If you have read any mail order bride stories, you’ve probably noticed that even though the bride and groom never met each other, they are both genuinely good people. It’s a rare story that has a scam or a truly bad person either write or respond to the mail order bride advertisement. Faith Blum took that rare theme and wrote three novellas about five young ladies duped into becoming mail order brides only to find out the men they were supposed to marry weren’t what they had appeared in the letters. The first of those novellas just released on June 26th and Faith is here today to share a little about it.
About the Book
Katie and Joanna meet on a train headed to Cheyenne, Wyoming. They start talking and find out they are both headed there to become mail order brides. They quickly become good friends. When they get on a stagecoach with three other young women, Katie becomes suspicious. What is going to happen to them? Or is it really possible that nothing untoward is happening?
My Review of Just a Closer Walk
I have read other books by Faith Blum and enjoyed her stories of life in the old west. Mail order brides in the era of western expansion were a viable method for men in remote locations to secure a wife. The women who chose this adventure were brave souls or foolhardy, but the novels written about them always end in a match being made. In this novella, the author threw in a twist that leaves the women in the lurch. Fortunately, there are good people in the town who provide a safe place for Katie and Joanna. They each have a past, one a secret past and the other fleeing an odious suitor. The two soon become friends, sharing their fears as well as their dreams. In the process of finding their place in town as well as love, their faith in Christ grows stronger as they encourage each other to seek God and grant Him control of their lives.
About the Author
When she isn’t writing, Faith enjoys doing many right-brained activities such as reading, crafting, playing piano, and playing games with her family. One of her dreams is to visit Castle City, Montana, to see the ghost town she chose for her characters to live in. She currently lives on a hobby farm with her family in Wisconsin.
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Giveaway
Faith is doing an amazing giveaway! She’s giving away a paperback of the novel that inspired Just a Closer Walk PLUS a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card. There are multiple ways to enter the giveaway. Once you have completed one of them, go to Faith’s Blog and make a comment saying what you’ve done.
- Sign up for my New Releases Newsletter (you’ll get a free eBook, too!).
- Pin the giveaway picture on Pinterest.
- Tweet about the giveaway (there will be a tweet about the giveaway pinned to my twitter feed if you would like to retweet that. Otherwise, make your own tweet and tag me in it: @Faith_Blum)
- Visit and/or Like Faith Blum on Facebook.
- Follow Faith on Twitter.
- Share the giveaway in some other creative way.
Tour Schedule
June 27
Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections-Tour intro
Rebekah Lyn Books-Book Review
June 28
Rachel Rossano’s Words-Book Spotlight
Lesa Mckee-Author Interview
June 29
Kaiser Writes A Blog-Book Spotlight
The Abrahamic Adventures-Book Review
June 30
Stephany Tullis BLOG-Character Interview
Joyful Peacock-Author Interview
Bookish Orchestrations-Book Spotlight
July 1
In the Bookcase-Book Review
Ramblings-Guest Post
July 2
Perpetual Gardener, Writer, and Mormon-Book Review
Majestic Golden Rose-Book Review and Author Interview
Laurel’s Leaves-Author Interview
July 3
Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections-Giveaway announcement
Excerpt
On her second Sunday at the small church the Harris’ attended, Katie stepped out into the bright October sunlight. The air had a nippiness to it that made her breathe in more deeply.
As she waited for the others to join her, a man approached her. “Miss Martin?”
Katie looked up. “Yes?”
The man twisted his hat in his hands. “I’m Luke Williamson. I was wonderin’ if you’d be agreeable to me comin’ to court you. I know you don’t know me at all, but I wasn’t sure who I should ask.”
Katie smiled shyly. “Allen Reese has taken us under his wing. He’ll have the final say. Would you care to tell me a little about yourself?”
“I’ve been widowed for ’most a year now. My wife died in childbirth along with our baby. I’ve got a six year old daughter and three year old son who desperately need a mother. I’ve tried…” his voice trailed off.
Katie bit her lower lip. She hoped Mr. Reese approved of this man. “If Mr. Reese says it’s all right, I’d be agreeable to you coming to court me.”
Mr. Williamson looked full into her face for the first time and smiled. “Thank you, Miss Martin. Would you mind meeting the children first?”
It might break my heart if Mr. Reese says no, but sure, why not? “That would be fine. Where are they?”
Mr. Williamson nodded toward two little cherubs playing with a string on the ground. “Abigail is a sensitive little girl who doesn’t warm up well with strangers. Matthias is more outgoing and will probably hug you if you’ll let him.”
Katie laughed. “I would love to get a hug from him. They are adorable.”
Mr. Williamson smiled. “Thank you. They’re the apple of my eye.
“Abigail, Matthias, come here please.”
The two young children ran over to their father. “Yes, Daddy?”
He crouched down. “I’d like you to meet Miss Martin.”
Abigail clung to her father’s sleeve and bobbed a short curtsey. “Hello, Miss Martin.”
Matthias studied her for a few seconds, then ran to her. Katie crouched down and Matthias put his arms around her neck. “Hi, Miss Mar-in.”
Katie laughed. “Hello, Abigail and Matthias. It is nice to meet you.”
Matthias let go of her. “Are you going to be our new nanny?”
Mr. Williamson cleared his throat. “That will be all, children. You may continue playing. I’ll be back shortly and then we’ll head home.” He led her a short distance away. “I should tell you that I have been hiring a woman to care for the children while I am working on my farm. The latest nanny recently married and is no longer able to take care of them. After a year and going through four nannies, I decided to try something different.”
Katie smiled. “The children should have stability in their lives anyway. What will you do about caring for the children until you find a wife?”
Mr. Williamson sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “I’m not sure.”
An idea came to Katie and she hid her excitement. “Let’s go talk to Mr. Reese.”
You can’t go wrong if you download this novella. It is only $.99 and is a quick read!
We look forward to hosting Faith Blum in the future. She is a fine author and a genuinely nice person. It was fun being “in front” of the blog today. I usually lurk behind the dashboard, making sure that everything runs smoothly-Onisha