About the Book
Book: Mail-Order Bride Substitute
Author: Linda Ford
Genre: Historical Western Romance
Release date: March 29, 2023
Olivia comes from a rich family, but it hasn’t protected her from malicious rumors. A marriage of convenience as a mail-order bride to Riley Shannon is exactly what she needs for a fresh start. Especially when he makes it clear he wants no romance. Something she is in complete agreement with. She’ll go in place of her friend, Sylvia, who has changed her mind about the arrangement she made with Riley.
Riley has bitter memories of loving a rich woman who doesn’t care to embrace ranch life. He has no intention of repeating that lesson. When Olivia steps from the train, offering to be his substitute bride, his answer is a resounding ‘no thanks.’ But Olivia isn’t about to take no for an answer and makes her way to the ranch, determined to prove she is the answer to his prayers.
What will it take for these two to overcome the barriers to their love?
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Linda Ford is a multi-published author who makes her home in rural Alberta, Canada where she is near enough to the Rockies to see them every day. She didn’t always want to be an author. In fact, she dreamed of running an orphanage. In a way, her dream came true. She married a rancher. They had four children then adopted ten, an experience which has given her much fodder for the happy-ever-after stories she writes. Growing up on the prairie and learning to notice the small details it hides has given her an appreciation for watching God at work in His creation. Her upbringing also included being taught to trust God in everything and through everything—a theme that resonates in her stories.
Mail-Order Bride Substitute is her 100th title.
More from Linda
For the most part, I write westerns. Historical western romances to be exact. Now I’m not a cowgirl. I don’t even ride horseback. (Shh. Don’t tell anyone.) So, you might well ask, what qualifies me to write stories of this era and these kinds of people?
Well, I could list a number of reasons. 1) I had a father who liked to visit museums and tell stories about settling the west. Not only that, but for a few summers when I was very young, my mother and my siblings accompanied him to live in a…well, the best way to describe it is to say it was a cabin on wheels with nothing inside but a few cupboards and rough bunk beds. You could say I experienced pioneer life firsthand albeit it through the eyes of a child 2) As a child, I read anything I could get my hands on, including Zane Grey. I fell in love with his heroes, his heroines and his settings. 3) I dated and married a man who lives to watch westerns. And as a good date and later, a good wife, I spent many hours watching them. 4). I still love those larger-than-life heroes (aka cowboys) and the stubborn but kind heroines.
Mail-Order Bride Substitute is the third in a 5-book (and counting) series of Montana Mail-Order Brides. I like creating families and have done exactly that in this series. There are four brothers—the Shannons–and then their friends who see how successful their marriages are and decide to try this mail-order bride business for themselves.
I tend to create strong families and this series is no exception. Mrs. Shannon was a kind, guiding mother. Mr. Shannon was tough as old leather yet fair. Their sons do their best to honor them. I also prefer settings that include mountains which is why I have set this series in beautiful western Montana.
I love these stories. Or maybe it’s the cowboys and the brides who gather their courage around them to travel west to marry—and yes, tame—these young men.
Incidentally, this is my 100th book to be published.
Blog St0ps
Vicky Sluiter, April 15
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, April 16 (Author Interview)
Christina’s Corner, April 16
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 17
Texas Book-aholic, April 18
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 19
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, April 20
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 20
Connie’s History Classroom, April 21
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 22
Cover Lover Book Review, April 23
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 24
Mornings at Character Cafe, April 24
For Him and My Family, April 25
Holly’s Book Corner, April 26
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 26
Pause for Tales, April 27
Labor Not in Vain, April 28
To Everything There Is A Season, April 28
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
My Thoughts
I just love the cover of this book. It is fresh and colorful and perfect for the story line. This was a new take on the mail order bride trope. While this is a very typical story line that has been written many times over, the characters made this story unique. Olivia’s character is so vibrant you can’t help but smile at how she handles life. Riley struggles to understand how the woman came to be in his life and challenges her to stick out living on the ranch.
As you can imagine, it makes for some humorous chapters and also some more in depth perspective I wasn’t expecting. I do wish that at the middle of the book there was a bit more action or adventure since it got a bit slow for me. The ending did surprise me a bit and I appreciate how the author wrote the final pages.
This story reminded me a lot of Sarah Plain and Tall. It was an enjoyable read.
Four Stars.
“I received this book from the author for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.”
1 comment:
This sounds fantastic
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