The Brickmaker's Bride

GIVEAWAY

MILLER, JUDITH
THE BRICKMAKER'S BRIDE

In the clay-rich hills of the newly founded state of West Virginia, two families tentatively come together to rebuild a war-torn brickmaking business. 

Ewan McKay has immigrated to West Virginia with his aunt and uncle, promising to trade his skills in the clay business for financial help. Uncle Hugh purchases a brickmaking operation from a Civil War widow and her daughter, and it's Ewan's job to get the company up and running again.

Ewan seeks help from Laura, the former owner's daughter, and he quickly feels a connection with her, but she's being courted by another man--a lawyer with far more social clout and money than Ewan. Resolving that he'll make the brickworks enough of a success that he can become a partner in the business and be able to afford to bring his sisters over from Ireland, Ewan pours all his energy into the new job.

But when Hugh signs a bad business deal, all Ewan's hard work is put in jeopardy. As his hopes for the future crumble, Laura reveals something surprising. Can she help him save the brickworks, and will Ewan finally get a shot at winning her heart?

My Review:

Be prepared to settle in and enjoy this exceptional novel. It's the kind of book you lose yourself in. The characters become real -- and not just the hero and heroine. There are some (unfortunately) very real secondary characters as well. Take Winston Hawkins for instance. Smarmy and self-serving. Shudder. Like reading fingernails on a blackboard. I did not like that man! And Ewan's aunt. Merciful heavens but she must have given the poor author a headache every time she burst onto a scene!

As distasteful as those two are, they provided wonderful opportunities for conflict that kept me riveted to the page. In fact it wasn't long before a niggling sense of wariness developed into full blown dread as I began to see how everything was going to play out. Nooooooo! But Miller throws in some surprising twists that make the conclusion anything but predictable.

The historical details are exquisite and I so appreciate the care this author takes with her research. All those little details enrich the reading experience so much. I think The Brickmaker's Bride might just be my favourite Miller book yet.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Brickmaker's Bride please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday November 9  2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!