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Texas Boardinghouse Brides #2
Second Chance Brides
Fans of The Anonymous Bride, will feel for Shannon O’Neil and Leah Bennett who are stranded in Lookout, Texas, without husbands or future plans. Thankfully, the marshal has ordered the rascally Corbett brothers to pay for the women’s lodging at the boardinghouse, but will the brothers’ idea of hosting Saturday socials really bring these women the kind of loves they long for? Will Shannon choose to marry just for security? Will Leah reject love when the challenges mount?
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2010
61 people are currently reading
407 people want to read
About the author
Vickie McDonough
95 books371 followersOver 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
October 1, 2023
I enjoyed the first book of this series more than this one. I enjoyed it, it was just repetitive. Explaining the first book. I understand to a point, but having read the 1st book already, those parts were boring. Other than that, I really enjoy all of these characters and their stories.
I Love Jack and Butch’s storyline and hope they are continued. Dan’s nieces and nephews broke my heart..especially the baby. Looking forward to the last book and seeing how the author wraps all their stories up. First series I have read by Vickie and have enjoyed it so far
I Love Jack and Butch’s storyline and hope they are continued. Dan’s nieces and nephews broke my heart..especially the baby. Looking forward to the last book and seeing how the author wraps all their stories up. First series I have read by Vickie and have enjoyed it so far
June 2, 2015
I enjoyed this second book in the “Texas Boardinghouse Brides” trilogy. I enjoyed this book more than the first one mainly because I was more interested in the characters. It was fun reading about Leah and Shannon, the two mail-order brides from book one, and seeing how their story progressed. I liked their characters equally and found the whole book extremely satisfying. I have to give props to Vickie McDonough for weaving so many different character stories together so seamlessly. It isn't easy sharing the POV's of six or seven characters while still maintaining a clean and natural flow to the storyline. I never felt like the storyline was choppy or difficult to follow.
I'm not sure if I preferred Shannon and Mark's romance or Leah and Dan. I'd say it's about equal. Both girls and their guys were equally entertaining and I loved seeing their love stories unfold.
I, more than anyone else, was especially interested in Jacqueline's (jack) and butch's story. It was a side story in the plot line, but I liked seeing how Jack's life had changed now that her mother and the marshal were married and also reading her adventures and mishaps while growing up. It kept me turning pages, wanting to see the lessons she was learning about telling the truth and friendships. I also was interested in the dynamic between her and butch and seeing her learn to look past a persons exterior and judge them based on their heart instead. And as always, it was entertaining to see what kind of mischief she got into next. I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store for her in the next and final book. I can't wait to see what trouble she gets herself into and what kind of young woman she grows up to become.
I liked Mark's side of the story as well, although at times it was hard to read. It's never easy reading about someones bad choices but I was glad to see that he resolved everything by the end and learned to forgive himself for his mistakes. The one thing that I did have a problem with was the fact that he never actually told Shannon the truth of what he had done before they were married. He only told his brother. So, it felt a bit deceptive. Not because he was purposefully hiding it from her anymore, nor was it a problem where it would have kept Shannon from loving him any less or saying no to marrying him. But I still wished that Mark had told her the truth as well. It was something that was big enough of a problem for him, that I knew it would eat away at him later on. Satan has a way of manipulating those kind of things and using them to blind us. So, in order to keep the power out of Satan's hands, I wished he had just told her everything up front before they married. I'm hoping it doesn't get in the way of their marriage later on in book three. He might end up wondering if she would still feel the same if she knew the truth, which just makes me want to roll my eyes. He should have just brought everything out in the open, laid his cards on the table when he confessed his feelings for her and then been able to both move on as a couple. So, yeah, I just wished all of that had been resolved.
As for Leah and Dan, I loved there story right off the bat. Leah's previous history of living with and caring for so many younger siblings was compelling and heartwarming. I loved that she found someone to make her feel as special as she truly was – a guy who could see past her frayed and faded dresses and see her for who she really was. The way Dan cared for his mother was endearing. I loved that he was so diligent and never complained about the menial tasks he was having to do in order to care for her. I also loved that he never made his mother feel like a burden and that he also was so giving and compassionate as to take in his nieces and nephews after their parents died. It was wonderful to see Leah journey of coming to see God's hand in her life – of how He had prepared her to care for the orphaned children with Dan by giving her so many siblings to look after when she was younger. I loved seeing her transformation into motherhood. It was so sweet reading the part where she chose to care for those lost and fearful kids and how she already fit right into place in their lives.
I loved the life lesson of how God has a purpose for us beyond what we can imagine for ourselves. That he prepares us ahead of time for the things that are ahead. This was a pretty great book and I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
I'm not sure if I preferred Shannon and Mark's romance or Leah and Dan. I'd say it's about equal. Both girls and their guys were equally entertaining and I loved seeing their love stories unfold.
I, more than anyone else, was especially interested in Jacqueline's (jack) and butch's story. It was a side story in the plot line, but I liked seeing how Jack's life had changed now that her mother and the marshal were married and also reading her adventures and mishaps while growing up. It kept me turning pages, wanting to see the lessons she was learning about telling the truth and friendships. I also was interested in the dynamic between her and butch and seeing her learn to look past a persons exterior and judge them based on their heart instead. And as always, it was entertaining to see what kind of mischief she got into next. I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store for her in the next and final book. I can't wait to see what trouble she gets herself into and what kind of young woman she grows up to become.
