Review: Married by Mistake

Married by Mistake book cover on blue background

This was such a fun book to read for the May Buddy Read as part of the Clearly Christian Readathon. My Heart Belongs in Ruby City, Idaho - Rebecca's Plight is the original title, but it is also published as Married by Mistake by Susanne Dietze. What a perfect title for the conundrum that the main characters face!

Book Synopsis

Journey Now to Ruby City, Idaho of 1866 where a Marriage Mishap Creates an Awkward Love Triangle

Looking forward to a quiet life and a full stomach, mail-order bride Rebecca Rice is pleased to marry her shopkeeper intended, Mr. Fordham, until the justice of the peace calls him Thaddeus, not Theodore—proceeded by the title Deputy. When the newlyweds realize they’ve married the wrong partners with similar names, an annulment seems in order—and fast, since Rebecca’s true intended is impatient to claim her as his own, not to mention Rebecca would never marry a lawman like her father. But when the legalities take longer than expected, Rebecca wonders if Tad wasn’t the right husband for her all along….

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

What an enjoyable visit to Ruby City, Idaho! I appreciate how Susanne Dietze took a very unique, though not impossible, set of circumstances and turned them into a full-fledged story that more than delivered an adventure for the characters involved. It's with this near-comical beginning that she explores what godly relationships can look like while solving a rash of crimes taking place in Idaho at the same time. I love that we got to know Tad better while realizing just why Rebecca faced such a dilemma in rectifying her marital situation.

I appreciate how much Tad and Rebecca respect one another and their commitment to doing the right thing. Add in their hearts for God and the recognition that His ways prevail over ours, and it's a wonderful lesson for them to learn as they seek to right the wrongs committed in this story. The author strikes the right balance between introspection and action, allowing us to dive deeper into the characters’ fears in their own lives and on behalf of their community. Readers looking for a clearly Christian book that provides a romance amid complex circumstances will enjoy Married by Mistake, demonstrating that God's ways are not our ways.

Book Summary

Format of book: 📖
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommendation: 👍

Comments

Christian Book Review Programs

Over time, I've been on the hunt for Christian book review programs that readers can join. As a result, I've been able to compile the following list which may be of interest if you are seeking review copies of Christian books. This list mostly applies to print and ebooks, although some publishers offer audiobooks as well. If further information is available for any of the publishers below (or any missing publishers), please let me know as I am happy to update this list—thank you! Please note that you can also search for these publishers on NetGalley and other review sites in case there are no review programs available or you don't qualify for one 😊 List last updated: June 4, 2026 Christian Publishers 10ofThose Availability: US, Canada, and UK residents Format: Only books published by 10ofThose qualify for review requests so as to avoid impeding with other Christian book review programs Genre: Christian non-fiction, children's books Email for availability and eligibilit...

Review: Another Gospel?

Having listened to Alisa Childers ' podcast over the years, I really enjoyed "chewing" my way through her debut book, Another Gospel? A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity . It's taken me so long that she's now onto her third book! 😂 Book Synopsis A Movement Seeks to Redefine Christianity. Some Think that It Is a Much-Needed Progressive Reformation. Others Believe that It Is an Attack on Historic Christianity. Alisa Childers never thought she would question her Christian faith. She was raised in a Christian home, where she had seen her mom and dad feed the hungry, clothe the homeless, and love the outcast. She had witnessed God at work and then had dedicated her own life to leading worship, as part of the popular Christian band ZOEgirl. All that was deeply challenged when she met a progressive pastor, who called himself a hopeful agnostic. Another Gospel? describes the intellectual journey Alisa took over several years as she wr...

Review: For Us

If you've been following April Barcalow for some time, you'll be just as excited to know that she has recently released a marriage devotional. Newsletter subscribers can receive a free copy, and you can learn more about the background of For Us: Seeking God's Heart for Marriage on her website. Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis All throughout Scripture, when God wants us to understand the close, intimate relationship He longs to have with us, He uses the imagery of marriage. That’s no coincidence. Marriage is an echo of the lasting love we share with Him, a framework to help us understand, and a gift. But good marriage, the kind that reflects Him, doesn’t happen without intention. Without building each piece on the solid foundation of Christ. Without choosing one another, even when it’s hard. This 30-day devotional weaves together Scripture, personal experience, and story threads to seek God’s ...