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Brides of Beckham #3
Mail Order Madness
Susan cannot stand living with her eleven younger siblings for another minute, so she answers an advertisement for a mail order bride, carefully choosing a man who has never married and has no children so she won’t be plagued with other people’s ill-behaved offspring. When she arrives in Fort Worth, she finds out her fiancé has been killed, and his older brother is offering to take his place. The only problem is his brother is a widower with four young boys. Dare she do it?
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 8, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
January 6, 2019
Mail Order Madness is book 3 in the Brides of Beckham series and yet another enjoyable read. Susan is one of 12 kids, her parents were really hard on her and the three children born after her but by the time they had the last eight they were know around town as the demon horde. She's tired of caring for her out of control siblings and working in child care that she becomes a Mail Order Bride. When Susan goes to Texas to marry Jesse she meets his older brother David who informs her that Jesse was killed several weeks earlier. Left with no other option she accepts David's proposal for marriage. Unfortunately David fails to tell her he has four sons who are heathens. What I had so much fun with was the fact that David's sons were such trouble makers but he paid them to behave so he'd get a wife. When Susan finds out she is definitely not happy. I loved David and the boys and while I understood why Susan was so tough she was definitely rough around the edges. I look forward to more books in this series.
July 28, 2013
I was disappointed in this book. I didn't like the main character. She was too bossy and the husband was a wimp. It's hard to believe a 18 year old mail order bride would act that way and the rancher would let her get away with it. If the characters in a book are not believable or don't fit the time they are living in I am not going to like the book.
June 27, 2018
Something kept me from giving this 4 stars
Warning: the comments below may be considered spoilers by some.
- she is 18 but her words and actions are a decade or more beyond 18.
- suddenly she knows what most of us just WISH we knew.
- the father's easy acquiescence to any punishment except spanking was, well--just too quick & easy.
- her quick adaptation to having a cook/housekeeper and nanny when she had no help at all with her siblings. I was surprised she even knew what a nanny was.
- this book was really a contemporary romance. The comments were more likely to be spoken in a modern setting than in the old West. Or even early 20th century.
Throw in a couple of errors such as Ruby, a minor character, written as ruby...
It's an okay read. And a fast read. I would like to know the back story of Mrs. Long.
Warning: the comments below may be considered spoilers by some.
- she is 18 but her words and actions are a decade or more beyond 18.
- suddenly she knows what most of us just WISH we knew.
- the father's easy acquiescence to any punishment except spanking was, well--just too quick & easy.
- her quick adaptation to having a cook/housekeeper and nanny when she had no help at all with her siblings. I was surprised she even knew what a nanny was.
- this book was really a contemporary romance. The comments were more likely to be spoken in a modern setting than in the old West. Or even early 20th century.
Throw in a couple of errors such as Ruby, a minor character, written as ruby...
It's an okay read. And a fast read. I would like to know the back story of Mrs. Long.
January 2, 2021
Ughh the hero is a total doormat, who was actually afraid of the heroine. She literally walked all over him, kicked him,shoved him etc. I understand authors want to write strong heroines, but they shouldn't do anything they don't want done to them.its just plain ridiculous. She kept trying to kill the enthusiasm of the kids, calling them monsters and calling herself the "supreme ruler". Dang if that didn't remind me of Napoleon or Hitler or some such. While I agree kids should have discipline, the should also be left free to be well, kids, get into trouble, play, have fun. God this woman was a regular Witch. Yuckk.
March 21, 2019
2.75 stars
January 24, 2018
Reviewed at Historically Romantic
Mail Order Madness is full of charm, humor and very boisterous little boys. It was easy to like Susan, she was so determined to not take on the parenting of another group of children only to find herself with four step-children who were nothing like the well-behaved angels she met on the eve of her wedding. Her anger, and almost despair were flowing off the page. It’s a very uncomfortable feeling to be lied to and tricked. She had every right to be angry. I liked David but he often frustrated me in his actions, or non-actions around his boys. It’s not always easy or fun to be the parent, but if you don’t expect respect and obedience from your children then this is what you get… little hellions.
