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Sweetwood Bride

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Morsi, Pamela

443 pages, Hardcover

First published August 21, 2012

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About the author

Pamela Morsi

63 books452 followers
Pamela Morsi was an American writer. She was the author of 29 romance novels, beginning in 1991.

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5 stars
113 (24%)
4 stars
156 (34%)
3 stars
119 (26%)
2 stars
43 (9%)
1 star
22 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Debbie DiFiore.
2,863 reviews320 followers
April 25, 2020
Wasn't Quite Sure at First but...WOW

This was a great book. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me feel. I just couldn't put it down. A young girl wants to be married so she can keep her family together and so she finds a man she likes and lies through her teeth. Nothing like getting married with a shotgun at your back! Poor man was absolutely gutshot when he his forced to marry Eulie. Plus she comes with five siblings to boot. I am going to be honest there were times I didn't like her at all. I thought she was selfish and mean and I was disappointed in her choices but I loved Moss. He was a great hero. But Eulie did get to me. There is so much going on in This story, I was enthralled with each changing nuance and every character from spoiled little Minnie to miserable Uncle Jeptha. Every one of them grabbed your heart and touched your soul. I do t want to spoil it but its a very simple story. They are farmers and there's no makeovers, no mansions, no money but pure simple living. Fruit of the earth. At first I was disappointed at the stark reality of it but it captured my interest and I went from laughing, to sobbing, and back again. It really touched me and the epilogue was so perfect. I think this is going on my Favorites shelf. Great way to spend a Saturday morning for sure.
Profile Image for Michelle Robinson.
619 reviews9 followers
December 13, 2016
I almost threw this book across the room. I hate hate hate books that begin with lies or coercion and this book begins with both.
Eulie Toby is one of those people who believes the end justifies the means and I suppose, since it was a woman manipulating a man, that was acceptable to most. However, as a woman I was disgusted by what she did and could not like her throughout the book. I do not believe that anyone could fall in love with someone that had misused them in such a way. I wonder what type of person thought this is ok? Even in fiction?

I generally like Morsi but this book surprised me. I could not find anything redeeming about the book. I have a problem with situational ethics and I dislike when we forgie a woman in a storyline for doing something that we would never forgive a man for in similar circumstances.

I hated the heroine of this book! I found nothing respectable about her charachter or her lack of ethics. If this had been my first Morsi book, it would most assuredly been my last!
Profile Image for Lynn Spencer.
1,449 reviews87 followers
September 11, 2023
B- so, 3.5 stars When I first started reading romance in earnest back in high school and college, Americana historicals were huge. I sometimes feel a little nostalgic for those books, so for this month’s TBR Challenge, I picked up one of the very few Pamela Morsi historicals I’d never read – a 1999 release called Sweetwood Bride. Set in post-Civil War Tennessee, the book starts with what appears to be a literal shotgun marriage.

We learn right off the bat why Euly Toby and Moss Collier must marry, and I suspect some readers will get turned off right away. Euly Toby is most definitely not one of the blandly inoffensive, borderline saintly heroines readers encounter in too many historical romances. Not even close. Pretty much from the word go we learn that she has lied, schemed and tricked her way into her marriage. I know some readers won’t want to go much further with that, but Pamela Morsi is a very good author, and I was curious to see what she would do to redeem this mess.

This is a partial review. You can find the complete text of my TBR Challenge entry for November 2014 at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/tbr-chall...
Profile Image for namericanwordcat.
2,440 reviews441 followers
July 16, 2014
The Sweetwood Bride might be Morsi least loved Americana book but for me it is such a fun read every time it has five star status.

It is a shotgun marriage when Eulie, our not far thinking heroine, frames Moss, our hero, into marriage.

I have a love of forced wedding plots because I like the couple to just have to deal with each other. All the time.

I think what draws me to this book besides Morsi's typical humor and lovely historical deatils is that the leads both grow, learn, and change.

