| Title | : | Montana Bride (Mail-Order Brides, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0345527488 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780345527486 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Mass Market Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 406 |
| Publication | : | First published December 14, 2013 |
THE PROMISE OF FOREVER
When Karl Norwood’s mail-order bride meets an untimely demise on the way to the Montana Territory, Hetty Wentworth steps in to take her place. Hetty has no idea how she’s going to pretend to be all the things she isn’t—including the mother of two kids. She only knows her deception is necessary if she’s going to save two orphans from the awful fate she suffered as a child.
Karl smells a rat when a much younger woman than he was expecting arrives with two children who look nothing like her. But his mail-order bride is so beautiful, he doesn’t object—until he realizes that his charming new wife has been lying . . . about everything. Can a woman forced to keep secrets and a man hindered by distrust ever hope to find happily ever after in each other’s arms?
Montana Bride (Mail-Order Brides, #3) Reviews
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4 Plain Karl Stars
Montana Bride, the 3rd book in the Mail order brides series, was a pretty good read. I loved the plot and the hero Karl. I thought Hetty was okay but at times a little shallow. I got annoyed how she was so hung up on Karls looks when it was a great guy. I enjoyed both Griffin and Grace. I thought Karl and Hetty together were cute. I loved that Karl was your normal everyday plain Joe. He was a little on the nerdy side but I found him sweet and sexy. I liked Hetty I just wish she didn't act like Karl's looks were such a big deal. I did like the side romance of Andy and Grace. I hated Dennis and was glad he got his in the end! The Christmas part was so sweet I loved every minute of it. I think this one is my favorite of the series! -
This is Hetty's story! But for me it was Karl's!
I appreciated very, very much that for once the hero is not a giant hunk, but a normal man of average hight, average face, with brown heair and brown eyes. Finally!!!
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate a green/blue eyed, raven/blond haired hunk, but in Romancelandia all the heroes are like that, so where's the novelty? *wink*
Well, Karl was that novelty for me! I appreciated that it was his intelligence that was attractive, not his looks!
But, Hetty, at the beginning, was not of the same opinion... She's the best looking sister but she's also the most spoilt one too. But, she's not a complete idiot since she understands that she was wounded, a three men died, her sister lost to indians, another just lost because of her selfishness and tries to better herself by helping others.
Karl is a man who's ever been ignored or overlooked because of his average looks. Nor his family, nor his friends ever payed attention to him. He's lonely and for once in his life he want something for himself to enjoy and to love: a wife... and her two children!
So a game of deception begins with him a blissfully ignorant. Hetty and her two (supposedly) children lie, lie, lie...
As in the previous book whatever can hapen will happen and anything that can be twisted and turned will be twisted and turned, but, strangely since I don't usually enjoy things like that, here I liked them! I even liked the gushingly sweet Christmas moments! I even wept a tear or two during that! O_O
An old fashion romance that reminded me how I felt reading my first romance some 40 years ago... :) -
This is the second book I have read by JJ and I definitely like her.....Gotta pick me up some others she has written :)
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Montana Bride has a difficult beginning (up to Chapter 7 I was sure it was a DNF), a slightly better mid-section and lots of whys.
There are quite a few bride-order romance novels around. The idea is clearly open to a lot of romantic angst, but this book was a bit over the top in the twist area. There are deception over deception over .. you get my meaning.
The following conflict was nearly absurd. She fears to confess she's a virgin rather than a whore. [Why?]
I found the beginning difficult to read: the leading characters were depicted as very shallow and the writing of a Chinese character was definitely racist to my eyes. Not in any blatantly offensive way, but so much a cliché to be annoying (think of the 1930's movies with the American actor impersonating the Chinese detective). She's barely four years older than her "child", but she sounds way younger and there's not a good reason why.
The couple did improve a bit but the villain was and remained cardboard and totally unexplained [Why?]
Overall I wasn't impressed with the novel, but it is easy to read. I have no doubt it'll be enjoyed by many romance fans.
