Mail Order Bride: Blinded By Love (Brides Of The West: Book 1)
By Leah Wyett
4/5
()
About this ebook
A historical western cowboy romance novel about a mail order bride.
In 1870, Hazel Lynn Morgan was a girl right on the verge of becoming a woman. She lives in a small town on a farm in Ohio, where nothing new or exciting ever happens. She has survived this long by reading books about exotic places and using her imagination, or what her Ma has termed, her “Magical Thinking.”
Will a simple mail order bride ad placed by a cattle rancher in Texas named Heath Key change Hazel’s life for the better? Or will the secret that Heath is hiding threaten to ruin both of their lives? Will the man who has been by Heath’s side as his best friend since childhood bring them closer or come between them in the end?
Follow Hazel on her journey to adulthood as she discovers that sometimes you have to close your eyes to really be able to see.
Read more from Leah Wyett
Brides Of The West 3 Book Box Set Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rodeo Romance Box Set - Books 1 & 2 (Contemporary Cowboy Romance) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related to Mail Order Bride
Titles in the series (3)
Mail Order Bride: Blinded By Love (Brides Of The West: Book 1) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mail Order Bride: Ready For Love (Brides Of The West Book 2) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mail Order Bride: Searching For Love (Brides Of The West Book 3) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related ebooks
Mail Order Bride: Searching For Love (Brides Of The West Book 3) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Reluctant Mail Order Bride - Historical Western Romance Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Mail Order Bride: Ready For Love (Brides Of The West Book 2) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mail Order Bride 4 Book Box Set Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mail Order Bride - A Bride for Carlton: Sun River Brides, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mail Order Millie: Homespun, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mail Order Brides and The Doctor (A Western Romance Book) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mail Order Bride - Bryony's Destiny: Faith Creek Brides, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mail Order Bride - A Bride for Mackenzie: Sun River Brides, #2 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mail Order Bride and The Mix-up (A Western Romance Book) Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Mail Order Bride: Summer's Fury: Inspirational Historical Western: Pioneer Wilderness Romance, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mail Order Bride: Hannah's Dilemma Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Bride for Pastor Dan: Parkside Community Church, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mail Order Bride Amelia: Silver River Brides, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bride of Paradise: Book 1 in Mail Order Ministers: Mail Order Ministers, #1 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Silver Heart (Historical Western Romance) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mary's Renewal: Cripple Creek Colorado Gold, #1 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Mail Order Bride: The Irish Runaway Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I Love Thee: Hymns of the West Novellas, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mail Order Brides of Perry Lake (A Western Romance Book) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mail Order Bride - Catherine Finds Love: Ruby Springs Brides, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Blizzard of Western Romance (A Western Historical Romance Book) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Surprise Bride in Willow's Rest: Mail Order Brides of Willow's Rest, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Minding Benji: Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mail Order Bride: Love Shines Bright Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Once Upon The Prairie (The Brides Of Courage, Kansas, Book 1) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Home for Elizabeth: San Diego Brides, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Online Proposal Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mail Order Bride - Georgina Finds Love: Ruby Springs Brides, #2 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Christian Fiction For You
The Fifth Mountain Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bridge of San Luis Rey: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Screwtape Letters: Annotated Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Pale Blue Eye: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Antigone Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Stranger in the Lifeboat Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The First Phone Call From Heaven: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The End of the Affair Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Laurus: The International Bestseller Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pilgrim’s Progress (Parts 1 & 2): Updated, Modern English. More than 100 Illustrations. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Next Person You Meet in Heaven: The Sequel to The Five People You Meet in Heaven Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Greatest Christmas Stories of All Time: Timeless Classics That Celebrate the Season Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Ultimate Gift Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Father Brown: The Complete Collection Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Nowhere Child Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Frankenstein: A Guide to Reading and Reflecting Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Thirst: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Redeeming Love Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Last Shepherd Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Kremlin Conspiracy: A Marcus Ryker Series Political and Military Action Thriller: (Book 1) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This Present Darkness: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Broken Pieces: A Short Story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPilgrim’s Progress: Updated, Modern English. More than 100 Illustrations. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mariette in Ecstasy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hinds' Feet on High Places: An Engaging Visual Journey Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Kingdom: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rule of Law Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Emotionally Bulletproof - Scott's Story (Book 3) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Reviews for Mail Order Bride
19 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A sweet romantic, love story about someone with deep faith
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5it started out very good but I felt like I was left hanging. There was so many things left unanswered.
1 person found this helpful
Book preview
Mail Order Bride - Leah Wyett
LEAH WYETT
Mail Order Bride: Blinded By Love
Brides of the West: Book One
~~~
Smashwords Edition
Copyright
© 2014 by Leah Wyett
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places and events are the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously.
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
First Printing, 2014
Dedication
To YOU, The reader.
Thank you for your support.
Thank you for your emails.
Thank you for your reviews.
Thank you for reading and joining me on this road.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Recommended Reads
Chapter One
June 14th 1870
Erie County, Ohio
Hazel wandered across the docks, waiting for her father to finish loading the grain onto their wagon. She had been hoping to get a new book today but she didn’t see the Mighty Dragon anywhere. That was the name of the boat that shipped books from New York. The old captain always gave Hazel a book when he saw her and she was currently out of anything to read. There wasn’t a single bookstore in the town where she lived. Hazel often thought she must have been destined to be born in a different time, or in a different place at least. A place where there were more books….As she walked, her foot brushed across an old newspaper as it blew up on the pier. She bent down to pick it up, thinking that reading the news might be better than reading nothing at all.
When she reached to pick it up, the paper blew away in her hands, leaving nothing behind but the classified advertisement section. She raised an eyebrow as she read the post at the top, which said:
Matrimonial Ads: Cost to post as follows: Gentlemen pay $.25 for forty word advertisements. Ladies will be given forty words free of charge. Any advertisements over forty words will be charged at a rate of a penny per word.
Hazel had never heard of anything like this. People advertise for marriage? Her curiosity was piqued. She sat down on a crate and read on:
Although this periodical is not in any way responsible for the willful misrepresentation of one’s self for matrimonial purposes, if informed that is the case, your article will be stricken from publication and a refund will not be forthcoming.
Hazel wasn’t sure what misrepresentation meant, but it didn’t sound good. She read the first article under the heading. It said:
A young gentleman, 26 years of age. Handsome and responsible. Untarnished reputation. Possesses a loving heart. Recent passing of my dear father of only 46 years of age has left me sole owner of the largest cattle ranch in Texas. I am with much wealth and means. However, I am without a loving soul to share it with. I am hoping to find a woman of simple purity and devoted love. I prefer a girl between the ages of 18 and 24. Looks are not so important as long as she is not overly large or thin like a stick. I would like to correspond for an ample time to assure that, as husband and wife, we would be compatible and happy for life. Please do not inquire if you are in a hurry, I like to take things slow and steady. Please address in strictest confidence stating age and enclose cabinet card.
Hazel was intrigued. She knew very little about love and marriage, having been somewhat sheltered by her parents, but as an avid reader and possessor of a fantastic imagination, she was afflicted by a malady her mother called magical thinking
. She wondered now if fate had blown that paper under her feet, and placed this young man’s ad in a prominent position for her to see.
Hazel! Let’s git !
Her father was calling her. Hazel tucked the paper into her bosom and ran to where her father waited.
***********
July 22nd
What are you reading?
Laura asked her sister, Hazel. Laura had been sitting peacefully in the porch swing before her sister had found her.
Hazel flashed the cover of the book at Laura. She had gone back to the docks with her father the following week and the old Captain had given her a new book.
Twenty—Thousand—Leagues—Under—The—Sea…What’s it about?
Laura asked her. Laura just turned ten a few weeks before. She was the most curious person Hazel had ever met. Their mother told her all the time that she was so curious she should have been a cat.
It’s about a man named Captain Nemo and his submarine.
Hazel said.
What’s a submarine?
Laura said. Hazel sighed and put the book aside. She wasn’t going to get any more reading done today. Her little sister said Who, What, and Why
more times a day than Hazel cared to count.
You can read the book when I’m finished and find out.
Hazel told her. She kept encouraging her little sister to read, telling her that it was the best way to satisfy a burning curiosity. Do you want to go swimming?
Yes!
Laura’s face lit up. She loved going down to the canal and swinging off the rope their daddy had tied to the big, old eucalyptus tree. I’ll put on my bathing suit.
She took off running in the house before Hazel could reply.
Tell Mama where we’re going.
she yelled after her as the screen door slammed shut. Hazel heard the whinny of a horse then and looked down the long dirt road that led to their house. She could see her father riding in with a dust cloud rising behind him. Hazel got up and stood at the banister of the porch. She watched her father approach and she wondered if he had gone to the post office when he was in town, and if he did, if he had a letter for her…She also wondered if he had already read it.
Hazel’s father, Hal Morgan, couldn’t just simply be described as a large man, or a big man, or even a giant man. A person needed to use words like humongous or gargantuan to describe him. He stood six foot seven in his stocking feet and one of his hands could hold four of a normal sized person’s. He wasn’t fat in any way, but he was kept from being thin by the muscles in his chest, back, and arms, which he had earned from years of hard work on their wheat farm. Hal was a simple man. He loved his land, his wife, his daughters, and God, not necessarily in that order. He had loved his country before it claimed the life of his son. Hazel wasn’t sure if he still did. Everything else that came along in