Unexpected Brides

Series · 6 books · 2013-2016

By Karen Witemeyer, Melissa Jagears

Books in series

#0.5

With All My Heart Romance Collection

Five Novellas of Living Love to the Fullest

2016

Five novellas of Christian romance set tragedy and comedy across historical America. Ebooks are in print for the first time. 1 Karen Witemeyer's "Love on the Mend," set in post-Civil War Texas, has the new town doctor take on a nurse and face his alcoholic uncle who long ago killed doc's baby sister. 2 Jody Hedlund's "Out of the Storm" finds a man chased by murderers, shipwrecked near a Michigan island lighthouse Captain whose daughter is resigned to stay there all her life. 3 Melissa Jagears' "Love by the Letter" throws a prairie mail-order-bride between frustrated opposites. 4 Sarah Loudin Thomas' "Appalachian Serenade" has a small-town West Virginia store-keeper find love when he hires help. 5 Jen Turano's "Gentleman of Her Dreams" has an accident-prone girl ask her faithful follower to help tackle a catch of the New York social season.

#0.5

Love by the Letter

2013

Dex Stanton has never had much time for book learning. He's been too busy helping to provide for his family. Now that he's heading west, Dex is hoping to start a family of his own. However, his attempt to acquire a mail-order bride fails miserably when the lady writes back ridiculing his terrible spelling. Rachel Oliver may be the last person he wants to know what a dunce he is, but she's also the smartest woman in town—and it's clear he needs her help. Rachel Oliver has lingered in town for three years secretly mooning over Dex Stanton, but now she's done. If the fool wants to write to a mail-order bride company, so be it. Once she begins giving Dex lessons, however, Rachel realizes she may not be prepared to give up just yet. As their time together runs short, can two of the most stubborn people in town set aside their pride long enough to find love? Love by the Letter is a companion novella to A Bride for Keeps, Melissa Jagears' full-length debut novel available fall 2013. Includes an extended sneak peek at A Bride for Keeps.

A Bride for Keeps

2013

Everett Cline will never humiliate himself by seeking a mail-order bride. Not again. He's already been jilted by three mail-order brides and figures a wife just isn't in his future. However, a well-meaning neighbor hasn't given up on seeing him settled, so she goes behind his back to bring yet another woman to town for him. Julia Lockwood has never been anything more than a pretty pawn for her father or a business acquisition for her former fiancé. A mail-order marriage in faraway Kansas is a last resort, but she'll do anything to leave her life in Massachusetts and the heartbreak she's experienced there. Although Everett doesn't see how a beautiful, cultured woman like Julia could be happy sharing his simple life, he could really use a helpmate on his homestead. Determined to prove she's more than just a pretty face, Julia agrees to a marriage in name only. Faced with the harsh realities of life on the prairie and hesitant to explore the tentative feelings growing between them, can Everett and Julia ever let each other in long enough to fall in love?

A Bride in Store

2014

Impatient to meet her intended groom and help him grow his general store, mail-order bride Eliza Cantrell sets out on her travels a week early. But her plan goes sadly awry when her train is held up by robbers who steal her dowry, and Axel, her groom-to-be, isn't even in town when she finally arrives. Axel's business partner, William Stanton, has no head for business and would much rather be a doctor. When his friend's mail-order bride arrives in town with no money and no groom in sight, he feels responsible and lets her help around the store—where she quickly proves she's much more adept at business than he ever will be. The sparks that fly between Will and Eliza as they work together in close quarters are hard to ignore, but Eliza is meant for Axel and a future with the store, while Will is biding his time until he can afford medical school. When Axel finally returns, their troubles are far from over, and soon Will and Eliza must decide what they're willing to sacrifice to chase their dreams—or if God has a new dream in store for them both.

A Bride at Last

2015

Abandoned by his mail-order bride, Silas Jonesy has fought an uphill battle to recover from a pattern of poor choices. Now his prayers for reconciliation have finally come true and his estranged wife has contacted him with her whereabouts. Kate Dawson was supposed to be a mail-order bride, but upon realizing she'd been deceived about her intended groom, she's now settled into life as a schoolteacher. When the mother of a student passes away, Kate assumes she'll take on care of nine-year-old Anthony—until two men suddenly show up in town, both claiming to be the boy's father. Silas can see Anthony loves Kate, so he enlists her help in reaching out to the boy and attempting to prove his paternity to the court. When a common interest in Anthony leads to an interest in each other and Silas and Kate begin to think they can overcome their rocky start, neither is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light. Can Silas, Kate, and Anthony's wounded souls bind them together, or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever?

#3.5

Tied and True

2015

Privileged Marianne Lister is in love with businessman Calvin Hochstetler, but he believes the social divide between them is too great a barrier to overcome. So, Marianne takes a job at a local factory to show her devotion. But when it proves more difficult than she expects, can Marianne keep her commitment and convince Calvin their love can defy the odds?

Authors

Karen Witemeyer

Author · 36 books

For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Voted #1 Readers' Favorite Christian Romance Author in 2019 by Family Fiction Magazine, Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings. She is an avid cross-stitcher, tea drinker, and family board game player who makes her home in Abilene, TX with her heroic husband who vanquishes laundry dragons and dirty dish villains whenever she's on deadline. Karen also loves to reward her readers. Every month she gives away two inspirational historical novels to someone from her newsletter list and offers substantial bonus content on her website. To learn more about Karen and her books, or to join her subscriber list, please visit www.karenwitemeyer.com.

Melissa Jagears

Author · 13 books

I would love to connect with you through newsletter! I only send big updates, releases, and important stuff: http://newsletters.melissajagears.com/ My Review Star System: A rare solid 5 means I LOVED it or was so impressed that I bring these books up in random conversations. 4.5-4 means great story. Recommended. I don't post 3 star or below for newer Christian fiction (conflict of interest—I might have to work with the author). But any 3s mean the author wrote a good story, just something about it made it not a favorite. 2 was not that great and never redeemed itself. 1 aggravated me so much or was so poorly done I DNF or if I did finish, I wished I could get my time back.