Tina’s review of Heartbreak Creek by Kaki Warner
This being the first time I have read anything by author Kaki Warner, I didn’t really know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Heartbreak Creek, which is the first book in the Runaway Brides series, was a charming historical romance full of funny and engaging characters.
The book centers around Edwina Ladoux, once a privileged southern belle, now impoverished and homeless due to the ravages of the war. With limited options for her survival, she comes across an ad from a Colorado rancher looking for a wife to help run his household and care for his four children. And although Edwina has no idea about running a household, caring for children or cooking, she answers the ad agreeing to be a mail-order bride on two conditions – 1. That Edwina can bring her half-sister Prudence with her, and 2. That he must give her 3 months before consummating the marriage. They are married by proxy, never even meeting. When she finally arrives in Heartbreak Creek, her husband, Declan Brodie is shocked to find Edwina is not the “sturdy”, reliable sort that he was expecting.
The book follows the couple’s struggle to adapt to each other and to life on the lonely Colorado ranch. Along the way, the sisters meet two other women, Maddie and Lucinda, whose stories I imagine will develop in the other books in the series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this lighthearted western romance. It was a fun read and I found myself chuckling aloud at the women and their situations. There is no way this eclectic group won’t win you over. I am looking forward to getting the rest of the books in the series. It will be interesting to know what happens next.
3 out of 5
I would like to thank the ladies @ Book Binge for sending this book to review.
This title is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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