The Substitute Bride

Janet Dean's third book is as refreshing and spiritually joyous as her first. I'm a fan of mail-order-bride stories anyway, and this one is no exception to that particular rule. Ted and Elizabeth are loving, caring people who just need to stop spinning in life's circles long enough to settle on each other. This story shows their journey (and the spinning along the way!) and addresses the horrors of gambling and "visiting the sins of the father..." in a believable and uplifting way. Looking forward to Mrs. Dean's next one!

Mail-order bride and fish-out-of-water collide in this fun story of a woman running away from an arranged marriage only to find herself married to a stranger. What could be worse? At least Ted Logan, Elizabeth's new husband, has way more class than Reginald Parks, the wealthy man her father wanted her to marry to wipe away his gambling debts. Poor Elizabeth, a debutante from Chicago, is thrust to learn the life of farming and motherhood in one fell swoop. Janet Dean not only writes real characters but also the romantic tension between Elizabeth and Ted is palpable. If you love historical fiction, snatch this book up! You'll enjoy every word.

I really like this author, and was excited to read this book, which, is a very good read.However, my only "complaint" if you will, with all due respect, is repetition.All throughout the book, about every few lines,TEARS, or CRYING is mentioned.Tears are surely needed in many books, but I did find myself a bit mystified that every other scence, someone was "misting-up" somehow.It just makes it a bit "old" after a time. I will continue to read her books,for sure, as she does have impressive writing talent,but I so hope for a bit less "reps" in next tomes.

Honestly, can any historical romance reader resist the tried-and-true story of a mail-order bride? Well, hold on to your hats, because in The Substitute Bride, Janet Dean has come up with a love match that takes "marriage at first sight" to a whole new level of fun! Enter Elizabeth Manning, a beautiful debutante down on her luck who trades places with a mail-order bride turned skittish at the prospect of marrying a widow with two children. Ill-prepared for the hardships of frontier life or any life other than that of a rich socialite, Elizabeth is not exactly what handsome Ted Logan had in mind as a mother and wife. But as their feelings for each other grow, it looks as if it may be a match made in heaven ... until their pasts collide. I don't know if the third time is the charm, but charm is definitely a major part of Janet Dean's delightful third novel where she creates an old-fashioned love story full of engaging characters and a surprising plot, with plenty of gentle romance and spiritual truths to tug at the heart. Simply put, Janet Dean is one of the brightest stars on the Love Inspired horizon and a pure joy to read.

Janet Dean has crafted another compelling historical romance, complete with a spunky, determined heroine and a strong but gentle hero who will capture your heart from the start. To pay off his gambling debts, Elizabeth Manning's father has arranged her marriage to a decidedly unsavory character. She escapes by switching places with a reluctant mail-order bride pledged to an Iowa farmer and finds herself married to Ted Logan, a widower with two motherless children. With the perils of gambling underlying the plot, Dean leads her characters through a compelling maze of secrets and broken hearts, until the inevitable happy ending. The joy is in watching how both Elizabeth and Ted grow through their trials and learn to see God's hand in bringing them together.