Book Review: MERCER BELLES

Today I am featuring a Western anthology, 

Mercer's Belles 

a Timeless Western Collection 

including novellas by Heather B. Moore, Teri Harman, and Linda Carroll-Bradd 

About Mercer's Belles:

When Mr. Mercer sends out a call for single women to travel to Seattle for teaching positions and the potential of forming marriages, 45 answer his call, becoming Mercer's Belles.

The following collection is based on true events during the 1860s:

ONE DANCE by Heather B. Moore:
When Harriet Silverman arrives in Seattle for a fresh start and a new teaching position, the last person she expects is to meet is a fisherman who seems to be every place she turns. As she gets to know Caleb Munns, Harriet discovers they are a perfect match--for friendship. They both have solid reasons for not pursuing marriage. But as their paths continue to cross, Harriet begins to see a completely different future than she imagined.

A JOURNEY TO LOVE by Teri Harman:
Cora, a nurse and surgeon's assistant who learned her skills during the war, joins Mercer's expedition in hopes of finding a job in the West. She's a widow and does not want to marry again. When she meets Albert, a surgeon who is traveling on board the Continental, she finds herself intrigued. Yet, Albert's determined to open his own practice in Seattle, make it a success, and has no plans to look for a wife. But the more time Cora and Albert spend together on the voyage, the more they are drawn to each other.

A FARAWAY LIFE by Linda Carroll-Bradd:
Teacher Sorcha Geraghty yearns for a fresh start after the death of her beau and a factory accident maimed her hand. Asa Mercer’s call for teachers for Washington Territory provides a new opportunity, and she joins his ocean-going expedition. Upon arrival, she learns of the expectation for the women to become wives to the many bachelors. Sorcha needs a new plan and fast. Logging manager Lang Ingemar wants a teacher to provide basic English instruction to his Swedish-speaking crew and keep them out of trouble when they go to Seattle. When he convinces Miss Geraghty to relocate to the logging camp, he has no idea the ways his life will be changed. 

My book review:

For historical context, these two voyages from the East to Seattle, Washington, took place around the end of the Civil War. The first group of single women arrived in 1864. The second group arrived in 1866.

One Dance –

Among the first group of Mercer’s Belles to arrive in Seattle was Harriet. The author did an excellent job of developing her character as a formal woman, not overly social, slightly beyond what was considered the usual marriage age. Mercer’s plan for bringing teachers to Seattle appealed to her, but she sought independence, not the prospect of marriage which was the the other part of Mercer’s plan. I love how the author set up the romance with Harriet creating a splash as she arrives in Seattle. As she finds herself dealing with the disquiet of women-hungry men, Caleb, a rough and tumble fisherman, who was one of the few men not interested in seeking a wife, dove in to rescue her in more ways than one. Delightful story.

A Journey to Love – 

The Civil War is over. I felt a great empathy for Cora, a woman in what was considered a man’s occupation, as joins Mercer’s second group of women bound for Seattle hoping the need for medical care in Seattle will be great enough for the residents to overcome their prejudices against women in the field of medicine. Albert, a war-time surgeon, joins the group to work as an assistant physician on the ship, plus he plans to open a practice in Seattle. He meets Cora whom he knew only by her reputation as a battlefield surgeon’s assistant.  I enjoyed how this couple overcame all efforts to keep them apart and prevent Cora from using her knowledge to help the sick on board. Many interesting details come to light in this book, not only about the primary physician on the ship, but Mercer himself. The author set the scene well and described the characters so I could picture them easily. This romance held my interest throughout.

A Faraway Life – 

As always, Linda Carroll-Bradd brought unique, well-researched details to her story that added depth and color to an already great romance. Sorcha came to Seattle to teach, but had never dreamed she would be asked to teach hulking, grown Swedish loggers how to speak English. Mindful of the employment needs of her seamstress cousin she convinced to come with her, she agrees to give the position a try after she learns the job comes with a lovely, well-appointed cabin large enough for the two women. It requires an entire change of approach to her teaching methods, but she accepts the challenge. The author introduced the reader to basic Swedish phrases and culture, logging, and Sorcha’s lovely Celtic harp. This was a lovely sweet romance about overcoming fears and self-consciousness.

Mercer’s Belles is available on Amazon. PLEASE CLICK HERE.  

Featured Book: AN UNLIKELY MARRIAGE

Today I am featuring 

An Unlikely Marriage 

by Linda Carroll-Bradd

From Linda: 

My second story in Debra Holland’s Montana Sky Kindle World released July 27^th. Set in 1886 Montana Territory, An Unlikely Marriage follows characters introduced in the first novel, Laced by Love, as they struggle to reach their goals.

Book Description:

Helping injured cowboy Torin Quaid drive mustangs north provides a way for vaudevillian Nola York to earn a train ticket east—and get one step closer to her goal of auditioning for Buffalo Bill’s Wild West stage production. The temporary marriage is solely for propriety’s sake. Until disaster strikes, and the two must rely on each other—emotionally and physically—to safely reach Torin’s ranch. Will a marriage of convenience turn into more on a trail drive through Montana Territory?

My Book Review:

This book is the second in a series featuring two sisters and their “wagon mate,” members of a traveling caravan show who find themselves abandoned and stranded by the caravan organizer and promoter. Most of the troupe split up and go their separate ways. Nola still intends to follow her dream of taking her dog act to the big time back east, but is thrown off when her own sister who never took to the traveling performer’s life the way Nola did decides to stay in town and marry a local man.

Nola meets Torin who is passing through with a string of mustangs he needs to get back to his family’s ranch. Unfortunately, an injury lays him up. The two agree to work together to help each other achieve their goals. They enter into a marriage of convenience before they take Nola’s lavender gypsy wagon and start for Torin’s ranch.

This book reads well as a stand-alone novel. However, I believe most readers will find it more enjoyable if they first read the first novel in the series, Laced by Love. The premise for the series alone is interesting. For one thing, the author’s research into traveling performers of the 1800’s, including the Buffalo Bill Wild West show, as well as other details make for captivating reading.

The author has a way with characters. Nola and Torin have well-developed personalities. As for the dogs, I could easily visualize them performing. I enjoyed witnessing the change in attitudes and priorities between these two characters as they traveled together and faced the challenges that arose.

This is a sweet romance, well written and a delight to read. I highly recommend it.

Excerpt:

A coil of rope hung from Banan’s saddle, and Torin fumbled with the ties until they came loose. He glanced around for a flattish rock to use to cut the hank. Darn this bum arm. Tensing, he stomped over to a gray rock that would serve. “If you hold the rope taut, then I can cut off a length from one end.”

She complied and, between the two of them, the eight- or nine-inch piece was cut free.

The length in her raised hand hung like a top-heavy shaft of wheat. “Should I just twist apart the wound coil?”

“Only one ply at a time.” If he had two good hands, he’d be almost done by now. “After each removal, check if it fits in the loop.”

Nola shot him a narrowed-eyed look before she stripped off her gloves and picked at the end of the strand, pulling a strip loose.

Maybe his voice wasn’t as calm as he’d thought. He crossed his right arm under his left to support the wrist.

“Don’t you have a story that goes along with a situation like this?” She stretched a ply away from the remaining length. “When we were in Morgan’s Crossing, you always had lots of stories to share.”

Torin clenched his jaw. Her gentle, precise movements reminded him of how his mother unwrapped a present at her birthday or Christmas. Favoring the strip-and-shred method, he’d never understood slow and savoring. He shifted his boots in the thick grass. Somehow, as Nic’s houseguest, he’d felt like he had to earn his keep by being especially congenial. No better way to make light of his stupid mistake in handling the wild stallion that caused his injury than to make fun of himself. “Nope. Never had to repair a wagon before.”

“Huh.” Her nose crinkled as she concentrated on peeling the rope.

Needing to feel like he contributed to this repair, he dug out the chain loop from his pocket and held it up.

Nola aimed the end toward it, but the strand was too wide. “Aren’t all ranchers supposed to know how to do those types of chores?”

The slander of his profession didn’t sit any better than the sting against his pride. He unclenched his jaw before responding. “Not when several men split duties on a ranch. Each has his own specialty.”

For a moment, her hazel eyes widened and she sucked in a breath. Returning her concentration to her task, she went silent.

Being terse toward your new bride on the first full day of your marriage was probably not the wisest act. Torin slipped his good hand into his back pocket and walked a few paces away, tipping up his head to study the wintery sky. Grayish-white clouds bunched together like tufts of cotton formed a puffy bank toward the north. He needed to keep an eye out in case they grew any darker.

You may buy An Unlikely Marriage

on Amazon by CLICKING HERE 

 

About Linda Carroll-Bradd:

As a young girl, Linda was often found lying on her bed reading about fascinating characters having exciting adventures in places far away and in other time periods. In later years, she read and then started writing romances and achieved her first publication--a confession story. Married with 4 adult children and 2 granddaughters, Linda writes heartwarming contemporary and historical stories with a touch of humor from her home in the southern California mountains.

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