It was fun to watch the changes Susan brought into all of their lives – even if it was, at times, kicking and screaming. I’d enjoy visiting this area again and see if Susan’s promise to one of her new friends comes true… you’ll get it when you read the story.
I had an enjoyable time with Mail Order Madness and would recommend this story to any Western Historical Romance reader who enjoys a lively story, strong willed characters and a good love story.
I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Mail Order Madness is full of charm, humor and very boisterous little boys. It was easy to like Susan, she was so determined to not take on the parenting of another group of children only to find herself with four step-children who were nothing like the well-behaved angels she met on the eve of her wedding. Her anger, and almost despair were flowing off the page. It’s a very uncomfortable feeling to be lied to and tricked. She had every right to be angry. I liked David but he often frustrated me in his actions, or non-actions around his boys. It’s not always easy or fun to be the parent, but if you don’t expect respect and obedience from your children then this is what you get… little hellions.
It was fun to watch the changes Susan brought into all of their lives – even if it was, at times, kicking and screaming. I’d enjoy visiting this area again and see if Susan’s promise to one of her new friends comes true… you’ll get it when you read the story.
I had an enjoyable time with Mail Order Madness and would recommend this story to any Western Historical Romance reader who enjoys a lively story, strong willed characters and a good love story.
I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
March 6, 2019
The first two offerings in this series were readable (not spectacular), but I can't stand this book. The marriage starts with deception and bribing children to behave. The lack of communication goes on from there with regard to how the parents think their children should be disciplined -- spanking or no. Isn't this something they should sit down and talk about? Susan "knows" how everyone feels, and always has to be in control, which combine to make her inappropriately opinionated. The twin boys shouldn't have matching clothes, shy women "do better" when they have outgoing friends, and so on. The book is written so that she always comes out as correct, which makes her difficult to relate to. I just can't imagine an 18-year-old, first-time parent (of kids ages 8, 6, 2, and 2), moving to Texas to marry someone sight unseen who has no doubts about her choices. Blech!
August 5, 2017
Truly touching.
These stories are so touching, they make you think of a Halmark movie. A good story with just a hint of spice to make it not G rated.
These stories are so touching, they make you think of a Halmark movie. A good story with just a hint of spice to make it not G rated.
October 25, 2023
I didn’t really enjoy this book, though I read the whole thing. So I guess it was well written and kept me moderately interested.
The “heroine” was super bossy and came off as a “know it all”. The whole book was her lecturing the kids on how to behave and if they didn’t what the consequences would be. It drove me insane how many times she kept saying she wanted to beat the kids with a switch. I get that that’s how most kids were raised back then, but it’s child abuse and shouldn’t be in a modern day ROMANCE book even though it’s about a historical time period. I want to think of the female heroine as that- a heroine! I want to root for her and I couldn’t stand her! She mentioned she didn’t like this girl, Julie at her wedding reception as she looked like she thought she was superior to everyone else but that is exactly how Susan acts!!! She gives all us Susan’s a bad name!!!
There is no romance in the story. She lectures her husband about how to raise his kids and what a bad job of raising his kids he did after his wife died, giving birth to twins. It was not all his fault, he had nannies, a housekeeper, and a brother to assist him with the kids and no one gave the kids any rules to follow?!
I don’t know why Susan agreed to marry him even though he “deceived her” by paying his older kids a dollar each to behave like angels when they met her. She said from the beginning she didn’t want to marry a man with kids already. She’d had enough of kids for now since she helped raise 12 kids and they were “the demon horde”. When her intended died and she met the brother and found out he had 4 kids, she could have gone back to the matchmaker and have her match her with someone without any kids!
