The Maiden's Court: Book Review: The Yuletide Bride by Michelle Ule

The Yuletide Bride by Michelle Ule
Book 5 of the 12 Brides of Christmas series
Kindle e-Book, 51 pages
Shiloh Run Studios
November 3, 2014
★★★★☆

Heat Rating:

Genre: Historical Fiction, Short Story, Christmas

Source: Personal purchase

Ewan Murray and Kate McDougall hold a mutual appreciation for music—and each other. But as she comes of age, Ewan realizes he must do something to prove his worth to her banker father. Will a refurbished heirloom and a sudden snowstorm be the key to earning permission to marry?

The Yuletide Bride has been one of my favorite short stories in this collection of Christmas stories so far of the 5 I have read. While with many of these in the collection there is a clear indication from the outset as to just who the heroine would end up with, in this story there was some clear doubt. This was something I appreciated as it gave the story have a little more weight to it and there was a clear sense of there being consequences for actions or lack of action. Additionally, I liked that this story wasn’t at its core about two people falling in love in a ridiculously short time frame. There is a relationship already there from the start that is built upon over time and the characters interest in each other actually makes sense. At play against the interest of love is the responsibility of Kate’s father to only agree to a match for his daughter with someone who has shown that he can take care of his daughter. It was very well done.

I did notice a sense of good guy vs. bad guy in this story. Not that one was a criminal or a terrible choice, but there was the guy who wants to help everyone and the guy that is just looking out for himself. It made it easier for the reader to decide who they supported for Kate’s hand.

There are elements of Christian faith throughout this story – it is used to show where the characters get their strength from and was believable to their nature. It was not heavy-handed or preachy here.

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Also in the 12 Brides of Christmas Series: