The Runaway Brides Collection

The Runaway Brides is an enjoyable collection with tales of seven brides who, rather than be forced into arranged marriages, seek to make their own choice of grooms. The antics of Josey Middleton made me laugh out loud. Her story was fun and lighthearted. Bernadine faced very difficult circumstances fleeing Ireland. Amy must marry to save her family home but at what cost? Delia wants to use her freedom to help others. Georgiana changes her name to escape her father's scheme. Callie goes from the shores of Lake Erie to Dallas, Texas in search of her future. Emily Pembrooke ran away with a stranger but could she trust him?
Each story was different, but all were good. I really enjoyed each one.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Barbour through NetGalley. This is my own opinion.

The women in this latest Barbour Bride Collection did not fail to disappoint with their strong will and refusal to settle despite 19th-century societal norms. It is difficult to pick out a favourite story because each story has its unique elements and helps the reader understand the times that they lived in. For instance, Delia McClure's story Legacy of Love highlights the plight of the Exodusters and The Irish Bride, the lesser talked about discrimination about Irish immigrants. Overall, the Runaway Bride Collection is a comforting pick for a cosy reading day or night.

This is another wonderful Brides Collection from Barbour Books. I really enjoyed reading the seven stories of seven strong willed woman that didn't give in but stood for what they believed was the right choice for them. I enjoyed every story in this book. Thank you Barbour Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

This is an absolutely charming collection! The authors have done a splendid job of packing wonderful stories into small packages with these novellas. Each story is short enough to read in a sitting yet still contains a complete and satisfying story. And with 7 stories, this book is a great value. I highly recommend this collection.

The Runaway Brides Collection
By Rita Gerlach, Terri J. Haynes, Noelle Marchand, Vickie McDonough, Darlene Panzera, Jenness Walker, Renee Yancy
This well-written collection of historical romance novellas features tales of runaway brides who find love on the run. I have read many novella collections and this is by far the best collection. There was no hit or miss with the stories. Each story held depth despite the length. I enjoyed reading each tale and found myself reluctant to put the book down to go to bed.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Barbour Books always collects the best authors for their anthologies and The Runaway Brides is no different.

There are nine stories in this book and each of the stories include a bride being forced into an unwanted marriage by family members (most usually the fathers). The grooms are either totally unknown to the bride or are in some way detestable to the brides. The circumstances are so bad that the brides take matters into their own hands and sneak away the best way they can, some as mail order brides, some as women looking for jobs, some as nannies and caretakers. BUT while they are running away from someone, they are running to what they know will be a different life, they are just not sure how it will play out.

This is a five star book, two thumbs up, and the fastest train out of town.

My thanks to Barbour Books for allowing me to read this book. Galley provided by NetGalley.com

The Runaway Brides Collection will keep you on the edge of your seat from the very beginning of each story and until your Turing the last page of the last story! Each hero and each heroine ask themselves the question "is this what I really want? Come with them on the ride of your life to discover just what will make these couples find their way back to each other!

I absolutely love these collections. They are several of them and each is worth every penny. For those who are looking for short works to read in one setting, nothing beats The Runaway Bride Collection or any of others by this publisher. Clean and full of love and promise...

A unique collection of stories by different authors. I enjoy these collections because they provide not only great short reads, but also the opportunity to discover new-to-me authors. This one did not disappoint as I didn't recognize a single author, however I will now be looking them up as I enjoyed reading their works. Historical romances that take new approaches to love in the past. While you are enjoying the romances you also pick up historical tidbits that you might not know. Such as, "Did you know that there were all black towns built after the end of the Civil War?"

I seriously cannot get enough of these books! Georgiana's story was admittedly my favourite! I always look forward to seeing a new collection - this one just made me laugh a lot more than normal! Props to the writers.

A wonderful collection of seven Christian, historical romance stories that are sure to give you hours of enjoyment. Each story has its own version of runaway brides, or couples that elope. I enjoyed them all and I'm sure that you will too!

The Runaway Brides Collection by Rita Gerlach will be available January 1, 2019 from Barbour Books, an imprint of Barbour Publishing, Inc. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review

The Runaway Brides Collection by various authors is a fun read about brides who are hesitant to commit. The seven stories are set in the 1800’s. Each story is unique and some are laugh out loud funny at times. Some of the brides must decide if an arranged marriage is for them or choose to find love instead; for others the decision is much more serious as to saving their family from financial ruin or marrying someone they barely know.
I enjoyed this book and really felt the pain of some of the brides as they made really difficult decisions. In some cases, it was choosing between two men and in others it was simply not wanting to marry at the present time. All of the stories had characters who were very realistic and reacted as one might expect considering the circumstances. I give this book a solid 5 of 5 stars. It is very engaging and will appeal to a wide audience. There is romance along with a bit of mystery and adventure in the various stories.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

A great collection about runaway brides and each story has its own fun twist to this. Seven amazing stories by seven great authors, though a few of them were new to me.


I loved each of the short novella's and found myself having trouble putting the book down.

The Runaway Brides Collection is a delightful read. From the determined heroines who find themselves in binds of all sorts, to the heroes who help the runaway brides in their predicaments, to the endearing secondary characters, this collection is well worth reading. Every novella earned a four star or higher, which, for me, is rare when reading collections. I was also introduced to authors I’d not heard of before, which hooked me on their writing. This is a fun collection, and one I definitely recommend reading!

I’m not a huge fan of romance stories and generally a collection like this is really hard for me to get through. HOWEVER, this one was an exception!
Each author did a great job of creating characters and story lines that were entertaining. Each one had a unique twist that made it fun to read. I keep trying to figure out which one was my favorite. It was either The Groom She Thought She’d Left Behind or maybe A Day Late and a Dollar Short,or maybe The Elusive Heiress. Such a hard choice!

