Bride for Keeps by Melissa
Jagears. Bethany House, 2013. 336p. (9780764211683) Series: A Bride for Keeps,
#1
A debut
novel that I enjoyed but also didn’t quite like something about. Took me a quite a while to figure out what that was too. But I’m still looking forward to the
author’s future work since just about everybody improves over time.
Goodreads
Summary:
Although
Everett Cline can hardly keep up with the demands of his homestead, he won't
humiliate himself by looking for a helpmate ever again--not after being jilted
by three mail-order brides. When a well-meaning neighbor goes behind his back
to bring yet another mail-order bride to town, he has good reason to doubt it
will work, especially after getting a glimpse at the woman in question. She's
the prettiest woman he's ever seen, and it's just not possible she's there to
marry a simple homesteader like him.
Julia
Lockwood has never been anything more than a pretty pawn for her father or a
business acquisition for her former fiancé. Having finally worked up the
courage to leave her life in Massachusetts, she's determined to find a place
where people will value her for more than her looks. Having run out of all
other options, Julia resorts to a mail-order marriage in far-away Kansas.
Everett is
skeptical a cultured woman like Julia could be happy in a life on the plains,
while Julia, deeply wounded by a past relationship, is skittish at the idea of
marriage at all. When, despite their hesitations, they agree to a marriage in
name only, neither one is prepared for the feelings that soon arise to
complicate their arrangement. Can two people accustomed to keeping their
distance let the barricades around their hearts down long enough to fall in
love?
My Review:
When I read
the summary I wanted to read this because ever since reading the Love Comes Softly series I have loved
mail-order bride and marriage of convenience stories. I was expecting this to
be similar to many that I’ve read. Woman needs home, man needs help with home.
What I
wasn’t expecting was the intense physical attraction Everett felt for Julia.
Guess it makes sense for someone who has had to wait eighteen years to finally
marry and whose wife is quite beautiful. But while he managed to squelch those
feelings and turn away (most of the time), I felt like it detracted from the
story a bit. To me it didn’t feel like he was loving, just lusting, even though
his actions were considerate and he kept his distance. But then, they were
married and physical attraction is certainly a good thing in marriage.
I guess what
it boils down to is his incredibly terrible timing. I mean, kissing her on the
roof? Really, how dangerous is that. Course that does lead to an important plot
twist… But then there’s when he kisses her after she prays. I know, I know.
You’re thinking ‘well what’s so wrong with that?’ Nothing really, except for
his behavior towards her leading up to that point made it seem like he was
taking advantage of the situation.
Even though
he wasn’t exactly, his heart and attitude toward her had changed and become way
more caring, forgiving and loving. I wish we could have gotten to watch the
change during those weeks after the accident rather than be told about it in
hindsight. And come to think of it he showed admirable restraint during that
whole time.
On the
flipside, I did like the storyline of Julia having to overcome her belief that
the only reason any man and even God would want her is because of her good
looks. (I know, I can’t really have it both ways can I.) Julia’s plucky spirit,
determination to work hard and willingness to learn make her a very engaging
character. It makes the reader root for her to overcome her past and for
Everett to quit being such a quiet fool.
And I think
I just figured out why I didn’t like this book as much as I thought I would
(high expectations are a lousy thing). I wanted to like Everett more than I did. I wanted to love him. I loved Julia and all the other characters. I even like what the despicable
neighbor contributed to the plot. Now mind you, I don’t like him, but he does
add to the story.
But I just
didn’t completely love Everett. You know he’s a good guy; funny, hard working,
caring. And you also know that he’s had a rough time finding a bride and is a
little distrustful (ok, that’s an understatement) of mail order brides. You
know he’s good looking and is an excellent nurse. But for all that, I still
only ended up liking him and not loving him.
So there you
have it. I loved the girl and the cast, enjoyed the story, but only liked the
guy. It’s an enjoyable read while still dealing with some heavy issues. A clean
romance even though there are a few kisses and more is clearly desired. If you
enjoy mail-order bride stories, fiction set on the 1870s Kansas prairie or
stories about forgiveness and overcoming mistrust, then you just might like
this one.
Disclosure:
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not
required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.
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