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I Do, I Do, I Do
A rich, proper spinster aching for a man's touch, Juliette March is an easy target for the seductive Jean Jacques Villette. When he disappears with her inheritance after their wedding, Juliette sets out to find the scoundrel. She never expects to meet Clara Klaus, who ran a boardinghouse until Jean Jacques swept her off her feet, then swept himself out of town.While following the trail of their no-good husband, Clara and Juliette run into Zoe Wilder, another victim of the debonair Jean Jacques. Now Juliette's ready to put a bullet in his cheating heart. When these three vengeful ladies embark on a misbegotten quest to Alaska, things get downright dangerous--especially for the unsuspecting men they entice along the way. . . .From the Paperback edition.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2000
29 people are currently reading
665 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Osborne
30 books512 followersaka
Margaret St. George
Maggie Osborne is the author of I Do, I Do, I Do and Silver Lining, as well as more than forty contemporary and historical romance novels written as Maggie Osborne and Margaret St. George. She has won numerous awards from Romantic Times, Affaire de Coeur, BookraK, the Colorado Romance Writers, and Coeur du Bois, among others. Osborne won the RITA for long historical from the Romance Writers of America in 1998. Maggie lives in a resort town in the Colorado mountains with her husband, one mule, two horses, one cat, and one dog, all of whom are a lot of aggravation, but she loves them anyway.
Margaret St. George
Maggie Osborne is the author of I Do, I Do, I Do and Silver Lining, as well as more than forty contemporary and historical romance novels written as Maggie Osborne and Margaret St. George. She has won numerous awards from Romantic Times, Affaire de Coeur, BookraK, the Colorado Romance Writers, and Coeur du Bois, among others. Osborne won the RITA for long historical from the Romance Writers of America in 1998. Maggie lives in a resort town in the Colorado mountains with her husband, one mule, two horses, one cat, and one dog, all of whom are a lot of aggravation, but she loves them anyway.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
April 24, 2011
4 1/2 stars! A great book!
I can't really call this a western b/c it takes place mostly in Alaska. While not everyone's cuppa tea, I enjoyed this story of three very different women who find they are all married to the same man. It is a story of love and friendship and I found myself laughing out loud repeatedly. Man-oh-man! I was on that Chilkoot Pass with them. I read it through the night and couldn't put it down.
I can't really call this a western b/c it takes place mostly in Alaska. While not everyone's cuppa tea, I enjoyed this story of three very different women who find they are all married to the same man. It is a story of love and friendship and I found myself laughing out loud repeatedly. Man-oh-man! I was on that Chilkoot Pass with them. I read it through the night and couldn't put it down.
February 1, 2023
Wow!! I have to hand it to Maggie Osborne for this great Western Historical Romance! This well developed story was not what I was expecting (not in a bad way) and quite absorbing. The characters were also well developed and you could feel the anger, fear, jealousy and love during their daring journey together. Juliette and Clara won my heart and the arm wrestling scene…. hilarious!! I loved the setting and Osborne did her research of the trails, beaches, tent cities, etc.
By the time the novel came to and end, it was like bidding adieu to a good friend or rather three. 4.5★s!
By the time the novel came to and end, it was like bidding adieu to a good friend or rather three. 4.5★s!
May 9, 2021
5 STARS
I absolutely loved this! As, I have loved all of the other Maggie Osborne books I've read. What a journey, and a delight to read. I loved all of the characters, and the transformations in their relationships... everything really. I thought the ending was a little rushed, but maybe that was just because I didn't want it to end. (even at 2am) I also loved the journey through the wilds of Alaska. The research on this one was extensive. Fantastic. I highly recommend this one.
Only Juliette would pack thank-you cards into the wilderness.
I absolutely loved this! As, I have loved all of the other Maggie Osborne books I've read. What a journey, and a delight to read. I loved all of the characters, and the transformations in their relationships... everything really. I thought the ending was a little rushed, but maybe that was just because I didn't want it to end. (even at 2am) I also loved the journey through the wilds of Alaska. The research on this one was extensive. Fantastic. I highly recommend this one.
February 12, 2012
Three women grow, change, and fall in love, with a cute sweet happy feel good ending.
