Movie Monday: Brewster's Millions

Movie Monday: Brewsters Millions

Based on the 1902 novel by George Barr McCutcheon (pen name Richard Greaves), and the adapted 1906 stage production, the United Artists film Brewster’s Millions is a lighthearted comedy that released eighty years ago this month. The movie features Dennis O’Keefe, Helen Walker, and June Havoc, three actors you probably never heard of despite their extensive filmography.

Penniless WWII soldier, Montgomery Brewster returns home to discover that he has inherited seven million dollars from his uncle in Bolivia. However, the bequest has a caveat: he must give away one million of it before his 30th birthday which is two months away. Because a wife would be considered an asset, he has to put off his wedding to fiancee, Peggy Gray who struggles to understand the changes in him.

The task of getting rid of the money proves more difficult than anticipated as there are strict conditions about how he can spend it such as demonstrating good business sense by obtaining good value for the money he spends, limiting his donations to charity, losses to gambling, and value of tips (Wikipedia). Because he can’t tell anyone about the will, his friends don’t understand the situation and try to help mitigate his losses even though they are enjoying the fruits of his luxurious lifestyle.

He throws parties, plays roulette, and charters a months-long cruise to Europe and Egypt for his friends

and employees. As a result, he is lambasted as a spendthrift by the press. Throughout the movie, his friends and associates invest the monies, sell stocks and properties for profit, and conduct all kinds of business that increases his earnings. When Peggy breaks the engagement, he nearly folds, but the lawyer talks him into continuing with the project. It comes down to the last seconds, but he finally succeeds and is able to marry Peggy.

The movie met with mixed reviews, with some critics enjoying it’s “unadorned style,” while others found it too farcical. Memphis, Tennessee banned the film because Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson’s servant character had “too familiar a way about him,” and the movie depicted “too much social equality and racial mixture.”

In 1937, Jack Benny performed a one-hour version of the play on the Lux Radio Theater, and in the mid-1980s, the animated version of Punky Brewster produced an episode on television. The novel and play have been adapted to film thirteen times, the most recent in 2024 starring China Anne McClain, Romeo Miller, and Rain Pryor.

Have you seen this flick?

___________________

Ivy's Inheritance

Has she fled one untrustworthy man only to be stuck with another?

Ivy Cregg’s father is a gambler, but this time he’s gone too far. He loses his mining fortune and her along with it in a high-stakes poker game. Unwilling to go along with the deal, she hides out with a friend who tells her about Ms. Crenshaw, owner of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Bride Agency who is in town. The prospective groom is a wealthy man which seems like an answer to prayer until Ivy discovers he made his fortune in mining. Is he as untrustworthy as her father?

After emigrating to America to fight for the Union during their Civil War, Slade Pendleton moved West while working on the railroad, then headed to the plains of Nebraska to seek his fortune. He was one of the lucky ones and now has everything he could ever want. Except a wife. With the few women in the town already married, he sends for a mail-order bride. The woman arrives carrying the telegram that explains her need to flee, but now that she’s safe, she seems to have no interest in going through with the ceremony. Should he send her packing or try to convince her to stay?

https://amzn.to/3Ca3xI6

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Diana Leagh Matthews

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome Diana Leagh Matthews

I'm pleased to welcome Diana Leagh Matthews to my blog for the first time. Take a few minutes to get to know this interesting author and her latest release.

Can you share a real life event that inspired your writing?

I divorced at a young age and never remarried. Not having a family has been a huge struggle at times and in many ways writing this book was part of my grief process and working through my unmet desire for a large family of my own.

What questions do you ask yourself when preparing to write a new book?

When I begin to write, it often begins with a “what if” question.

For “Forever Changed”, the questions were “What would it be like to have an instant family” and “what if I had to raise someone else’s children.”

What was your inspiration for the story?

Two things inspired this story. The first was my relationship with my siblings and the longing for a closer relationship. I wondered “what if we were closer in age.” (We’re a decade apart.) The second question was a more personal question. “What would it be like to suddenly have a family depend on me.”

If your book is part of a series: Did you set out to write a series? Why did you decide to write a series?

