The Bride Backfire by Kelly Eileen Hake

Amazon.com link for The Bride Backfire

Book Description:
Two feuding families, the Specks and the Grogans, have been maintaining a tenuous peace in the Nebraskan Territory of 1857. So when Adam Grogan gets caught trespassing on their land, he knows the murderous Speck men won't listen to reason and let him walk away. Adam's prepared to meet his maker, but things take a turn when Opal Speck declares he's the father of her unborn child. Will Adam accept the slur to his name and marry the girl in order to save his life? Or will Opal's desperate lie ignite the flames of hatred to an all-out war?

My Review:
Kelly Eileen Hake has written a beautiful historical romance in The Bride Backfire. The feuding families bring a unique twist to this romantic relationship. The characters of Opal and Adam, both wanting peace, are caught in the middle of the violent hatred between their families. The tension builds to an explosive level when Opal steps in to save Adam’s life, but the lies she tells have consequences, and in the process she loses Adam’s trust and respect. Opal not only has to overcome the challenges of her relationship with Adam, but also living with a family that hates her simply because she is from the wrong family.
I enjoyed this very well-written story. The characters of the two families and Opal’s friends are diverse in personality and moral fiber. The book clearly demonstrates Biblical consequences of hate, lies, and jealousy, but also what is possible with love and forgiveness. The Bride Backfire is a lovely, romantic tale, and I hope the characters of Opal and Adam are included in another book in the future