STORY BRIEF:
Jean married three different women, stayed with each one maybe a few months, borrowed some money from them, and then disappeared. The three women accidentally meet while they are following him. They dislike each other but decide to proceed together. They learn that Jean went to Alaska/Canada to search for gold in the Yukon. The women board a ship to Alaska and spend several months traveling by foot through snow and cold and a mountain to reach Dawson where they hope to find Jean. Zoe has her rifle and plans to kill him. She doesn’t mind if she will hang for it.
Juliette is an heiress from a small town in California. She is trim, prim, and proper. She’s sheltered and not well suited for hiking. Prior to Jean, she believed men only wanted her for her money and she never had a love interest. Clara is a large-boned apple-cheeked German woman who owned an inn. She’s smart, pragmatic, and physically strong. She sold the inn just before her trip to find Jean. Beautiful Zoe grew up in a coal mining town. Her family was large, loving, and poor. She was ashamed of where she came from and wanted to better herself. She moved to Seattle, worked in a store, and then met and married Jean.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This is romance, but it’s not typical romance. I liked it because it is different. I enjoyed the relationship development among the women as well as the love relationships with men. The women start off hating each other but end up forming a close loving bond. They travel through extreme hardships and overcome obstacles which changes them and how they feel about themselves and others. I liked seeing how the women changed.
On this trip, they each meet a man who is perfect for them. The men truly love them and treat them wonderfully. I was a little uncomfortable about the women lying to the men. They didn’t want anyone to know they were all married to Jean, and they promised each other they would keep the secret. So I was uncomfortable when they had sex with their new loves without telling them they were married. I was thinking 3 ½ stars. But the ending was so sweet and happy and made me feel good, that it was easy to round up to 4 stars. And now when I think of this book, I feel good. It’s because of the ending and the change the women went through. You might say the book is better after you’ve finished reading it than while you are reading it.
There were some really cute scenes. For example, when Clara first meets Bear, he calls her a little lady. She melts with pleasure, because no one has ever called her “little.” All six characters are nicely done and engaging. There are a handful of sex scenes. Two of them are very funny, and also loving.
Lisa Kay has a great picture of Chilkoot Pass in Alaska (the mountain the women had to climb). Thank you Lisa. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
DATA:
Story length: 346 pages. Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 5. Total number of sex scene pages: 12. Setting: 1897 mostly Alaska and Canada, but also California, Oregon, and Washington. Copyright: 2000. Genre: western historical romance.
OTHER BOOKS:
I’ve read the following Maggie Osborne books. Dates are copyright dates.
4 stars. The Promise of Jenny Jones 1997
3 stars. A Stranger’s Wife 1999
4 stars. I Do, I Do, I Do
STORY BRIEF:
Jean married three different women, stayed with each one maybe a few months, borrowed some money from them, and then disappeared. The three women accidentally meet while they are following him. They dislike each other but decide to proceed together. They learn that Jean went to Alaska/Canada to search for gold in the Yukon. The women board a ship to Alaska and spend several months traveling by foot through snow and cold and a mountain to reach Dawson where they hope to find Jean. Zoe has her rifle and plans to kill him. She doesn’t mind if she will hang for it.
Juliette is an heiress from a small town in California. She is trim, prim, and proper. She’s sheltered and not well suited for hiking. Prior to Jean, she believed men only wanted her for her money and she never had a love interest. Clara is a large-boned apple-cheeked German woman who owned an inn. She’s smart, pragmatic, and physically strong. She sold the inn just before her trip to find Jean. Beautiful Zoe grew up in a coal mining town. Her family was large, loving, and poor. She was ashamed of where she came from and wanted to better herself. She moved to Seattle, worked in a store, and then met and married Jean.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This is romance, but it’s not typical romance. I liked it because it is different. I enjoyed the relationship development among the women as well as the love relationships with men. The women start off hating each other but end up forming a close loving bond. They travel through extreme hardships and overcome obstacles which changes them and how they feel about themselves and others. I liked seeing how the women changed.
On this trip, they each meet a man who is perfect for them. The men truly love them and treat them wonderfully. I was a little uncomfortable about the women lying to the men. They didn’t want anyone to know they were all married to Jean, and they promised each other they would keep the secret. So I was uncomfortable when they had sex with their new loves without telling them they were married. I was thinking 3 ½ stars. But the ending was so sweet and happy and made me feel good, that it was easy to round up to 4 stars. And now when I think of this book, I feel good. It’s because of the ending and the change the women went through. You might say the book is better after you’ve finished reading it than while you are reading it.