This book might not be to everyone tastes but for me I like to settle in, accept who the character are, and enjoy.
Profile Image for Brittany.
1,195 reviews28 followers
June 13, 2011
While I usually enjoy historical romance this one is not one of my favorites. I felt sorry for Moss, his name was ruined and dreams smashed and he got saddled with a selfish bride. I didn't care much for Eulie. She showed no remorse for forcing Moss to marry her and was very shallow, commenting too much about Bug's 'ugly' looks.




Profile Image for Sophia.
97 reviews25 followers
July 17, 2018
Warning: This may or may not be a vent disguised as a review.

I have read six of Pamela Morsi's books and I can't seem to give any of them a rating lower than 4, except this one: my seventh book. Even so, I'm not exactly giving this a low rating. Pamela Morsi has a way of writing her characters and pacing the stories that always leave me with this feeling that I can't explain. I feel like if this was more of a family-centered story instead of Moss and Eulie's romance and told through the supporting characters' eyes, I would've loved it more. I'm pretty sure the ending and supporting characters of this book added at least a half-star to the rating.

At first, this book didn't seem to do it for me. I wasn't a big fan of Eulie, her sunny disposition, and how she manipulated a situation and put another person's dream on the line, Moss seemed like your typical male in this kind of story, and Uncle Jeptha and the youngers were pretty okay characters that you'd encounter a couple of times if you're familiar with, again, this kind of story. As I read on, I found that I am wrong on two accounts. The thing is, this book probably got me at a good moment: I've read a string of 3 stars at best stories for the last couple of weeks and then this book by a loved author was just there in my to-read shelf so I decided to go for it.



In the end, I wounded up caring more about some of the supporting characters than Eulie and Moss but it was still a pretty good and well-paced read that left me wanting more. And because of that, I give this book 3.5 stars.
Profile Image for Celestine.
952 reviews132 followers
April 13, 2020
Not my favorite of Morsi's books. There is way too much family drama (or even lack of drama - maybe just detail, like cleaning the corners of the cabin), and not enough focus on the main romantic couple, Eulie and Moss. This doesn't seem to have the personality that many of Morsi's other books contain.
80 reviews4 followers
June 18, 2009
This was a sweet book (as Morsi tends to do), an truly upbeat heroine, without too much sap. A hero who is more noble than he knows. I did find his forgiveness a little too easily come by, but managed to buy into it finally. Over all good, but still lacking whatever it is, chemistry maybe that makes a romance novel really fun.
Profile Image for Rachel C..
2,070 reviews4 followers
May 18, 2008
Historical romance.

Execrable. Not a charming character or an unexpected plot point to be found in the entire book. The Orphan Train books (particularly "Lily and the Major") by Linda Lael Miller have similar features but are better in every way.
Profile Image for micki.
747 reviews16 followers
September 15, 2015
DNF at 6%. The setup for this book is appalling. Lie and say you're pregnant so the town will force a guy w ho never had sex with you to marry you - with a shotgun pointed at his back.
400 reviews22 followers
March 2, 2024
I saw a 1 star review which is almost at the top giving lashings and negativity at the h saying how she’s the worst woman trapping the H destroying his dream of going to the West and living a better life- I just want to ask her- Mam, did you read the book? Did you REALLY read the book?

If you’d have read the book you’d have known that H never would have went to the West. You see how he had all these excuses of having an ailing uncle and waiting for the right time to go? Well he would have never gone to west even if he had the chance. You know why? Because he never really wanted to go- it simply a purpose in his otherwise lonely life. He was lonely and sad and therefore had used this going to west a purpose to live and look forward to- a hope. And that’s what all these books of Miss Morsi are about.

Because when he HAD the chance finally to go to West, you could see how he was making excuses to stay longer- even going as far as vowing fidelity to his wife. I mean, a man leaving everything behind to a new life wouldn’t be thinking of wedding vows and fidelity would he? Would he think about building a bed and repairing the shed before going? Or would he simply cut his losses and go? Given that it was his life long dream? Maybe he just wanted the “choice” to up and leave anytime instead of having no option at all, which made him feel trapped. He needed that freedom to choose, even if he doesn’t really go. When its taken away, he thinks his life is ruined.

