Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands Romance Collection

Seven Brides for Seven Mail Order Husbands Romance Collection was incredible. I cannot say enough good things about this book. It features seven stories and each are wonderfully written.

A small town in Kansas has lost many of its men to the war. The women decide to post an article for mail ordered husbands. The husbands come and are interviewed and the women select who they would like to court. This book takes seven of those women and tells their story. I loved each one. The characters are so great and you just get caught up in each story. Each story references the other characters and it all culminates into one great story at the end.

This is a wonderful book that I would gladly give a five star rating. If you love historical fiction, this book won't let you down. Loved it.

SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN MAIL ORDER HUSBANDS by seven authors who did a terrific job, of combining 7 stories you will love. To revive a small town, Turtle Springs, Kansas, they advertise. The woman were honest with what they needed, and what they were like. if men happen to come in to town,as they were passing thru. To see a sign in the window, and all the single women looking at you. You would think the men would want a sign " not on the menu". The place that is serving meals, had a sign on the door "Husbands wanted", would make a man hesitate to go in, they wanted a meal, not a wife. No other place to eat, and one wonder if town had gone crazy. Or the boy who goes after the preacher, while his ma gives the stranger a drink. Was it easy, to have a man in their lives again. They were use to making decisions, being in the work force. Delightful, funny, from the beginning, to the end. A good read that all will enjoy, all the authors blended in with the next story. Given ARC by Net Galley for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands Romance Collection is a fun and sweet collection. When the Civil War takes the men of Turtle Springs, Kansas, seven women decide to post an ad for husbands.

Each woman has a story to tell in the collection. Which are:
Abigail’s Proposal by Cynthia Hickey
The Kidnapped Groom by Susan Page Davis
A Clean Slate by Susanne Dietze
Sunshine of My Heart by Darlene Franklin Come What May by Patty Smith Hall
Dime Novel Suitor by Carrie Fancett Pagels Louder than Words by Gina Marie Welborn

I liked this book and I think it is one of my favorites of the romance collections that Barbour releases. All of the stories follow one another, which I enjoyed. They are all well written, keeping my interest throughout. I thought they all were great and I just can't pick one that I liked best.

Great collection!

5 stars

I received this book from NetGalley. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

A nice collection of stories. What happens when women decide various ways to find husbands? Posting ads could be the way to happiness. Each author tells a different story and brings all the characters to life in unique ways. I enjoyed these stories. I received a copy of this collection from Net Galley and this is my personal honest opinion.

Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands by Cynthia Hickey, Susan Page Davis, Susanne Dietze, Darlene Franklin, Patty Smith Hall, Carrie Fancett Pagels and Gina Welborn, is a collection of novellas by seven authors who provide the "voices" in our story. The Civil War was a brutal war in our nation's history, creating widows and orphan of untold numbers. It is spring in the year 1865 and in Turtle Springs Kansas, the women left behind are tired eking out a living and barely getting by. They band together to solve the shortage of men by placing an ad for mail-order husbands. Men travel from far and wide for the chance to be interviewed for the honor of courting the husband hunting women. Imagine a little town of 223 with so many bachelors converging at once that a tent city is constructed near town. Every man had a different reason for answering the ad but none so sweet as the ones who were featured in this collection.

I liked having the continuity of the story crossing each novella. Each author built on the main story yet added her own rich style to the mix. Each story had a different aspect that made each couple unique. Reluctant grooms and grooms who still felt the wounds of war each shared a deep love for the woman they married.

Historical elements like the one used by Carrie Fancett
Pagels in The Dime Novel by adding soldiers traveling to real life Fort Mackinac through Turtle Springs during that era add an interesting element to the stories. Little extras added to the story kept me hooked and drove me to search for more history online.

While this collection is fiction it is indeed true that the hardships of war can be felt long after men come home to their families to pick up their lives. For the many women and children left behind it was such a devastating loss to run the farm, run businesses and keep the family going when their man didn't make it home.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy to review this book. I enjoy American fiction and this book gave me new insight to the Civil War. While the book is definitely entertaining, I can't help but think of the untold stories of women who lived through the years after the war ended.

When the lady mayor of Turtle Springs, Kansas sets out to help the female population of her community all kinds of things happen. What's the plan? It's to have auditions for husbands for the single or widowed women in her town. As the War between the States has taken the lives of many of the men of Turtle Springs, an advertisement goes out and brings in many candidates and possible choices for the many women left in town.

I liked these seven stories which all were woven together as one to show the events in the lives of the people of Turtles Springs. Each story seems to build into the other. These were all sweet romances during the historical time period of the mid 1800's when life was a bit more rugged.

The stories, although with a common thread, were each different and unique which keeps your interest going throughout the book. I enjoyed the Christian themes throughout and was glad that I had an opportunity to read this delightful series of novellas.

Disclosure; I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review which I have given. All thoughts are my own

I enjoyed reading this lighthearted collection of stories. Journey to Turtle Springs, Kansas where men are in short supply and the women of the town have decided to take matters into their own hands by sending out advertisements to newspapers across the country.

