Book picks similar to
The Not Quite Mail-Order Bride by Leah Atwood


christian-fiction
sweet-heroine
western-historical-romance
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Into the Amish


Erin Brady - 2016
    When she says yes to Arthur Carrington II’s marriage proposal, her life is suddenly turned upside down. Not only is Emily a target of an unrelenting paparazzi, but she feels the pressure to live up to the Carrington name and all of the expectations it carries with it, especially those set by her soon-to-be mother-in-law and renown socialite, Dolores Carrington. But when a disastrous turn of events causes her life to fall apart at the seams, Emily finds herself traveling to Lancaster, Pennsylvania to visit her long-lost Amish cousins and put some distance between herself and the life she thought she wanted. It is there among the Amish where Emily discovers what’s really important and the power of family, faith and following one’s dreams. With the help of a handsome stranger, Jonah Miller, Emily finds herself at a crossroads and knows she must make a decision that will ultimately change the course of her life.

Enchanted: A Christmas Collection


Melissa Tagg - 2017
    Fast forward one year. With a looming deadline, Maren is desperate to recapture her creative spark. Then she remembers Colin’s invitation to visit his family’s Iowa farm… Drew Renwycke never planned to move home and take over the farm. But he’s spent too many years watching his siblings unravel—including Colin. When Maren lands on his doorstep, he realizes she may be the key to coaxing his brother home. (originally published as a standalone in 2015) One Enchanted Eve As a Denver Culinary Institute student, Colin Renwyke is out to embark on a new career as a pastry chef. But despite his skills in the kitchen, he’s a mess in the classroom and his ongoing disasters are proving too much for his prickly instructor. If he loses his spot at the school, he's out of backup plans. Culinary school instructor Rylan Jefferson has the chance to reclaim her dream of running her own bakery. But she only has until Christmas Eve to come up with the perfect recipe to impress an eccentric investor. She has no time for holiday parties or family plans . . . and especially not for her unruliest student baker. But Colin has the one ingredient Rylan needs most—talent. Lots of it. And when he makes a proposal that just might solve both their problems, Rylan can't say no. (originally published as a standalone in 2016) One Enchanted Noel When Seb Pierce agreed to work for his wealthy grandfather for one year—in return for an early draw on his inheritance—he never expected the agreement to land him in a quirky small town in Iowa at Christmas-time, renovating a dilapidated theater…and running into a woman he never thought he’d see again. Although she’s finally settled in her hometown, Leigh Renwycke can’t shake the familiar restlessness that used to get her into trouble. When Seb Pierce waltzes into her world and begs for her help planning the theater’s holiday reopening, it might be enough to jumpstart a new career…and to prove once and for all that the new-and-improved Leigh is here to stay. Until old secrets and new sparks get in the way... (brand new in 2017!)

Bounty Hunter Guardian


Diane Burke - 2011
    Amanda has to meet her…even if it means jumping bail and praying she'll reach Alaska before law enforcement closes in.If Chance Walker has learned anything as a bounty hunter, it's that only the guilty run. When he captures Amanda, he's ready to bring her to justice. But attacks against Amanda make Chance reconsider. What if his target really is innocent? Will Chance put his life on the line to find the truth—and keep Amanda safe?

Marriage by Mail


Jan Holly - 2015
    Longing for adventure, she arrives in northern California to meet her handsome husband to be, Charles, a blacksmith with a heart of gold who yearns for a wife. As they fall in love and learn what marriage truly is, they rely on their faith in God and help from their neighbors to see them through. A heartwarming and inspirational tale of grace and faith, Marriage by Mail is a sweet, historical, Western, Christian romance of just over 40,000 words.

Grow Old With Me


Melinda Evaul - 2010
    Benjamin Pruitt plans to repair the town’s buildings before retiring to a solitary life. Sarah Campbell longs for freedom since her long task as caregiver has ended.Can Benjamin and Sarah piece the tattered remnants of their lives into a beautiful design to warm their waning years?Melinda Evaul and her husband enjoy traveling the back roads of North Carolina and Tennessee where rural culture and history are preserved through a unique art form—Quilt Barn Squares.Come follow her adventures along the Quilt Trails of America in this series of novels.

Anson's Mail-Order Bride


Kit Morgan - 2016
    Then all he has to do is wait for the culprit to slink into town, dig up the money, and have him arrested. There's only one problem. Anson just sent train fare to the Pettigrew Bridal Agency for his mail-order bride! He can't bring a woman into such danger and telegraphs the agency to stop everything. But when his message to Mrs. Pettigrew is altered, she thinks he wants her to send his bride to Montana! Misunderstandings, a loony villain, plenty of romance and a few surprises make for a fun romp.

The Eyes of the Heart


Embassie Susberry - 2014
    It is also a story about Edith Holden, a young woman living in the deep south who finds herself unwillingly confronted with racism, social injustice and her love for a man she is unsure she will ever have.

