The Anonymous Bride

Texas Boardinghouse Brides #1

by Vickie McDonough

Check yourself into the Texas Boardinghouse Brides series by Vickie McDonough, where you’ll meet Luke Davis, marshal of Lookout, Texas, who 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?

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, Westerns, Christian, Historical Romance

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2010

About the author

Over 1.5 million books sold!

Bestselling author Vickie McDonough grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead, she married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams penning romance stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen, and others living in the Old West. Vickie is a best-selling author of more than 50 published books and novellas, with over 1.5 million copies sold. Her novels include End of the Trail, winner of the OWFI 2013 Booksellers Best Fiction Novel Award. Whispers on the Prairie was a Romantic Times Recommended Inspirational Book for July 2013. Song of the Prairie won the 2015 Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Gabriel’s Atonement, book 1 in the Land Rush Dreams series, placed second in the 2016 Will Rogers Medallion Award. Vickie has recently stepped into independent publishing.

Vickie has been married for forty-one years to Robert. They have four grown sons, one daughter-in-law, and a precocious granddaughter. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, antiquing, doing stained glass, watching movies, and traveling. To learn more about Vickie’s books or to sign up for her newsletter, visit her website: www.vickiemcdonough.com

Reviews

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Overall, I’d say I liked this one. I think I would have liked it more if there had been a few things done differently. First the things I liked. I thought the plot was fun. Luke and Rachel had once been engaged, but the engagement was broken when Rachel suddenly married another man. It’s now been eleven years and Luke has returned to town to be the new marshal. Rachel is now a widow and single mother, and has never stopped loving Luke. Luke is pretty bitter still and definitely has a grudge against Rachel. His cousins feel bad for him and decide to get him a mail-order-bride. Instead of one, three brides show up and all insist that Luke marry them. The mayor decides a contest is in order and the three brides have to do different things like bake a pie, so Luke can decide who to marry. Rachel doesn’t want to lose him again and decides to enter the contest anonymously. So, yeah, a pretty fun plot idea.

Unfortunately, I think the story kind of got away from itself. We get to jump into the heads of each of the brides and hear all their back stories, plus we also jump into the head of Rachel’s daughter Jacqueline. I thought there were too many POV changes and thought the story should have just focused on Rachel and Luke. I know this is the first in a series so maybe it was done so we could get a feel for the girls in the next books, but the POV jumps in my opinion took away from Rachel’s story.

Another small issue I had was that the second half of the book became a little too preachy for my taste. Lots more praying and a LOT of talk about forgiveness, a bit overkill. So, if the POVs had been narrowed down and the preaching toned down a bit, I think I would have enjoyed the story a whole lot more.

Content: Clean.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. In the way that I absolutely adore the writing of Christian Historical Romantic Comedy Author Mary Connealy, I now feel the same about Vickie McDonough. This book had me gasp and inwardly scream. I laughed out loud and snickered to myself. I turned the pages without abandon and I am so eagerly excited for the next book in the series Second Chance Brides that I forget about the pile of to-be-read books waiting for my attentions.

There are many books and authors that I like, but you have to be something really special for me to absolutely love it. And I love it. I recommend this book without fail. Read it, love it, and escape within the pages to a humorous situation in a historical time that will leave you laughing, giggling and sighing with satisfaction of a wonderful read.

*Thanks to Vickie McDonough and Angie Brillhart for providing a copy for review.*

[Johnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Anonymous Bride is the first book I've read that was written by Vickie McDonough. I enjoyed every minute of this story. It follows Marshall Luke Davis that has just returned to town after many years of being away. He runs into the woman (Rachel) he was engaged to..until she broke his heart. Will he learn to forgive her? Why did she betray him like she did? Will love blossom between them again?

I think Jack, Rachel's daughter, was my favorite character. She had such sound, determination, buried hurts that shower on her outward appearance..and someone you just wanted to reach through the pages and hug.

The Marshall's cousins really set him up for some trouble. 3 women show up ready to marry the handsome Marshall. What will he do?

