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Knotty Pines #2
The Proper Wife
Sensible, Settled, Steady…
And not Sadie Lassiter. Eli Reynolds knows what he wants in a wife, and the flighty Texas girl couldn't be further from the mark. Eli has his nine-year-old sister's welfare to consider—Penny deserves a mother who will give her proper care. But when bad weather strands Eli and Sadie together, he sees a new side to her character. She's rash—but also resourceful. Instead of discipline, she has diligent faith. Her housekeeping skills are lacking, but she's filled with humor and sweetness. She may not be a "proper" wife, but to save her reputation—and to take a chance on happiness he'd never expected to find—Eli will take her as his bride.
And not Sadie Lassiter. Eli Reynolds knows what he wants in a wife, and the flighty Texas girl couldn't be further from the mark. Eli has his nine-year-old sister's welfare to consider—Penny deserves a mother who will give her proper care. But when bad weather strands Eli and Sadie together, he sees a new side to her character. She's rash—but also resourceful. Instead of discipline, she has diligent faith. Her housekeeping skills are lacking, but she's filled with humor and sweetness. She may not be a "proper" wife, but to save her reputation—and to take a chance on happiness he'd never expected to find—Eli will take her as his bride.
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2011
About the author
Winnie Griggs
66 books229 followersWinnie Griggs grew up in south Louisiana in an undeveloped area her friends thought of as the very back of beyond. With her two younger siblings and another family of two siblings for playmates, she spent many an hour exploring the overgrown land around her home, cutting jungle trails, building forts and frontier camps, and looking for pirate ships on the nearby bayou.
Once she ‘grew up’ she found other outlets for dealing with all those wonderful, adventurous imaginary friends by filling notebooks with their stories. And somewhere along the way, those scribblings gave way to full length stories.
Eventually she found her own Prince Charming, a rancher whose white steed takes the form of a tractor and whose kingdom is situated in a small rural community that she loves to call home, and together they’ve built their own storybook happily-ever-after. Their lives together expanded to include four now grown children who share Winnie’s vivid imagination and her husband’s steadier influences and are now out in the world pursuing their own adventures.
Winnie shares her stories with readers through her writings for Love Inspired and Love Inspired Historical books. You can learn more about Winnie at www.winniegriggs.com
Once she ‘grew up’ she found other outlets for dealing with all those wonderful, adventurous imaginary friends by filling notebooks with their stories. And somewhere along the way, those scribblings gave way to full length stories.
Eventually she found her own Prince Charming, a rancher whose white steed takes the form of a tractor and whose kingdom is situated in a small rural community that she loves to call home, and together they’ve built their own storybook happily-ever-after. Their lives together expanded to include four now grown children who share Winnie’s vivid imagination and her husband’s steadier influences and are now out in the world pursuing their own adventures.
Winnie shares her stories with readers through her writings for Love Inspired and Love Inspired Historical books. You can learn more about Winnie at www.winniegriggs.com
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 21, 2022
I had a hard time getting through this book. Not sure I liked it. It was slow. Kind of unrealistic in some ways. But it did remind me of Victorian romances that took place in times where one slip, one indiscretion and matrimony was forced on a man or woman that could make a life miserable. Then, I realized it is a series and this is #2. I found the first book one the series called The Christmas Journey and read it the next day. I gave that a 5. Now book two makes more sense. I wish I would have known it was part of a series but it doesn’t indicate that on any of the three books I have by this author. So for this book, I would say read them in order so you get to know the characters from the beginning. There is one more I managed to find that is in this series, “Second Chance Family “ and I’m going to read it next while all the characters are fresh in my mind. If Harlequin or CBD doesn’t carry the older ones any more, I get mine from ThriftBooks.com.
September 24, 2015
This wasn't my first Winnie Griggs' Love Inspired Historical. Winnie appears to excel with stories where a free-spirited heroine meets an uptight hero or vice versa. This book is a story of the former romance. Sadie Lassiter is the free-spirited heroine and Eli Reynolds is the uptight hero.
Eli wants and thinks he needs to find a proper wife who will be a good step-aunt to the little sister in his care. And Sadie is not even on his long list much less his short list. She's too carefree and too casual and not the least interested in housekeeping.
Then a storm strands them together for a night and the gossips put their heads together. Eli's plans and Sadie's plans go out the window when Eli proposes marriage to avert scandal.
However, it seems that this marriage might be in God's plans for both of them.
A fun read with a delightful heroine who is a match for the very proper Mr. Reynolds!
Eli wants and thinks he needs to find a proper wife who will be a good step-aunt to the little sister in his care. And Sadie is not even on his long list much less his short list. She's too carefree and too casual and not the least interested in housekeeping.
