Customer Reviews

The Bride Blunder (Prairie Promises Series #3)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Bride Blunder took a clichéd premise (switched brides) and turned the story into something interesting and believable. The characters are fresh and three dimensional and the situations they find themselves in don't appear to be contrived. I love the setting, which takes place right before The Civil War in the Nebraska Territory.

The hero Gavin sends back home for a bride, Marguerite Chandler, only there are two cousins, named after their grandmother who live together and share the name Marguerite Chandler. The Marguerite whose hand Gavin actually wanted is engaged to another man, so the wrong Marguerite arrives in town.

I'm first to admit that this premise sounds corny, but the switched bride's story-line is actually handled well. Gavin's reactions and the way he totally fumbles in handling the situation is so typically male that even though I wanted to choke him, I felt his actions/reactions were written superbly. I admired Marg's strength and the fact that she refused to be considered a second-class citizen when compared to her more beautiful, out-going cousin.

What drove me crazy about The Bride Blunder was the lack of focus on the hero and heroine's relationship. The subplots overwhelmed the story. I found it hard to focus my attention on Marg's and Gavin's developing relationship. I mean it was real bad, to the point where when Marg steps off the stage coach and Gavin realizes he sent for the wrong Marguerite and it's told from a secondary character's point of view. It's not until pages later do we get Marg or Gavin's perspective. Frankly, the secondary characters developing relationship was strong enough to be in its own book and I personally wish that the author left them to another book and took the time to expand on expanding and resolving Marg and Gavin's conflict.

Because of that, while The Bride Blunder was a good story with an interesting setting, it's not a story that sticks in my mind after I close the page.

REVIEW COURTESY OF LYNETTE'S TWO CENTS BLOGPOT

I had the privilege of interviewing Kelly Eileen Hake, on our radio show "Kingdom Highlights", for her new book, "The Bride Blunder", Book Three in her, "Prairie Promises" series published by Barbour. If you haven't read the first two books you have missed getting to know the people of Buttonwood, Nebraska and you have missed a real treat. These are really nice people and, if they existed outside of Ms. Hake's fertile mind, they would be people that you would want to invite over to your house to hang out with them. My personal opinion is that this is Kelly Hakes best work and Ms. Hake has ended the series on a very high note indeed.

Gavin Miller is the miller for the town of Buttonwood and he has prospered enough to finally send for the woman he loves and marry: Marguerite Chandler. However what he forgets is that there are two Marguerite Chandlers and they are cousins. The one he sends for is engaged to be married so everyone assumes it is the other one. So she packs up everything and leaves for Buttonwood for she is in love with Gavin from her childhood. Of course she is not what Gavin expected when she got off the coach and she is terribly hurt when she figures out the error. Gavin wants to do the honorable thing and marry her but she wants to be married for love. Now the romance begins as Gavin realizes that he is in love with her but has to win her over and prove his love.

There is also the story of Midge and Amos as she works through her problems from her childhood before she was adopted. This is a book of emotional trauma and how do we go about the healing process of our emotions when we can't medicate or put bandages on them. Ms. Hake handles this theme exceptionally well and you root for the men to win over their respective women with their love.

I recommend this book highly and while I am sorry to leave the people of Buttonwood behind I am greatly looking forward to the next series.

If you missed the interview for "The Bride Blunder" and would like to listen to it and/or would like to hear the previous interviews where we discussed the first and second books please go to Kingdom Highlights where they are available On Demand.

To listen to 24 Christian music please visit our internet radio station Kingdom Airwaves

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Barbour Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Bride Blunder is the third book in the Prairie Promises collection. However, if you are like me and didn't realize that when you got it and happen to read it first, the story and characters are more than able to stand on their own and you don't need to have read the previous two books in the series to enjoy this one.
I did enjoy reading The Bride Blunder. It was a little predictable and I felt like there were moments that could have had more to them but were instead rather glossed over. I didn't like that this book was told with, I believe, five different points of view (mostly four with the occasional fifth). I would have preferred a more in depth story of one set of characters instead of two fairly shallow stories. But then again, I didn't feel as though I didn't know the characters, just that I would have preferred two separate books. Personal preference.
I will most likely find the other two books in the series and read them, and so in saying, I suppose I would say I would recommend it to fans of the genre.

Book Description:
In the Nebraskan Territory of 1859, Gavin Miller writes home to request the hand of Miss Marguerite Chandler. Unfortunately, while he never forgot Marguerite was the French word for Daisy, he'd failed to recall that the two cousins shared their grandmother's name, and Marge was the nickname of the wrong Miss Marguerite Chandler! When his surprise bride comes to Buttonwood, unexpectedly followed by the very cousin he'd meant to marry, will Gavin be able to solve The Bride Blunder?