A story filled with characters we can relate to. Those needing forgiveness and those learning to forgive. Past heartache, salvation, and love. Adventure, personality and contests to win a husband!

I so enjoyed this story and all of the characters. It wasn't a story I have read before. It kept my interest and honestly was a book I didn't want to put down. I didn't want the story to end! Vickie also penned the beautiful story of God's love for us no matter who we are or what we've done, this won't be my last book by her!

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first trade paperback that I've read by Vickie McDonough and I LOVED it! I can't wait for Second Chance Brides to be released later this Fall. The Anonymous Bride has fun, faith and a few outlaws which makes for one interesting story. The antics of eleven year old Jacqueline aka "Jack" are hilarious, she reminds me a little of Missie from the film version of Love Comes Softly. She's more at home in overalls, fishing with the boys than wearing dresses and helping her mom run the boardinghouse. Jack was my favorite character in this book. I hope we see her more of her in this series, perhaps as an adult? Rachel and Luke aren't bad either. ;-) I love stories when old flames meet again after many years apart and discover that the spark is still there no matter how much they both try to deny it. All in all I would say if you like Mary Connealy and Lori Copeland you will definitely love Vickie McDonough and her Texas Boardinghouse Brides series!

Thanks to Goodreads, the publisher, and author for my free copy.

[MaryLu Tyndall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by Vickie McDonough and I was not in the least bit disappointed. What I thought was going to be merely a lighthearted fun western romance (and it was that!) turned out to be also exciting and adventurous as well. Rather than simply dwelling on the humorous situation the sherrif finds himself in when his friends set him up with three mail order brides, the author also treads into deeper waters with such important issues as rape, betrayal, parenting, and faith. Well written, funny, and page-turning, I'm sure you'll enjoy this historical romance.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book just didn't hold my interest very well, even though I read the whole thing. It was very predictable and felt like a cutesy, not realistic, Hallmark movie that tried to add some serious content. In other words, if they had just stuck with being funny and about the bride contest or stuck with being a serious book (about forgiveness deep hurts) it would have worked for me. Trying to twist both together detracted from my enjoyment of the book.

[Abigail Harris]

RTC

[Tanx · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with most mail-order brides stories, this is a quick read. Nothing phenomenal, but nothing to rant too. I finished this in 3 days (around 6 hours total reading time) and had a satisfied feeling as I finished the last page.

Favourite character's Jacqueline (Jack), so much spunk and so cute. The part on rapture had me laughing out loud.
Overall an enjoyable and satisfying read

If you enjoy reading mail-order brides books, then I believe this will be to your liking as well.

[Lori Hooten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a clean, enjoyable story with just enough tension to make it good. The characters were unique enough that it didn't seem like every other old west, mail order bride story. It kept me wondering exactly where the storyline was headed. It's a good story. My favorite character was definitely Jack.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: THE ANONYMOUS BRIDE
Author: Vickie McDonough
Publisher: Barbour Books
April 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60260-696-8
Genre: Inspirational/historical romance

Luke Davis as served years in the cavalry, but now he is out and looking for a job. When he learns that his old hometown has an opening as a marshal, Luke is torn. Return home and get the only woman he’s ever loved out of his system, or run as far as he can in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, duty calls, but Luke’s arrival in town is less than pleasant. Instead, stopping at a water hole, he is accosted by three children who end up knocking him in, forcing Luke to present himself dripping wet. He does manage to capture one of the offenders and haul him into town, only to discover to his horror that the him is a her and her mother is none other than the woman he’s been dreading.

Rachel Hamilton loved Luke, but she decided to give up her dreams of love for riches. But instead she got heartbreak, shame, and a headstrong daughter that she can’t control. Not to mention, her husband is dead, but Luke is back. How can Rachel face him every day, knowing what she did? Rachel begs for his forgiveness, but Luke has none to give.

But then three women arrive each of them claiming to be ordered for Luke through newspaper ads. The only place for them to stay is in the town boarding house. And none of the women are willing to give Luke up! How many brides does one man need? Which woman will Luke choose?

