A Bride for All Seasons

When I first found out about [b:A Bride for All Seasons 16122790 A Bride for All Seasons Margaret Brownley https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1351878708l/16122790.SY75.jpg 21944202] by some of my favorite authors I was excited, but did not know what to expect. What I have found is a book with four stories, each about 100 pages individually. This is great for summer reading, when I want a story maybe a little bit faster than normally, but at the same time, once all four are read, it's the same as reading an average historical book these days. posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2013/07/16/a-bride-for-all-seasons-the-mail-order-bride-collection/“And Then Came Spring”—[a:Margaret Brownley 163681 Margaret Brownley https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1263972765p2/163681.jpg]Start out the year right with a story in spring on marriage for convenience or love, it's hard to decide. It's a fun 100 pages with a character of Mary-Jo that reminds me of [b:A Lady Like Sarah 6599223 A Lady Like Sarah (A Rocky Creek Romance, #1) Margaret Brownley https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441859137l/6599223.SY75.jpg 6793064]. I have mixed feelings on Sheriff Tom Garrett, the brother of the original man who ordered the mail-order bride. But the situation and events that occur make it all work. It's short, but a worthy read. “An Ever-After Summer”—[a:Debra Clopton 327943 Debra Clopton https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1311918073p2/327943.jpg]I'm not sure that I have read something by Debra Clopton before, but I enjoyed this short story. Reading these two together makes me recall a few years back around Christmas when some authors did a pick up and write Christmas story. Follow up your spring story with a summer tale on a character that is as unforgettable as her name Melvina Eldora or as more fitting Ellie and a broken-hearted widower Matt McConnell and his toddler Sophie. This one made my smile plenty and think of writing like Mary Connealy. “Autumn's Angel”—[a:Robin Lee Hatcher 62524 Robin Lee Hatcher https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1441755013p2/62524.jpg]Reading about an opera singer makes me want to go back to read Lisa Bergren's [b:Sing 6973799 Sing (The Homeward Trilogy, #2) Lisa Tawn Bergren https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1438114841l/6973799.SY75.jpg 7213890]. Luvena Abbott as guardian to her brother's children, is not what Clay Birch was looking for, but both the editor of the Hitching Post and apparently God knew what they really needed in matrimony. This was an okay read, but not as good as the rest. “Winter Wedding Bells”—[a:Mary Connealy 58306 Mary Connealy https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1361308956p2/58306.jpg]I have to admit Mary Connealy is one of my all time favorites and I started “Autumn's Angel” but was just a little too eager so I skipped over to “Winter Wedding Bells”. I read it during the girls' nap time and loved every second of it! Just watching the characters unfold little bits of their history makes me want more, I want a whole series dedicated to David (Stewart) Laramie's past and future in Wyoming. After reading of this one it makes me want to go back through Lassoed in Texas and Montana Marriages again because her characters are just that fun. While I think this is the first Irish lass I've found from Mary, she was appropriate and quaint and of course amusing. The children in this story just happen to be there, but the real events are between David and Megan. It's just great for a short story. All of the stories in here are based on one man Hitchcock's Hitching Post mail-order bride catalogue. It is funny and a great starting point. After the end of the stories there is a section with reader discussion questions and then a five way interview which is delightful to read and see where these authors came from and how they became connected on this opportunity to write a collection book. I give it four out of five stars, because one story just wasn't for me, but the rest I loved! I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.

This was a very enjoyable novella collection. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the second novella collection, “Four Weddings and a Kiss”, simply because of how exquisite that collection was. (I sure hope these ladies do another set of stories this year!)
I enjoyed all the stories, but the last was my favorite. How spunky Megan took hold with both hands and fought for her husband's heart in more than one sense was endearing and such a picture of true womanhood.
The only thing I'd change was to have the editor go over it one more time. There was a sentence in the first story with a hilarious misplaced modifer–I couldn't help laughing at the mental picture of this: “wearing a white dressing gown, the boardinghouse owner's grey hair hung...”–and the several instances of incorrect homophones used. Read aloud it sounds fine, but the spelling makes the sentences incorrect. A curse of spellcheck and a pet peeve of mine.