I liked Mark's side of the story as well, although at times it was hard to read. It's never easy reading about someones bad choices but I was glad to see that he resolved everything by the end and learned to forgive himself for his mistakes. The one thing that I did have a problem with was the fact that he never actually told Shannon the truth of what he had done before they were married. He only told his brother. So, it felt a bit deceptive. Not because he was purposefully hiding it from her anymore, nor was it a problem where it would have kept Shannon from loving him any less or saying no to marrying him. But I still wished that Mark had told her the truth as well. It was something that was big enough of a problem for him, that I knew it would eat away at him later on. Satan has a way of manipulating those kind of things and using them to blind us. So, in order to keep the power out of Satan's hands, I wished he had just told her everything up front before they married. I'm hoping it doesn't get in the way of their marriage later on in book three. He might end up wondering if she would still feel the same if she knew the truth, which just makes me want to roll my eyes. He should have just brought everything out in the open, laid his cards on the table when he confessed his feelings for her and then been able to both move on as a couple. So, yeah, I just wished all of that had been resolved.
As for Leah and Dan, I loved there story right off the bat. Leah's previous history of living with and caring for so many younger siblings was compelling and heartwarming. I loved that she found someone to make her feel as special as she truly was – a guy who could see past her frayed and faded dresses and see her for who she really was. The way Dan cared for his mother was endearing. I loved that he was so diligent and never complained about the menial tasks he was having to do in order to care for her. I also loved that he never made his mother feel like a burden and that he also was so giving and compassionate as to take in his nieces and nephews after their parents died. It was wonderful to see Leah journey of coming to see God's hand in her life – of how He had prepared her to care for the orphaned children with Dan by giving her so many siblings to look after when she was younger. I loved seeing her transformation into motherhood. It was so sweet reading the part where she chose to care for those lost and fearful kids and how she already fit right into place in their lives.
I loved the life lesson of how God has a purpose for us beyond what we can imagine for ourselves. That he prepares us ahead of time for the things that are ahead. This was a pretty great book and I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
December 17, 2012
I will definatly be reading the third book in the series. I enjoy reading how God can change hearts and forgive. I thought the struggles between couples were pretty realistic, they each had some baggage to work through which is so true. We are never perfect people, and the other person will have to accept us for that. I enjoy this authors writing style as well. It keeps you wanting to know what happens next.
January 30, 2026
This book was way different than the first one. It repeated the first book's premise over and over as if we didn't get it the first dozen times. The series is called 'Boardinghouse Brides' we understand very quickly that it's about two mail order brides and we get the circumstances of the first book within the first chapter. There was no need to rehash it over and over again. And just to make sure we were all clear, it was brought up in the last chapter once more by the two boardinghouse brides as if to say, "Just in case you readers didn't know, let me spell it out for you".
Also, I'm not one to use the f-word but I'm going to here, it's a bit fat-phobic. Birtha Boyd is depicted as wide as a buckboard and benches bend under her girth, she waddles and uses a cane and is said to be 300 lbs. Is Birtha Boyd under 4 feet tall? Otherwise I don't see how someone 300 lbs could match all her very degrading descriptions which more closely match 400-600 lb people. Birtha isn't the only fat woman in town mentioned and while I can appreciate a humorous twist on a larger than life person/personality, I don't think this was done very well.
The first half of the book was very heavy and full of rehashing from the first book, only after you got through the first half did it pick up and become interesting. Then it ended in a hurry. I prefer some more even pacing and more interest in the beginning of a book. Overall a little disappointed. I remember loving the third book so we'll see if that one still stands the test of time.
Also, I'm not one to use the f-word but I'm going to here, it's a bit fat-phobic. Birtha Boyd is depicted as wide as a buckboard and benches bend under her girth, she waddles and uses a cane and is said to be 300 lbs. Is Birtha Boyd under 4 feet tall? Otherwise I don't see how someone 300 lbs could match all her very degrading descriptions which more closely match 400-600 lb people. Birtha isn't the only fat woman in town mentioned and while I can appreciate a humorous twist on a larger than life person/personality, I don't think this was done very well.
The first half of the book was very heavy and full of rehashing from the first book, only after you got through the first half did it pick up and become interesting. Then it ended in a hurry. I prefer some more even pacing and more interest in the beginning of a book. Overall a little disappointed. I remember loving the third book so we'll see if that one still stands the test of time.
December 13, 2024
This book made me laugh so much because I can just imagine Rand Kessler getting news that Shannon married someone literally half a day after calling off their wedding.
Also the double wedding plot twist? I’m not entirely opposed to it, even though in real life I would’ve cringed myself to death.
ANYWAYS, I first read the third book, then first and have now finished the second. To say I am SAD is an understatement. I literally don’t want this series to end! Unfortunately, it’s only a trilogy. It was really interesting to read all about Butch/ Noah in this book and truly understand his character better for book three.
