Deeply Devoted by Maggie Brendan

Synopsis:~

When Catharine Olsen leaves Holland for America as a mail-order bride, she brings along some extra baggage: two sisters, her mother's set of Blue Willow china, and a tragic past. When she arrives in Cheyenne, Wyoming, she promptly marries Peter Andersen and dreams of starting life over in this rugged land. Peter is kind and patient with Catharine and accommodating to her sisters. His mother, however, is not. When she begins a campaign to sabotage Peter's marriage, Catharine is distraught, worried that her secret past will be discovered. Will her life end up as nothing but broken pieces? Or will these trials make her stronger?

My take:~

Maggie Brendan has taken a unique look at the mail order bride story by "ordering" a bride from Holland in the first book in her Blue Willow Brides series, Deeply Devoted. A story of secrets kept, burgeoning love and a rather vindictive mother in law builds the tension throughout this traditional tale. Both Catharine and Peter are well developed characters who make numerous errors of judgement when it comes to communication and trust, which I was pleased to see.  Interestingly, I was a bit disconcerted by Peter's ability to understand Catherine and her sisters' perfect english - no doubt it would have been heavily accented and difficult to understand from time to time but this doesn't seem to be an issue.  For those looking for a sweet romance with extra depth in that it delves into divorce at a time it was hardly considered, Deeply Devoted, might just be the ticket.

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

With thanks to Revell for my review copy

Relz Reviewz Extras
Reviews of A Love of Her Own, No Place for A Lady and The Jewel of His Heart
Character spotlights on April & Wes, Crystal & Luke and Josh & Juliana
Interview with Maggie
Visit Maggie's blog
Buy Maggie's books at Amazon or Koorong