I did a double take when I saw the title and authors of this book, and sure enough I have read and loved these stories. These stories were previously published as The 12 Brides of Summer Collection #1-#4 at about $2.99 each or the amazon collection of all four books is 4 x 2.99= $11.96... a bit cheaper to buy these stories separate but more convenient to have them all now in one book selling on amazon right now at $14.99 I think. Lovely stories! Worthwhile no matter how you buy them :)

The 12 Brides of Summer - Novella Collection is a collection of twelve stories. The stories include: The Blue Moon Bride by Susan Page Davis The Sunbonnet Bride by Michelle Ule The Wildflower Bride by Amy Lillard A Bride Rides Her by Mary Connealy The Fourth of July Bride by Amanda Cabot The Summer Harvest Bride by Maureen Lang Dog Days of Summer Bride by Margaret Brownley The Dogwood Blossom Bride by Miralee Ferrell The Lumberjack's Bride by Pam Hillman The County Fair Bride by Vickie McDonough The Honey Bride by Diana Brandmeyer The Columbine Bride by Davalynn Spencer Wow! This collection is fabulous. I loved all of the stories. I highly recommend this book!
5 plus stars.

So Barbour Publishing took four compilations and put them under one cover. The stories in this olio are timeless and so enjoyable. Each one is a great afternoon read or bedtime read to fill in those moments when the reader doesn't want to start some project, but wants to spend the time enjoyably.

I've already reviewed these collections, so I will just repeat the reviews I've already written in no particular order.

Blue Moon Bride by Susan Page Davis. Ava meets Joe on the train while she's on her way to see her best friend, Polly. The train ride is interrupted by some train robbers who take a packet that Joe is supposed to deliver in San Francisco. Joe's ability to sketch the robbers helps catch them. Joe is intrigued by Ava and truly enjoys talking with her, and explains to her that the month they are meeting will have a blue moon--a full moon that occurs twice a month. Joe comes by often to see Ava at Polly's house and they intrigue grows to love.

The Sunbonnet Bride by Michelle Ule. Sally works for the milliner and Malcolm is a teamster who loves Sally but has never had the guts to tell her. When a tornado strikes Sally's father's farm, Sally sees how Malcolm gets his hands dirty helping those who lost so much in the storm. On the other hand, Sally sees how Josiah, the local banker, seeks to profit from other's tragedy. Sally decides to make sunbonnets to sell for the disaster relief fund and her sister Lena embroiders a tornado on the brim of the bonnets. It is at the relief auction that Malcolm finds his gumption to tell Sally how he feels.

The Wildflower Bride by Amy Lillard. Grace is standing up for her sister, Maddie, at her wedding to Harlan. As Grace walks down the aisle, she sees Ian standing with Harlan in his full Scottish regalia, it seems as though Grace has been struck by lightning. Ian is just as elecrified by Grace's appearance, but he's called to pastor a church in New York, or is he?

Mary Connealy -- A Bride Rides Herd. Betsy is babysitting her sister's rowdy, rambunctious girls when Matt comes riding up to the ranch. Matt watches Annie and Susie playing in a rather dangerous part of the river and hears Betsy yelling for the girls. Betsy doesn't quite know what to do with Matt, even though he is her sister's brother-in-law. Kissing him is such a good/bad idea, but eventually she gives in.

Amanda Cabot -- Fourth of July Bride. Naomi is worried about her mother, especially her mother's eye sight. She needs an operation, but has no way to pay for the doctor's fees, much less the rest of the costs of the operation. Gideon finds out that his mother will soon be visiting and needs a "stand-in" bride, so he offers to pay for the operation if Naomi will pretend to be his fiancee. His offer includes all the new gowns and dresses she will need.

Maureen Lang -- The Summer Harvest Bride. Sally is not looking for love, and she's certainly not looking for Willis Pollit, but when Lukas Daughton and his brothers come to town to build a new grist mill Lukas finds Sally is a sight for his sore eyes. There is a bit of sabotage to the mill and Sally believes the blame lands at Willis' feet. Maureen has woven a bit of mystery into her offering of this grouping that makes the story more interesting and more enjoyable.

Margaret Brownley's Dog Days of Summer centers around Marilee and Jed and the ownership of one dog who claims them both.

Miralee Ferrell's The Dogwood Blossom reminded me of the old movie, "Support Your Local Sheriff." Grace Addison is seen early in this novella up a tree.

