Review: The Beaches and Brides Romance Collection by Cathy Marie Hake, Lynn A. Coleman, Susan Page Davis, Paige Winship Dooly, Mary Davis

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Venture along historic American shorelines, enjoying five stories that are full of adventure, challenge, and romance. In Key West a couple collides over a child’s welfare. In Washington, a captain’s wife guards a secret. In Maine, a castaway returns from the dead. In Georgia, a woman dares to man a lighthouse alone. In Virginia, a wounded soldier recoups at a seaside cottage. Watch as God works through their challenges to bring them safely to a harbor of love.

My Review

I loved the seaside settings of these historical stories. They were varied enough to hold my interest, and the romance was gentle and sweet. My favorite story was The Castaway’s Bride by Susan Page Davis, because I felt more connected to the emotions of the characters. Edward had been lost at sea and presumed dead while he and some shipmates drifted, dying one by one, until a few were marooned on an island, but only Edward survived long enough to be rescued several years later. It was easy to feel for him as he returns home, but discovers his fiancee is engaged to the cousin who took over his father's company in his place. Deborah is the fiancee's little sister who idolized him, and now that she's grown, her dynamic personality is a much better fit for him. I appreciated the complex dynamics of the relationships Edward navigated as he settled back into his place in family, work, and community.

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: Mail-Order Mishaps by Susan Page Davis, Linda Ford, Vickie McDonough, Erica Vetsch

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Dreams of Finding Mr. Right Go Wrong in the Old West
 
The Bride’s Dilemma by Susan Page Davis
Eve Martin arrives in Cheyenne to learn that man she came to marry is in jail, accused of a violent murder. Should she get on the next eastbound train, or has God brought her here to help save Caleb Blair’s life?
 
Romancing the Rancher by Linda Ford
Amelia expects a safe home for herself and her niece as mail-order bride to Zach Taggerty. Only Zach has never heard of her, and the last thing he needs is more complications in his life.
 
The Marriage Sham by Vickie McDonough
Mail-order bride Zola Bryant is devastated. Her newlywed husband is dead. But even worse, they were never truly married because the man who wed them was an outlaw not a preacher. What will she do now that her life and reputation are in tatters?
 
The Galway Girl by Erica Vetsch
A mail-order mix-up sends Irish lass Maeve O’Reilly to the Swedish community of Lindsborg, Kansas. Will Kaspar Sandberg consider it a happy accident or a disaster to be rectified as soon as possible?

My Review

The Bride’s Dilemma by Susan Page Davis - 4 stars

I love how determined Eve is to exonerate Caleb, and the way she reaches out to the townspeople to help their friend. A good story but a bit lacking in romance.

Romancing the Rancher by Linda Ford - 4 stars

It was hard to figure out who wrote the letters for Zach, since they were so specific to his family. He quickly sees how Amelia fits right in, bringing hope to his struggling family.

The Marriage Sham by Vickie McDonough - 4 stars

I felt bad for Zola and the way she was betrayed by the man who was supposed to be her husband. The marshal who informed her of his death helped her readjust, and get to know another local man who needed a sweet wife.

The Galway Girl by Erica Vetsch - 5 stars

My favorite story of the collection, opposites Maeve and Will have great chemistry, even though he had a different bride he had been writing. Mishaps and miscommunication cause conflict and worry, but as each character decides who they really want, it all turns out for the best.

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: 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: Seven Brides for Seven Texas Rangers Romance Collection by Erica Vetsch, Susan Page Davis, Vickie McDonough, Amanda Barratt, Gabrielle Meyer, Lorna Seilstad, Kathleen Y'Barbo

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

No One Is Too Tough to be Loved
Join seven Texas Rangers on the hunt for a menacing gang, who run straight into romances with women who foil their plans for both the job and their futures.

The Ranger's Reward by Gabrielle Meyer
Texas Ranger, Griffin Sommer stops to check on the young widow, Evelyn Prentis minutes before the Markham gang arrives at her farm needing a place to hide. Griff and Evelyn are forced to pretend they’re married to keep Griff’s identity a secret, but will Evelyn’s young son let the truth out before Griff can bring the gang to justice?

More Precious than Rubies by Lorna Seilstad
Fun-loving, charismatic Texas Ranger Whit Murray is restless for an adventure. When bandits attack the train he is on and steal jewels Violet Tatienne is transporting home to her father’s jewelry store, the two of them must work together to find the thieves. Will each one’s individual goals keep them from discovering the real treasure is in each other?

Jesse’s Sparrow by Amanda Barratt
Former soiled dove, Sara Byrne longs for escape. . .and rides straight into danger. Ranger Jesse Rawlings wants only to defend and protect.  . .no love involved. But when Sara’s stagecoach is robbed and her possessions stolen, can she find the strength to aid a man she deems anything but trustworthy in bringing justice to the perpetrators?

The Countess and the Cowboy by Kathleen Y’Barbo
Ava Becker is furious that her brother sold her favorite stallion to the irritating Texas Ranger Ezra Creed. When the horse goes missing, Ezra blames Ava, who sets out to find the horse, landing in an outlaw’s camp instead. Can Ezra protect the persistent Ava without falling in love, or will love make for a dangerous chase?

Simple Interest by Susan Page Davis
While making his monthly deposit, Ranger O’Neal Brewster is forced to watch robbers escape with the prim and pretty bank teller as their hostage. Augusta Ferris quickly makes the outlaws regret kidnapping her, but she is determined to get back the bank’s money—whether the Ranger helps her or not.

Partners in Crime by Vickie McDonough
Micah McCullough, a Texas Ranger working undercover in the Markham gang, is tasked with guarding Laurel Underwood, a silversmith, who was kidnapped to create plates for printing counterfeit money. Laurel knows she doesn’t have the expertise. Her only option is to stall and seek escape. What will the outlaws do when they learn her secret?

Guard Your Heart by Erica Vetsch
When Constance Spanner witnesses a murder, Branch Kilborn is tasked with protecting her until she can testify against Cass Markham. This is the Ranger squad’s chance to abolish the Markham gang once and for all, but Branch soon finds that protecting Constance has become about more than just the job.

My Review

I liked the premise of this collection- each story features a Texas Ranger that is working to apprehend members of a notorious gang of robbers, and they each fall in love and have some success capturing at least one of the outlaws, with the final story wrapping up the case. I enjoyed the writing style and storytelling of some authors more than others; my favorite was probably Partners in Crime by Vickie McDonough. It was interesting and unique from the other stories with Micah undercover and Laurel as a prisoner of the gang. The subplots with Laurel's relationship with her father and the young son of one of the outlaws brought depth to the romance and showed admirable qualities of the main characters.  I also enjoyed Guard Your Heart by Erica Vetsch because Branch is the least likely of the rangers to fall in love and adamantly opposed to it, so his journey towards romance was fun to read ;)

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Review: Cowgirl Trail by Susan Page Davis

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

In 1884 Maggie Porter returns to the Rocking P Ranch. The sanatorium was not able to save her mother and now her father's health is failing. When the cowboys walk off the job leaving no one to drive the cattle to market, head ranch hand, Alex Bright, cannot convince the men to stay. How could Alex let this happen?
Maggie is desperate to save the ranch and she turns to the town's women for help. The new cowgirls must herd, rope, and drive the cattle to market. With only two days left, outlaws charge the small band of cowgirls in an effort to start a stampede. The cattle begin to scatter. Will they lose everything? Where will their help come from?

My Review

Talk about female empowerment! Maggie is a strong daughter raised on a cattle ranch stuck between a rock and a hard place. She wants her father to appease the cowhands to prevent a strike, but his pride and hidden financial troubles won't allow him to give in. Alex is also caught in the middle as the ranch foreman, but while Maggie's family loyalty places her on her father's side, Alex strikes with the men and loses not only his job but a chance to win Maggie's heart. Since the cowhands from the surrounding ranches have already left on cattle drives, the only people Maggie can turn to are the women of the community, her friends who are also tough western gals :) Alex and Maggie's friendship suffers from the rivalry of the strike, but I loved that he ultimately places her safety and well-being over any bitter feelings. He completely redeems himself in my opinion. Maggie is completely humbled by her experiences and with some sage advice from her right-hand cowgirl Carlotta, softens her heart and allows forgiveness to bring peace during troubled times. Recommended for fans of Mary Connealy's The Husband Tree.

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

Review: Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

The Captive Trail is second in a six-book series about four generations of the Morgan family living, fighting, and thriving amidst a turbulent Texas history spanning from 1845 to 1896. Although a series, each book can be read singularly.

Taabe Waipu has run away from her Comanche village and is fleeing south in Texas on a horse she stole from a dowry left outside her family's teepee. The horse has an accident and she is left on foot, injured and exhausted. She staggers onto a road near Fort Chadbourne and collapses.

On one of the first runs through Texas, Butterfield Overland Mail Company driver Ned Bright carries two Ursuline nuns returning to their mission station. They come across a woman who is nearly dead from exposure and dehydration and take her to the mission.With some detective work, Ned discovers Taabe Waipu is Billie Morgan. He plans to unite her with her family, but the Comanche have other ideas, and the two end up defending the mission station.

Through Taabe (Billie) and Ned we learn the true meaning of healing and restoration amid seemingly powerless situations.

My Review

I've read some fictional accounts before of captives escaping from Indian tribes, and while this story is not as gritty, raw, or descriptive as others, it still shares the reality of how turbulent and violent the interactions between settlers and natives were at the time. Taabe's story is revealed in layers throughout the book as she looks back on her time among the Comanche, struggles to remember her life before that, and learns to live in the white world again. She befriends the man who rescued her, and Ned's patience and kindness to her was endearing. He both wishes for and dreads the day when she will discover her true family and be reunited with them. I enjoyed the nuns with whom she lives at the mission, each having their own personality and idiosyncrasies. Taabe's point of view shows us the difficulty she has understanding and communicating, but she quickly learns with the help of the nuns and their young ward and her perspective shifts along with her growing knowledge. I felt tense anticipation throughout novel waiting for the inevitable Indian attack from her pursuers, and the climactic battle scene is both harrowing and inspiring.

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