Then a storm strands them together for a night and the gossips put their heads together. Eli's plans and Sadie's plans go out the window when Eli proposes marriage to avert scandal.
However, it seems that this marriage might be in God's plans for both of them.
A fun read with a delightful heroine who is a match for the very proper Mr. Reynolds!
October 20, 2021
The proper Wife by Winnie Griggs 2011
Knotty Pine #2 of 4
1893
Sadie Lassiter: Storyteller, romantic, huge heart, youngest of the Lassiter siblings, helpful and enthusiastic about life, love and adventure.
Eli Reynolds: practical, banker, duty-bound. He has managed to latch onto all the wrong examples of what "love" is and therefore believes one must be practical and put all romantic notions aside.
Off on a honey adventure 🍯 (which, as a lover of natural honey, I found most interesting), they become stranded overnight in an old dilapidated cabin. I really enjoyed that turn and wished they'd had cause to return there later in the story.
I really enjoyed Sadie's special relationship with God. She prays continually, just as scripture calls for and genuinely loves God, seeking His best for her. Eli cannot get his head around that. His prayers are out of obligation, without any relationship with the Savior. Sadie REALLY seeks, with God's help, to go deeper and understand Eli. She has SO much patience and is so very sweet. Her major flaw is she can't cook, which of course isn't much of a flaw at all.
Eli's world has been turned upside down repeatedly, but despite the many tragedies he's had to endure God is giving him exactly what he needs in the end.
I also liked having Sadie's brothers, Griff and Ry, in the story. Having accidentally read book 4 first, I genuinely like those two good men.
For me, this book has all the good feels (as the kids say 😏). Despite a handful of typos, I still give it 5☆☆☆☆☆.
I purchased this book from Thriftbooks.com.
All opinions are mine alone without expectation or compensation.
BTW: Nothing in the book lets you know it's part of a series 😑
KNOTTY PINE SERIES:
📕A Christmas Journey
📘The Proper Wife
📗Second Chance Family
📙Home for Thanksgiving
Knotty Pine #2 of 4
1893
Sadie Lassiter: Storyteller, romantic, huge heart, youngest of the Lassiter siblings, helpful and enthusiastic about life, love and adventure.
Eli Reynolds: practical, banker, duty-bound. He has managed to latch onto all the wrong examples of what "love" is and therefore believes one must be practical and put all romantic notions aside.
Off on a honey adventure 🍯 (which, as a lover of natural honey, I found most interesting), they become stranded overnight in an old dilapidated cabin. I really enjoyed that turn and wished they'd had cause to return there later in the story.
I really enjoyed Sadie's special relationship with God. She prays continually, just as scripture calls for and genuinely loves God, seeking His best for her. Eli cannot get his head around that. His prayers are out of obligation, without any relationship with the Savior. Sadie REALLY seeks, with God's help, to go deeper and understand Eli. She has SO much patience and is so very sweet. Her major flaw is she can't cook, which of course isn't much of a flaw at all.
Eli's world has been turned upside down repeatedly, but despite the many tragedies he's had to endure God is giving him exactly what he needs in the end.
I also liked having Sadie's brothers, Griff and Ry, in the story. Having accidentally read book 4 first, I genuinely like those two good men.
For me, this book has all the good feels (as the kids say 😏). Despite a handful of typos, I still give it 5☆☆☆☆☆.
I purchased this book from Thriftbooks.com.
All opinions are mine alone without expectation or compensation.
BTW: Nothing in the book lets you know it's part of a series 😑
KNOTTY PINE SERIES:
📕A Christmas Journey
📘The Proper Wife
📗Second Chance Family
📙Home for Thanksgiving
April 16, 2022
Oh, this is such a great book!!! Sadie grew up on a ranch, dreamed of meeting a man who would love her for herself, they'd marry at the church she grew up in, and they'd live happily on the ranch. Eli Reynolds is a banker, and moves to Knotty Pine to run the bank there. The woman he married would NOT be Sadie! After bad weather strands them together overnight, and in order to save her reputation, Eli realizes that though Sadie has some good characteristics, he'll need to make the best of it and marry her. Sadie isn't so sure they need to marry, though the longer she waits and prays, she realizes that they do. As they build a live together with his young sister, Penny, Eli realizes he's thinking differently about Sadie. Will he be able to acknowledge his need of God and his need of Sadie and Penny before it's too late, or will he let the best that could happen to him get away?
October 8, 2019
I really enjoyed this clean Historical, Western Romance. I bought this at Wal-Mart and I voluntarily chose to review it. I've given it a 5* rating. This had a lot of action along with enough feels to keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. The heroine, a bit of tomboy, lands in many situations that raises the eyebrows of the proper hero. A very nice ending. I've really enjoy Winnie Griggs books.
February 20, 2022
Not my favorite book. Had a hard time getting through it. Reminded me of Victorian romance scenario when a marriage was forced and the parties weren’t happy. Eli’s idea of a perfect wife had a lot to be desired. He was selfish and way out there. It ended well but I was glad when the story was over..
May 31, 2022
Alittle long in some parts but, over all a good story.
June 4, 2012
The Proper Wife by Winnie Griggs
Knotty Pine, Texas
Eli Reynolds has his life pretty well planned out. He is rich enough but still bought a bank in the town of Knotty Pine, Texas. He wanted to start over with his little sister, Penny, and forget about the tragedies of the past. He bought a house that would soon be finished and now he was looking for the perfect and proper wife. Definitely not someone like the hoyden, Sadie Lassiter. When circumstances cause a situation that could ruin their reputations...Eli sees no way out but to marry Sadie.
Sadie was helping her sister-in-laws sister, Cora Beth, after she hurt her arm. Cora Beth had a boardinghouse to run. Sadie was not so good at cooking but she enjoyed helping with the children. Especially young Penny who was there with her brother Eli. When Eli tells her they must marry, it sends her hackles up. He's handsome enough but stodgy and he don't love her. Marriage vows are too important to marry someone to prove innocence. When Eli points out his reputation and Penny's are endangered as well...Sadie has to rethink her decision. She dreamed of a marrying someone who loved her and preferably a rancher, not a City man like Eli. What would Sadie give up to help rescue Eli and Penny?
Although not listed as a series, The Christmas Journey is the story of Sadie's oldest brother, Ryland. After The Proper Wife is Second Chance Family which is the story of Cora Beth Collins and Once Upon a Thanksgiving: Home for Thanksgiving is the story of Sadie's other brother, Griff.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
Knotty Pine, Texas
Eli Reynolds has his life pretty well planned out. He is rich enough but still bought a bank in the town of Knotty Pine, Texas. He wanted to start over with his little sister, Penny, and forget about the tragedies of the past. He bought a house that would soon be finished and now he was looking for the perfect and proper wife. Definitely not someone like the hoyden, Sadie Lassiter. When circumstances cause a situation that could ruin their reputations...Eli sees no way out but to marry Sadie.
Sadie was helping her sister-in-laws sister, Cora Beth, after she hurt her arm. Cora Beth had a boardinghouse to run. Sadie was not so good at cooking but she enjoyed helping with the children. Especially young Penny who was there with her brother Eli. When Eli tells her they must marry, it sends her hackles up. He's handsome enough but stodgy and he don't love her. Marriage vows are too important to marry someone to prove innocence. When Eli points out his reputation and Penny's are endangered as well...Sadie has to rethink her decision. She dreamed of a marrying someone who loved her and preferably a rancher, not a City man like Eli. What would Sadie give up to help rescue Eli and Penny?
Although not listed as a series, The Christmas Journey is the story of Sadie's oldest brother, Ryland. After The Proper Wife is Second Chance Family which is the story of Cora Beth Collins and Once Upon a Thanksgiving: Home for Thanksgiving is the story of Sadie's other brother, Griff.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
August 9, 2015
Knotty Pine
Book 2
I actually read the third book in this series, "Second Chance Family," first, and I read this book second. Now I guess I'll go back and read the first book. I think they would have been more exciting read in order, but...oh well!
In this book, we get to know Sadie Lassiter. I expect she is introduced in the first book. Sadie can't cook very well and is a bit spontaneous and playful, but she has a great heart. She is helping out at the boarding house while Mrs. Collins (widow and featured in the third book) is recovering from a broken wrist. Eli and his nine year old sister, Penny, is staying there until he gets his house livable. He needs a wife to help raise his sister.
Eli has been through a lot. He doesn't believe in love and has watched his sister suffer from so much loss. The last thing he needs is a woman like Sadie.
But when Sadie tricks him into helping her get honey, they get stuck in a storm and end up spending the night alone in a cabin. Eli believes there's only one thing that can be done - they must get married.
I liked how the author dealt with the whole marriage issue. She does a totally different on the marriage of convenience story in the third book, but this one was sweet and honest. The drama surrounding Eli and Penny's past really tugged at my heartstrings. I loved watching these three come together as a family! Very well done.
Book 2
I actually read the third book in this series, "Second Chance Family," first, and I read this book second. Now I guess I'll go back and read the first book. I think they would have been more exciting read in order, but...oh well!
