Vivian's Venture: Westward Home and Hearts Mail-Order Brides Book 51

by Joi Copeland

She becomes a mail-order bride to follow her sisters from the orphanage across the country. Little does Vivian Paulson know, she, too, is being followed.

Growing up protecting the two people closest to her, Vivian has little choice but to go along with their scheme of seeking marriage through the Westward Home and Hearts Matrimonial Agency. Expecting her intended to be like every other man in her life, she guards her heart and keeps walls built high around it.

Chase Tuttlby joins his friends by applying to a match-making agency. He does everything in his power to draw out his wife, but she insists on keeping him at arm’s length. No matter what he tries, she doesn’t open up to him, let alone say more than two words at a time. Trying to woo his wife and get her to trust him doesn’t appear to be working and keeps him wondering if he made a colossal mistake.

Since he can’t make his marriage a success, Chase puts all of his energy into his business. Yet, from the moment he takes his vows, anything and everything keeps him failing at whatever he puts his hands to.

When trouble comes knocking, Chase and Vivian must band together, along with friends from Montgomery, Colorado. As they close in on the threat, Chase must decide what matters more to his marriage or his business.

This western mail-order bride romance will keep you on the edge of your seat!

154 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2024

About the author

Joi Copeland is a wife, mom of three wonderful boys, and Christian novelist. Her husband and their three sons make their home in Galway, Ireland.

Reviews

[Melissa (christianbooksandcoffee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! Great story! Loved Chase and Vivian. Vivian’s father is straight evil, horrible! There was good Christian content.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed following the journey of the orphan sisters in this series, and Vivian’s Venture delivers another beautiful and compelling story. Vivian Paulson is perhaps the most complex character yet, and for good reason. Her dark past clouds her present and leaves her little hope for the future. Becoming a mail-order bride through the Westward Home and Hearts Matrimonial Agency seemed like the only way to follow her sisters and escape her past. But little did she know, that past would follow her.

Chase Tuttlby, her new husband, is determined to love her as Christ loves the church, but Vivian keeps him at arm’s length, guarding her heart with high walls. As Chase struggles to win her trust, he also faces mounting pressures from someone threatening his business and his wife. The pacing of the story is just right, building tension as Chase tries to protect what matters most to him.

This story masterfully weaves a tale of love, trust, and perseverance. The romance between Vivian and Chase is not just a typical love story, but a moving portrayal of how love can conquer fear and help rebuild shattered trust. With suspense, faith, and heartfelt moments, Vivian’s Venture is a beautiful addition to this series that I highly recommend.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author with no obligation to provide a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Vivian and Chase's story. Vivian has difficulty letting others in and therefore is not as open to marriage as her adopted sisters. However, through time, experience and the love of her God-fearing husband, she learns that it's okay to trust.

Joi Copeland writes an engaging and action-filled story that encompasses the meaning of Christ's love for his church. Great mail-order bride romance!

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been looking forward to Joi Copeland’s Vivian’s Venture ever since I read Kinsley’s Kiss and Piper’s Plea from the Westward Home and Hearts Mail Order-Brides series! Vivian’s Venture met every expectation that I had for the story and then some! Vivian along with her very best friends Kinsley and Piper enlist the help of the Westward Home and Hearts Matrimonial Agency to find a husband so they might have a place to live and stay close to one another after aging out of an orphanage. Kinsley and Piper are thrilled with their marriage prospects, but Vivian not so much. Vivian grew up in an abusive environment at the hands of her Father, until Vivian escaped to the orphanage (which wasn’t much of an escape), which tainted her view of the male population. Vivian’s husband Chase is nothing like Vivian’s Father and seeks to show her this through his Faith. This is easier said than done when Chase continues to be shut out by Vivian. Chase is also trying to get a restaurant/boarding house business off the ground called The Venture, but someone doesn’t want Chase to succeed and threatens his livelihood. After an eye-opening conversation with Kinsley and Piper, Vivian starts to soften towards Chase. As Chase and Vivian get closer it’s not only their livelihood that gets threatened, but everything they hold dear.

