Christmas Mail Order Brides Anthology

Not many more days to Christmas!  But reading this collection brought me closer to that wonderful season.  

I was excited to read this when I saw the cover and who the contributing authors were.  I wasn't disappointed.  I loved all three stories.  How could you not?

I think I enjoyed Amelia's story the best.  She was busy finding matches for all her customers. She was ready to retire, but she had one disappointing match that failed.  She had to correct this mistake.  And this led her right into the arms of a dear friend.

Great stories.

I received this book from Celebrate Lit to review.

#blogtour

About the Book

Book: Christmas Mail Order Brides, Anthology

Authors: Vickie McDonough, Carrie Turansky, Susan Page Davis

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: September 9, 2025

a's Marriage arrives by mail-order—just in time for Christmas.

Ride the transcontinental railroad as three mail-order brides head west in search of new futures. Annika arrives in Wyoming to discover her intended groom is missing. Jolie’s journey to Nevada is derailed by disaster, and Amelia travels to California to wrap up her final attempts at matchmaking. Will the holiday season be the ticket to spark love in unexpected ways?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Authors

Carrie Turansky has loved reading since she first visited the library as a young child and checked out a tall stack of picture books. Her love for writing began when she penned her first novel at age twelve. She is now the award-winning author of more than twenty inspirational novels and novellas. Carrie has won the ACFW Carol Award, the International Digital Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, Scott. They have five grown children and twelve grandchildren who bring them much joy. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her walking around the lake near her home, working in her flower gardens, cooking healthy meals for family and friends, or leading women’s ministry at her church.

Susan Page Davis is the author of more than 100 published novels and novellas in the romance, mystery, historical, and romantic suspense genres. She’s a winner of the Carol Award, Will Rogers Medallion, and the Faith, Hope, and Love Readers’ Choice Award, and a finalist in the Selah Awards and Willa Literary Awards. A Maine native, she now lives in western Kentucky with her husband, Jim.

.Vickie McDonough is the CBA, EPCA and Amazon best-selling author of 54 books and novellas. Vickie grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead, she married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams penning romance stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen, and others living in the Old West. Vickie’s books have won numerous awards including the Booksellers Best, OWFI Best Fiction Novel Award, the Inspirational Readers’ Choice awards. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, making cards, gardening, and traveling.

More from Carrie

Bringing a Swedish Christmas to the American West

By Carrie Turansky

In my novella, A Trusting Heart, part of the Christmas Mail-Order Brides Collection, Annika Bergstrom, who is originally from Sweden, leaves her home in Chicago and travels to the rugged Wyoming Territory in 1880 to marry a man she’s never met. Though she carries only a small trunk, she brings with her something far more meaningful—cherished Christmas traditions from her homeland.

Swedish Christmas celebrations begin early with the first Sunday of Advent. Annika remembers her mother lighting a candle each week leading up to Christmas, filling their home with warmth and anticipation. In her new Wyoming home, she lights a candle, longing for connection and clinging to faith and hope as she begins this new chapter of life.

December 13 brings one of the most beloved Swedish traditions—St. Lucia Day. In Sweden, the youngest daughter dresses in a white gown with a red sash and wears a crown of candles, waking her family with coffee and saffron buns. Annika lovingly bakes these sweet rolls with her intended’s daughter, hoping it will draw them all closer.

As Christmas Eve—Julafton—arrives, Annika prepares a modest version of a Swedish smörgåsbord: roasted ham, root vegetables, and creamy rice pudding. She hides an almond in the pudding, smiling as everyone at the table eagerly searches their bowls. According to Swedish tradition, the one who finds the almond will marry in the coming year. Laughter and joy fill the room, and Annika feels a growing sense of belonging with her new family.

Swedish traditions add depth and richness to A Trusting Heart, reminding us that wherever we go, the light of Christmas can shine brightly—especially when carried by a trusting heart.

