Mail-order brides have always been a popular theme in historical romance. While some of these books concentrate only on the marriage itself, with the hero and heroine's motivations for considering such a relationship unimportant to the story, Mary Burton's latest novel is made more powerful by the fact that her main characters' reasons for entering into an unconventional relationship are explored throughout the book.

The Unexpected Wife is really a mail-order bride story with a twist. Widower Matthias Barrington's father-in-law and friends think he needs a wife to help him run his homestead and care for his family. They take matters into their own hands and carefully select a bride for him from among the responses they receive to an ad run in San Francisco.

Abigail Smyth is leading a truly miserable life in the San Francisco home of her uncle where she's lived since the death of her missionary parents during her adolescence. After a perceived indiscretion, Abby's relatives put her to work in their kitchens, making her feel fortunate not to have been cast into the streets. When Abby responds to what she believes to be Matthias' ad and letters, she is not looking for romantic love. Instead, she sees his offer as a ticket to freedom from her uncle and a chance to start a family of her own.

When Abby arrives in the rural town of Crickhollow, Montana, she is met by her potential groom's friends who then introduce her to Matthias. Understandably, he is livid when he discovers what they have done, while Abby, for her part, knows she cannot return to San Francisco after cutting her ties to her family. She informs Matthias that for the sake of his children he needs a wife - a job she is willing to take by entering into a marriage of convenience. Matthias disagrees, but eventually the two decide that as Abby is already in Montana, Matthias will allow her to spend the summer at the homestead where she will care for his two young sons.

Despite the awkward situation, the book really shines in the scenes at the homestead. The small world of Abby, Matthias, the boys, and the homestead is brought wonderfully to life. I have read several of Burton's books and she excels at "cabin" romances showcasing the relationship between a hero and heroine isolated in a remote and usually closed-off space. As Abby and Matthias go about their daily work at the homestead, each starts to see the other in a new light. Respect and eventually a relationship start to develop as each comes to understand more about the other's past, motivations, and their thoughts on the situation in which they find themselves.

My only major problems with this book arose toward the end. Though too much can't be detailed for fear of spoilers, suffice it to say that Matthias has trouble with idea of loving another woman after the death of his wife. This conflict causes him to behave in a rather disagreeable manner at times, and his behavior seems to be glossed over rather than fully dealt with by Abby and Matthias - or by the author.

While the superficial handling of these issues, as well as the somewhat modern attitude taken toward an unmarried man and woman living in the same house may annoy some readers, Abby and Matthias's story is a sweet and touching one overall. Mary Burton's novels tend to have deeply felt, emotional plots and this book is no exception. The Unexpected Wife features a tender love story in a beautiful setting and is a wonderful way to pass an afternoon or two.