The Promise Bride (Montana Brides #1) by Gina Welborn, Becca Whitham

In a booming frontier town, a heavenly match may be in store for mail-order brides seeking a fresh start . . . women of strength and spirit who embrace the challenges of life and love in the wild Montana Territory.
Determined to save her father and siblings from a crumbling Chicago tenement, Emilia Stanek becomes the long-distance bride of a Montana rancher. But when she arrives in Helena, a rugged lawman shatters her plans with the news that her husband is dead—and deeply in debt.

County sheriff Mac McCall can’t afford to be distracted by the pretty young widow, not with scandalous secrets emerging as he investigates his friend’s suspicious death. Mac’s gruff order that she leave town at once only spurs Emilia’s resolve to take ownership of her late husband’s ranch and face his debtors. But as her defenses soften, Emilia begins to accept Mac’s help, feel compassion for his own wounded heart—and learns that trust means taking a leap of faith.


About The Author

Gina Welborn worked in news radio writing copy until she had the epiphany that the news of the day was rather depressing, so she took up writing romances because they always end happily. Gina is a 2009 ACFW GENESIS historical romance finalist and a 2007 RWA GOLDEN HEART® inspirational finalist. As a member of RWA and ACFW, she is an active contest judge and coordinator. Her manuscripts have also finaled in the Daphne du Maurier, Duel on the Delta, Dixie, and Maggie contests. Oklahoma-girl Gina now lives in Richmond, Virginia with her youth-pastor husband and their five Okie-Hokie children.  

ttp://www.ginawelborn.com/ 

Becca Whitham (WIT-um) is a multi-published author who has always loved reading and writing stories. After raising two children, she and her husband faced the empty nest years by following their dreams: he joined the army as a chaplain, and she began her journey toward publication. Becca loves to tell stories marrying real historical events with modern-day applications to inspire readers to live Christ-reflecting lives. She’s traveled to almost every state in the U.S. for speaking and singing engagements and has lived in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Oklahoma, Alaska, and South Carolina.  


http://www.beccawhitham.com


My Review

A refreshing new look at a Mail Order Bride where most arrive at their destination and quickly go to the preacher, our bride, Emilia, because of circumstances has chosen to be married by proxy and arrives already married. Emilia has only to file the paper work and she has a valid marriage to Finn, but when she arrives in Helena her life will never be the same.
The author gives us a wonderful glimpse into daily life in the west, and had to chuckle how Emilia goes about her ranch life from book learning, thank goodness for some willing neighbors. Now book learning is great, but actual hands on taking care of chores are quite different!
The sad fact is when she arrives she finds out her new husband has been murdered, now what, and the sheriff and best friend of her husband wants her to turn around and go back to Chicago, but the fact remains she has nothing to return to.
While the sheriff goes about trying to learn who killed his friend, Emilia has taken on the responsibility of paying off Finn’s debts, she does not like to beholden to anyone.
All the while this family, yes Emilia has a sister and brother with her will worm their way into your heart, and you will be rooting for them. There are a lot of twists and turns to get to the end, and yes you will be page turning for answers, but once finished, you are going to feel like you have lost a dear friend.
As this book wraps up we soon understand that not everything is, as it appears, a really great read that will linger with you.

I received this book through the Author, and was not required to give a positive review.