We hope you’ll enjoy reading Christmas Mail-Order Brides which includes three novellas: The Prodigal Groom by Vickie McDonough, A Trusting Heart by Carrie Turansky, and Mrs. Mayberry  Meets Her Match by Susan Page Davis. Each heartwarming story that will transport you back to a joyful, old-fashioned Christmas.

Blog Stops

Devoted To Hope, September 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 24

She Lives To Read, September 25

Pens Pages & Pulses, September 25

Leslie’s Library Escape, September 26

Vicky Sluiter, September 26

Simple Harvest Reads, September 27 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Bizwings Blog, September 28

Texas Book-aholic, September 28

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 29

Maureen’s Musings, September 29

Cover Lover Book Review, September 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 1

For Him and My Family, October 2

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 2

Blossoms and Blessings, October 3

Holly’s Book Corner, October 3

Jeanette’s Thoughts , October 4

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 5

Pause for Tales, October 6

Jodie Wolfe, October 6

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, October 7

Mary Hake, October 7

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, Carrie, Vickie, and Susan are giving away a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://sweepwidget.com/c/92608-x04cbuqz

Better Days on Dressmaker's Alley

Now, how can I pick a favorite character or moment in this story?  I loved it all but of course, the bad guys.  Boo! Hiss!  Lady Diane was exquisite. Susie was patient and hardworking.  Lily was talented and kind. Janice was gentle and loving.   This was just the women!

Dressmaking is a hard business. Susie put her life on hold for the company.  But there could be  terrible consequences in doing that. I guess I feel that work is work and you can be replaced there easily enough.  You can't be replaced by your family.

I read the previous book in this series so I knew the background of the characters in this one.  It could be a stand alone but I recommend reading it as a series.

A wonderful story. I enjoyed every moment, every page.

I received this from Boldwood Books to review.

#blogtour

#rararesources

Better Days on Dressmakers' Alley

London’s East End 1926

The girls of Dressmakers' Alley are busier than ever and Lady Diane’s business continues to thrive.

New recruit Janice Williams is one of the new seamstresses Miss Susie hires to cope with the work but on the day of her interview, Janice is injured in a roadside accident that will change her life forever.

Poor Winnie Collins’ pregnancy is beset with problems and under Doctor’s strict orders she is confined to bed rest. How will she cope when there is so much to do?

Susie Collins’ and Timothy Marsh’s relationship continues to flourish. But when will Susie find time to allow Timothy to make an honest woman of her?

Meanwhile business is blooming at the flower shop but Lily is concerned what her husband Jeb Jarvis and brother Joe Ross are up to. When something seems too good to be true, it usually is and none of them realise the danger it could bring.

Things are looking brighter on Dressmakers' Alley, but there are always those who want to cause trouble…

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/BetterDaysDressmakers

Author Bio – 

Rosie Clarke is a #1 bestselling saga writer whose books include Welcome to Harpers Emporium and The Mulberry Lane series. She has written over 100 novels under different pseudonyms and is a RNA Award winner. She lives in Cambridgeshire.

Social Media Links –  

Follow Rosie Clarke

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081537219193 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnneHerries 

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/RosieClarkeNews 

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rosie-clarke 

Hidden Family Secrets

 

A Young girl leaves everything behind when she marries. She was frightened and doubted her choice.

Her husband was eager for the change.  He was excited for their future. He was proud of his new wife. She was a beauty.

Duncan and Meg move into the Todd's home to learn the weaving trade.  Duncan hoped one day to have his own business.

Adultery, lies and deceit changes the course of all their futures. These  "Hidden Family Secrets" can ruin their families and the world as they know it.

I loved the story with all the twists and turns.

I received this book from Boldwood Books to review.

#rararesources

#blogtour

Hidden Family Secrets

Can a long-kept secret ruin the future happiness of two families?

Paisley, Scotland 1745

Meg and Duncan Montgomery move to the flourishing Scottish town of Paisley to find work in the thriving weaving industry. Soon, Meg is expecting their first child, Margaret.