THE ANONYMOUS BRIDE is the first book in Vickie McDonough’s Texas Boardinghouse Brides series. It says on the back that this is Ms McDonough’s debut novel, but anyone that has read Heartsong Presents knows that she has had many books published with them, and has even been named favorite historical author for that line.

Ms. McDonough is a talented historical author. I could almost taste the dust in the trails and see the marshal and his cousins swagger down the road shoulder to shoulder like gun-slingers itching for a fight. I could also feel Luke’s dread in the pit of the stomach as he faced Rachel for the first time, and realized that the bratty child he was man-handling was actually her child.

If you are looking for a good historical read, especially one with an old west feel, you’ll want to consider THE ANONYMOUS BRIDE. I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series, Second Chance Bride, coming in the fall of this year. $12.99. 347 pages.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luke Davis was jilted by his betrothed, now Rachel Hamilton, the widow of his ‘best friend.’ He developed deeply-seated wounds from this rejection. He’d left Lookout and joined the cavalry for 11 years to escape the pain. He decided to return to Lookout, face his past issues with Rachel, and move on. Little did he know that Rachel was widowed. His anger and unforgiveness towards her continued to simmer deep inside regardless of her availability for marriage.

Luke unfortunately told his two cousins that he would marry when the right woman came around. So under his name the cousins invited five women to come to Lookout as a mail-order bride, thinking only one would answer. When faced with three of the five invited mail-order brides, Luke was stymied as to what to do. To avoid embarrassment and a possible lawsuit, the mayor ‘suggested’ that Luke pick a bride and marry her–thus the contests for the women to prove their worthiness to be his wife. Rachel’s rekindled love for Luke is being challenged by these three brides.

I enjoy books about the 1880s and mail-order brides, but this one took the prize–not one bride, but three arrived, without Luke’s prior knowledge. I found the method the town sought to remedy the situation for these women humorous. It sounded absurd when it was first suggested, but then I realized the time period and the dilemma these women were in, and it made sense.

When you read about why these women came, you’ll find some outlandish, yet understandable reasons for answering the call for a mail-order bride. The competition issues between the brides were portrayed so realistically. This was a fun read for these reasons.

What hit home the most, though, were the issues of forgiveness and faith for Luke and Rachel. Some spoke directly to my own heart, as I’m sure they will affect many readers. The need for repentance and intense prayer also come forward. Vickie’s weaving of these issues are so poignant and important to the story and to our own lives. Application of these truths can help all of to mature–albeit not an easy thing without the Lord’s help. Vickie’s great storyline and spiritual messages are what I look for in Christian novels. Great job, Vickie!

This book was provide free by Angie, Publicist at Barbour Publishing, Inc. for my honest review.

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten years earlier Rachel had broken Luke's heart and married another man. Luke left town and joined the Calvary. Now he is returning to Lookout to be the towns marshal. Rachel is now widowed and has a 10 year old daughter. Her daughter is running all over town dressing like a boy and getting into trouble. Luke’s cousins think getting Luke a mail order bride will help him get over his past feelings for Rachel but the plan back fires when 3 brides not 1 come to town. Will Luke pick one of them or will his old feeling for Rachel relight? Will Rachel tell Luke the secrets of her past so they can move forward together or will she lose Luke forever?

I enjoyed this book. I really like series like this where you get to know quite a few characters and then get to read the stories of some of the side characters in other books in the series. In this book the main story is between Rachel and Luke. We also get to see the romance from Rachel's 10 year old daughters eyes which I thought was kind of fun. I found myself really liking Jack even though she was causing so much trouble.

The only down side was I felt the first book told the story from a few to many of the future book characters. All 3 of the mail order brides and both the cousins where told in this book and I found myself at times wanting to get back to the main story.

I found it interesting this book touched on rape, spousal abuse as well as child abuse. Lots of issues but the author did a wonderful job of working it into the story line. The ending was a good one but also left me wanting to read the next book in the series. Over all a great start to the series!

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m afraid I finished this book only because I’m stubborn. It jumps around a lot, especially in the beginning and that makes it hard to get into. We seemed to be inside the head of nearly every character in the book at one time or another and action takes place in three or four different states. I think we were supposed to enjoy watching it all come together, but it was too chaotic for my taste.

