To Love a Stranger by Colleen Coble ~ Review

Lucie's Review:

Jasper Mendenhall has been corresponding with a woman from Boston for the last six months, so he marries Bessie by proxy and sends for her to join him in Wyoming.

Bessie is shocked to find that her sister Lenore has been writing to a soldier using Bessie's name, and has even married Bessie to him by proxy. With an open heart and mind, Bessie heads out west to take a chance on loving a stranger.

I liked Bessie from the start, she is very level-headed, and doesn't overreact to what her sister did, she asks to see the letters and prays about her decision. I liked her can-do attitude and determined spirit, and she relies on faith her faith to get her through.

Jasper is shocked when he meets Bessie, she is not what he had expected, but he agrees to continue on and get to know each other. I liked how he let Bessie keep baby Ruthie, and soon finds himself wrapped around her tiny finger. As time passes Jasper learns to appreciate Bessie, and her determined spirit, along with her willingness to work hard.  He is a man of faith, and suggests that they begin reading the Bible together to learn about love from its Creator.

I loved the development of their relationship through their words and actions, they build trust and find an understanding. My heart went out to Bessie immediately, and she was my favorite character throughout, though Jasper did row on me as he proved to be a strong, dependable, and faithful man.

Overall, a fantastic book with a great plot, and great cast of characters, I liked the realistic setting that showed the struggles of fort living and the struggles that many women faced. Highly recommend!


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