There were some really cute scenes. For example, when Clara first meets Bear, he calls her a little lady. She melts with pleasure, because no one has ever called her “little.” All six characters are nicely done and engaging. There are a handful of sex scenes. Two of them are very funny, and also loving.
Lisa Kay has a great picture of Chilkoot Pass in Alaska (the mountain the women had to climb). Thank you Lisa. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
DATA:
Story length: 346 pages. Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 5. Total number of sex scene pages: 12. Setting: 1897 mostly Alaska and Canada, but also California, Oregon, and Washington. Copyright: 2000. Genre: western historical romance.
OTHER BOOKS:
I’ve read the following Maggie Osborne books. Dates are copyright dates.
4 stars. The Promise of Jenny Jones 1997
3 stars. A Stranger’s Wife 1999
4 stars. I Do, I Do, I Do
July 29, 2016
4 1/2
Oh God. I didn't think I could laugh this much while melting too. I ended up giggling like an idiot in bed. And I do not giggle. Ever. But I was trying so much to smother my laughs that I ended up sounding like a teen. My partner was ogling me in the most peculiar way. Can't really blame the guy.
Like in all romance, above all in historical, you really have to leave your plot-accuracy nazi at the door. But hell, do it and enjoy this romp.
Oh God. I didn't think I could laugh this much while melting too. I ended up giggling like an idiot in bed. And I do not giggle. Ever. But I was trying so much to smother my laughs that I ended up sounding like a teen. My partner was ogling me in the most peculiar way. Can't really blame the guy.
Like in all romance, above all in historical, you really have to leave your plot-accuracy nazi at the door. But hell, do it and enjoy this romp.
November 2, 2016
Excellent book! You get 3 stories in one book! ;)
I loved how the main characters have grown up and changed! At the beginning each one had some problems, were they inner or not. But at the end each one has found her way! Wonderful!
The book is so easy to read, so apparntly light, but through this lightness it makes you think and it makes you question some choices and some reasoning.
I just loved it!
I loved how the main characters have grown up and changed! At the beginning each one had some problems, were they inner or not. But at the end each one has found her way! Wonderful!
The book is so easy to read, so apparntly light, but through this lightness it makes you think and it makes you question some choices and some reasoning.
I just loved it!
June 25, 2017
A fun light romp. Definitely my favorite by this author!
January 15, 2018
4/5
I think I have a thing about endings lol. I'm a bit miffed at the cheesy 'I do' ending. But its totally totally worth the read otherwise!
The story starts off with 3 women discovering they are married to the same man, Jean Jacques Villete, who has run off with a sizable portion of money from each.
Staid ladylike Juliette, heiress full of proprietary would like to ask him WHY, resourceful German innkeeper Clara, wants her money back and beautiful coalminers daughter Zoe, shaking off her working class roots, just wants to shoot him. Though at first sight they hate each other, they decide together to follow him by boat to the gold rush in Yukon.
Fairly hilarious, this story follows the harsh journey of three women on boat, then over a cold mountainous area in close quarters of each other. They couldn't be any more different if they tried and its not an instantaneous journey of friendship, I can tell you that. But they stick together and surprise each other with their different strengths. I couldn't decide whom I liked the most because each had funny interesting qualities.
There was also romance on the road and also guilt of the fact they were married. I don't know what to think about this angle, I have conflicted feelings about it. On one hand I am completely against cheating, on the other hand these women were wronged. I still am against it by principle, but it was written in such a way that it wasn't crass, and their men did get angry when they found the truth. And each of the women deserved a good man.#
There was a question of whether their marriage to this womanising bigamist was really valid, but they had conflicting feelings and they all felt it was wrong to enter a relationship with their guys. I think they should have told the truth but given their circumstances, the way it all played out was understandable.
The story is set in the early settlement times and there are far more restrictions on the women, but when they are well into their journey they have a lot more freedom. I enjoyed reading about how each woman dealt with the hardship, it was realistic and also inspiring. The romances were realistic enough and also some hilarious moments. The development of their friendship was the best because it happened so gradually they just became family to each other.
It was quite funny to read what happened in the end when they finally came to face the man they were after. Which is why the ending pissed me off because
A star taken off for the ending which was a bit too cheesy, and slightly abrupt
I think I have a thing about endings lol. I'm a bit miffed at the cheesy 'I do' ending. But its totally totally worth the read otherwise!
The story starts off with 3 women discovering they are married to the same man, Jean Jacques Villete, who has run off with a sizable portion of money from each.