To make ends meet, they live in Peter Todd’s household, Duncan’s employer and Meg’s days are filled with domestic duties. But soon Meg and Duncan find themselves caught up in the intricate lives of the Todd family and when a tragic accident causes further conflict, a decision is made to keep a terrible secret from Meg.

As Margaret grows older, she despairs of the town’s inequality and becomes an advocate for the poor. While her philanthropic ideals are tolerated, even accepted by her understanding parents, Margaret’s affection for her childhood friend William Todd is greeted with disapproval.

But Margaret wants more from life than marriage and is overjoyed when she is taken on as a teacher at the local hospital.

As a dark secret from the past looms over the lives of both families,threatening to tear apart their futures, the younger Todds and Montgomery’s must decide between following in their parents’ footsteps or forging their own paths.

The start of The Paisley Women saga series from Evelyn Hood, the original bestselling Scottish saga writer.

Previously published in paperback as The Silken Thread

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/FamilySecretsBook

Author Bio – 

The Sunday Times bestselling author of 28 published novels, Evelyn Hood had a variety of jobs, including being a journalist and a poultry farmer. She was a full time writer, best known for her family sagas, set mainly in her home town of Paisley (Renfrewshire) and on the Clyde coast, where she also lived.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16YScQLN3J/?mibextid=wwXIfr 

Instagram: @evelynhood52author 

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/evelyn-hood 

The Queen's Necklace

 

I love Tudor History. This is why I wanted to read this.  It started a little slow for me but it quickly picked up. Adrienne Chinn did a excellent job.

The book has two timelines. Anne and Mary Boleyn are sisters vying for attention in the 1500s.  Bryher and Marnie are sisters doing the same in 2025. Bryher and her sister are distantly related to Mary Boleyn. 

Both timelines are quite similar. I was not fond of Anne or Bryher. They were both the younger sisters. They came across harsh and at times, mean. They were in competition against their sibling. I guess it happens in families.

I did like the ending of Bryher's story. She learned from her mistakes in time to change her behavior. Anne Boleyn realized too late to make any amends. If you know history, Anne found herself in a hot mess and lost her head and life because of this. 

It was quite an interesting story. The cover and the title was what interested me at first. 

I received this book from Boldwood to review.

#blogtour

#rararesources

The Queen’s Necklace

The most famous necklace in the world has finally been found…

Bryher Finch’s life isn’t just a disaster, it’s a catastrophe, until a chance invitation to chart her family tree changes everything. As Bryher uncovers the ancestry she never knew about, she stumbles on the find of the century – Anne Boleyn’s ‘B’ necklace, as enigmatic as Henry VIII’s most notorious Queen herself.

But Bryher isn’t the only one who wants the necklace…

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Queens-Necklace-Adrienne-Chinn/dp/0008643822/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

https://www.amazon.com/Queens-Necklace-Adrienne-Chinn-ebook/dp/B0DRZ9BNZQ

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-queens-necklace-adrienne-chinn/1146772161

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-queens-necklace/adrienne-chinn/9780008643829

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IWv50AEACAAJ&source=gbs_book_other_versions

https://www.whsmith.co.uk/Product/Adrienne-Chinn/The-Queens-Necklace/15620348

Author Bio – 

Adrienne Chinn was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, grew up in Quebec, and eventually made her way to London, England after a career as a journalist. In England she worked as a TV and film researcher before embarking on a career as an interior designer, lecturer, and writer. When not up a ladder or at the computer writing, she often can be found rummaging through flea markets or haggling in the Marrakech souk. Her debut novel, The Lost Letter, was published in 2019. Her second novel, the international bestseller, The English Wife, was published in 2020. Her third novel, Love in a Time of War, the first in a series of four books in The Three Fry Sisters series, was published in 2022. The second book in the series, The Paris Sister, was published in 2023, and the third book, In the Shadow of War, was published in March 2024. Her next book, an historical timeslip novel, The Queen's Necklace, will be published in September 2025, followed by the fourth book in The Three Fry Sisters series, set during WWII, in 2026.

