Search - The Anonymous Bride (Texas Boardinghouse Brides, Bk 1)

I started this book on a busy weekend and had it finished before the weekend ended because I kept turning pages. From the first page to the last, my attention was captive. Then I let my mother-in-law read it, and she finished in less than a day, because she couldn't put it down, either.

When Luke Davis returns to his home town, he plans to get the girl who broke his heart out of his mind forever. Instead he is caught up in a contest in which he is the prize. His cousins think a wife will help him forget Rachel Hamilton, so they invite 5 mail-order brides to come and marry their cousin. Surely they won't all come. They are right, only 3 arrive in town, each demanding that Luke marry her. And, what of Rachel? With the help of her tomboy daughter, she enters the contest to win Luke's heart - anonymously! Get the book and find out if she succeeds. If you can't get it on PaperBackSwap, since I'm not giving up my copy yet, you won't regret purchasing your own book. It's well worth the small cost.

THE ANONYMOUS BRIDE
By Vicki McDonough
Published By: Barbour
ISBN#978-1-60260-696-8
347 Pages

Back Cover: Luke Davis, marshal of Lookout, Texas, flippantly tells his cousin he'd get married if the right woman ever came along. When three mail-order brides are delivered to Luke a month later, he's in an uncomfortable predicament. How will he ever choose his mate? Rachel Hamilton's long-time love for Luke is reignited with his return to town. So when three mail-order brides appear, she panics. Will she find the courage to tell Luke that she loves him? Or take an anonymous part in the contest for his hand?

Review: The Anonymous Bride is a fun filled Wild West adventure I couldn’t put down and didn’t want to end. I enjoyed everyone minute of reading this book. Vickie gets into the heart and truth about forgiveness, what it is, what it looks like and how we can begin to forgive ourselves and others in our lives. I’m so thankful for a review copy of such a fun and meaningful book.

I instantly adored the characters who reminded me a little bit of how they related to one another of the Beverly Hillbillies—western style! I smiled whenever young Jacqueline, who insisted on being called Jack, spoke up. Here is what she says to the new Marshall, “You put that dog in jail? What did he do?”

“Stealing and being a public nuisance.” Marshall says forcing away a grin.
“heard tell he snatched a pie right out of Myrtle Williams’ kitchen window.”

“Marshall, what’s gonna happen to the dog? You ain’t gonna hang’m are you? Jack said in all seriousness.

I loved Jack’s zest for life, her innocence and how she wasn’t afraid to tell people what she thought. Rachael Hamilton, Jack’s mom who’s lived in the town of Lookout most of her life, thought things were good until Luke Davis came back to town as the new Marshall. There were hurt feelings between the two of them and for good reason! Could Luke Davis ever forgive Rachael for her betrayal? Rachael didn’t think so—could she take his daily rejection?

Three young ladies show up in this little town claiming to be mail-order-brides for Marshall Luke Davis. Luke doesn’t know anything about these ladies and the whole town explodes in excitement trying to make sense of it all. The Mayor suggests to a contest between the woman to win the Marshall’s favor and create some fun for the town, that’s when the fun begins.

This is the first book in the Texas Boardinghouse series. The sequel Second Chance Brides will be released the Fall of 2010, I can’t wait.

Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
Finding Hope Through Fiction
www.psalm516.blogspot.com

I couldn't put this book down. Prior to The Anonymous Bride I had never read any of Vickie McDonough's books and I enjoyed this one!

A situation happens that causes Rachel to marry another man other than the one she's in love with, Luke. Eleven years later Luke returns to Lookout as the town's new marshal and finds Rachel a widow with a spit-fire young daughter who'd rather be in coveralls or pants then a dress as her mother wishes.

Luke's two cousins seek a mail-order bride for him. The problem is, more than one arrives with intentions of marrying the marshal. Will Luke loose his job as the town's marshal because of the mail-order brides? Will Luke forgive Rachel for marrying another? You'll enjoy this The Anonymous Bride!

I enjoyed The Anonymous Bride by Vickie McDonough. It was a good Western with enough comedy and drama to make it a fun read. Thanks to his "helpful" cousins, three mail order brides have arrived in town to marry Luke, the new Marshall. Luke's heart, however, belongs to Rachel, his old love, who is now a widow. I recommend this book.

Discovering new authors can really be a mixed bag of surprises for a reader. I've had experiences where I wonder what took me so long to get around to them, and I've had other experiences where I wished I could've used my time differently. No worries....Vickie McDonough fits perfectly into the first category. :o)

Vickie's western style of writing was very reminiscent of Mary Connealy and Lori Copeland, except it was deeper. I loved that I got to really invest myself in the emotions of each character. Luke--who initially had a heart filled with unforgiveness--slowly allowed his heart to soften. Rachel--who scorned Luke many years ago--longed to admit that she'd made a terrible mistake. And Jacqueline--better known as "Jack"--was a feisty tomboy that just wanted her ma to marry Luke.

But setting up Luke and Rachel wasn't as easy as a couple of cousins thought it would be! Luke's cousins took it upon themselves to find a mail-order bride for Luke. What they didn't count on was that instead of one girl being interested in Luke...there were three! And what made things even crazier...poor Luke didn't have a clue what he was about to be in for--a pushy mayor, a nosy journalist, and three women vying for his hand in marriage! If that's not a recipe for a great story, I don't know what is!

I'm so happy to add Vickie to my list of highly recommended authors, and it comes after reading just one book. I have a feeling that the tiny town of Lookout, Texas has a few more surprises up it's sleeve before the series concludes. My rating for The Anonymous Bride is 4.5 Stars.

**Many thanks to Barbour Books for providing a copy for review.