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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