"The Second Chance Brides Collection" Book Review

by Lauralee Bliss, Angela Breidenbach, Ramona K. Cecil, Pamela Griffin, Grace Hitchcock, Pam Hillman, Laura V. Hilton, Tiffany Amber Stockton, Liz Tolsma

Nine Historical Romances Offer New Hope for Love

Hope for Happy Endings Is Renewed in Nine Historical Romances
 
Meet nine women from history spanning from 1777 to 1944 feel the sting of having lost out on love. Can their hope for experiencing romance again be renewed?

Love in the Crossfire by Lauralee Bliss - Trenton, New Jersey, 1777
Gretchen Hanson watched her beau go off to war and never return. Now she falls for an enemy scout who stumbles upon her farm. If Jake is discovered, it could mean death for them all. Will Gretchen let go of love or stand strong?
 
Daughter of Orion by Ramona Cecil - New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1859
Whaling widow, Matilda Daggett, vows to never again give her heart to a seaman. But when debt drives her to masquerade as a cabin boy on a whaling ship, a young harpooner threatens both her vow and her heart.
 
The Substitute Husband and the Unexpected Bride by Pamela Griffin - Washington Territory, 1864
Cecily McGiver, a mail order bride, arrives in the rugged Washington Territory shocked to find herself without a husband—that is until Garrett, a widower, offers to take the position. Can the challenges that face them lead to love?
 
The Prickly Pear Bride by Pam Hillman - Little Prickly Pear Creek, Montana Territory, 1884
Shepherdess Evelyn Arnold left her intended at the altar so he could marry the woman he really loved. Dubbed Miss Prickly Pear, Evelyn is resigned to a loveless life and the ridicule of her neighbors. When Cole Rawlins sweeps her out of a raging river, she realizes even a prickly pear can find love.
 
The Widow of St. Charles Avenue by Grace Hitchcock - New Orleans, 1895
Colette Olivier, a young widow who married out of obligation, finds herself at the end of her mourning period and besieged with suitors out for her inheritance. With her pick of any man, she is drawn to an unlikely choice.
 
Married by Mistake by Laura V. Hilton - Mackinac Island, 1902
When a plan to pose for advertising goes awry Thomas Hale and Bessie O’Hara find themselves legally married. Now Bessie and Thomas must decide whether to continue the charade or walk away. Either choice could ruin them if the truth gets out. 
 

Fanned Embers by Angela Breidenbach - Bitterroot Mountains, Montana/Idaho border, 1910
Stranded in the treacherous railroad camp after her husband’s murder, Juliana Hayes has no desire to marry a ruffian like Lukas Filips. Can she release prejudice to love again? Or will they survive the fiery Pacific Northwest disaster to find out?
 
From a Distance by Tiffany Amber Stockton - Breckenridge, Colorado, 1920s
Financial Manager Trevor Fox sets out to find a lady to love him and not his money, then meets and falls for an average girl only to discover she’d deceived him to protect her heart after he’d unknowingly rejected her.
 
What the Heart Sees by Liz Tolsma - Hartford, Wisconsin, 1944
American Miriam Kohn is shocked to see Paul Albrecht, her summer fling from Germany in 1939, escorted into church as a POW. Can they rekindle their romance amid the overwhelming objections of almost everyone in town – including her father? 

MY REVIEW:  Women who have lost at love and think they are doomed to be alone forever receive a second chance at love in this sweet novella collection.  From 1777 to 1944, romance flares and flames ignite for nine lonely women.   I really enjoy novella collections as they are quick reads.  I like being able to finish each novella in a short period of time.  They are great for busy readers.  I also love historical fiction and this book will satisfy lovers of romance and historical fiction.
       I am rating this novella collection 4 stars and highly recommend it to readers.
      I received an ebook of this novella collection from netgalley and Barbour Books in exchange for an honest review.  

About the Authors:  


Lauralee Bliss is a published author of over twenty Christian romance novels and novellas in both historical and contemporary with nearly 600,000 sold. 
Lauralee enjoys writing books that are reminiscent of a roller coaster ride for the reader. Her desire is that readers will come away with both an entertaining story and a lesson that ministers to the heart. 