ARC Courtesy of publisher via NetGalley -
My first book by Joan Johnston. Hero and hero are interesting characters, though hero falls a bit flat on the emotional side when he needs proof of the heroine's love (what evidence can she give him without context?) The kids are quite the gem of the story; precocious, precious, resilient and brilliant, they almost stole the show. Full review to come.
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Also posted at the
TBR Mountain Range.
Hetty Wentworth's story continues in book three where Miranda and Hannah's left off in books one and two of the MAIL-ORDER BRIDES series. She hasn't learned her lesson yet, either, so expect some trouble, some lies, some flirtation, a nose-punch or two, and maybe, just maybe, she'll get her happy-ever-after as the pioneer spirit journeys on!
The Wentworth sisters' engaging stories continue in book three of Joan Johnston's MAIL-ORDER BRIDE series. If you haven't read
TEXAS BRIDE or
WYOMING BRIDE yet, my review of MONTANA BRIDE may be a slight spoiler. It's important to read this series in order because I don't believe the humor in this third book will be taken in the way intended, initially, without the background from the other two books. They're such fun American pioneer stories, especially when read together, so why not treat yourself to all three?
Henrietta "Hetty" Wentworth stands up for a child whose mother is about to beat him for his latest transgression. Mrs. Templeton, a widow, and her seven-year-old son, Griffin, with his nine-year-old sister, Grace, are traveling by Conestoga wagon to join Mrs. Templeton's future husband in Montana. Nothing seems quite right to Hetty about this mishmash family, including the Chinese man who is their guide, but she is grateful they took her in when she was most vulnerable.
Filled with fear and worry about both her sisters, Hetty assumed she would die from the injuries sustained in an Indian attack on her own family's wagon, until this family found her. Josie was taken captive and Hannah went searching for help right after the attack, leaving Hetty alone and wounded. Hetty may never know their fate. Her family has been through so much since the Chicago fire that killed her parents and left the six Wentworth children in an orphanage. Not knowing if their oldest sister and two younger brothers made it to their destination when Miranda became the first mail-order bride, the three sisters devise their own destiny by marrying off Hannah to a man traveling west. To learn more, read my reviews of
TEXAS BRIDE and
WYOMING BRIDE.
The cruelty Hetty experienced at the orphanage by the headmistress is what motivates her to defend both of Mrs. Templeton's children from their mother's intended abuse. When Hetty and Mrs. Templeton get into a nose-punching, hair-pulling scuffle, they're too close to the edge of a cliff, in the dark, which results in Mrs. Templeton falling to her death. Even though Hetty was protecting herself as well as the children from harm, she is filled with regret and takes the blame. Just like she has always felt it was her fault when her family's wagon had to leave the wagon train, resulting in the Indian attack that separated the three sisters. Will she learn from or repeat past mistakes?
When the Chinese man, Bao, suggests that Hetty take Mrs. Templeton's place as a mail-order bride, as well as pretend the children are hers, she feels it's the least she can do to ensure that the children have a safe home. There's only one problem. How can Hetty fool her future husband when she's really a virgin, not an experienced mother of two? Besides that, those children have some explaining to do. Can a lasting relationship develop with so many lies?
One thing you need to know about this series is that even though there is tragedy, it often includes a very dry twist of wacky humor. The scene when the two children realize they're without a mother, again, is quite funny because no one is who they appear to be. Bao constantly quotes Confucius in broken English and just adds to the mayhem. To make her deception believable, Hetty trains as a nurse, learning from Bao so she can fool her future husband that she's his nurse mail-order bride with two children. Just how she'll be able to hide her "child" daughter's teenage breasts and her son's orneriness remains to be seen. Why worry about love when so much more could go wrong?
And no, this novel isn't all fun and games. There is a serious love story developing which includes a ready-made family. It includes plenty of danger to overcome in order to survive such a barren landscape. When you get to that point in the story, toward the end, when everything is happening and you're not sure if any of them will make it with their heart intact, you may sob a few tears from the simple beauty of what the holiday season brings to fruition. These characters are far from perfect but by the time they get their happy-ever-after, you'll feel they all deserve it.