Staid ladylike Juliette, heiress full of proprietary would like to ask him WHY, resourceful German innkeeper Clara, wants her money back and beautiful coalminers daughter Zoe, shaking off her working class roots, just wants to shoot him. Though at first sight they hate each other, they decide together to follow him by boat to the gold rush in Yukon.
Fairly hilarious, this story follows the harsh journey of three women on boat, then over a cold mountainous area in close quarters of each other. They couldn't be any more different if they tried and its not an instantaneous journey of friendship, I can tell you that. But they stick together and surprise each other with their different strengths. I couldn't decide whom I liked the most because each had funny interesting qualities.
There was also romance on the road and also guilt of the fact they were married. I don't know what to think about this angle, I have conflicted feelings about it. On one hand I am completely against cheating, on the other hand these women were wronged. I still am against it by principle, but it was written in such a way that it wasn't crass, and their men did get angry when they found the truth. And each of the women deserved a good man.#
There was a question of whether their marriage to this womanising bigamist was really valid, but they had conflicting feelings and they all felt it was wrong to enter a relationship with their guys. I think they should have told the truth but given their circumstances, the way it all played out was understandable.
The story is set in the early settlement times and there are far more restrictions on the women, but when they are well into their journey they have a lot more freedom. I enjoyed reading about how each woman dealt with the hardship, it was realistic and also inspiring. The romances were realistic enough and also some hilarious moments. The development of their friendship was the best because it happened so gradually they just became family to each other.
It was quite funny to read what happened in the end when they finally came to face the man they were after. Which is why the ending pissed me off because
A star taken off for the ending which was a bit too cheesy, and slightly abrupt
May 2, 2011
I wasn't sure I would like a book with 3 h's and 3H's. I just sounded like too much to follow and get to know the characters. Surprisingly, I LOVED it! Juliette, Clara and Zoe were awesome characters. I will admit that my favorite h was Clara. The arm wrestling scene and "taking down the house" had me laughing with tears running down my face. And Bear.. aww he was something else! Very different setting and story from the usual romance routine and that was a nice treat. Unfortunately, this was a library copy and I have to return it. I am going to have to track down my own copy for this is a definite reread!
August 19, 2016
Closer to 2.5 stars.
Let me start by saying that I usually steer clear of any romance that involves bigamy. I DO, I DO, I DO was an exception. I read it years ago and I thought I would see if it was still as good as I remembered.
Jean Jacques Villette was lower than slime. He married three needy women in less than one year's time and, on each occasion, rode away with their monies but gave each one a promise to return. Simply put, he was a con man.
Different as night is to day, Juliette was a genteel, slim but proper lady who surrendered her inheritance before Jean Jacques took off. Clara was a redheaded innkeeper of German stock; she was politely referred to as big-boned with plenty of ample areas to love. She sold her inn to help Jean Jacques, with the promise to meet up with him later. Zoe was slim was black luxurious hair. Poor most of her life, she had recently been rewarded for saving someone. After Jean Jacques married her, she loaned him the reward money before he traveled on looking for gold. After all, he said he was rich; he was just in dire straits at the moment. In all of the instances, he made a promise to see each one again.
Juliette initially takes off to find her husband when she comes upon Clara. The two eventually meet Zoe when they head north. Once they discovered what had happened, they are determined to find him and make him pay. And in more ways than one. At times, both goofy and stupid-funny, they manage to get on each others' nerves. Ms. Osborne's hokey writing style reminded me of reading something by Pamela Morsi.
While in their pursuit, they each meet an interesting man. The women know they are not truly married but they are not free either. Pressed for money, Clara does something that brings on the laughs. She is the earthiest of the three. And at some point, the idea of what Jean Jacques did to them fell to the background. The story takes on the issue of change; because each lady makes the other a better person.
Everything is neatly taken care of by the time the story ends. I am glad I had the opportunity to reread this story. Is it as good as I previously thought? No, but I enjoyed the fun ride to the past while it lasted.
Let me start by saying that I usually steer clear of any romance that involves bigamy. I DO, I DO, I DO was an exception. I read it years ago and I thought I would see if it was still as good as I remembered.
Jean Jacques Villette was lower than slime. He married three needy women in less than one year's time and, on each occasion, rode away with their monies but gave each one a promise to return. Simply put, he was a con man.
