Review: A Bride of Convenience by Jody Hedlund

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After Heartbreaking Loss,

a Marriage of Convenience Holds More Appeal than Ever Before.

There is nothing left to keep Zoe Hart in England. Unemployed and struggling with grief, she decides to leave her bleak life behind her and emigrate on a bride ship to British Columbia--the place her brother fled to when falsely accused of a drastic crime.

Pastor to miners in the mountains, Abe Merivale discovers an abandoned native baby during a routine visit to Victoria and joins efforts with Zoe--one of the newly arrived bride-ship women--to care for the orphan. When Abe is forced to choose between following the strict rules laid down by his bishop and listening to God's nudges to care for his people, he is left at a crossroads.

Determined to find her brother and to give the baby a home, Zoe rashly accepts a marriage proposal from a man who promises both. But Abe knows the man's unsavory reputation. Intent on protecting Zoe and wounded by his own failed engagement, Abe impulsively offers his own hand instead. They hastily marry, but both soon realize the marriage of convenience they imagined is not so convenient after all.

My Thoughts:

Another Hedlund story that hits all my sweet spots. My words will not be adequate to express how much I love this tale of loyalty, and love, and the seriousness of marriage vows. This is the third in the Bride Ships series and this story is about Zoe Hart who comes to British Columbia on the 2nd ship. Zoe has encountered a lot of loss in her young life. She is looking for her twin brother, Zeke, to make some things right. What she gets is more loss, a native baby, a stranger husband, and a convenient marriage.

Abe Merivale is a pastor and he has been trying to bring the Gospel to miners and natives alike. He is also a lonely man waiting for his fiancé. When he decides he can wait no longer he sends off a letter asking her to come to British Columbia and to marry earlier than planned. What he gets is heartbreak and a wife, a stranger he was not anticipating from the bride ship.

I enjoyed watching Abe and Zoe grow in their relationship. First they were strangers, tentatively becoming friends, while stronger feelings lay just below the surface. I adore marriage of convenience stories, and this one was one with a lot of obstacles to get around. Very meaningful truths are seamlessly woven throughout.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author:

Jody Hedlund (www.jodyhedlund.com) is the author of over 20 novels, including Love Unexpected, Captured by Love, Unending Devotion, The Preacher's Bride, and A Noble Groom, and is the winner of numerous awards, including the Christy Award, Carol Award, and Christian Book Award. She received a bachelor's degree from Taylor University and a master's from the University of Wisconsin, both in social work. Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy teens, and five spoiled cats. She loves hearing from readers on Facebook and on her blog.