Review: Waiting for Morning by Margaret Brownley

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Molly Hatfield comes to Arizona Territory seeking stability and security. But living in Cactus Patch provides her with more than she ever dreamed of.

There is nothing Molly wouldn’t do for her teenaged brother, Donny. Blaming herself for the accident that left him wheel-chair bound, Molly has dedicated her life to his care. But in 1896, gainful employment for a woman is hard to come by. So when Molly learns that an eccentric rancher in Cactus Patch, Arizona, is looking for an heiress--someone to take over management of the ranch in exchange for future ownership--she jumps at the chance to provide a real home for her brother.

If she proves to have a knack for ranching and agrees to remain single for life, the ranch can be hers. Neither stipulation worries Molly. She’s resourceful and hardworking. And she gave up dreams of marriage long ago when she dedicated her life to her brother’s well-being.

However, Molly didn’t bank on meeting Dr. Caleb Fairbanks, the town’s handsome and charismatic young doctor. Caleb has a way with Molly that makes her nervous. But it’s how he is with her brother that really alarms her. Caleb sees past the wheelchair and genuinely likes Donny, but Molly fears he’s putting unrealistic ideas into her brother’s head. Falling in love with Caleb would threaten everything she’s worked for, even her brother’s future happiness.

But it could be the very reason God brought her to Last Chance Ranch.

My Review

Another series I'm reading completely out of order! Fortunately the author wove in enough of the backstory and plot that I didn't feel lost. Molly and Donny have a rough background, yet their loyalty to each other keeps them going. Molly's grit and determination are admirable, and she throws herself into working on the ranch and learning all she can. Her brother struggles with being an invalid, and the doctor has some methods of inspiring him that Molly disagrees with. The bickering, fighting, and immature behavior and thoughts of all three main characters were a bit off-putting. I didn't connect with the emotions of the characters in this book, but it was an interesting read and showed how the times were changing with medicine and the introduction of automobiles.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Check out the other books in The Brides of Last Chance Ranch series . . .

Review: The Mail-Order Bride Standoff by Angela Breidenbach, Vickie McDonough, Susan Page Davis, Margaret Brownley

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

4 Mail-Order Brides Get Cold Feet
 
Marriage plans are put on hold in the Old West when four mail-order brides have second thoughts. How will their grooms win their trust?
 
Right on Time by Angela Breidenbach
Could two people be less suited than an English gentleman and a western gal who is used to giving the orders? From the wild Montana Territory to the refined Kentucky horse farms, can Timothy prove worthy of Tara’s heart?
 
Pistol-Packin’ Bride by Margaret Brownley
Attorney Wade Bronson didn’t expect to get shot on his wedding day—and certainly not by his mail order bride…
 
The Bride Who Declined by Susan Page Davis
Rachel Paxton turns down a mail-order proposal, but a few months later she learns the man she rejected has died—and left his ranch to her in his will.
 
Twice the Trouble by Vickie McDonough
When Connor McLoughlin and his cousin Brian order a pair of mail-order brides, they think they’re getting two sweet Irish lasses. But what they get is a stage load of shenanigans.

My Review

Right on Time by Angela Breidenbach - 3 stars
Interesting story, but the characters' emotions were told rather than felt, romance was flat.

Pistol-Packin’ Bride by Margaret Brownley - 5 stars
Great characters, funny premise, enjoyed the romantic chemistry. The hero was so patient!

The Bride Who Declined by Susan Page Davis - 4 stars
Loved the story and characters, but missed the element of romance since there was none until the very end.

Twice the Trouble by Vickie McDonough - 5 stars
So fun to see the twins fall in love with the "wrong" man. Entertaining story and the couples quickly developed lovely chemistry as they got to know each other.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Review: 12 Brides of Summer Collection #3 by Margaret Brownley, Miralee Ferrell, Pam Hillman

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Love Is Buzzing in the Good Old Summertime!  Spend the sunny days of summer relaxing with an ice cold glass of lemonade and revel in the dreams of twelve brides who are a bit surprised by how the men of their dreams come into their lives.  Journey to the Old West, stay on the prairie, and visit quaint small towns. . . without leaving the comfort of your own front porch!

