Dex Stanton had to quit school when he was 12 to help his family run the farm. Now he's all grown up and heading west, and is hoping to start a family of his own. So he tries the mail-order bride route, but since his spelling and reading aren't good, that seemed to fail. Rachel is the last person he wants to know how 'stupid' he is, but she's also the smartest woman in town--and he needs her help to read and write better. Although Dex has loved Rachel from afar, he would never presume a 'smart lady' could possibly be interested in him

Rachel has secretly loved Dex Stanton for years, although he always seemed to be distant from getting to know her. She begins giving Dex lessons, and the two of them have a hard time being near one another without revealing their feelings for each other.

Time is running out and Dex is leaving town. I loved how the author brought this story to a close and brought these two people together. The story is a pre-quel novella, for the "Unexpected Brides Series". I look forward to reading these stories soon, as "A Bride for Keeps", the next book, will show what happens to one of the other characters in this novella. ( )

I thought this was a very well written, interesting novella. If I could say anything at all negative about it, that would be that it is too short. Knowing that is a prequel to the Unexpected Brides series, that should be expected. I was really getting into the story and the characters and it was over. I can not wait to read further and see what happens to them. I love the way Melissa Jagears writes. ( )

I finished this novella yesterday and it's WONDERFUL. A historical prequel to her full-length novel, "A Bride for Keeps," this sweet story is about trusting God's plan and following his leading in your relationships and career choices. Melissa writes real-to-life characters with the perfect blend of comedy, faith, and prairie romance. Can't wait for the full-length novel "A Bride for Keeps" to be released this October!

Dex Stanton struggles with dyslexia and dispairs of finding a woman--any woman--to go west with him. He's secretly in love with the bookish Rachel Oliver, but fears she'll despise his lack of education and poor reading skills. Rachel is torn between her mother's dream of attending a lady's college she's been accepted to, and following the desire of her heart--to be a wife and mother. Can the opposites reconcile before the wagon train leaves and Dex is lost to Rachel forever? ( )

This is a heart-warming novella about life and love in Missouri in the mid 1800’s. Dex Stanton is preparing to move to Kansas with his good friend Neil, Neil’s sister Patricia, her Fiancé Everett and a few other townsfolk to claim land and start a new life. Dex knows he needs a wife before he leaves and writes for a mail order bride.
Rachel is the local school teacher, the brains of the town. At her mother’s urging she has applied to attend college but she would like nothing more than to get married, preferably to Dex but he never even looks her way.

The story is told in the POV of both Dex and Rachel. There are lots of misunderstandings and anguish and a few funny moments when life just doesn’t ever go right for poor Dex.

This was a delightful quick read it had me impatient to read the next book in the series, “A Bride for Keeps”, to see what’s in store for these wonderful characters. ( )

Novella to start off this Western series. Dex is dyslexic, but writes in his own hand, for a mail order bride. Fannie returns his letter, but he doesn't really want her - he's already in love with Rachel, but she's so learned, that he thinks she can't possible want dumb him. Only, she's loved him from afar for years. Now, it they would both state their love for each other, they'd be able to head out to Kansas to homestead together. ( )