Pam Hillman's The Lumberjack's Bride takes us to a lumber camp in Mississippi.

Each story has a winsomeness that draws the reader in and doesn't let go. They are easy reads for that rainy afternoon where the reader wants to cuddle up with a book, a cup of tea, and a blanket, and dream of warmer days.

In the County Fair Bride, Prudence has come home to take care of her father, but finds that he has been replaced by someone else. She is incensed because she feels he was pushed out of his job. When she finally takes the time to talk to her dad, she finds he's happier not being mayor of the town. She joins forces with the new mayor to plan and produce a county fair and to fall in love.

In the Honey Bride, Kate is deathly afraid of the bees her father ordered for the hives he got. He thought that she'd be able to make a bit of money selling the honey and beeswax that the bees produced. When her neighbor's cowhand comes to help, she is not sure if she can trust him or not, especially when a drunken man shows up on her front porch claiming that her father promised him a job.

In the Columbine Bride, Lucy is widowed with two children and fighting to hold body and soul together. Buck finds himself intrigued by the young widow and starts showing up to help out--even with her cattle round up. She hates being beholdin', but what else can she do?

These authors know how to develop a character, set them in a plot, and keep the plot moving along to engage the reader till the very end. This is a five star book, two thumbs up, and twelve afternoons to enjoy the stylings of these talented authors.

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

This is the first Barbour collection I’ve read. In my opinion, these are all four to five-star stories and I enjoyed every one. This is a great book to savor all summer long and an excellent means for discovering new to you authors!

I really enjoyed all of these short stories by wonderful authors. Some I had known and others I didn't. Great book to have ready when you have limited time to read. You can actually finish a wonderful story. Do yourself a favor and get this book.

I loved this book on the whole even though I did not love every story. The stories are all set in the late 1800s and as the title suggests in the summer months. This is a great light read for summer lounging.

My #1 story was The Summer Harvest Bride. The flow of the story, the language and tone really drew me to the story, I was just captivated from the beginning. I also really loved The Lumberjack's Bride, The Dogwood Blossom Bride and the Blue Moon Bride. Dog Days of Summer Bride was a really fun read.

I found myself hoping that some of the stories would have follow-ups within the collection but unfortunately none did but that's okay because I didn't feel like any ending was left unresolved. The first story The Honey Bride I felt has a rushed ending but I wanted the follow up hoping to catch up with a secondary character that I felt needed a storyline of their own.

The novellas (stories) in this book are:- The Honey Bride, Dog Days of Summer Bride, The Fourth of July Bride, A Bride Rides Herd, Blue Moon Bride, The Dogwood Blossom Bride, The Lumberjack's Bride, The Summer Harvest Bride, The Wildflower Bride, The County Fair Bride, The Columbine Bride, The Sunbonnet Bride

The 12 novellas in this collection are set in the 1800s which is a favorite of mine. I love reading how people met and fell in love back in those days. Each story is a sweet romance set in a turbulent time. Collections such as these give the reader a chance to read stories from favorite authors as well as find new authors to enjoy. From the beekeeper who is afraid of bees to a dog that feels his two owners need to be together, the reader will enjoy these short but fun stories. I love books such as this when you want something light to read. I received a copy through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

If you’re looking for something new, try these novellas featuring 12 Historical Brides Find Love in the Good Old Summertime The Honey Bride Life is peaceful for Katie and Henry Tucker until their father dies and Katie learns that he took out a mortgage on their farm. Then two men show up looking for jobs and Katie’s hand. How will she know which path God wants her to follow?
Review: The Honey Bride is a great start to The Twelve Brides of Summer novella collection. You just can’t help but want to cheer for Katie as she takes responsibility for her family and tries to follow God’s will.

Author: Diana Lesire Brandmeyer Grade: A Ages: 16+
Setting: Trenton, Illinois, May 1887

The Dog Days of Summer Bride Marilee Davis lost her fiance when she won a prestigious orchestra contest. To combat the nastiness and rumors she decided to move to San Francisco. Little did she know that they wouldn’t transport her piano further than Kansas. So now she’s stuck in Kansas trying to stay out of trouble. .. or would if her dog would just stay put.
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed The Dog Days of Summer Bride. This is absolution one of the best novellas I’ve read in forever! It’s a cute and fun romance that’ll put a smile on your face as you ponder the God Days of Summer.