There was no chemistry between the two people who get together because they had very little interaction. The author was, in my opinion, trying to tell too many other stories. Luke and Rachel spend most of their time on the page apart, separately fretting over what happened between them eleven years ago. This gets VERY repetitive and doesn’t serve to make the reader excited about a reunion.

I also felt the heavy-handed sermonizing on forgiveness didn’t quite line up with the plot. Luke is kind and respectful towards Rachel and she seems convinced that he’s holding a grudge about the past simply because he doesn’t profess his ongoing love for her. It’s been eleven years. And what if her husband was still alive? What would forgiveness look like then?

Luke’s cousins were a bright spot in the book. I picked it up because so many reviewers called it fun, humorous or lighthearted. Garrett and Mark provided the only humor I found. Too bad they were only in a few scenes.

[Paula-O · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vickie McDonough writes series Texas Boardinghouse Brides, Book#1 "The Anonymous Bride"

I an enjoying reading this series, The brides to be are all worthy smart competent young women...well all but one anyway.
Luke Davis and Rachel had a past years ago, young sweethearts growing up in same town and just knowing they would get married one day. This did not happen and when she let him know she had married his best friend Luke left town and was gone for a decade.
Now Luke is back as sheriff of Lookout Tx and Rachel is a widow but he wants nothing to do with her -He cannot forgive the woman that took away his dream.
Luke's cousins get a bright idea to bring some mail-order women to town to marry Luke..will it work? letters go back and forth and before long there are three young ladies showing up all claiming Luke had written them and they expect to be his bride...
WELL NOW...What a to do. come read the story Vickie tells of all the women living at the boardinghouse with the owner, Rachel Hamilton. How this all gets sorted out and whom will marry the sheriff?

[Tressa (Wishful Endings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, nice read. I thought the story was a little unrealistic in some ways, which is why I rated it as I did. There was a lot of repetition of the two main characters feelings for each other and then sometimes it seemed like the characters forgot they had already thought something or had come to a conclusion about something because then they would question things again or repeat what they already said (without giving too much away). It also seemed like the sheriff (main hero) should have had a stronger backbone. There is no way he would have been held responsible for what happened, so that was a bit of a stretch for me as well. Completely clean.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story and the resolution was fun and predictable. But hey I like a good predictable romance sometimes. The Christian aspect was done well with only 2 major preaching scenes. I knew this was the beginning to a series so I expected a lot of characters, but the way they are introduced is abrupt and confusing. I wish the story had been a little more believable. The reason the main character chooses to marry another man was just hard for me to swallow. I have the second book but don't really care too much to read the next. I wanted a lot more interactions between the heroine and hero, but when I keep reading till the end it can't be too bad:}

[Tori (Book Chick) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm gonna give this book 3.5 stars. There were parts I liked a lot and then other parts that I was thinking, "Why the heck is this in this book?" I liked Rachel and Luke. And their story was interesting. There just seemed to be so many POVs which kind of got confusing and seemed unnecessary.
I'm curious what will happen in the book #2. I'm just trying to decide if I'm curious enough to actually read it.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

its been awhile since ive read western romance books. This one was enjoyable. It was both funny and allowed the two main charachters to learn forgiveness. I would say that you have to get at least 2/3 of the way through the book to find out what had happened between luke and rachel before....so that was my only complaint!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lighthearted romantic story that surprised me by including a clear Gospel message. The writing style reminded me of Erica Vetsch—western adventure and romance with humor—and I really liked Rachel and Luke. I'm definitely planning to finish the series, because I need to know what happens to the other brides and to Rachel's spunky daughter, Jack!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vickie McDonough adds a refreshing twist to the classic mail-order-bride story by providing readers with not one but three brides-to-be, a reluctant prospective groom and, of course, the anonymous bride. For a story filled with engaging characters, look no further than The Anonymous Bride.

[Rhonda Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Vickie's latest release. The characters are well developed and likeable. Read this book... you won't be sorry :)

[Laurie Eakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Vickie McDonough’s Heartsong books, you will like this one twice as much. It holds the same tenderness, charm, and lovable characters with even more depth.

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute story. Funny and charming. Good for a vacation from reality. :o)

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Luke Davis returns to Lookout, Texas, 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. The 3 mail order brides stay at her boardinghouse, so now she's helping each of them win Luke.

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.

[alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT AN AMAZING BOOK!

I have to admit, I started the series from the third book, however, I enjoyed it so much that my amazing and kind best friend bought me the first one as well. Reading this book second, instead of first, was delightful. I loved seeing how the characters in book three were before and learned a lot that was important to their development. Especially Carly- I loved getting to read about stuff that was only mentioned in book three!

Overall, the story was captivating and I enjoyed reading this while I've been at work. This story focuses on Luke and Rachel's relationship and I spent half the book screaming at them to just GO AND TELL EACH OTHER THEIR FEELINGS. Slow burn is good too, and my, was it sloooooooow. I'm so happy for the two and they are truly meant for each other!

10/10

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story about mail-order brides. All three were very different and came to marry Luke for different reasons. Rachel and Luke had a history. They were to be married eleven years earlier, but something happened and Rachel married someone else. Luke struggles with forgiveness but his heart yearns for Rachel. How he gets out of marrying a mail-order bride was a fun story to read about. The pie contest and the shirt contest - with the anonymous bride entering the contest. Luke receives very good advice from the preacher on forgiveness but just when he comes to terms with forgiving Rachel, news of what happened eleven years ago almost sidelines him. Then Rachel is taken and the hunt is on to find her. How the story all raps up was a fun romance to read about. Some places in the book definitely put a smile on my face.

[Louis D.Gargarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Chance

Luke was in love with Rachel before they were teenagers, but something happened just after they were engaged. Although Luke didn't know, his best friend raped Rachel. She became pregnant and by the time Luke returned from a job to make money to buy a home for him and Rachel she had married his best friend. Sadly Luke joined the service and didn't see Rachel again for thirteen years, until he returned to his home town. He was hired to be the Sheriff and would be taking his meals from Rachel's boarding house. One day his brothers thought that he needed a wife, so they answered not one but a Ewing mail order bride advertisement. You will enjoy this book to find out what when the brides start coming the small town. And you will want to know about Rachel's Tom boy daughter, Jacqueline.
MK

[Ellen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lookout Texas, a place he hadn’t expected to return to. Washing off the dirt and letting his horse drink at the lake. When three kids throwing rocks, and yelling to get away from their swimming hole. The action startled his horse and knocked Luke into the water. Pranks, but not throwing stones at an animal. Turned out the one he caught was a girl, and the child of someone he once loved. He is the new Marshall for the town. Which for Rachel meant he would be having supper at her boarding place, and keeping his house and washing done up. Is the love still there, and when mail order brides come she will be challenged, but will she say anything. A cute story full of mishaps and the need of forgiveness for a happy ending.

[Aurélie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The new town marshal Luke Davis becomes the best attraction of the town over night, when one day several mail-order brides arrive…
I appreciated that the emphasis on forgiving was set on the decision the person has to make. However difficult the road to complete forgiveness is, the start is fairly simple… The characters were very endearing, especially Jack. Under her tough exterior, she was very attuned to her mother’s feelings and did not shy from anything to protect her physically and emotionally, no matter the consequences. I wish you as much a great time reading this book as I had. It is full of humor, misunderstandings, and a lot of suppressed emotions waiting to come out.

[Scarlet Fanning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luke returns to Lookout, Texas, after his heart is broken by his lifetime love Rachel. Eleven years before, she married the richest bachelor in town. Luke didn’t scratch deep the secret horrors of that marriage. He couldn’t forgive her.

His cousins decide to advertise for a mail-order bride and accept five. Surely they would be lucky if one showed up. But three do.

The town responds with a bride contest where Luke will marry the winner.

Christian elements of forgiveness and healing play into the story as characters strengthen their faith.

Rich storytelling for each bride, Rachel and her daughter, and Luke.