Annalisa is close to paying off the mortgage on her land, until her husband gambles her savings away. To add to her hardship, her husband, a man she never loved but was ordered to marry, is found dead in their field. Now alone with a small child to care for, her father, a dominating patriarch who lives according to Old Country traditions, sends to Germany for a new husband from their cousins. She isn't expecting to love him, she doesn't believe that's possible in marriage. She only hopes for a hard worker she can respect.
Carl is a nobleman's son, accustomed to everything being handed to him by his wealthy father. He doesn't like how his father treats the peasants but believes that's just the way things are. When he's accused of a crime he didn't do, his only option is to flee Germany with the help of his manservant. He's told to go to Forestville, Michigan and pose as a schoolteacher. No one is to know his true identity as a nobleman.
When he arrives at the community, people are skeptical at first. He doesn't know how to put in a day's worth of hard labor, he uses words and terms foreign to everyone, his attitude and bearing are not those of a peasant. But they allow him to help Annalisa farm until her groom arrives.
What happens next is fairly predictable: they begin to appreciate and even love each other. However, Annalisa's aware that something is different about him and she's told herself love is impossible; it's just for fairy tales. Carl feels his deception over his identity is a hurdle not even love can cross. And he isn't supposed to be a farmer. He makes arrangements to teach in Chicago once Annalisa's groom arrives to help with the farm but with each passing day, he isn't sure if he'll be able to walk away.
Judy Hedlund is one of my new favorite authors. Her books are rich in historical detail, believable characters, and a broad spectrum of places and times. While describing Carl's misery of dealing with lice from the ship ride to America, I found myself scratching my own head. I could clearly picture the arduous task of clearing more land for planting, gathering sap to boil into syrup. Besides introducing a place and group of people I hadn't read of before, Judy weaves historical events and character development into her plot perfectly. Even though I was fairly certain how the story would end, getting there was enjoyable and she threw in a few surprises along the way.
I enjoyed "A Noble Groom." Hope you enjoy it too!
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for review purposes. However, that didn't affect the above review in any way.
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