This book was originally written as a stand-alone. However, while working through edits, ideas have

come to follow several of the other characters in the series, as well as to write a prequel about Granny (Danielle’s 100 year old grandmother.)

If you were to write a spin-off book about one of your secondary characters, which one would you choose and why?

Sally’s story ended with a lot of unanswered questions. I think that I’d explore what happened to her and some of the decisions she makes.

How do you come up with story lines?

Ideas tumble faster than I will ever have time to write them. Sometimes an idea is a fleeting question of “what if.” Maybe I read something or saw or heard something that sparked the question. Then an idea will take hold and grow. Usually the main character(s) will take hold and not let go until I have no choice but to tell the story.

What is your process for writing? (do you outline, have a special place or time of day you write, etc.) What is your favorite part of the process?

I’m a planster. Meaning that I write by the seat of my pants. Usually I begin with a starting point. Sometimes I know how the novel will end and other times, I have no idea. As I’m writing, ideas percolate and I keep note of events and situations that need to happen.

How do you celebrate when you finish a manuscript?

I probably need to find a way to celebrate when a manuscript is finished. However, once a book is published, I go out for a steak dinner to celebrate.

What is your advice to fledgling writers?

Keep persevering. Writing is not an easy career or path. Learn all you can and keep pressing forward. Use set backs to catch a breath and spend time with the Lord, asking Him about the next steps.

What is your next project?

I’m editing a very different novel that incorporates all the holidays into the storyline. I’m also looking forward to writing a prequel to “Forever Changed” about Granny’s life.

 
About Diana Leagh Matthews

Diana Leagh Matthews has a heart for the hurting and shares God’s love through the written word and song. Her debut novel, Carol of the Rooms, was published in 2023 and was a Realm Award finalist and her second novel, Forever Changed, will be published on April 15th. Leagh (pronounced L-e-e), who lives in South Carolina with her spunky Maltese. For more information, visit her at DianaLeaghMatthews.com.

About Forever Changed:

At the pinnacle of her Broadway career, Danielle Davis is savoring her success. Just as her dreams are now within grasp, tragedy forces her to return home to South Carolina. Following the untimely deaths of her sister and brother-in-law, Danielle discovers she’s now responsible for seven children, two grandmothers, and a farm she knows nothing about. When a young woman from the 1930s begins making mysterious appearances to her, Danielle embraces her as an unexpected confidant and encourager.

Can Danielle find the healing and support she desperately needs in her new roles?

Caleb Donovan put his soaring music career on hold after making a terrible mistake.

Following the loss of his best friends, he now guides Danielle as she learns about running a farm and caring for a family. Can Caleb find his own place amid the chaos? Will Danielle and Caleb be able to discover the career and relational paths meant for them? Can they learn how to let go of their painful pasts, and find it in their hearts to forgive, and move forward into an uncertain future?

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2DCBDQY

Social Media Links:
Website: https://dianaleaghmatthews.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Diana-Leagh-Matthews/e/B07C17QJJ
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/DiLeaghMatthews
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/994850748295488
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dianaleaghmatthews/
X: https://X.com/dileaghmatthews
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/dileaghmatthews/
GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9773997-diana-leagh

Photo Credits:

Author Photo/Book cover image: Diana Leagh Matthews

Hands: Pixabay/CongerDesign

Laptop: Pixabay/StartUpStockPhotos

Traveling Tuesday: The Role of the Mt. Washington Hotel During WWII

Traveling Tuesday: 

The Role of the Mt. Washington Hotel During WWII

Last week, I shared about the four grand hotels that are still operating in New Hampshire. One of those, the Mt. Washington played a critical role at the end of World War II. Located deep in the White Mountains above Crawford Notch in Bretton Woods, the hotel was completed in 1902 and offered luxurious accommodations to anyone who could afford to stay. Sadly, the owner, Joseph Stickney, died of a heart attack the following year.

Over the next decade his wife continued to improve the property, but Prohibition, the Great Depression, and the implementation of income tax put a damper on business. Mrs. Stickney’s nephew inherited the hotel in 1936, but six years later, shuttered the doors because of the war. He sold to a Boston syndicate in 1944 for $450,000 (a huge amount of money back then).

