The Captive Brides Collection

This one was just a hard read for me. I kept thinking the next stories would be better, but most of them were shoddily researched and had unexplained major character switches and other big issues. It's too bad a few good stories had to be packaged with so many duds. Some spoilers may follow.

Love's Labour's Found by Jennifer AlLee - Montserrat, West Indies, 1655
3.5 stars
This one has some mild innuendo, but it was a fun read. I'll definitely be reading another by this author.

His Indentured Bride by Angela Breidenbach - Pennsylvania, 1770-1775
1 star
Oh, brother. Creepy stalker guy, townspeople that somehow have to be given an address to find the doctor's house, plus the creepy stalker guy suddenly “doesn't want to force her” when she's in his power, then rolls over meekly when beaten.

The Suspect Bride by Susan Page Davis - Oregon, 1890s
3.5 stars
A fun little story about rescuing the girl. I didn't think it quite followed the blurb, but I liked it quite a bit.

His Golden Treasure by Darlene Franklin - Barbary Coast, San Francisco, CA, 1873
1.5 stars
A girl owned by the brothel. There was a lot of detail in this one that was hard to read, and the characters really seemed to flounder through the events aimlessly with a good measure of moaning. I appreciated the clear Gospel message, but the convenient and unlikely ending wasn't pleasurable.

Through Stormy Waters by Patty Smith Hall - Atlantic Ocean, 1755
-1 star
Rough draft? I don't know. Why are the captives roaming shipboard and playing games as though they're out for pleasure? Why is the captain playing games with his friendly convicts instead of doing his jobs on the ship? What is this strange disease the author called typhus, with symptoms and results not matching typhus now and not matching what they would have known in the past? Where's the ship's doctor? Where are the guards? And a stranger that sweeps in from nowhere and saves the day in the end? Uuuughh. Recipe for mutiny and shipwreck, right there. All those noble convicts headed for slavery roaming around the ship, you know.

Moira's Quest by Cynthia Hickey - New York, 1869
2.5 stars
I had a hard time understanding all the character motivations because they seemed to flip-flop so often. Trust? No trust? Valuable heirloom to risk one's life for becomes something almost worthless to the character? Some promise to the plot and some sweet moments, though.

Love's Escape by Carrie Fancett Pagels - Virginia, 1850
2.5 stars
Another one with some good moments but a super convenient ending that didn't even tell me what ended up happening to the characters. Also I super disliked the part where the girls dress like prostitutes and flaunt their cleavage to “be a distraction.”

Waltzing Matilda by Lucy Thompson - Sydney, Australia, 1821
4 stars
My favorite in the collection! This one was so sweet and enjoyable. Read it.

A Score to Settle by Gina Welborn - On the Missouri River, 1870
3 stars
I really liked it, but some events near the end were very confusing and the conclusion was rushed.

Overall average: 1.89 stars, rounded up to 2

Thanks to NetGalley for a free review copy. A favorable opinion was not required.