Joi Copeland’s Vivian’s Venture was a pure delight to read! I loved meeting Chase and Vivian! What they went through broke my heart. I was utterly livid at what Vivian’s Father did to Vivian when she was young! The reasoning Vivian’s Father gave for the abuse, while heartbreaking, made me even more livid! Chase exuded patience and was Jesus in the flesh when Vivian needed it most. That amazed me to see it in the book because we don’t always see that in the real world. I loved the growth that Vivian showed in the book. I especially loved the moment in the book when Vivian opened her eyes and truly saw who God is for the very first time. (Read Vivian’s Venture to see it for yourself!) I love the splash of intrigue that Ms. Copeland wrote into Vivian’s Venture and was shocked, in a good way, to how the mystery played out and by whom. I loved how soaked Vivian’s Venture was in God’s Truth and that it didn’t shy away from how we should treat one another. While I love Vivian, the character that impacted me the most was Chase. The way Chase was the hands and feet of Jesus to Vivian really impacted me and challenge me to do better in the way I treat people. If you are looking for an encouraging, uplifting read that points you to Jesus, then I highly recommend Vivian’s Venture by Joi Copeland!

Have you read Vivian’s Venture? What did you think of the book?

I would like to thank Joi Copeland for letting me be a part of her Launch Team and giving me a copy of Vivian’s Venture to review, as well as what I needed for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My review is also on Amazon and my blog Leslie's Library Escape.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having met Vivian in Kinsley's and Piper's story, it was great to get to know her character better. What makes her do what she does? As we see her marriage with Chase unfold, we learn about her past and the heartache that has made her so closed off. Despite the walls, her new husband is determined to love her for who she is even as he struggles to open his new business as someone is out to ruin the venture before it begins. This is a nice wrap-up of the Kinsley, Piper, and Vivian mail-order bride trilogy though it can be read without having read the other two books.

Vivian and Chase are both wonderful characters that I enjoyed to get to know. Their actions match their personalities and they change with the events of the story in ways that make sense. Though it is a well written, immersive tale it felt very surface level to me. There is so much more depth that was not touched on with this story. I thoroughly enjoyed what was there but in many ways it left me wanting more. Especially with the ending. It feels like a quick, simplistic wrap up and though we get our happily ever after I would have liked to see more. That being said, I still recommend the story if you are looking for a sweet romance to entertain you.

I received an ARC copy of the book and this is my honest review.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful and wholesome story!

If you’re looking for a wholesome story that is very clean but has all the intensity of deep feelings, as well as point you to the unconditional love of God, this is a good book for you.
Joi has created a deep love story without a single kiss scene, and it’s truly beautiful.
You can’t help but fall in love with Chase as he relies on God to love his mail-order wife Vivian who doesn’t put her walls down at any given point but longs to be genuinely loved deep in her heart. Broken and hurt inside and out by her earthly father she rejects the love of Heavenly Father as well as her husband. But the ever-loving God never leaves his children, and that’s the beauty of salvation in Christ which is unapologetically in the center of this story set in the Wild West.

I received this book as a free copy but a positive review was not required. I simply loved and had to share my opinion.

[Michelle Dodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a historical, clean Christian romance. It is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone, though better if you read the prior books.

Vivian and her friends become mail order brides after leaving the orphanage. They travel to Colorado and Vivian’s soon-to-be husband is Chase. She marries him but is distant. Chase wants to help her and have a real marriage, but Vivian had a bad childhood and is very wary. Can their relationship become a real marriage?

This was a great story. TW – there is abuse. I am enjoying the storyline and the relationships between the couple as well as their relationship with God. This is a shorter story. Definitely a good read.

I received and ARC from the author and am leaving an honest review.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third book of the saga of these “sisters” may be the most exciting, not that Kinsley/Maxwell’s or Piper/August’s first months were easy. Chase may have the hardest time because Vivian really doesn’t want to get married, she really doesn’t want to have anything to do with men. Joi Copeland brings these stories to life and draws you in. You’re wanting all the marriages to succeed but especially Vivian’s because she has had such a hard time in the past. Her life just can’t seem to get easier, no matter how hard Chase tries. It is a good thing we know and understand her background because I’m not sure I would have been as patient as Chase. I’ve enjoyed all of these stories and can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us next.