Author Joan Johnston has a keen eye for quirky circumstances that put her characters, and the reader, through a wringer. Laughing one moment and crying the next, you'll always have such a great time getting to the happy-ever-after. Joan Johnston engages the senses in a charming style which creates an eager addiction to her stories. I can't wait to find out who stole Josie and where she lands in book four, BLACKTHORNE'S BRIDE.
Review written by Dorine, Courtesy of
Romance Junkies. -
I really liked the first few books that came before this one, Montana Bride... So I was really disappointed at how crappy this story started out and seemed to go. I have read stories at how the heroine is a plain Jane, etc. but this was the first that I can remember that the hero is the oddly normal looking, nothing special about him type of guy. Which is fine. But the fact that this hero was so plain looking was mentioned in every other sentence, it got real annoying. Seriously! It was thrown out there for me to read it from the girl's point of view, from the guy himself's point of view... by the time I had reached the second chapter I was forced to have his face connected to the picture of this nasty janitor guy at my work that creeps me out, instead of the hot guy on the cover of the book. So that really turned me off from the book. Secondly, when this heroine arrives to meet her husband-to-be, his best friend happens to be with him... who gives the new bride a huge kiss and she pretty much falls for him and ignores her husband (because he is so plain-looking). It was a total turn-off for me, sorry. So with those two things and the huge lie and falsehoods going on ... I decided to stop reading it and reach for one of the others waiting to be read.
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I totally forgot about this series and was so happy when I hopped back on the historical romance train.
Even though it's been years since I read the first few books in this series...it all came flowing back and I picked right off where I left off.
The story of Hettie was such an awesome romance...even though there were times I thought she was really shallow...but then again...don't we all get those thoughts and feelings in our heads without expressing them? -
Nope. DNF at 54 pages. I dragged myself through the second one purely on the strength of the first, hoping the series would improve again, but no such luck. Not only is Hetty shallow and unlikeable, the premise is completely unbelievable (a 17-year-old posing as a 14-year-old's mother — what?), The setup is contrived and ridiculous and the modern speech and behavior is getting more glaring by the moment in this "historical" novel. Oh, except for the throwback super-racist stereotype-pretending-to-be-a-character,
Mr. Lin. This is a Chinese man who speaks in pidgin English, who regularly and unironically starts sentences with, "Confucius say...", and who uses "mysterious medicines from the Orient" to nurse Hetty when she's wounded. He is referred to multiple times, not just in the characters' dialogue (which would be historically accurate) but in the actual third-person narration, as a "Chinaman". Nope. I'm done. -
I mostly enjoyed this book but I felt it really ended with a whimper not a good climatic bang. The bizarre bad guy sort of got his comeuppance but not at the hands of either of the main characters so any build up just sort of fizzled out. Also the main story was interrupted by a pretty uninteresting romance between a 14 year old girl and her 16 year old boyfriend. Ultimately just so so.
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My Rating: 4.5/5
Another lovely book in this series! Montana Bride was a wonderful historical romance. It was sweet, steamy, and a truly enjoyable read.
Hetty was a great heroine. She starts of the book as kind of shallow and selfish and rather immature. But, as the book goes on, she matures and it was great watching her grow up from a flighty girl to a strong woman. I had only one issue with her, and the book in general. For about the first half, she was kind of mean to Karl. As I said, she starts off the book as very shallow and, since Karl is plain looking, she judges him badly for his average looks. Not only that, but she decides to have a good opinion of Karl's friend because he is good looking, even though he acts like a jerk, while Karl is never anything but sweet to her. Because Hetty grew out of that and redeemed herself when she finally sees past Karl's plain appearance to the wonderful man underneath, it didn't bother me too much. But, it was an annoyance. Regardless, I still liked her character. She might have started out irritating, but she ended up being a strong, fierce, likable heroine.
