Review: Ok Read...Needs Extensive Editing **SPOILERS**
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 09 20, 2013
This novella is a 2 1/2 star read.  Unfortunately, Amazon does not allow 1/2 star ratings. With extensive editing it could be a 3 star read.  The writing is decent, but the characters need more developing.  Still, I enjoyed this short story.  Rose is the 18 year old, middle daughter of a judge.  Her older sister, Isabel is her father's daughter from a previous marriage.  Isabel has always, for unknown reasons, hated Rose and has made Rose's life miserable their entire lives.  Isabel's latest scheme to hurt Rose is to seduce Rose's longtime beau and soon-to-be fiancé, Grant.  Due to their indiscretion, Grant and Isabel must marry.  Rose is devastated, and the situation is only worsened by her family's seeming acceptance of Isabel's scandalous conduct.  To escape, Rose runs away to be David's mail order bride.  She wants a family, but knows that in order to get one she must marry.  Rose is determined to never fall in love again and being a mail order bride seems to be the best solution to her predicament.  She can get married without falling in love thereby allowing her to have the children she craves.  Rose's determination to remain heart free is challenged by the gorgeous, sweet, loving man she marries.  Towards the end of the book, Rose has the opportunity to reclaim her lost love and the life she had dreamed of with Grant.  Rose must choose whether to continue building a life with David or return to Grant.  The ending seemed a bit rushed which left the story with an unfinished feel.  Furthermore, Isabel never got her just deserts.  I know that it is unchristian of me to feel that way, but I don't care.  It's fiction after all.  Lol  This is a sweet story.  Through God's grace, Rose learns to love again and to forgive.  The Christian aspect is nicely woven throughout the story so as not to overwhelm the reader.  Therefore, IMO even readers who don't care for Christian fiction can enjoy this book.