[April Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving like Christ

Chase has a difficult marriage with his mail-order bride, Vivian. She is so closed off; so he decides to follow the Bible and love her like Jesus loves the church. Through arson, vandalism, attempted murder, and kidnapping, she learns to trust him and love him. It’s a sweet story; Chase is such a gentleman that you can’t help but like him, and Vivian is so hurt, you can’t help but ache to fix her pain. They were made for each other.

I enjoyed the story very much. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and these are my voluntary and honest opinions. I was not required to leave a positive review.

[Rayna Woodward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back again, in the last of the trilogy of the ophan friend brides! Love these characters and the book starts similarly so each could be read as a stand alone. Now we get to understand the back story about Vivian...and Chase! Some parts you expect and some parts shock, making you want to keep reading to find out if their arranged marriage will find romance. Relatable, real characters...focus on God... heartwarming...clean and sweet romance...that is what you will find in this and other books by Joi Copeland!
My favorite part is how much the characters talk about God's involvement in each part of their lives... thinking and doing...what a great life applicable concept to cling to!

[Sandra Hartzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had an ARC for this book, but this is my voluntary and honest opinion. Vivian is one of three friends who grew up in an orphanage and became mail order brides. Because of her past with an abusive father, Vivian doesn’t trust men, so has not yet trusted her husband, Chase, but helping him ready his restaurant and boarding house business to open, she sees what kind of man he is as someone has targeted him trying to set back the opening. A touching story of trust, love, and commitment both to God and family.

[sheila jo gravely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mistrustful!!

We ll written story of mistrust, anger, resentment, physical abuse, and the being fearful for for not knowing the true Father!!When Vivian comes to realize that she needs her heavenly father’s love to trust Chase. Things finally work out for these 3 like sisters. Vivian accepts the love she so desperately deserves with God as their center of their marriage and trust Chase!! Love and Gaith find a way!!

[Debbie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book! Vivian became a mail order bride along with her orphan sisters. Due to past abuse, she has built a wall around her heart that she is afraid to let anyone in. Chase knows he has to be patient with his new wife but hopes they will become close eventually. However, he has to deal with the vandalism to his new boarding house and Vivian’s has to deal with someone from her past showing up before the book comes to its exciting conclusion. I highly recommend reading this book!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivian carries the life of an abused child with her.

Will Vivian ever be able to heal from her childhood abuse and learn to trust men in her new life as a mail order bride?
The damage done to Vivian in childhood causes her to have a very difficult time while growing up. She is threatened by her memories and then the arrival of her abusive father.
Is she strong enough to heal and love her husband?

[Evelyn Foreman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author always peaks my interest, captures my heart and stirs my emotions with her magical writings! From an orphanage to a mail order bride, hurt, pain and distrust held Vivian bound to the past leaving only a bleak and miserable future. But what plans did her Heavenly Father have for her? Would she ever be free, able to trust, able to love?

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet story that truly brings out God the Father and his love for his children. The way the main characters learn, in their own way, how to navigate around each other and their feelings. It was truly enjoyable. Great characters, a little suspense, and easy to read.

I was given this book for an honest review. I recommend this novella.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can a man assure his wife that he really is trustworthy and he will not intentionally hurt her? Only God can do that. Love can break down walls and establish trust. This is an action-packed story with a lot of truth. Very well done!

[J Nunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was on arc team. Strong friendships, three mail order brides, three Godly men. Two couples had an almost immediate connection, one took a little more time.
Friendship, romance, a little danger. A good mixture that kept me interested until the end.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book

This was a good book and by a great author. I highly recommend this book and author. I can’t wait to read the next book by this wonderful author.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, Vivian's story of the three sisters in Vivian's Venture. The three sisters at the orphanage, Vivian, Kinsley and Piper have all aged out with no prospects to be had, except to marry. Vivian won't disappoint her sisters and agrees to be married alongside them. The only problem is that she really doesn't want to marry and is afraid and doesn't trust any man, after the cruelty of her Father. They all travel to Colorado and will marry three men in the same town. It's so hard, seeing the other two women happy and Vivian is not, even though her husband, Chase is a perfect gentleman. She needs to put her faith in God. Well written and you will rooting for them.
I was given an ARC of this book by the author for an honest review