Karl was absolutely lovely. He was so sweet and strong and determined to be a good man. He's always been cast as second best because of his handsome brother and handsome friend, but, rather than making him bitter, it makes him determined to prove himself. And, he did. He was sweet and wonderful and I totally adored him.
The romance was perfect, both sweet and steamy. Hetty and Karl were adorable together. I really liked the progression of their relationship, how they gradually fell in love. And, there is no denying the chemistry between these two. I thought they were great together.
The other characters in the book were wonderfully done.
Grace and Griffin, the two children that Hetty takes in, were awesome characters. They both had their own stories and were just fun to read about. They were both so strong and protective of each other. I loved that Grace had her own little romance that was just so sweet. And Griffin was fun to read about, with his crazy antics and determination to protect his loved ones. I totally adored these two.
Karl's "friend" was a character that was easy to hate. He might play the part of charming and nice, but he is definitely not. Selfish, greedy, and uncaring of others, he was just awful. And, I liked how the author made him. How she dropped hints about his true nature and it kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting to yell at Hetty and Karl to see the truth about him. He was a wonderfully hateful character.
The plot was fast paced and I was kept interested the entire way through. There were definitely some secrets and surprises. I really enjoyed the story and I can't wait for the next book in this series.
Montana Bride was a lovely historical romance. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was absolutely wonderful! To those who want a great western romance to read, this book is one you'll want to check out.
*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review -
Hotness Rating 2 out of 3
I am a huge fan of the Mail-Order Brides series by Joan Johnston. This, third book of the series was not my favorite so far, but a really good read nonetheless. So much of the book I kept thinking I've read this book before, so I'm not positive that didn't take away a little.
I loved Karl. He was such a kind, patient man. Actually far more kind and forgiving than most would be. His insecurities made me sad, yet he didn't allow them to make him a total pushover or bitter. He was a masculine man in so many ways, yet had an amazing intelligence that made him that much more interesting. His patience in teaching the children as well as dealing with their insolence and subterfuge made him even more attractive.
Hetty wasn't a truly awful character but her shallowness really got to me. She knew she was deceiving Karl and she acknowledged many times to herself and to the children his kindness, yet she still dwelt on the fact that he wasn't as handsome as she had wanted. I mean seriously he gave her a good home, was building them a fine life, treated her children as if they were his own (even when Griffin was determined to make him pay for all of man's sin), treated her with patience, kindness and understanding, and yet she still felt the need to keep him at arm's length because of a childhood dream of Prince Charming.
Once Hetty was able to really start seeing Karl beyond the shallow this book sucked me in like crazy. Dennis was a horrible man and I was so happy when he got what was coming to him. I just kept hoping the entire book that he would be seen for who he was. I hate that Hetty even gave him as much attention as she did. She wasn't dishonorable, but I hated that she fed his ego even that little bit. I loved the children and was glad that they finally got a chance at a good life considering all they had been exposed to and weathered.
Bottom Line: if you like a well thought out historical romance with great characters and storyline this series and author are amazing! You will not regret starting this series! -
Western Romance I came very close to giving up on this one, but the novel finally redeemed itself in the last 1/3 or so. Up until that point,
If I had known how tense the novel was going to be, I wouldn't have picked it up. 2 1/2 stars, rounded up to a 3 for the kids, who I did came to care about.
After thinking about it overnight, I decided to go back to a 2 star rating. My overall feelings on this book could not be described as positive.
The novel is almost clean, heat level extremely low, 2 or 3 very brief intimate scenes with very little detail. Another cover where the illustrator didn't read the book. No foul language. -
The saga continues and I enjoyed Hetty's story very much.
I liked Karl the best. He was not your ordinary and typical hero. For one, he was very plain looking, of average height with overlapping front tooth to boot. Even though he knew his beautiful mail order bride wasn't attracted to him at all, he was very considerate of her and her 'children'. He even gave her a wide berth to get used to being married to simple ol him. I particularly loved his numerous inner battle to dissuade himself against planting a kiss on his brand new bride.