Different as night is to day, Juliette was a genteel, slim but proper lady who surrendered her inheritance before Jean Jacques took off. Clara was a redheaded innkeeper of German stock; she was politely referred to as big-boned with plenty of ample areas to love. She sold her inn to help Jean Jacques, with the promise to meet up with him later. Zoe was slim was black luxurious hair. Poor most of her life, she had recently been rewarded for saving someone. After Jean Jacques married her, she loaned him the reward money before he traveled on looking for gold. After all, he said he was rich; he was just in dire straits at the moment. In all of the instances, he made a promise to see each one again.
Juliette initially takes off to find her husband when she comes upon Clara. The two eventually meet Zoe when they head north. Once they discovered what had happened, they are determined to find him and make him pay. And in more ways than one. At times, both goofy and stupid-funny, they manage to get on each others' nerves. Ms. Osborne's hokey writing style reminded me of reading something by Pamela Morsi.
While in their pursuit, they each meet an interesting man. The women know they are not truly married but they are not free either. Pressed for money, Clara does something that brings on the laughs. She is the earthiest of the three. And at some point, the idea of what Jean Jacques did to them fell to the background. The story takes on the issue of change; because each lady makes the other a better person.
Everything is neatly taken care of by the time the story ends. I am glad I had the opportunity to reread this story. Is it as good as I previously thought? No, but I enjoyed the fun ride to the past while it lasted.
May 24, 2023
Что же, это было временами довольно тупо, но все равно очень весело!
November 7, 2023
Three women find themselves abandoned by their husbands. Or, rather, husband - for he married each of them in turn and stole their money. Now they are on the hunt for him.
This was a fun, quick read about a trio of disparate women. Though each woman has her own romance, what I most enjoyed about this book was the way the women became best friends, and how each of them recognized the flaws within themselves and grew as people on their journey through Alaska. There was also lots of humor.
However, I wish the romances were more developed - the culmination of two of the three were more farcical than romantic. I also wished the end of the book weren't so sudden. I would have liked to know where Juliette, Clara, and Zoe ended up.
This was a fun, quick read about a trio of disparate women. Though each woman has her own romance, what I most enjoyed about this book was the way the women became best friends, and how each of them recognized the flaws within themselves and grew as people on their journey through Alaska. There was also lots of humor.
However, I wish the romances were more developed - the culmination of two of the three were more farcical than romantic. I also wished the end of the book weren't so sudden. I would have liked to know where Juliette, Clara, and Zoe ended up.
May 1, 2017
Three women, Juliette, Clara and Zoe, embark on a journey to locate their husband. Yes, they are all married to the same smooth-talking con man. Along the way they each meet men that are giving them second thoughts on the subject of love. This is more than just a romance, it is three romances. This was more than just three women on a journey to shoot the three timing scoundrel. It was a journey of self discovery and growth. Of reaching one's endurance and going just a little further. A vivid look at the hardships faced during the gold rush in Alaska. But not too dark and dreary.
March 5, 2016
3,5 stars. Not as good as the other two but still a nice read about three very different ladies who come together all thanks to a libertine lol Good stuff! ;)
January 30, 2018
A delightful read! This book has a clever and unusual setup: three different women marry the same guy who takes money and disappears. When Woman #1 goes off to find him she meets #2 and then they discover #3. All three decide to follow the guy to Alaska during the gold rush. At first the three girls hate each other, but the challenges of Alaska cause them to change and grow. When each girl meets a terrific new guy what should they do? Are they really married?
There was a great deal of humor and friendship in this story. It was a bit steamy, without being overly sexual. A different kind of book that tickled my funny bone.
There was a great deal of humor and friendship in this story. It was a bit steamy, without being overly sexual. A different kind of book that tickled my funny bone.
August 8, 2022
Three very different women discover they’re married to the same man and journey to Alaska (during the Klondike Gold Rush) to find him and hold him to account. This low angst book had it all - humor, adventure, and three romances.
April 24, 2011
Juliette March a wealthy heiress from California, Clara Klaus a resourceful innkeeper from Oregon, and Zoe Wilder a young beauty from a poor working class mining community in Washington can't be more different from one another. And yet they all have one thing in common. They are all married to the same man.
Following the trail of the husband who disappeared from her life (with a tidy sum of her money in his pocket), Juliette finds Clara and Zoe. All three women realize their circumstance when they each recognize the identical 'one-of-a-kind' family heirloom wedding ring they are each wearing.
