"Too Rich for a Bride" Review

“Too Rich for a Bride" by Mona Hodgson was sent to me as a review copy by WaterBrook Press and is the second book in the ‘Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek’ series. (You can read my review of the first book in the series, "Two Brides Too Many," here.) This novel continues the story of the Sinclair Sisters as they each move out west to Cripple Creek, Colorado. Ida’s story, the oldest sister, is told in this novel.

Ida Sinclair has finished her business school training and has joined her sisters, Kat and Nell, in the mining town of Cripple Creek, Colorado, in 1896. She is excited to work for the successful businesswoman, Mollie O’Bryan. Even though her sisters want to see her set her up with a suitable man, Ida has only one goal in her mind, and that is to make her way in the male-dominated world of business.

As much as she tries to stay away from it, Ida finds herself somewhat involved with two different men – Colin Wagner, a lawyer in town, and Tucker Raines, the traveling preacher. As Ida’s business involvement gets more and more entangled, she finds herself at a crossroads where she must decide what or Who should be first in her life.

After reading the first book in this series, Two Brides Too Many, I found that I enjoyed this second novel, Too Rich for a Bride, even more. I thought the writing in the second one was better than the first. I also enjoyed the story a little more. It was hard for me to relate to the characters in the first story, but this one’s main character, Ida, really hit home for me.

As in the first book, the secondary characters in this novel really make the story. Hattie, the owner of the boardinghouse, is so true-to-life, and Mr. Boney is both odd and charming. I really enjoyed the story of Tucker Raines, the traveling preacher. I thought this aspect of the story added so much depth and faith to the tale.

I also thought that the author did a great job balancing the portion of the story involving the role of women in business as well as in the home. This could have ended up being a push for all women everywhere to never be involved in work other than being at home and/or raising children. I am a stay-at-home mom myself, but I thought the aspect of women in business was handled well. I do not want to give away the ending of the book outright, so I will just say that I thought a good balance with that topic was achieved.

“Too Rich for a Bride” was an enjoyable read that will be especially appreciated by fans of Christian historical fiction.

I will give “Too Rich for a Bride” by Mona Hodgson… 3 ½ BookWorms.

Check out this review on The Christian Manifesto site here.

This title was published on May 3, 2011.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received this book free from the publisher, WaterBrook Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”