Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: January 28, 2020
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When the West was wild and man’s law favored the few, these extraordinary women could be found…in the heart of an outlaw.When three young children show up on outlaw Tait Trinity’s doorstep, he knows he can’t help them―a wanted man has no business raising kids. And yet he can’t bring himself to turn them away. At a loss, he sends for the mail order bride he’d been writing to, hoping the demure dressmaker will be the answer to his prayers. Melanie Dunbar is nothing like the bride Tait was expecting. She’s rough and tumble…and hiding an ulterior motive. Dangerous men have taken her sister hostage, and if Melanie wants to see her alive, she’ll have to betray her new husband. There’s only one problem―the more time she spends with Tait, the more she comes to care for him. Yet as the noose begins to tighten, Melanie will have to make a terrible choice: save her sister…or the man she loves.
It’s no secret that I cherish my time visiting the town of Hope’s Crossing with Linda Broday. The town progresses – we have a newspaper now! – we meet new characters, and we fall in love over and over. This time around, we even have a visit from Stoker Legend and his sons (from the Men of Legend series). It’s always great to catch up Ms. Broday’s characters. (And dang. I just realized I never read Sam Legend’s story. I MUST fix that error on my part!)
Tait is still a wanted man when we meet him. A gunsliger with a large bounty on his head. I enjoyed Ms. Broday’s description of when Tait and Melanie first meet that he:
sauntered towards her, slow and easy like a wild animal stalking his prey
The visual description paints such a great picture for me that I can almost hear his boots as he walks towards Melanie. As Melanie (and the reader) becomes more acquainted with Tait, we really get a sense of his character. He may be a criminal in the eyes of the law, but really, he’s looking for justice, which is rather admirable. He steps up when needed to take in his niece and nephews. He’s willing to put his life on the line for those he loves, including his friends in Hope’s Crossing. I do seem to have a soft spot for bad guys who are really good guys!
When we meet Melanie, she’s between a rock and a hard place. She’s being blackmailed: her twin sister’s freedom in exchange for her new husband’s. She needs to make some difficult decisions, and those decisions really weigh on her shoulders. What I appreciate about Melanie is that she knows her mind and isn’t afraid to go for what she wants. She isn’t completely straight-forward with Tait with her motives at the beginning, but she isn’t afraid to speak up when it’s needed. Including in the bedroom. She really shines towards the end of the novel. I think Melanie is someone I would get along with.
The romance between Tait and Melanie is realistic and starts more as a business deal than love. I really appreciate this aspect. The insta-love in many romances feels inauthentic. Here, we really see how the love between these two characters slowly develops and grows as they get to know one another. And by the end of the novel, I was hoping for their own version of happily ever after.
Generally, I can take or leave kids in my romance books (Preferably leave. I know. I’m just not into kids.) But Ms. Broday does seem to have a way with making me feel for the kids in her novels. In the case of Mail Order Bride’s Secret, Tait’s niece and nephews really play an important part in the romance between Tait and Melanie and the plot of the novel. The twins, Joe and Jessie are rapscallions! And toddler Becky is just adorable. I chuckled over Joe’s initial description of Becky being not ‘housebroke yet’. I smiled while the kids were trapping and training animals for their circus. And had a large twig or something in my eye towards the end of the novel when redacted for spoilers occurs.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Mail Order Bride’s Secret. The romance progresses naturally. The characters are believable. Check this out if you are a fan of historical romance!
“This is another page-turning period romance from Broday.” Publisher’s Weekly
“Broday does a fabulous job of telling a story filled with humor, angst and some candid truths just so we don’t romanticize this period in our history.” Fresh Fiction
“This book was absolutely mesmerizing with nonstop action, full of laughter, tears and just a downright good Old fashioned Wild West story as only Linda Broday can do.” Glenda (Goodreads reviewer)
I’m a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty historical western romance novels and short stories. I reside in the Texas Panhandle on land the American Indian and Comancheros once roamed, and at times if the breeze is just right, I can hear their voices whispering in the wind. Texas’ rich history is one reason I set all my stories here where cowboys are still caretakers of the land. I’m inspired every day by their immense dedication and love for the wide-open spaces.When I’m not writing, I collect old coins and I’ve also been accused (quite unfairly I might add) of making a nuisance of myself at museums, libraries, and historical places. I’m also a movie buff and love sitting in a dark theater, watching the magic unfold on the screen. As long as I’m confessing…chocolate is my best friend. It just soothes my soul.
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What a great review! I can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the chance to win!
Thanks for stopping by Jamie!
Great review, Lynn. I’m really interested in reading the book now, especially since you mentioned the fact that the romance develops slowly. Like you, I really don’t like the stories where the romance happens so quickly that it doesn’t seem believable.
Thanks Maryann. If you like romances that develop over time, this one would be perfect for you!
This book was phenomenal and Lyn I loved your review. Linda has certainly a talented way of incorporating children into her books. My favorite book by her. She’s my favorite author. Love love her and her books.
Thanks Tonya. I agree with all of your points!
Oh Lynn, you made my day, lady! Thank you for giving this 5 stars and thank you for taking these very scarred people into your heart. This was a different kind of story for me and I worried how readers would take Melanie and hate her. But she had good reason for her actions. She never expected to care so deeply, never expected to fall in love but once she did she didn’t know how to resolve her problem. I laughed at these poor kids and cried buckets when I wrote those scenes at the end. The depth of Tait’s commitment and love for his sister’s children went far beyond what even I thought he was capable. I know they’ll live in my heart forever. I hope readers will give this book a try. Thank you again for liking this book. I feel very blessed.
Thanks Linda. And glad to hear those ending scenes impact the author as much as the reader!
It’s always nice to come back to a familiar place and people in a series. Great review!
Thanks Kristine!