The dog days of summer are here, but love is still in full bloom with Novella Collection #3:

Dog Days of Summer Bride by Margaret Brownley
Music teacher Miralee Davis and blacksmith Tom Colbert don’t realize they’ve been sharing the same dog until. . .it digs up a stash of stolen loot. The reward will go to the dog’s owner—if only that can be decided.

The Dogwood Blossom Bride by Miralee Ferrell
Gracie Addison is a tree-climbing tomboy, and practical Will Montgomery objects to her unladylike influence on his niece. Will his judgmental attitude come back to bite him?

The Lumberjack’s Bride by Pam Hillman
Chicago transplant, Lucy Denson cooks for a logging crew in the Mississippi backwoods until she can return to her idea of civilization. Can Eli Everett help her rethink her ideals?

My Review

These are some sweet novellas to read on a hot summer day! It starts out strong with Dog Days of Summer, a humorous tale of the frustrations of two strangers who unknowingly share custody of a dog, who switches households partway through the week. Tom's bulk and dustiness starkly contrast Miralee's prim and cultured tidiness. They butt heads over the dog, but form a friendship despite their differences. Some small-town drama intervenes, however, and the road to romance is not smooth. (3 stars)

The Dogwood Blossom Bride also had a couple with a love-hate relationship, this time disagreeing over Will's headstrong niece. Grace and Will struggle with giving each other the benefit of the doubt, jumping to conclusions, and unrealistic expectations. Not much depth to their characters though. (3 stars)

My favorite of the collection was The Lumberjack's Bride, the sequel to The Evergreen Bride from the 12 Brides of Christmas Collection. Lucy is a city girl who grows to love the forest and a particular lumberjack who not only is sweet on her but rescues her from various mishaps. Even though she is completely out of her element, she reaches out to others and pitches in to help with a compassionate nature. (4 stars)

(Thank you to Barbour Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

E-book sale: $1.99 for each novella from Four Weddings and a Kiss

Click on the cover to download the individual novella (from the collection Four Weddings and a Kiss) for only $1.99 each! (Right now it's less expensive to buy them individually rather than downloading the whole book).

I enjoyed all the stories, but here are my favorites in order:  (Read my review of each story to find out what I liked about them here)

“A Cowboy for Katie” by Debra Clopton
Katie Pearl is uninterested in men and love. But she needs help on her ranch and hires Treb Rayburn, a wandering cowboy looking to make a buck. Will Treb change Katie’s mind?

“Spitfire Sweetheart” by Mary Connealy
Maizy Place is an unruly tomboy. When she causes an accident, injuring neighbor Rylan Carstens, she becomes his unlikely caregiver. Rylan has never noticed how pretty his infuriating neighbor is, and he never expected to fall in love.


“Saving Grace” by Margaret Brownley
Grace Davenport is either the unluckiest woman alive—or a killer. When her third husband is found dead, Grace is arrested. Attorney Brock Daniels isn't interested in the case—until he meets Grace. Only a miracle will prove her innocence, but the joining of two lonely hearts may be their saving grace.

“Love Letter to the Editor” by Robin Lee Hatcher
Molly Everton is the outspoken daughter of the town newspaper's owner. When her father brings in an outsider to be editor, she tries to drive him out of town. But Jack Ludgrove is not intimidated. He’s resolved to change Molly's mind about him—as an editor and as a man.

Review: FOUR WEDDINGS AND A KISS – Win an iPad Mini & rip-roarin’ Facebook Party!

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis 

In 1885 five western preachers sit around a campfire talking about unlikely couples they've seen God bring together.

“Spitfire Sweetheart” by Mary Connealy
Maizy Place is an unruly tomboy. When she causes an accident, injuring neighbor Rylan Carstens, she becomes his unlikely caregiver. Rylan has never noticed how pretty his infuriating neighbor is, and he never expected to fall in love.

“Love Letter to the Editor” by Robin Lee Hatcher
Molly Everton is the outspoken daughter of the town newspaper's owner. When her father brings in an outsider to be editor, she tries to drive him out of town. But Jack Ludgrove is not intimidated. He’s resolved to change Molly's mind about him—as an editor and as a man.

“A Cowboy for Katie” by Debra Clopton
Katie Pearl is uninterested in men and love. But she needs help on her ranch and hires Treb Rayburn, a wandering cowboy looking to make a buck. Will Treb change Katie’s mind?

