Customer Reviews

Duchess on the Run

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
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Elizabeth Edwards is trying to be brave and supportive but the man she is supposed to marry has joined the Royal Air Force, his number has been called up, and he is expected to leave the next morning to fight in the war. As he is telling her this, he asks Elizabeth if she will be with him this last night so that he can take the memory with him. Not being that type of woman, Elizabeth refuses his advances and the fiancé leaves her home. Weeks later, Elizabeth finds out that even though she did not sleep with her fiancé that last night, someone else did, and is pregnant. Emotionally devastated, Elizabeth cuts all ties with her fiancé and refuses all of his letters. Sixteen months later, when the ex fiancé continues to try to see her, she leaves England for Boston. While in Boston, Elizabeth notices that a strange man is following her. Dismissing this from her mind, she begins a relationship by mail with a man from Nebraska requesting a mail order bride. Things come to a head when Elizabeth learns that the man following her has been hired by her ex fiancé to kidnap her and take her forcibly back to England. Knowing that time has run out, Elizabeth begins a journey to Nebraska with the hope that she and the man she has been writing to will let her stay.

Graham Ballard doesn't believe in love anymore. His first wife duped him into thinking she loved him when she didn't. After almost bankrupting him, she left Gray and their two children and sent Gray divorce papers. Before the divorce could finalize, she was killed. Now, years later, Gray is scared to care again. However, when Elizabeth unexpectedly arrives in Broken Bow, Nebraska, he finds himself wanting to build a life with her. They spend countless days getting to know each other but not without some resistance from others. Things come to a head when people dead aren't and Graham and Elizabeth have to fight to stay together.

Duchess on the Run was a sweet read. Not the type of book that I usually read, Duchess on the Run pleasantly surprised me with the intrigue throughout the book. Graham was masterful, yet tender. Elizabeth was nurturing, yet strong. When you add the friends and family that loved them, you have a great combination.

Christa Fairchild has penned a poignant, yet lovely story of two people who, while starting out as strangers, end up as best friends, and finally, lovers and soul mates. If you are a fan of historical romance novels that are tender, loving, and sweet, then Duchess on the Run is the book for you.

Talia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Christa Fairchild's Duchess On The Run read like a relaxed day at the beach. It was sweet, innocent and enjoyable. But, like any good beach, there are always a few delicious surprises around and this book is no exception. Although delightfully written, you should know that Duchess On The Run also has a few moments that will demand you stop reading the pages so you can fan yourself with them.

Fairchild's main characters, Elizabeth and Graham, are good, honest people who have struggled with love gone bad, but they both risk all to try love one more time. Hesitantly, their love blossoms, while dealing with people and problems that threaten to destroy them and their lives, but they will need all that and more to make it through to happily ever after. If you've not visited Nebraska, might I suggest you go there via Broken Bow and Christa Fairchild's Duchess On The Run.

Sweet with a little bit of naughty loving! I can't believe this woman is a DEBUT author. The characters are so well drawn and LIKEBALE, and what a cool setting- World War I... Don't often see romance set in that time period. Even though both Elizabeth and Graham have been hurt by love, they are willing to try again- which gave me hope too, that I can get a second chance at love. The children are funny, and even the characters who play smaller roles in the story add a neat flavor. Of course there is a happy ending. This was a really neat book that I could see myself reading again in the near future.

Elizabeth Edwards has suffered through public humiliation, due to the scandalous affair of her former beau, Barnard Fredrick, Marquess of Bridgechester. Braving an ocean voyage despite the recent sinking disasters of both the Titanic and the Lusitania and the danger of German U-boat attacks, Elizabeth makes the journey from London to Boston for an extended stay with her grandparents. As the daughter of an Earl, it is simply inconceivable that Barney threw her over for a tumble with a nobody.

Graham Ballard has an ad for a wife posted in a newspaper in Boston. As miserable as his marriage had been, he wouldn't be looking for a wife now if it wasn't for his two small children. He needs a helpmate, companionship, and a mother for his children. Graham's happy being a hog farmer in Nebraska, he just hopes there's a woman out there who will be willing to share in his life and maybe, just maybe, even in his bed.

