I hadn't read any of the romances by Dorothy Clark but I
started enjoying her first in the series 'Stand-In Brides'
right away. In 1868 a young woman, Audrey Prescott, takes
the railroad to Wyoming Territory. Her sister promised to
marry a gentleman, who needs a wife in order to run his new
store respectably. But this sister has now wed another, so
Audrey decides the only thing she can do is meet Blake and
offer to be HIS SUBSTITUTE WIFE.
While Audrey has had time to get used to the idea, and
having a home will suit her since her parents have died,
Blake Latherop is taken by surprise. He's in a bind,
because he signed a contract with the new town of Whisper
Creek, promising to marry within thirty days of opening his
store. Beggars can't be choosers, but that doesn't mean he
has to like being jilted. He still loves Linda. Audrey is a
pleasant girl, but there's nowhere for her to stay and this
plan to have a fake marriage will make them legally bound.
They'll have to give the impression that the marriage is
for real.
I enjoyed little touches, like piped hot and cold water,
when Audrey hasn't had this in New York. I expect it was
easier to fit this when homes were being built from scratch
than to add it to existing streets and residences. A
Chinese couple do the town's laundry. Many of the details
are similarly domestic and Audrey, a competent housekeeper,
comes into her own, also advising Blake on window displays
and goods for women. She has no idea how to cook deer meat,
however. The territory has plentiful amounts of soldiers,
passing through to safeguard gold miners and settlers. Life
isn't entirely peaceful.
Suffice to say that the story has a few twists and turns to
keep the reader's attention. HIS SUBSTITUTE WIFE is a good
old-fashioned romance, dealing with respect and affection
as well as with honesty and good intentions. Any age from
teens upwards might enjoy reading Dorothy Clark's gently
inspirational story; and the town of Whisper Creek is open
for business. Let's keep an eye on the residents because
more stores will be built to serve the growing population.
Blake Latherop needs a wife in order to keep his business,
and his betrothed has apparently eloped with another man. So
when his fiancée's sister, Audrey Prescott, steps off the
train in Whisper Creek offering to be his bride, he's in no
position to refuse. But it's hardly the marriage he had in
mind.
Audrey knows she shouldn't have answered Blake's letters in
her sister's name…but she couldn't bring herself to tell him
of his fiancée's betrayal. Now the only way to fix things is
through a temporary marriage. But as she comes to love her
new life in the West, Audrey dreads the day Blake finds
another solution to their situation. Because what started as
a marriage of convenience has become so much more for her…
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