Jim C. (indianreader) reviewed The Anonymous Bride (Texas Boardinghouse Brides, Bk 1) on + 36 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
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.
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.
Ramona W. -
This was my first Vickie Mcdonough-Luke has been gone from his home town 11 years after his heart was broken by Rachel. She went and married the town "rich guy". But now God has changed his life and he is coming home only to find out he was wrong about Rachel. His cousins try helping out by finding him a wife but they get too many. The book is funny in parts and well written. Not my favorite-- no "wow" factor for me but I did read the second in the series.
Christy J. (southernsassygirl) reviewed The Anonymous Bride (Texas Boardinghouse Brides, Bk 1) on + 180 more book reviews
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.
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.
Robin B. (Rawben) reviewed The Anonymous Bride (Texas Boardinghouse Brides, Bk 1) on + 52 more book reviews
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!
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!
Sharon F. (bookworm01) reviewed The Anonymous Bride (Texas Boardinghouse Brides, Bk 1) on + 138 more book reviews
This is such a great book! It has an awesome rivalry between a trio of mail order brides who are after one handsome marshal...a marshal who has his eye on someone he has known and loved for years. The "bride" contest that the town hosts is hilarious..especially when an "anonymous" bride enters. I loved all of the characters and can't wait to read the other two in the series to see who marries who in the town of Lookout, Texas!
Mary N. (maggysue) reviewed The Anonymous Bride (Texas Boardinghouse Brides, Bk 1) on + 811 more book reviews
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.
Teresa G. (tgriffis) -
When Luke Davis returns to Lookout as the new marshal, his cousins decide he needs a wife. So to be sure one arrives, they invite 5 mail order brides. Three arrive. The town decides there should be a contest to see which bride Luke will choose. Of course Luke isn't interested in any of them because, as much as he'd like to put her behind him, he soon realizes he still has feelings for his childhood sweetheart who married someone else.
Rachel Hamilton is now a widow with a 10-year-old tomboy daughter, Jacqueline, "Jack". Jack has a run-in with the new marshal before he arrives in town. Because Rachel runs the boardinghouse and prepares the meals for the marshal, they can't very well ignore each other.
Very interesting story with a few laughs thrown in. Also, the plan of salvation is shared though not preachy. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I'm glad I already have book 2 to continue.
Rachel Hamilton is now a widow with a 10-year-old tomboy daughter, Jacqueline, "Jack". Jack has a run-in with the new marshal before he arrives in town. Because Rachel runs the boardinghouse and prepares the meals for the marshal, they can't very well ignore each other.
Very interesting story with a few laughs thrown in. Also, the plan of salvation is shared though not preachy. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I'm glad I already have book 2 to continue.