Social Media Links – 

https://www.adrienne-chinn.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/adriennechinnauthor/

https://www.instagram.com/adriennechinn/

https://x.com/adriennechinn/with_replies?lang=en&wptouch_preview_theme=enabled

A Season of Grace

Mysteries unfold but Grace keeps her mouth shut.  She is often called a blabber but not this time.  Her lips are sealed.

I absolutely love this family.  Wilma opens her door and yes, even her heart to all.  She just wants her family to be happy and settled down.  At times, Wilma and her friend, Ada, get a little too involved in their family's business. 

I adore these sweet stories. I love that I have gotten to know all the characters. It could be a few months between books but I can just pick up where I left off. 

Samantha Price needs to know how much I look forward to each book.  I'm hoping that Matthew will eventually find his own happiness. Maybe this will be in the next book!!! 

I received this book from the author to review.

#blog #Amish #SamanthaPrice

Samantha Price

About the author

Samantha Price is a USA Today bestselling author of Amish romance and cozy mysteries. Raised in the Brethren faith, she writes with a heartfelt understanding of the Amish way of life.

When she’s not writing, Samantha enjoys quiet moments at home with her rescue cat and her fluffy white dog, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Snowy from the Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries.

Find a full downloadable and printable Series-Reading-Order at: SamanthaPriceAuthor dot com

The Irish Midwife

Loved this story. Educational, riveting and a love story all in one book.

This is a new author for me. I love being introduced to new authors.  Another plus is when the book is actually good.

Peggy loved helping her Aunt deliver babies. The community depended on them.  Then one day, a terrible incident occurred. The life Peggy knew was no more. 

A few years later Peggy found herself studying to be a midwife in Dublin.  Far from home. She knew that she had secrets that couldn't be revealed.  Secrets that could ruin everything. And if she got too close to Dan Sheridan Jr. It could mess things up.

A great book. I loved learning about midwifery in Ireland.  It was really sad when I was done with this story. I wasn't ready for the book to be over.

I received this book from Boldwood to review.

#raresources

#blogtour

The Irish Midwife

Can she finally put herself first, in order to find love?  Peggy Cassidy is a milly, working in the Belfast linen mills to just about get by. But Peggy also has another job - a secret one. She works as a handywoman - an illegal midwife, tending to the women of her community in their time of need.  When Peggy is offered the chance to leave Belfast to receive formal midwifery training in Dublin, it sets off a chain of events that will change her life forever.  But amongst her middle-class colleagues, Peggy must keep the truth about her past secret at all times. If the realities of her life in Belfast are revealed, she could lose everything she has worked for.  And when she meets a well-to-do doctor down in Dublin, she must make a decision: should she protect her family and her history? Or can she let herself fall in love? 

The first book in a heartwarming new historical romance series, for fans of Dilly Court, Anna Jacobs, Rosie Goodwin and Call the Midwife.

Purchase Link -  https://mybook.to/IrishMidwife 

Author Bio – 

Seána Tinley is an Irish author of saga historical romance. She also writes regency romance as Catherine Tinley.

After a career encompassing speech and language therapy, Sure Start, being president of a charity, and managing a maternity service, she now works as NI Country Director for a leading UK charity.

Seána was appointed as chair of the Romantic Novelists’Association in August 2024.

Social Media Links – https://lnk.bio/seanatinley

The Pit Girl

Mari lived with her parents and siblings in a town in Wales. Her father and brother worked in the coal mines. It was a dirty and difficult job.  A dangerous job. Many were injured and even killed there.

Life went on. Day by day, the family doing their very best to make ends meet.  Then one day the unthinkable happened.  Their whole life was turned upside down. Drastic measures were needed.  Mari cut her hair and became a pit girl.  Well, really a pit boy.  A young girl doing a man's job. A secret that must be kept.

