don't find a way to live. So she answers an ad for a mail order bride in Montana. A new life out west, clean air to breathe, and a man willing to take her entire family into his ranch home in the Montana Territory.

After spending the last ten months working, she finally has almost enough money for all of them to travel to Montana, until their landlord demands $30 to pay for the cost of the repairs he is charging all of his tenants. Her father, tells her to take her two siblings and he will follow them in three months. She agrees as only a last resort and hopes she can convince Phineas Collins to help her bring her father to Montana as soon as possible. Her marriage was by proxy and she can't wait to get to Montana to file the paperwork to make her legally his wife. Only the one thing she didn't plan for was to learn upon arriving by train that Finn, or Phineas was found murdered. The Sheriff tries to convince Emilia to take herself and get back on the train headed home since there is nothing for her in Montana.

Emilia knows she can't go back to living like she was, and this time she has to think of her family first. So she becomes determined to file her paperwork and try to work the ranch in hopes she can raise enough money to bring her father to Montana. Her siblings Luci and Roch just want to head home, but she knows they need to try to find a fresh start. What she is completely unaware of is that the person or persons who murdered Finn, might just try to kill her unless they find out why he was murdered, and that she will also inherit all of Finn's debts as well. Her first impression of the ranch is a far stretch from what she expected and to top if all of Sheriff McCall refuses to let her go about unprotected until he can bring the killer to justice.

I received The Promise Bride by Gina Welborn and Becca Whitman compliments of Zebra Books, a division of the Kensington Publishing Corporation and NetGalley. I really love the raw determination that Emilia has. To walk away from everything she knows and to take care of her siblings with a future she had hoped for is far from what she gets. Armed only with her willingness to rise above the tragic circumstances facing her, she will prove everyone wrong who ever thought she would need protection and that she would run back home when faced with adversity. Doesn't hurt to have a man standing by ready to lend a hand whether she wants it or not. I give this novel a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait for the next book in the series but don't forget to check out the novella Come Fly With Me which proceeds this one.

For more information about The Promise Bride, Gina Welborn, Becca Whitman or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Promise Bride by Gina Welborn and Becca Whitman

You can find Gina Welborn on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

You can find Becca Whitman on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Promise Bride, please visit Zebra Book's website. 

Come Fly With Me

"Because that's what you do - fly into town, entertain your whims, and poof, you're off again on an adventure, leaving people to clean up your messes."

Those were the exact words that Luanne Palmer used to describe, Roy Bennett, a journalist and professional aeronaunt who found himself grounded and staying with her brother Geddes, who also piloted hot air balloons. Now waiting the next Hot Air Balloon Race in Helena, Montana, he never expected to find himself falling for Luanne, a schoolteacher at the Central Secondary School. She had signed a contact committing herself for the next year to be above reproach in all she does as one of the teachers. If she so much as tarnish her reputation in any way, it will be the end of her teaching career. So she must do what she can to persuade Mr. Bennett, that she is immune to all his charms. Now if only she could make herself believe it, it might come across as convincing.

Only she is faced with severe opposition as her family is convinced that she needs rescuing and Mr. Bennett is just the man for the job. Spending most of his life, traveling the world and writing about it to further his own travels, he isn't ready to give up his career to stay in Helena, Montana. He has many more travels planned along with a promising journalism career for one of the larger publications companies. Yet despite all his arguments, he hopes that he might be able to sway Luanne to follow her own adventurous heart and join him in his journey discovering places few have ever seen. But no matter how hard he tries to court her, she is unwilling to bend. He also faces competition with Professor Tate, whom seems convinced that Luanne would make the perfect mother to his six orphan children. Again, not an offer, Luanne wants to entertain.

So when her students listen to Roy speak at school, they seem more eager to learn about their own futures despite the standard jobs of thieving and prostitution. Luanne wants them to learn more so those are the types of jobs they won't want and instead shows them that any dream is possible if one is willing to pursue it. Perhaps it is advice she might take herself is she is to be honest and truthful with them. So when an afterschool project of building a hot air balloon begins to take flight, with the approval of the school board, Luanne is helpless to refuse. But with this new project be just the beginning of her own future or the end of one? Only time will tell.

