THE FARMER'S BRIDE COLLECTION anthology is full of love,
finding God,
and being a good Christian. Six couples
find their way to each other with God's help. They realize
they are meant to be together even if they don't think the
other loves them. A love of God shows them that they are
meant to be and that it only enhances their love to know
God is involved. Through tragedy and joy these couples face
adversity and hopeful situations.
ONE LITTLE PRAYER by Kimberly Comeaux
James Larabee is on his way to change his life after the
Civil War and loosing his home and family. He's injured
passing through Tessa's farm and found by her 9 year old
daughter. Bringing her mother back to help the injured man
they take him to the house and call Tessa's brother-in-law.
Tessa is upset to have a stranger in her home, but her
daughter sees it as a sign from God that James is supposed
to be her new father.
THE TIES THAT BIND by Susan K. Down
Frank asked Emma to marry him shortly after meeting each
other about a year ago. Emma is a widow who's being
cautious because of her past and wanting a man fully
committed to God. They're attracted to each other, but they
don't
let the other know their true feelings so they think the
feelings aren't reciprocated. After a second refusal both
decide that maybe adopting a child from the orphan train
would be best. Both are given letters to adopt after couples
have made their choices. When a difficult little boy turns
down everyone because of his sick sister, Frank and Emma
step in to take both children, which gives them insight
into each other's personalities.
A HOMESTEADER, A BRIDE, AND A BABY by Joann A. Grote, Minnesota
Prairie 1878
Lorette has just arrived to live near her sister's family
only to find them all dead except for the baby. Chase is
the family's neighbor and has done what is necessary to
ease Lorette's way. A job as a governess is up in the air
for her and when she tries it for two weeks she's let go. She
moves to the farm where her family lived and Chase comes to
help her cope with the situations since she grew up in the
city. Chase is impressed with Lorette learning the ways of
the farm. Spending time together brings them closer
together.
THE APPLESAUCE WAR by Ellen Edwards Kennedy, New York State
September 1901
Verity has recently returned from teaching school and is
going to be teaching in her home town. She's upset and
confused when her father reveals that they're not to have
anything more to do with the Delorme family, their long
time neighbors. Meanwhile Pete has just gotten the same
story from his father as well. It's all a ruse to get the two
young people together by their fathers.
SUNSHINE HARVEST by Debby Mayne, Florida Late Autumn 1892
Anna and her mother are waiting for her father to return
from town with supplies to feed their citrus workers. When
Daniel shows up and announces that her father has died they
are grief stricken. Anna must take over the running of the
farm and the citrus harvest. She lashes out at Daniel when
he offers his church's help. Anna doesn't trust church
people because of past experience. Daniel keeps treating
her with kindness and brings help against her wishes.
NEW BEGINNINGS by DiAnn Mills, Wisconsin 1899
Betsy doesn't love the man she's about to marry. Nicholas
has always been in love with her. She goes ahead with the
wedding because she doesn't want to disappoint anyone.
All he wants to do is make her happy. After they arrive in
Ohio to live on Nicholas's inherited farm, he begins to
realize something is wrong.
Six couples come together through hardship and God to find
the love of their lives or to rekindle a love thought lost.
They find that they've been brought together because that is
what is intended to be. Each couple finds their way to God
and each other through the adversity of the situations they
find themselves in and rely on God and each other to fix
their problems. I always enjoy reading these anthology
books.
Love is in season as you journey into rural America’s history and witness the harvest of romance through six delightful stories. From Minnesota to Florida, New York to Kansas, and Ohio to Louisiana, heroic men and women make sacrifices in order to create a home, nurture the crops, and secure a future for the next generation, but sometime romance is almost an afterthought. Can love also grow down on the farm?