title: The Substitute Bride: A Novella (O' Little Town of Christmas)
author:  Carrie Fancett Pagels 
description: <span>In</span><i>The Substitute Bride</i><span>, author Carrie Fancett Pagels has writtenan enchantingholiday story guaranteed to warm the cockles of your heart in spite of the flurry ofsparkling, crystalline snowflakes dusting the town of Shepherd, Michigan.</span>As always, Carrie Fancett Pagels pens another delightful, heartwarming story of faith, hope, and healing--intertwining A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life!<span>Carrie FancettPagels gives us a sweet taste of what it may have been like...in Christmas past.</span>
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  # THE RELUCTANT BRIDE
  
  
  
  
  
  ### MAIL ORDER BRIDE OREGON TRAIL SERIES BOOK 1
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### KATIE WYATT
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 1
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Christmas Day 1849, Raleigh, North Carolina
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  If I hadn't had too many glasses of wine and Charles Bishop hadn't been so
  darned charming, I would never have ended up in dire straits. Well, probably
  not. But the wine was flowing at the Hamiltons' annual Christmas cotillion and
  I was determined to enjoy myself. I'd had to wear my maroon silk taffeta gown
  again, since I didn't have the money for a new dress. Still, with its nipped-
  in waist and low-cut bodice, it never failed to capture the attention of at
  least a few of the men in the room. The Hamiltons weren't exactly high
  society, which was the only reason that I was invited. There was an abundance
  of food and the wine, while not the best, was at least plentiful.
  
  
  I had danced with half a dozen young men, all the while 