GRR Reviews The Barren Bride & The Abandoned Baby by Faye Sonja

The Barren Bride and the Abandoned Baby seems to rely way too much on serendipity and the author's voice seems to be WAY TOO PASSIVE to make the story exciting.

Sidney is barren due to a childhood disease. She thought nobody would want her, so she was surprised when the mail order bride agency matched her with someone who wanted her with no child (nor expect any). But moments before she's due to get on the train, she found a baby abandoned on her doorstep. As she already gave up her room, she was forced to take the baby along... // Isam and his best friend were mining gold in a small town in Texas. He already buried one wife and child, and his heart is dead. He needed a wife but did not want any children. When Sidney arrived with a baby, however, Isam can't turn her away. But what are the chances the baby will find its way to the real mom when he's halfway across the country?

I honestly don't feel a connection to this story. Things just HAPPEN to the characters, and they react. They don't seem to ever attempt to actively change their situation. Isam is just doing the strong silent type. He didn't want children, but when his "barren bride" showed up with one, he said nothing, because he's a "good guy (tm)". And Sidney... She could have dropped off the baby off at a church or something, but no, she had to make it HER problem by taking the baby along on the train ride across the country. And obviously good things happen to people who are good. Hah. The twist at the end was a deus ex machina.

While I kinda enjoyed the tale, it's just way too passive for me.

Category: Historical Western

Primary Plot: Woman who can't have children found an abandoned baby just as she was about to leave town as mail-order bride...

Overall Rating: 2/5  (downgraded, was 3/5)

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