A Bride in the Bargain

A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's the 1860's and lumberjack Joe Denton claimed 640 acres of Seattle redwoods through a Land Donation Grant. He's worked the land and created a successful logging company, but his claim is at risk because single men only qualify for 320 acres. Joe can't get his hands on a copy of his wife's death certificate proving that he was married when he got the land. As a last ditch effort to save his land, he "buys" a bride that Asa Mercer promises to collect from back East among all the Civil War widows and orphans.

Anna Ivey sees an article about discounted passage to Seattle for those looking for work, and jumps at the opportunity to start over. Little does she know she's expected to marry Joe and not just work as his cook when she arrives.

The historical fiction was very interesting. There were times I felt like getting online to check some facts because I wasn't aware that certain things were available at the time this was taking place, but Gist does seem to put a lot of research into her novels. She also includes more romantic details than I'd expect from a Christian author.

Overall I really enjoyed the novel. It was a great book to read for the last leg of our road trip.