Paper Roses


Amanda Cabot - 2009
    Leaving the past behind in Philadelphia, mail-order bride Sarah arrives in San Antonio ready to greet her groom, Austin Canfield, a man she has never met but whose letters have won her heart from afar. But there is one problem--he has died. And Sarah cannot go back East.As Sarah tries to reconcile herself to a future that is drastically changed, Austin's brother, Clay, struggles with his own muddled plans. Though he dislikes working on the family ranch and longs for a different life, Clay is driven to avenge his brother's death. But something between them is growing and neither Clay nor Sarah is ready to admit it. Book 1 of the Texas Dreams series, Paper Roses will sweep readers into the Hill Country with a tale of love and loss, closed doors and beautiful possibilities that will leave them wanting more.

Grace Alive


Natasha House - 2013
    Working at a lame craft store, she feels like her life has become one giant disappointment. Waiting for Mr. Right, yet having never been on a date, let alone kissed a man, she wonders if he will ever come. Then she meets Branson TateThe handsome man and his three kids stumble into her life, and she finds him to be polar opposite of what her parents have always wanted for her. But when Zoe’s dad, the pastor of the largest church in Michigan, says God spoke to him who her husband is, she’s faced with a choice. Is her father hearing God or is she?

To Love Someone New (Bridgewood Book 1)


Rubie Hall - 2016
    Three years have passed since his death, and Clara finds herself working at the Bridgewood Mercantile, unable to forget the loss of her first love. Though she spends her days caring for the store owner’s young ward and seeing to the shopping needs of her homesteading community, she has resigned herself to quiet, peaceful nights alone. When Gabe Holt rides into town with two children in the back of his covered wagon, Clara is unnerved by the handsome young farmer’s forthright, flirtatious manner. She prefers to watch the antics of her neighbour, Mrs. Booth, trying to secure Gabe as a husband for her daughter Sadie. But Sadie has other plans, and thinks Gabe would be better suited to a hardworking woman like her friend Clara. As Clara becomes the unwitting victim of Sadie’s matchmaking schemes, she begins to develop romantic feelings for Gabe. With friends pushing them together, and children determined to keep them apart, Clara must ultimately decide if she has room enough in her heart for someone new.

Love's Long Journey & Love's Abiding Joy


Janette Oke - 1982
    

A Katie Parker Production Boxed Set: Books 1-4


Jenny B. Jones - 2015
    In Between (Carol Award Recipient for Best YA, Christy Award Finalist)Can we overcome our past? Katie Parker is about to get a new life—whether she wants one or not. With her mom in prison, and her father AWOL, Katie is sent to live with a squeaky-clean family who could have their own sitcom. She launches a full-scale plan to get sent back to the girls’ home when she finds herself in over her head...and heart. When Katie and her new "wrong crowd" get into significant trouble at school, she finds her punishment is restoring a historic theater with a crazy grandma who goes by the name of Mad Maxine. In the midst of her punishment, Katie uncovers family secrets that run deep, and realizes she's not the only one with a pain-filled past. Katie must decide if she'll continue her own family’s messed up legacy or embrace a new beginning in this place called In Between.On the Loose What's a girl to do when the glass slipper doesn't fit?Six months into her stay with her foster parents, Katie Parker is finally adjusting to her new family. But when a tornado rips through the town of In Between, nothing is ever the same. When her foster mom, Millie, is diagnosed with cancer, Katie begins to doubt if God really does care. What will happen to Katie? Could she possibly have to leave In Between and the family she's come to depend on? Things spiral even further out of control when Katie juggles a malfunctioning best friend, Spring Break plans, and holding the attention of her own Prince Charming. It's going to take more than a magic wand and some fairy dust to fix Katie's problems. But will help come in time?The Big Picture (Carol Award Winning, Best YA)How do you walk away from love?Katie's bio-mom is fresh out of prison and wants to start a new life with her daughter--in a new town. Katie is forced to walk away from In Between, leaving the family she loves, an endangered town drive-in, and a boyfriend who can't take his eyes off his ex. As life with her mom takes a serious nosedive, Katie must rely on her faith to keep it together. Yet God seems to be nowhere around. Katie struggles to keep it together, taking care of her mother and spending time with a handsome new friend who makes her question everything. Will her big picture ever include a happily ever after?Can't Let You GoAn old love whose kisses make her weak, but whose secrets threaten to destroy all she holds dear...Fresh out of college, Katie Parker had it all—a charming romance, a role in a famous stage production, and an idyllic life in London. Until she found her boyfriend cheating and got herself fired from the play. Leaving everything behind, Katie hops a plane home, only to run into her first love, Charlie Benson. As the couple returns to In Between, Katie questions everything she ever thought she wanted—including a renewed romance with her high school flame.While she attempts to rebuild her life, Katie's plan to manage the family’s theater meets a devastating obstacle, dragging her into a legal battle that will rock her small town. And the boy who once broke her heart seems to have the power to do it again. As Charlie’s secrets unravel, Katie must make a choice. Can she overcome her past and trust Charlie with her heart again?A heart-warming sweet romance.