Elizabeth knows she's being followed, the same man turns up everywhere she is and even waits outside her grandparent's house. She received a letter from Barney begging her forgiveness and enclosing a proxy for their marriage, as well as threatening her family's reputation. She realizes that she must find a way to escape both her stalker and Barney's delusional attempts at making her return to England. While in her cups, Gran points out a ̃Brides to Order" ad in the paper for a farmer in Nebraska. Elizabeth finds herself drawn to the ad, sensing a certain familiarity with the man that wrote the ad, she pens a letter to the address posted in the paper.

Graham is stunned when he's handed an envelope with a Boston return address. He's been running the ad looking for a bride for three months with no response. Receiving a response to his ad after all this time gives him a sense of excitement he hasn't felt in a very long time. Since he only makes the trip into town every couple of weeks, he stops off at a restaurant for pen and paper, and then seats himself at a restaurant to read the woman's letter and write her back. While composing a letter back to Elizabeth, he's accosted by the local widow, Bess, who upon discovering the letter from Elizabeth went into a jealous rage and proceeds to rip it up before stalking out of the restaurant. Graham continued writing his letter with the hope that he could remember the lady's name and her address, or at least piece the letter together well enough to read her address.

After returning from a prohibition meeting, Elizabeth and her best friend, Louise return to Elizabeth's home and find two letters. One letter was from Elizabeth's brother, Edward, who is currently serving in the Royal Army. The other is a letter from Graham. Knowing that her brother's alive thrills Elizabeth, she worries about him constantly, but receiving the letter from Graham sends a jolt of girlish pleasure through her. And so, the letter writing courtship begins.

With an idealistic plot and memorable characters, DUCHESS ON THE RUN is sure to earn a special place in your heart. Elizabeth is endearing in her endeavors to find true love. As an Earl's daughter, she could easily have any number of men; however they would only be after her title and money. By corresponding with Graham, they got the opportunity to know each other without being burdened with titles and money. There is also a budding romance between Elizabeth's brother, Edward and Graham's sister, Grace that I would love to see continue in another story. Christa Fairchild had done a beautiful job bringing the early 1900's to life and allowing her readers to feel like they're part of it. This is Ms. Fairchild's first published novel, and I hope to see many more in the future.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

I just finished reading Christa Fairchild's Duchess On The Run. What a great tale! If you like tender, family-oriented love stories, this is your ticket. Ms. Fairchild has a wonderful way of drawing you right into the lives of her characters and making you wish you could stay just a bit longer...one of those books that you mourn when you've turned the last page.

Elizabeth Edwards has just found out her fiancé is heading to the front line of the war and when he asks her to consummate their relationship instead of saying yes...she says no...it's the smartest thing she's ever done. She leaves England and her heartbreak behind and head to Boston. Her she will stay with her grandparents and hopefully find the balance she needs a man to love. When her grandmother suggests that she answer a mail order bride advertisement from Broken Bow, Nebraska she does with startling results. It comes just at the right time since Elizabeth knows she has a stalker who is going to do what he must to return her to London and the fiancé who wants her back.

Graham Ballard needs a wife and companion. He places an advertisement in Boston for a bride and is intrigued when he receives an answer from Elizabeth. This begins a correspondence between them and he issues an invitation to her to come and see if they will suit. Unbeknownst to him she is already on her way and when she arrives...Elizabeth is more then he could have wished for...but he is gun shy his first wife found him and his lifestyle wanting. Will Elizabeth...the daughter of and Earl be able to find happiness with a farmer? Time will only tell but first they will have to get past someone who wants them to fail...and they won't pull any punches.

This debut effort by Ms. Fairchild is a sweet, poignant read peppered with interesting and endearing characters. Ms. Fairchild has brought the early 1900's to life and it was a joy to visit her make believe world. I eagerly look forward to the sequel of this charming tale.

Christa Fairchild's debut novel marks this author as one to watch.
Elizabeth and Graham are the heroine and hero of this historical, which takes place during the last years of WWI. The story opens in England, moves to Boston and then to Nebraska.

Elizabeth discovers Barnard Frederick, Marquess of Bridgechester, the man she and all society thought she'd one day marry, is a morally corrupt cad. Tired of seeing pity in everyone's eyes, Elizabeth travels to Boston to live with her grandparents. While there, her grandmother circles an ad for a mail-order bride. Elizabeth is not pleased to learn Barnard still intends to wed her and make her his duchess. She responds to the ad.

Graham once before married a woman by mail-order. The result was disastrous, except for the two children produced. Now a widower, Graham craves companionship and the warmth of a good woman.

Because of the fear she might be abducted and returned to England and forced to marry Barnard, Elizabeth travels to Nebraska, surprising Graham. Both are immediately taken with the other.

Before long, doubts surface. Elizabeth, daughter of an earl, wonders if she can be happy with no maid or cook, doing the chores expected of her--and married to a hog farmer.

Graham has difficulty believing Elizabeth is as good as she seems. Didn't his first wife appear perfect at first?

I enjoyed how the author brought in WWI history and made it integral to the novel, yet didn't overwhelm the reader, and how she brought up important, basic questions not usually seen in romance novels.
Duchess on the Run is a sweet, delightful romance and I look forward to reading more from this author. I recommend this book.

Christa Fairchild and Vintage Romance Publishing give us Elizabeth, an honest to goodness early 20th Century earl's daughter, and Graham, her polar opposite, a Nebraska pig farmer. They begin their romance by getting to know each other through the mail before they take the chance to meet.
Elizabeth and Graham, both fearful of having their hearts broken a second time, warily circle each other, examine their own feelings, and their ability to risk committing their hearts to ensure a future together.
Christa introduces you to the amazing and lovely Elizabeth and heartbroken, lonely Graham, taking you directly into the story, the time in history, the Nebraska prairie through the eyes of the native Graham and through the eyes of the surprisingly down to earth English aristocrat. Their emotions and actions ring true for the times but wouldn't be out of place today. Love, fear, uncertainty are universal themes. Christa does a wonderful job of inviting the reader into a different time in history, so beautifully, in fact, that you are there doing farm chores, seeing the wide open prairie land stretch out endlessly to the horizon, agonizing over Elizabeth and Graham's missteps and miscommunications, but never doubting their underlying growing love.
Their love story unfolds slowly and carefully, as the characters crawl into the heart of the reader. You couldn't be happier for them if you knew them personally.
Congratulations Christa on the beauty of your debut novel, and also congratulations to Vintage, and other small presses, for publishing lovely works like this one.

Elizabeth Edwards, daughter of an earl, was betrayed by the duke to whom she was betrothed. After breaking the engagement, she moves to Boston with her grandparents. But to evade the man hired by the duke to stalk her, she answers a newspaper ad placed by a Nebraska farmer advertising for a wife.

Ms. Fairchild pens an enthralling story of tenderness and true love when Elizabeth learns about life and love in Nebraska from the sexy farmer, Graham Ballard. I highly recommend this page-turner set in WWI, and I'm looking forward to Christa Fairchild's next release!

A very sweet and gentle read that will enchant the reader.

Elizabeth Edwards is an old-fashioned lass. When her fianc? is off to join the RAF, he gives her the old timeworn give-yourself-to-me-so-I-carry-the-memory-with-me routine. Despite her emotions, Elizabeth holds true to her convictions and refuses. Later, she learns she has a wee bit more moral fiber than her fianc?. Though she didn't sleep with him, another did. To complicate matters, that woman now carries his child. Being a lass of principal she cannot kill him, so she cuts connections with the jerk, only the heel won't leave her alone and keeps trying to see her. During this period, she begins a correspondence with a gentleman, Graham Ballard, from the states, in search for a mail order bride. She is intrigued by the man's thoughts, his way of expressing himself, so she travels - runs - to Nebraska to find him, hoping he will let her stay.

Ballard doesn't believe in love anymore, and with good reason. His first wife ran off, leaving Graham to find out the only thing she wanted was his money. It hardens him. Ballard doesn't mind so much at this point, good riddance to bad baggage, as they say, only he is left alone to raise his two children. He knows he needs a mother for them, but he is not so thrilled at the wife part, already having been hurt.

Elizabeth's unexpected arrival at his farm upsets his quite life. Soon she is fitting into Ballard's life and his children's, but he fears she will run from him just as his wife did.

However, trouble is brewing in paradise when Elizabeth learns her ex-fianc? has actually stooped to hiring someone to kidnap her and drag her back to England.

Christa Fairchild gives a very moving story of betrayal, hurt, hope and how people reach beyond their pain to fight a life worth fighting for. A wonderful debut book from an author with great promise.