Book picks similar to
Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill


historical-fiction
christian-fiction
christian
historical-romance

Lone Star Ranger


Renae Brumbaugh Green - 2015
    She'll show the good-looking lawman he's wrong, even if it means setting out on a risky race across Texas to catch the real killer. Rett doesn't want to convict an innocent man. But he can't let the Boston beauty sway his senses to set a guilty man free. When Elizabeth follows him on a dangerous trek, the Ranger vows to keep her safe. But who will protect him from the woman whose conviction and courage leave him doubting everything—even his heart?

Nowhere Man: Another John Pickett Novella


Sheri Cobb South - 2020
    As weeks go by with no responses to his newspaper advertisement, he has taken to spending his days wandering idly about London rather than admit his failure to his beloved wife Julia, the former Lady Fieldhurst.One day, while loitering amidst the crowds thronging the Covent Garden market, he wonders morosely if it might have been better had he not been born at all. Then he sees one of his former colleagues and, in an attempt to make a discreet exit, contrives instead to knock himself unconscious.He awakens to discover that his Bow Street colleague doesn’t seem to remember him, and after staggering back home to Curzon Street, he finds someone else living in the house where he lived with Julia. But still greater surprises are in store for Pickett as he attempts to navigate his way through a world in which he never existed…With a wink and a nod to Frank Capra’s classic film IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, NOWHERE MAN offers an alternate version of many of the earlier entries in the John Pickett mystery series.

The Last Heiress


Mary Ellis - 2015
    Though there is not much one individual can do, the wealthy young woman feels she must try, as her mother and hundreds of employees at Dunn Textiles are dependent on Southern cotton.When Amanda meets Nathaniel Cooper, her desire to conduct business and quickly return to England changes. Though captivated by one another, neither is fully aware of the other's true nature.Nathanial, who on the outside appears to be a poor but hardworking merchant, is actually a secret Yankee sympathizer who will stop at almost nothing to bring about freedom for those who live under subjugation, even when that involves questionable judgment. And Amanda's wealth is made possible by underpaid workers living in slums around the mills, not much different than American slavery.Can these two earnest souls find the best in one another rather than focus on what could tear them apart? And though they both believe they are on God's path, how will their decisions affect those around them?

My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude’s Mooring


Carrie Fancett Pagels - 2017
    Meet Ben Steffans, a journalist posing as a wealthy industrialist who has come to the island to uncover a story about impoverished men pursuing heiresses at the famed hotel. Will a growing love between Maude and Ben be scuttled when truths are revealed in this Gilded Age romance?

A Reluctant Melody


Sandra Ardoin - 2016
    Now sober, he wants to make amends by opening a mission for drunkards. The most suitable location belongs to Joanna Cranston Stewart, a love from his sordid past and the one person he hurt the most.A pariah among her peers, Joanna is all too eager to sell her property and flee the rumors that she sent her late husband to an early grave. But she will let the gossips talk and the walls of her rundown property crumble around her before she’ll allow Kit back into her life.When a blackmailer threatens to reveal her long-held secret, she must choose between trusting Kit or seeing her best friend trapped in an abusive marriage.Will Joanna risk another betrayal? Or will she find a way through the pain of the past to love and trust again?

Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico


Lena Nelson Dooley - 2010
    Its 1892 and Golden, New Mexico, is a booming mining town where men far outnumber women. So when wealthy miner Philip Smith finds himself in need of a nursemaid, he decides to place an ad for a mail-order bride. His friend Jeremiah Dennison opposes the scheme, arguing that any woman crazy enough to come to Golden will be a gold-digger like everyone else in town. Jeremiah appears to be right when the ad is answered by Madeleine Mercer, a young woman who arrives in town under a cloud of suspicion. But just as she begins to win over the old minerand Jeremiah himselfa stranger comes to Golden armed with new accusations that could tarnish Madeleines character beyond redemption.