“Wanted: Men to Audition as Husbands. Only Godly, Upstanding Men Need Apply.”

I loved the laughter and unexpected surprises along the way. A fun collection of short stories that will bring a ray of sunshine to your day! Each unique story involves one of the ladies from the community of Turtle Springs, Kansas and her adventure or misadventure to find a husband. Each of the stories builds upon the others, and you’ll enjoy seeing glimpses of friends from previous stories. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the antics. This is a lighthearted collection of stories that will leave a smile on your face.

*I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have are my own

Another great edition to the short story collections! An interesting concept of having men audition and there was a good variation in the types of the women as well as background stories being diverse too. My only issue was the way the stories all took place within the time frame hence making it a little repetitive when we had conversations happening twice throughout the book..

I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter
and make believe it came from you. I'm gonna write words oh so sweet, they'll knock me off my feet.

Seven ladies in Turtle Springs, Kansas, have pooled their money together to post an ad in several newspapers nationwide in order to find a husband. The Civil War has decimated the male portion of the population, leaving many young maidens without prospects for a spouse. The men are to show up to audition for their prospective wives. Each woman gets to choose whether or not to pursue a relationship with the man whose eye she catches.

This olio of stories has only seven novellas which gives the author a bit more time and space to work with her characters and since all of the stories are set in the same place, the settings were not hard to work with, and the plot development could still be personalized by each individual author. This is one of the best collections Barbour Books has put out. Because the novellas get more space, the authors are able to refine their books with a bit fewer constraints.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a letter from your mancrush.

My thanks to Barbour Books for allowing me to read and review this book.

What a great collection of stories set in Turtle Springs, Kansas. After the war, so many of the men were lost and never returned to Turtle Springs, that the businesses are failing, women are on the brink of losing their homes..... Seven different authors wrote seven stories about a different woman set in this city where the female mayor decides to advertise for mail order husbands! They are to come to Turtle Springs and spend a few minutes with each woman until each agree to a man/woman and the courting can begin. Of course they have all sorts of men, some are not there just for the women some are their for their farms, money if they have any, etc. Each of these women are desperate for the help of a man in their life and choose a man to court them. I received this book of novellas in kindle format in exchange for an honest review through netgalley.com. I thoroughly enjoyed each of the stories and had fun envisioning each story as it played out. Each of the stories complemented the others as they often had characters from other stories that were active in the next. Reading about mail order brides is something I enjoy doing, this was a fun twist and I believe they were well written!

Description as found on Good Reads: Meet seven of Turtle Springs, Kansas, finest women who are determined to revive their small town after the War Between the States took most of its men. . .and didn't return them. The ladies decide to advertise for husbands and devise a plan for weeding out the riff raff. But how can they make the best practical choices when their hearts cry out to be loved?

What a wonderful mix of authors and stories. I really liked this book and all the stories in it. I think it is funny how the mail-order husbands auditions were pretty much like modern-day speed dating. I found many funny aspects in these stories and many sad ones as well. One character I wasn't very fond of was one of the brides whose name happens to be the same as mine, Debbie. She seemed childish and a bit spoiled to me, but she "grew" in the end in many ways.

This is a book about a town of mostly single/widowed women who are tired of being lonely and though they have run the town successfully since the beginning and end of the Civil War when so many of their husbands, sons, brothers, and sweethearts never returned or returned missing some parts of their bodies and their confidence in their abilities as men.

The acting mayor convinces the ladies that putting an ad in several newspapers around the country and holding auditions for husbands is the quickest and easiest way to get men into town for potential husbands. Many nice gentlemen arrived along with several not so nice gentlemen and the fun begins, right down to a cat-fight between two elderly ladies over one gentleman. Comical!

If you enjoy clean, historical, western romance, then this book is for you. I recommend it to everyone. Enjoy!

Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands Romance Collection
1866...Turtle Springs, Kansas....Since most of the men didn't return after the War Between the States the women decided to advertise for husbands to revive their small town.....Ad: “Wanted: Men to audition as husbands. Turtle Springs, Kansas. Auditions held May 25, 1866. Only Godly, upstanding men need apply. Check at Mayor's Office.”
-1..Abigail's Proposal by Cynthia Hickey
One of the first things Abigail Melton did as the town's new mayor was to encourage the ladies to place an advertisement for mail-order husbands. However, she needs to hire a sheriff first before those potential grooms arrive and so she hires a drifter, Josiah Ingram...single Josiah. Josiah is adamant he is not looking for a wife. Fun story watching Josiah as he “runs” from all the eligible ladies after him and Abigail as she searches for the right groom. Who will she choose and will Josiah really remain single and move on?

-2..The Kidnapped Groom by Susan Page Davis
This story brought lots of chuckles. Who would have thought two very young boys capable of kidnapping a cowboy—Sam Cayford—at gun point and taking him home to marry their mother? What a surprise for, not only Sam, but for their mother, Maggie Piner as well. Of course, this happens right at the start of the mail-order husband interviews and Maggie had decided to participate in. A fun, heartwarming story.

