Mona Hodgson - Too Rich for a Bride

Too Rich for a Bride

Mona Hodgson

WaterBrook, May 17 2011, $13.99

ISBN: 9780307458926

In 1896 the oldest of the Sinclair sisters, Ida has just completed business school in Portland, Maine. However, when Adjunct Professor Mr. Ditmer who she respected makes a proposition that upsets Ida, she joins her sisters Kat and Nell in Cripple Creek, Colorado (see Two Bride Too Many). However unlike her siblings, Ida does not want to find a husband.

Using her business education degree, she teams up with businesswoman Mollie O'Bryan in spite of hearing rumors of her mentor's amoral business ethics that the newcomers believes is petty gender jealousy. Ida meets itinerant preacher iceman Tucker Raines who tries to save his ailing father's business and makes friends with people who can help him or his family with their plight. To Ida, attorney Colin Wagner is her perfect match so why does she keep thinking of Tucker.

This is a wonderful inspirational historical tale that reminds readers of Carlyle's Clothing theory of man as God sees passed the outer garments to the heart and soul inside the person. Mollie and the stock exchange she joins (breaking the gender barrier) were real and add a strong sense of time and place to a delightful late nineteenth century novel. Readers will enjoy the business and life lessons that Ida learns in Cripple Creek as the romantic subplot enhances her chance at restitution with God and his local flock, and moral redemption.

Harriet Klausner