Author: Margaret Brownley Grade: A Ages: 16+
Setting: Bee Flat, Kansas in 1883

Blue Moon Bride Ava Neal is thrilled but sad when her younger sister announces her engagement. Ava stays for the wedding but hightails it from her New England home to Cheyenne Wyoming to visit her best friend to make her plans for the next step in her life. But it’s a train robbery that sets Ava’s new life in motion.
Review: Aww! I so enjoyed Ava’s story! She’s an amazing character and has left me wanting to know more!

Author: Susan Page Davis Grade: A+
Ages: 16+
Setting: Cheyenne, Wyoming

The Dogwood Blossom Bride Will Montgomery feels responsible for his sister’s death, so there is no way he’ll allow her daughter to be raised as a tomboy with the potential she’ll die in an accident like her mother. Even if the only woman to ever turn his head is tomboy Gracie Addison.
Review: This story is adorable. I really enjoyed both Gracie’s and Will’s personalities. The only thing that kept it from being a favorite was an abrupt ending.

Author: Miralee Ferrell Grade: A Ages: 16+
Setting: Goldendale, Washington 1883

The Lumberjack’s Bride Lucy Denson can’t believe her father took the family from the culture of Chicago to live at a logging camp. At least until she meets Eli Everett. Eli loves his logging life but can’t possibly see asking the refined beauty that just got to camp to share it with him.
Review: How sweet!! The Lumberjack’s Bride is sweet romance. I couldn’t help but to be enchanted with Lucy.

Author: Pam Hillman Grade: B+
Ages: 16+
Setting: Sipsey Creek, Mississippi in 1889

The Wildflower Bride Love at first sight is a myth. At last that what Grace Sinclair and Ian McGruer thought before they laid eyes on each other. What did God put such an impossible love just out of reach?
Review: While I enjoyed The Wildflower Bride, it’s not my favorite. It’s a great story about leaving to trust God but it is a bit lackluster after the previous segments.

Author: Amy Lillard Grade: B Ages: 16+
Setting: Calico Falls, Arkansas in 1871

The County Fair Bride Needing to visit her gravely ill father Prudence Williard risks a town who rightfully despises her. Except Adam Merrick and that’s because he’s new to town. Can Prudence become the pain she wants to be our will she continue down the miserable road she has been on?
Review: This sweet Taming of the Shrew is the perfect addition to a great set of romances.

Author: Vickie McDonough Grade: A Ages: 16+
Setting: Bakerstown, Missouri in 1892

The Columbine Bride Lucy Powell isn’t sure how she’s going to make it through today much less tomorrow. Not since her husband died and left her with a valley and children barely old enough for school. Until, Buck Reiter appears offering his help. But accepting charity is wrong. Right?
Review: Columbine is my favorite flower so it stands to reason that I’d love The Columbine Bride. More than anything I truly felt the reminders to trust God throughout these pages.

Author: Davalynn Spencer Grade: A Ages: 16+
Setting: Colorado in 1886

The Sunbonnet Bride When a tornado rips through her family’s farm Sally immediately stricken with the need to help. So are the two men vying for her attention. Sally is unsure of which man is the one for her in the midst of their posturing…
Review: I LOVED this! The Sunbonnet Bride is the perfect close to an amazing set of novellas.

Author: Michelle Ule Grade: A Ages: 16+
Setting: Fairhope, Nebraska in 1874

Hott Review of The 12 Brides of Summer Collection I guess you’ve realized that we’re missing a few reviews. Well, that’s because after I’d started reading The 12 Brides of Summer Collection I realized that I’d already read a part of it. Most specifically The 12 Brides of Summer Novella Collection 2. So stop by… because they were my favorites 😉 !

More…

Source: NetGalley Publisher & Date: June 1st 2016 by Barbour Books Genre: Historical Christian Romance ISBN: 1634090292 (ISBN13: 9781634090292)
Pages: 512 Grade: A Ages: 16+
Steam: YA The 12 Brides of Summer Collection The 12 Brides of Summer Collection The 12 Brides of Summer - Novella Collection 1 The 12 Brides of Summer – Novella Collection #1 The 12 Brides of Summer - Novella Collection 2 The 12 Brides of Summer – Novella Collection 2 The 12 Brides of Summer - Novella Collection 3 The 12 Brides of Summer – Novella Collection 3 The 12 Brides of Summer - Novella Collection 4 The 12 Brides of Summer – Novella Collection 4

The Honey Bride, by Diana Brandmeyer, introduces us to Katie Tucker. Katie is afraid of bees, but they may be the only option for her, her brother and grandmother to survive. After her father’s death, she has to keep the family farm going. It looks like her neighbor, Pete Dent, and the bees may be her only solution.