Yes the h was annoying, both the H and h were annoying throughout the book. She was a foolish self centred girl. He was foolish, daydreaming lout with no subtle sense of compassion. But she’s also a lonely girl desperately trying to keep her family with her. The way I see it, she is the complete opposite of the H- he wants freedom, she wants stability. She wants to happily live ever after forever with her family and fails to acknowledge that her siblings might want to have their own lives as well. After losing her parents and being the sole guardian of her siblings, her life revolves around them. She at times seems suffering some mental health problems because she thinks her family should be togther and unchangeable forever ever. Like at one instance she thinks Little Minnie will always stay the baby of the family, suggesting she would never grow up. Also about her sister Clara marrying, she thinks its not time yet, even though she is only one year younger than the h. This shows somewhere the h is not right in the head. She has trauma after losing both the parents and the family getting separated and trying her best to cope. She doesn’t know what she will do when they’re gone- THATS her purpose- her family. And that’s why she tries hard to keep them together. And losing that purpose is unacceptable to her.

But AT THE SAME TIME, she realises her mistake, and regrets her decisions and tries to correct it in her own way. Like the fact about the forced marriage. Even though her methods are not sane.

She has this ever positive sunny disposition but honestly I felt really sad for her because everyone sees her outer sunny attitude but never the inner loneliness she has or tries to understand why she’s doing what she’s doing. And tbh I was expecting more angst from this angle like the H will break her sunniness and then regret it but Miss Morsi doesn’t write like that.

Anyway this book was okay and midrange entertaining but definitely not 1 star. And I hope readers would ignore that highly immature negative reviews at the top of the list and give this book a try. I m gonna check out more books by Miss Morsi too.
Profile Image for Teri-K.
2,532 reviews56 followers
March 30, 2021
Feelings run high about this book because of the way the MC lies and gets the man to marry her. And I totally respect a reader's right to say, "I don't want to read this." I've had books I didn't finish because of the behavior of a character. However, I prefer books where the people aren't perfect. I don't like them if everyone is a liar, cheater, and miserable human being. But flawed main characters? Bring them on! Because I am flawed myself. And I've lived long enough and enough places around the world to know that we're not all the same. We all have stories behind the way we behave and the choices we make. It's those stories that really interest me, the ones where I can come to understand why a person would make such a bad choice, why I sometimes make bad choices myself, and where we go with our lives after that.

S, that's not why I stopped reading after getting half way through the book. Instead, I just found I didn't care about the characters. At one point -minor - I realized I was bored with the poeple and their lives. To be honest, I think the author tried to do to much with too many characters, so I never had the chance to become invested in any of them or their problems. And the heroine came across as so stubborn and selfish I couldn't like her. She was content to destroy lots of other people's happiness to achieve her own end. To be fair, she didn't see it that way, but that's how it looked to me. Without a way to understand why she was so desperate to keep the kids with her, when they could have been happy with others and she still would have seen them regularly, her actions never worked for me. So I'm regretfully passing on this book.

NB - If you want to read a good book about poor families in Appalachia, I recommend Christy by Catherine Marshall instead.
Profile Image for Makoto Kobayashi.
74 reviews6 followers
July 22, 2019
This must be one of the shittiest books I've read in a while.... I couldnt even stomach to read further than 30% on my kindle because this heroine was so freaking disgusting. Lying to the whole f***ing town that the poor guy slept with you and got you pregnant, then pointing a gun at him and forcing him to marry that shitty woman. Honestly WTF?!?! This guy had dreams, plans for himself and then he was forced to share his home with a lying and despicable woman and her shallow family...
265 reviews7 followers
June 22, 2023
Maybe even 2.5? Disappointing! I usually love Morsi, but this was her worst so far for me.

Excellent premise! I was so hopeful at the beginning! And then :/ just eh.

I don’t mind children in romances. These, however, were so annoying. Was the baby sister written to be so spoiled and whiny just so we wouldn’t miss her when she gets adopted by another family?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
604 reviews4 followers
May 28, 2020
Another beautiful story by one of my favorite authors

Pamela Morsi writes heartwarming, romantic stories filled with sweetness, personal growth, sensuality, and love. Well-written, with a lovely HEA. Highly recommended.
235 reviews1 follower
December 26, 2021
It's so great to see a couple who quickly form a strong bond. They have ha a rocky start, of course, but Eulie's positive attitude quickly wins her husband over. The main contention comes from other stuff.

