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Contract to Wed
Contract to Wed
Contract to Wed
Ebook250 pages4 hours

Contract to Wed

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1891 . . . Jolene Crawford Crenshaw, heiress and Boston socialite, went from her family home directly to Landonmore upon her marriage, the mansion she shared with her handsome and charismatic husband. She’d never in her life worried in the slightest over anything as crass as the dollars required to maintain that home or the lifestyle she’d been born to. Her extensive yearly wardrobe, the stables and the prime horseflesh within it, even the solid silver forks and knifes that graced her table, were expected and required to maintain the social standing that she’d cultivated over the years. But suddenly she was a widow with little money and just her pride and her secrets to keep her upright.
Max Shelby made his fortune in oil wells and cattle, but lost the love of his life the day his wife died. Now, his happy, carefree daughter needs instruction and guidance as she grows into a young lady and his dream of becoming a Senator from his adopted state of Texas seems out of reach with few political or social connections. The right wife would solve both problems. As it happens, his sister knows of a woman, a recent widow, charming, beautiful and socially astute, but in reduced circumstances, who may want to begin again. Max signed the wedding contract sight unseen.
Will Jolene be able to shed her sorrows, anger and fears to begin anew away from the censure and hidden tragedy that marred her life? Is her new husband, confident, strong and capable Max Shelby, the man, the only man, to see past her masks to find the woman beneath?

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHolly Bush
Release dateSep 9, 2020
ISBN9781586087715
Contract to Wed
Author

Holly Bush

Holly Bush was born in western Pennsylvania to two avid readers. There was not a room in her home that did not hold a full bookcase. She worked in the hospitality industry, owning a restaurant for twenty years and recently worked as the sales and marketing director in the hospitality/tourism industry and is credited with building traffic to capacity for a local farm tour, bringing guests from twenty-two states, booked two years out. Holly has been a marketing consultant to start-up businesses and has done public speaking on the subject.Holly has been writing all of her life and is a voracious reader of a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction, particularly political and historical works. She has written four romance novels, all set in the U.S. West in the mid 1800’s. She frequently attends writing conferences, and has always been a member of a writer’s group.Holly is a gardener, a news junkie, has been an active member of her local library board and loves to spend time near the ocean. She is the proud mother of two daughters and the wife of a man more than a few years her junior.

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Holly Bush has become on of my favorite historical fiction writers. She hooked me with "Romancing Olive" and "Train Station Bride" and now she has created another winner with "Cross The Ocean."The story takes place in 1871. The Duke of Wexford Blake Sanders is more than a bit surprised that his wife Ann the mother of his three children basically dumps him after seventeen years of marriage. Basically though she was tired of his inattention and philandering ways. Looking to commiserate his misery he visits his best friend Anthony and his wife. Instead of finding sympathy though he finds Gertrude Finch a 32 year old spinster cousin visiting from the United States. Gertrude quickly gets on Blake's last nerve with her outspoken manner and talk of women's suffrage, and Gertrude is none to fond of Blake and his pompous ways. The tension is electric between the two,and one kiss sets off all sorts of feelings. Feelings that neither are really willing to admit even to themselves. Gertrude decides the only thing to do is go home to America. Will an Ocean between them be able to extinguish the flame that has sparked between them?Holly Bush has an amazing ability to create heroine's that are far from typical. They aren't always the prettiest women in the story, and often considered spinsterish and I think that's what I love about them, I sort of just imagine them as everyday women. Gertrude Finch was a no-nonsense kind of woman, she was outspoken, a no nonsense kind of person who at the age of 32 had sort of given up hope of ever finding true love but that didn't keep her from dreaming. It was so easy to imagine her character. She was no simpering female, often outspoken, some of the things that popped out of her mouth was laugh out loud funny. I wasn't sure if I was going to like Blake, but his development was interesting to watch and by the end of the story I really loved him. Ms. Bush does a fantastic job of allowing not only the characters but the story itself to jump off the pages. I really felt as if I had stepped back in time for a bit. A few twists and the secondary characters kept the plot zipping right along, and while there was one sexual situation in the story it was tastefully done, and really was an important part of the story. If you enjoy historical romantic fiction this one is well worth reading. If you haven't read anything by Holly Bush what are you waiting for? Her writing is a treat to read and her characters truly stay with you long after you finish the final page!

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Contract to Wed - Holly Bush

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