Brides of Pelican Rapids Series by Elaine Manders

Having lost her Georgia home, along with her brother and mother, to the war, Molly Stewart is left penniless with a broken father. She signs up with the Pelican Rapids Mail-Order Brides agency in Minnesota, and Mrs. Ella Milton matches her with local farmer, Luke Ferrell. An attraction develops between Molly and Luke after months of corresponding, and they decide to marry... moreHaving lost her Georgia home, along with her brother and mother, to the war, Molly Stewart is left penniless with a broken father. She signs up with the Pelican Rapids Mail-Order Brides agency in Minnesota, and Mrs. Ella Milton matches her with local farmer, Luke Ferrell. An attraction develops between Molly and Luke after months of corresponding, and they decide to marry. Knowing her father will never agree to the match, Molly runs away to Pelican Rapids, taking her grand piano with her—the only thing saved when Sherman’s army burned her home. Luke is smitten with the sweet, beautiful Molly, and will do anything to win her love, even building onto his small farmhouse to accommodate her piano. Molly admires her handsome fiancé, but rumors that he still loves another woman disturb her, and he wants to keep delaying their wedding day. And why is he reluctant to discuss his past? But Molly realizes she hasn’t been totally honest either. When she reveals to Luke the reason her piano is so important to her, it opens wounds in Luke’s past that threaten their happiness. less

Hannah Garrison leaves her Mississippi home as a mail-order bride, expecting to meet her prospective husband in Kansas. Instead, she’s taken to Chicago, abducted by a notorious gang, and sold to a brothel. She attempts a daring escape, and a handsome stranger stops her pursuers long enough for her to make a get-away on the next train out. The train takes her to Pelican Rapids... moreHannah Garrison leaves her Mississippi home as a mail-order bride, expecting to meet her prospective husband in Kansas. Instead, she’s taken to Chicago, abducted by a notorious gang, and sold to a brothel. She attempts a daring escape, and a handsome stranger stops her pursuers long enough for her to make a get-away on the next train out. The train takes her to Pelican Rapids. When Ella Milton offers her a job as maid on her farm, Hannah believes she’s found a safe refuge for now, but she knows her pursuers will be searching for her and fears she may have put her new friends in danger.Agent Vince Logan leaves the Pinkerton Agency and heads for Pelican Rapids to help Ella Milton’s son with the wheat harvest. He also hopes match-maker, Ella, can find him a bride to take to his newly purchased farm in Dakota Territory. He’s astonished to find Ms. Milton’s new maid, Hannah, is the young woman he’d seen running from thugs in Chicago. He convinces Hannah to help him bring the gang leaders to justice. As their relationship deepens and danger comes closer, will they risk all for love? less

A man’s ambition, a woman’s mission, and a mutual calling that leads to forever love.Confirmed spinster, Polly Howard, has no illusions about love, but after ten years of pouring herself into her photography and ministering to the poor, she boards the train for Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, to become Noah Scott’s mail-order bride. Though Noah wants to wed immediately, matchmaker Ella Milton recommends they wait to allow a proper courtship.Noah expects nothing more than a marriage of convenience... moreA man’s ambition, a woman’s mission, and a mutual calling that leads to forever love.Confirmed spinster, Polly Howard, has no illusions about love, but after ten years of pouring herself into her photography and ministering to the poor, she boards the train for Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, to become Noah Scott’s mail-order bride. Though Noah wants to wed immediately, matchmaker Ella Milton recommends they wait to allow a proper courtship.Noah expects nothing more than a marriage of convenience. All he needs is a wife to help him further his career. But as soon as Polly steps off the train he’s smitten. She’s beautiful, kind, gentle, and possess a servant’s heart—all the characteristics of the heroines he writes about—though he senses she is hiding her true feelings. But Noah has secrets of his own, and when Polly discovers his past, he fears he’ll never win her heart. less