-3..A Clean Slate by Susanne Dietze
Schoolmarm Roberta Green is not taking part in the mail-order husbands interviews. She gives her heart to her students. However, a new “student”, Drew Cooper, just may win her heart—and far more. It was fun watching as Drew became Roberta's star pupil.

-4..Sunshine of My Heart by Darlene Franklin
Debbie Barker and her family live on the prairie not far from the small town of Turtle Springs. Debbie has chosen Zack Gage as her potential mail-order husband and he has come to see if he will like a life on the ranch. They both have much to learn when it comes to ranching and even love. Will love bloom and grow? A fun, heartwarming story.

-5..Come What May by Patty Smith Hall
Chardy Stevens certainly has her hands full caring for her four rambunctious younger brothers and running her deceased father's store. What she needs is a husband to help her, but she doesn't have time to look for one. Besides, she is still in love with her childhood friend, Luke Collins. Disabled veteran Luke doesn't see himself as a whole man and certainly not a man Chardy needs to marry. How would he provide for her and her brothers? Circumstances bring about a chance for Luke to help Chardy with her brothers that just may also open his eyes to other options for himself—and possibly Chardy. Great story of healing, second-chances and love.

-6..Dime Novel Suitor by Carrie Fancett Pagels
Widow Caroline Kane has no plans in participating in interviewing for a husband, she has enough to do running the restaurant/inn and caring for her siblings. When Britisher Barden Granville shows up and asks for a job she suspects him to be a potential mail-order groom her sister has set her up with. When in fact, he is in America on a “cowboy holiday”. There is far more to Barden than his adorable British accent as Caroline soon discovers—and some yet to be discovered. I loved watching the interactions between Caroline and Barden. Could it be that God has plans for Barden to stay in Kansas as the new vicar after all? Fun, heartwarming story.

-7..Louder Than Words by Gina Marie Welborn
J.R. Lockhart arrives in Turtle Springs to write about the men and women participating in the mail-order husband interviews. What he finds may be more than a story. Jane Ransome ends up helping J.R. meeting those around town for his article. Could he be the husband she is waiting for? But he is not one of the mail-order grooms and he is not staying in Turtle Springs. Then he surprises her in an unexpected way and...well, not telling. Cute, heartwarming story.

~I received an e-book copy from one of the authors via Netgalley, (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~

Cute novellas! The twist on this is fun. Typically you have men advertising for wives. But when many of the women in Turtle Springs, Kansas, are left widows the tables are turned. Each author brings very well written light heartedness to the subject. And always there’s a touch of intrigue in these stories where the ladies aren’t necessarily looking for love, and the men are sometimes looking for something else, too. I enjoyed these stories and if you like the mail-order bride era, then you will too!

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to post a review.

Seven Brides For Seven Mail Order Husbands is a wonderful set of seven delightful Historical tales by seven different authors. All the stories are set in Turtle Springs, in the aftermath of the American Civil War, and have the same core. It was wonderful to read seven unique tales about the same event.
The stories all had similar themes of recovering from war, trusting God, facing fears, new beginnings and more. The characters were all warm and welcoming.
Did I have a favourite story? No. Each one was a wonderful offering and I could not possibly choose.
A perfectly delightful book.
Abigail's Proposal by Cynthia Hickey is a most delightful tale to kick off the collection. It sets the scene for the tales to follow. It had a light hearted feel to it with wonderful warm and welcoming characters. It warmed my heart.
The Kidnapped Groom by Susan Page Davis is another wonderful tale. It had themes of family, love and hard work. A wonderful feeling of community which I loved.
A Clean Slate by Susanne Dietz is a delightful offering. The American Civil War divided not only the country but families. The end of the war left heartache and anger. Families felt loss but also needed to extend forgiveness. Faith and forgiveness go hand in hand because we are all sinners in need of a Saviour. There were some wonderful moments involving the children. A real heart warming tale.
Sunshine Of My Heart by Darlene Franklin is another delightful offering with a warm family feel to it. The war robbed people of so much and this story focuses on new beginnings. The past is gone but the future awaits. A wonderful read about the faithfulness of God. "Wherever we are, God is there - He doesn't change."
Come What May by Patty Smith Hall is a tale showing how God is the God of restoration. We need to trust that His plans are so much greater than ours. We do not need to shoulder our burdens alone. There is a wonderful family feel to this tale and I adored it.
Dime Novel Suitor by Carrie Fancett Pagels is a delightful offering about following God's plans. It has a real fairy story element to it with the arrival of an Englishman in Turtle Springs. There is a mix up in communication which is obvious to the reader but oblivious to the characters. A delightful tale that will warm your heart.
Louder Than Words by Gina Welborn is another wonderful tale which I found had Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester undertones at times. The story has many godly themes including those of trust, grace and fear. "You've limited God's grace to man-size proportions... and allowed your fear to grow into God-size proportions." We need to take our eyes off our fear and put our trust in God. Faith and fear cannot exist side by side. There was a wonderful warm community feel and this was a perfect end to a fabulous set of stories.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Seven Brides for Seven Mail Order Husbands was an interesting collection of novellas that kept enthralled throughout. I liked how all the novellas were tied to the same town and same group of characters, even though each one was written by a different author. I enjoyed seeing the different characters explored by specific authors, but that you could also see the same characters in the background in another novella. I enjoyed the romances between the different couples, and I was very intrigued by their idea of mail order husbands to audition to potentially court the ladies of the town. I liked the different characteristics and life stories of each couple. Overall, it was a very well crafted collection of novellas.

Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands Romance Collection A Newspaper Ad for Husbands Brings a Wave of Men to a Small Kansas Town by Susan Page Davis, Susanne Dietze, Darlene Franklin, Patty Smith Hall, Cynthia Hickey, Carrie Fancett Pagels, Gina Welborn is a new book that will be released by Barbour this June first.

I choose to read this book because I heard of the custom of newspaper ads for husbands and I didn't understand the reason why at a certain point in the USA it was indispensible to start this custom.

Well it was simple and for a very serious reason: after the war of Secession we are in 1865 a lot of women remained widows and alone and it was necessary with the courage typical of the Americans, after a bit of mourning and tears, to re-start their life.
To ask for other husbands.

I loved the first chapter of this story, the story of Abigail, her mom and the ladies and girls of Turtle Spring, Kansas where all the stories are set in.

For avoiding problems and for keeping the community numerous, with new children, new life, more hands, the mayor, Abigail asks the permission during a reunion to posting an ad in a newspaper for requesting husbands for them all.

At first women and girls scared: "And if we fall in love for the same man?" "If we don't like these men?" the most common questions, but something was more than sure: Abigail buried her husband and her dad. They needed someone else in their lives and she couldn't permit, firstly that the town would be abandoned by lack of men.

In the while in the town arrives a new man Josiah. Abigail thinks he would be great as sheriff and something starts to grow up between them although Josiah is allergic to relationships and Abigail is not sure of her feelings yet.

At the same time the sheriff is requested by a lot of women for silly reasons and just for knowing him better.

At the end love will triumph and what I love the most in these stories are positive ends, positive characters and life.

This life that also a terrible war didn't kill with the death of so many men but continued with more enthusiasm and joy for building this beautiful country that are the USA.

I thank NetGalley and Barbour for this ebook.

What do you do when almost all the men in your small town went off to fight in the civil war and didn't return? When you are put in as honorary mayor until your father, the elected mayor, returns...but he doesn't. Life has turned completely around for this small town and all the occupants living in town as well as the farmers and ranchers living outside of town.

Abigail Melton is trying everything she can to help her town survive and the people thrive. Yet when your town consists mainly of women and children it's a struggle to make ends meet and keep up with all the labor of running farms and ranches. If only there was some way to help bring men to their town so the women might find suitable, God loving, hard working and family men to become their husbands.

Wait, there is!! It's so simple...instead of mail order brides she'll advertise for mail order husbands to come audition for the chance to court and wed the lovely ladies of Turtle Springs, Kansas. Perfect! This will solve everyone's problems and bring life and joy and light and vitality for everyone!

Such a fun premise for a collection of novellas! I had previously read a couple of these authors' work before so I was excited to read more by them and discover new authors. There are 7 stories for seven brides and I really enjoyed the way the stories interconnected. The first story sets the foundation for the setting, the characters and the premise of the collection. Abigail Melton has her hands full trying to coordinate everything, be the mayor, help her mom and sister, keep crime under control, and a handful of other demands. As the day gets closer for the auditions, more men keep showing up and of course that can cause trouble.

The women characters were a hoot. Some were just fun and spit fires and others wore their hearts on their sleeves, while others held their emotions closely to their hearts. Each story features a different woman in the town and follows her from the time of the auditions or just before the auditions. I loved how each story showed little snippets from the previous story's timeline. It was great! And the men that come to Turtle Springs, they were perfect! Loved the different backgrounds of each of them and the way they were able to fit right in with the town and find a perfect fit for them.

While I enjoyed the collection as a whole and the novellas individually, I have to say I have a couple favorites. A Clean Slate by Susanne Dietze and Come What May by Patty Smith were my top two favorites, but really all 7 were well written and very sweet and fun romances. Each book deals with healing, heartache, learning how to move forward, saying goodbye to the past, trusting God and His will for us, and even some suspense in a couple. Well worth the time spent if you enjoy collections like this. The writing style between the different authors seemed to flow pretty smoothly and it wasn't an abrupt transition from one book to the next.

Content: Clean. Some sweet kisses, a couple fights but nothing graphic. Talk of God and His hands guiding our lives as well as characters learning to trust in Him and rely on His love.

