The Substitute Bride by Carrie Fancett Pagels
Purchase a copy: Amazon
A letter for Sonja’s deceased friend arrives at the post office in Michigan, and with it a proposal. With her father threatening to kick her out of his home, Sonja impulsively responds, offering to travel west to be a substitute bride. At the same time, Louis’s railroad promotion sends him back to Michigan, the one place on earth he’d hoped to never return—where Christmas past was full of pain. A mysterious stranger leaves him marked copies of “A Christmas Carol” as he considers romancing Sonja in Christmas present. Will Louis discern the best choices for Christmas future? Does it include the Poor House, again? Even so—will God bring healing and love to him this year?
My thoughts:
The Substitute Bride is an enchanting novella! With this tale of “A Christmas Carol meets It’s A Wonderful Life”, Carrie Fancett Pagels completely charmed me. I loved the delightful characters, engaging story line, and sweet romance. I also enjoyed the touch of intrigue and am left wondering about the mysterious stranger and the gifts she leaves. The Substitute Bride is a heartwarming story and a perfect treat for yourself or others this holiday season!
Speaking of treats, I am treating THREE of my readers to this delightful novella!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS – (US only)
THREE readers will win a print copy of The Substitute Bride!
To enter the giveaway:
Comment with your favorite Christmas movie and your email address. The giveaway ends Sunday, December 20 at noon CST. The winners will be drawn and announced Sunday afternoon.
To earn additional entries:
Follow this blog and/or share the giveaway via social media. Be sure to let me know what you’ve done to earn additional entries!
What is your favorite Christmas movie?
Carrie Fancett Pagels Ph.D. is an award-winning, best-selling, and multi-published Christian historical romance author. Carrie was a psychologist for twenty-five years. Married for twenty-seven years with two children. Carrie resides in Virginia’s Historic Triangle and enjoys reading, traveling and researching. She’s a finalist for the 2014 Maggie Awards for Excellence.
Website | Blog- Overcoming with God | Blog- Colonial Quills| Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | LinkedIn
Buzzing About Books 
What a wonderful giveaway, Carrie’s book sounds delightful! Would love to win a copy! My favorite (or one of them) Christmas movie is While You Were Sleeping 🙂 I’ve watched it countless times and it blesses me each time. Merry Christmas Britney!!
Kara
Wman4JCatAOLdotCOM
*I also like Elf and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation but Sleeping is my fave*
That was such a sweet movie, Kara! I tend toward the classics, I think since my world, as a child, revolved around absorbing as many books as I could read and that was back in the day, so… Merry Christmas!
So true about the classics, Carrie, they never lose their specialness 🙂 Merry Christmas to you also, hugs!!
My favorite Christmas movie is the old version of Miracle on 34th Street with Natalie Wood and Maureen O’Hara. I love the original with colorization. Also It’s a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. Thanks for your wonderful giveaway. robeader53@yahoo.com
Oh I love that one! I want to watch it again, now that you said that. It’s a Wonderful Life is one I try to watch every year. I might wait for a day the guys aren’t here because they make fun of me for crying over it even though I have seen it over and over and over again!!! Merry Christmas!!! Hey Do you bead, too? I am a beader.
My favorite is Christmas in Connecticut, another of the old black and white movies! I even have 2 copies!
Ooooohhhh, I haven’t ever seen that one, Beth!! Thanks for suggesting it! Merry Christmas!
My favorite Christmas movie is “It’s A Wonderful Life”!
sarahrichmond(dot)12(at)gmail(dot)com
love that one too, Sarah, good choice!
It’s such a fave of mine that my hubs gave me a copy a couple of years ago for Christmas! It’s not hard to find on tv but he wanted me to be able to watch it whenever I wanted! Merry Christmas, Sarah!
My favorite Christmas movie is “It’s A Wonderful Life”!
sarahrichmond(dot)12(at)gmail(dot)com
My favorite Christmas movie is The Christmas Shoes. Thsnk you so much for the chsnce to receive your book.
That is such a sweet and tear-jerker show. My mom had cancer when I was a child and she had a medical emergency over Christmas when it first started so I don’t usually repeat watch sad shows with that dying mother element. Merry Christmas.
I apologize for my choice in movies. I know it is sad, but I love it because it reminds me of the true spirit of Christmas and shows how some of us can get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle and forget what Christmas is about. The young boy loved his mom and wanted her last Christmas to be special. Feel free to remove my name from the giveaway.
This movie obviously resonates with so many people and it is a great book and well-done movie. But for me it brings up bad memories of a Christmas when I wondered if we’d lose my mother, Deana!
My favorite Christmas movie is The Christmas Shies. Thank you for the chance to receive your book.
Jhdwayne(at)peoplepc(dot)com
It should say Christmas Shoes
I just re-checked that storyline to see if the same one I thought was too sad for me to ever watch again, and it was. My mother survived cancer and lived another 40 years before evil cancer claimed her. Britney is such a sweetheart to offer this generous giveaway!!! Thank you, Britney!
I love it’s a wonderful life! RachelATbledsoeDOTnet
I got outvoted tonight for It’s a Wonderful Life and we’re watching the first Star Wars movie! Merry Christmas, Rachel!
I have two favorite Christmas movies, The Christmas Card and Moonlight & Mistletoe!!
alander87 at allcom dot net
Abby, what is the pollen for Moonlight & Misteltoe? Is that a Hallmark show? Merry Christmas!
