Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Texas Bride: A Bitter Creek Novel (Mail-Order Brides #1) by Joan Johnston




Miranda Wentworth never imagined becoming a mail-order bride. Now marriage to a stranger is her only hope of finding a home where she and her two younger brothers can escape the brutality of the Chicago orphanage where they live. With any luck, she can even start a family of her own, once the three of them are settled at Jacob Creed’s Texas ranch. But Miranda has one gigantic concern: Her husband-to-be knows nothing about the brothers she’s bringing along. What if he calls off the deal when he discovers the trick she’s played on him?



Jake Creed is hanging on to his Texas ranch by his fingernails. His nemesis, Alexander Blackthorne, is determined to ruin him. Jake will never give up, but he’s in desperate trouble. His wife died six months ago in childbirth, along with their stillborn son, and his two-year-old daughter needs a mother. The advertisement Jake wrote never mentioned his daughter—or the fact that he has no intention of consummating his marriage. He’s determined never to subject another wife to the burden of pregnancy. But Jake doesn’t count on finding his bride so desirable. He doesn’t count on aching with need when she joins him in bed. And he never suspected his bride would have plans of her own to seduce him.

I love reading historical romances and Joan Johnston knows how to write them. This is the beginning to a new series. The series is about the Wentworth siblings and opens with them trying to figure out a way to get out of the evil orphanage they are placed in. When Josie (Miranda's youngest sister) comes up with a plan. Jake and Miranda are two characters you feel sorry for but for very different reasons. Miranda is a shy young lady and I enjoyed reading as she grow strong. Jake is scared to love after the death of his wife but soon can't help wanting the shy beauty. Jakes little girl Anna Mae is a doll and you love her for the start and so is Miranda's youngest brother Harry. Nick (Miranda's oldest brother) is sweet even if he was a chip on his shoulder when it comes to Jake. Alexander Blackthorne (Jake's step-father) I liked at first and hoped by the end of the book that Jake and Alexander would come to at least like each other. I soon found out why Jake hated Alexander and I came to feel the same way. If I say why it would be a spoiler so I will just say it's a big shock and changed how I saw Alexander. This twist is a good one but by the end of the book it's still a secret and I didn't like that. I don't like unfinsihed plot lines and that's what this is and I don't see it coming up later in the series. This is my only problem with the book. The journey from strangers to family is a joy to read. If you like historical romances then this is a great book to read.



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