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18 September 2014

A Bride in Store by Melissa Jagears -- Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels

A Bride in Store by Melissa Jagears
A Bride In Store
Bethany House Publishers (August, 2014)


5 Stars *****

Sweet Story with Rich Layers!

Eliza Cantrell, the daughter of a Eastern businessman, arrives in Kansas only to be robbed on the train enroute. She has come as a mail-order bride, bringing funds to assist the mercantile owner of what is primarily a men's shop. But her intended isn't even in town when she arrives. Instead Eliza begins helping William Stanton, her husband-to-be's business partner at the store. Except William doesn't seem to know much about business at all. He wants to be a doctor. Not only that but he is generous to a fault, failing to charge for services and goods. Will Eliza marry the man who sent for her? Will William find a way to attend medical school? Their sweet romance affects everything!

Bibliotherapy elements: Robbery and attack with injury so there is some PTSD, abandonment by her family, self concept issues, sexism against a woman being a business owner, honesty in relationships, and more! This novel has lots of lovely layers of meaningfulness. Not a light fluffy mail order bride story!  

Available for purchase at AmazonCBDBarnes & NobleBook DepositoryBAM, etc.

GIVEAWAYWe're giving away a copy of either of Melissa's novels this week, choice of format (international winners, ebook only unless available through the Book Depository. Leave a comment to enter.

*Check back in the Winners column on the top right hand side of the blog after Saturday.

36 comments:

  1. I love reading mail order bride books. This looks like a fun one to read
    oh.hello.hiya@gmail.com

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    1. Yes, this is a great read, Danie! I'd highly recommend it!

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  2. Sounds like a fun book to read - love the cover they did a nice job with this one.
    jking23(at)kent(dot)edu

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    1. Yes the cover is cute with a great story to go with it.

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  3. I have A Bride In Store & at the top of my TBR list. Would love to put her next one in that pile :)
    dkstevensne at outlook . com

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  4. Would so love to win a print copy of this book.

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  5. Hi Melissa!
    I have not read any of your books, YET.

    I really enjoy reading Christian fiction with mail order brides and your book sounds great.
    Thank you for a chance to win a copy of one of your books.
    blessings, Tina

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    1. This is a deeper story than most mail order brides stories, Tina. We're happy here at OWG to give away a copy of Melissa's book this week!

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    2. Tina, I hope you win, but you can read something by me for nothing if you'd like: I have a freebie short story to try out. http://www.amazon.com/Love-Letter-Unexpected-Brides-Novella-ebook/dp/B00EVSB3N0

      You can get it as any kind of ebook, or you can download a kindle app to a smart device or your computer. Glad you like mail-order brides too!

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  6. I would love to read this. It really sounds very good. What an interesting storyline, too. My husband's grandmother was a mail order bride from Japan back around 1911-12. Went to Hawaii and they had 13 children!

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    1. Wow, that sounds like quite the story, Sonja! Thanks for coming by! Would love to hear more about your family's history!

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    2. Oh! I bet that's a great story! And set in Hawaii! If that doesn't sound romantic, I don't know what does!

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    3. And thanks Carrie for the review, did I say that somewhere already? I'm glad it's not all "light and fluffy" I seem to like to play over the fence between deep and light and sometimes I don't know how that's going to be received. Have a joke in one scene, crying the next....

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  7. Sonja.nishimoto at gmail dot com Sorry I always forget my email...

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    1. It's okay--commenters don't have to leave email any more. We post the winners names in the upper right hand corner of the blog and winners can email me to get their prizes.

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  8. Hello my friend. I love the Mail Order Brides books. Can't imagine getting married that way. But some had no other choice if they wanted a family. Melissa's book sounds really good one. Have tried to win it but haven't yet. But you never know.
    Please put my name in. Thanks to my OWG girls for this chance. Love you all. Maxie

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    1. Got a few more chances left this month until I think my giveaways dry up. Hope you can snatch it somehow!

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    2. I will put your name in Maxie! You are such a sweetie! Hugs!!! And Love to you, too!!!

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  9. Good Friday morning from Texas! Sounds like a fun read, Melissa. Great review, Carrie. Blessings to you both!

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  10. Would love to win a copy PLEASE !! Thank you for the offer .Blessings ,DanaGirl

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  11. What a thrilling review, Carrie. I'm hoping to purchase and read it soon! Hubs will not get paid for two more weeks.

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    1. Thanks, Regina! I think you'd love this. It's hard to wait, isn't it?

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  12. Thank u for doing this giveaway And God bless you
    Chris

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  13. Sounds like a good book. Please keep me in mind if you have an extra EB :)
    I read every day.....

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    1. Thanks, Robin! Oh boy, you stumped me on that one. I dk what an EB is. Not I'm wondering. An extra EB. Hmmm....

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    2. Oh, Robin, I wonder if you mean an extra ebook! I got mine from NetGalley and I think I have to add that to the post, uh oh, I forgot. I'm so glad for NG. I do put PB for paperback so EB for ebook does make sense! Hugs!

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  14. Great review Carrie, and I wholly agree with your comment about it not being your usual mail-order bride story. This one definitely has a whole lot more substance, some great bibliotherapy qualities as you pointed out, and is one to keep you turning the pages! :-)

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    1. I've read quite a few mail order bride stories and this one really had a lot more richness to it. TY, Noela!

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  15. Thanks for the wonderful review of "A Bride In Store", Carrie!!

    It sounds like just the book I've been looking for - to give a little more depth into the plight of mail-order brides. Love that it has numerous bibliotherapy elements involved.

    I don't have any of Melissa's novels and would love to read "A Bride In Store"!!

    Shared post!!

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