Book Review: A Promise for Christmas by Linda Carroll-Bradd (Spinster Mail Order Brides #29)
Who can resist the mail order bride? I totally blame Glenn Close and Christopher Walken for my [slight] obsession with this trope.
Fiona is working as a governess when she is suddenly dismissed by her employers. While staying with a friend until she finds a new position, Fiona is convinced to answer the advertisement for a mail order bride. Fiona’s potential husband is Anson, a hardware store owner of German heritage, who is looking for a bride due to his loneliness. There’s nothing horrid about either lead but I must admit Anson’s penny pinching ways did my head in occasionally.
As usual, there is a distinct lack of anything to do with Christmas. The last chapter is dedicated to the holiday and features gift giving, but that’s about it.
There probably could have been more descriptive passages in the book but overall there was nothing particularly offensive about Carroll-Bradd’s writing. The romance is clean with only the slightest hint of religion which shouldn’t worry those with or without faith.
I did feel like the book suffered a little due to its short length. There was so much more detail Carroll-Bradd could have gone into with the plot and characters.
I would definitely pick up something written by Carroll-Bradd again and I wouldn’t rule out picking up another from this series of books either. Recommend A Promise for Christmas if you can pick it up at a reasonable price considering its brevity. 3 1/2 out of 5
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