I received Come Fly With Me by Gina Welborn and Becca Whitman, compliments of Zebra Books and Kensington Publishing as well as Net Galley. In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, you should assume that every book reviewed here at Reviews From The Heart was provided to the reviewer by the publisher, media group or the author for free and were received, unless specified otherwise. I absolutely love the inspiration that Luanne instills within her students to hope for something better on the small frontier when not much opportunity existed for most of the towns citizens. She puts all her heart into her efforts as well as her charitable communities, showing that she is unwilling to settle for what others think is best for her. She is a take-charge woman with hopes and dreams that may or may not be beyond the borders of her own small town. I give this a 4 out of 5 stars and is a quick novel to complete in a matter of hours. The story remains engaging all the way to the end and readers are given a quick peek at another series, the Montana Brides, coming soon by the author as well.

For more information about Come Fly With Me, Gina Welborn, Becca Whitman or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Come Fly With Me by Gina Welborn and Becca Whitman

You can find Gina Welborn on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Come Fly With Me, please visit Kensington Publishing's website. 

Masterpiece Marriage

The Quilts of Love novels are written by a variety of authors that each center around a quilt. While they are all numbered, they can be read in any order, as hey are stand alone novels. I've almost read them all and each inspires a deep desire for me to resume quilting again after finishing one.

In Masterpiece Marriage, author Gina Welborn weaves a romance between a textile mill owner, Zenus Dane and Mary Varrs who is studying tomato seedlings in hopes of gaining a place in a university to further her studies in botany. Most universities are not as accommodating for women as they are for men. Each of them is faced with a need that can only be meet by Priscilla Dane Osbourne, a wealthy widow and Zenus' aunt. Lucky for Mary that she asked for her need first, because knowing how likely it would be for Priscilla to chose to help family over a stranger, she is more than relived. She receives an invitation for lunch in which Priscilla illustrated a beautiful plant and that is what Mary is missing in her research for submission. She must submit illustrations over photos. Priscilla agrees if Mary will agree to spend the next 10 days filling in for her on a quilting bee project with some of the local women.

Zenus Dane has garnered quite the reputation as a ladies man and all the women have fallen for his charms one way or another. The problem being is his inability to properly talk to them once he opens his mouth. Instead he fumbles his words so horribly, he ends up offending them more than swaying them to courtship. His textile mill has suffered a horrible flood and the only way he can think to profit from the deficit his insurance won't cover on the fabrics is to persuade his Aunt to create a quilt pattern he can sell along with the scraps of fabric he has left. She agrees only if he will be at her beck and call and do whatever errands she asks of him including being a host to the ladies at the quilting bee. But Priscilla has more than one set of plans up her sleeves for Mary and Zenus and will work at solving their problems of the heart through their repetitive working together, something that both of them despise.

I received Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn compliments of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. Aside from receiving a free copy of the novel, I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. The opinions contained in this review are strictly my own. I absolutely LOVED this novel and easily read it in a few hours at just 240 pages. It does include a reader's discussion guide at the conclusion as well as a sneak peek into "A Stitch in Crime" by Cathy Elliot coming next in the Quilts of Love Series. This is the 24th novel to find its way into the Quilts of Love series and historical fiction are vast becoming my favorite genre! There is something to be said for the propriety that men and women had back in the 1800's and I believe Gina Welborn captured that perfectly with her interactions between Mary, Priscilla and Zenus. I love the idea of a gentlemen like Zenus being a bit more than tongue tied when he converses with women. It's that unique character flaw that makes him as appealing and Mary's strong will and determination to not be willing to succumb to societies standards that a woman's role was to be married and having children. This one easily gains a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Masterpiece Marriage, Gina Welborn, or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn

You can find Gina Welborn on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Masterpiece Marriage, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.


Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn. December’s QOL release celebrates the ebb and flow of marriage. Enter to win a Kindle HDX!