I received a copy from the publisher, Barbour Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

A delightful collection of new stories! Based partially on the reality of the aftermath of the Civil War, when so many young men died, the setting of a prairie town full of mostly women desperate enough to "audition" men for the job of husband, and sometimes father, seemed rather authentic. What a way to pick a mate. It was like historical speed-dating!
The variety of men who came, sometimes rather unwittingly in a few cases, were an interesting mix, from wounded warriors, former soldiers, cowboys, gentlemen and would-be farmers, just looking for a chance to start over. I enjoyed reading about the many capable,, brave women who had been given so much responsibility in the absence of their fathers, brothers, and husbands in some cases. The stories helped me understand the hardships many faced following the war, on both sides, from lingering prejudices, financial difficulty, hard work--especially the homesteaders and farmers--and the pressure to care for their families on top of it all.
I especially liked the last two stories, with more of the history mixed in. The shopkeeper's story was good too with the return of a wounded warrior and lost love. Some of these would make good full length novels.

Readers who enjoy clean historical romances with some faith elements will like this collection. 4.5 stars

When most of the men of Turtle Springs perish during the Civil War, the women of the town agree to place an ad in newspapers all across the country seeking “Godly, upstanding men” for husband auditions. Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands follows the journey of seven of these women in short stories written by seven talented authors.

I'm gonna start off by saying I don't usually gravitate towards Civil War era books, but 'Seven Brides for Seven Mail Order Husbands' has so many great authors and such an intriguing premise that I just had to read it! And I'm so happy that I did! What a fun collection of stories! There's a lot of mail order bride books out there, so I loved this twist on the traditional story. I had a great deal of fun visiting Turtle Springs, Kansas and reading these seven delightful stories! There's something for everyone in this collection and I'd highly recommend it for anyone who loves historical fiction!

Abigail's Proposal by Cynthia Hickey
Abby had to step into the role of mayor when her father didn't return home from the war. A year later, to help the town out, she comes up with the idea of placing an ad in search of husbands for the many widowed and lonesome women of the town, who readily agree with the plan. But first they need a new sheriff in town in case the sudden influx of men bring trouble. Josiah's just passing through town when he's mistakenly assumed to be applying for the job of sheriff. He's not looking to settle down, but with a town full of women on the hunt, will he be able to stick to his guns? This was a delightful story that perfectly sets the stage for the remaining six. I liked reading about Abby, who's a very capable mayor. And Lucy, Abby's sister, is something else! There were lots of laughs and a bit of danger.

The Kidnapped Groom by Susan Page Davis
Sam Cayton is just passing through town, looking for a job on a ranch when two young boys “kidnap” him to marry their mom. Maggie needs to find a husband before she loses the ranch and so she reluctantly agrees to participate in the husband auditions, hoping she'll find a suitable man. She's shocked when she walks into to her home to find a strange man in her kitchen and her boys pointing a shotgun at him, proclaiming they found her a husband. Oh, this story was a joy to read! From the mischievous, yet well-meaning boys, Fred and Benjy, to honest good guy Sam to hardworking and steadfast Maggie, I couldn't get enough of this story!

A Clean Slate by Susanne Dietze
Schoolteacher Roberta “Birdy” Green has no interest in participating in the husband search. New to Turtle Springs, Drew Cooper stops by the schoolhouse looking to borrow some books in hopes of bettering his education. After miscommunications and misconceptions, can these two find a love they didn't even know they wanted? This was a sweet romance. Drew's a great guy and Birdy grew a lot from the beginning to the end. I really loved this quote, “Thinking I was right didn't give me cause to act superior to you...” How true is that statement and how often do we tend to forget that?

Sunshine of My Heart by Darlene Franklin
After finding one another during the auditions, Debbie Baker and Zack Gage embark upon discovering whether they're meant to be together. This was a lovely story. I loved how both Debbie and Zack made God, and a relationship with Him, a priority.

Come What May by Patty Smith Hall
Chardy Stevens' dad died during the war, making her the sole guardian of her four rambunctious brothers and the proprietor of the mercantile. When the consequences of her brothers latest antics cause even more pressure for Chardy, she finally decides she needs help. Luke Collins, Chardy's former beau, lost his leg during the war and has been feeling down on himself, but could an opportunity to help Chardy and her brothers forge a path to rekindling an old romance? This was one of my favorites of the collection! It was so good! The Stevens brothers were an entertaining bunch. Chardy's got a great deal of loyalty and Luke's a man of great character. My favorite quote was, “What we've got to do is find the good in the here and now.” Loved it!

Dime Novel Suitor by Carrie Fancett Pagels
Tumble Inn owner Caroline Kane's older sister confesses to contributing to the mail order husband ad in Caroline's name, infuriating her. She wants nothing to do with the silly auditions. Before settling down to life as a pastor in England, Barden Granville wants to give “cowboy life” a try and stops at the Tumble Inn looking for work. When the handsome and British, Barden arrives, Caroline believes he's there for the auditions. Can a miscommunication lead to the possibility of love? I completely adored this delightful story! It's another one of my favorites from this collection! There were some very fascinating bits of history touched upon that I enjoyed reading about. The elements of faith shined throughout and I loved Barden's sage advice and helpful “suggestions”.