Hearts of the West


Leah Atwood - 2015
    Whether you have just a few minutes to enjoy a novelette, or the time to really get immersed in the dust and grit of a western town, there's something here for everyone.Step into a day when outlaws ran free, the land was wild, and guns blazed at the drop of a hat! After the Rain    Rand McCade made a promise to his dying wife to one day remarry. He doesn't want to remarry, but a promise is a promise.   Pressured to marry a violent man, widowed and pregnant Lettie Morgan seeks out an agency which finds brides for men in the west.   Can two hearts, broken and grieving, put their pasts aside and blend their lives into one? A Lady in Defiance    Charles McIntyre owns everything in the lawless mining town of Defiance. When three sisters show up stranded, alone, and offering to open a "nice" hotel, he is intrigued enough to let them stay...especially since he sees feisty middle sister Naomi as a possible conquest.   Naomi wants no part of Defiance or the saloon-owning, prostitute-keeping Mr. McIntyre. It would seem however, that God has gone to elaborate lengths to bring them together. The question is, "Why?" Does God really have a plan for each and every life? Rocky Mountain Oasis    When Sky Jordan hears that his nefarious cousin has sent for a mail-order bride, he knows he has to prevent the marriage. No woman deserves to be left to that fate. Still, he's as surprised as anyone to find himself standing next to her before the minister.   Brooke's new husband turns out to be kinder than any man has ever been. But then the unthinkable happens and she holds the key that might save innocent lives but destroy Sky all in one fell swoop. It's a choice too unbearable to contemplate...but a choice that must be made. Bounty    Luke Jordan's mother's dying words rang in his head. "Take these to your brothers." His brothers? The Jordan gang of outlaws. Why did he have to waste time tracking them down?   Cat Cahill's morning rides are a pleasant diversion from her mother's lectures on marrying a civilized man from the east. Despite her prayers, Cat hasn't found the man she would want to spend the rest of her life with until she runs into Luke.   One town trying to avoid a buyout, one gang worth their weight in gold, bounty hunters intent on taking the Jordan gang in more dead than alive = two in love and a bunch in trouble. Charity's Gold Rush    After Charity saves handsome Gabriel Williams' daughter from being trampled he asks her to marry him. And Charity believes he's the answer to her prayers.   Gabe and Charity agree to a marriage in name only, although Charity is upset that now that she has found a man she could see herself making a life with, he isn't interested in anything more than someone to watch his children, and he's a gambler to boot - just like Pa who got her into this mess.   By the beginning of the following spring, if both parties are in agreement, they'll annul the marriage and part ways.   Neither expects love to interfere with their plans or for God to intervene with a plan of His own.

The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess


Hanna Hamilton - 2019
    Her past is catching up and it’s returned to finish what was started ten years ago. Trapped in a loveless marriage, Moses Hayward, Duke of Barley, trudges the misty ground between propriety and his ever-growing attraction for his children’s governess. But not everything is as it seems, and Caroline is hiding a dark secret that threatens to leave them in shambles. She's been lying to them all. When Moses’ daughter is kidnapped, he is given an ultimatum: in order for Josephine not to die in a few hours’ time, Caroline must die in her stead. *If you like a realistic yet charming depiction of the Regency and Victorian era, then The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess is the novel for you. This is Hanna Hamilton's 20th book, a historical Regency romance novel of 80,000 words (around 400 pages). No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a sweet happily ever after. Pick up "The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess" today to discover Hanna's new amazing story!

Love Finds You in New Orleans, Louisiana


Christa Allan - 2012
    Ever since her parents died of yellow fever when she was two years old, Charlotte LeClerc has lived with her grandparents, who rarely speak of their son and his wife. They are on the verge of negotiating a contract with a suitor, a man Charlotte dreads, when they discover that she enjoys the company of Gabriel Girod, a young Creole man. Charlotte's future hangs in the balance as her grandparents consider whether to stop keeping secrets and reveal the truth that they've known since before Charlotte's birth, a truth that will make the difference between a life of obligation and a life of choice for Charlotte.

The Blizzard Brides


Christine Sterling - 2020
    Welcome to Last Chance, Nebraska! When the freak blizzard of 1878 kills most of the men in a small Nebraska town, what does it mean for the surviving women and children?Realizing they need to find men of honor to help rebuild, the women place an advertisement in the Matrimonial Times.Choosing a husband is more difficult than they thought, when there is an overwhelming response to the ad.Will these Blizzard Brides find the second chance at love in a town called Last Chance?This story is loosely based on the Blizzard of 1873 and the Schoolhouse Blizzard of 1888, where many men, women and children died in the unexpected storm.