Dan and Leah’s relationship also made me almost literally shed tears at work. It was SO PRECIOUS! Love is such a cute thing to read about.
Anyways literally 11/10 for the series. I was captivated and sincerely enjoyed reading it. If I ever see books by this author at any thrift store or a friend’s bookcase, you won’t even have time to react to me swiping it off the shelves (to borrow, not to steal! gosh).
Also the double wedding plot twist? I’m not entirely opposed to it, even though in real life I would’ve cringed myself to death.
ANYWAYS, I first read the third book, then first and have now finished the second. To say I am SAD is an understatement. I literally don’t want this series to end! Unfortunately, it’s only a trilogy. It was really interesting to read all about Butch/ Noah in this book and truly understand his character better for book three.
Dan and Leah’s relationship also made me almost literally shed tears at work. It was SO PRECIOUS! Love is such a cute thing to read about.
Anyways literally 11/10 for the series. I was captivated and sincerely enjoyed reading it. If I ever see books by this author at any thrift store or a friend’s bookcase, you won’t even have time to react to me swiping it off the shelves (to borrow, not to steal! gosh).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2018
After having read this whole series entirely backwards, staring with 3 which I didn’t realize was in a series before progressing to 1 and finally second chance brides, I must say it’s kind of a cute stand alone story if need be. It adds to my understanding of the whole series, but it’s just cute by itself too. I swear though, Mark’s proposal was super nerve wracking and kind of unromantic yet entirely fit his character as a prankster (I mean, he really is a dude who doesn’t think his any of his actions through. 🤦♀️ How many times is that now Mark? First the mail order brides, then Abilene, now again with your terrifying proposal). I am just saying that man deserves a swift kick for that one. Also I am super glad Leah worked out her relationship with Dan. Dan sounds like the sweetest thing.
June 14, 2019
Garrett and Mark has good intention bringing mail order brides in, to spur Luke into asking his first love Rachel for marriage. Now Shannon and Leah are stuck and the talk of the town in Lookout. Luke’s cousins are now getting concerned with them paying the bill for the rooms, and they didn’t want to leave town, could they find husbands. A test of faith for these two, that God had his plans for them.
June 30, 2021
I didn't realize this was book #2 in a series until I was well and truly into the story. I will likely, not go back and read #1 as I was able to follow the scenario well without it, but I WILL be reading #3. Shannon and Leah were brought to very small Lookout, TX as mail order brides, but under false pretenses. Now they are both stuck and trying to figure out what to do next. Just enough romance to be delightful and enough religion to be realistic. I enjoyed this immensely.
May 9, 2019
Daniel and Leah Mark and Shannon
Leah and Shannon were mail order brides that came to Outlook, Texas both expecting to marry Marshall Luke. After much turmoil and excitement Leah fell in love with Dan and Shannon fell in love with Mark. They each have past bad experiences to overcome to truly find the love they each want and sorely need. You will love reading this story.
Leah and Shannon were mail order brides that came to Outlook, Texas both expecting to marry Marshall Luke. After much turmoil and excitement Leah fell in love with Dan and Shannon fell in love with Mark. They each have past bad experiences to overcome to truly find the love they each want and sorely need. You will love reading this story.
January 1, 2020
This book got such a high rating. I honestly couldnt get past the plot of girl cant find job in boring town, girl gets boring job in boring town, and it's hot outside. I'm not sure how good it got from there because I have a stack of books and did not feel like forcing myself to wait for this book to get good.
April 12, 2022
Second chances plays big in book two. The boardinghouse brides get second chances with finding a mate, then second chances finding marriage with each mate
Shannon and Leah change their goals in a man to marry and what marriage would look like. God lead them to these men and the situations of their future. They are well prepared.
Loved this book.
Shannon and Leah change their goals in a man to marry and what marriage would look like. God lead them to these men and the situations of their future. They are well prepared.
Loved this book.
October 31, 2025
Two stories in one, Second Chance Brides has a story line where all 4 main characters have to learn to trust God with their future in spite of their past and/or preconceived ideas of what their future should look like. It was a fun read and had a great balance of romance for and masculinity. I highly recommend Second Chance Brides.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2022
Better than I thought it would be! I was never bored, but I thought the plot would be served better with certain elements introduced earlier. I thought the subplot with the saloon girl added to the story, but not the subplot on the sheriff’s new stepdaughter.
December 24, 2024
A mail order tangle
Having read the first book in the series I couldn't wait to read the second and it didn't disappoint. Humor, angst and happily ever after abound, with some life lessons thrown in. A good read.
Having read the first book in the series I couldn't wait to read the second and it didn't disappoint. Humor, angst and happily ever after abound, with some life lessons thrown in. A good read.
January 18, 2019
This was a fun book about a man that ordered some brides for his cousin without the cousin knowing it and the cousin marries someone else just as the girls arrive in the town.
August 16, 2019
Good read.
April 5, 2020
I have read 2 of these books and I have thoroughly enjoyed them. No explicit sex or violence. I love them
August 24, 2020
It was a good book, but I wouldn't say it is one of my all time favourites.
I preferred the first and third book to it.
I preferred the first and third book to it.
May 3, 2023
Sweet, light hearted Western romance. Clean and cute story.