On July 1 of that year, the Bretton Woods Conference commenced with 730 delegates from all forty-

four Allied nations. Years of work preceded the conference, with a preliminary conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey held in mid-June 1944. No where in my research could I unearth who decided that a remote, luxury hotel in the mountains of New Hampshire was the perfect location for the conference, and I can’t imagine the logistics of getting everyone to the facility. Located more than 150 miles from the Boston airport, the hotel is accessed by one hilly, winding road (and it’s not an interstate) that passes through Crawford Notch, elevation 1,923 feet. There is nothing for miles around – no restaurants, no other hotels…nothing.

The conference adjourned three weeks after it started with the delegates signing the Final Act of the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference that established the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD – later part of the World Bank Group) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and implementing the “Bretton Woods system,” a system of economic order and international cooperation that would help countries recover from the war’s devastation and foster long-term global growth.

Some of the features of the system were an “adjustably pegged foreign exchange market tied to gold, that could only be altered to correct a fundamental disequilibrium,” pledges by member countries to make their currency convertible for trade-related and other current account transactions, and a requirement of member countries to subscribe to IMF’s capital.

The system ended in 1971.

__________________

Ivy's Inheritance

Has she fled one untrustworthy man only to be stuck with another?

Ivy Cregg’s father is a gambler, but this time he’s gone too far. He loses his mining fortune and her along with it in a high-stakes poker game. Unwilling to go along with the deal, she hides out with a friend who tells her about Ms. Crenshaw, owner of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Bride Agency who is in town. The prospective groom is a wealthy man which seems like an answer to prayer until Ivy discovers he made his fortune in mining. Is he as untrustworthy as her father?

After emigrating to America to fight for the Union during their Civil War, Slade Pendleton moved West while working on the railroad, then headed to the plains of Nebraska to seek his fortune. He was one of the lucky ones and now has everything he could ever want. Except a wife. With the few women in the town already married, he sends for a mail-order bride. The woman arrives carrying the telegram that explains her need to flee, but now that she’s safe, she seems to have no interest in going through with the ceremony. Should he send her packing or try to convince her to stay?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3Ca3xI6

Photo Credits:

Mt. Washington Hotel: By rickpilot_2000 from Hooksett, USA - Mt. Washington HotelUploaded by jbarta, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26447136 

Delegation: U.N. Monetary Conference (Photo: Associated Press; Photographer: Abe Fox)

New Zealand Report of the conference: By Archives New Zealand from New Zealand - International Monetary Fund formed 1945, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51249801

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Matthew Elliott!

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome Back, Matthew Elliott

An Exclusive First Look 

at The Hope of Inheritance

I’m thrilled to share the first look at my upcoming novel, The Hope of Inheritance, here on Linda’s website. This book has held a special place in my heart for several reasons. I can’t wait to share more details as I promote this story. This story will take readers on a journey that will introduce them to several characters near and dear to my heart. While the fictional, yet biblical, World of Kedoshim has already introduced a few of them, there is so much more to their story. I can’t wait to share everything but for now, here is your first look.

The Hope of Inheritance has been on my heart to write since I began releasing Finding Philemon in 2023. When I wrote the prologue to the book, it was so intense that it honestly terrified me that I could imagine what I wrote. The Roman world was on fire. Believers were being tortured in the worst way possible, and Nero really was a dark and horrible man. Each attempt to return to the story brought a fresh wave of my characters’ pain and emotional intensity I hadn’t expected and still couldn’t fully grasp.

The beauty of giving my writing to God is that he knew this would be the case. So, He gave me The

Cyprus Journal to write for 2024 instead. Eventually, He brought me back to The Hope of Inheritance, and it could not have been a better time for Him to do so. At its core, the story conveys the unwavering hope found in Jesus Christ by early church believers. Amid the pain and suffering the early church experienced during the reign of Nero, light shined in the darkest moments and people witnessed the love of God in action.

Whether facing earthquakes, unexplained sickness, having to leave loved ones behind, and even death, the resilient faith of the founding fathers and their torch-bearers changed the very essence of how believers found joy in the midst of the unimaginable. Deep in the shadow of everything that was happening, four brothers in Christ will strive to learn and grow in their faith. In doing so, the question remains; Will they live up to the example of those who came before them? That is no simple task. Founding Fathers like Peter and Paul, or Matthew and John, were purposeful in the message they shared with the world.

Timothy was a man placed in an impossible ministry, only to be ignored because of his age. Silas was a man who was always stuck in the shadows, writing letters for those he served. Luke, the ever-loving physician, was a man who endured the same suffering as Paul without the acknowledgment to go along with it. John Mark was a man who let fear drive his purpose in life. Together, each of their stories offers a specific message that many need to hear. As they work together to rebuild what was lost, it is their experiences that produce a mysterious letter to believers everywhere.
_______________

About Matthew: 

Matthew James Elliott (M.J. Elliott) is a dedicated writer with a strong passion for spreading the word of Christ. Matthew has spent 15 years serving in different types of ministries, both as a volunteer and a minister of the Gospel. Although he was never ordained, his experiences have given him a deep understanding of what ministry is all about and how it has evolved over time. His degree in Biblical Studies is from Oklahoma Wesleyan University and emphasizes Pastoral Care, Christian Education, and Worship.

Matthew is happily married to Traci and they have three delightful children: Leyla, Caleb, and Hannah, who bring them immense joy and inspiration. Matthew's books aspire to minister to believers with love, equip them for service in God's glory, and nurture the body of Christ with edification through His work. He hopes that all who read his content will feel the loving touch of God's encouragement and guidance.

About The Hope of Inheritance

One Story Still Untold. Four Unlikely Authors. Together their Message will Speak to Many.

The city of Rome was a vast and beautiful place-- on the surface. That is until a great fire burned and destroyed most of it. Deep in a world hidden from those who would strike against them, four unlikely men work together to share a message of truth. This truth was spoken by those who were cut down because of the calling to go forth and peach. The message has always been clear; The hope of our inheritance is Christ living within each of us.

In the echoes of persecution, sorrow, and even death, this message still reigns supreme, but will the people listen? Only time will tell, but before anything, these four men must come together and unite a church separated by fear and suffering. Each one of these men has endured their own journey for such a time as this, and have been given a different message they were called to teach. Together, they must rebuild what has been lost as they face the painful circumstances of the world they have inherited from the founders of their faith.

Pre-Order Link: https://amzn.to/4llftIU

Photo Credits:

Cyprus - Pixabay/Dimitris Vetsikas

Dome of the Rock - Pixabay/Walkerssk

Traveling Tuesday: Grand Hotels of New Hampshire

Traveling Tuesday: 

Grand Hotels in New Hampshire

The Gilded Age brought prosperity to America, and during the era, hundreds of “grand hotels’ sprang up across the country offering luxury and service to the rich and famous. You may be familiar New York’s Waldorf Astoria, Washington, DC’s Willard InterContinental, and The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Tragically, some of the grand hotels were vacated and eventually fell into disrepair to be knocked down and forgotten.

Of the original twenty-four grand hotels in New Hampshire four are still in operation: Mt. Washington Hotel, The Wentworth Inn, Eagle Mountain House, and The Mountain View Grand. The Balsams, built in 1866, is currently closed with plans to reopen in the future. All the hotels are in the northern part of the state in the White Mountains.

The Mt. Washington Hotel was built in Bretton Woods between 1900 and 1902 by NH native Joseph Stickney whose wealth came from being a coal broker. With an eye toward creating a luxurious getaway for “city folks,” he spared no expense, spending $1.7 million (approximately $64 million in today’s dollars). According to Wikipedia, at its completed the hotel had more than 2,000 doors, 12,000 windows, and eleven miles of plumbing. Unfortunately for Stickney, he died of a heart attack the year after the hotel opened. His wife spent summers at the hotel and continued to expand the structure.

Constructed in 1869 in the town of Jackson by Joshua Trickey and originally names the Thorn

Mountain House, the Wentworth Inn was a wedding gift for his daughter, Georgia, and her husband, General Marshall Clark Wentworth. By the turn of the century the facility included a casino, multiple billiard parlors, and a ballroom. Eventually, the inn grew to its current size of sixty-one rooms. Not much is known about Trickey other than he had a successful farm, and built the Jackson Falls House (hotel) in 1858, then two years later, sold some of his property to the school district so they could build the schoolhouse.

Opening in 1879, Eagle Mountain House had rather humble beginnings. The original inn was a farmhouse style building that could accommodate twelve guests, and the owners worked the surrounding property as a farm, providing food for the guests from their fields. A golf course went in sometime prior to 1910 because the sport was all the rage by this time. Two more buildings were added allowing for up to 125 guests, but tragically a fire in 1915 destroyed the Main Inn. The new building with seventy-five rooms, most featuring private baths, was completed the following year. An elevator was also installed.

The Mountain View Grand was originally known as the Mountain View House and opened in 1866 by William and Mary Jane Dodge. Intriguingly, the hotel was not a hotel when the first guests arrived. The story goes that after a stagecoach overturned on a stormy night in 1865, the passengers made their way to the Dodge’s house and asked if they could stay the night. They were served a full breakfast the following morning and requested to stay longer. The Dodges agreed. Before leaving the guests asked if they could come back the following summer, and the Dodges realized they had something special. By the following year they had expanded the property and opened officially. Over the years, additions were made with a final total of 141 rooms. The guest book reads like a who’s who with seven presidents, writers such as Robert Frost, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Steven King, and film stars that included Betty Grable, Bette Davis, and the Marx Brothers.

Have you ever stayed in a “grand” hotel?

___________________

Ivy's Inheritance

Has she fled one untrustworthy man only to be stuck with another?

Ivy Cregg’s father is a gambler, but this time he’s gone too far. He loses his mining fortune and her along with it in a high-stakes poker game. Unwilling to go along with the deal, she hides out with a friend who tells her about Ms. Crenshaw, owner of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Bride Agency who is in town. The prospective groom is a wealthy man which seems like an answer to prayer until Ivy discovers he made his fortune in mining. Is he as untrustworthy as her father?

After emigrating to America to fight for the Union during their Civil War, Slade Pendleton moved West while working on the railroad, then headed to the plains of Nebraska to seek his fortune. He was one of the lucky ones and now has everything he could ever want. Except a wife. With the few women in the town already married, he sends for a mail-order bride. The woman arrives carrying the telegram that explains her need to flee, but now that she’s safe, she seems to have no interest in going through with the ceremony. Should he send her packing or try to convince her to stay?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3Ca3xI6

Photo Credits: 

Mountain Washington Hotel: By rickpilot_2000 from Hooksett, USA - Mt. Washington HotelUploaded by jbarta, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26447136 

Wentworth Inn: Courtesy of the Wentworth Inn

The Mountain View Grand: Courtesy of visitwhitemountains.com

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Karen Ferguson

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Karen Ferguson

I'm thrilled to welcome author Karen Ferguson to my blog for the first time. She has written children's books and a devotional. Grab a "cuppa" and get to know this fascinating author.

How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?

I have written (and published) three books so far, with two in the same genre. My favorite by far are my children’s books. My first book, a wellness devotional, was a powerful experience for me as I learned so much about God and myself through that process; but writing kid’s books is just plain fun!

What does your writing space look like?

Since transplanting across the USA to Tennessee, it looks like a big cherry wood desk in our bedroom. My husband and I are empty nesters, so we didn’t think twice about downsizing our home in this move; and we gained more land, which is a blessing. Because my husband often works full-time from home, he got the office and I got the bedroom.

Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym? Why or why not?

I’ve considered it for the adult biofiction piece I’ve slowly been working on over the last several years. But after talking with Francine Rivers at a writing conference, I won’t go that route. She advised against it for the reasons it could be confusing to loyal readers and make it more difficult to market effectively.

How do you develop your characters? (e.g. decide on their vocation, names, etc.)?

I rely heavily on what I know, or in this case, who I know ;) My characters have strong elements of real-life people. I have fun naming these characters, as I like to match names to significant personality traits and inherent meanings.

What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include?

For the books in my children's series, Questions for Kids, I begin with my own Bible study, going

deeper to learn about the people, places, and events of each Bible account. Then I Google what others say about it. How does mainstream Christianity view the subject? How are churches and Christian schools teaching it? This helps solidify my own understanding as well as illuminate real life lessons I can include in the story to help young readers make connections between the Bible account and their own lives. I also solicit feedback from others, including an apologetics ministry that I highly trust and recommend, Answers in Genesis.

If your book is part of a series: Did you set out to write a series? Why did you decide to write a series?

Yes! I knew from the beginning this would need to be a series, because it’s impossible to include all the important Bible accounts into one picture book. There are many wonderful children’s Bibles out there, but that wasn’t what I set out to do. I wanted to create a story thread within the Bible story by including life lessons for the main character Lucy. Each book covers one main Bible account to help build biblical literacy, along with a relatable back story for Lucy that helps kids to engage with the text.

How are your characters like you? Different?

Questions for Kids has two main characters: Lucy Lu and her trusted advisor Papa Joe. Papa is modeled after my own dad who went home to be with the Lord in 2019. Down to the little red flag flying high on his scooter. I’d like to think I’m that wise, trusted advisor to my daughters and grandchildren, just like Papa Joe. Lucy is a combination of people, including myself. I may not have bright red hair and freckles, but I did have a lot of questions as a child, just like curious young Lucy.

Why do you write in your particular genre?

Influence. Picture books help children learn about the world around them and are often the beginning of a lifelong love of books. Books impact kids, teaching them important character qualities and helping them form an understanding of right and wrong. Some books help prepare kids for new stages, phases, and opportunities. My background in K-8 education and my faith in God drives me to write biblically based books for young readers. I want to make a difference in this next generation through colorful, creative books that point kids to Jesus!

What books are on your nightstand right now?

House of Honor, an award-winning fiction book by fellow Ambassador International author Margaret Ann Philbrick. The Beginner’s Guide to Backyard Homesteading by Lisa Lombardo, and Quantum Glory: The Science of Heaven Invading Earth by Phil Mason.

What is your next project?

I’m currently in the publishing process for the third book in the Questions for Kids picture book series. Much more on the topic and launch date soon! Here’s a teaser that just might give the topic away: you’ll find a rainbow in this book. 🌈

About Question for Kids

Follow the exciting adventures of curious young Lucy and her trusted advisor Papa Joe as they journey through the Bible to discover unique periods in biblical history, getting answers to life’s important questions and learning all about God’s never-changing, never-failing, never-ending love. In the Questions for Kids series young readers will encounter God the Creator and His marvelous, majestic creation; they’ll meet Adam, Eve and a sneaky serpent in the Garden, learn the power of God’s Word, why He made the rainbow and much more. Join Lucy and her Papa in this captivating series about God’s love and faithfulness for all people throughout all of history.

About Karen Ferguson
Karen Ferguson is a writer, Host of the 5-Minute Parenting podcast, and the author of the Questions for Kids picture book series. A lover of words, family, animals, and Jesus, Karen is a passionate advocate for truth that transforms lives. Her faith in God and background in K-8 education inspires her mission to share God’s unchangeable truths and His unchanging love with the next generation. You can follow Karen on Facebook and Instagram and sign up for her free newsletter to be the first to know about special events, book updates, freebies and giveaways.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/illuminatecommunications.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenfergusonauthor/
Newsletter sign up: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/n5z4p0

Photo credits:

Bible: Pixabay/Pexels

Boys: Pixabay/Victoria

Other photos: Karen Ferguson

Release Day: Ivy's Inheritance!

Release Day: Ivy's Inheritance

Has she fled one untrustworthy man only to be stuck with another?

Ivy Cregg’s father is a gambler, but this time he’s gone too far. He loses his mining fortune and her along with it in a high-stakes poker game. Unwilling to go along with the deal, she hides out with a friend who tells her about Ms. Crenshaw, owner of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Bride Agency who is in town. The prospective groom is a wealthy man which seems like an answer to prayer until Ivy discovers he made his fortune in mining. Is he as untrustworthy as her father?

After emigrating to America to fight for the Union during their Civil War, Slade Pendleton moved West while working on the railroad, then headed to the plains of Nebraska to seek his fortune. He was one of the lucky ones and now has everything he could ever want. Except a wife. With the few women in the town already married, he sends for a mail-order bride. The woman arrives carrying the telegram that explains her need to flee, but now that she’s safe, she seems to have no interest in going through with the ceremony. Should he send her packing or try to convince her to stay?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3Ca3xI6