Time was women traveled great distances to sometimes
rough areas to make a life for themselves. It wasn't
uncommon for mail-order brides, as they were called, to
answer a stranger's ad and hopefully wind up with a decent
man and a family of their own.
Caroline had no illusions
about finding true love but she dreamed of having family
and children. She was willing to settle for being a
governess for Major Tristan Smith. The Major was pretty
desperate for their stagecoach to arrive. It was carrying
the medicine he needed to treat his malaria and the two
women who he hoped would be able to care for him and his
children while he struggled with the malady he feared would
cut short his life. And that was by far his biggest fear --
leaving his children who were still learning to cope with
losing their mother. Tristan was part of a noble bloodline
but his birth order had basically sealed his doom for any
kind of relationship with a demanding father who only had
time for the first born. He moved to Wyoming to get as far
from his father as possible and he would move heaven and
earth to prevent his father getting his hands on his son
Freddie, making him a clone of this cold uncaring man and
worse having his darling daughter Dora treated as
worthless. Tristan had a plan. Caroline would marry his
best friend Jon if anything were to happen to him.
From the
very beginning, it would become apparent that although he
had good intentions with this plan fate would have other
ideas. Problems abounded with his battle with malaria and
ultimately his most fierce battle of wits with his father.
Would good triumph over evil. Building a surprising
friendship and trusting relationship with Caroline starts
giving Tristan hopes for so much more. Dare he dream of a
future with this woman who surprises him with her strength,
love and faith? Marrying Tristan would give Caroline and
family she dreamed of. But even as she tried hard not to
Caroline couldn't help falling in love with the Major.
Sometimes dreams need a little help and a lot of faith.
Caroline had both -- the bigger question was whether or not
Tristan shared those dreams.
Taking a chance can reap big rewards and this book is
filled with people taking leaps of faith and finding love.
Charming tale filled with warmth.
He hired a governess, but what retired officer Tristan
Willoughby-Smith needs is a wife. Not on his behalf, but to
protect little Dora and Freddie. When Caroline Bradley
arrives at his Wyoming ranch, she seems perfectly
suited—capable, efficient, intelligent…if a trifle too
appealing.
Caroline knows what a real union of hearts should be, and
the major\'s polite, no-nonsense offer hardly qualifies.
Still, she accepts for the children\'s sake, little knowing
the complications the marriage will bring to test her
confidence and her faith. Yet in this unusual match,
Caroline starts to see a glimmer of something strong and
true—the makings of the family she never thought she\'d find…