Diana Brandmeyer has written an excellent story showing us how we can rest assured of the Lord’s help with all our fears and sorrows.

Margaret Brownley has written a fun, enjoyable story in Dog Days of Summer.

Marilee Davis, a music teacher, has found the perfect assistant-her pet dog, Mo. He has an ear for music and when Marilee’s students hit a discordant note, Mo lets them know. Tim Colbert, the city blacksmith, has the perfect dog, too, Dynamite. Marilee and Tim have noticed their dogs keeps disappearing, but neither one suspect that Mo is actually Dynamite!

The Fourth of July Bride is by Amanda Cabot.

Naomi Towson and her mother are struggling to make ends meet, with Naomi working as an assistant in the town’s bakery. When her mother needs a delicate and expensive surgery, Naomi knows that she can’t afford to pay for it. Only her trust in God keeps her from being overwhelmed with despair. So, when Gideon Carlisle, local cattle baron, offers to pay for the surgery in exchange for Naomi pretending to be his fiancée, she jumps at the chance.

In A Bride Rides Herd, Mary Connealy mixes a story of delightful mischief and abject fear, with humor and seriousness, creating a charming love story.

Matt Reeves is traveling to his brother’s ranch when he hears an ear-piercing scream. Spinning his horse around to head back where he heard the scream, he’s expecting to find the worst. Instead, he finds two of his brother’s daughters deliberately catapulting themselves into a fast moving stream.

Warring emotions overcome him as he gathers them up to take them home, only to discover his brother left a seemingly inept young lady as the babysitter.

Susan Page Davis does a great job of setting up The Blue Moon Bride.

Ava Neal is going on an adventure-a train ride to visit her best friend in Wyoming Territory. She travels unaccompanied, an uncommon thing for a young woman to do in the late 1800’s.

As Ava ventures West, Joe Logan befriends her. Joe, tasked with delivering valuables to a client of his law firm, is on his way to San Francisco. However, the train they are riding on is robbed.

As you read, you feel the fear during the robbery, Ava’s joy at arriving at her friends and the thrill of the race to catch the thieves. Along the way, you cheer for Ava and Joe as they begin to fall in love.

You are sure to enjoy the playful story of The Dogwood Blossom Bride by Miralee Ferrell, written with just the right amount of romance and seriousness.

Gracie Addison is a tomboy through and through. Her favorite pastimes are climbing trees and horseback riding. In fact, falling out of a tree was how she first met Will Montgomery.

Will is single and raising his niece and needs help in the process. Gracie may be the perfect answer. However, he doesn’t realize at their first meeting she is grown. And he is constantly fighting against her tomboy tendencies, trying to keep Gracie from influencing his little girl too much.

Pam Hillman ‘s The Lumberjack’s Bride is a story full of danger and excitement.

Lucy Denson is a cook for a lumberjack crew, something the Chicago native never dreamed she would be. She just wants to go back home where everyone and everything is civilized. Eli Everett, a member of the logging crew, couldn’t agree with her more. Her citified ways are jeopardizing the camp crew.

The Summer Harvest Bride, by Maureen Lang, is a romantic story with a bit of intrigue.

Sally Hobson’s family, and even Sally to some extent, are convinced she should marry the Mayor’s son, Willis Polit. However, Sally starts having second thoughts when Lukas Daughton, with his brothers and his father, ride into town with plans to build the community’s first gristmill. When the mill is sabotaged, Sally comes to the rescue and realizes her true love.

The Wildflower Bride, by Amy Lillard, is about Grace Sinclair, a widowed preacher’s daughter.

Grace has accepted that her lot in life is to stay unmarried in order to assist her father. All her convictions change when her sister gets married and Grace meets Ian McGruer, with whom she falls in love at first sight.

The story is very reminiscent of Grace Livingston Hill romances. The young couple meets and immediately falls in love. However, they have seemingly insurmountable obstacles to overcome.

