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    An Unexpected Family: Orphan Train Romance, #1
    An Unexpected Family: Orphan Train Romance, #1
    An Unexpected Family: Orphan Train Romance, #1
    Ebook109 pages1 hour

    An Unexpected Family: Orphan Train Romance, #1

    By Zoe Matthews

    4.5/5

    ()

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    About this ebook

    What if you wanted to be a mother so badly, you would almost anything to make that dream come true?

    Craig Parker, a local farmer, has been asking widowed Amanda Drake for over a year to marry him, to which Amanda has refused each time.  After all, she still loved her late husband and she didn't feel she could ever love again.  

    One day, they hear about a train full of orphans coming to their town in Texas.  They both want to adopt a child and they are both individually given permission to adopt as a single parent.  

    Complications arise as Amanda must make a decision; should she stay single and raise her new daughter on her own or will she find a new family?

    If you like sweet western historical romances, then An Unexpected Family is for you!


    "This well-written story is full of love for family that is built around 2 children who arrived on an orphan train." Ruth

    "I loved this book!  Loved Amanda and Craig's story.  WIll be reading more from Zoe Matthews." Robin

    "Nice Story about real history.  Gave me an opportunity to share with my children my own family's experiences with orphans and orphanages after the Civil War."  Amazon Reader

    OTHER BOOKS IN THE ORPHAN TRAIN ROMANCE SERIES 
    Book 1:  AN UNEXPECTED FAMILY
    Book 2: THE PROMISE OF A FAMILY
    Book 3:  BIG SPRING BRIDES:  ANNA
    Book 4:  BIG SPRING BRIDES:  SERENA
    Book 5:  BOG SPRING BRIDES:  KATRINA
    Book 6:  WESTERN PROMISES
    Book 7:  WESTERN SKIES


     

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMely
    Release dateJul 14, 2015
    ISBN9781516371570
    An Unexpected Family: Orphan Train Romance, #1

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    Reviews for An Unexpected Family

    4.5/5

    16 ratings3 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Short and sweet.
    • 2/5
      Pro: clean.
      Con: Subpar writing with editing errors. Undeveloped characters and storyline.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Loved this book. Nice and sweet.

    Book preview

    An Unexpected Family - Zoe Matthews

    AN UNEXPECTED FAMILY

    Orphan Train Romance Series, Book 1

    Written by Zoe Matthews

    Copyright © 2014

    All Rights Reserved

    No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book.

    This is a work of fiction.  All characters, names, places, and events are the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously.

    _________________________________________

    Contents

    Preface

    Between

    Chapter 1

    Chapter 2

    Chapter 3

    Chapter 4

    Chapter 5

    Chapter 6

    Chapter 7

    Chapter 8

    Chapter 9

    Chapter 10

    Chapter 11

    Chapter 12

    Chapter 13

    Chapter 14

    Sneak Peek to

    The Promise of a Family

    Also by Zoe Matthews

    Preface

    Between 1850 and 1930, around 250,000 abandoned and orphaned children traveled on trains from the east coast of United States to different towns in the west in hopes of finding new homes. Most came from New York City.

    This plan was started by a man named Charles Loring Brace who was very concerned about the number of young children living on the streets of New York. He worked with an orphanage named Children’s Aid Society.  He came up with this idea that, if these children were taken west and placed in homes in rural communities, they would have a chance for a better life rather than spending their childhood in an orphanage or on the streets. Forty-five states eventually participated in this program, including the countries of Mexico and Canada.

    Posters were placed around towns to advertise Homes Wanted for Orphans. There usually was a committee in the town that would screen interested parents and help place the orphans. These children were supposed to be adopted and treated as family members. This wasn’t always the case though, and sometimes children were placed in bad situations.

    Despite this loosely structured plan, many children did find loving homes with caring parents and families.

    Chapter 1

    AMANDA DRAKE WALKED into the general store and headed to the back of the large room. She was looking for some specific fabric for a new order she had received for a morning dress from the mayor’s wife, Mrs. Margaret Porter. She had asked for green-plaid fabric, buttons, lace and ribbon. Amanda was hoping she would be able to find it all in Maple Grove’s only general store and that she would not have to travel to another town or to have items ordered in. She was looking forward to making this dress, for it would help her seamstress business grow, as word got around about her talents at sewing clothes, since Mrs. Porter had many friends. 

    Amanda breathed a sigh of relief, as she saw the green-plaid fabric, that she had in mind, was available. She was able to find buttons and lace that would work perfectly with the fabric. Although she couldn’t see ribbon that would match, she thought she might have some in her own, dress-shop supplies. Amanda brushed away some strands of dark brown hair out of her eyes that had escaped her bun due to the Texas wind in the short walk across the street from her dress shop to the general store.  As she started to gather what she needed, she felt a presence behind her, and she knew immediately who it was.

    She turned around to face the last person she wanted to see that day and the person she was hoping to avoid. Craig Parker was standing in front of her with a new shovel and a bag of nails in his hands.

    Hello, Amanda, Craig greeted her with his big booming voice and teasing grin.  Amanda couldn’t help but notice his sun-bleached-blond hair that desperately needed a trim and his surprisingly bright, sky-blue eyes. He had removed his cowboy hat which was tucked under his arm. 

    Hello, Mr. Parker, Amanda tried to answer quietly, so they wouldn’t attract attention from the shopkeeper, Mrs. Estelle Davis. Mrs. Davis, in Amanda’s opinion, happened to be the biggest gossip in Maple Grove. She said his last name pointedly, reminding him that she had not given him permission to call her by her first name.

    Craig just grinned down at her, looking delighted that he had the opportunity to talk to her. Have you thought more about my proposal of marriage? he asked her, his voice sounding a little quieter but still loud just the same.

    The answer is still no, Amanda whispered irritably. Please don’t ask me again. 

    She walked over to a display of sewing scissors and threads, pretending interest in the variety of choices. She tried to hint to Craig to leave her alone and that she wasn’t interested in talking about it, especially in the general store.

    I don’t see why you won’t even consider it, Craig pretended to pout, as he followed her. I know for a fact you have no other prospects, you being a widow and all, and childless besides. Craig pushed himself between the display and Amanda.

    My decision as to why doesn’t concern you, Amanda loudly whispered again. She tried not to look at him because, for some reason every time she did, her heart would do a little flip. The last thing she wanted was to feel an attraction to a man other than her late husband, David. 

    Well, I guess if you want to go through life as an old maid, it’s your choice, Craig teased her. But my offer still stands. I have purchased a great little farm that is located just outside of town, you know, but it’s kind of lonely out there, and I could use some help.

    You don’t marry someone just to have extra help, Amanda said firmly.  You should marry only if you love that person.

    Ah, love, Craig said, his eyes still twinkling with laughter. That will come after we get to know each other. Craig reached down and handed Amanda a pair of scissors that she had been pretending to study. Besides, if you marry me, you won’t have to work in that shop of yours anymore. You would have someone else to support you.

    Craig’s words frustrated Amanda and made her more determined not to marry him. She knew Craig had no idea that she didn’t have to work. David had left her a sizable amount of money when he had died, along with the small house that she was living in. After his death, Amanda had decided to turn part of her home into a dress shop and to sew clothes for other women and children. She loved to sew, and it kept her busy. Sewing also made her feel close to David, as he had purchased the Singer sewing machine for her as a gift for their fifth-wedding anniversary.

    Amanda had loved David very much and didn’t think she could ever love another man. She had resigned herself to the fact that she would live alone for the rest of her life. If only she had been able to have a child with David, then she wouldn’t be so lonely. But it wasn’t meant to be, and

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