December 23, 2023
New favorite book
March 11, 2025
Interesting book. It's best to read these books in order. You will have more of the backstory if you do. A good romance book.
May 4, 2025
3.95⭐️
January 25, 2015
Western historical romance second in the series Texas Boardinghouse Brides Trilogy
In the first story The Anonymous Bride, the town's marshal's cousins bring in a few brides for Luke because they feel that he should marry, but he ends up with his childhood love. This leaves two of the boardinghouse brides without a husband and they do not want to go back to where they are from because of a variety or reasons. So Miss Shannon O'Neil and Leah Bennett are single, without jobs or futures, but there are lots of single men in Lookout, Texas so we find out who they will choose.
Shannon decides to stay in town when she starts to work for the fret business owned by the brothers (cousins to Luke, the marshal) and is getting closer to Mark the younger brother. Leah has no where else to go so she stays in the awkward boardinghouse and is bored, but she is attracted to the Livery stable owner, Dan who has a sick mother that he is taking care of (showing what a great caregiver he is!). Leah wants to get married to secure her future, but she never wants children because she is the eldest of 11 children and has already taken care of enough children to not want that in her future. I think Leah should have stuck to her guns and married someone else that doesn't have five children. That is CRAZY that some guy that you only know for a few months to just throw FIVE children on you even before you're married.
It is funny how punctually in random moments the single men in the area show up to Shannon and Leah to ask them to randomly marry them. Luckily the two girls are smart and want to get to know before making a lifetime commitment. Men! They don't want to work for some attention and love, they just jump straight to the proposals in the most unromantic way.
Leah and Dan have more of a traditional romance, but Shannon falls in love in a unrequited way because Mark doesn't want to love anyone after some past story with a 'Annabelle'. We get a side-flash to Annabelle at a bar in a bad situation. She is clearly smart so she gets away before being sexually attacked by a bar patron. So you know that Annabelle is coming to small town, Lookout to make trouble in the slowly blooming relationship between Shannon and Mark Corbett. But without that I guess there wouldn't be much story.
HEA is found but not without more adventures. Lookout, Texas seems like a really crazy little town, with kidnappings, tornadoes and spontaneous marriage proposals. There is a secondary story about Butch and 'Jack' Jacqueline which really didn't need to be told, although since the next and last book in this series is going to be about Miss Jack so I guess we needed to get to know her better.
319 pages and kindle purchase $2.99
2 stars
In the first story The Anonymous Bride, the town's marshal's cousins bring in a few brides for Luke because they feel that he should marry, but he ends up with his childhood love. This leaves two of the boardinghouse brides without a husband and they do not want to go back to where they are from because of a variety or reasons. So Miss Shannon O'Neil and Leah Bennett are single, without jobs or futures, but there are lots of single men in Lookout, Texas so we find out who they will choose.
Shannon decides to stay in town when she starts to work for the fret business owned by the brothers (cousins to Luke, the marshal) and is getting closer to Mark the younger brother. Leah has no where else to go so she stays in the awkward boardinghouse and is bored, but she is attracted to the Livery stable owner, Dan who has a sick mother that he is taking care of (showing what a great caregiver he is!). Leah wants to get married to secure her future, but she never wants children because she is the eldest of 11 children and has already taken care of enough children to not want that in her future. I think Leah should have stuck to her guns and married someone else that doesn't have five children. That is CRAZY that some guy that you only know for a few months to just throw FIVE children on you even before you're married.
It is funny how punctually in random moments the single men in the area show up to Shannon and Leah to ask them to randomly marry them. Luckily the two girls are smart and want to get to know before making a lifetime commitment. Men! They don't want to work for some attention and love, they just jump straight to the proposals in the most unromantic way.
Leah and Dan have more of a traditional romance, but Shannon falls in love in a unrequited way because Mark doesn't want to love anyone after some past story with a 'Annabelle'. We get a side-flash to Annabelle at a bar in a bad situation. She is clearly smart so she gets away before being sexually attacked by a bar patron. So you know that Annabelle is coming to small town, Lookout to make trouble in the slowly blooming relationship between Shannon and Mark Corbett. But without that I guess there wouldn't be much story.
HEA is found but not without more adventures. Lookout, Texas seems like a really crazy little town, with kidnappings, tornadoes and spontaneous marriage proposals. There is a secondary story about Butch and 'Jack' Jacqueline which really didn't need to be told, although since the next and last book in this series is going to be about Miss Jack so I guess we needed to get to know her better.
319 pages and kindle purchase $2.99
2 stars
May 4, 2012
This book starts up at Luke and Rachel’s wedding. The book is told through the eyes of Leah and Shannon the left over mail order brides. Luke has told his cousin’s that they have to pay room and board for the ladies until they either find a job or get married. In an attempt to speed the process up the brothers organize a Saturday night social so all the bachelors can meet the ladies and hopefully marry them.
The thing Mark did not expect was to start to fall for Shannon. Will he over come his past pain to find love? Leah finds herself drawn to the livery owner. But will her promise to never have kids keep her from finding true love?
