The Promise Bride

July 31, 2017
Welborn and Whitham’s first Montana Brides novel demonstrates one woman’s tenacity in the face of tragedy in 1887 Montana territory. Emilia Stanek, determined to make a better life for herself and her family, accepts an offer to become a mail-order bride for Finn Collins and moves from Chicago to Helena, Mont., with her siblings, Roch and Luci. But when Emilia arrives, she’s met by Sheriff Mac McCall, who informs her that Finn has been murdered. Since there’s nothing for her in Chicago, Emilia decides to stay in Helena and file the power of attorney paperwork to legalize her marriage, despite the dangers she may face. As she begins paying off Finn’s debts by working for those to whom he owed money, Emilia and her siblings become part of the community. Finn’s friend Mac, working tirelessly to find out who killed him, becomes attracted to the young widow who is reluctant to accept his help. But when Mac learns a secret about Finn that could destroy Emilia’s reputation, his efforts to protect her become more personal in nature. Welborn and Whitham’s novel moves swiftly and is filled with appealing characters—especially Emilia and Mac, whose slow-simmering attraction will please fans of inspirational romances.

July 1, 2017
A mail-order bride moves to Montana, determined to find a better life, but instead finds an odd combination of safety and danger as she struggles to make a place for herself in her new community.Threatened by their Chicago landlord, Emilia Stanek accelerates her plan to marry the rancher she met through a newspaper ad and flee to Montana with her brother and sister. After marrying Finn by proxy and taking a train to Helena, she learns he's been murdered, and the sheriff--Finn's best friend, Mac--wants them to return immediately to Chicago. Emilia refuses, then takes on the responsibility of paying off Finn's substantial debt. For the most part, the community embraces the family, and Mac is intrigued by determined, beautiful Emilia. But as he investigates the murder, some unsavory rumors mushroom around Finn and the Staneks, and he questions the true nature of the man he loved as a brother. Mac wants Emilia to marry him, which will take care of her financial obligations and the stain on her reputation, but Emilia resents his interference even though she's falling in love with him. Trying to get to the bottom of the rumors and his friend's death, Mac deals with a pesky reporter as well as his mother, a local brothel owner, but things get murkier rather than clearer, especially when a town clerk also winds up dead. In the end, both Mac and Emilia must overcome doubts and decide to trust in love, friendship, family, and community. Co-authors Welborn (Sugarplum Hearts, 2017, etc.) and Whitham (The Gift of the Matchmaker, 2016, etc.) launch a new series, Montana Brides, with a dauntless, winning heroine, a complex hero, an engaging supporting cast, and a light message of faith, plus an interesting though confusing--and unresolved--murder mystery, with an "epilogue" which is more of an enigmatic introduction to Book 2. Sweet and appealing, this historical inspirational romance hits a nice tone as it touches on a variety of themes.

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