In this book, we get to know Sadie Lassiter. I expect she is introduced in the first book. Sadie can't cook very well and is a bit spontaneous and playful, but she has a great heart. She is helping out at the boarding house while Mrs. Collins (widow and featured in the third book) is recovering from a broken wrist. Eli and his nine year old sister, Penny, is staying there until he gets his house livable. He needs a wife to help raise his sister.
Eli has been through a lot. He doesn't believe in love and has watched his sister suffer from so much loss. The last thing he needs is a woman like Sadie.
But when Sadie tricks him into helping her get honey, they get stuck in a storm and end up spending the night alone in a cabin. Eli believes there's only one thing that can be done - they must get married.
I liked how the author dealt with the whole marriage issue. She does a totally different on the marriage of convenience story in the third book, but this one was sweet and honest. The drama surrounding Eli and Penny's past really tugged at my heartstrings. I loved watching these three come together as a family! Very well done.
August 12, 2012
A city slicker young man, Eli Reynolds, becomes guardian of his younger half-sister. In order to provide the 'right' guardian, he moves to a smaller rural town 'out west' and proceeds to look for a wife - no nanny or housekeeper will do. The widow who runs the boarding house might be just the woman to fill that role but before he can make that decision, fate plays him a wicked hand. Reynolds is caught in a sudden storm overnight with the widow's friend, Miss Lassiter. Of course, he does the right thing and offers marriage. Although she refuses at first, societal pressure comes to bear and the marriage takes place. And that is as much excitement as you are going to get and it all takes place in the first few chapters of the book. I will say that I liked the ending ... but I wasn't certain I would get there. Quite honestly, I'm not sure the two main characters would ever actually make a match, no matter how hard they tried. But hey, that is what fiction is for.
June 11, 2011
I thought the book started out a bit slow, but once it picked up, it really picked up and I found myself really looking forward to seeing how the romance between the two main characters would develop. I wish more time had been spent on that romance in fact, more so than on the events prior to the wedding. I also disliked how the items from Hawks creek were handled, even in the end. It felt like the male lead changed only a very little on his feelings about that issue, which was disappointing. Overall though I liked it and found the good parts outweighed the ones that I took issue with.
June 14, 2011
This story seemed to begin slowly, but I ended up enjoying it very much. I loved the character of Sadie; she seemed to have such a delightful balance of strength and lighthearted cheerfulness. I had a little more trouble caring about Eli; he did change, but I was still left wondering if he had changed quite enough. Many of the family relationships and community relationships in this story are delightful, and the ending is very satisfying.
April 15, 2011
In Texas during the 1890's Eli is looking for a wife to help take care of him and his sister. Many candidates just don't meet up with the definition of the "proper" wife. And there is Sadie. Perfect? Not even close, or is she? Events occur that just might make the decision for him. Must of been Someone's plan. Cute story to read for a few giggles.
282 pages
282 pages
April 19, 2011
This story by Winnie Griggs called "The Proper Wife" was good little story for quick read, Eli thought he wanted the perfect wife, he had a lot to learn about women and God chose her letting him find out for himself that perfect is not always "Perfect", He finally found a deeper relationship with God along the way and met a woman who was just right for him....
December 31, 2011
I just finished this book and loved it. This author always delights me with her characters. I had read the previous book about the town of Knotty Pine so was familiar with the town and some of the characters, but this book only added to the charm of the small town and those old familiar characters.
Loved it.
Loved it.
June 19, 2013
I like Winnie Griggs, don't get me wrong. She writes great books! But this one was a disappointment. Not with her writing but with the character choice. The male "hero" was insufferable. Think "Mr. Darcy" unreformed. Like, who is going to be attracted to an arrogant goody two shoes? He pretty much stays like that too!The female character was very likable and definitely deserved better!
October 5, 2011
This is the first I've read of Ms. Griggs' books and I have to say I was pleased with this story. I like her style of writing. The plot was interesting and kept me intrigued, and the characters drew me in. I'll be looking for the books about the other characters in this story.
May 7, 2013
He's a distinguished man who wants a mother for his sister. She's a woman from Texas helping her aunt with a boardinghouse. Will she agree to marry him and bring joy and faith back to his life? Excellent!!!
March 5, 2012
Read it and liked it a lot but I mean if she isn't doing another book on this then I say it is cut off way too short. Want to read more!!!!!!!!
Especially if the older brother gets a wife o.o
Especially if the older brother gets a wife o.o
September 6, 2012
Maybe 3.5? Fun little story. I liked the female main character, and the man grew on me.
July 17, 2015
Sadie and Eli's story ended to soon I would have liked an epilogue.
Winnie Griggs writes such fun and meaningful stories and this one has to be my favorite!
Winnie Griggs writes such fun and meaningful stories and this one has to be my favorite!
November 16, 2012
Christian romance. Enjoyable story line.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews