American Mail-Order Brides Series by Ashley Merrick, Cindy Caldwell

Feisty Beth Mitchell lives in the Boston area, and is used to being in charge and taking care of people, especially her beloved mother, so when the factory in Lawrence, MA where she, her sister, India, and her mother all work burns down in a suspicious fire, they find themselves in dire straits. Circumstances dictate that Beth needs to become a mail-order bride, but it is with the understanding that her mother will join her. Business owner, George Montgomery, has no idea what he is in for... moreFeisty Beth Mitchell lives in the Boston area, and is used to being in charge and taking care of people, especially her beloved mother, so when the factory in Lawrence, MA where she, her sister, India, and her mother all work burns down in a suspicious fire, they find themselves in dire straits. Circumstances dictate that Beth needs to become a mail-order bride, but it is with the understanding that her mother will join her. Business owner, George Montgomery, has no idea what he is in for. They both have secrets--he's filthy rich and needs to find a wife ASAP, because his sister and husband just died from the flu and he now has two small children to take care of. He wants to make sure he's not getting a gold digger, but someone who really is good with kids. He places an ad for a mild-mannered woman who loves children. Beth applies to every ad, hoping that someone will agree to take her and her mother. George is the only one who agrees, but she has a secret too--she's not exactly who she said she was. Beth has no experience with children, the very thought of it makes her twitchy and she's far from timid. In fact, she is determined to get to the bottom of who burned down the factory, and why. less

Josephine: Bride of Louisiana is 18th in the unprecedented 50-book American Mail-Order Brides series. Josephine Depardieu grew up in Massachusetts, fairly privileged and educated, speaking French as well as English, but when her father dies, she finds herself working in a factory in as a seamstress. When the factory burns down, she looks for other options…and sees an ad for a French-speaking mail-order bride... moreJosephine: Bride of Louisiana is 18th in the unprecedented 50-book American Mail-Order Brides series. Josephine Depardieu grew up in Massachusetts, fairly privileged and educated, speaking French as well as English, but when her father dies, she finds herself working in a factory in as a seamstress. When the factory burns down, she looks for other options…and sees an ad for a French-speaking mail-order bride. She’s always wanted to know more about her French culture, and heads down to a plantation in Louisiana to find out more. Pierre Bernard has lived and worked on his father’s plantation on the Mississippi River his whole life, but as a first generation American, hasn’t always been as interested in French culture as his father would like. When his father decides to move back to France and leave Pierre the plantation, he is stunned to find out that this will only happen if he is married—to a French woman. But when Josephine learns that Pierre’s father expected a woman from France, is she up to the task? And how long can Pierre keep his father in the dark? less

Michelle: Bride of Mississippi is 16th in the unprecedented 50-book American Mail-Order Brides series. When Michelle Porter's world collapses and her job as a seamstress disappears, she thinks maybe her cousin, Josephine, has a good idea--and she follows suit and answers an advertisement to be a mail order bride. She doesn't know much about Mississippi, but is willing to take a chance for a better life... moreMichelle: Bride of Mississippi is 16th in the unprecedented 50-book American Mail-Order Brides series. When Michelle Porter's world collapses and her job as a seamstress disappears, she thinks maybe her cousin, Josephine, has a good idea--and she follows suit and answers an advertisement to be a mail order bride. She doesn't know much about Mississippi, but is willing to take a chance for a better life. Anthony Chandler's family has lived, loved and worked in Mississippi for generations and have been pillars of the community. The Civil War has changed the landscape, though, and he has ambitions...ones that his mother believes will be easier to achieve with a wife. He has no interest in courting and advertises for a mail-order bride to satisfy his family--and hopefully she'll just leave him alone. When Michelle learns that Anthony and his mother expect a southern lady--and she has no idea what that entails--can she meet their expectations? Will her dream of love and a home be possible in this very Southern society that she's not part of? less