Books & Spoons Review WANT AD WEDDING by Cheryl St.John

9/4/2016

Second Chance Bride

When Daniel Gardner convinced the residents of his Kansas boomtown to advertise for mail-order brides, he never expected the woman he once loved to respond. But Leah Swann steps off the bride train…pregnant and widowed and in need of a husband. Drawn to protect his fragile childhood friend, Daniel proposes a marriage of convenience.

Seeing her onetime best friend waiting to meet the bride train is a wonderful shock for Leah. After her first rocky marriage, a practical partnership with Daniel sounds perfect—as long as her heart doesn't get involved. But when she starts to fall for her husband, will her plans of a fresh start be ruined…or is a real marriage to Daniel exactly what she needs?

Cowboy Creek: Bringing mail-order brides, and new beginnings, to a Kansas boomtown.

Heartwarming and inspiring story, with an intriguing history of how the Kansas town got started, mixed with life as it was after the war, at 1868, dangers of small town during that time, about love that can win over many obstacles, and about faith, that seems to be able to move the mountains.
Usually a romance book has a 'theme' friends to lovers, second chance, etc. This story had adopted most of them, it has childhood friends, cowboy and baby mom (who is best friend's ex), gets a second chance by forming a marriage of convenience, that turns to love, living with the dangers of the wild west. But it was all well built into the story, that had a nice flow to it, and was able to capture my mind and thoughts completely, so that I finished the book in one sitting.
The development of the town was fascinating, and was touched on several occasions. The people of the town, and the town itself, was very well thought out and developed, and I believe this will be an interesting, and noteworthy series, for sure.
I enjoyed Leah and Daniel together. They had great chemistry, and Daniel is the most tender, loving, kind man towards her. It was lovely to see their relationship develop, as they grew closer together. The war had left scars on both of them, but the honesty, Daniel had, about everything, made Leah trust him, and open up about the past, and start healing.
As always in the Love Inspired stories, the faith in God is at the center of the story. Leah's faith of God guiding her to home, is refreshing. As the danger comes too close to home in that small Kansas development, the whole town comes together, and pray for protection and guidance in the turbulent situation.
Some of the issues and events that took place in town, didn't come to completion, and hopefully will be revealed in the future books of the series.
Sometimes we a granted a second chance, of what should have been in the first place, as it is shown in Leah and Daniel's tender and gentle story
~ Four Spoons