What a fantastic novella! I have not read one of Colleen's stories that I've not liked, and this little novella was no exception. I only wish it was a full length novel! The story line was not rushed, surprisingly. I have found in many novellas, the story seems rushed because they author tries to put too much into too little space. Even the romance had, what I felt, was the right amount of time to develop.

The characters, Elli Korpela and Nathan White, were adequately developed in the short story. Elli learns to overcome her trust issues with the help of Nathan's kind attention. Nathan is such a great hero! He is kind, patient, loving, and mature. The fact that he cares for his niece is evident and makes him more appealing to the reader. His protective nature helps Elli become the woman she's meant to be.

Each character has to learn to open their eyes, ears, hearts, and minds to God. Without doing that, we let what God wants for us slip away. We miss out on so many blessings and opportunities by not paying attention! Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I wish it were longer!

**Thank you, BookLook, for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.**

Elli Korpela is fleeing Finland after she suspects the man her father wanted her to marry has killed him. She sees an ad for a mail order bride to a man in America. She gathers up her things and heads to America to marry a man she's never met.

This is where the story picks up. Elli has gotten off the train and is hoping that her new future husband is a kind man. She hopes to leave her secrets in the past but it is clear on the night of their wedding this is not to be true. Can Elli trust her new husband that she doesn't even know?

Bluebonnet Bride by Colleen Coble had my attention from the first page. Elli and Nathan have great chemistry as they are both kind and put others first. The story moves very quickly and each page had me wanting to read the next! It moves very quickly and is a very short and easy read. I couldn't believe it when I read the last page that the book was over already!

It is a very sweet and exciting story and I will definitely be reading more of Colleen Coble's books.

I was given this book for free by the publisher for review. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.

Desperate to escape the man who is trying to force her to marry him, Elli Korpela leaves Finland and sails to the United States as a mail order bride. Although she is unsure of her decision, she travels to Austin, Texas to meet Nathan White, her future husband. As soon as she sees his niece, Hannah, she knows she's made the right decision. They marry. Although Nathan tells her that he's only looking for someone to care for his niece, attraction builds between them.

Then Elli's past seems to catches up with her when she's attacked in their new home. But is it Elli's past, or workers taking out their frustration on Nathan, the new foreman at the quarry?

Although this is a novella, it's filled with action and romance. The characters come alive, and you can't help hoping that Elli and Nathan will become a complete family. The setting is interesting although there is only a glimpse of the Butterfly Palace that was featured in the first book in this series.

If you like historical romance with some mystery, you'll enjoy this book.

I reviewed this book for the Thomas Nelson Booklook Blogger program.

Elli Korpela boards The Baltic and leaves her native Finland behind as a mail-order bride, hoping for a new life across the ocean. As she steps off the train in Texas, Elli's first glimpses of her future husband and his young niece suggest the safe future she sought — yet with an unexpected limitation. Nathan White, the newly-appointed guardian of his orphaned niece, only requested a bride to love and care for four-year-old Hannah. Though such an arrangement is not how she envisioned her future, Elli adjusts to the demands of the situation for the sake of security. When a series of brutal attacks and intruders threatens the perceived security of the budding marriage, Elli and Nathan draw together to face their enemy, fighting to stay alive — and for the chance to love one another.

Like other novellas I have read recently, Colleen Coble's "Bluebonnet Bride" is a quick yet thoroughly enjoyable read. The fast-moving mix of romance and intrigue, combined with the perfect amount of character description and backstory, compelled me to turn page after page until reaching the satisfying resolution. At the end, I found myself eager to read Coble's Butterfly Palace, which I believe precedes "Bluebonnet Bride" and introduces several of the mentioned characters. Yet, this novella still can stand on its own and I would recommend it to anyone with a couple hours available, looking for a heart-racing and heartwarming read. I thank BookLook Bloggers for providing me with a free copy of this novella and the opportunity to honestly review it. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. (I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")

Having recently read "Butterfly Palace", I was pleasantly surprised to find that Coble's novella "Bluebonnet Bride" features Nathan White who had a minor role in the previous novel. Because of circumstances surrounding him in "Butterfly Palace", Nathan mostly came across as gruff and distrustful although it was obvious that he loved his sister and niece. I enjoyed reading about the Nathan that Elli got to know soon after she married him as a mail order bride.

Colleen managed to pack quite a bit of action and suspense into such a brief story and she kept it believable too! I read my copy of the ebook in one sitting because I NEEDED to find out what happened before I could put it down for the night. Both Elli and Nathan were both characters I would love to revisit. Elli was a sweet young woman desperate for a chance of a safe home and a family to love. Despite her grave circumstances, she was determined to be a good wife to Nathan. Nathan proved himself to be a husband Elli could depend on and easily grow to love. When danger followed Ellis all the way from Finland to Texas, Nathan's first priority was to protect her and his niece Hannah.

The only complaint I could voice about "Bluebonnet Bride" is that it was much too short; however I could say that about any book written by Colleen Coble. She is one author whose books I do not miss.

This book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson Publisher's BookLook blogger program.