Could You Be A Mail Order Bride?
April 6th, 2010 | 
Author: ABOUT THE BOOK
In 1872, sixteen Civil War widows living in St. Louis respond to a series of meetings conducted by a land speculator who lures them west by promising “prime homesteads” in a “booming community.”
Unbeknownst to them, the speculator’s true motive is to find an excuse to bring women to the fledgling community of Plum Grove, Nebraska, in hopes they will accept marriage proposals shortly after their arrival! Sparks fly when these unsuspecting widows meet the men who are waiting for them.
These women are going to need all the courage and faith they can muster to survive these unwanted circumstances–especially when they begin to discover that none of them is exactly who she appears to be.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Sixteen Brides, go HERE.
MY THOUGHTS
It’s no secret around here that I love historical fiction and that I often wish I lived in the days of long dresses, big houses, and hard work. (However, I seriously doubt that I would’ve survived living during those days!) One thing I don’t think I ever contemplated was if I could be a mail order bride. Just pack up, travel for days on end, and then meet the man I was to marry. It really doesn’t sound all that appealing … until recently.
In Sixteen Brides, the women have nothing left to live for. For the majority of them, their husbands were killed in the Civil War or they were never married to begin with. Circumstances changed in their lives, and they were basically left destitute. They didn’t have a lot of hope, if any at all. Along comes Mr. Drake who promises them free land and a new life. Of course, he left out the part about the men waiting to marry them.
If I had been in these women’s shoes, I can honestly say that I probably would’ve packed up, signed my name to Mr. Drake’s papers, and hopped on the train. When life’s circumstances change dramatically, like going through a divorce, one looks at the world totally different. I know I do. And just a few months ago, I did contemplate packing everything up and moving somewhere totally unknown to start over.
I have to say that admire the characters that author Stephanie Whitson created. Each one had her own strengths and weaknesses, and each seemed believable and real. I loved the diversity of characters – the southern belle, the Civil War general’s widow, the “unattractive” worker and her mother.
Initially, I didn’t think I would enjoy the book. It seemed to start out slow for me, but after a few chapters, I found myself wondering if the women could survive on their own. Could they build their own soddy and farm? Would they handle disasters okay? Those thoughts are what kept me turning the pages and eventually hooked me on the story to the point that I’m hoping there’s a sequel!
Tomorrow I have another book to share that I read immediately after Sixteen Brides. The time frame isn’t too different between the books, but the setting and culture are worlds apart. In a way, I recommend reading these books back-to-back just to see the stark contrasts between the ways of living during the same time period.
A special thank you to Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for sending me a copy of this book to read and review. “My Thoughts” is entirely my own words, and I have no personal affiliate links in this post.
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