Almost A Mail Order Bride

By LeeAnn Mackenzie

One woman. three men. Who will win her heart for always?

Twenty one year old Isabelle Dennehy led a charmed life. Until her mother died of consumption, her sister moved far away. Now her father has died,too, leaving her with substantial debt.

The proposed solution: marry the powerful bank manager who holds the deed to her family lone remaining property, the mercantile. But shed reather be boiled in lye than marry arrogant, ruthless Henry Trudell.

Then Isabelle spies the ad for a mail order bride, with it comes the chance to escape the bad memories and the anguish that the man she has fallen head over heels for, sees her as only a friend.

Or does he?

Justin Marshall has loved and lost and he's gunshy when it comes to matters of the heart. But he can't stop thinking of Isabelle and it's becoming harder to deny his affection for the beautiful young woman.

On the green plains of Illiinois, Justin and Isabel will discover that true love is worth fighting for, living for and when you find it, you never let it go...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lovely Romance Publications
• Release date: Jun 10, 2014
• ISBN: 9781498993555

Book preview

Bestselling Titles also by LeeAnn Mackenzie:

The Unexpected Mail Order Bride

His Mail Order Mrs.

The Millionaire's Choice:Mail Order Brides West

Mail Order Husband

Mail Order Mrs. DELUXE Box Set

A short story of a young woman at a crossroads, a man ready to begin again and the indomitable power of true love.

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Late 1800's:

Tennison, Illinois

Chapter 1

So you see, you really don't have a choice,Isabelle.

Perhaps that's what Henry Trudell thought.

It was true that she had few options and Isabelle hated the  feeling of hopelessness that briefly flared in response to his proposition.

But there was no way that she was marrying the pompous manager of the Tennison Bank & Loan.

She'd rather be boiled in lye. Or shot headfirst out of a cannon.

He was the most pompous, arrogant, self -serving man she had ever encountered, though he clearly though quite highly of himself.

Henry Trudell sat back with a smirk, his dark hair slicked back. Brooding green eyes shone with expectancy, certain that he would win this battle of wills. He was not a homely man but Trudell's mannerisms made him far from attractive.

There has to be another way, Isabelle thought.

Good day, Henry. Isabelle rose hurriedly, not bothering to wait for a reply.

Her ivory colored overskirt swished as she young woman wasted no time exiting the bank. Pausing to let a wagon pass, Isabelle crossed the main street to the mercantile. It was time to relieve her helper, Dillon, for lunch and immerse herself in work once more. She dared not ponder Trudell's unexpected and wholly unacceptable proposal any further.

––––––––

One week later

It was a rather warm day, not uncommon for the Midwest in April. Normally, this was  Isabelle's favorite time of year but the joy of spring's  arrival was dampened by uncertain thoughts of her future.

Papa had left her the store months earlier upon his passing, but he had taken on a substantial amount of debt, the vast majority of his investments long gone.

Then Frederick Dennehy  lost the deed to the mercantile  in a game of poker with Henry Trudell. He succumbed to heart trouble a mere eight weeks later.

Isabelle glanced around at the dresses, bolts of fabric, canned goods, barrels and bins, jars of hard candy and red licorice flanked by black licorice sticks.

Her gaze shifted on to the shiny front window pane  with Dennehy's Mercantile & General Merchandise displayed in large