The Second Chance Brides Collection: Nine Historical Romances Offer New Hope for Love

The Second Chance Brides Collection: Nine Historical Romances Offer New Hope for Love
  • Author: Lauralee Bliss, Angela Breidenbach, Ramona K. Cecil, Pamela Griffin, Grace Hitchcock, Pam Hillman, Laura V. Hilton, Tiffany Amber Stockton, Liz Tolsma
  • Publisher: Barbour Books
  • Print Length: 448 pages
  • Release Date: August 1, 2017
  • I Rate it:    
  • GenreChristian
  • Purchase on Amazon

Book Summary

Meet nine women from history spanning from 1776 to 1944 feel the sting of having lost out on love. Can their hope for experiencing romance again be renewed?


Love in the Crossfire
by Lauralee Bliss
Trenton, New Jersey, 1776
Gretchen Hanson watched her beau go off to war and never return. She soon falls for an enemy scout who stumbles upon her farm. If Jake is discovered, it could mean death for them all. Will Gretchen let go of love or stand strong?


Daughter of Orion
by Ramona K. Cecil
New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1859
Whaling widow, Matilda Daggett, vows to never again give her heart to a seaman. But when debt drives her to masquerade as a cabin boy on a whaling ship, a young harpooner threatens both her vow and her heart.


The Substitute Husband and the Unexpected Bride
by Pamela Griffin
Washington Territory, 1864
Cecily McGiver, a mail-order bride, arrives in the rugged Washington Territory shocked to find herself without a husband—that is until Garrett, a widower, offers to take the position. Can the challenges that face them lead to love?


The Prickly Pear Bride
by Pam Hillman
Little Prickly Pear Creek, Montana Territory, 1884
Shepherdess Evelyn Arnold left her intended at the altar so he could marry the woman he really loved. Dubbed Miss Prickly Pear, Evelyn is resigned to a loveless life and the ridicule of her neighbors. When Cole Rawlins sweeps her out of a raging river, she realizes even a prickly pear can find love.


The Widow of St. Charles Avenue
by Grace Hitchcock
New Orleans, 1895
Colette Olivier, a young widow who married out of obligation, finds herself at the end of her mourning period and besieged with suitors out for her inheritance. With her pick of any man, she is drawn to an unlikely choice.


Married by Mistake
by Laura V. Hilton
Mackinac Island, 1902
When a plan to pose for advertising goes awry, Thomas Hale and Bessie O’Hara find themselves legally married. Now Bessie and Thomas must decide whether to continue the charade or walk away. Either choice could ruin them if the truth gets out.


Fanned Embers
by Angela Breidenbach
Bitterroot Mountains, Montana/Idaho border, 191
Stranded in the treacherous railroad camp after her husband’s murder, Juliana Hayes has no desire to marry a ruffian like Lukas Filips. Can she release prejudice to love again? Or will they even survive the fiery Pacific Northwest disaster to find out?


From a Distance
by Amber Stockton
Breckenridge, Colorado, 1925
Financial Manager Trevor Fox sets out to find a lady to love him and not his money, then meets and falls for an average girl only to discover she’d deceived him to protect her heart after he unknowingly rejects her.


What the Heart Sees
by Liz Tolsma
Hartford, Wisconsin, 1944
American Miriam Bradford is shocked to see Paul Albrecht, her summer fling from Germany in 1939, escorted into church as a POW. Can they rekindle their romance amid the overwhelming objections of almost everyone in town–including her father?

<h2><span class="wrap"><span class="inner">The Authors</span></span></h2>
Lauralee Bliss

Lauralee Bliss
Love in the Crossfire

Ramona K. Cecil

Ramona K. Cecil
Daughter of Orion

Pamela Griffin

Pamela Griffin
The Substitute Husband and the Unexpected Bride

Pam Hillman

Pam Hillman
The Prickly Pear Bride

Jessica R. Patch

Grace Hitchcock
The Widow of St. Charles Avenue

Laura V. Hilton

Laura V. Hilton
Married by Mistake

Angela Breidenbach

Angela Breidenbach
Fanned Embers

Amber Stockton

Amber Stockton
From a Distance

Liz Tolsma

Liz Tolsma
What the Heart Sees

Book Review by Bree Herron

To give a justified review of each story, I am only going to give a paragraph to each. I could go on for days why this collection was my favorite to date, but we don’t want you to miss out on your reading time!

Love in the Crossfire by Lauralee Bliss – Trenton, New Jersey, 1777: Um, the setting and era was my favorite hands down. Yes, this Montana gal loved her Montana stories, but take me back to the East coast, where the nation was just starting and you pretty much win in my book. Love beyond the line of fire, and enemies is a big part of the story. I was thrilled to see the relationship build, and grow with the characters. Each had their own need for that second chance.

Daughter of Orion by Ramona Cecil – New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1859: The title alone for this story was amazing. I really enjoyed the whaling details as this was a huge economic asset during this time. This story had me smelling the salty air with Matilda, she was just a female on a mission to keep her own property. Now, that’s a gal we can all love. Trust me you will want in on this story.

The Substitute Husband and the Unexpected Bride by Pamela GriffinWashington Territory, 1864: I really liked the twist to this story. Not what the characters were expecting and yet just what they needed. I felt like it was a refreshing moment to hop to the West coast and see new sights. I felt the humor to the story with making it seem like they both were applying for the job of a life time. It really was too.

The Prickly Pear Bride by Pam Hillman – Little Prickly Pear Creek, Montana Territory, 1884:  I stated in a review how much I loved the use of Montana in this story. But what was the coolest part? She had the female lead working as shepherdess. This was a long forgot passion for many in Montana. I felt like it was a breath of fresh air for a Montana story.

The Widow of St. Charles Avenue by Grace Hitchcock – New Orleans, 1895: Okay, young widow with a lot of money to offer. Can you see her situation? Well, let me tell you this strong minded young lady knew what she had on her hands and she gave me many moments of inner smiling. I felt like it was a great setting in NOLA, giving away to many southern charm moments.

Married by Mistake by Laura V. Hilton – Mackinac Island, 1902:  I love the island as a setting and have been visiting it through many different books. I was very happy with reading this story then, as I was in a need for another visit. The author’s descriptive language will transport readers.  The humor of the situation doesn’t go unnoticed and readers will be chuckling that they end up this way.

Fanned Embers by Angela Breidenbach – Bitterroot Mountains, Montana/Idaho border, 1910: I will never get enough of this author, and yet I see new reasons to fall for her stories each time I read one. One aspect of the Montana history was very well done in this book, and the characters made me smile throughout.

From a Distance by Tiffany Amber Stockton – Breckenridge, Colorado, 1920s: Can’t help but saying this story made me cry! The end. No really it is a great setting and a perfect read but definitely needed the tissues. 

What the Heart Sees by Liz Tolsma – Hartford, Wisconsin, 1944: Another favorite era, and this one has a great twist. Not set in the war, but in America. It was nice to have a new perspective into this time period. The author gave this reader many happy moments through the story and reminded me that we all need to look a second time.

 

Overall, this collection is by far a great success. I couldn’t have paired better stories together, or with better authors. Each provided meaningful and heart warming stories that remind us all love comes at different times, and for each other differently.

 

I Rate it

Do you have a story of second chances? Share below!

**DISCLAIMER: I was provided an opportunity to read this book as an Advanced Reader Copy in return for a fair and honest review.

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