Second Chances, Mail-Order Brides, and a Book That Wants Teen Girls to Be Terrible

by Karen McQuestion

Gwen Hayward moves to Poplar Creek still stinging from a divorce, then notices a little girl leaving an anonymous wish on the town's bulletin board. That's the hook. One reader mentions the husband left after 35 years for a younger woman, which tells you the heartbreak here is real and not just set dressing. It's a short, cozy holiday read with a 4.49 from over 1,500 readers, so grab it if you want something you can finish in one evening with a blanket.

“Wish upon a Christmas star. By Karen McQuestion If you're looking for a Christmas short story look no more. This is the the one it will pull at your heart strings. Karen McQuestion has a book for everyone... Her stories are always the best. always well written stories each and every book... Gwen...”

by M MONIQUE

Harmony thought she'd hit the jackpot by marrying her best friend, until a devastating blow shakes everything she believed. The blurb leans hard into her insecurities and her faith being tested. It has a 4.75 across 524 ratings but no written reviews yet, so you'd be going in blind. That rating is the highest on this list, though, and I'm curious enough to try it.

by Rachel Jankovic

Rachel Jankovic says she wants "terrible" teenage daughters, meaning women who are threats to the enemies of God, not girls who waste time on doomscrolling and foolish crushes. It sits at 4.25 with 920 ratings, and the reviews show why. One longtime fan of Loving the Little Years hoped it would encourage her teen. Another agreed with some points but found the delivery off-putting. Not for everyone, but if you like blunt, conservative Christian parenting advice, you'll know within a chapter.

“Many years ago, I enjoyed Rachel’s book, “Loving the Little Years,” and I was hoping her new book would be appropriate and encouraging for my teenage daughter. I read it first and am glad I did because I cannot recommend this book for my daughter, nor other teens who aren’t of the fundamentalist...”

by Lilah Rivers

Sarah Radcliffe flees an unwanted marriage by answering a mail-order bride ad in Texas, and the plan falls apart when she arrives. A gruff, grieving rancher named Kelly O'Rourke gives her a job instead. It's a classic setup, and readers say they couldn't put it down, with a 4.62 from 424 ratings. If you like your frontier romance with a grumpy hero who slowly thaws, this is your pick.

“This is Sarah's story. She left home so she didn't have to agree to a marriage she didn't want, answering a mail order bride ad. When she arrived, she found that her "groom" had written proposals to three women and was already married to one of them. Fortunately, a rancher, Kelly O'Rourke, was...”

by Tari Faris

This is a prequel novella, so think of it as a free taste of the Restoring Heritage series. A goal-obsessed novice life coach needs one big success story, and a wounded former Special Forces operator who has lost his sense of purpose walks in asking for a job. The odd-couple setup is clever. It holds a 4.42 across 380 ratings, and it's worth a look if you want a short read that might pull you into a longer series.

by Jennifer Youngblood

Victoria Compton finally has her own dance studio and a rich boyfriend offering a weekend at his Bahamas condo, and then things take an unexpected turn. Readers praise the mix of romance and suspense, though one gave it a middling 3.5 and said it started out pretty exciting. It sits at 4.22 with 443 ratings. A good pick if you want your sweet romance with a little tension.

“3.5 This was my first book by Jennifer Youngblood and I enjoyed it. I'll have to check out some of her other books now. This started out pretty exciting. Victoria is on her way to surprise her boyfriend when she witnesses a murder, realizing Dominic isn't who she thought and now he's after her she...”