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mrs_faith_owens's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Very sweet collected of stories! I loved that 4 of them were about the same set of sisters!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Alcoholism
Also contains mistakenly inferred cheating, preterm labor/childbirth, and prostitution.farmfreshlisa's review against another edition
4.0
a lovely collection of short novellas by some popular authors! I'd read a couple of them before when they were part of other novella collections. But they are fun short stories. Pace moves very fast. No buildup of characters. Just typical style of novellas!
marilynmalloy's review against another edition
4.0
Stories Included:
Joie De Vivre by Lynette Sowell
Button Strong Bride by Cathy Marie Hake
The Wedding Wagon by Cathy Marie Hake
From Halter to Alter by Cathy Marie Hake
From Carriage to Marriage by Janelle Burnham Schneider
From Pride to Bride by JoAnne A. Grote
From Alarming to Charming by Pamela Kaye Tracy
A Vow Unbroke by Amy Rognlie
Finishing Touches by Kelly Eileen Hake
For the sake of this book, and in fairness, I will review the book as a whole, and some of the individual stories within.
The Bartered Bride Collection:
I enjoyed this book. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t what I expected, and was quite different. It was fun reading the continuing stories – that fed off eachother, but where by different authors. I enjoyed it, but was kind of disapointed that it was so different from what I was expecting.
Joie De Vivre by Lynette Sowell
This was a decent short story.
As a child, Josee if orphaned, the LeBlanc family takes her in, and raises her as one of their own. On Josee’s 18th birthday, the father announces that she, and their oldest son Edouard will be wed in two weeks down when the priest passes through town. Both Josee and Edouard do not know of this decison before it is announced, and it comes as a shock to both of them.
This story follows the short ‘engagement’ and early life of the newlyweds. Both Josee and Edouard have to learn to live together, and live with one another – as well as get used to different routines and lifestyles. Something they haven’t really been comfronted with up to this point in life.
I did enjoy this book, However I did not enjoy the frequent french in the novel, with very little – if any – translation. I do not mind when this happens normally, as long as there is some way to determine what is meant, but that was not the case in this little story.
I also would of liked this to be longer. This is a tale that would do well if expanded slightly, a little more character development, and it could be a novel on it’s own. Overall I liked it, but due to the language barrier, I am not sure if I would read more by this particular author.
Button Strong Bride by Cathy Marie Hake
I REALLY enjoyed this story.
Go back in time to when we where travelling across the US to find better and more furtile land in groups of covered wagons, called “trains”. And you’ll meet Charity and Ethan.
Charity is 19 years old from a very wealthy family. However in the course of the journey so far, both of her parents (she is an only child) have passed away. Leaving her alone, with a large wagon and four oxen to care for alone – along with other shared responsibilities that happen in the journey. Ethan is a carpenter and a widower, with 2 children Tad (male) and Cricket (female). It is decided by the council that Ethan and Charity are to combine wagons and resources for the benefit of everyone – including them. With little resistance they find homes for the extra Oxen, and supplies that have come along for Charity’s parents.
Charity and Cricket both have button strings. The tale behind them is that each girl collects buttons from when they are born – and no two buttons can be the same. The guy who gives them the 1000th button is to be their husband. Charity is a mear few buttons from having her 1000th, what will happen, and who will give Charity her 1000th? How will Ethan react? How will Charity react?
This was a incredible story, not only of learning to live with eachother, but learning to love. And learning to accept God’s plan, even though you may not even see the path set before you when you start your journey.
I loved this little story, and highly recommend it to everyone!
The Wedding Wagon by Cathy Marie Hake
A beautiful story, though deffinately not my favorite. Bethany attends a finishing school with a friend, Penny. One year Bethany meets Penny’s brother, Josh, and sometime later the two decide to marry. Not so much a barterring, as a mutual agreement between Bethany and Josh – even though they may not infact love eachother, but rather done out of convience.
Josh and Bethany depart on a wagon train to Oregon. Josh’s Papa and sister Penny come with them, in their own wagon. However Bethany and her friendship with Penny can quickly cause trouble, as they seemm to have a deeper bond that she does with Josh, her new husband. However, with Granny Willodene along for the ride, it is sure to be an educational trip across the land with lots of bumps along the way.
This was a very good story, but it hardly held my attention. I did enjoy it however, and have discovered a new ‘sub genre’ of reading that I enjoy – different perspectives of wagon trains to Oregon.
On to the next story in the book….