I will be honest I tend to hold my breath a little when it comes to the middle book of a series. I have found from past experience that it tends to be the one I end up liking the least. I was hoping it would not be the case for this book but in the end it was. It was a good book and I enjoyed seeing Leah and Shannon find there match. But for me I was more interested in Jack, Rachel’s daughter. She is still young but the author is laying the ground work for the 3rd book which will be her story and I found myself caring more about her then the two main characters in this book.
Since we are reading about both Leah and Shannon I felt the character of Leah was not developed as much as Shannon. We did get to hear from Mark but we did not get to hear from Leah’s love interest Dan which for me made it harder to get into that part of the story. I honestly would rather have seen this series in 4 books with Leah and Shannon each having a more developed story.
Shannon was my favorite of the two ladies. She starts out so timid and by the end of the book she is starting to see her self worth and her character really starts to shine. Mark finally comes out of his brothers shadow and starts to live the life he wants. I enjoyed watching these two fall in love!
I was disappointed with Leah. I felt her character could have been expanded more but with two story’s in this book hers got a little less attention. I also would have loved to gotten to know Dan better. I so wanted to know what he was thinking at times! Also the climax of this story held so much promise but again it was hurried a long and felt kind of flat. I really think it could have been its own book! I did enjoy these two just wished they would have been given a little more page time.
Over all it was a good book. I love series like this where the characters intertwine through out the series. I love stepping into a new book and already knowing some of the charters as well as the setting. I highly recommend reading the first book before this one so you know the back story.
DISCLOSURE: I was provided a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley to review it. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.
The thing Mark did not expect was to start to fall for Shannon. Will he over come his past pain to find love? Leah finds herself drawn to the livery owner. But will her promise to never have kids keep her from finding true love?
I will be honest I tend to hold my breath a little when it comes to the middle book of a series. I have found from past experience that it tends to be the one I end up liking the least. I was hoping it would not be the case for this book but in the end it was. It was a good book and I enjoyed seeing Leah and Shannon find there match. But for me I was more interested in Jack, Rachel’s daughter. She is still young but the author is laying the ground work for the 3rd book which will be her story and I found myself caring more about her then the two main characters in this book.
Since we are reading about both Leah and Shannon I felt the character of Leah was not developed as much as Shannon. We did get to hear from Mark but we did not get to hear from Leah’s love interest Dan which for me made it harder to get into that part of the story. I honestly would rather have seen this series in 4 books with Leah and Shannon each having a more developed story.
Shannon was my favorite of the two ladies. She starts out so timid and by the end of the book she is starting to see her self worth and her character really starts to shine. Mark finally comes out of his brothers shadow and starts to live the life he wants. I enjoyed watching these two fall in love!
I was disappointed with Leah. I felt her character could have been expanded more but with two story’s in this book hers got a little less attention. I also would have loved to gotten to know Dan better. I so wanted to know what he was thinking at times! Also the climax of this story held so much promise but again it was hurried a long and felt kind of flat. I really think it could have been its own book! I did enjoy these two just wished they would have been given a little more page time.
Over all it was a good book. I love series like this where the characters intertwine through out the series. I love stepping into a new book and already knowing some of the charters as well as the setting. I highly recommend reading the first book before this one so you know the back story.
DISCLOSURE: I was provided a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley to review it. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.
January 4, 2011
Book Two in the Texas Boardinghouse Brides series, "Second Chance Brides" is a wonderful continuation of the stories of Leah Bennett and Shannon O'Neil, mail-order brides stranded in Lookout, Texas.
Both Leah and Shannon know they only have two options available after the debacle in the first book leaves them dependent on Garrett and Mark Corbett for support: get a job or find another man to marry. The Corbett brothers do try to atone for the mess they created by sending for the mail-order brides by giving Shannon a job as bookkeeper in their business and hosting Saturday socials for the town's eligible singles.
Both women struggle with allowing their past to come between following God's wishes and what they think will make them happy. Leah was the oldest of eleven children, missing out on much of her childhood due to helping her mother to raise and care for her younger siblings. She promised herself that she would never be tied down to children again, and that promise almost costs her the man of her dreams, livery owner Dan Howard. Shannon immigrated from Ireland with her parents, only to have them die shortly after arriving in New Orleans, leaving her alone. She had pinned her hopes on starting a new family when she traveled to Lookout as a mail-order bride and now blames the Corbett brothers for still being alone and almost destitute. Against her will, she begins to fall in love with Mark Corbett, it seems he feels the same. Then Mark tells Shannon that he will never marry, leaving her distraught and confused. Will she marry another before Mark can reconcile his past and realize Shannon was meant for him?
Other characters from the first book "The Anonymous Bride" are present as their stories are also continued: Rachel and Luke Davis and Rachel's daughter, Jacqueline "Jack." Vickie weaves their continuing story into Leah and Shannon's in a way which enriches the storyline without confusing the reader. An unerring faith in God is evident as the story unfolds, first in one character and then in another. This message is delivered in a masterful, well-written way that leaves the reader feeling uplifted.
I've read several of Vickie's books and thoroughly enjoyed each of them. "Second Chance Brides" did not disappoint me, it just helped cement my love of her writing style and left me eager to read the final book in this series, "Finally a Bride." I highly recommend "Second Chance Brides" to everyone.