Louder Than Words by Gina Wellborn
J.R. Lockhart is in Turtle Springs to write an article about the husband auditions that will hopefully catch the eye of a newspaper on the west coast. Jane Ransome seems to know everyone and everything that happens in town, but has never felt a part of it. When Jane's appointed “hostess to the press” by Mayor Melton, she's very put out at having to keep J.R. company, escorting him around town. This was a wonderful ending to a fantastic collection! I instantly liked J.R. and while it took me a little bit to warm up to Jane, once she opened up, I understood her and liked her a lot. One of my favorite parts of this novella was Jane's friendship with Mr. Quimby and Mr. Underwood! So endearing!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my own honest opinion.

Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands is a great collection of novellas by a group of talented and beloved authors, like Carrie Fancett Pagels, Gina Welborn, and Susanne Dietze. In 1866, Turtle Springs, Kansas had a problem and Abigail Melton, the mayor, has an audacious answer. So many men of the town had gone to war never to return. Many of the widows and single women were struggling to make ends meet and care for their families. They were a community trying to put their village back together again after a terrible war that had decimated the menfolk. Abby said, let’s put an ad in newspapers and hold an audition for husbands. And they did. Each of the novellas is about specific women in the town, yet the stories are connected, just as small communities are…people who know and care about each other and the challenges in their lives. A mayor who on the spur of the moment hires a drifter for the sheriff…but what a handsome man he is. A single mom with young boys who want a husband for their mom. Let’s just kidnap one and see how that works out. Widows, a schoolteacher, a daughter who misses the Northeast where she used to live and another daughter who is struggling to keep her father’s store afloat and care for four young brothers. Each looking for a man to help carry the burden. And the men—cowboys, war vets, British, Northeasterner, from all walks of life, some arrived in town because of the advertisement but others were just a passing through, or there by accident—or perhaps Divine appointment. What a fun book to read…each of the stories were unique and yet the message of coming home was strong throughout. Stories that remind the reader to trust that God knows the whys and wherefores of our lives and will see us through the storms of life. And God was definitely going to have to sort out some of these unions. War changed things and doubtless changed people. Promises from the past were hard to forget and grief had individuals stuck in sorrow mode. God doesn’t change though and with this ad, there was a thread of hope for these spunky women. They would find a way. The stories are full of lots of action, humor, rich lovable characters (especially some of the kids!), sweet, sometimes reluctant, romance and love beginning to flame. And let's not forget the kisses…some were just pecks on the cheek but there were some pretty fervent, lingering ones! All in all this collection of captivating stories by seven wonderful authors makes for an enjoyable read especially for readers who cannot get enough of historical romance books.
I received a complimentary copy of the paperback book from one of the authors and a complimentary digital copy from Netgalley. I was not expected to write a review and the opinions are my own.

This book's title caught my eye immediately. I've read all kinds of mail-ordered bride books but never mail-ordered husbands. 
Each of the seven stories are written by seven different authors and happens in Turtle Springs in Kansas. The women of Turtle Springs decides to advertise for husbands since a bunch of the men in their town never returned from the War Between the States. A lot of widowed ladies are needing a man to help them with their houses and lands, and some never-been-married women just needs love. These ladies are not just going to take any man that rides up. They need decent God fearing men. They have an audition with the ladies where they can meet with each other. 
The adventures in this book are amazing! Each author wrote their book with characters that will stick with you. I felt close to each of the main characters even though these are novellas. I wouldn't have minded at all for the stories to be longer but I felt like I got the whole story in the few pages of each book. 
This book kept me reading with a good dialog going on nearly all the time. It didn't have a lot of pondering that went on & on. 
The women also prayed that God would give them the best bride and groom that would be right for them and they would know which to choose. 
This is a wonderful book I think you would like if you like Historical fiction. 
I requested and received this book through NetGalley. 
I also received a print copy from the author/publisher. 
All opinions that are expressed are my own.

This was a really fun collection of seven stories by some of today's most popular and entertaining Christian fiction authors. I loved how all the stories took place in the same town,Turtle Springs, Kansas. The women of the town are honest in their advertisement of needing men as their men had gone off to fight in the Civil War and hadn't returned. They interviewed prospective mates for 15 minutes at a time but didn't always suit each other so they went on to the next until they do suit. Such strong heroines who must keep the homestead running in times of adversity. There is a good feeling when you read these stories and there is humor in them. I recommend to all Historical Christian fiction readers.
Pub Date 01 Jun 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing, Inc. for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

I read a lot of these collections. They all have sweet romances, some suspense and of course the joy of Faith. But this was the first collection that read like an entire book, a union of one theme. It was amazing. Truly just amazing. The War between the states, and many that followed cause the male population to decline, these authors gave such a fresh spin to history with their stories.

