Bring In The Books Series: Short Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer

Okay, I'll be honest. The last two books I've reviewed have not been on my favorites list. This one, well, let's just say this one is a step up.

Short Straw Bride
By Karen Witemeyer
*I Do Not Own Picture

PLOT:
First we'll start off with the prologue, because that is quite important in this story. Meredith Hayes is a ten year old girl at the moment in the year of 1870. An ornery boy throws her lunch tin into the Archer Land. What is Archer Land? A land where trespassers and snoopy people aren't welcome. In fact, they are most likely welcomed by guns. When Meredith bravely goes into the Archer land to retrieve her tin, she steps into a trap that snaps her ankle. Travis Archer, one of the four Archer brothers, 17 at the time, find her, he expects a man who is simply lurking around. On the contrary, it's an innocent little girl with piercing blue eyes. He helps her out of the trap, retrieves her tin, and goes against his father's promise never to leave Archer Land to get Meredith safely home.
Alright, now (takes remote control and fast forwards) to the year of 1882. Meredith is now 22 and is being courted by a rich man named Roy Mitchell. She doesn't want to be courted by him and often thinks and dreams about Travis Archer. She walks with a limp from the accident still to that day. On a "date' with Mitchell, she overhears him talking about plans to burn down the Archer's barn, after a failed attempt of buying the land. Now, Meredith has always wanted to repay Travis for helping her 12 years ago, so she thinks that this is her chance. But will Travis be the same man he was 12 years ago? When she rides alone to Archer Land, she finds out that he is not the same man. Hard hearted as he is, after explaining and showing proof of her scar, Travis realizes it is Meredith, the girl he helped years ago. Now, the Archer's barn burns and Meredith is hurt in the process. Now with her reputation in tatters, Meredith's uncle Everett tells her she must marry one of the Archer brothers. The Archers decide to draw straws-but not before Travis rigs the competition, making sure that he's the one to win the hand of Meredith.
SIDE CHARACTERS:
Uncle Everett (Meredith's uncle)
Aunt Noreen (Meredith's stern aunt)
Cassandra (I can't find her last name in the book, but she's Meredith's younger cousin)
Crockett Archer (Travis' Brother)
Bowie "Jim" Archer (Travis' Brother)
Neil Archer (Travis' Youngest Brother)
Roy Mitchell (Meredith's hopeful suitor, nemesis of Travis Archer)
Moses, Myra, and Josiah Jackson (Friends of Meredith)

Karen Witemeyer
Author of Short Straw Bride
*I Do Not Own Picture

Now, review time!!!! I like Meredith's spirit. She is relentless to do what is right, even putting herself in harms way. She has no intention of giving in to evil that surrounds her, and even works to put hope in her one-sided marriage. Travis is a good definition of a protector. Yes, he's a bad husband at the start, but heck, he just got thrown into a marriage that was picked by drawing straws! He tries to start off trying to slowly (and I mean SLOWLY) court Meredith, much to her dismay. But geez, the guy needs time. I love how to cares so deeply about Meredith to protect her. He lightens up throughout the book, having his fiery moments. They both show their love for each other in different ways. Meredith by helping, warning, and being a wife to a man who is going slow to learn to be a husband and Travis by being a protector, but giving and taking a little. Absolutely beautifully written, more like the Christian novels I read. The romance is kept on an excellent balance, which I appreciate. For me, this book gets 4 and 1/2 stars out of 5 for me!!!!!!

Have You Read Short Straw Bride? What Do You Think About My Review And What Is Yours? Is This On Your To Read List? Comment Below!