Both Leah and Shannon know they only have two options available after the debacle in the first book leaves them dependent on Garrett and Mark Corbett for support: get a job or find another man to marry. The Corbett brothers do try to atone for the mess they created by sending for the mail-order brides by giving Shannon a job as bookkeeper in their business and hosting Saturday socials for the town's eligible singles.
Both women struggle with allowing their past to come between following God's wishes and what they think will make them happy. Leah was the oldest of eleven children, missing out on much of her childhood due to helping her mother to raise and care for her younger siblings. She promised herself that she would never be tied down to children again, and that promise almost costs her the man of her dreams, livery owner Dan Howard. Shannon immigrated from Ireland with her parents, only to have them die shortly after arriving in New Orleans, leaving her alone. She had pinned her hopes on starting a new family when she traveled to Lookout as a mail-order bride and now blames the Corbett brothers for still being alone and almost destitute. Against her will, she begins to fall in love with Mark Corbett, it seems he feels the same. Then Mark tells Shannon that he will never marry, leaving her distraught and confused. Will she marry another before Mark can reconcile his past and realize Shannon was meant for him?
Other characters from the first book "The Anonymous Bride" are present as their stories are also continued: Rachel and Luke Davis and Rachel's daughter, Jacqueline "Jack." Vickie weaves their continuing story into Leah and Shannon's in a way which enriches the storyline without confusing the reader. An unerring faith in God is evident as the story unfolds, first in one character and then in another. This message is delivered in a masterful, well-written way that leaves the reader feeling uplifted.
I've read several of Vickie's books and thoroughly enjoyed each of them. "Second Chance Brides" did not disappoint me, it just helped cement my love of her writing style and left me eager to read the final book in this series, "Finally a Bride." I highly recommend "Second Chance Brides" to everyone.
November 6, 2010
Leah Bennett and Shannon O’Neil arrived in Lookout, Texas as mail-order brides—ordered by a mischievous pair of brothers for their cousin, who didn’t want to marry either woman!
With all of the initial mayhem behind them, and the reluctant groom married off to Rachel, the love of his life, Leah and Shannon find themselves stuck in Texas without a husband, home, family, or job. Neither woman has better options anywhere else, so they stay, each of them hoping and praying for a miracle.
Shannon finds herself employed by the very brothers who turned her life upside down. Worse, she’s falling in love with one of them, even though Mark Corbett makes it plain from the first that he’s not looking for matrimony—not ever. By the time her list of marriage proposals reaches a dozen, the pretty Irish lass is determined to get over her handsome, brooding employer and make a life for herself with the next man who asks for her hand—and wealthy ranch owner, Rand Kessler, might just be standing at the right place in line.
Leah has no employment prospects, and the marital possibilities aren’t too encouraging either. She’s attracted to the livery owner, Dan Howard, but he’s not exactly her idea of acceptable husband material. Besides, how is a girl to let a man know she’s interested without being bold? And what man of her generation is going to marry a woman who absolutely, positively, without a single doubt…does not want children?
When Garrett Corbett comes up with a plan to get some wedding bells tolling in the small Texas town, most folks fear it’ll be another fiasco that won’t end well. But God has other plans, and the unexpected scheme could just turn out to be a real second chance for Lookout’s boardinghouse brides.
Vickie McDonough’s fast-paced storylines, lively scenes, and laugh-out-loud humor make for an interesting, fun read that’s impossible to put down. Her well-rounded characters become friends that one looks forward to encountering again in the next trip to Lookout, from the heroines and their strong, stubborn frontiersmen right down to Jack, the pig-tailed tomboy introduced in The Anonymous Bride. I loved that introduction to the Texas Boardinghouse Brides series, and this second installment does not disappoint. Second Chance Brides is faith-filled fiction at its best.
With all of the initial mayhem behind them, and the reluctant groom married off to Rachel, the love of his life, Leah and Shannon find themselves stuck in Texas without a husband, home, family, or job. Neither woman has better options anywhere else, so they stay, each of them hoping and praying for a miracle.
Shannon finds herself employed by the very brothers who turned her life upside down. Worse, she’s falling in love with one of them, even though Mark Corbett makes it plain from the first that he’s not looking for matrimony—not ever. By the time her list of marriage proposals reaches a dozen, the pretty Irish lass is determined to get over her handsome, brooding employer and make a life for herself with the next man who asks for her hand—and wealthy ranch owner, Rand Kessler, might just be standing at the right place in line.
Leah has no employment prospects, and the marital possibilities aren’t too encouraging either. She’s attracted to the livery owner, Dan Howard, but he’s not exactly her idea of acceptable husband material. Besides, how is a girl to let a man know she’s interested without being bold? And what man of her generation is going to marry a woman who absolutely, positively, without a single doubt…does not want children?
When Garrett Corbett comes up with a plan to get some wedding bells tolling in the small Texas town, most folks fear it’ll be another fiasco that won’t end well. But God has other plans, and the unexpected scheme could just turn out to be a real second chance for Lookout’s boardinghouse brides.