At first the women are equal parts jealous and mistrusting of each other. But then they ally to find the cheating, bigamist and to get answers. Their erstwhile husband, the sexy Frenchman Jean-Jacques Villette, eludes them further when they discover that he is headed to the Yukon in Alaska to strike gold.
Despite the warnings of the hardships they will need to face, this does not deter the women out to catch their man. They pool their resources and outfit themselves for the grueling journey up North.
I feel like a broken record, but really Maggie Osborne's western romances are just a fun revelation for me. This one is yet another check in the win column. Each of the three women are very distinct in looks and temperament. Juliette is a sheltered, refined overly proper woman. She was a spinster when she married and despaired of ever marrying at all. Clara is a big-boned, apple cheeked woman with a deep laugh with a sharp mind and a pragmatic outlook. Zoe is a stunning beauty, very young and desperately ashamed of her poor background. At one point Juliette puzzles over their differences and wonders what this says about their missing husband and what he was really looking for in a wife.
As they squabbled over him in the beginning, trying to claim which one might be the 'real' wife, I couldn't help but wonder why none of them considered that they might not be the only three women he'd done this to? I also wondered why none of them, all very smart women in very different ways, didn't consider consulting an attorney? But MO, answers these questions in the course of the story as each of the women slowly comes to terms with their relationship not just with the absent Mr. Vilette but with each other.
Like in Brides of Prairie Gold, MO does a bang up job of detailing the arduousness of the journey the women make as they trek through Alaska, from the tumultuous crossing from Seattle by boat and then up the Chilkoot pass. According to quesconnect.org:
The book includes all of this and more in great detail. It could have been tedious to read but it really wasn't it was fascinating and actually made me go and read a little bit more about the Alaska gold rush, a subject I've had zero interest in before.
Additionally the women each meet a man who arouse in her romantic feelings (and guilt). Each one feels she is really married and thus feels incredible guilt in wanting to connect with another man. Here I felt their reluctance to come clean with their respective romantic interests was a bit of a plot contrivance. But it made for a good emotional reveal when everything finally does come out in the open.
I have to admit I was incredibly curious to finally meet the elusive Mr. Vilette. Is he really a money stealing cad? is there more to him? Are there more wives? In the end, I actually enjoyed how the author finally handled the mysterious Mr. Villette and the resolution of the various romances.
Great book, nice meaty read filled with intelligent characters and great moments of humor. Recommend!
Following the trail of the husband who disappeared from her life (with a tidy sum of her money in his pocket), Juliette finds Clara and Zoe. All three women realize their circumstance when they each recognize the identical 'one-of-a-kind' family heirloom wedding ring they are each wearing.
At first the women are equal parts jealous and mistrusting of each other. But then they ally to find the cheating, bigamist and to get answers. Their erstwhile husband, the sexy Frenchman Jean-Jacques Villette, eludes them further when they discover that he is headed to the Yukon in Alaska to strike gold.
Despite the warnings of the hardships they will need to face, this does not deter the women out to catch their man. They pool their resources and outfit themselves for the grueling journey up North.
I feel like a broken record, but really Maggie Osborne's western romances are just a fun revelation for me. This one is yet another check in the win column. Each of the three women are very distinct in looks and temperament. Juliette is a sheltered, refined overly proper woman. She was a spinster when she married and despaired of ever marrying at all. Clara is a big-boned, apple cheeked woman with a deep laugh with a sharp mind and a pragmatic outlook. Zoe is a stunning beauty, very young and desperately ashamed of her poor background. At one point Juliette puzzles over their differences and wonders what this says about their missing husband and what he was really looking for in a wife.
As they squabbled over him in the beginning, trying to claim which one might be the 'real' wife, I couldn't help but wonder why none of them considered that they might not be the only three women he'd done this to? I also wondered why none of them, all very smart women in very different ways, didn't consider consulting an attorney? But MO, answers these questions in the course of the story as each of the women slowly comes to terms with their relationship not just with the absent Mr. Vilette but with each other.
Like in Brides of Prairie Gold, MO does a bang up job of detailing the arduousness of the journey the women make as they trek through Alaska, from the tumultuous crossing from Seattle by boat and then up the Chilkoot pass. According to quesconnect.org:
"The Chilkoot Pass trail was steep and hazardous. Rising 1,000 feet in the last ½ mile, it was known as the "golden staircase": 1,500 steps carved out of snow and ice worked their way to the top of the pass. Too steep for packhorses, stampeders had to "cache" their goods, moving their equipment piecemeal up the mountain."
The book includes all of this and more in great detail. It could have been tedious to read but it really wasn't it was fascinating and actually made me go and read a little bit more about the Alaska gold rush, a subject I've had zero interest in before.
Additionally the women each meet a man who arouse in her romantic feelings (and guilt). Each one feels she is really married and thus feels incredible guilt in wanting to connect with another man. Here I felt their reluctance to come clean with their respective romantic interests was a bit of a plot contrivance. But it made for a good emotional reveal when everything finally does come out in the open.
I have to admit I was incredibly curious to finally meet the elusive Mr. Vilette. Is he really a money stealing cad? is there more to him? Are there more wives? In the end, I actually enjoyed how the author finally handled the mysterious Mr. Villette and the resolution of the various romances.
Great book, nice meaty read filled with intelligent characters and great moments of humor. Recommend!
August 15, 2015
Spinster Juliette March was warned by her aunt not to marry Jean Jacques Villette. Now he has taken off with her inheritance and she is hot on his trail. But what she finds is Mrs. Villette number two, Clara Klaus, a woman who ran a boardinghouse until her husband talked her into selling it and giving him the money. Juliette and Clara hate each other on sight, but grudgingly team together to travel to Seattle to find their no-good husband. But on arriving in Seattle, they find Zoe Wilder, Jean Jacques latest wife. When Zoe learns that she isn't the only Mrs. Villette, she vows revenge. As the three bickering women embark on a journey through the Yukon Territory and the Alaskan Wilderness, they grow to depend on each other for their well-being and possibly their lives.
Maggie Osborne is one of my favorite historical romance authors. She knows how to write well-rounded characters. Each woman has a reason for marrying Jean Jacques, a reason for breaking out of their old lives and discovering themselves along the way. Of course, this being a romance, they each meet men along the trail and fall in love. It's only a little bit of a problem that they're already married.
I enjoyed this book and absolutely loved the unique setting. I can't imagine camping in freezing temperatures for six months or hiking up a mountain carrying my possession on my back. I wouldn't have lasted a week. The romances are satisfying though predictable. But there was a love scene in this story that was utterly hilarious. My rating: 4 Stars.
Maggie Osborne is one of my favorite historical romance authors. She knows how to write well-rounded characters. Each woman has a reason for marrying Jean Jacques, a reason for breaking out of their old lives and discovering themselves along the way. Of course, this being a romance, they each meet men along the trail and fall in love. It's only a little bit of a problem that they're already married.
I enjoyed this book and absolutely loved the unique setting. I can't imagine camping in freezing temperatures for six months or hiking up a mountain carrying my possession on my back. I wouldn't have lasted a week. The romances are satisfying though predictable. But there was a love scene in this story that was utterly hilarious. My rating: 4 Stars.
May 20, 2012
Three very different women marry the same man at different cities. Following his husband Juliette finds Clara, his second wife, and both of them will find Julie, her third wife. Juliette is this starch class lady, Clara this bold German woman, former owner of a boarding house, and Julie a beautiful blue-collar woman who wants to be a lady, ashamed of her mining roots, and who, like Clara, know what to do to survive. The three of them have different motivations to find their common husband: explanations, money and revenge. The pursuit of their husband brings them to Alaska, sometimes under conditions of extreme hardship.
This book is a joy. You will enjoy three different characters three different women, and see how they change for the better (well, all except Clara who, form the beginning, is a prize). It’s also an hilarious book. I also liked to see three different kinds of beauty.
The only weak point is that, at some point, the romance changes to comedy (.e.g. sex scene between Clara and Bear). It would have worked better for me without the exaggeration.
Do not miss Lisa Kay’s pick from Chilkoot Pass in Alaska http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....
This book is a joy. You will enjoy three different characters three different women, and see how they change for the better (well, all except Clara who, form the beginning, is a prize). It’s also an hilarious book. I also liked to see three different kinds of beauty.
The only weak point is that, at some point, the romance changes to comedy (.e.g. sex scene between Clara and Bear). It would have worked better for me without the exaggeration.
Do not miss Lisa Kay’s pick from Chilkoot Pass in Alaska http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....