This was a page turner. I finished it faster than I wanted to.  I loved so many of the characters.  Big Al, looks tough, but was a wonderful, caring man. Mari's Mom who has a Christian heart. Mrs. Jones who gives Mari a place to find some comfort and a cup of tea.

I highly recommend.

I received this book to review from Boldwold Books.

#blogtour

#rararesources

The Pit Girl

With no one to rely on, she must make an unthinkable choice...Mari Evans has always known life would be hard, but nothing could have prepared her for how quickly things would fall apart. First, the devastating news that her father has a second family–and chose them over her. Then the tragic accident in the pit that leaves her eldest brother unable to work.

It started as an off-hand joke, a comment by her brother.‘Cut your hair, Mari. You could pass for a lad and work the pit in my place. 

’But with cholera sweeping the village and hunger gnawing at their stomachs, it’s Mari’s only option. Disguised as a boy, she takes her brother’s place underground, risking everything to keep her family from ruin.

But danger isn’t only found in the harsh conditions of pit work. One wrong step could cost her the job, her safety–and even her life.  As whispers circulate and secrets threaten to surface, Mari must tread carefully. How far will one girl go to protect the people she loves?

Purchase Link-https://mybook.to/PitGirl

Author Bio–Lynette Rees lives in Wales and has been writing since she was a child. She enjoys the freedom of writing in a variety of genres including: crime fiction and contemporary romance, though her first love is historical fiction. 

When she's not writing, or even when she is writing, Lynette enjoys a glass of wine and the odd piece of chocolate as she creates stories where the characters guide her hand. She honestly has no idea how a story will turn out until the characters tell their own tales in their own unique ways.

Social Media Links–Facebook: @authorlynetterees

Twitter: @LynetteRees0

Instagram: @booksbylynetterees

7Newsletter Sign Up:https://bit.ly/LynetteReesNews

Bookbub profile:@romancewriter0Notes

Her Amish Refuge

What a blessing!  I just discovered a new author.  And I loved her book.  

Florene has made a mess of her life. She has lost all hope.  And today she just may die.  

But GOD was there with her. The gentle giant, Gil, found her and brought her to his home. And with time, she felt she belonged there.

Florene was trying to figure out what to do next. Could she go home? Will she be shunned?  

We all have ups and downs in our lives. During those times we have choices.  We can hold on to our faith and pray for strength, healing or peace.  Or we can turn away from GOD and continue making a mess of our lives. It appears to be an easy choice.  But not always.

Thank you to Ms. Wright for allowing me to read an early copy of this story.

#Amish

#blog

AUTHOR

Pamela Desmond Wright grew up in a small, dusty Texas town. From the time she learned to read, books have been her passion. A veteran of the e-book revolution of the late ’90’s, Pamela moved into traditional publishing, writing in the paranormal and adult romance genres for Kensington and NAL/Penguin. Nominated 2 times, she won the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2010. Pamela was also a founder of the scam publishers and agents website, The Write Connection, which was transferred to the SFWA through (then) vice-president A.C. Crispin to become Writer Beware. She currently writes Amish romance for Harlequin Love Inspired, crafting heartfelt stories where characters face life’s challenges with courage and grace.

 www.pameladesmondwright.com

Find Pam on Social Media @pamdwrites Facebook/Twitter/Instagram

The Search For The Shadow Cat

About the Book

Book: The Search for the Shadow Cat

Author: Kurt Mahler

Genre: Magical Realism Fantasy

Release Date: October 20, 2025

Venture into a lush, mystically supercharged natural world where the fate of an entire animal kingdom hangs in the balance in The Search for the Shadow Cat, the captivating third installment of the Jaguar Oracle series.

After a long absence from the Rio Grande Valley, the majestic jaguar named Oracle returns for a perilous quest to restore the three feline tribes—bobcat, ocelot, and long-lost jaguarundi: the “shadow cat.”

