A Home for Elizabeth: San Diego Brides, #1

By Cheyanne West

When her parents die, Elizabeth is left with nothing but bills to pay. Debtors come knocking aggressively on her door, making threats, and all she can do is pray that God sends help—fast! Help comes in the guise of a mail-order bride ad and soon Elizabeth is sailing to America, on her way to marry Edmund Williams in San Diego, California. But danger follows her across the ocean and into the arms of Edmund, who has also lost everything and stands to lose even more as he and his friends confront the Clawson Gang that is threatening San Diego. Just when it looks like two shattered lives may finally be mended, Elizabeth's past reaches out to yank her back. Will Edmund's steadfast love and Elizabeth's faith be enough to save both their lives? 

There are 6 clean and wholesome Mail Order Bride stories in this series that will touch your heart.  These are tales demonstrating qualities of fortitude, strength, and valor through biblical themes. 

Stories you'll find in this series are:

Book 1 – A Home for Elizabeth 

Book 2 – A Sturdy Hand for Sharron 

Book 3 – Welsh Beauty for a Fierce Fighter

Book 4 – Irish Lass for a Wounded Warrior

Book 5 – An English Bride for a Lonely Captain

Book 6 - A Highlander Bride for the Dark Rider

• Language: English
• Publisher: Big Sage Press
• Release date: Sep 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393025610

Book preview

A Crazy Whim

New York City, 1850

H ow can this be? Elizabeth asked, staring across the desk in disbelief. The executor barely seemed to notice her dilemma. He was too occupied with straightening the pile of papers before him. Are you sure?

I’m sorry, Miss Bancroft, he shrugged his shoulders without bothering to look up at her. It seems as though nothing was left for you. The only thing left is the house.

A lump formed in Elizabeth’s throat and she gulped it down, accepting for the first time that she might be in real trouble. The Bancroft family had never been as tightly knit as others, but she’d hoped that her parents might have left something for her in their will. But it seemed that the only thing they’d had to give was debt; while her childhood home was hers, she couldn’t afford to keep paying it off.

Only a month earlier, her parents had passed away. On the one hand, she was lucky not to have been affected by the cholera epidemic that had torn them away from her. On the other hand, if she’d gone with them, she wouldn’t have had to worry about the pile of bills at home. The only thing that had kept her sane these past few weeks, through the tears and the grief threatening to envelop her forever, was the promise of this meeting and the possibility of an inheritance. Now that she knew there was nothing left, her chest tightened in fear.

Elizabeth didn’t know what she was going to do.

Will that be all? the executor, a thin man with a bald patch, asked. It was the first time he’d looked at her since she’d walked into the office.

Yes, Elizabeth nodded, annoyed by how soft her voice sounded. That will be all.

Excellent. The executor stood and gave her a tight smile. How could he smile after delivering such awful news? Had he no heart? I’ll see you out.

Elizabeth supposed there was no room for heart in his line of work. He must deliver bad news all the time. The thought brought her no comfort as she stood.

That’s all right. Elizabeth shook her head. The last thing she wanted to do was walk with this cold man. I know the way.

Very well. He extended his arm.

Reluctantly, she shook his hand, noticing how warm it was compared to hers. With that, she left the office, feeling as though she’d been dismissed. There was only one place she could go after such a terrible meeting.

The church offered solace in a way no other place could. If there was one good thing to come out of the death of her parents, it was the strengthening of her faith. Before, Elizabeth admitted to wavering slightly. Somehow, her relationship with God had grown stronger than ever before and, in visiting their resting place, she felt connected to both her parents and to Him. She was almost certain that they were all watching over her now.

As she walked through the passage, Elizabeth’s nose was assaulted by myriad familiar scents. The candles that lit the hall, the flowers, and the musty old prayer books were comforting. At this time of the day, the pews were mostly empty and she could pray in peace.

Somewhere in the distance, the sound of the nuns singing their hymns echoed through the walls of the holy building.

Dear God, Elizabeth started, clasping her hands together. She didn’t close her eyes. Instead, she looked up to the statue of Jesus at the front of the hall. Please help me. I look to you for guidance and strength in my time of need. I love you.

Before she knew it, tears were streaming down Elizabeth’s cheeks. She gazed at the sculpture of her Lord, hoping that it might bring her some kind of comfort. Reaching for the rosary around her neck, Elizabeth repeated her love for Him.

It took a lot, but she had to remind herself that there was always a greater plan in mind. She didn’t know what it was yet, but she knew she would soon. She simply had to stay strong until He showed her the way.

After some time, once the tears had stopped, she stood and turned to leave. She’d arranged to get together with one of her friends after the meeting with the executor of the will. If she didn’t leave soon, she’d be late—and she so detested tardiness. On her way out, she spotted a newspaper in the very back row of the church. Elizabeth picked it up, her brows knitting together in confusion. It was open on a page titled Matrimonial Matches.

The advertisement was for a mail order bride.

Elizabeth turned to look back at the figure beneath the stained-glass windows, wondering if this was a sign. At that moment, the sun shone through, sending brilliant rays