Mail-order brides
Hi all. Janet Dean here, talking about my February release, The Substitute Bride, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical, a fun story to write—with a mail-order bride, disgruntled groom and a small town filled with quirky characters. Here’s a peek:
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They Struck a Bargain for Marriage
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Fleeing an arranged marriage, debutante Elizabeth Manning exchanges places with a mail-order bride bound for New Harmony, Iowa. Life on the frontier can’t be worse than forced wedlock to pay her father’s gambling debts. But Ted Logan’s rustic lifestyle and rambunctious children prove to be more of a challenge than Elizabeth expects. She doesn’t know how to be a mother or a wife. She doesn’t even know how to tell Ted the truth about her past—especially as her feelings for him grow. Little does she know, Ted’s hiding secrets of his own. When their pasts collide, there’s more than one heart at stake.
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Why was Ted disgruntled?
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When he and Elizabeth are about to speak their vows, the bride suggests one teeny change—the name on the marriage license. A clear sign trouble lies ahead for this couple.
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As a homemaker and mother, Elizabeth Manning is definitely a "fish out of water." Poor Ted. Yet no matter how inept she is, Elizabeth perseveres. She manages to find unique ways to handle the children and her new and very challenging life on the farm.
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Ted is a dreamboat with a Call of his own. And a past he fears will raise its ugly head. Elizabeth is carrying a secret too. Despite the town’s name, life is never dull in New Harmony, Iowa.
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Can you imagine the surprises in store for couples who may have exchanged a few letters or a picture and often didn’t meet until the wedding day? My husband and I dated for 2½ years. After we married, it didn’t take long to discover we still had things to learn about one another. All good of course. LOL Arranged marriages may sound odd to us, but a high percentage of marriages are still arranged today, a norm for many cultures.
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If your ancestors married for convenience, please share their stories. Or perhaps you have a funny wedding incident you could relate. Hopefully not as shocking as a name change for the bride. Thanks for stopping in. And a huge thanks for your interest in Love Inspired books!
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Labels: Janet Dean, Love Inspired Historical, mail-order brides
12 Comments:
At February 19, 2010 12:28 PM,
Tina Russo Radcliffe said…
Can you really imagine marrying via mail-order bride. Wow, quite a concept.
And yet, it makes sense.
My grandparents came over to this country from Italy through Ellis Island but they were married before they arrived.
Your book sounds very intriguing, Janet
At February 19, 2010 1:04 PM,
Deb said…
Your book sounds good, Janet.
My paternal grandparents did not have a marriage of convenience. But, their meeting is interesting. My grandfather was an immigrant from Denmark and my grandmother was a country school teacher. They met at a box social to raise money for the school and Grandpa bid on Grandma's supper box. At first, she was appalled because he had a "funny" accent, but, then, as they say, the rest is history.
At February 20, 2010 12:32 PM,
misskallie2000 said…
This sounds like a wonderful book. I love romance but not when it is full of sex acts. I am not a prude I just like clean books. It is hard to find them now adays..Maybe it is because I am 67 and single that I am not that interested but I think more of the way I was raised is responsible. Back in the good old days open sex was not allowed on tv, movies, or books (except smutt?). Boy how times have changed. Pls continue to write the nice clean romance..
At February 20, 2010 3:21 PM,
Stephanie Gamm said…
This sounds like a really interesting book! I couldn't imagine doing something like that...so intriguing! The excerpt was really good too; I'm gunna have to pick it up sometime! (:
At February 20, 2010 8:05 PM,
Janet Dean said…
Hi Tina! You're grandparents came to America through Ellis Island. So cool! I want to know where from Italy.
Janet
At February 20, 2010 8:07 PM,
Janet Dean said…
Thanks, Deb. What a sweet story. I need to put a box lunch social in a book! I'm guessing your grandmother had to quit teaching when she married.
At February 20, 2010 8:11 PM,
Janet Dean said…
Hi misskallie, you're Internet savvy, a modern woman. It's never old fashioned to long for clean romance. The love inspired books won't let you down. Thanks for your interest!
At February 20, 2010 8:12 PM,
Janet Dean said…
I'm delighted you enjoyed the excerpt, Stephanie! The Substitute Bride was a fun book to write! Thanks for your interest.
At February 21, 2010 11:40 PM,
Deb said…
Hi, again, Janet. Yes, my grandmother quit when they married in 1923.
My mother and her cousin went to New York several years ago and found my grandpa's name on the wall at Ellis Island. Talk about cool!
I have also visited Denmark and was able to visit the farm where my grandfather grew up as well as visiting the church he attended (which was built in the 1100s!).
At February 22, 2010 12:40 AM,
squiresj said…
I haven't read one of your books in a long time. I would love to win one.
My Mother married my Dad when his wife passed away from Cancer. His wife had cancer 6 months. Mom was her friend. As she had a brother my Dad adopted, my Mother and him got married. My Mother was 16 and my Dad was 35 when they got married. They were married 35 years before he passed away. My Mother just passed away Jan. 31st.
jrs362(at)hotmail(dot)com
At February 24, 2010 11:15 PM,
Linda said…
No personal wedding story, but this gal is in for a rude awakening becoming a mail-order bride. I could never imagine doing that. Maybe if I was a widow and had children to raise.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com
At February 27, 2010 2:40 PM,
Cindy W. said…
My husband & I knew each other in high school over 40 years ago. I had a crush on him but he was oblivious. Nine years ago he tracked me down through Classmates.com and we communicated via telephone & email. He contacted me in January, flew out to California from Indiana in March to propose and in April we were married in Indiana. Not exactly a mail order bride but it wasn't a traditional courtship by any means.
Would love to be enter to win the box of books.
God bless you.
Cindy W.
countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com
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