With Patch the raccoon, Plod the horse, Bog the toad, and the child named Miracle, Oracle navigates a richly-drawn landscape, pressing through pain and perplexity to rediscover ancient wisdom that will awaken creation, from a jabber of green jays to secretive turtles to trees holding on to treasured knowledge. Along the way, Oracle finds an unexpected ally in a conflicted young entrepreneur, while a hermit holds the key to unlocking the jaguar's destiny.

Blending magical realism, mythology, and environmental advocacy, this pulse-pounding adventure will captivate readers with its tale of courage, honor, and the power of reclaiming our forgotten roots.

Book Excerpt

 I’m not dominated…I’m safe. I’m invited. I can hope again…And who knows but that the beauty I’ve seen, in the absence of anything good or true, might just go ahead and do the work of all three. Now…get out of my way!”

And with that, Gem closed her eyes and threw herself beak-first at the frigid image of the spirit. The mask shattered, the air became instantly warm, and all that remained was a distant howling. Whether it was the spirit, the weather, or both, Gem could not tell. Hovering in the air, she panted as she recovered in the space of silence the shattering created.

From beneath the branches of the sweet acacia, a summer tanager emerged. “Thank you,” she sang in her robin-like way. “I thought winter had come early—but look, instead, a laughter from a future spring! See how the sweet acacia blooms!”

The bright yellow blossoms of the sweet acacia sang their presence from a lone branch near  Gem, radiating a joy that eclipsed the bleak moment a second before. The tanager gave the green jay hackberries from her cache, and in the strength of that food, Gem hastened on her way.

Excerpts:

Excerpt One: https://www.simpleharvestreads.com/posts/the-search-for-the-shadow-cat-book-spotlight/
Excerpt Two: https://www.guildmaster97.com/posts/the-search-for-the-shadow-cat-epic-book-launch-and-excerpt/
Excerpt Three: https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/posts/the-search-for-the-shadow-cat-book-spotlight/
Excerpt Four: https://www.fictionbooklover.com/posts/the-search-for-the-shadow-cat-book-spotlight/
Excerpt Five: https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/2025/09/06/the-search-for-the-shadow-cat-by-kurt-mahler/
Excerpt Six: https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-search-for-shadow-cat.html
Excerpt Seven: https://nannie3.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-search-for-shadow-cat.html?m=1

 

About the Author

Kurt helps those who built someone else’s dream finally build their own.

As a speaker, advisor, and award-winning poet, he draws from twenty years of lived experience in forty nations.

He is a sought-after voice on five continents, advising expats in places as challenging as Cuba, Persia, and North Korea. He has published multiple books , hundreds of articles, and well-respected poetry.

Kurt and his wife Karen have been married since 1993 and raised their family in Afghanistan, where they founded a community development agency. They are Americans living in the Emirates with ties to the Gulf Coast, the Rio Grande Valley, Central Texas, Louisiana, and New England.

He writes in the poetic tradition, inspired by the wonder of creation, the mysteries of the Ancient Faith, and the drama of the nations. Guiding sources for his work include the Hebrew prophets, the Desert Fathers, Dante, Milton, George MacDonald, C.S. Lewis, and Tolkien.

The Pretender

Wanda E. Brunstetter has a special place in my heart after meeting her a few years ago.  I have been reading her books for quite a few years.  And this new story wraps up the three book set. This new book is Book 3 of the Middlin County Mystery.  

Rosa has found herself in a mess.  And Anthony says he'll help her out and takes a couple of weeks off at his parents' restaurant. Two weeks landed up being a few weeks more as Anthony found himself sick or injured.

Forgiveness is one of the main themes. Can Rosa forgive others as well as herself?  Will her sister admit her own mistakes and ask for forgiveness?  Can Anthony's father and Rosa's father relax and forgive?

The Great Pretender is being not really who you are.  Rosa, Susan and Anthony were not the people they appeared to be. You had to look beyond their acts. 

I enjoyed this story.  Another hit!

Thanks, Wanda’s Clippity Clop Club!

#blogspot

https://youtu.be/3oS3nIX8nok?si=clMu8gzQAed2Q4H9