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• Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven
• Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey

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A Cascades Christmas

I love it when you can find a really great value and still get something special!!! In the short story collection, A Cascades Christmas, authors Mildred Colvin, Mary Davis, Lee Debby and Gina Welborn each take a turn with a series of characters that we meet in four different stories. These are perfect for nightly reading and you'll find yourself learning more about each of them as each story continues. This is truly four books in one setting.

In the first, Home for the Holidays by Mildred Colvin, the reader is taken back to 1888 to the deep Pacific Northwest, where we are introduced to Anna Wilkin, turning 18 in just three short months. She is a girl of unconventional ways and is considered a tomboy by most who know her. Her mother and older sister, Kathleen, try to steer Anna into spending her time learning how to become more of a woman, but Anna would love nothing more than to spend time with her father in the woods, fishing and climbing trees among the logging camp. When she runs quite literally into Jeremiah Tucker, she soon learns that you don't have to change who you are to truly fall in love. Jeremiah finds Anna similar to his younger sister, Rebekah that died too soon. He desires to build a home and a family but can he do it with someone as unrefined as Anna?

In the second story, One Evergreen Night by Debby Lee, we pick up with two characters that are briefly introduced in the first one, Emma Pearson and Frederick Corrigan. Frederick Corrigan is responsible for getting loads of logs to the mill by train on time, even if at times it means taking some risks for the Kenicky Logging Company. Yet he knows how far he can push it and would never put anyone at risk. Yet that is not what Emma Pearson has heard. She works cleaning the bunkhouses and lives in a loft at the Wilkins. She's had an issue trusting men who said they were sorry for their mistakes like her mother. She has vowed not to wind up the same way. Now that its only her and her brother Jake, she feels like it's her responsibility to ensure nothing happens to him. When she learns Jake going to train to be an engineer and that Frederick will be the one to train him, she isn't so sure that Jake will remain safe. Will she learn to trust again or will Jake become her greatest liability?

In the third addition, All Ye Faithful by Gina Welborn, we are introduced to E.V. Renier, owner of Renier Lumber Company, and Larkin Whitworth, who is Anna's dearest friend and isn't highly looked upon by the other girls in town because she is wealthy and most consider her to be a bit of a snob except for Anna Wilkin. Her father's the richest man in town. However after waiting for two years since E.V. has confessed his love for her and still no proposal or offer to court her, Larkin is about to take matters into her own hands. When she sees Abigail Leonard occupying E.V.'s attention at the party and filling her dance card, Larkin wonders if perhaps his feelings have changed for her after all. Since turning 21, she is the only female in Tumwater of courting age who had never had a suitor. Either non one had the courage to approach her father, or worse, none wanted a nicer than nice wife.

Finally A Carpenter Christmas by Mary Davis wraps the collection up with Natalie Bollen and Willum Tate. Willum Tate has been the towns carpenter and often times finds himself called upon to build houses or renovate rooms as needed. He's been a recluse since moving to Tumwater and has hoped that during all this time, his heart has healed. Natalie Bollen, is the daughter of the town's pastor and has hopes of wooing Willum. In the three years since she has known him, she has only grown to love him more. When he finally does ask her father for permission to court her, Natalie makes a fatal mistake that will cause Willum to realize that perhaps his heart will never heal from the pain that women seem to inflict on him. It is too late for them to find love or will their pasts keep them from forever finding the future that awaits them both?

I received A Cascades Christmas compliments of Barbour Publishing and Net Galley for my honest review. Each of these stories takes you back to a much simpler times when women dreamed of falling in love and being romanced by some charming man. What I enjoyed the most about this collection is that even though they are four separate stories they are joined together but the same characters and setting throughout each of them. It's like you get a chance to know each of them a little bit more and see how their individual interactions bring them the romance each of them desires in different ways all set during Christmas in the late 1800's. For those of you that love a bit of something special and unique in your historical romances, then I would highly recommend this collection to you. I personally rate this a 5 out of 5 stars!!!

For more information about A Cascades Christmas, Mildred Colvin, Mary Davis, Lee Debby, Gina Welborn or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the link below:

A Cascades Christmas by Mildred Colvin, Mary Davis, Lee Debby, and Gina Welborn 

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Books (September 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 161626845X
• ISBN-13: 978-1616268459
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 1 inches