Lauralee s also an avid hiker, hiking the entire Appalachian Trail twice from Georgia to Maine and from Maine to Georgia, one of only 24 women to accomplish this feat. She makes her home in Virginia in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 



Angela Breidenbach is the host of Lit Up! on Toginet.com. She's a Montana author of romance through the ages in historical and contemporary fiction. Other works by Angela include Gems of Wisdom: The treasure of experience, compilation books and devotionals from David C. Cook (The Quiet Hour), Guidepost, Group, and articles in magazines, e-zines, greeting cards, and newspapers. She's the Christian Authors Network president. Don't miss the hijinks of Muse, the famous fe-lion, as he sasses Writer on Angie's blog, A-Muse-ings, and on Facebook.
Interact with or learn more about Angela Breidenbach:
http://www.AngelaBreidenbach.com
https://toginet.com/shows/litup/
All social media: @AngBreidenbach





Ramona K. Cecil is a wife, mother, grandmother, freelance poet, and award-winning inspirational romance writer. Now empty nesters, she and her husband make their home in Indiana. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers and American Christian Fiction Writers Indiana Chapter, her work has won awards in a number of inspirational writing contests. Over eighty of her inspirational verses have been published on a wide array of items for the Christian gift market. She enjoys a speaking ministry, sharing her journey to publication while encouraging aspiring writers. When not writing, her hobbies include reading, gardening, and visiting places of historical interest.



Pamela Griffin lives in Texas with her family. She fully gave her life to Christ in 1988 after a rebellious young adulthood and owes the fact that she’s still alive today to an all-loving and forgiving God and to a mother who steadfastly prayed and had faith that God could bring her wayward daughter “home.” Pamela’s main goal in writing Christian romance is to help and encourage those who do know the Lord and to plant a seed of hope in those who don’t.



GRACE HITCHCOCK is a Louisiana Southerner living in Colorado with her husband, Dakota. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and has a Masters in Creative Writing. The Widow of St. Charles Avenue is her first novella in Barbour Publishing’s The Second Chance Brides Collection. Visit Grace on her website at GraceHitchcockBooks.com.




CBA Bestselling author PAM HILLMAN was born and raised on a dairy farm in Mississippi and spent her teenage years perched on the seat of a tractor raking hay. In those days, her daddy couldn't afford two cab tractors with air conditioning and a radio, so Pam drove an Allis Chalmers 110. Even when her daddy asked her if she wanted to bale hay, she told him she didn't mind raking. Raking hay doesn't take much thought so Pam spent her time working on her tan and making up stories in her head. Now, that's the kind of life every girl should dream of. www.pamhillman.com

Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood, when she was accused of talking too much and having an overactive imagination. Today, she has honed those skills to become an award-winning author and speaker who helps people look younger and live better by partnering with Nerium International in the booming anti-aging skin care industry.

She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, in Colorado. They have one girl and one boy, a Retriever mix named Roxie and an Australian cattle dog named Timber.

She has sold nineteen books so far and is represented by Sandra Bishop of the TransAtlantic Agency.

Follow her at any of these sites:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmberStocktonTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/AmberStocktonPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/AmberStockton76
Web Site: http://www.amberstockton.com

Liz Tolsma has lived in Wisconsin most of her life, and she now resides next to a farm field with her husband, their son, and their two daughters. All of their children have been adopted internationally and one has special needs. Her novella, Under His Wings, appeared in the New York Times bestselling collection, A Log Cabin Christmas. Her debut novel, Snow on the Tulips, released in August of 2013. Daisies Are Forever released in May 2014. When not busy putting words to paper, she enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping with her family. Please visit her blog at www.liztolsma.blogspot.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter (@LizTolsma). She is also a regular contributor to the Barn Door blog.

Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor.

Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as the Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Birdhouse. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press’ Quilts of Love series. Laura is contracted for another three book Amish series set in the Jamesport area, with the first book, The Amish Firefighter, planned for April 2016.

She has self-published a Christmas novella, Christmas Mittens. 

Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer and blogs for Putting on the New and Seriously Write.