Title: Brides of Chance Creek Series - Cora Seton (also known as the Issued to the Bride series)
Medium: Series of romance novels.
Approximate Length: 6 books -- my ship appears mostly in books 5 and 6, although there's a little bit of the General in every book and wherever he is, his faithful Emerson is right there at his side. If you want to read the books for this ship, I would recommend reading the prologue + chapter 1 of book 1 for an introduction to the scenario and characters, then book 6, and then go back to book 5 for additional flavor and background if you like. (I say this because I read book 6 first with only a vague idea of the premise of the books and certain things would have made sooo much more sense if I'd read the beginning of book 1 first.)
Alternately, I liveblogged my reactions to book 6 as I read along with relevant quotes and scene summaries a few months ago, so if you just want to read the good bits + my commentary and some spirited discussion from other nonnies on FFA- Chapters 1-4 Chapters 5-7 Chapters 8-10 Chapters 11-Epilogue
Where to (Legally) Find It: Possibly at your local library (my library's Libby subscription had all of them readily available), or else wherever you normally get books!
Brief Description: The General, who hasn't been much of a father to his five daughters since the death of his wife years ago, sends a bunch of military men on 'missions' to his Montana ranch with orders to woo and marry his daughters on the promise that they'll all inherit part of the ranch one day; the daughters have issues with this but after some struggles everyone ends up in love and married with babies ever after. There's also the General's devoted young corporal/aide/right hand man/sad lonely orphan who just wants a family Emerson, who gets promoted and becomes the titular Sergeant of the final book when he's ordered to marry the General's daughter's best friend Wye in order to keep him on the ranch because of how strongly the General feels about him (and how strongly the daughter, Cass, feels about Wye). REALLY. Plus, there's magic of various kinds including a magical fortune-telling rock and the General's dead wife matchmaking from the great beyond, a gang of drug dealers who are trying to steal the ranch, and a bit of howling at the moon.
What You Love About the Canon: The shippiness! I also kind of despite my best intentions really enjoyed the unexpectedly-magical setting of the ranch and the bonds between the sisters and Wye, and between the military guys. There's also one really good fight scene in book 5 involving one of the sisters who can see the future sending psychic visions to everyone so they can see what's coming and not die that was amazing.
What You Love About Your Ship(s): My ship is General/Emerson, which was practically handmade specifically for my tastes. It has everything! Age difference, superior/subordinate with a pinch of father/son feels for extra spice, competence and loyalty like whoa, hurt/comfort with a lot of caretaking, amazing pining potential, there's a rumor at their old workplace that they were sleeping together so clearly people in-universe are seeing this too, there's an extremely good feelings confession, there's the potential for a grand public romantic gesture in the last chapter which isn't actually realized but COULD BE... basically, they're perfect.
For the femslashers, the other nominated ship is Cass/Wye, which is also fantastic and they say outright how much they love each other multiple times in the series. They think of each other as goddesses and angels, the dead mom tells them they're made for each other, everyone knows they're in love and soulmates and the most important people in each other's lives but somehow it's not an endgame romance...? I don't get it.
Kinds of Things You're Planning to Ask For: Any fic would be the first fic for this series on AO3, but no pressure, because I'm into anything and you really can't go wrong. Literally. Anything. I am so hungry for these guys.
Brides of Chance Creek Series - Cora Seton
Medium: Series of romance novels.
Approximate Length: 6 books -- my ship appears mostly in books 5 and 6, although there's a little bit of the General in every book and wherever he is, his faithful Emerson is right there at his side. If you want to read the books for this ship, I would recommend reading the prologue + chapter 1 of book 1 for an introduction to the scenario and characters, then book 6, and then go back to book 5 for additional flavor and background if you like. (I say this because I read book 6 first with only a vague idea of the premise of the books and certain things would have made sooo much more sense if I'd read the beginning of book 1 first.)
Alternately, I liveblogged my reactions to book 6 as I read along with relevant quotes and scene summaries a few months ago, so if you just want to read the good bits + my commentary and some spirited discussion from other nonnies on FFA-
Chapters 1-4
Chapters 5-7
Chapters 8-10
Chapters 11-Epilogue
Where to (Legally) Find It: Possibly at your local library (my library's Libby subscription had all of them readily available), or else wherever you normally get books!
Brief Description: The General, who hasn't been much of a father to his five daughters since the death of his wife years ago, sends a bunch of military men on 'missions' to his Montana ranch with orders to woo and marry his daughters on the promise that they'll all inherit part of the ranch one day; the daughters have issues with this but after some struggles everyone ends up in love and married with babies ever after. There's also the General's devoted young corporal/aide/right hand man/sad lonely orphan who just wants a family Emerson, who gets promoted and becomes the titular Sergeant of the final book when he's ordered to marry the General's daughter's best friend Wye in order to keep him on the ranch because of how strongly the General feels about him (and how strongly the daughter, Cass, feels about Wye). REALLY. Plus, there's magic of various kinds including a magical fortune-telling rock and the General's dead wife matchmaking from the great beyond, a gang of drug dealers who are trying to steal the ranch, and a bit of howling at the moon.
What You Love About the Canon: The shippiness! I also kind of despite my best intentions really enjoyed the unexpectedly-magical setting of the ranch and the bonds between the sisters and Wye, and between the military guys. There's also one really good fight scene in book 5 involving one of the sisters who can see the future sending psychic visions to everyone so they can see what's coming and not die that was amazing.
What You Love About Your Ship(s): My ship is General/Emerson, which was practically handmade specifically for my tastes. It has everything! Age difference, superior/subordinate with a pinch of father/son feels for extra spice, competence and loyalty like whoa, hurt/comfort with a lot of caretaking, amazing pining potential, there's a rumor at their old workplace that they were sleeping together so clearly people in-universe are seeing this too, there's an extremely good feelings confession, there's the potential for a grand public romantic gesture in the last chapter which isn't actually realized but COULD BE... basically, they're perfect.
For the femslashers, the other nominated ship is Cass/Wye, which is also fantastic and they say outright how much they love each other multiple times in the series. They think of each other as goddesses and angels, the dead mom tells them they're made for each other, everyone knows they're in love and soulmates and the most important people in each other's lives but somehow it's not an endgame romance...? I don't get it.
Kinds of Things You're Planning to Ask For: Any fic would be the first fic for this series on AO3, but no pressure, because I'm into anything and you really can't go wrong. Literally. Anything. I am so hungry for these guys.