Mail Order Brides of Spring Water Books 1-3


Kathleen Ball - 2019
    Many in the South lost their home, families, and fiancées. Many went from living a rich life to being reduced to wearing rags. These three stories are about three strong women who didn’t allow themselves to be beat down. It’s also a book about a group of Confederate Soldiers who start a ranch and make a new family for themselves. Tattered Heart- Book One A war-hardened southern belle. A caring Civil War captain. Can they overcome reconstruction and his cruel mother to find a loving marriage? Texas, 1867. Georgie O’Rourke left Tennessee after the Civil War took everything from her. But when she answers a mail order bride ad, she never thought her arrival would surprise her new husband. It was the handsome captain’s mother who sent in the ad, and the mentally unstable matriarch may also take Georgie to her breaking point… Captain Parker Eastman’s responsibilities haven’t ended after the Confederate Army surrendered. While he agrees to marry Georgie and welcome her into his ranch, he feels he has no choice but to leave her with his mother so he can stop land grabbers on the range. But over a month away may do more damage to his new wife than he ever anticipated… With Georgie at the mercy of Mother Eastman, she questions whether she’ll survive the war’s aftermath. When Parker returns home, can he somehow regain his wife's trust to reclaim a marriage of admiration and love? Tattered Hearts is the first book in the Mail Order Brides of Spring Water series of historical western romance novels. If you like suspenseful but sweet relationships, Civil War heroes, and twists you won’t see coming, then you’ll love Kathleen Ball’s tale of frontier affection. Shattered Trust- Book Two CHRISTIAN HISTORICAL WESTERN ROMANCE Escaping her abuser, Veronica heads for Texas as a Mail Order Bride. She brings with her an unexpected baby and hopes and prays that Max will be accepting of her child. She also hopes that she will be able to allow her husband to touch her. Max is stunned to see a secret baby but he comes through as a cowboy hero and treats her as his own. He's not sure how to react to Veronica. She is jumpy and scared. He knows it'll be a long road to teach her that some men can be trusted. Then the dead father of her baby shows up. Can they both come to the realization that both love and trust are what makes a forever type of marriage? Or will past betrayals and new secrets ruin what could have been? This is book two of the Mail Order Brides of Spring Water, a Clean, Christian, Historical, Western Romance. Glory’s Groom- Book Three Glory’s life is being turned upside down. Her comfortable daily life as a teacher at The Wigg School and Foundling Home has ended. She'd lived there all her life. How will she survive without her friends? Her future now is to travel to Texas as a Mail Order Bride and be a teacher. Glory wonders if she is good enough for Kent Sandler. Glory has never spent time with a man before and as soon as she says “I do,” Kent’s mother-in-law shows up and hands him a two year old boy he had no knowledge of and rides off. Kent never wanted to get married again. Once was one time too many. But Parker Eastman offers a bet to his three best friends. Whoever gets married first will have a house built for them and Kent wins. Trouble comes to the town of Sweet Water in the guise of hooded men who terrorize the freed slaves. Parker Eastman decides to hire the freedmen and pay them the same wage as the other cowboys. It was a time of violence and suspicion in the South.

The Homesteader's Sweetheart


Lacy Williams - 2012
    Abbott's advances – even visit her grandfather's homestead for an undetermined amount of time. Out of her element, she must rely on neighbor Jonas White and his brood of adopted children. Scandal chased Jonas out of Philadelphia five years ago. A scandal that socialite Miss Castlerock knows about. Since then, Jonas has kept to himself, worked his homestead, and focused on raising his seven adopted boys and his daughter. The last thing he needs is to be reminded of the past and the young woman he once fancied – especially when she's so far out of his sphere... As circumstances force the two to work together, their tentative friendship blossoms into something more. But can two people from such disparate backgrounds find true love with each other?

A Scout for Skyler (Mail-Order Mama, #16)


Heather Blanton - 2021
    On his death bed, he announces he’s sending her off to become the mail-order bride of an army captain. His dying wish is that she make the man a good wife, be happy…and wear a dress once in a while.A recent widower, Captain Skyler Corbett is an arrogant Scotsman who believes women should have babies not opinions. Regardless, the last thing he needs is a wife. His daughter is coming of age, however, and friends argue she needs a woman’s influence.When the headstrong, unrefined and unexpected Priscilla Jones shows up, Corbett is not inclined to marry her. Ever. Priscilla agrees, firing back that the snooty Captain Corbett is no prize, either.It seems this arranged marriage is destined for the ash heap. Embers, though, do have a sneaky way of catching fire…