PLOT Line NOT pollen lol!!!
It’s a Wonderful Life~ jarning67(at)hotmail(dot)com
That’s my fave, too, along with A Christmas Carol, Joan!!! That’s why I wrote a plot that had elements from both stories. I need to watch It’s a Wonderful Life and get my box of Kleenex out!!! Louis in my story is like George!
THANKS so much for this unexpected blessing, Britney! Wow! This is so sweet of you! Merry Christmas to you and your readers!!!
You’re welcome, Carrie! Thank you so much for stopping by and visiting with everyone! Merry Christmas to you!!
Thank you Britney and thank you Carrie! My very favorite Christmas movie is a wonderful Halmark movie, The Christmas Card. I watch it every time it comes on and love every single minute of it. Merry Christmas!
mauback55 at gmail dot com
Hi Britney’s mommy! I liked The Christmas Card, too. Sweet show. Have a Merry Christmas!
My favorite Christmas movie is probably Miracle on 34th St. steveandellengray(at)yahoo(dot)com
Love Maureen’s movies! And Natalie was such a little angel in it! She died too young! Merry Christmas!
Little House on The Prairie Christmas At Plum Creek
Oh you gals are making my must watch list get much longer!!! Merry Christmas!
ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE! HOPE TO WIN LOVE READING!!!!!
My guys volunteered to watch it with me last night vs. The Connecticut Christmas but we opted for the latter and I hope to see It’s A Wonderful Life soon on my DVD! Best wishes, Sarah!
THE CHRISTMAS CARD – Hallmark movie – watch it every year – does not get old (esp when I write about returning soldiers – wounded warriors)
jlmelwrites@gmail.com
Hi Joy! Are you staying warm up there? That is a good show. How long has it been out? I thought it was pretty new. Merry Christmas!
This review is fantastic. Sounds like a great book. My favorite movie is A Charlie Browns Christmas! It’s a movie I have been watching since I was a child and I just love it. Merry Christmas!
Thanks so much, Sarah! Britney did do a great review! I love A Charlie Brown Christmas, too!
A Waltons Christmas is my favorite. Merry Christmas!
Oh wow, I loved the Waltons, Lucy and I sometimes watch the show on tv. Merry Christmas!
I like the Grinch movie.
Haha! I like the Grinch, too. I confess, I think the Jim Carey one is just too over the top for me but I liked the original Grinch movie. Merry Christmas!
Hard to pick one, but one of my favorite Christmas movies is A Christmas Carol.
First favorite is A Christmas Carol, which ties in with the Greatest Story Ever Told.
I also like It’s A Wonderful Life, miracle on the 34 the street, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Nestor the long eared donkey and the little drummer boy.
Love Charlie Brown Christmas!!! It really gets at the true heart of Christmas! Watched that every year for so many years! Saw part of it this year, the part where the Bible story is shared. Love that! Thanks for sharing, Tiffany!
The Christmas Shoes. I have to watch it every year.
Heather, if you come back, would you say why The Christmas Shoes resonates with you? Merry Christmas!
My favorite Christmas movie is the old version of The Miracle on 34th St
That’s such a great movie, Melissa! My guys apparently think Star Wars, including the old movies, is for Christmas! Thanks for coming by!
Mine is the old version of The Miracle on 34th Street.
I like the old version best but the new one was well done, too. Merry Christmas!
I have certain movies that I have to watch every year at Christmas. The two that I usually watch first are White Christmas and Miracle on 34th Street (the old one). This sounds like a great book. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
Hi Susan! Those are great movies! Thanks about my book and best wishes for winning!
I don’t have a favorite Christmas movie…in fact, I don’t watch much of anything. I have never been able to sit in front of a TV without falling asleep almost immediately. I know I can read without falling asleep, so thanks for the giveaway!
That’s funny, Lisa! I wasn’t much of a tv watcher until I discovered some great shows on Netflix when I was laid up after foot surgery! Merry Christmas!
My favorite movie is Miracle on 34th street! Carrie , the author grew up across the street from me in Newberry , MI!!! Would sure love her book! My email address is Terri54.to@gmail.com
Hi TERRI! Golly, I still think of you as that little girl!!! I hope that warms your heart! Great seeing you here. We missed Miracle on 34th St. this year. Maybe next! Blessings!
I don’t have a movie I just have to watch every Christmas, but I will stop on White Christmas if I happen to see it as I am flipping the channels. I love a good musical!
PATTY, if you get a chance, go see the White Christmas musical. It was playing in our community this year and Jeff and I went for our anniversary! Blessings!
My favorite Christmas movie is the Christmas Card. But honestly I like a whole lot of them. Would love to win!! amylsmith AT bledsoe DOT net
I haven’t seen the list of winners yet, Amy, but my ebook is on sale for only 99 cents right now! Thanks for coming by!
My favorite Christmas movie is Elf. It always makes me laugh.
I am an e mail follower of your blog.
Have a blessed Christmas and thanks for the chance to win this book.
Hi, ladies! I have been away and appreciate Carrie stopping by and visiting with everyone in my absence. How fun to see all the movie selections! I see some of my favorites, but there are also several I will be adding to my want-to-watch list. I really enjoy watching Hallmark movies during the holiday season. They always warm my heart! Thank you all so much for stopping by and entering to win this delightful novella. Merry Christmas!
I’ve become a Hallmark addict, Britney! Can’t wait to see When Calls the Heart tonight!!!