Kay M. (maydayzee) reviewed The 12 Brides of Christmas Collection: 12 Heartwarming Historical Romances for the Season of Love on + 753 more book reviews
This is a good Christmas collection. I enjoyed eleven of the twelve historical romances mostly set in the 1870's and 1880's. I always enjoy stories set in earlier times during the Christmas season. I love the simpler times. I would definitely recommend this book, if you need a bit of relaxation during the busy seasonâor any time.
jjares reviewed The 12 Brides of Christmas Collection: 12 Heartwarming Historical Romances for the Season of Love on + 3413 more book reviews
All 12 of these stories are new to this publication. This is one of several books of this type (historical Christmas stories, mostly) and I've found them to be very readable. There's nothing steamy about them; they are historical stories about the meaning of Christmas in the West. For me, this volume had too many Christmas Bride stories in one book. I left the book and read something else for a while, coming back later. There seemed to be too much sameness; I took long interludes between stories.
THE FESTIVE BRIDE (Diana L Brandmeyer) -- G+
Roy Gibbons needs a mother for his two daughters but not a wife. Dr. Pickens and his daughter, Alma, help with Roy's sick child. Dr. Pickens and Roy decide Roy should marry Alma. When they tell Alma, she's less pleased and sets some stipulations.
THE NUTCRACKER BRIDE (Margaret Brownley) -- VG+
Lucy Langdon accidentally shoots the Texas Ranger, Chad Prescott. As she takes care of him, he learns the charming tradition of the bride's nutcracker. Witty dialogue.
THE CHRISTMAS STAR BRIDE (Amanda Cabot) -- VG
Esther finds an itinerant painter/artist to create a Christmas Star for her niece, which is a family tradition. Jeremy Snyder lost his foot in the Civil War (20-years ago) and has been moving around the country, plying his trade. Esther helps Jeremy by allowing him to paint in her bakery shop. Esther's intended died in the Civil War. Although they are both older (about 40-years), Esther and Jeremy's affection for each other grows.
THE ADVENT BRIDE (Mary Connealy) -- VG
Melanie Douglas is a teacher with problems. A very bright student, Simon O'Keeffe, is a disruptive influence on the class and seems bored. When she tries to talk with Simon's father, the new lawman, she gets no sympathy. However, in the home where she resides, she finds an advent box. Its cleverness intrigues Melanie, Simon, and Mr. O'keeffe.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE BRIDE (Susan Page Davis) -- 1 star
This is a slow story to nowhere. I simply couldn't finish it.
THE NATIVITY BRIDE (Miralee Ferrell) -- 3.5 stars
The story opens with Curt Warren deciding that he wanted to apprentice as a furniture builder in another state, over the objections of his father. He also left Deborah Summers behind. Five years later, Curt comes back for his mother's funeral. The conflict between Mr. Warren and Curt resumed, with Deborah in the middle. When the second shoe drops, it becomes obvious why there is conflict between Mr. Warren and his son. It was resolved a bit too easily.
THE EVERGREEN BRIDE (Pam Hillman) -- 3.5 stars
Annabelle Denson's big dream is to go to Chicago for Christmas and experience a white Christmas. Samuel Frazier doesn't want her to go but he's in business with Annabelle's brother, Jack, and they are struggling with their start-up. Jack wants to marry Maggie and there isn't money to do so yet.
THE GIFT-WRAPPED BRIDE (Maureen Lang) -- E
Sophie isn't happy to have moved to Chicago with her large family and several other families. Her older brother and a friend, Noah Jackson, moved earlier to Chicago, to get jobs and scout out the area for houses and jobs for the later arrivals. Sophie dreams of being a bird illustrator. This is a complex story with lots of heart.
THE GINGERBREAD BRIDE (Amy Lillard) -- 2 stars
This story is so stupid I hate to waste the time to describe it. Madeline Sinclair puts "love herbs" in her gingerbread and her intended promptly wants to marry her. Madeline feels guilty; who cares?
THE FRUITCAKE BRIDE (Vickie McDonough) -- 3.5 stars
Karen has come to marry the preacher, Clay Parsons. They grew up together and Clay has always wanted to marry Karen. Now, he's established in a church in a small town. Not everyone is thrilled with the new fiancee and she feels unworthy of Clay and her new role.
THE SNOWBOUND BRIDE (Davalynn Spencer) -- E
This was a unique and delightful story. Arabella Taube is running away from her uncle and life in Chicago. He has sold her into a marriage she's not interested in and she has found a job in Colorado. She's traveling there when the train stops overnight in a small town and Ara notices that a man is following her. She hides in an empty wagon and is taken to a ranch up in the Rocky Mountains. Ara finds peace and is interested in the man who took her to his family's home in his wagon -- Nate Horne. This is a most enjoyable story -- my favorite of the book.
THE YULETIDE BRIDE (Michele Ule) -- VG+
This is another great story; this time the people in it are interested in music. Ewan Murray wants to marry Kate MacDougall but he is poor and Kate has someone (wealthy) interested in marrying her (Josiah Finch). Kate's family runs the town mercantile, so they are fairly affluent. Mr. MacDougall agrees to listen to Ewan's appeal for his daughter's hand in marriage if he accumulates $70 before Christmas. Ewan works night and day but comes up short. Now, what happens?
THE FESTIVE BRIDE (Diana L Brandmeyer) -- G+
Roy Gibbons needs a mother for his two daughters but not a wife. Dr. Pickens and his daughter, Alma, help with Roy's sick child. Dr. Pickens and Roy decide Roy should marry Alma. When they tell Alma, she's less pleased and sets some stipulations.
THE NUTCRACKER BRIDE (Margaret Brownley) -- VG+
Lucy Langdon accidentally shoots the Texas Ranger, Chad Prescott. As she takes care of him, he learns the charming tradition of the bride's nutcracker. Witty dialogue.
THE CHRISTMAS STAR BRIDE (Amanda Cabot) -- VG
Esther finds an itinerant painter/artist to create a Christmas Star for her niece, which is a family tradition. Jeremy Snyder lost his foot in the Civil War (20-years ago) and has been moving around the country, plying his trade. Esther helps Jeremy by allowing him to paint in her bakery shop. Esther's intended died in the Civil War. Although they are both older (about 40-years), Esther and Jeremy's affection for each other grows.
THE ADVENT BRIDE (Mary Connealy) -- VG
Melanie Douglas is a teacher with problems. A very bright student, Simon O'Keeffe, is a disruptive influence on the class and seems bored. When she tries to talk with Simon's father, the new lawman, she gets no sympathy. However, in the home where she resides, she finds an advent box. Its cleverness intrigues Melanie, Simon, and Mr. O'keeffe.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE BRIDE (Susan Page Davis) -- 1 star
This is a slow story to nowhere. I simply couldn't finish it.
THE NATIVITY BRIDE (Miralee Ferrell) -- 3.5 stars
The story opens with Curt Warren deciding that he wanted to apprentice as a furniture builder in another state, over the objections of his father. He also left Deborah Summers behind. Five years later, Curt comes back for his mother's funeral. The conflict between Mr. Warren and Curt resumed, with Deborah in the middle. When the second shoe drops, it becomes obvious why there is conflict between Mr. Warren and his son. It was resolved a bit too easily.
THE EVERGREEN BRIDE (Pam Hillman) -- 3.5 stars
Annabelle Denson's big dream is to go to Chicago for Christmas and experience a white Christmas. Samuel Frazier doesn't want her to go but he's in business with Annabelle's brother, Jack, and they are struggling with their start-up. Jack wants to marry Maggie and there isn't money to do so yet.
THE GIFT-WRAPPED BRIDE (Maureen Lang) -- E
Sophie isn't happy to have moved to Chicago with her large family and several other families. Her older brother and a friend, Noah Jackson, moved earlier to Chicago, to get jobs and scout out the area for houses and jobs for the later arrivals. Sophie dreams of being a bird illustrator. This is a complex story with lots of heart.
THE GINGERBREAD BRIDE (Amy Lillard) -- 2 stars
This story is so stupid I hate to waste the time to describe it. Madeline Sinclair puts "love herbs" in her gingerbread and her intended promptly wants to marry her. Madeline feels guilty; who cares?
THE FRUITCAKE BRIDE (Vickie McDonough) -- 3.5 stars
Karen has come to marry the preacher, Clay Parsons. They grew up together and Clay has always wanted to marry Karen. Now, he's established in a church in a small town. Not everyone is thrilled with the new fiancee and she feels unworthy of Clay and her new role.
THE SNOWBOUND BRIDE (Davalynn Spencer) -- E
This was a unique and delightful story. Arabella Taube is running away from her uncle and life in Chicago. He has sold her into a marriage she's not interested in and she has found a job in Colorado. She's traveling there when the train stops overnight in a small town and Ara notices that a man is following her. She hides in an empty wagon and is taken to a ranch up in the Rocky Mountains. Ara finds peace and is interested in the man who took her to his family's home in his wagon -- Nate Horne. This is a most enjoyable story -- my favorite of the book.
THE YULETIDE BRIDE (Michele Ule) -- VG+
This is another great story; this time the people in it are interested in music. Ewan Murray wants to marry Kate MacDougall but he is poor and Kate has someone (wealthy) interested in marrying her (Josiah Finch). Kate's family runs the town mercantile, so they are fairly affluent. Mr. MacDougall agrees to listen to Ewan's appeal for his daughter's hand in marriage if he accumulates $70 before Christmas. Ewan works night and day but comes up short. Now, what happens?
