Mail-Order Matriarch by Amelia St. James

1869, Burlington County, NJ.
An expecting widow, a mountain of debt, and a boardinghouse full of dreams…

Recently widowed, Elly Bates must find the courage to run her boardinghouse alone. Still reeling from losing the love of her life, Elly discovers that her late husband will live on through the baby neither knew she was expecting. Her determination to survive for her unborn child pushes her to take risks she normally wouldn’t dream of.
After an unsavory encounter boarding a crew of ruffians, Elly takes a friend’s suggestion to board only to women who are searching for their happily ever after as mail-order brides. She does so on her own terms, becoming a support system for women who embark on the great unknown. The women in Elly’s hometown are scandalized by her decision, forcing her to choose between acceptance and survival.