Romance on the Oregon Trail books 1-3


Kathleen Ball - 2019
     Cora’s Courage Cora feels indebted to Eddie who saved her and her baby Esther. She travels on the Oregon Trail with him. He intimidates her and has her doing most of the work. He’s jealous and she know not to look in another man’s direction An early snowstorm leaves her in danger of frost bite and when Harrison Walsh carries her off to his wagon to be treated Eddie becomes enraged and drops Cora’s trunk off at Harrison’s wagon. Harrison Walsh was happily married until three months ago when his wife died. Their dream was to have their own ranch and start a family. Now he’s alone and broken hearted. When the rest of the wagon train party learns Cora is not married to Eddie, rumors fly and to save her reputation Harrison is made to marry Cora. To his surprise, Cora is not the meek women she was when riding with Eddie. He finds himself drawn to this woman of strength and falls for the baby. Cora and Harrison both agreed to a marriage of convenience. But when Esther’s father shows up alive, Cora has a big decision to make. Luella’s Longing Luella Barnes jumps off the wagon so she can walk along the Oregon Trail. Unfortunately her dress gets caught and her leg is run over by one of the wagon wheels. When her father sees that she is unable to do the chores he tells her she is on her own. No one offers to take the injured woman into their covered wagon. She is given a place in the extra wagon used by three handsome drovers who work for Harrison Walsh. They know to show her the proper respect a young unmarried woman deserves. Handsome Irishman Declan Leary is finally a free man in a free country. He is haunted by the people who died during the Irish Famine and those he left behind. Luella's big heart draws him but he will never love again. When it's learned that Luella's father has tried to sell her to a man gossip starts and Declan finds himself in the middle of the whole mess. In order to preserve her reputation, he is forced to marry her. Can they find common ground amid the growing gossip of a secret baby? Throughout the action, adventure and mishaps Luella longs for one thing. She prays that God shows her the path she is to take. Don't miss this emotionally powerful Historical Western Romance. Dawn’s Destiny Dawn's life shatters as she watches her family die and then is kidnapped by Indians. Dawn is badly treated and finally thrown off a cliff. Swift Eagle brings her to his friend on the wagon train, Luella. Dawn has much healing to do. She can heal her body and she spends much time reading her bible but she can't bear to tell anyone what happened to her and she doesn't like to be touched. Heath Leary is looking forward to a future with no ties. He plans to build his ranch and then maybe, someday settle down. He carries Dawn to the wagon to heal and she becomes his responsibility. He resents her and the shame she carries for living with Indians. Dawn can't bear to have anyone touch her but she trusts Heath. Constantly worried about her future, Heath offers her a job in Oregon. Sadly she finds out he really wants nothing to do with her and her heart, which finally allows Heath in, breaks. She's already been hurt beyond measure and too late he realizes he loves her. Can Heath convince Dawn he's made an awful mistake?

A Promise for Ellie


Lauraine Snelling - 2006
    She and Andrew Bjorklund have been waiting to get married since. . .well, since forever, and in June they will finally wed. When Andrew announces they have to postpone the wedding, she's disappointed but takes it in stride there must be a good reason, or Andrew's pa wouldn't ask it of them. But Andrew is angry and can't understand why Ellie isn't upset too, especially when they'd been planning to "marry up" ever since they were in grade school. Disgruntled, he works out his frustration in stubborn determination to finish building their barn and mail order house, working himself to exhaustion. But just when the new house is nearly finished, an unthinkable tragedy occurs. Throwing aside the vow he made to Ellie, Andrew seeks revenge. . . As their plans unravel, it looks as if their love may not survive. Is this the end of their dream? (Daughters of Blessing Book 1)

The Secret of the India Orchid


Nancy Campbell Allen - 2017
    But his plans to court her are put on hold when he is forced to resume his role as an undercover spy for the Crown. A secret document listing the names of the entire network of British spies-including his own-has been stolen. To protect Sophia, Anthony cuts off all ties to her and exchanges his life as an honorable earl for the façade of a flirtatious playboy. Heartbroken and confused, Sophia travels to India, hoping to find healing in one of the most exotic regions of the British Empire. But the exotic land isn't as restful as she had hoped. Instead, she finds herself embroiled in a mystery of a missing sea captain, a possible murder, and a plot that could involve the prince of India. And when Anthony appears at the British Residency, asking questions and keeping his distance from her, she is stunned. She still loves him, and, in her heart, she knows he loves her too. But how can she rebuild her relationship with him if he won't confide in her? Does she dare offer her heart to him a second time, or will their love be lost under the India sun?

The Calling of Ella McFarland


Linda Brooks Davis - 2018
    But in the male dominated world of 1905, scandal clouds her family name and may limit her to grueling farm labor in Indian Territory. As hope for Oklahoma statehood rises, a new love buds in her heart, and the woman's suffrage debate rages, Ella encounters an abused sharecropper's daughter, forcing her to make decisions she never imagined about her faith, family, and aspirations. What toll will the turmoil demand of Ella's dream? And what call might God lay on her heart?

The Lady in Residence


Allison Pittman - 2021
    History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance.Young widow Hedda Krause checks into the Menger Hotel in 1915 with a trunk full of dresses, a case full of jewels, and enough cash to pay for a two-month stay, which she hopes will be long enough to meet, charm, and attach herself to a new, rich husband. Her plans are derailed when a ghostly apparition lures her into a long, dark hallway, and Hedda returns to her room to find her precious jewelry has been stolen. She falls immediately under a cloud of suspicion with her haunting tale, but true ghost enthusiasts bring her expensive pieces of jewelry in an attempt to lure the ghost to appear again. In 2017, Dini Blackstone is a fifth-generation magician, who performs at private parties, but she also gives ghost walk tours, narrating the more tragic historical events of San Antonio with familial affection. Above all, her favorite is the tale of Hedda Krause who, in Dini’s estimation, succeeded in perpetrating the world’s longest con, dying old and wealthy from her ghost story. But then Dini meets Quinn Carmichael, great-great-grandson of the detective who originally investigated Hedda’s case, who’s come to the Alamo City with a box full of clues that might lead to Hedda’s exoneration. Can Dini see another side of the story that is worthy of God’s grace?