Also, if she was so perfect at raising kids and everything and everyone had to follow her rules then why were her siblings “the demon horde”? Her parents put her in charge while they were at work. She should have done the things she did with her husband’s kids with her siblings and then they would have been well behaved, right?!
I kind of went off on a rant there, sorry. But this is not a romance novel. Sure, she slept with her husband, they kissed, had sex, said they “loved” each other but they never spent any time together, getting to know each other in order to fall in love. The whole book was about her disciplining the kids!
I also found it really disturbing that the “hero” was 28 and she was only 18!!! She is still a kid , literally still a “teen” (eightTEEN). Despite the 10 year age gap which for maybe a 30 year old and 40 year old would be more acceptable, for him to be nearly 30 and she was 18 , I found it really hard to read. I know they married back then like that, but write for today’s audience! I had to pretend in my mind that she was older.
Her previous fiancé, his brother (Jesse), was supposed to be 23. While I still really don’t like that, it was a bit better than 28! However, towards the end of the story, he says that there was only three years between him and his brother, which would have put Jesse at 25! So there was a mistake made by the author with the age of Jesse. I would have found 25 and even 23 hard to read about with an 18 year old….
The “heroine” was super bossy and came off as a “know it all”. The whole book was her lecturing the kids on how to behave and if they didn’t what the consequences would be. It drove me insane how many times she kept saying she wanted to beat the kids with a switch. I get that that’s how most kids were raised back then, but it’s child abuse and shouldn’t be in a modern day ROMANCE book even though it’s about a historical time period. I want to think of the female heroine as that- a heroine! I want to root for her and I couldn’t stand her! She mentioned she didn’t like this girl, Julie at her wedding reception as she looked like she thought she was superior to everyone else but that is exactly how Susan acts!!! She gives all us Susan’s a bad name!!!
There is no romance in the story. She lectures her husband about how to raise his kids and what a bad job of raising his kids he did after his wife died, giving birth to twins. It was not all his fault, he had nannies, a housekeeper, and a brother to assist him with the kids and no one gave the kids any rules to follow?!
I don’t know why Susan agreed to marry him even though he “deceived her” by paying his older kids a dollar each to behave like angels when they met her. She said from the beginning she didn’t want to marry a man with kids already. She’d had enough of kids for now since she helped raise 12 kids and they were “the demon horde”. When her intended died and she met the brother and found out he had 4 kids, she could have gone back to the matchmaker and have her match her with someone without any kids!
Also, if she was so perfect at raising kids and everything and everyone had to follow her rules then why were her siblings “the demon horde”? Her parents put her in charge while they were at work. She should have done the things she did with her husband’s kids with her siblings and then they would have been well behaved, right?!
I kind of went off on a rant there, sorry. But this is not a romance novel. Sure, she slept with her husband, they kissed, had sex, said they “loved” each other but they never spent any time together, getting to know each other in order to fall in love. The whole book was about her disciplining the kids!
I also found it really disturbing that the “hero” was 28 and she was only 18!!! She is still a kid , literally still a “teen” (eightTEEN). Despite the 10 year age gap which for maybe a 30 year old and 40 year old would be more acceptable, for him to be nearly 30 and she was 18 , I found it really hard to read. I know they married back then like that, but write for today’s audience! I had to pretend in my mind that she was older.
Her previous fiancé, his brother (Jesse), was supposed to be 23. While I still really don’t like that, it was a bit better than 28! However, towards the end of the story, he says that there was only three years between him and his brother, which would have put Jesse at 25! So there was a mistake made by the author with the age of Jesse. I would have found 25 and even 23 hard to read about with an 18 year old….
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2024
Susan was the oldest of twelve. More than anything she wanted to marry a man without children. Harriett, the mail order bride broker, found her the perfect husband in Fort Worth, Texas. Jesse was a newspaper reporter with no children, He was saving to buy a ranch for his family.
