A Vow For Christmas

Spinster Mail-Order Brides #7

by Linda Carroll-Bradd

3rd place winner of short historical category of 2020 IDA contest

In the two years since his beloved wife died, rancher Chad Rutherford has done the best for his family. But with his sister leaving the family ranch to get married, he needs to find someone to keep house and tend his kids so he places an ad for a mail-order bride.

Left on her own by her brother’s murder, spinster Vika Carmichael must find a way to life. An ad for a mail-order bride from a widower with small children seems like the perfect fit. Until she arrives in Gunnison City, Colorado, and wonders if room for her exists in their hearts.

Will two proud individuals find a way to work together, or will their marriage vow be broken by Christmas?

A heartwarming, sweet western historical romance

Previous Titles in the Series
Book 1--A Marshal for Christmas by P. Creeden
Book 2--A Bride for Christmas by Cheryl Wright
Book 3--A Husband for Christmas by Margaret Tanner
Book 4--A Farmer for Christmas by Marisa Masterson
Book 5--A Family for Christmas by Cheryl Wright
Book 6--A Shadowed Groom for Christmas by Marisa Masterson
Upcoming titles
Book 8--A Sheriff for Christmas by P. Creeden
Book 9--A Groom for Christmas by Cheryl Wright
Book 10--A Niece for Christmas by Margaret Tanner
Book 11--A Cowboy for Christmas by Christine Sterling
Book 12--A Companion for Christmas by Marisa Masterson
Book 13--An Orphan for Christmas by P. Creeden
Book 14--A Fresh Start for Christmas by Kimberly Grist
Book 15--A Miracle for Christmas by Patricia PacJac Carroll
Book 16--A Mother for Christmas by Christine Sterling
Book 17--A Home for Christmas by Julia Ridgmont
Book 18--An Outlaw for Christmas by Susan Horsnell

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Historical Fiction, Western Romance

91 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 12, 2019

About the author

As a child, Linda was often found lying on her bed reading about characters having exciting adventures in places far away. Upon reaching a landmark birthday, she decided to write one of those romances she loved so much. Easier said than done. Perseverance paid out and twelve years later, she received her first call from a publisher and a confession story was published. Now Linda writes heartwarming contemporary and historical stories with a touch of humor, and many have a tie to her previous home of Texas.
Linda enjoys writing from her cabin in the mountains among the cedar and pines with her husband of 34 years and their two much-loved dogs.

Reviews

[Lori Meehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sweet Christmas romance.
Desperate mail order bride Vika Carmichael needs to find a good husband to save her from destitution after her brother dies. Vika longs for a family of her own.
Chad Rutherfordbus left to care for his children after his wife dies. H can’t care for his children properly and run his sheep farm at the same time. A mail order bride will have to do. As long as she can clean, cook and care for his children she will do. All he needs is help, he will not fall in love again. He does not want a true wife just someone to help.
To bad when Vika arrives Chad realizes what’s been missing from his life and home since his wife passing. Will Vika make Chad see they both deserve happiness?

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars: 5/5 star rating
What a surprising Christmas novella! Vika and Chad both have different expectations for their marriage but they must come to some sort of agreement or else their marriage will be doomed from the start. Will they be able to come together and work things out? Will they connect in more ways than just the precious children he has from his previous widow?
I loved reading this novella. I personally enjoy the ease and speed of reading novellas. I was able to finish this one in one afternoon while sitting by the twinkling lights of my own Christmas tree. Perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon!
I received a digital ARC of this novella from netgalley and Inked Figments in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Vow For Christmas - Chad and Vika

Love this book! Well rounded characters and love ever after. Chad's wife died in childbirth of their second child and after two years accepted he need a wife to help with the children and the house. Vika lost her parents years ago and recently lost her brother, she had no family left and she was a spinster. With no hope to find love and no family she decided to become a mail order bride. This story is sweet and keeps you reading when someone from her past shows up at her home she shares with Chad and his two children... The story has a little suspense and some twist and turns to keep you reading... I recommend reading this wonderful book!

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for marriage of convenience stories, so I gave this one a shot. Although the storyline was good, I felt as if it was rushed. I never really got to see the characters fall in love. I knew it was a novella going in, but this is one where I feel the story would be better suited for a full length novel.

[Evelyn Foreman · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Vika struggled to make ends meet after the tragic death of her brother (they had lost both parents years earlier), and fending off the advances of her landlord, she knew she had to make a change. Reading an advertisement for a gentleman looking for a wife to take care of his 2 children and household, she took a chance and responded, resulting in a train ticket to Colorado and what she hoped a family to call her own. Wondering if she would ever be accepted by the children and made a wife in the true sense of the word, she hoped and prayed she hadn’t made a mistake, but only time would tell. I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet book, my first by this author (definitely not my last!).

[Phyllis Rundell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful and heartwarming Christmas story. It is Chad and Vika's story and the character development is excellent. Chad needs someone to help him raise his two small children, and Vika needs somewhere to escape after the murder of her brother. Upon Vika's agreement to become Chad's mail order bride, things do not go as planned and much hard work is required by both of them to reach a HEA. I really enjoyed this book, which is a real page turner, and highly recommend it. I know you will enjoy it and will find yourself cheering the couple on.

[Robyn Echols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Christmas Romance

I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet Christmas romance about a young woman whose beau left her, then needed somewhere to go after her brother is killed. Widower Chad sends for her, but is she really what he wants? Excellent characters, interesting details that add depth to the story, and a ghost from her past that threatens them all. A great read.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: “Nay, sir, you canna come inside.” Vika shoved a shoulder hard on the apartment door, leveraging her weight against that of the landlord, Mister Zeleny. She jammed a booted foot at the base. “I’ve three more days until the rent is due.”

Premise/plot: Chad Rutherford is a widower advertising for a bride in Linda Carroll-Bradd's new historical romance novel. Set in Colorado in 1881, it stars a "spinster" mail-order bride, Vika Carmichael, and a widower, Chad Rutherford. They marry hours within meeting. But will this marriage of convenience prove to be a love match?

My thoughts: Say what you will, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE a good predictable, oh-so-satisfying, formulaic romance novel. Particularly if it's historical romance. I was not surprised by any plot twists. Did I care?! NOT for a minute. I found this one giddy-making from start to finish. The kind of book you read with a super-silly grin on your face. It is a nice touch that this one is holiday-themed. Of course, it wouldn't have to be holiday-themed to be enjoyable. It's not the fact that these two marry close to Christmas that makes it oh-so-magical, at least not for me. It's the happily ever after.

Is it clean? Is it smutty? It's neither. It's not super-squeaky clean. There are descriptive kisses, all after the vows if that matters to you. But it's so far from smutty that some readers (not me) will be disappointed perhaps.

[John Brezinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Vow for Christmas is a sweet romantic short story!

Loved this sweet short story of a man, Chad with two small children, who begrudgingly takes on a Mail Order Bride. Vika is Scottish with a temper to match, and wants a real marriage, but Chad seems only interested in a woman to be his maid and nanny. Trying to find room for her and her little dog in this ready made family will be tough, but something tells her it will also be worth it! Great story, paced perfectly by the author. Think this is my first read by Linda Carroll-Bradd, but I'll definitely look into more of her work.

[Jas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet novella about a Vika, a mail- order bride, and Chad the widowed father of two she travels to marry after exchanging only a few letters. The two of them have different visions about how their marriage will work. Chad wants a helper who will cook, clean, and mind the children. Vika is looking for a family and the affection and belonging she misses. Can the two of them find a way to both be happy? Short on pages but full of charm.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Randy Tramp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two years ago, Chad Rutherford's wife died. His sister left the family ranch to get married. Chad needs to find someone to tend to his kids. He places an ad for a mail-order bride.
On her own after her brother’s murder, Vika Carmichael must find a way to live. An ad for a mail-order bride from a widower with small children seems like the perfect fit. Until she arrives in Gunnison City, Colorado, and wonders if room for her exists in their hearts.

Good read. Interesting characters. Fast read.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are so good!

I am so obsessed with the spinster bride books I have been binging on them since yesterday and don’t see an end in sight. This book was so good no wonder it is one in award. I highly recommend this book. Their action packed and fast-paced and keep you interested the whole time.

[Alan T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vica & Chad

Vica coresponds with Chad from her rented room in Lincoln, NE. Her brother was killed during a bank robbery. Chad is looking for a wife to help care for his two children in Colorado.

Characterization & plotting are good.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Story

I really enjoyed reading Vika and Chad's story. I liked that the author allowed Vika's heritage and beliefs to show her true self. She was willing to learn about Chad and his children and wanted him to think of her too. This was a quick read and it kept my interest.

[BROWN2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vika and Chad

A sweet story where Vika joins her read made family and doesn't feel wanted. A man from her past causes some issues. Biscuit is a sweet addition to the family and the story.

[Amy Petrowich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loss and love

Good story about finding love after loss. Great, strong heroine and a good hero. The children and the villain add a lot to the story.
I will say that having answers to a few unanswered questions would have made it a 5-star. Even still it was very good.

[Carolyn Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent story. Becoming a mail order bride after the death of an older brother becomes the only way to survive. Finding out that the husband you hoped for doesn’t have the same aspirations leads to many disappointments.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Vow for Christmas

This is another great book in the Proxy Brides series. A sweet, heartwarming book, with likable characters and a great storyline. I love the way the family finally comes together and the danger that threatens them.

[Earlene Click · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chad and Vika

This is a cute short story by Linda Carrol-Bradford. She has done a good job with the plot and with the characters too. You will enjoy this sweet tale.

[Mary Jane McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Historical Series

Another great book in a great series. I really enjoyed Vika and Chad's story and all the characters. I look forward to more books in the series

[Babs Wenk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vika and Chad

Vika was all alone with nowhere to go so she became a mail order bride. Her groom just wanted her to a housekeeper and Nanny. - Babs

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

Chad - a widowed sheep rancher with 2 young children
Vika- now orphaned and brother less looks for a better life before she goes broke.
I enjoyed reading this captivating story that has a well written plot with charismatic characters. Their story has a heroic HEA.