Vickie McDonough’s fast-paced storylines, lively scenes, and laugh-out-loud humor make for an interesting, fun read that’s impossible to put down. Her well-rounded characters become friends that one looks forward to encountering again in the next trip to Lookout, from the heroines and their strong, stubborn frontiersmen right down to Jack, the pig-tailed tomboy introduced in The Anonymous Bride. I loved that introduction to the Texas Boardinghouse Brides series, and this second installment does not disappoint. Second Chance Brides is faith-filled fiction at its best.
November 8, 2010
Second Chance Brides is the second in the series of Boardinghouse Brides by Vickie McDonough. In book one, widow Rachel must compete with three mail-order brides for the heart of her former heartthrob, Luke Davis. At the end of book one, two women are left displaced from their home and still single, must make a life for themselves in a strange land. Book two is how these two boardinghosue brides find true love.
Shannon O'Neil is injured when a twister sweeps through town during Rachel and Luke's wedding. She is saved by one of the rowdy brothers who brought her to Lookout, Texas to begin with--Mark Corbett. Mark sustains injuries, himself, which impair his ability to keep books for his business. Will time with the Irish lass breed contempt in his conflicted heart, or will Mark find himself falling for her shy, unassuming ways?
Leah Bennett catches the eye of tall, strong and handsome liveryman Dan Howard. She can't deny the atttraction is mutual, but should she hold out for a man with more to offer than a livery owner? And as the oldest sister of eleven children, she longs to find a man who would allow her a childless marriage. Is Dan that understanding?
As these two romance plots keep the pages turning, a tertiary plot with Rachel's daughter Jack and her dilemma with Butch Laird add a subterfuge. Butch is the town bully, or so most believe him to be, but is there more beneath the surface? Jack must do some soul searching to uncover the guilt in her own heart.
Despite the many threads weaving at once, the overall pace brought me on a leisurely read until the final third of the book, where all of the stories harmonized and came to a compelling crescendo. McDonough keeps the reader guessing who will get which girl right to the end, and did a great job making me fall in love with all of the characters, both major and minor. This double romance had many charming and poignant moments, and is sure to put lookout Texas on the map as one of the most love-struck towns in historical fiction.
Shannon O'Neil is injured when a twister sweeps through town during Rachel and Luke's wedding. She is saved by one of the rowdy brothers who brought her to Lookout, Texas to begin with--Mark Corbett. Mark sustains injuries, himself, which impair his ability to keep books for his business. Will time with the Irish lass breed contempt in his conflicted heart, or will Mark find himself falling for her shy, unassuming ways?
Leah Bennett catches the eye of tall, strong and handsome liveryman Dan Howard. She can't deny the atttraction is mutual, but should she hold out for a man with more to offer than a livery owner? And as the oldest sister of eleven children, she longs to find a man who would allow her a childless marriage. Is Dan that understanding?
As these two romance plots keep the pages turning, a tertiary plot with Rachel's daughter Jack and her dilemma with Butch Laird add a subterfuge. Butch is the town bully, or so most believe him to be, but is there more beneath the surface? Jack must do some soul searching to uncover the guilt in her own heart.
Despite the many threads weaving at once, the overall pace brought me on a leisurely read until the final third of the book, where all of the stories harmonized and came to a compelling crescendo. McDonough keeps the reader guessing who will get which girl right to the end, and did a great job making me fall in love with all of the characters, both major and minor. This double romance had many charming and poignant moments, and is sure to put lookout Texas on the map as one of the most love-struck towns in historical fiction.
July 8, 2015
I was thankful and glad to receive a review copy of Second Chance Brides, it’s the sequel to The Anonymous Bride, which I really enjoyed. Second Chance Brides starts with a wedding the whole town is cheering about and so is the reader. The mail-order brides, Shannon and Leah, who are introduced in the first book, are witnessing the marriage of a man they were meant to marry. The whole reason they came out to Texas was to marry this God-fearing Marshall, but now they’re forced to find work and support themselves or return home. The Corbett brothers are responsible for this mess and feel bad that they brought these ladies here under false pretenses. They want to help them in some way...but how?
This sequel was just as much fun to read as the first book with all of the same characters I enjoyed -- the Marshall and Rachel, along with their daughter, Jack; Shannon and Leah, who are back in a big way and struggling with where to work and whether to persue marriage. They both want to marry for love. Oh, there were lots of offers from men to marry them - to be a live-in cook and maid, but both wanted more from their lives. But would they get it?
Thanks Vicki, for a fun look at life in Texas when the land was young, times were tough and life was very different. I appreciated the authors’ spiritual thread and humor. This is a book I devoured and had so much fun reading. You’ll enjoy Vicki’s fun and memorable characters, along with a story that kept me entertained and thankful I live in this time period.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
This sequel was just as much fun to read as the first book with all of the same characters I enjoyed -- the Marshall and Rachel, along with their daughter, Jack; Shannon and Leah, who are back in a big way and struggling with where to work and whether to persue marriage. They both want to marry for love. Oh, there were lots of offers from men to marry them - to be a live-in cook and maid, but both wanted more from their lives. But would they get it?