From Halter to Alter by Cathy Marie Hake
This was a very enjoyable little tale.
Jim, and his brother Lucas send away for Bridles. Ellis responds, and agrees to sell him Bridals. And then Matty, Beth, Corine, and Bertie are four sisters sent off to Wyoming in trade. Jim doesn’t realize what is actually being sent his way – and neither does Ellis or the four sisters realize the mistake. What results was a truely delicious tale of falling in love and what can happen in the wild west.
This was a tale you could truely completely wrap yourself up in, and not want to put down. I enjoyed it greatly, and highly recommend it.
From Carriage to Marriage by Janelle Burnham Schneider
I liked this book. In a large way it was a continuation of the previous book, From Halter to Alter (By Cathy Marie Hake). This book continues with the four sisters, Matty, Beth, Corine, and Bertie, as well as brother Jim and Lucas – but it focuses a lot more on pregnanct widowed Corine and Lucas. Corine lost her husband 3 days after she found out she was pregnant. However that didn`t stop he Brother in Law Ellis from sending her with the rest of her sisters to Wyoming. Corine has a lot to deal with while pregnant and trying to get on her feet. Lucas is interested, but doesn`t want to over step his boundries.
Overall a nice, quick tale. There wasn`t some of the suspense the other stories offered – nor was their really an “issue” other than that that the two characters themselves where dealing with – very little outside influence or instigation.
Joie De Vivre by Lynette Sowell
Button Strong Bride by Cathy Marie Hake
The Wedding Wagon by Cathy Marie Hake
From Halter to Alter by Cathy Marie Hake
From Carriage to Marriage by Janelle Burnham Schneider
From Pride to Bride by JoAnne A. Grote
From Alarming to Charming by Pamela Kaye Tracy
A Vow Unbroke by Amy Rognlie
Finishing Touches by Kelly Eileen Hake
For the sake of this book, and in fairness, I will review the book as a whole, and some of the individual stories within.
The Bartered Bride Collection:
I enjoyed this book. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t what I expected, and was quite different. It was fun reading the continuing stories – that fed off eachother, but where by different authors. I enjoyed it, but was kind of disapointed that it was so different from what I was expecting.
Joie De Vivre by Lynette Sowell
This was a decent short story.
As a child, Josee if orphaned, the LeBlanc family takes her in, and raises her as one of their own. On Josee’s 18th birthday, the father announces that she, and their oldest son Edouard will be wed in two weeks down when the priest passes through town. Both Josee and Edouard do not know of this decison before it is announced, and it comes as a shock to both of them.
This story follows the short ‘engagement’ and early life of the newlyweds. Both Josee and Edouard have to learn to live together, and live with one another – as well as get used to different routines and lifestyles. Something they haven’t really been comfronted with up to this point in life.
I did enjoy this book, However I did not enjoy the frequent french in the novel, with very little – if any – translation. I do not mind when this happens normally, as long as there is some way to determine what is meant, but that was not the case in this little story.
I also would of liked this to be longer. This is a tale that would do well if expanded slightly, a little more character development, and it could be a novel on it’s own. Overall I liked it, but due to the language barrier, I am not sure if I would read more by this particular author.
Button Strong Bride by Cathy Marie Hake
I REALLY enjoyed this story.
Go back in time to when we where travelling across the US to find better and more furtile land in groups of covered wagons, called “trains”. And you’ll meet Charity and Ethan.
Charity is 19 years old from a very wealthy family. However in the course of the journey so far, both of her parents (she is an only child) have passed away. Leaving her alone, with a large wagon and four oxen to care for alone – along with other shared responsibilities that happen in the journey. Ethan is a carpenter and a widower, with 2 children Tad (male) and Cricket (female). It is decided by the council that Ethan and Charity are to combine wagons and resources for the benefit of everyone – including them. With little resistance they find homes for the extra Oxen, and supplies that have come along for Charity’s parents.
Charity and Cricket both have button strings. The tale behind them is that each girl collects buttons from when they are born – and no two buttons can be the same. The guy who gives them the 1000th button is to be their husband. Charity is a mear few buttons from having her 1000th, what will happen, and who will give Charity her 1000th? How will Ethan react? How will Charity react?
This was a incredible story, not only of learning to live with eachother, but learning to love. And learning to accept God’s plan, even though you may not even see the path set before you when you start your journey.
I loved this little story, and highly recommend it to everyone!
The Wedding Wagon by Cathy Marie Hake
A beautiful story, though deffinately not my favorite. Bethany attends a finishing school with a friend, Penny. One year Bethany meets Penny’s brother, Josh, and sometime later the two decide to marry. Not so much a barterring, as a mutual agreement between Bethany and Josh – even though they may not infact love eachother, but rather done out of convience.
Josh and Bethany depart on a wagon train to Oregon. Josh’s Papa and sister Penny come with them, in their own wagon. However Bethany and her friendship with Penny can quickly cause trouble, as they seemm to have a deeper bond that she does with Josh, her new husband. However, with Granny Willodene along for the ride, it is sure to be an educational trip across the land with lots of bumps along the way.
This was a very good story, but it hardly held my attention. I did enjoy it however, and have discovered a new ‘sub genre’ of reading that I enjoy – different perspectives of wagon trains to Oregon.
On to the next story in the book….
From Halter to Alter by Cathy Marie Hake
This was a very enjoyable little tale.
Jim, and his brother Lucas send away for Bridles. Ellis responds, and agrees to sell him Bridals. And then Matty, Beth, Corine, and Bertie are four sisters sent off to Wyoming in trade. Jim doesn’t realize what is actually being sent his way – and neither does Ellis or the four sisters realize the mistake. What results was a truely delicious tale of falling in love and what can happen in the wild west.
This was a tale you could truely completely wrap yourself up in, and not want to put down. I enjoyed it greatly, and highly recommend it.
From Carriage to Marriage by Janelle Burnham Schneider
I liked this book. In a large way it was a continuation of the previous book, From Halter to Alter (By Cathy Marie Hake). This book continues with the four sisters, Matty, Beth, Corine, and Bertie, as well as brother Jim and Lucas – but it focuses a lot more on pregnanct widowed Corine and Lucas. Corine lost her husband 3 days after she found out she was pregnant. However that didn`t stop he Brother in Law Ellis from sending her with the rest of her sisters to Wyoming. Corine has a lot to deal with while pregnant and trying to get on her feet. Lucas is interested, but doesn`t want to over step his boundries.
Overall a nice, quick tale. There wasn`t some of the suspense the other stories offered – nor was their really an “issue” other than that that the two characters themselves where dealing with – very little outside influence or instigation.
meezcarrie's review against another edition
4.0
The Bartered Bride Collection gathers together 9 novellas on the theme of arranged or "convenient" marriages. I felt like most of the stories fell into that last category - which seemed odd to me as there is an entirely separate collection of stories by Barbour called The Convenient Bride. But I digress...
Overall, these novellas were enjoyable with likable characters and believable plots that didn't feel forced or rushed. The four stories included in the middle of the book were my favorites; not coincidentally, these four novellas all centered around a group of sisters who descend on a man-heavy town thinking they had been bought as mail order brides. I liked the continuity between these particular stories - in seeing the same characters and the same setting and the progress of the relationships and the theme. In fact, Barbour could pull those four out and publish them in a separate book and have another good thing going. (Maybe they already have, lol. Too many books to keep up with!!!)
Overall, these novellas were enjoyable with likable characters and believable plots that didn't feel forced or rushed. The four stories included in the middle of the book were my favorites; not coincidentally, these four novellas all centered around a group of sisters who descend on a man-heavy town thinking they had been bought as mail order brides. I liked the continuity between these particular stories - in seeing the same characters and the same setting and the progress of the relationships and the theme. In fact, Barbour could pull those four out and publish them in a separate book and have another good thing going. (Maybe they already have, lol. Too many books to keep up with!!!)
rachel_abby_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Some I liked more, some less. I may try a full length novel from one of the authors to see if she improves on acquaintance.
I do like that the US historical romances aren't all about the noble classes. . .
I do like that the US historical romances aren't all about the noble classes. . .
thetinyreader's review against another edition
4.0
I sometimes find it difficult to read a collection of short stories in one book, but this was actually captivating. I love how the authors made sure that they resolved the issues the main characters had at the beginning of each story. I always was a fan of how an arranged marriage will unfold until the end, how the main characters will learn to love each other. It’s really nice to see characters who felt so real. It wasn’t actually difficult to care about the main characters because they all had different situations that you could actually relate to, like how Edouard LeBlanc had to forego life disappointments and learn to love again. Also, how Charity and Ethan might be in different social classes but learned to see through it. Seeing all the main characters getting through all the difficulties in life and learn to love again is what I love about this collection.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in short stories with interesting characters that are very realistic. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in short stories with interesting characters that are very realistic. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
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