I'm a sucker for marriage of convenience stories, so I gave this one a shot. Although the storyline was good, I felt as if it was rushed. I never really got to see the characters fall in love. I knew it was a novella going in, but this is one where I feel the story would be better suited for a full length novel.

First sentence: “Nay, sir, you canna come inside.” Vika shoved a shoulder hard on the apartment door, leveraging her weight against that of the landlord, Mister Zeleny. She jammed a booted foot at the base. “I’ve three more days until the rent is due.”

Premise/plot: Chad Rutherford is a widower advertising for a bride in Linda Carroll-Bradd's new historical romance novel. Set in Colorado in 1881, it stars a "spinster" mail-order bride, Vika Carmichael, and a widower, Chad Rutherford. They marry hours within meeting. But will this marriage of convenience prove to be a love match?

My thoughts: Say what you will, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE a good predictable, oh-so-satisfying, formulaic romance novel. Particularly if it's historical romance. I was not surprised by any plot twists. Did I care?! NOT for a minute. I found this one giddy-making from start to finish. The kind of book you read with a super-silly grin on your face. It is a nice touch that this one is holiday-themed. Of course, it wouldn't have to be holiday-themed to be enjoyable. It's not the fact that these two marry close to Christmas that makes it oh-so-magical, at least not for me. It's the happily ever after.

Is it clean? Is it smutty? It's neither. It's not super-squeaky clean. There are descriptive kisses, all after the vows if that matters to you. But it's so far from smutty that some readers (not me) will be disappointed perhaps.

Cute romance. I liked that it wasn't Insta love! I liked that they barely seemed to tolerate one another at the beginning.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

A Vow for Christmas is a well written historical romance. I always enjoy mail order bride books and this was exception. Good plot characters. I received an arc from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

This was a good book to read. It was a mail order bride who arrives with her dog. The story is lovely and warm. There is plenty to keep the reader interested.

Although I generally do not favor novellas, I did find this one charming. When spinster Vika decides she needs to do something to survive, after the murder of her brother, she finds and accepts a mail-order bride ad put forth by Chad, a farmer with two young children. I can see the practicality, but really cannot grasp the idea of taking a chance like this. Hard to consider what life and few possibilities women had back then that this would be a viable option. Hard to put this one down, and a nice quick read curled up in a blanket looking out at the snow. Put me in a holiday spirit, which is what my goal was on picking this one. Fun read, and would highly recommend it.

A Vow for Christmas by Linda Carroll-Bradd is the story of a mail order bride who arrives in the west just before Christmas. Vika Carmichael and her dog, Biscuit, arrive and she is immediately wed to widower Chad Rutherford. His two children steal he heart right away but it will take some time and a scare before she and Chad are ready to live out their vows.
I can’t quite imagine going to a new place where everything is new and different. Vika has never been a farmer’s wife and has no idea how to ride a horse, let alone hitch one to a wagon. Chad is patient as he teaches her to feed the chickens and milk the cow. She is a hard worker and eager student who learns quickly and improves the lives of all of them. What happens when a ghost from the past appears and wants back into Vika’s life and does not intend to take no for an answer? This book is a solid 5 of 5 stars. The characters are well thought out and there is always something new to discover on the next page. I loved this. It is a great Christmas read for yourself or to give as a gift.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was a well written short story for those who enjoy tales of mail order brides. What will he be like? Will she be an old maid with moles on her chin? Will he be mean? Will she love me? Will he provide a decent home? All the questions are answered and the reader won’t want the story to end.
#NetGalley
#A Vow For Christmas

5 Stars: 5/5 star rating
What a surprising Christmas novella! Vika and Chad both have different expectations for their marriage but they must come to some sort of agreement or else their marriage will be doomed from the start. Will they be able to come together and work things out? Will they connect in more ways than just the precious children he has from his previous widow?
I loved reading this novella. I personally enjoy the ease and speed of reading novellas. I was able to finish this one in one afternoon while sitting by the twinkling lights of my own Christmas tree. Perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon!
I received a digital ARC of this novella from netgalley and Inked Figments in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

I enjoyed this sweet Christmas romance.
Desperate mail order bride Vika Carmichael needs to find a good husband to save her from destitution after her brother dies. Vika longs for a family of her own.
Chad Rutherfordbus left to care for his children after his wife dies. H can’t care for his children properly and run his sheep farm at the same time. A mail order bride will have to do. As long as she can clean, cook and care for his children she will do. All he needs is help, he will not fall in love again. He does not want a true wife just someone to help.
To bad when Vika arrives Chad realizes what’s been missing from his life and home since his wife passing. Will Vika make Chad see they both deserve happiness?

This was a sweet novella about a Vika, a mail- order bride, and Chad the widowed father of two she travels to marry after exchanging only a few letters. The two of them have different visions about how their marriage will work. Chad wants a helper who will cook, clean, and mind the children. Vika is looking for a family and the affection and belonging she misses. Can the two of them find a way to both be happy? Short on pages but full of charm.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a short fast read that has drama, suspense and romance. It is well written and will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. This is a new-to-me author and I really enjoyed this heartwarming story. Thank you Backlit PR via NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a delightful and wonderful story of a man and woman agreeing to be husband and wife but they were not in love. As time passed they realized they were in love with each other. I wish it was a little bit longer because I hated it ended so soon.