Thanks Vicki, for a fun look at life in Texas when the land was young, times were tough and life was very different. I appreciated the authors’ spiritual thread and humor. This is a book I devoured and had so much fun reading. You’ll enjoy Vicki’s fun and memorable characters, along with a story that kept me entertained and thankful I live in this time period.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
October 30, 2010
Vickie McDonough
2010
Barbour Publishing
Fiction/Christian/Romance
Reviewed by Cindy Loven
What a situation. A wedding, a tornado during the reception, and two single women who were brought to the small Texas town of Lookout Texas, with no idea of how they will live or what they will do.
Brought to the town under false pretenses by the Corbett brothers as a joke on their cousin Luke, Shannon O'Neil and Leah Bennett find themselves to be the center of nearly all the male attention in town. Now that the truth has come out that the Corbett brothers were only playing a trick on their cousin, and that cousin has married his childhood sweetheart, the two ladies are stranded in a town with no family, no jobs and are being supported by the two men. It is all proper, they are staying in a boarding house and the Corbett brothers are paying their room and board until they know what they are going to do, since it was their fault the ladies were even in town.
Shannon and Leah, love the little town of Lookout, and the people and Shannon has no family left to return to, and Leah has too much family, and a daddy who would sell her off to the highest bidder as a bride, they neither have a desire to leave the little town, but how will they survive, and what will they do in such a small town to make a living?
They both find themselves falling for local men, but will this be the answer to their troubles, will marriage be the answer?
A wonderfully written book, easy to read, and quick moving you will laugh at the antics of the Corbett brothers, you will cry in dismay with Shannon and Leah as their situations look dire. A great story, for a nice afternoon of reading. 319 pages $12.99 US 4 stars
This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.
Learn more about the author Vickie McDonough at her website.
2010
Barbour Publishing
Fiction/Christian/Romance
Reviewed by Cindy Loven
What a situation. A wedding, a tornado during the reception, and two single women who were brought to the small Texas town of Lookout Texas, with no idea of how they will live or what they will do.
Brought to the town under false pretenses by the Corbett brothers as a joke on their cousin Luke, Shannon O'Neil and Leah Bennett find themselves to be the center of nearly all the male attention in town. Now that the truth has come out that the Corbett brothers were only playing a trick on their cousin, and that cousin has married his childhood sweetheart, the two ladies are stranded in a town with no family, no jobs and are being supported by the two men. It is all proper, they are staying in a boarding house and the Corbett brothers are paying their room and board until they know what they are going to do, since it was their fault the ladies were even in town.
Shannon and Leah, love the little town of Lookout, and the people and Shannon has no family left to return to, and Leah has too much family, and a daddy who would sell her off to the highest bidder as a bride, they neither have a desire to leave the little town, but how will they survive, and what will they do in such a small town to make a living?
They both find themselves falling for local men, but will this be the answer to their troubles, will marriage be the answer?
A wonderfully written book, easy to read, and quick moving you will laugh at the antics of the Corbett brothers, you will cry in dismay with Shannon and Leah as their situations look dire. A great story, for a nice afternoon of reading. 319 pages $12.99 US 4 stars
This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.
Learn more about the author Vickie McDonough at her website.
April 3, 2011
This was another great book by Vickie McDonough. Second in the series of the Texas Boardinghouse Brides!! I loved how the story continued from the first book The Anonymous Bride. Vickie just dived right into to wear that story had left off. This was about the 2 mail-order brides Shannon and Leah that didn't get married in the first book. It's such a sweet story of how they come to find true love!
Second chance brides has all of the most memorable characters from Anonymous Bride that you fell in love with. There is of course the ongoing story of Luke and Rachel and their daughter Jack. Most of the story is revolved around Mark and Garrett Corbett, the two cousins of Luke that had ordered the mail-order-brides and was now paying for their room and board, and the two mail-order brides Shannon and Leah as they find true love. The Corbett brothers begin throwing Socials so that the singles can all get together in their hopes to marry off Shannon and Leah so they don't have to pay for their room and board anymore.
I really enjoyed this story! Vickie has created characters that you just fall in love with right from the start! My favorite character would have to be Mark. Mark struggled with a past that was hard for him to forget and forgive himself for. I loved the way Vickie had him working through the pain of his past to see that God had truly forgiven him and he needed to forgive himself! Very inspirational story filled with humor, love, and God's forgiveness and guidance in our lives! Loved it!
Second chance brides has all of the most memorable characters from Anonymous Bride that you fell in love with. There is of course the ongoing story of Luke and Rachel and their daughter Jack. Most of the story is revolved around Mark and Garrett Corbett, the two cousins of Luke that had ordered the mail-order-brides and was now paying for their room and board, and the two mail-order brides Shannon and Leah as they find true love. The Corbett brothers begin throwing Socials so that the singles can all get together in their hopes to marry off Shannon and Leah so they don't have to pay for their room and board anymore.
I really enjoyed this story! Vickie has created characters that you just fall in love with right from the start! My favorite character would have to be Mark. Mark struggled with a past that was hard for him to forget and forgive himself for. I loved the way Vickie had him working through the pain of his past to see that God had truly forgiven him and he needed to forgive himself! Very inspirational story filled with humor, love, and God's forgiveness and guidance in our lives! Loved it!
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