Susan accepted his proposal and train ticket, but when she got off the train, Jesse wasn’t there. Instead meeting her was Jesse’s brother David, who was a rancher with four boys. Would she marry him? Jesse was killed by a stray bullet in the worse section of Fort Worth. David invited Susan to dinner with his boys on the ranch before making her decision. He gave the two oldest boys a dollar each to be on their best behavior. Susan was amazed by the wealth of the ranch — large house, ranch hands, a cook/housekeeper and nanny. They would stay even if they married. The boys were well behaved. She said yes.
But after the wedding, the true color of the boys came out. Andrew and Lewis were determined to be wild. David didn’t believe in spanking, and asked her to be creative in her punishments. She was, and the boys responded to her consisty.
David and Susan enjoyed the marriage bed. She found friends in the neighboring ranches. The boys tested her, but she matched with the right punishment.
The is a sweet romance and touching mother sons story. Though David may be her fifth son.
Susan accepted his proposal and train ticket, but when she got off the train, Jesse wasn’t there. Instead meeting her was Jesse’s brother David, who was a rancher with four boys. Would she marry him? Jesse was killed by a stray bullet in the worse section of Fort Worth. David invited Susan to dinner with his boys on the ranch before making her decision. He gave the two oldest boys a dollar each to be on their best behavior. Susan was amazed by the wealth of the ranch — large house, ranch hands, a cook/housekeeper and nanny. They would stay even if they married. The boys were well behaved. She said yes.
But after the wedding, the true color of the boys came out. Andrew and Lewis were determined to be wild. David didn’t believe in spanking, and asked her to be creative in her punishments. She was, and the boys responded to her consisty.
David and Susan enjoyed the marriage bed. She found friends in the neighboring ranches. The boys tested her, but she matched with the right punishment.
The is a sweet romance and touching mother sons story. Though David may be her fifth son.
July 27, 2021
Susan and David
Susan is tired! Being the oldest of 12 siblings. Now her sister Elizabeth has also had enough. They both work tirelessly to try to keep the younger ones out of trouble, but, sometimes it gets to be to much. So Susan makes a decision after reading an ad in the paper. She asks Elizabeth to go with her to meet Mrs. Harriet Long to see if she can help. Of course Harriet can help! She asks Susan some questions and finds just the right letter for her to read. So Susan answers Jesse Dailey's letter. When she gets to Texas she finds that Jesse has been killed two weeks prior and his brother David is there to welcome her. David asks her if she would consider being his bride instead. Susan isn't sure especially after he tells her his wife died in childbirth two years prior and he has twin boys. Only she thought that was all he had until she arrives for dinner with him that night and finds he has four sons, 8, 6 and of course the twins at 2. However, since they are all so well behaved she tells him yesterday's, she will marry him. Only is what she saw at dinner the truth about the boy's behavior? Will she be able to handle them the same way she did her siblings? What happens next? Only one way to find out, read this great story by Kristen Osbourne.
Susan is tired! Being the oldest of 12 siblings. Now her sister Elizabeth has also had enough. They both work tirelessly to try to keep the younger ones out of trouble, but, sometimes it gets to be to much. So Susan makes a decision after reading an ad in the paper. She asks Elizabeth to go with her to meet Mrs. Harriet Long to see if she can help. Of course Harriet can help! She asks Susan some questions and finds just the right letter for her to read. So Susan answers Jesse Dailey's letter. When she gets to Texas she finds that Jesse has been killed two weeks prior and his brother David is there to welcome her. David asks her if she would consider being his bride instead. Susan isn't sure especially after he tells her his wife died in childbirth two years prior and he has twin boys. Only she thought that was all he had until she arrives for dinner with him that night and finds he has four sons, 8, 6 and of course the twins at 2. However, since they are all so well behaved she tells him yesterday's, she will marry him. Only is what she saw at dinner the truth about the boy's behavior? Will she be able to handle them the same way she did her siblings? What happens next? Only one way to find out, read this great story by Kristen Osbourne.
November 11, 2023
Ok I think this is going to be a minority opinion here LOL. The low ratings all complain that the husband was the doormat, but I actually felt the opposite, the wife was a doormat.
He deceived her into thinking he had well-behaved kids. When she finds out how out of control they really are, she has the option to go back home to her parents, and another option to contact the mail order bride company for a train ticket to leave. Husband asks her to stay and she just... agrees. Why would you want to stay with a liar?
She expects it to be a marriage in name only because she doesn't want another child when she already has to deal with his monsters. He keeps asking for sex and within mere hours, she... agrees. WHY?
She's the one who's going to be with the kids all day, but when this lying piece of crap won't "let" her spank the kids, she just... agrees. I don't even spank my kids, but even I didn't understand why she would go along with his rules, when he obviously knows nothing about raising kids. And I'm sorry, but there's not a Christian alive in the 1800s who isn't spanking their kids. It's unbelievable that any father would demand no spanking, at the time.
There are better books in the series, this one's a dud IMO.
He deceived her into thinking he had well-behaved kids. When she finds out how out of control they really are, she has the option to go back home to her parents, and another option to contact the mail order bride company for a train ticket to leave. Husband asks her to stay and she just... agrees. Why would you want to stay with a liar?
She expects it to be a marriage in name only because she doesn't want another child when she already has to deal with his monsters. He keeps asking for sex and within mere hours, she... agrees. WHY?
She's the one who's going to be with the kids all day, but when this lying piece of crap won't "let" her spank the kids, she just... agrees. I don't even spank my kids, but even I didn't understand why she would go along with his rules, when he obviously knows nothing about raising kids. And I'm sorry, but there's not a Christian alive in the 1800s who isn't spanking their kids. It's unbelievable that any father would demand no spanking, at the time.
There are better books in the series, this one's a dud IMO.
April 25, 2018
You never know what kind of curve ball life will throw you, and Susan is about to find out just how "unfair" life can be. Tired of being in the beehive called her family, the oldest of eleven children, she decides it's time to forge a life of her own. After signing up to become a mail order bride, she prepares to head west to Fort Worth, with the hopes of a quiet life, at least for a few years. The young man she's to wed has an ambitious life plan, and she's anxious to become a part of it. But life has thrown her a fast ball this time, as she discovers her betrothed has been murdered before she could arrive, but his older brother is offering to take his place. The moment David laid eyes upon the beauty that was to have been his brother's wife, he knew he was a goner. Now all he had to do, was convince her that she should marry him instead. If only his unruly children will behave.
A beautiful tale of love and the many struggles had in a time when life was hard, but love shone bright.
A beautiful tale of love and the many struggles had in a time when life was hard, but love shone bright.
March 17, 2018
Susan comes from a very large family, only the older 4 have discipline and manners. When the other siblings drive her to the point of needing a break, she decides to use a mail order bride service. Harriet is in charge of the mail order bride service in Massachusetts and finds her a man named Jesse Dailey. When she was enroute to Texas to marry Jesse he gets killed while on assignment. So when she arrives in Texas she gets a proposition to marry Jesse's brother David. This is a sweet, short historical romance.
June 23, 2017
2*
A fairly harmless but not very noteworthy mail order bride book. It started out fine but I fell asleep reading it and had to convince myself to finish it once I woke up. The bride is escaping awful siblings that she is in charge of only to find out her soon to be husband has a pair of awful kids of his own. A lot of the book is her finding creative ways to discipline them. Her husband is rather wimpy.
A fairly harmless but not very noteworthy mail order bride book. It started out fine but I fell asleep reading it and had to convince myself to finish it once I woke up. The bride is escaping awful siblings that she is in charge of only to find out her soon to be husband has a pair of awful kids of his own. A lot of the book is her finding creative ways to discipline them. Her husband is rather wimpy.
March 17, 2018
Kirsten Osbourne is a great author. she never disappoints me with any of her stories. This is a must read if you love mail order brides. I actually finished in the same day. The story line is what you expect,fantastic. boy meets girl, they marry and live happily ever after. But that is not exactly how this one goes. The man she expects to marry is killed by a prostitute a few weeks before she is to arrive in Texas. The brother inadvertantly steps in, but reluctantly according to him. The story is packed with adventure and "rules".
February 5, 2018
This was a very cute story. Susan comes from a family with 12 children. She wants to marry someone with no children. She ends up with someone with four little boys (2 of which are hellions). I always love when a story makes me laugh and this one did on several occasions. I highly recommend this book and any Kirsten Osbourne books.
April 30, 2018
Going, going, gone.
Such cute plots, totally disappointing with graphic descriptions of bedroom scenes. I’ve started three . . . and now am deleting the entire Brides of Beckham series. Why take an otherwise perfectly good story, and throw in a couple of sex scenes? Is that what it takes to sell a book?
Such cute plots, totally disappointing with graphic descriptions of bedroom scenes. I’ve started three . . . and now am deleting the entire Brides of Beckham series. Why take an otherwise perfectly good story, and throw in a couple of sex scenes? Is that what it takes to sell a book?
April 30, 2020
It wasn’t her plan, nor part of the agreement....
I’ve read LOTS of mail-order bride books. Frequently the storylines become repetitive. In this book there were some delightful twists. She’s strong savvy gal not easily intimidated. He’s a very gentle man and a bit too indulgent. I’ll leave it at that except to say she’s persistent and clever in problem solving. Good read!
I’ve read LOTS of mail-order bride books. Frequently the storylines become repetitive. In this book there were some delightful twists. She’s strong savvy gal not easily intimidated. He’s a very gentle man and a bit too indulgent. I’ll leave it at that except to say she’s persistent and clever in problem solving. Good read!
March 24, 2018
Very Sweet
This was a fun read. I loved the spunk of the characters. It was refreshing to read about how children NEED structure. I might have been tempted to 'box' Daniels ears myself had I been Susan. Very enjoyable. Thank you!
This was a fun read. I loved the spunk of the characters. It was refreshing to read about how children NEED structure. I might have been tempted to 'box' Daniels ears myself had I been Susan. Very enjoyable. Thank you!
September 29, 2021
Hellions and more
Susan becomes a mail order bride and gets far more than she bargained for (a husband with 4 boys who would test the nerves of anyone). Well written tale of a man who had no idea how to control his children.
Susan becomes a mail order bride and gets far more than she bargained for (a husband with 4 boys who would test the nerves of anyone). Well written tale of a man who had no idea how to control his children.
June 27, 2017
IF you had eleven younger siblings wouldn't you want to flee?
April 3, 2018
Great
Another good book by Kirsten Osbourne. Her books are always full of family, love and adventure. I hope you are reading her books too.
Another good book by Kirsten Osbourne. Her books are always full of family, love and adventure. I hope you are reading her books too.
June 8, 2018
Love cowboy romances. Especially if there is a HEA.
July 31, 2018
I liked the twist to this story. The characters were good and relatable. I saw a lot of myself in Susan. There were some laugh out loud moments that kept me wanting more.
January 14, 2019
Wonderful
Again a funny, realistic romantic read. All this of this series are winners. I will be sorry when the series end
Again a funny, realistic romantic read. All this of this series are winners. I will be sorry when the series end
April 12, 2019
Love it
I'm loving The Brides of Beckham series. This one has me laughing the whole entire time I was reading it.
I'm loving The Brides of Beckham series. This one has me laughing the whole entire time I was reading it.
April 17, 2019
Fun
Madness was a fun loving story of hellions and perseverance. I am so enjoying this series of “ mail order” stories. Thank you Kristin
Madness was a fun loving story of hellions and perseverance. I am so enjoying this series of “ mail order” stories. Thank you Kristin
April 20, 2020
Loved it
Read
September 30, 2020A good book. I like books like this.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews