The Civil War is over and Lydia McQuire has served her fellow man with distinction, but without much credit as a Union Army nurse. Now, shes 3000 miles from home and having a problem eking out an honest living in Washington Territory. When she sees the ad for a mail-order bride, Lydia decides to apply.
She is charmed by the polite man, Devon Quade. She agrees to the marriage and they soon set out on a ship to Quades Harbor. During the trip, Lydia finds that she is to marry an older brother, not the handsome Devon. Her groom will be the blustery Bingham who is a widower with 2 girls to raise.
Bingham, to Lydias regret, turns out to be the owner of all he sees, including a major lumbering enterprise. Although in his early-to-mid-thirties, Bingham is arrogant and stubborn; he knows all.
When Devon announces that he has brought a bride home for Bingham, the older brother roars with rage. However, curiosity challenges Bingham to go find Lydia; what he sees pleases him. Unfortunately for Bingham, Lydia also brings a hair-trigger stubborn streak.
The best part of the book is the way Bingham senses the rage in Lydia over the war. He encourages her to let it go at him, if necessary. This gave Bingham a humane aura and showed that they could learn from each other.
Most of the story is the war that Lydia and Bingham embark on before they settle their issues. Although they are both mature adults (in age), it is often hard to tell from their rages and stunts against each other.
The novel moves at a steady clip and the characters seem to be fully fleshed out. However, I found some of the rages and antics to be a bit over-the-top. 4.0 stars
Quade Series
1) Yankee Wife (1993)
2) Taming Charlotte (1993)
3) Princess Annie (1994)
***"When a pretty spitfire who's down on her luck clashes with a stubborn man in search of a wife, sparks must turn to flames.... A year after the Civil War, courageous former Union nurse Lydia McQuire was gamely scraping out an honest living. But now, as she said yes to marrying a stranger, her knees gave way with fear. Mr. Devon Quade had seemed polite and handsome when she answered his ad for a wife. Only after Lydia had arrived in Washington territory did she learn that her bridegroom wasn't to be sweet Devon Quade, but his older brother Brigham, a widower with strapping shoulders, hands as strong as steel, and an arrogant belief that he was lord and master of his lumber empire, the town of Quade's Harbor, and the woman he married. Lydia's dislike of him was instantaneous...yet Brigham was awakening in her a white-hot passion, and a firm resolve: before she would share his bed, he would have to surrender himself, heart and soul, to love...."
A great mail-order bride story of an opinionated man and a strong willed woman. Each gives their heart thinking the other has not. Over time they come to realize that each must be willing to make sacrifices in order for the marriage to work.
Ms Miller at her best.