I'm still in love with Morsi's writing, if you cant tell.
3 reviews
March 23, 2018
Delightful

Warning—this is “cannot put dower”
Aim a slow reader so I take 2 or 3times longer than most folks.

Ryehundy
Profile Image for ksstannard.
230 reviews3 followers
July 8, 2018
Sweet story

From a bad beginning many lives are changed for the better. Strong characters, lots of humor, and sweet love. Morisi did it again.
Profile Image for Sylvia.
1,578 reviews75 followers
July 19, 2018
I loved this book!! great story!! 1st time reading this author!!
Profile Image for Linda LaRoque.
Author 25 books64 followers
April 19, 2020
I love historical romances and Pamela Morsi writes the best. Her characters are full of life and her story lines are sure to please. Thoroughly enjoyable read!
159 reviews1 follower
April 25, 2020
Sweetwood Groom

Moss is a man with a dream of wide-open spaces filled with grazing cattle. In his dream it is everything.
18 reviews
April 27, 2020
There were some editing issues in the Kindle version, but the story was nice. Maybe it's a mountain thing, but the way the main character referred to her husband as "husband-man" drove me nuts.
11 reviews
April 28, 2024
great read

I loved the twisted of the story but the end was as it should be. You should read it. It was recommended by a friend. So I recommend it to you.
12 reviews
May 3, 2025
帕蜜拉的群像写的是最好的:)
15 reviews
June 25, 2025
Heroine ruined the book for me, had to skim to finish it
4,022 reviews21 followers
June 13, 2019
Moss Collier, a hard-working man who has never lied or cheated, is suddenly convicted (without a jury) of using and abandoning Eulie Toby. The story opens in the hills of Tennessee, with a shotgun wedding (complete with a loaded gun at Moss’ back) and a very happy bride (Pollyanna could take lessons from Eulie).

After their parents died, the children were parceled out to various farms to live. Eulie made the claim that she was ‘with child’ because she was desperate to gather her brother and sisters together – safe under a strong man’s wing.

However, farmer Moss had other plans; he was saving and preparing to become a cattle rancher out West. The only fly in the ointment was Moss’ uncle, an ex-soldier who had lost his legs during the Civil War. Moss promised his dying mother that he’d care for Jeptha Barnes for the rest of his life. The ‘soon-to-die’ uncle was still alive 20 years later.

The hermit (Uncle Jeptha) and confirmed bachelors (Moss and Jeptha) were horrified by the arrival of the children and Eulie. The son, Ransom, was belligerent and hostile; while the youngest girl (Minnie) was a certified screaming brat. The twin girls, Nora May and Cora Fay, were the real bright spots; they were kind and helpful to all. Clara was dreamy and in her own world, a quiet complement to Eulie.

Eulie got to be tiresome after a while; she decided that Moss should ‘just get over it’ regarding her deception. Of course, she did not know about Moss’ long-held dreams of moving west to Texas.

Eulie also was rather controlling about her brother and sisters. She’d decided that they all would live together ‘happily ever after.’ Her siblings had other ideas and didn’t take long to put them into practice. Fortunately, Eulie grows through the pain she experiences with her siblings and Moss’ plans to move to Texas.

Moss was truly the rock upon which these 8 people could meld into a family. Eulie, Ransom, Jeptha and Moss grew tremendously during the course of this story. This was a very satisfying book!
Profile Image for Krysten.
148 reviews
July 10, 2025
2025:
1 star. I really appreciate slice of life stories and I thought I’d give this another shot since I’m older and more interested and in my romance era. I didn’t like this. I didn’t find any one particularly likable— in fact I found characters to be irritating. I was uncomfortable a lot of the time and at several points things felt nonconsensual and degrading. Reading romance has been really empowering and affirming in reclaiming sexuality through the female gaze (and pov) but this didn’t do it for me.

I am not opposed to reading more Pamela Morsi and I did enjoy the sibling dynamics, but this wasn’t for me.





2018:
2 star
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews