Christmas Brides Series by Emma Ashwood

Martha Jackson had never been loved; not by her parents and not by her husband, who was now passed. All she and her sister, Anne had in this world to care for and be cared for was one another, and later Anne's children. Now Martha was carrying her first child, who would need a father once it was born. To this end, Martha accepted Henry Arthur's proposal of marriage, following his advert for a bride in the Matrimonial Times... moreMartha Jackson had never been loved; not by her parents and not by her husband, who was now passed. All she and her sister, Anne had in this world to care for and be cared for was one another, and later Anne's children. Now Martha was carrying her first child, who would need a father once it was born. To this end, Martha accepted Henry Arthur's proposal of marriage, following his advert for a bride in the Matrimonial Times. Robert Samuel was battling to keep the ranch afloat and their heads above water, and his mother was right at his side through it all. Jennifer Samuels had some ideas on how to fund their sinking ranch, but Robert would not be a pawn in her match making game. Celia Johnson is the precocious daughter of the Western town's mayor, and Jennifer Samuel's choice as bride for her son, Robert. The mayor is on board with the idea of Robert as a son in law. Jennifer needs Celia's family's wealth to weather the current tough times, but Robert and Celia have never been able to sit around the same fire. When a pregnant Martha arrives in town, things are not all she was led to believe. She is alone and destitute in an unfamiliar world among strangers. She has to think about her unborn baby, but she has no choice but to call upon the locals for charity until she can find her feet again. Life is hard and it's not about to get any easier for young Martha. Humanity and Christian fellowship are the nature of Christmas and yule tide celebrations, but the world is not all egg nog and fire hearths at this time of year. Follow Martha and the folk of Cherry Tree Springs as Christmas approaches in this little Western town. less

Annabelle was raised in poverty, by a single yet devout mother, who had been banished from her own middle-class home. Annabelle had the beauty rivaled by very few, and the benefit of an expensive finishing school tutoring. A fire took everything from her at the age of seventeen, and she contented herself to a life of hidden solitude, working as a sought after, but never seen, seamstress by day, and sharing a tenement apartment with others at night... moreAnnabelle was raised in poverty, by a single yet devout mother, who had been banished from her own middle-class home. Annabelle had the beauty rivaled by very few, and the benefit of an expensive finishing school tutoring. A fire took everything from her at the age of seventeen, and she contented herself to a life of hidden solitude, working as a sought after, but never seen, seamstress by day, and sharing a tenement apartment with others at night. One day the Lord verily blew the opportunity of a secure future as a mail order bride into her life. After a year of writing letters to Jason Scott of Montana, the two had struck up an easy friendship, based on their Christian values. Jason Scott had inherited a successful farm from his newly deceased and much loved parents, and he knew that life was passing him by. Wanting a family of his own to enjoy the beauty of his Montana ranch, he advertised for a bride, and very soon had propositioned a New York lady, who was soon to join him out West. When he sees her at the train station however, his eyes are opened to her unforgivable omission, and he cannot find it within himself to be with her. Is it possible for a man to love a woman in a Christian way when she bears such deep and unconcealed scars, believing her to be deceitful in her presentation of self? Can a woman, strong yet beaten down by life's consequences, rise up and live the life she knows is her right? Will this Christmas be different to those that have gone before, out in the crisp and picturesque plains of Montana in the days of the Wild West and the Mail-Order-Bride? less