A Tailor-Made Bride. Karen Witemeyer. 2010. 348 pages. [Source: Library] [Historical fiction; historical romance, christian fiction, reread]
First sentence: "Red? Have you no shame, Auntie Vic? You can't be buried in a scarlet gown."
Hannah Richards inherits a piece of property in Coventry, Texas. At last she'll have a place to open up a dress shop of her own (she's a seamstress.) Not everyone in town is pleased to see her. Jericho "J.T." Tucker had previous plans for that property. He's also cranky and stand-offish because he is quick to judge. In his eyes, ANY person who encourages vanity is suspect. And what could promote vanity more quickly than a shop that sells new fashions??? That's how he judges the situation--after three seconds of knowing her. Fortunately, his sister, Delia, is kinder and more open-minded. In fact, she becomes quite friendly with his sister. Others in town seem to open up to her as well--though there is a big difference between being friendly, having cocoa, making small talk, and spending cash in the shop. There's a good chance that her business fails if no one in town comes to buy anything. But Hannah does find herself belonging in town...for the most part.
Delia, Jericho's sister, has a cross on Ike Franklin (the postmaster? telegraph operator?). Warren (I can't remember his last name, but it might start with an H????) feels some ownership over Delia simply because Delia is super-sweet and super-nice and super-friendly. She doesn't single him out for extra attention. But she doesn't treat him differently than how she treats everyone. And in this friendless guy's perspective, that makes her the one. A woman that doesn't shun him? Obviously, she's the one who will make him happy forever and ever. When Delia begins to correct Warren--remind him that she does not like-like him, that she has no interest in him courting her, that she does not want to marry him, that she does not welcome his attention or advances, Warren decides that it is Hannah's fault. These two are now besties.
Can Jericho keep his sister and Hannah safe?
One of the slight issues that I have with this one is that Hannah strongly encourages Delia to lose weight in order to feel more beautiful and confident so that she can begin to pursue Ike Franklin's attention more directly. It's a not so subtle message that if you want to get the attention of a man, then lose weight, buy a new dress, get a new haircut and you're well on your way to everything you want in life. Hannah herself is big on exercise. I am NOT on Team Warren. Warren argues that Delia is being given bad advice. That Hannah is trying to transform Delia into something she's not. I think you can NOT be on Team Creepy-Stalker and still question the messages. Delia is SUCH an awesome character, she doesn't need to be "fixed" to get her happy ending.
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