Showing results by author "Karla Gracey" in All Categories

As an orphan who was raised by the Chippewa Indian tribe, Garrett Harding has grown up caught between two worlds. But now, he has had enough of the loneliness - now, Garrett wants a wife. Katy Jones is desperate. After a deadly pandemic left her a widow, Katy now finds herself trapped in a disease-ridden town. Needing a way out of town fast, Katy advertises as a mail-order bride, and it seems that fortune is on her side when Garrett sends her his reply.

Isabelle Landry is beautiful, wealthy, and courted within the highest echelons of Massachusetts' society. But every man her Mama thinks a suitable match, she finds dull and often repulsive. She longs for a simpler life, one where her worth has nothing to do with her annual income or her vast inheritance. A new friend gives her the confidence to follow her own path, and she answers an advertisement, praying it might change her life forever.

Clara Weston is facing an uncertain future. Her army captain father has been killed in battle, leaving Clara and her elderly grandmother, Eugenia, alone to fend for themselves. Feisty and tenacious, Eugenia isn’t about to let her granddaughter throw her life away - and so she advertises on Clara’s behalf as a mail-order bride. Clara and her grandmother set out for Iron Creek. But the journey is long and hard going - and things only get worse as their wagon train crosses paths with a gang of bandits.

Elise Mitchell is no stranger to traveling huge distances to follow her heart, but this time she is making the move to take back control. Tragically widowed and with a young son to look out for, she finds herself beholden to her husband's family and their grip is chafing. Having come from Scotland, she knows the mountains and the fresh air will be a tonic for her and her son, Bailey, but will the wilds of Montana be far enough away for her to be free of the Mitchell's clutches?

Unlike other women her age, Anna MacDonald has never set much hope on finding herself a husband. Far more important is the task of finding a position of employment...in a society that is untrusting of female doctors, that has proven challenging so far, to say the least. So, Anna resigns herself to replying to a collection of advertisements from men seeking mail-order brides. Who knows? Maybe one of them might even live in a town that would welcome her as a doctor. But what man would ever want a wife who places her career above family?

Bryony Shaw has never before thought of leaving Baltimore and her safe place in service, but things change for her when she is forced to become the nanny of her employer's son, Edwin. Finally finding the courage of her convictions, she confronts them about their lack of care. An orphan herself, she knows the pain of feeling abandoned and cannot bear the thought of such a young boy feeling that way, too. But what follows, nobody would ever have expected.

When everything you know and believe is telling you "no", do you have the strength to listen to the true voice of your heart? Far away in Iron Creek, stagecoach driver Nelson Gustavson is fighting his own loneliness and places an advert for a bride. As replies flood in, he begins to fear that he’ll have to settle for someone, or search hard to make a connection. That is, until he finds Bronwen’s letter, a blunt and honest reply that he feels compelled to respond to. As Bronwen and Nelson connect through their letters, she feels his warmth radiate through his honesty.

Jonny Cable isn’t like his twin brother. Andy might have chosen to settle down and marry, but Jonny has a duty to fulfill in the army. It shouldn’t matter that he sometimes yearns for a different life—one where he can stay in one place and make a simple living running a hotel. Or that he should long for companionship like his brother has with his own lovely wife.

Wesley Baker has brought more than just his hopes with him to Iron Creek—he carries his half-broken heart in tow. Once, he had traveled to meet the woman he hoped to marry, only to discover that her existence had been a con. Since then, Wesley managed to pick up what was left of his life and shattered heart and find his way to the small town of Iron Creek, where he hopes to establish a bakery of his own. Wesley is determined not to make the same mistakes again—but as those around him continue to find love through mail-order brides, Wesley decides to risk his heart one last time.

For the most part, Geoffrey Drayton is content with his life in Iron Creek. Having thrown himself into work since the death of his wife, Geoffrey is now the most popular carpenter in town. But the life of a widower is a lonely and empty one. After watching so many of his friends find happiness with mail-order brides, Geoffrey decides it is time for him to take a chance—and advertises for a bride of his own.

For Carl Hennigan, Iron Creek is more than just a town—it is a chance. His chance to start over. To live a life of his own. To teach and do what makes his heart happy. As Carl settles in Iron Creek, he can’t help thinking that his new life wants for nothing—except perhaps somebody to share it with. Just as Carl is about to take the chance and advertise for a wife, he finds another listing from a young woman. Her replies intrigue him, as does the fact that she keeps her full identity hidden. But could there be more connecting them than Carl realizes?

After suffering a permanent injury from an ambush and losing mobility of one of his legs, Andrew Cable has lost all hopes for a happy future for himself. Now, as he is forced to rely on his mother and his brother, Jonny, to care for him, Andrew doubts his life could be any more pathetic. But when Jonny advertises on his behalf with hopes of finding him a mail-order bride, Andrew realizes that he was wrong. The woman seems just as determined to escape her own situation in life. So, he decides to help her do just that—while also giving his brother a taste of his own medicine.

You can travel the world, but love will always find its way to you. From joining the army to please his father to going into business to help the man who saved his life, Harry Wallsey has lived his life for other people. Now, Harry is content with his life in Iron Creek, helping run the newspaper he helped establish—but as a lover of poetry and literature, even this life is not one he ever wanted.

After spending eight years in jail, Elias Groves is struggling to make a life for himself…. After all, there aren’t many people willing to hire someone convicted of bank robbery. No matter how many times he moves and attempts a fresh start, Elias can’t escape his past, and unable to find stable work, the idea of a wife and a family seems to be slipping further and further from his reach. When his friend suggests perusing advertisements in the paper to find a woman looking for a husband, he’s not convinced.