September 29, 2009
I read this historical romance for reader's advisory project for work, and I have to say it's the only romance book I've really liked. Part of the reason may be that it reads much more like fiction than romance, and most of it is focused on revenge rather than love. Here's the plot: three women discover they are all married to and have been abandoned by the same man. They band together and travel to the Yukon during the gold rush to find their husband and kill him. During their journey they meet three men who are much better suited to them than their no-good husband. You can guess the rest. The characters were spunky and very likable, and the plot had enough adventure and realistic details about the difficulties of traveling in the Yukon that you could get a sense of the danger involved. The concerns of these women seemed genuine and the three men they met were persistent, enterprising, and a lot of fun.
February 16, 2008
The perfect romance. Three women discover they married the same man and set out to find him. In the process they find each other. Each struggles through her own difficulties and in the end discovers love.
August 8, 2024
Maggie Osborne, my queen. Of the 3 books I've read by her, this one is not at the very top of my list - it took a liiiittle too long for the ladies to become friends, and I found Juliette to be a deeply annoying character - but damn if it wasn't still a wonderfully fun read.
October 20, 2022
This was interesting for the historical elements and descriptions of the Klondike gold rush. I liked the progression of the friendship between the three women. The romances were just so so. The ending was rushed but it was enjoyable over all.
Read
November 20, 2022DNF
Three woman married to the same scoundrel search for him in the wilderness of Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush. I'm not interested.
Three woman married to the same scoundrel search for him in the wilderness of Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush. I'm not interested.
January 31, 2011
4 Stars Historical Romance
This story is certainly different from the rest of the books by Ms. Osborne I have read. Featuring 3 heroes and 3 heroines, at first I was in the mind that this story would not work out with the constant juggle between the characters. But I should have trusted Ms. Osborne to use the charm she so effortlessly wields to captivate us on a journey that surely did not give me even a minute to be bored.
Full review which contains spoilers: http://bit.ly/brWDd4
This story is certainly different from the rest of the books by Ms. Osborne I have read. Featuring 3 heroes and 3 heroines, at first I was in the mind that this story would not work out with the constant juggle between the characters. But I should have trusted Ms. Osborne to use the charm she so effortlessly wields to captivate us on a journey that surely did not give me even a minute to be bored.
Full review which contains spoilers: http://bit.ly/brWDd4
January 17, 2015
This book is hot and cold for me. I loved the three main characters and the growth they each went thru. I loved the romance. I really enjoyed reading about their trek thru the Yukon.
I wasn't as happy with the pace of the story. It took a while to get going and the ending felt pretty abrupt. I didn't care for all the rationalization in their dialogue and advice to each other regarding their sexual relationships with their men. All their talk of being modern women felt a little too year 2000.
I wasn't as happy with the pace of the story. It took a while to get going and the ending felt pretty abrupt. I didn't care for all the rationalization in their dialogue and advice to each other regarding their sexual relationships with their men. All their talk of being modern women felt a little too year 2000.
April 24, 2014
3.5 ★ I wasn't sure what to make of this book as I started reading it - the story of 3 women who married the same man and all decide to go looking for him in the Alaskan gold fields. But as their characters were slowly revealed and as they experienced all the difficulties of traveling to Alaska, I became totally engrossed in the story. Towards the end it got a little hokey, but other than that a delightfully different historical romance.
April 3, 2019
Precioso de principio a fin; divertido, diferente... tres parejas a cual más interesante y entretenida. Qué descubrimiento! no veo el momento de leerlo everything de Osborne! con razón hacen ese vino tan rico: son unos genios!
Second time I've read it and it's as great as i remembered. What a fantastic dialogues and characters.
Second time I've read it and it's as great as i remembered. What a fantastic dialogues and characters.
January 12, 2011
I enjoyed this book a lot. I have to say, I really got sick of the phrase "spit-baths". It's just gross! And I don't read romance to be grossed out.
That being said, not many authors could handle three romances in one novel, but this one did it well.
That being said, not many authors could handle three romances in one novel, but this one did it well.
June 11, 2017
4.75
coz Ben n Juliett
still loved d story n d 3 couples..
its just dataam a bit touchy about second loves..
still it ws handled well here..oly Ben's dialogue about scandal ws stupid..idiotic..dint lyk it..otherwise it ws a gud buk..a very gud buk..
coz Ben n Juliett
still loved d story n d 3 couples..
its just dataam a bit touchy about second loves..
still it ws handled well here..oly Ben's dialogue about scandal ws stupid..idiotic..dint lyk it..otherwise it ws a gud buk..a very gud buk..
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