The tale was a little hard for me to get into, as I don’t think someone can fall in love within moments of setting eyes on another, much less have the love reciprocated. Nonetheless, it is an enjoyable, romantic account of two young people.

The Country Fair Bride, by Vickie McDonough, is a heartwarming story of redemption, forgiveness and the ability to change with God’s help.

Prudence “Prudy” Willard returns home to Bakertown, Missouri, in 1892 to see her ill father. She originally left, spending about a year and a half with her Aunt, after her scandalous treatment of the new pastor and his fiancé. She is determined to keep her new forgiving spirit, but when Adam Merrick, interim mayor while her dad is sick, seems to be too comfortable, Prudy’s waspish tongue stings again.

A refreshing love story, The Columbine Bride, by Davalynn Spencer, illustrates how love can overcome and conquer even the worst of circumstances.

Lucy Powell is a young widowed mother of two children. As Lucy tries to navigate life without her husband, she doesn’t want charity. However, Buck Reiter can’t stand seeing the family work so hard. He constantly assists Lucy by bringing firewood and making repairs around the farm.

The Sunbonnet Bride, by Michelle Ule, places us in the life of Sally Martin. Sally has moved to town to work as a seamstress in order to augment her family’s farm income. However, she has a difficult decision to make. A tornado has destroyed the family farm, and two men are vying for her attention. Malcolm McDougal, a local man, is steady, dependable, a hard worker and not afraid to get his hands dirty helping the tornado victims. Josiah French, on the other hand, is a wealthy banker, offering loans to those whose homes were damaged and never seems to get dirty. However, he could offer Sally and her family a way out of their hard life.

Michelle Ule skillfully weaves the difficulties facing Sally into an excellent account, complete with all the anxiety and worry one would expect under similar circumstances.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun book. I love historical fiction and this had many of my favorite authors. These historical novellas do stand alone and they are so fun to read. It was a nice read to relax with for summer reading. Of course some stories were more interesting than others but as a whole I would recommend this book. I have read 12 Brides of Christmas and saw connections to the stories which to me makes it fun to re-connect with the previous set of novellas. I am delighted to have read these.

I was given a ebook copy from NetGalley for my honest review.

This is a sweet novella set in the 1800's in Wyoming. A train robbery leads to a job on the railroad for Joe Logan and this gives he and Ava Neal time to pursue the spark of interest that developed when they met and traveled together on the train. This is a 5 star romantic novella. It makes a quick read for summer or any time of the year.

The Sun Bonnet Bride by Michele Ule
After a grasshopper plague descends, Sally Martin is faced with a choice to marry a banker who wants to buy out ruined farmers or a teamster willing to give all his money to God’s work.
MY REVIEW: What a precious novella ! Sally Martin creates lovely sunbonnets that have an ingenious design that are fast becoming popular in the local shops. She has two ardent suitors: the rich young banker, Josiah, and Malcolm, the hardworking teamster. She has a choice to make and the town as well as her own family are trying to recover from the loss of homes and crops during the recent tornado. I rated this novella 5 stars and think readers of historical fiction will enjoy this romance set in the 1870's.

The Wildflower Bride by Amy Lillard
Grace Sinclair would never dream of leaving her Ozarks, so when Ian MacGregor visits for a wedding, she ignores her sudden romantic thoughts. Can Ian make her see the way of love?

MY REVIEW of The Wildflower Bride: Do you believe in love at first sight? Grace and Ian are certainly experiencing it after meeting at her sister, Maddie's wedding. Grace had resigned herself to being an old maid and helping her father with his church in Arkansas, but now???? she really wants to be wherever Ian will be. He will be returning in New York in a few short days to accept his first church pastor position and she will be staying behind in Arkansas. What will they do? How will they resolve the issue? Readers are sure to love this 5-star romantic novella by Amy Lillard.

MY OVERALL Review of Collection #1: 5 star romantic novella set in the 1800's which is certain to be a lovely way to spend a summer day reading !

Don’t miss the four collections that inspirational romance readers will be swooning over:
The 12 Brides of Summer Novella Collection #1 – Releases June 1
The 12 Brides of Summer Novella Collection #2 – Releases July 1
The 12 Brides of Summer Novella Collection #3 – Releases August 1
The 12 Brides of Summer Novella Collection #4 – Releases September 1