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jbarr5's review
5.0
Isabella Bride of Ohio (American Mail-Order Brides Series Book 17) by Debra Parmley
Isabella lives with 3 other women and they work at the mill til one night it burns to the ground. I am familiar with the location and have mills nearby that are still used, not as their original purpose.
They find out about a newspaper where men have asked for women to be their brides with just a bit about themselves. Over the next weeks they write to one another and she also gets a job tending to young children.
When Donald has written to her and sent money to visit with her in Ohio she heads there and there are men on the train that want to cause trouble as they travel by themselves.
Tomlin and his partner want her to plan to kidnap her at the next stop. This sounds SO scary for me as she's very naive. Like her background and hearing what she is looking forward to in Ohio with Donald.
A man, Tom steps in to rescue her and she's back on her way to Ohio to get married. Things seem to be going moving forward and she almost says no to getting married. Hate to hear how she's treated over time but things happen in 3s like her grandmother always told her.
Trouble, problems happen in 3's and til the third thing happens she didn't piece them all together. Twists and turns that I could not have imagined happening, whoa!
I had forgotten about Pinkerton' in this era!
action, adventure, travel, romance, mystery, money and so much more make up this exc read!
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
Isabella lives with 3 other women and they work at the mill til one night it burns to the ground. I am familiar with the location and have mills nearby that are still used, not as their original purpose.
They find out about a newspaper where men have asked for women to be their brides with just a bit about themselves. Over the next weeks they write to one another and she also gets a job tending to young children.
When Donald has written to her and sent money to visit with her in Ohio she heads there and there are men on the train that want to cause trouble as they travel by themselves.
Tomlin and his partner want her to plan to kidnap her at the next stop. This sounds SO scary for me as she's very naive. Like her background and hearing what she is looking forward to in Ohio with Donald.
A man, Tom steps in to rescue her and she's back on her way to Ohio to get married. Things seem to be going moving forward and she almost says no to getting married. Hate to hear how she's treated over time but things happen in 3s like her grandmother always told her.
Trouble, problems happen in 3's and til the third thing happens she didn't piece them all together. Twists and turns that I could not have imagined happening, whoa!
I had forgotten about Pinkerton' in this era!
action, adventure, travel, romance, mystery, money and so much more make up this exc read!
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
piperkitty's review against another edition
5.0
Isabella Bride is a story of 19th Century and filled with historical events. The plot and character within this series works well. Isabella thinks its her happy ever after with Donald but not all as if it seems. This is not your typical mail order romance.Such a twist I didn't see coming.
desjmom's review
4.0
This was a very enjoyable book. It was a sweet story of a woman’s journey to make her way in America. She never thought of being a mail order bride but her situation was pushing her in that direction. What kind of man would she find in Ohio? What would the journey to her new life bring her?
waltan's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
Isabella knows that bad things happen in threes. First her parents die, leaving her alone in America. Then a fire takes the factory she worked in. What could happen next? It wasn't uncommon for bachelors, in the 1800's, to search for a bride through advertisements. Isabella answered such an ad in hopes of finding someone to love and who would love her back. Mr. Donald Jenks sweeps her off her feet and gets her to agree to head to Ohio to meet him. Her travels to Ohio didn't come easy, her wedding day to Donald came quickly. So, did she find true love? Yes, but not where you thought she would.
This a a sweet historical fiction love story. It is a quick and easy read with very likeable characters (well, the nice ones anyway!). If you are looking for an adventure, Isabella will give you that!
This a a sweet historical fiction love story. It is a quick and easy read with very likeable characters (well, the nice ones anyway!). If you are looking for an adventure, Isabella will give you that!
rachelmoss2017's review
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
This was a really good book! It was fast paced and short, which made it a quick read and was full of hope, insight and perseverance. Check triggers for this one, as it does contain some domestic violence and assault. I really enjoyed this one (even though I'm not much a fan of mail order bride stories) and I would definitely read more in the future. This was a really written book as well! I felt like I was right there with the characters in that time period, right before the 1900s.
sturgesschildren3's review
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
My first question is why do you want leave Sweden , it’s a beautiful country but at the same time I also understand folks are looking for change and a new beginning….
Isabella and her family are now fresh in America and her folks have to go into quarantine when they get sick and the job she has she lost when the building burnt down and now she and her family are in dire straits ….
Things take a turn for the better when she finds work as a housemaid and then she starts communicating with a “gentleman “ via a mail order bride magazine on the way she has a nasty experience and the man who comes to her aid stirs her heart but she can’t loose her heart Un him as she’s promised herself to the so called gentleman “ Mr Jenks “ I use the term loosely because the man is really far from a gentleman , he’s an oaf 😡
Isabella is wish I could whisper in your ear to have run with your rescuer when you had the chance ….
Isabella has faced a lot in her life and there were a few twists and turns in the story but I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical romance and mail order brides 📚🥰
Isabella and her family are now fresh in America and her folks have to go into quarantine when they get sick and the job she has she lost when the building burnt down and now she and her family are in dire straits ….
Things take a turn for the better when she finds work as a housemaid and then she starts communicating with a “gentleman “ via a mail order bride magazine on the way she has a nasty experience and the man who comes to her aid stirs her heart but she can’t loose her heart Un him as she’s promised herself to the so called gentleman “ Mr Jenks “ I use the term loosely because the man is really far from a gentleman , he’s an oaf 😡
Isabella is wish I could whisper in your ear to have run with your rescuer when you had the chance ….
Isabella has faced a lot in her life and there were a few twists and turns in the story but I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical romance and mail order brides 📚🥰
tracyreadslots's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
What a lovely quick read, the author takes us to 1890 Massachusetts. We meet Isabella and her young friends. Isabella, a Swedish immigrant; made the journey with her mother and father to the new land of the Americas. Left orphaned she finds her way, makes friends and until a fire at the mill where she works she lives a simple life with her friends Lilly, Tabitha, Hope and Trinity.
As there is no sign of reputable work post the fire many of the girls follow the mail order bride route to what they hope is happiness.
Isabella writes and is befriended by Mr Jenks of Ohio, on the train journey to meet him Isabella has a near miss with kidnappers, she is rescued by a gentleman called Tom.
Upon meeting Mr Jenks, Isabella quickly becomes Mrs Donald Jenks, unbeknown to her this is a stipulation of a will, Mr Jenks shows his true colours.
After angst and violence, plots of murder and then attempted abduction Isabella finally knows the truth and finds her happy ever after.
I will certainly be reading more from this author.
tracy1428's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.0
This is the first book that I have read by this author and I enjoyed reading it. The plot was awesome and the way the author described the scenery had me really imagine I was there.
The character where well written and the way they played off of each other was great. I will definitely be reading more of this authors work.
Isabella Britta Stolt is seventeen when she arrives from Sweden with her parents only to have them quarantined on Ellis Island and die. Now on her own in a foreign country she hears of work in a factory in Massachusetts. She works long and tiring hours, but she has a roommate from Sweden and a few friends. One day while at work the factory catches fire and burns down luckily make it out of the factory alive.
With all the bad luck she has had coming to this new country she hopes they can get better now with find the article in the paper for a mail order bride she sets out to meet her handsome and wealthy soon to be husband Donald Jenks. Because as her grandmother always said, trouble comes in threes and there is danger standing between her and her happy ever after with her true love.
What danger is standing in her way? Will she get to meet her future husband? If she meets her future husband, will she have the happily ever after or will everything fall apart.
Tracy
@tracym
bwagner's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I enjoyed reading this historical romance story. This is my first story by these authors which I look forward to seeing what is next for them. This is a well written story about Isabella and her mail order bride marriage. She has not had the best of luck lately. She loses her parents and her job. Now she is hoping that this marriage will change her luck around. What will happen when these two meet? Will they fall in love? I really enjoyed what these two brought to the story. This is a fast paced story that is engaging and just hard to put down. They are connectable and have great chemistry together. I enjoyed watching their growth throughout the story. This is an easy and entertaining story to read as it keeps you coming back for more. I really enjoyed this story and I highly recommend it.
yerot's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Isabella, Bride of Ohio is a historical fiction story of a Swedish girl who recently moved to America. Her family moved in hopes of improving their life. The trip to the U.S. was a hard one and sickness took Isabella’s family and left her on her own. Just as she started to get back on her feet events once again changed everything for her and left her struggling to find a living and yearning for something that will last. The answer to her problems? A mail order bride advertisement. In hopes of finding a little home in the country and something of permanence to build her life on, she signs up to be a mail order bride and soon finds a man that seems to have everything she hopes for. A stable position and a nice house in the country where she can take walks and enjoy the garden. Isabella strikes out on her own once again to meet the man and see if they build a life together.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a great story and it kept you guessing. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, the story took another turn. I am a big fan of historical fiction and have read many mail order bride stories. I can usually guess what is coming long before it happens, but this story took some turns that had me pleasantly surprised.
The only thing I didn’t like, and my reason for taking away a star, is that while the book is supposed to take place in the 1800s, there were little things that didn’t follow that timeline. Part of the enjoyment of a historical fiction book is seeing the difference in how they had to do things before they had the luxuries that we have. This story has the main character tum rning on the faucet to run a hot bath as if it was the norm, but indoor plumbing, while it did exist, was not common practice until around 1920.
Other than my nit picking about these little things, this story was fantastic and I would definitely recommend it.