The Bridegroom by Linda Lael Miller

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The Bridegroom is technically the fifth book in Linda Lael Miller's Stone Creek Series. I read it as a stand alone novel and it worked just fine. You don't need the complete backstory of all the characters to enjoy where everyone is in this one. As a child, Gideon Yarbro wrote a scared little Lydia Fairmont a letter. He wrote that if she ever needed him to save her just mail this letter and he would find his way to her no matter what. Gideon had even self addressed the letter for her so all she would have to do is send it. The year is 1915 and things weren't how they are now. It was time where women were meant to marry young and were expected to do their duty, have kids and tend house. Lydia Fairmont wanted to marry for love but it didn't seem like that was meant to be. Arranged to marry a selfish, well-to-do banker to save her aunt's home and get the debt collector's off of them was going to make a great story for their kids one day. Knowing that he couldn't really save her but faced with the marriage ahead, Lydia after ten years holding on to that letter...sent it. The beginning is enough to sympathize with Lydia. The poor 18 year old girl had to think as an adult and she would have lost everything had she not married that banker. Not that she had to worry about it too much as Gideon kidnaps her, her two aunts and her housekeeper all on the day she was supposed to be married. Tossed over his shoulder in her wedding dress, they all make their escape and he takes them all back home. Hone to Stone Creek where his brother Sherrif Rowdy Yarbro is waiting for him. Seems the banker has already filed charges of kidnapping against the young Yarbro. Now we have a story. To keep himself out of jail and Lydia safe the thing to do is to get married. Gideon has feelings for Lydia but because of a past trauma he doesn't want to love her and refuses. Deep in her heart, Lydia has loved Gideon since she was 8 years old. It's a marriage of haste but with a little luck and a lot of seduction from Lydia...maybe it'll be a marriage of love as well. This historical novel is definitely not my usual read but I was glad that I read it. Sometimes it's hard to keep your mind in the past when you read it but I really enjoyed it from beginning to end. Just because it's historical doesn't mean the characters and plot aren't strong. I would definitely recommend it and you don't have to read the whole series as I didn't before I read this one. I definitely want to go back and read the others now though. *picture from google