Blog Hop: Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands Romance Collection

Genre: Christian, Historical
Publisher: Barbour
Publication date: June 1, 2017
Number of pages: 448
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Dime Novel Suitor by Carrie Fancett Pagels
When a British dime novel enthusiast finds himself flat broke in Kansas, he discovers what western life and true love are all about. Barden Granville IV grew up at Cheatham Hall, Kent, England, devouring cowboy stories and dreaming of the day he, with no prospects of inheriting estate nor title, could escape to the American frontier. Educated and ordained an Anglican priest, his trip to America is his “last hurrah” before accepting a vicarage in a small town far from his aristocratic family’s estate. When a series of misadventures leaves him without money and stranded, he must take up employment immediately.

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After her father dies, widow Caroline Kane becomes the owner and proprietor of a restaurant and inn. She also assumes responsibility for her five teenaged siblings. Caroline’s busybody married sister insists that an Englishman who purports to answer an ad for help, is the perfect candidate for Caroline’s next husband. While she’s relieved to have help, Caroline finds Barden’s primary asset to be his silver tongue. When his efforts finally bring fruit, Barden receives word from England that could leave Caroline worse off than before, for her heart will leave with him. Will Barden answer his heart and God’s call in Kansas, or will his family responsibilities compel him to leave his dreams behind?

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Carrie Fancett Pagels, Ph.D., is an ECPA bestselling and award-winning author. With a dozen Christian historical romances published, this former “Yooper” writes Christian historical romances about overcoming. She grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where many of her stories are set. Possessed with an overactive imagination, that wasn’t “cured” by twenty-five years as a psychologist, she loves bringing characters to life. Carrie and her family reside in Virginia’s Historic Triangle, which is perfect for her fascination with history. Carrie enjoys reading, traveling, baking, and beading-but not all at the same time!
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Her short story, The Quilting Contest, was Historical Fiction Winner of Family Fiction’s “The Story” national contest. Her novella, The Substitute Bride was a 2016 Maggie Award published finalist for Romance Novellas. Grand Exposé was a 2014 Maggie Award honorable mention for a novel set on Mackinac Island (now entitled My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude’s Mooring, Barbour, July 2017). All three of her Christy Lumber Camp books were long list finalists for Family Fiction’s Book of the Year and The Fruitcake Challenge was a Selah Award finalist. Her novel, Saving the Marquise’s Granddaughter (White Rose/Pelican, June, 2016) received a Starred Review by RT Book Reviews.

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How Reading Influences People -- Dime Novel Suitor by Carrie Fancett Pagels

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My hero, Barden Granville IV, has been raised at Cheatham Hall, in England. His manservant kept young Barden supplied with “dime novels,” many of which were accounts of cowboys and Indians. Imagine living on a vast estate in England, and being a young boy with a wild imagination. And imagine you knew you had few options available to you as the third son of an aristocrat. Barden wasn’t going to inherit unless his two older brothers died without heirs. He wasn’t about to go into the military as his next oldest brother was pursuing and excelling in that realm. And so, with a strong faith, Barden decides to become a vicar.

But what do you do when you have a strong imagination that demands fulfillment? Barden fights that desire to run off to America, feeling his family obligations. But, inspired by those stories, he longs to enjoy the adventure of the American West. So he has completed his seminary studies and now is about to accept a country church parish as their new vicar. With that summer gap, he’s finally going to quench that curiosity and go to America. Except his parents can’t know what he’s up to because they’d never approve.

What do you do, though, when you have never ever been able to please your demanding perfectionistic father, though? Well, you have to admit it makes it easier to run off, doesn’t it? So, inspired by what he’s read in those dime novels, Barden has gone to America and finds himself, in his first scene in the book, right smack dab in the middle of some bonafide western men, in a saloon, playing cards. You see, he’s really out of his element, isn’t he? He’s read about this kind of situation but it was FICTION! Wooeee, sometimes reality doesn’t quite match up with what we have read, does it?

Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands collection is set in Kansas, right after the Civil War. The west, at that time, was a place in huge flux.

Question: Have you ever read a story, then visited the setting, but it was years later? And found it didn’t quite match up?

Grand Prize Giveaway: Kindle Fire + Postcards of Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order, bookmarks from upcoming release My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude’s Mooring, print copy of Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands, cowboy-themed earrings, and an ebook copy of Holt Medallion finalist “The Steeplechase.”

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Other Giveaway: If 10+ unique commenters post on this blog, one commenter will be selected to receive a print copy of Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands (US only).

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