Men were sparse, the war had taken many to their early graves leaving a town of women, ran by the former mayor’s daughter. She has a brilliant plan to do a reverse mail order bride plan. Girl Power! Sorry, got excited thinking how cool it was to have all these women running a town smoothly, only wanting the company of a Godly man, and the prospect of building their family. They did NOT need them to run the town, this made the collection instantly a favorite for me. It had all the elements that make a romance, a favorite read for me.

It all starts when the mayor of Turtle Springs, Kansas comes up with a plan to help the ladies of the town find spouses by advertising "Husband Auditions" in papers all across the country. As the prospective husbands start rolling in, and hearts join, it isn't without a few mishaps along the way...

Abigail's Proposal ~ Abby Menton has taken her father's place as mayor, and having the Husband Auditions was her idea. She plans to participate in the courting, but the town also needs a sheriff. When she meets Josiah Ingram, she hires him on the spot. And it's not just the job that he just might be perfect for...

The Kidnapped Groom ~ Sam Cayford is taken by surprise when two boys hold him at gunpoint and demand that he marry their mother. Sam is cool and collected, but sees that they need help so he decides to stick around. Maggie Piner is shocked by her sons' mad plan, but as Sam stays and makes a place in each of their hearts she wonders if her sons might have had a good idea after all.

A Clean Slate ~ Birdy is a schoolteacher, and when Drew shows up on audition day, she assumes that he is there for the auditions and takes him to the events. But actually Drew had wanted to borrow some books form the school library. Drew likes to read and learn new things as well as help out around the school and boarding house. Will their love of learning bring them together?

Sunshine in My Heart ~ Debbie is drawn to Zack from the start, she admires his faith, and knows that it's a great place to start.

Come What May ~ This story is one of my favorites, Chardy and Luke were torn apart by the war. Chardy still loves Luke, but he lost his leg and thinks that she should be with a "whole man." but when he sees her family in need he comes to help, by teaching her brothers how to take care of the farm. Will this couple take their second chance at a future together?

Dime Novel Suitor ~ Caroline Kane assumes that Barden is at the audition a possible groom, but in fact he is an Englishman on holiday wanting to experience the life of a cowboy. He takes a job at the inn that Caroline and her siblings run, making suggestions for improvement along the way. But as his vacation draws to a close their future becomes unsure.

Louder than Words ~ JR is in town to write a story about the husband auditions, and when he frist sets his eyes on Jane he sees her as a warrior princess, saving young child from two thugs all by herself. Jane doesn't have friends, she is merely acquainted with many of the women in town. She isn't impressed by JR's flirting, and chooses her faith. She challenges him to think more about his faith and his life in general.

I loved how all of these stories where connected by a common premise in the same town, with great recurring characters. Definitely a great collection of novels for fans of Mail-Order Bride romance.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

What an enjoyable read! These women knew the life that was handed them was too much to handle on their own with children, farms and businesses without a husband. So they create an advertisement for mail order husbands to attend auditions for potential spouses. I had a hard time setting this book aside. Being familiar with all of these authors it was exactly what I expected, which was to draw me into the hearts of each and every woman and man in search of a secure future. God was in attendace at these auditions and knew what was in each and every heart involved. It was definitely not an easy transition for anyone but with trust in the Lord and hard work a new future could be seen.I highly recommend this book. I rated this book 5 Stars.Disclosure:  I received a free digital copy of this book fromBarbour Publishing via Netgalley for review. I was not compensated for for this review it is my honest opinion.

Seven Brides for Seven Mail Order Husbands

Turtle Springs, Kansas lost almost all of its menfolk to the Civil War. Now the women, who have been struggling since the war ended, have devised a plan to bring men into town. They have sent newspaper advertisements telling of husband auditions that will take place in Turtle Springs all over the country. It works…Men are coming into town from all over. Are they all honest? Do they have the women’s best interests in mind? And what of the ones who aren’t looking for marriage who find their way to town? Can love find them also? These are seven stories that are fun and lighthearted and that will bring a smile to your face.
In Abigail’s Proposal, Mayor Abigail Melton hires Josiah to be the town sheriff after one brief interview. She never bargained that she would find love in the process. As they work together to keep the peace and keep the interviews going as they should, they get a little more than either was expecting.
In The Kidnapped Groom, two young boys kidnap Sam as he is passing through town. They are determined to help their mother find a husband and think he will do just fine. When Sam actually meets their mother, he almost wishes he could be the father they are looking for.
In A Clean Slate, school teacher Birdy Green is not looking for love. She is not even participating in the auditions, except to help her friend find someone. When Drew Cooper comes to the schoolhouse looking for learning, he finds more than he ever bargained for.
In Sunshine of My Heart, Debbie and her family have not lived in Kansas long and are trying to make a go of their new prairie home. When she meets Zack at the husband auditions, they immediately take to each other. Zack comes to their small homestead and assists her father with breaking ground for planting. Will he plant his way into their family and lives also?
In Come What May, Chardy, the local merchant, is at the end of her rope. She has been raising her four brothers since her father died in the war and she is desperate for some help. When the school board comes to her and says the boys can’t stay at school because they are in too much trouble, she doesn’t know what to do. Luke, her former fiancé, who came back from the war missing a leg, agrees to help her with the boys. Can they discover their former love in the process?
In Dime Novel Suitor, Caroline is also unsure how to handle her brothers, sisters, and the inn/restaurant left to her after her father’s death. She longs for help but doesn’t go to the interviews. She is too busy working to attend them. When Britishman Barden shows up at her door, she assumes he is late for the interviews. He is merely looking for employment. However, they soon find that he can work for her and love her.
In Louder than Words, Jane, who is half Indian, wants to find a husband so that her family will return to Turtle Springs and stay. She agrees to show JR Lockhart around town so he can interview people about the husband auditions. As they slowly fall for each other, she wishes that they could have a future. But, he wants to move to California and she can’t. So where does that leave them?
These stories are fun and enjoyable and if you enjoy historical romance, these are a good bet. I received a free copy of this book for my honest opinion from Net Galley.

Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands is astounding yes amazing ya'll. I really don't know how to express in words how these stories were but here goes. You have stories of poor widows in a town of them who were made that way because of the war. They get together and send away for mail order husbands and one is the Sherriff. You have leadership to freedom , sadness to joyousness, kidnapping to freedom, miscommunication to communication, seeking to finding, loss to acceptance, misunderstanding to realization and unwanted ado to acceptance. This book is astounding and good - impassioned, judicious, kindhearted and it has such a kaleidoscope of emotions that it makes you feel like laughing, crying and well I could go on - each author has truly (and I mean this from the bottom of my heart) made me feel like a part of the town - a part of the story - you get so invested into the story because you are invested into the characters, you really do love the book within only a few pages - It got me pulled in immediately - and I loved it and so will you!

It is 1866 in a small town in Kansas. How shall the town survive without the many men they lost to the War Between the States? A town meeting is called and the decision is made to advertise for mail-order husbands. They sent the word out after deciding that the men would be auditioned by the ladies, thus hoping to keep out those whose intentions were not pure.
Each author has told the story of a different lady, some which have children, some who have siblings to care for and some who have never been married. There are those who learn that trust can be renewed, both in God and man.
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of stories. Once again, these authors have brought history to life.

These delightful novellas deal with war widows in search of mates following the War Between the States. Abigail Melton, who took over her deceased father’s role as mayor, advertises for potential husbands to come to this small Kansas town for interviews with seeking women. The results bring cowboys, a disabled veteran, an English nobleman, a reporter, and others seeking a new start. The tales of pain turn into life-changing events for those involved. I think the authors did a fine job offering variety and satisfying stories. Get a glimpse of life during this difficult period of history and enter into the town’s life with the intriguing characters there. I received a copy through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This book was a fun twist on the traditional mail-order bride stories. The women of the town advertised for husbands, never dreaming how many would descend upon the town. It was fun to get to know the town residents and I really appreciated the consistency throughout the stories and how they were all inter-connected by the town and residents. Most of the romances did not come about directly through the advertisement, which was yet another fun twist. All-in-all, this is a great book, put together by some of my favorite authors.

Wonderful collection of stories! Written with the reality of life after the Civil War, the mayor of Turtle Springs, Kansas with the vote of the women of the town, runs an ad for Mail-Order Husbands.. Each author features a different women and the husband they choose. I loved these stories about the loss, the struggle to survive the aftermath of the war and the romantic conclusion of these sit down interviews with those men who showed up looking for a bride. If you like stories of mail-order brides... you will love this twist of Mail-Order Husbands!

Though I have not previously read any of the authors in this particular novella collection, I was wanting something short enough to read quickly as I’m one who has trouble putting a story down once I’ve started it. To say I’m glad I read this collection would be an understatement. All of the women were strong and to be admired, as well as their corresponding husbands. Each story held endearing characters who learned as much from each other as they taught and quickly stole your heart. This is one collection I will return to again and revisit at some point in the future. Delightful and definitely recommended.

This is a delightful novella collection!

I thoroughly enjoyed each of the seven stories. All of the main characters are wonderful. This collection has an aspect I’d never seen before. All of them are set in one town during the same time period. That means that there are lots of crossovers of characters among the different stories. At the same time each story is definitely separate. I loved seeing how they all interacted with each other.

I really liked the variety of situations the women were in at the beginning of their stories. There were so different and yet they all had the very same problem. There were no men of marriageable age in their town after the Civil War

I understood the dilemma that each of the women faced and why they wanted to find a husband. Then there was the odd woman out who didn’t want to find one and found herself falling in love anyway.

Some of the authors were new to me. Actually that’s my favorite part of reading a novella collection. I have found a lot of great authors through them. This collection is no different. My list of authors to look for has grown thanks to this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

Such a lovely, lighthearted and refreshing collection of how several Civil War Widows got a bit more than they bargained for when seeking husbands! I love seeing collaborations like this where the authors work together to stitch parts of a whole story together,

I think it would have been better if the stories had also been in chronological order to help with cohesiveness, but that was a minor detail. I very much enjoyed the collection!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.