Union Pacific Station Agent Chadwick Hughes has everything in a state of readiness to welcome his mail order bride...everything but the bride. The woman he's corresponded with for a year didn't change her mind or miss her train in Omaha-she never existed. Chadwick's mortified to discover he's been swindled by a fraudulent matrimonial agency in Chicago. He needs a lawyer if he'll ever recover a dime of the fortune he spent on worthless membership fees and the nonexistent bride's transportation west. Sophia Sorensen, Attorney at Law, is a spinster on the edge of propriety. The good people of Wyoming Territory are open to a lot of things, including Lady's Privilege during Leap Years, but some aren't fond of her day-to-day behavior. Why, the woman rides her bicycle hither and yon, showing her petticoat ruffle and ankles. She might be the least ladylike specimen beneath Wyoming skies, but it's entertaining to watch her court the U.P. Station Agent, Chadwick Hughes, the most-eligible bachelor in the county. I don't know how it is in your neck of the woods, but where Sissy and I live, it seems like winter will never end. I can't stop the snow from falling or force the daffodils to bloom, but what I can do is inject some happiness into my life via a great romance novella. Sophia's Leap-Year Courtship fits the bill perfectly. It's short, only 100 pages, perfect for sneaking a bit of reading time between carpool, appointments and everything else in our busy schedules.
Sophia's Leap-Year Courtship is part of something new from the Timeless Romance Anthology people, called Timeless Romance Singles. It's just right when you need a pop of positive in this otherwise hectic and sometimes troubling world. Speaking of a troubling world, I would hate to have lived in the 1800's and been in possession of a feisty and intelligent personality.You are, indeed, both feisty and intelligent, but I think you'd have been fine. You'd just be one of those women who ran things behind the scenes, once you escaped the clutches of your overly-controlling male relatives and found the right man.
Sissy:
Yes, but would I have committed murder or some other socially unacceptable act before I got to the "being fine" part? Sophia not only has the smarts in spades, she also checks all the boxes on the "unconventional" list. It almost seems hopeless that her lawyering, bike-riding self will be able to find a progressive-thinking man to love. And especially when there's a nasty newspaper writer sniffing about and doing his best to bring her to ruination. The violent part of me wanted to go set his type, if you know what I mean."Set his type"? What exactly does that mean?
You know, ink his block. Bomb his press. Print his news. Whatever works for you.You are a little aggressive today, dearest sister. You must be hangry. Time for lunch! But first, let's talk about this custom of switching gender roles during leap year. Author Kristin Holt has written two articles discussing this fascinating tradition, which evidently began during the reign of Margaret of Scots, in 1288. I had no idea that this tradition existed, but I'm a big fan. I didn't propose to Mr. Bubby, but I did ask him out first. I guess that makes me a progressive woman, just like Sophia!
That you are! You're a regular Susan B. Anthony! I believe that women should be able to ask men out or ask men to marry them at will with no societal disfavor. I can hear the voices of certain of my ancestors in my head saying, "You brazen hussy!"Oh, like Mom? She was NOT a progressive woman!
Sissy:
I was actually thinking Dad, he who took offense at my purple nail polish because it was not shell pink, the only acceptable and ladylike color for one's nails.Oh yes. That's the only color I EVER paint my nails (as I look down at the keyboard and see my hot-pink glittery nails...) Sophia's Leap-Year Courtship is a fantastic and engaging novella that I enjoyed all the way down to my fire-engine red toenails. Sophia and me, we would be friends! And the happy ending was just right, too.
We should also mention that Sophia's Leap-Year Courtship is also a delightful twist on the mail-order bride theme, or mail-order groom, if you will. Regardless, Sophia and Chadwick's adventures, helped along by their two doctor friends, is just the right prescription to brighten your day.Click to buy Sophia's Leap-Year Courtship by Kristin Holt
