The Kitchen Marriage Review, Guest Post and a Giveaway!

Posted by abakersp in Historical / 6 Comments

The Kitchen Marriage FB Banner copy

 

 

About the Book

 

 

The Kitchen Marriage

Book: The Kitchen Marriage

Author: Gina Welborn & Beccan Whitham

Publisher: Kensington Publishers

Genre: Inspirational romance/Historical America set in the old west

Release Date: September 25, 2018

A bright future awaits the women of courage and faith who boldly chase their dreams across the wide-open Montana Territory, prepared to embrace adventure and forge their own destinies . . .

When French immigrant Zoe de Fleur is forced out of her position as household cook for a high society New Yorker, the pretty and talented chef seizes an unexpected chance to head west for a new beginning. She pursues what she thinks is a prestigious job in the frontier’s “finest kitchen,” but instead finds herself in a matchmaker’s agency . . .

Isaak Gunderson is one of Helena, Montana’s most eligible bachelors, but he’s too focused on running for mayor and his family’s business to think about a wife and family. His twin brother, Jakob, is supposed to be too busy as well, yet sends for a mail-order bride anyway. Isaak doesn’t want to fuel an ongoing rivalry with his twin, but this tempting newcomer can’t be ignored. If only she’d come to Helena a different way and loving her wasn’t a betrayal . . .

 

Click here to purchase your copy!

 

My Perspective

 

When I saw the title and summary of this book, I was very intrigued. I have never met a French mail order bride before, or even a female chef from this time period. Unfortunately, it did take me a bit to really get into the story. The first part of the book didn’t hold my interest a whole lot. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been shortened. I wanted for Zoe to quickly answer an ad and be on her way to Montana, but it took a while to get to that point. And then when she did arrive, I felt like she was a little bit too easily taken with Jakob. Typically in a mail order bride series the “couple” are a little shy, or maybe don’t get along. I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

At first anyway. Once I reached probably about the half way point or so, the story line got a little more interesting. The authors held my interest, and I found myself starting to really enjoy the story line. I loved how Zoe kept her french accent, which I imagine can be difficult to put on paper. But I was easily able to imagine a french dialect in my mind whenever she spoke. The tension between her and Isaak was good, and probably what I had expected in the beginning. This turn of events made the book enjoyable to read, and made me glad that I stuck with it until to the end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

 

Gina Welborn & Becca WhithamGINA WELBORN is the bestselling author of sixteen inspirational romances. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers, and serves on the ACFW Foundation Board. Sharing her husband’s passion for the premier American sports car, she is a lifetime member of the National Corvette Museum and a founding member of the Southwest Oklahoma Corvette Club. Gina lives with her husband, three of their five children, several rabbits and guinea pigs, and a dog that doesn’t realize rabbits and pigs are edible. Visit her online at GinaWelborn.com.

BECCA WHITHAM (WIT-um) Multi-published author, paper crafter, and Chai tea lover, Becca and her twelve-foot-long craft cabinet follow her husband of more than thirty years to wherever the army currently needs a chaplain. In between moves from one part of the country to the other, she writes stories of faith that touch the heart. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a Genesis Contest finalist. Connect with her online at BeccaWhitham.com.

 

 

Guest post from Gina & Becca

 

Dear Reader,

What’s better than fulfilling a dream? Why…taking the journey with a friend, of course. And we have the army to thank for it. Gina, whose father spent most of his army career at Fort Sill, had just moved back to Lawton, Oklahoma when Becca’s husband received orders to Sill. We were both looking for friendship and found a kindred spirit.

When we first conceived the Montana Brides series over Frappuccinos (Gina) and Chai Tea Lattes (Becca) at our local Starbucks, we set out to make our make our mail-order bride stories different.

The first thing we decided on was setting our series in Helena, Montana because, in 1888, the city boasted the most millionaires per capita in the United States. We liked the idea of a former mining town grown into a cultured city and that it wasn’t the usual isolated ranch setting for a Western.

We also wanted to create stories of mail-order bride romances gone wrong. In fact, our original series title was Mail (Dis) Order Brides. We brainstormed all the ways a mail-order bride story could go sideways and settled on our top three: a widow before a wife; two brothers, one bride; and a deceitful—though well-meaning—matchmaker. The Kitchen Marriage is the second book in this series and puts our heroine, Zoe de Fleur, between twin brothers, Isaak and Jakob Gunderson. Like our first bride, Emilia Stanek (The Promise Bride), Zoe shows up in town knowing no one. Does that sound familiar? As a former military kid and current military wife, we are very familiar with needing to start over, forge new friendships, and make strangers into family.

Thank you for taking a journey into the past with us. We pray you find our stories filled with hope, humor, and happily-ever-afters.

Sincerely,

Gina Welborn and Becca Whitham

 

 

Blog Stops

 

Genesis 5020, November 1

Christian Centered book ReviewsNovember 1

Carpe Diem, November 1

Cultivating Us, November 2

Remembrancy, November 2

Inklings and NotionsNovember 3

The Becca FilesNovember 3

Stories By GinaNovember 4

A Baker’s Perspective, November 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 5

Texas Book-aholic, November 5

KarenSueHadleyNovember 6

Luv’N Lambert Life, November 6

Maureen’s Musings, November 6

cherylbbookblog, November 7

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, November 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 7

SusanLovesBooks, November 8

Book by Book, November 8

Janices book reviews, November 8

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 9

Have A Wonderful DayNovember 9

A Rup Life, November 10

Baker Kella, November 10

Bibliophile Reviews, November 11

Black ‘n’ Gold Girl’s Book Spot, November 11

Britt Reads Fiction, November 12

Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 12

Bigreadersite, November 12

Daysong ReflectionsNovember 13

Vicky Sluiter, November 13

Singing Librarian Books, November 14

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 14

 

 

Giveaway

 

262e76a9-83fa-45a6-9945-6e376f7ff8df

 

To celebrate her their tour, Gina and Becca are giving away a copy of The Kitchen Marriage to ten lucky winners!!

Be sure to comment of the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d772/the-kitchen-marriage-celebration-tour-giveaway

6 responses to “The Kitchen Marriage Review, Guest Post and a Giveaway!

  1. Kay Garrett

    Thank you for the review on “The Kitchen Marriage” by Gina Welborn & Beccan Whitham and for being part of the book tour.

    This book sounds like one I would love to read. It’s on my TBR list. Such a pretty cover.

  2. Arletta

    Thanks for your honest review. I don’t often hear someone say that they had a difficult time getting into the story. It actually makes me want to pick up this book. A lot of reviews are all 5 stars, which often turns me away from ever reading the book.

    I haven’t either heard of a French mail order bride so am curious to read this book.

  3. I agree with your thoughts towards the beginning but for me it didn’t pick up enough even later. I’m glad that I saw others sharing that they enjoyed it and glad that you were eventually able to get into it 🙂