If you enjoy historical romance with some lighthearted moments you should enjoy this collection.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Such a fun historical read. And I love the different stories from some of my favorite authors as well as a few new ones for me that were absolutely wonderful. It was a lovely collection and so enjoyable.

I love historical fiction and this really filled the bill! Such a great set of stories!

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley and Barbour Publishing. All thoughts are my own.

Amy Fairbourne wanted to wait for Love. After the civil war she just wanted to find the right man. Rita Gerlach brings us along for the ride as her search gets bumpy!
Delia McClure enjoyed helping the poorer families, but her father groused that she would bankrupt his small general store. Terri J. Haynes brings to life the struggles of the poor families Delia hopes to help. Josiah wants to move West and start fresh in Kansas. The idea sparks a fire in Delia's heart too.
Georgiana Price was a spoiled headstrong determined girl. Once she found out what her betrothed really thought, she set out to run away. Noelle Marchand takes us with her as she hides out and changes her life.
Callie Webster was all set to be a mail order Bride. Her Uncle Roger had left her no other alternative when he insisted she wed an old man, older than her late father! Vickie McDonough weaves the story of what happens when her plans go seriously awry!
Emily Pembrooke was on her way to be married to a man she had corresponded with to save her family home. Darlene Panzera carries us along as she changes her mind and all sorts of mischief ensues!
Josey Middleton got off the train expecting to see Everett Kane waiting to marry her. Well, not exactly her, her sister was the one who started the correspondence but soon lost interest and Josey had continued in her name. Jenness Walker leads us through a story of misunderstanding, miscommunications and mistakes.
Deanie Devane escaped the horror of the Irish famine, but could not reconcile herself to the horrible things her father had done to make that possible. Renee Yancy brings us along through her trip across the ocean where a tough man in her American Uncle makes life in the new land a struggle.
These Inspirational Historical stories will warm your heart...after they stop it a time or two! Well worth the read.

The Runaway Brides Collection is a delightful gathering of historical fiction. Various authors, familiar and new, contribute their work. Stories of great variety with a common theme. Great for romance fans. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Runaway Brides Collection will warm your heart...after they stop it a time or two! Well worth the read. From the determined heroines who find themselves in binds of all sorts, to the heroes who help the runaway brides in their predicaments, to the endearing secondary characters, this collection is well worth reading. I was also introduced to authors I’d not heard of before, which hooked me on their writing. Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.

Seven Short Stories 4.6* - These are not full length novels but are complete in themselves, they are very clean (not even a kiss is allowed in two of the stories).

From This Day Forward by Rita Gerlach 4* - set just after the end of the Civil War. Amy unexpectedly meets again the only man to have peaked her interest from before the War but he didn’t fight on the side she expected. Can they have a future?

Legacy of Love by Terri J. Haynes 4* - It is not until the day of her wedding to another man that Delia realises she is in love with her friend Josiah. Talk about leaving things to the last minute!

The Elusive Heiress by Noelle Marchand 4.5* - Georgiana goes on the run rather than be married for her dowry, she hopes if she can stay ahead of her father for seven months when she will become 21, she can then live on the inheritance from her grandmother. Whilst in the city of Denver she discovers God and that a business acquaintance of her father is more interesting than he had seemed in the past. A good read.

A Day Late and a Dollar Short by Vickie McDonough 4.5* - To escape an arranged marriage, Callie chooses to be a mail order bride however on arrival in Texas she finds her bridegroom has up and married another woman. So instead she agrees to look after a mute 5 year old girl, with a view to marrying the girl’s father after a two week period. Then her original bridegroom returns and wants her back!

The Groom She Thought She’d Left Behind by Darlene Panzera 5* - Emily has second thoughts about marrying a man she has never met and flees from her wedding - only she doesn’t realise that the man who helps her escape is actually her bridegroom. A lovely sweet and romantic story. My favourite in this collection.

The Flyaway Bride by Jenness Walker 5* - A series of missed meetings and misunderstandings dog the romance of Josey and Everett. A highly entertaining story.

The Irish Bride by Renee Yancy 5* - Fleeing from the horrors of the potato famine, and the injustices committed by her dead father; Deanie travels to Boston where her uncle plots to steal her inheritance. Loved the inclusion into the story of P.T. Barnum and General Tom Thumb.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is such a good collection of stories about run-away brides. Each bride has her own unique story. All are ladies of faith and character. These are shorter stories, but each seem to be complete in itself. These clean and sweet stories with no foul language are entertaining reading. Another great collection from Barbour by some good authors.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I thought the Runaway Brides Collection was a most enjoyable book to read The collection is From this day forward by Rita Gerlach, Legacy of love by Terri J Haynes, The Elusive Heiress by Noelle Marchland, A day late and a dollar short by Vickie McDonough The groom she thought she'd left behind by Darlene Panzera, The flyaway bride by Jenness Walker, and The Irish bride by Renee Yancy. All great stories I can't wait to read again and again. You too will want to read them again and again.

I received an ARC from Barbour Publishing, Inc via Netgalley for my honest review.

I truly enjoy this collection. Each author did a great job and together make a beautiful book. Amy and Rory got a second chance. Deliah and Josiah have an opportunity to start a legacy. Georgina and Henry are one of those unexpected, didn't see that one coming story. Callie seems to be left in the wrong place, but God had another plan for her. Emily and Christian's story is a wonderful story. Josey fall in love with a letter and many things happen. And finally, Deanie has a second chance in a new land with a lost love.

If you like good Christian historial fiction books, with many twists, funny situations, a bit of drama, a lot of romance, faith, and a beautiful end. I must say, this book is for you.

I enjoyed each story. Some made me laugh out loud. Each story is totally different, all excellent and I would read again.