In twenty-four hours, marriage, mystery, and mayhem.

After recently arriving in Vancouver Island on a bride ship, aspiring seamstress Daisy Harper is determined not to rush into a hasty and quarrelsome marriage, a mistake her parents made. To avoid choosing the wrong man, she creates a rigorous list of ten requirements for a potential husband.

Mapmaker Seth Ryann moved to the colony to assist his partially blind brother, a local missionary. They’ll soon return to Ireland, but first, Seth is tasked by a friend to find a treasure of gold hidden in the mountains. Seth has the map to the treasure, but he’s missing the key.

When he discovers Daisy somehow has the key, the two agree to search for the treasure together. They’re left with little choice but to quickly enter a marriage of convenience. As they venture into the wilderness and work together to overcome danger, an undeniable attraction grows. But will they find the treasure only to lose what matters most?

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Now for our interview with Daisy.

DH: I’m so excited to introduce you to my readers, Daisy. Would you mind telling them a little bit about yourself?

DH: You can call me determined, whimsical, brave, and leery when it comes to men.

CC: Ah yes, all traits needed for this adventure you’re being pulled on.

What is your biggest problem in life?

DH: It’s hard to know where to start. I tried to do a favor for a friend by returning a rumored treasure chest key to its rightful owner. Instead, I landed in the wrong place at the wrong time—hiding under a stranger’s bed one minute and running for my life the next. Suddenly, I’m tangled in a marriage of convenience, pressed to find a treasure chest, and chased by wily villains. It’s a pile of problems, all right.

CC: Most certainly it is. I’d wager that it’s the adventure of a lifetime, and what adventure doesn’t come with trouble?

How would you describe your relationship with God?

DH: I sometimes wonder if God has forgotten me. Therefore, I tend to take matters into my own hands too often. Indeed, I am impatient. Do you ever feel like your timetable and His bump against each other? Well, I certainly do. Thankfully, Mrs. Butterwick, my landlady, reminded me that trusting God in big and small matters is key. Also, she pointed out that everyone is imperfect, so why should I hope to find a perfect husband? She didn’t say, “Daisy, you’re being a hypocrite,” but she could have.

CC: Oh boy, do I ever struggle with my timetable bumping up against God’s. I, like you, am impatient.

Tell us a little bit of the personal journey you go on throughout the story. What areas of growth do you find yourself facing?

DH: When I was a girl, my papa left home after a big fight with Mum. He never returned. I created a list of ten desirable traits in a future husband to ensure I avoided a quarrelsome man. Then I met Seth, and we entered a marriage of convenience lickety-split. I held onto the fact the arrangement was only temporary, driven by the need to get me safely out of town. But being together all day, every day, my husband-requirement list started to become a little less important. Seth was imperfectly perfect in every way, and why would I want him to change?

CC: It’s amazing how love reframes our long-held lists of requirements. 

How would you describe Seth to others?

DH: I’d never met a mapmaker before meeting Seth Ryann. He’s highly educated, highly adorable, and highly hard on himself because of his past. He never intended to leave Ireland but did to accompany his brother Theo, who is partially blind and a missionary. They’ve been on the island for three years and are ready and eager to return home in a few months.

Some people call me whimsical. Seth is the opposite, not to mention the best man I ever met. But that doesn’t mean we belong together. 

CC: He does, indeed, sound like a good man. Learning to live with another person is definitely hard, and determining if you are a good fit is no easy thing.

If there is one thing you could tell the reader, what would it be?

DH: Not every woman gets to follow their dream, especially in Manchester, England, where I’m from. I hopped on the brideship in search of a better life. Eventually, my mum and I hope to open a sewing shop on the island. But first, I must pay back the Immigration Society for my ship’s passage to Vancouver Island, and then I need to save enough money for Mum’s fare. I’d been wondering how we’d fund our new business. Then a golden opportunity arose—if I help find the treasure, I’ll get a cut of the proceeds.

CC: That certainly makes a marriage of convenience an easy thing. Especially if you believe there is hope for an annulment afterward. Thanks so much for dropping by and telling us a bit more about you. 

Reader, I highly recommend reading His Treasured Bride, especially if you are in search of a fun, light read that will leave you satisfied at the end. 

About Patti Stockdale:

Patti Stockdale is a historical romance author and freelance writer who lives in Wisconsin. She creates tangled-up characters full of heart and hope. Patti married her high school sweetheart and has two kids and four grandsons. When she’s not plotting stories, she loves to travel somewhere new, plant flowers, drink tea, read fiction, and dance with her family.

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