Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of Western Weddings by Jillian Hart, Kate Bridges & Charlene Sands
Historical romance anthology released by Harlequin Historical 1 May 08
Many readers don’t care for anthologies because they can be wildly uneven affairs. I tend to think of them as my comfort reads. I find anthologies just the ticket for when my brain is mush, my attention span is on par with the life cycle of a fruit fly, and the mere thought of any story over 100 pages causes my blood pressure to spike. Couple that with my love affair for Harlequin Historical westerns, and it’s no wonder that I plowed through Western Weddings in record time.
Rocky Mountain Bride by Jillian Hart
This features the well-worn plot device of the mail-order bride that the “groom” knows nothing about, but Hart makes it fresh by writing a fabulous heroine. Savannah Knowles is a nice Southern girl with nothing left. The Civil War took everything, and after the death of her beloved grandmother, she is without any kin of her own. So she decides to become a mail-order bride, corresponding with Nate Brooks for a year, falling in love with him and his boisterous family, before agreeing to travel to his home in Montana Territory. Too bad Nate had nothing to do with those letters, and the whole thing was orchestrated by his well-meaning, albeit meddling, parents.
This story works well because Savannah has gumption. While she was technically courted by Nate’s parents, she quickly realizes that she actually did fall in love with the real him. Now to convince him of that fact, and salvage what is left of her pride.
Grade: B+
Shotgun Vows by Kate Bridges
Fans of Bridges’ Klondike/Mountie series will recognize characters Milly Thornbottom and Mountie Weston Williams, who get their own romance in this story. Milly used to have a horrible crush on Weston, but is fed up with him treating her like a little girl. So she attends the annual Spring Fever dance in hopes of catching another beau’s eye. Unfortunately, she soon finds herself standing before a preacher after her daddy catches her in an embrace with Weston. Faster than you can say shotgun wedding, these two are married. Now to make the best of it amid the swilling gossip.
I suspect fans of Bridges’ series will get more enjoyment out of this tale than the casual reader. It’s a pleasant enough read, but I felt the conflict was a little too big for an anthology story – and frankly, I wanted Milly to stay hopping mad at her daddy for a good long time.
Grade: C+
Springville Wife by Charlene Sands
Sands’ entry features one of my least favorite plot devices – the precocious child who works overtime to find her daddy a wife. Grace Lander is a widow still haunted by the death of her husband and unborn baby. She returns home to Texas to become the new school teacher, only to run into her childhood nemesis Caleb Matlock. Caleb is the most eligible bachelor in town, but hasn’t remarried even though he’s raising his niece. Sparks fly, and besides the niece, Grace’s darling auntie is determined to have these two hook up.
This story actually worked pretty well for me, even though I tend to dislike precocious matchmaking children. The problem comes later in the story, when the plot morphs into a bad daytime soap opera. Grace’s bereavement is really enough conflict for a story, and the added bit of over-the-top drama left an unsavory taste in my mouth.
Grade: C
I found Western Weddings a pleasant way to spend a lazy afternoon. The stories flew by at a nice clip, were well-written, and were the very definition of comfort reads for this western lover. Hart continues to write interesting characters, and the other two stories were fast reads, even with my minor quibbles.
Grade: B-
Summary:
Rocky Mountain Bride by Jillian Hart
Savannah Knowles arrives in Montana expecting to marry Nate Brooks, but he has never heard of her! Can this quiet man find room in his heart for lonely Savannah?Shotgun Vows by Kate Bridges
Milly Thornbottom has a crush on Mountie Weston Williams, and one stolen kiss changes their lives! After they’re marched straight to the altar, can her crush possibly develop into more?Springville Wife by Charlene Sands
Grace Lander returns to Springville to pick up the pieces of her life and become the town’s schoolmarm. Single father Caleb Matlock’s kiss may be just what Grace needs to mend her heart and make a home!
Read excerpts: Jillian Hart, Kate Bridges.
