Review: Realistic portrayal of time period..sad, but sweet
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 6, 2013
Nothing's new under the sun, and that's certainly true with stories about mail-order brides and marriages of convenience. However, Verna Clay brings something unique to the table with the story of Abby, a 38-year-old school teacher who responds to an ad from a desperate widower in need of a mother for his three children. Abby spent her youth caring for her elderly parents, and now she is far past the marriage mart and desires a family of her own. She has nothing to lose, so she heads West to meet her new family. She encounters a handsome man much younger than she expected, a teenage son who is angry with her very presence, a ten-year-old girl who's had to take on far too much responsibility since her mother died, and a sweet baby boy who begins calling Abby "Mama" almost at once. However, times are hard, and Abby must deal with a family still holding on to their grief, a beautiful but jealous woman who wants to steal Abby's intended husband for herself, and a lesson about how harsh life in the Wild West could really be. And those elements--the older heroine, the reluctant family, and the harsh reality of life (I cannot explain further without giving spoilers)--set this book apart from scores of others in this genre. The result is an enjoyable, light read that will have you rooting for the likable, mature heroine.