“Saving Grace” by Margaret Brownley
Grace Davenport is either the unluckiest woman alive—or a killer. When her third husband is found dead, Grace is arrested. Attorney Brock Daniels isn't interested in the case—until he meets Grace. Only a miracle will prove her innocence, but the joining of two lonely hearts may be their saving grace.

My Review

I love a well-written novella! All of these stories gave me a good sense of the characters and connected me to their emotions. The premise of unlikely couples let me know that things were going to get interesting... and they sure did!

Mary Connealy is an expert at infusing natural humor into her characters' relationships. I felt bad for Maizy, having to utterly change in order to please the men in her life, but admired her sincerity and determination to make things right. It took poor Rylan a few tries to get things right with her, but it was so entertaining :)

Robin Lee Hatcher's story was enjoyable, but predictable. Jack was incredibly easy-going about Molly's defensiveness and it was nice to watch them grow closer together.

Crazy Katie Pearl in Debra Clopton's story is fighting off the men wanting to marry her for her land by using them for target practice. She talks to herself, can't sleep, and won't go indoors. Treb understands her fears and grounds her in a way that helps her heal and learn to trust others. Several sweet moments to savor in this story.

My favorite part of Margaret Brownley's novella is the trial scene- talk about Old West justice! The whole time Grace and Bruce are trying to combat the "guilty until proven innocent" mindset of the community, but I have to admit my jaw dropped at the way it all goes down. Another nice touch was how Bruce became a mentor to her son in ways she doesn't expect.

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishers for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Four best-­selling romance novelists bring tales of feisty heroines, stubborn heroes, and unlikely love in the Wild West in Four Weddings and a Kiss. Don't miss the latest from the Western Brides Collection from Margaret Brownley, Robin Lee Hatcher, Mary Connealy, and Debra Clopton.

The authors are celebrating with a "Sweet on Love" iPad Mini Giveaway and rip-roarin' Facebook party.

 
  One winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• A Bride for All Seasons and Four Weddings and a Kiss 

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 8th. Winner will be announced at the Four Weddings and a Kiss Facebook Author Chat Party. Connect with Western Brides Collection authors Margaret Brownley, Robin Lee Hatcher, Mary Connealy, and Debra Clopton for an evening of fun book chat, western-themed trivia, and prizes. The authors will also be answering audience questions and giving an exclusive look at the next book in the collection!

So grab your copy of Four Weddings and a Kiss and join the authors on the evening of July 8th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 8th!

Review: Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley

My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

In a case that could change her career, Miranda uncovers a love that will change her life.

When Miranda Hunt sees the classified ad for an heiress to the legendary Last Chance Ranch, she knows assuming the identity of Annie Beckman is the perfect cover. As one of the finest agents for the Pinkerton Detective Agency, Miranda has been tasked with apprehending the Phantom – an elusive and notorious train robber thought to be hiding on the sprawling ranch.

But she isn’t the only one there with something to hide. Wells Fargo detective Jeremy Taggert is working the scene undercover as well. And although their true identities are a secret, it is impossible for Jeremy and Miranda to hide the spark that flares between them.

But neither is about to let romance interfere with such a huge case. Besides, Miranda hasn’t removed Jeremy from her list of suspects yet. The closer they come to uncovering the identity of the Phantom, the more dangerous he gets – and no one on the ranch is safe.

But neither are their hearts – the longer Miranda and Jeremy spends working together, the harder it becomes to keep their feelings in check. Their careers – and their lives – depend on solving this case. Love will have to wait.

My Review

This was a fun book to read! It is hilarious how Miranda and Jeremy suspect each other as accomplices to the criminal and eventually discover each other's undercover status. There are many subtle details incorporated into the story that enhance the setting rather than detract from the action. I admit that I don't like trying to predict the outcome to the mysteries I read since I like being surprised, but there really aren't many hints given about the identity of the Phantom throughout the novel, so I enjoyed the ending and the reveal.

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)

So excited!

I won a copy of A Bride for All Seasons in a giveaway and thought it would be a great start to my new blog! I've enjoyed books by all the authors so I can't wait to finish it and post a review...