So this is the first time that I have read a story where the male character sends back home for a bride to marry and ends up with the cousin with the same name. I was expecting the story to come across as silly, but that was not the case.

I found The Bride Blunder to be a lighthearted read. Although the characters were interesting and they had their share of drama, I wish Gavin and Marge's relationship had a little more passion to it. I wanted to feel the love from the relationship a little more.

So in terms of whether the story really took me there, I found it to be just ok.

This book begins with two cousins in the mid 1800s Baltimore. They are both named Marguerite which came from their grandmother, hence the nicknames Daisy and Marge. Daisy is the debutante, while Marge is the proverbial down to earth, organized, girl next door. Daisy is into the social scene and all about marrying for all the right reasons- social standing and wealth. Marge has only been interested in one person and he moved away.
Gavin Miller is the mutual acquaintance that moved out to the Nebraska Territory who is now ready to start a family, so he sends a proposal letter. It's addressed to Marguerite and they both assume that the letter is for Marge as Gavin is on Daisy's wedding guest list and the invites have already been sent.
"If hope sprang eternal, Marge had packed for it.When she'd prepared a list of things to bring, she'd thought long and hard about what she'd need for a lifetime in a small frontier town. What her family would need, and since she'd always been a big believer in being prepared for anything, the list took on a life of it's own."
Of course, as soon as she steps into view, Gavin knew what a mistake he'd made.
What happens after that? Gavin is the honorable type guy who doesn't back down from a handshake deal once it's made and soon he's reminded how much he liked Marge too. But Marge doesn't want a 'pity invite' to her own wedding. She wants the real deal. Here's where the fun, heartbreak, and frustration begins.
While I really liked Bride Backfire's heat, Bride Blunder was lukewarm. The main characters were more a part of the story rather than the story. For myself, I would like to have seen more sparks between them. I really enjoyed reading the spiritual struggle of both Gavin and Marge as they try to walk in God's will.I loved Gavin's Aunt Ermintrude! Her spunkiness (is that a word?) and how she sees the truth in it all. The premise of a bride mix up is a good one and makes for some funny, some heartbreaking, and some frustrating moments. Hope you enjoy the read like I did.

The Bride Blunder was a good conclusion to the Prairie Promises series by Kelly Eileen Hake. While I must confess that book two, The Bride Backfire, was my overall favorite, The Bride Blunder served to wrap up a few loose ends with one of my favorite characters, Midge. I really wanted to see her find the perfect mate, and believe me, she does.

What really disappointed me was that this was basically three stories in one, and at times, I simply lost interest. I wish that Marge and Gavin's story had been more in the forefront, but unfortunately when it was, it seemed to be the same thing churned over and over again. On the other hand, Daisy's portion of the story was really good, and I loved the determination she found in herself toward the end.

But I've saved the best character for last....cranky Ermintrude. Well, who wouldn't be cranky all the time with a name like that?!?! Don't think for a second that she's not gonna give you a piece of her mind, even if you don't ask for it. She had so much spunk and personality that, at times, she had me roaring with laughter! Every western needs someone like her. :o)

While this wasn't my favorite book of Kelly's, I am definitely a fan of her work. The first two books in this series were very well-written, and I'm eager to get my hands on some of her other books. The Bride Blunder gets a rating of 3 Stars.

Based in the ninteenth century a man living on the frontier writes to a woman from his previous home in Baltimore asking for her hand in marriage. Unfortunately, the woman has a cousin with the same name which also lives in the same house. With the wrong woman accepting the proposal and heading west the "Bride Blunder" unfolds. This book was a typical and predictable romance, but was enjoyable to read. It was well written, but lacked the ability to capture my unending attention. I will most likely pass on the other books in this series.

I found the premise of this story very interesting and exciting, but once I got in to the story it was a real yawner. I never felt like I was "there" in the story, and there is a very distinct lack of chemistry, tension, and connection between the main characters. The writing seemed very amateur to me, like someone's first attempt at a story. I was left very disappointed.

This series by Kelly Eileen Hake is going into my library to be enjoyed again and again very much like the Classics. I much prefer the message that each story carries and the happy ending each book brings. Moby Dick,Silas Marner and David Copperfield never brought such joyous entertainment into my home. I get to Praise God and Worship as I enjoy the adventure I'm reading.

This was a fun read with just the right mix of drama and humor. From the synopsis I knew exactly what I was getting into and enjoyed the ride. What did surprise me was how young an author Hake is. She's got real talent and I'll be interested to see where her career takes her!