Never a dull moment 5stars. I truly lovvit. -
Ehh I didn't like this one as much as the first two. I thought Hetty was a b***h, to Karl and I loved Karl (:
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Originally posted
HERE.
The cover of this book is pretty gratuitous. I know topless men are the norm for the genre, but it just seems silly for this one.
Western Romance isn’t a genre I’m at all familiar with, and I can’t say I’m an expert on the history of America’s Wild West either. This book was fairly new ground for me, so I don’t have a great deal to compare it to. It turned out to be an enjoyable read, though the heroine’s extreme youth and immaturity took a little getting used to.
There’s a real sense of adventure in Montana Bride, which I suppose you’d expect! People are going where few Europeans have gone before, and there’s danger at every turn.
There were times I had to stop and remind myself not to be too tough on the heroine in her sillier moments. Firstly, because she was making the best of an impossible situation, even though her internal whining about her husband not being drop-dead gorgeous became annoying. (Seriously, he wasn’t a gargoyle, and there really aren’t that many GORGEOUS men to be found in the middle of nowhere! He was also a really good man, which should have meant more.)
Secondly, because she was only seventeen for most of the book. This made the mother/daughter dynamic between her and her pretend daughter, Grace – who was only four years her junior – a little difficult to believe, I have to say. I know that it wasn’t an especially unusual age to be married back in the day, but I think I would have been more comfortable reading about a heroine a year or two older. I’d say that when it comes to maturity, the difference between seventeen and, say, nineteen is massive.
The poor hero was rather down on himself for most of the book. I felt so sorry for him; he definitely didn’t get what he was expecting, and he’d never done a thing to deserve it!
There is a secondary character in this book who is Chinese. I’m still unsure how I felt about his characterisation. I’m not all that fond of ethnic minorities appearing in books being clichés. This guy was all-knowing, all-wise and shared at least one Confucius quote every time he appeared…
The world of this book is not one I’m very familiar with; I’m not American, after all. I don’t know how historically accurate things were, and I did find myself looking up quite a few expressions the characters used. I suppose I’m used to nit-picking modern language in England-set historicals!
I think I’m going to have to read some more books in this genre. They seem to be so completely different in tone and style to historical stories set in other countries!
Review copy provided by NetGalley. -
Audiobook Review:
"Montana Bride" is a new read/listen by Joan Johnston, new author to this reader. As I do love this kind of trope, I was looking forward to the listen. This was just a delightful and well-written story that I totally enjoyed. Love when you can visualize the hunk described and a likeable heroine. I love slow build romances and the relationship leading up to the intimate moments. There were parts that made you smile and drop a tear or two but in all a nice read. Going to have to read others prior to this one in the series.
Narration was performed by Julia Gibson, new narrator to this listener and she did a good job with the story. -
Joan Johnston has a way of pulling you into a story and hanging on tight as well as pulling on your heartstrings. I love the Bitter Creek series and this 3rd Brides book is phenomenal and touching.
Karl and Hetty along with Grace and Griffin will redefine your faith in family, acceptance, and most of all love.
Beautiful story, just simply beautiful!!! -
Hetty Wentworth had a tragic trip into the west, leaving her dying in a wagon alone. Reluctantly rescued by a mail order bride, her escort and her two children Hetty finds herself becoming the children's rescuer from an abusive situation. When the bride unexpectedly dies during the journey, the children's fate is in jeopardy. Hetty agrees to play their mother to secure them and herself a safe home.
Karl instantly believes something is off about the children's and Hetty's story but the attraction and relationship continues to grow...when the secrets are revealed will Karl still want to keep this unconventional family...
Montana Bride was an intriguing and entertaining western romance. The characters build a family based on love and compassion and not by blood. I found it to be quite enjoyable and compelling historical western settler romance.
I received this ARC copy of Montana Bride from Random House - Dell in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication January 7, 2014.
Series: Bitter Creek
Page Count: 416 pages
Publisher: Dell
Publication Date: January 7, 2014
ISBN-10: 0345527488
ISBN-13: 978-0345527486
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Genre: Historical Romance, Western
Find this book on:
Amazon |
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I liked this story but I was a little annoyed with Hetty's behavior. I couldn't believe that she was willing to marry a complete stranger to secure the future of two children then goes on and on and on about how she wished Karl was handsome or that Dennis was the man she was marrying. And Dennis, can I just say I was hoping the blood they found on the ground was his? But Grace and Griffin are two adorable children who would do anything for each other. I'm so glad that Grace found her own Prince Charming. Now, on to Karl. I liked Karl but his stubborn refusal to trust Hetty after she keeps trying to do things to please him just got on my nerves. I know what she did wasn't admirable but she is marrying a stranger and wants to know what happened to her siblings. That is understandable under the circumstances but Karl is so jealous of Dennis and upset that his wife seems to prefer to lie to him about everything that he can't seem to get over it; although he does hold out hope that she will learn to love him the way he does her. I liked this book, might not be a re-read for me, but I will read the others in the series.
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Title: Montana Bride
Author: Joan Johnston
Published: Dell
Series: Mail Order Brides # 3
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating:
Review:
"Montana Bride" by Joan Johnston was the third in this 'Mail Order Brides series. This novel is featuring Hetty(heroine) where she ends up left to die in a Conestoga wagon wounded by a arrow in her shoulder. Upon being rescued and with a Chinese man escorting Karl (the hero)intended bride and two children to Montana when all hell breaks out. This is where Hetty help the children by pretending to be this Karl's mail order bride and this is how this story will take off and wow if it isn't some good read. "Montana Bride" is a good western romance read that deals with four people looking only for a love and happiness of a family but will certainly have many obstacles that will have to be fixed before any of this will happen. Will Hetty be able to belong to a real family and find her brothers and sisters? This is where I say you must pick up "Montana Bride" to see how this
author will present it all to the reader. If you are a historical western romance reader then the 'Bitter Creek Novels' would be recommended to you. -
The more I think about this book the more holes I come up with in the plot. The main one was the "villain". She tried to set him up to be this bad guy everyone had to
Watch for, but when the time actually came it fizzled and a bear took over. I enjoyed the story as a filler. I even liked the chinaman and confuscious. The lies were necessary but I realized at the end hetty never did confess about dead boy she yelled in her dream. That got glossed over. I can't believe with all the lies the "boss" would let that one go.
I didn't like that grace found a husband and not any friends. There was no effort for those kids to play or anything. Plus she was 14. Young even then.
All the logging and he made no money. The brother angle was talked about and also glossed over. No money came they were going to cattle?!
What about his looks? Hetty never told him how attractive she found him.
Lots of plot holes. :( -
Rating: 3 stars
I almost gave up the book at the first few chapters. I thought Hetty, the heroine was immature and shallow. However since she was only 17, it was understandable. So I kept reading and glad I did it.
The book was really sweet. I love Karl and the kids. I also enjoy this description of Montana 's wildness and the part with Karl's love to . My favorite scene was Christmas morning when they exchanged gifts. Also nice touch with Bao and his Confucious Wisdom.
*I received ARC from Netgalley in exchange for honest review -
Too explicit for my taste!
I did like it more than the first book, but what I majorly dislike about both of them is this whole experienced-male-inexperienced-female thing. I had a prevalent case of "cringe face" a lot of the time. Especially in this one, when Karl mentioned something about being "tutored" by an older woman, I was like *GAG* :/ -
Talk about a shallow leading female character. I know she was only 17 but does the author have to make her seem so stupid?
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A SOLID 4.5 STARS!
HEARTWARMING. LIKE A HALLMARK CLASSIC. LOW KEY IN PASSION BUT RICH IN THE EMOTION.
OUR HERO is not a handsome man. He has struggled with being compared with his handsome older brother and friend all his life, being found wanting by most women. He's also resigned to his fate never to marry a beauty and its clear the poor man suffers from lack of self esteem especially when he refused to show his picture to his mail order bride and vice versa. I really liked Karl the moment we meet him and his insecurities were made known, I knew in my bones that he would turn out into a good man and husband. Due to the lack of money, looks and status, it makes Karl work harder than most and is rarely put down, I liked that aspect of him. He's a family man, a good guy that you can count on in every way....wished the 21st century had more men like him, he's a jewel in the rug.
OUR HEROINE is simply and utterly shallow that I just had to tolerate her in the beginning. At least she KNEW that she was shallow and tried to change her ways. I guess I can't blame her for that because her family used to be rich, and she was a pampered daughter until the Great Fire in Chicago that killed her parents. Sent to the orphanage and later scattered across that nation, her siblings lost touch with one another. Seeking for a new life, she hopes to have her suitor Clive to marry her and because of her selfishness and immaturity, and a touch of bad luck....everyone ended dead and her sister captured by an Indian. Long story short...she's the reason of the bad luck and death. Left for dead after the Indian attack, she was rescued by a mail order bride who was as obnoxious as can be, and after another accidental death, Hetty finds herself assuming the impostor role and gained a pair of children. I adored Griffin. He's a smart kid too rebellious for his own good but cute too.
OVERALL I loved this story because it didn't start off with perfect characters. Each of them had flaws that needed to be overcome and eventually as an unlikely family of four, they learn to change, fall in love and build relationships for real. -
This third book of the series picks up an unresolved thread from the second book and tells a complete story leaving one remaining major unresolved thread and possibly a couple of minor ones. Each book tells the reader everything about the background needed to enjoy this story, but each succeeding book would provide spoilers for earlier books, therefore I recommend reading them in order.
The story is a sight unseen marriage for a mail order bride. There are a lot of other things going on, but the main romance is another of those where the couple puts off consummations of the marriage for more than one reason but the main one is another silly contrivance. Hetty fears the groom will abandon the children if he finds out she's a virgin meaning the kids aren't really hers. A secondary reason is her virginal shyness.
I don't like plot themes that revolve around lies. Sometimes the lies are more omissions, but in this case Hettie piles one significant lie on top of another and each time Karl uncovers one it adds to his distrust and makes it that much harder for him to treasure Hettie. Add to it that Hettie does even more utterly stupid things than any of her sisters before her, or any book heroine I can think of at the moment. Besides these things, Hettie is generous and loving, and fiercely loyal to the children.
There's plenty of action and danger outside of the relationships, just as in previous books. There are some very touching moments toward the end but before the climax.
Indians are more respected in this story but there is also reference to an attack by some. A Chinese man is treated respectfully, but fits the stereotype.
Mature themes: sex and violence. There are a couple of mildly explicit sex scenes between married people. There's a reference to prostitution including one who is barely a teen if that. The event that separates Hettie from her two sisters is briefly revisited and includes an abduction of a teenage girl. There are some deaths. There's fistfights. Some of the violence is by animals. -
Karl is plain. He's not ugly, he's just plain for goodness sake and yet both hero and heroine go on and on about it. Between Karl's low self-esteem due to his looks and Hetty liking the evil but gorgeous friend, the story was too cliche. And naturally Hetty is beautiful. Karl puts up with her lies, immaturity and sometimes outright nastiness because of it.
Then there's Hetty's age. She is 17 but is supposed to have two children (and, despite her age, Hetty becomes a loving mother to them). Hard to believe that she looks almost 10 years older than she really is. Karl is supposed to be smart so why doesn't he realize the children couldn't possibly be hers? Is her beauty blinding him? Is he really so shallow?
The saving grace, no pun intended are the children, Grace, 14 and Griffin, 9, who are pretending to be years younger. They where wonderful characters. I did not like Grace's romance in the end due to her age, but perhaps that was acceptable then. She is much more likeable than Hetty. Too bad she wasn't older and the heroine.
The Christmas scene was lovely. The books scores points for that scene.
Aside from obsessing over his lack of looks (in his opinion), Karl is a really nice, intelligent, loving man. I did not like Hetty.
