Clara's Mail Order Joy (Home for Christmas #5)

Clara Ellis, one of the beautiful Ellis sisters of Beacon Hill, Boston, thought she knew what her destiny would be—marrying one of the blue-blooded aristocrats of Boston society. Continuing to live a life of privilege with servants, wealth, trips to Europe and the regard which was her due.

However, after her father’s business ventures failed, Clara and her sisters, along with their parents, find themselves in dire financial straits. This is when her resourceful sister Minnie decided that they would leave Boston and travel West to Colorado as mail-order brides.

Peter Edwards, Clara’s intended, is a miner who was sure he’d strike it rich with his labors. But when Clara arrives in Colorado, she discovers that amiable, easy-going Pete Edwards is a far cry from her familiar Boston swains. He has only recently left the mining camp where he resided, and although he has built her a house which is, by mining camp standards, impressive, it is not equipped with the amenities of a Beacon Hill mansion.

Clara’s indomitable spirit is challenged by the primitive setting of her new home and she soon sets to work to transform the mining community into what she regards as a more suitable environment. Her husband is amused by her efforts but does not seem, to her irritation, to adapt to Boston standards.

As she and her sisters adapt to their new home in Colorado, they must come to terms that Boston is very far away and it looks as though the Christmas holiday will be spent without their parents. Will the Wild West ever feel like home for the holidays?