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The Unexpected Wife
He Could Never Love Again
Of that, Matthias Barrington was certain, despite the well-intentioned meddling of his neighbors. But now they'd sent him a special delivery in the form of the very comely Miss Abigail Smyth, who'd stepped off the stagecoach and announced that he needed a wife--and she was just the woman!
Mail-order bride Abby Smyth just wanted a place to belong--preferably at rancher Matthias Barrington's side, making a home for his motherless boys. Ever practical, she knew love wasn't necessary, really. Yet the more she learned of this decent, honorable man, the more she knew the only place she wanted was one securely in his heart!
Of that, Matthias Barrington was certain, despite the well-intentioned meddling of his neighbors. But now they'd sent him a special delivery in the form of the very comely Miss Abigail Smyth, who'd stepped off the stagecoach and announced that he needed a wife--and she was just the woman!
Mail-order bride Abby Smyth just wanted a place to belong--preferably at rancher Matthias Barrington's side, making a home for his motherless boys. Ever practical, she knew love wasn't necessary, really. Yet the more she learned of this decent, honorable man, the more she knew the only place she wanted was one securely in his heart!
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2004
About the author
Mary Burton
73 books4,418 followersMary Burton, whose latest novel is THE LIES I TOLD, loves writing suspense, getting to know her characters, keeping up with law enforcement and forensic procedure, morning walks, baking, and tiny dachshunds. She also enjoys hunting down serial killers, which she does in her New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels. Library Journal has compared her work to that of Lisa Jackson and Lisa Gardner, and Fresh Fiction likened her writing to that of James Patterson.
Mary is routinely featured among the top ten writers in Amazon’s Author Rankings for romantic suspense, thriller and mystery. Upon publication, her novels, including NEVER LOOK BACK and BURN YOU TWICE, consistently rank high on the Kindle eBooks Store Bestseller List. Her novels CUT AND RUN and YOU'RE NOT SAFE were nominated for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for Romantic Suspense.
A Richmond native, Mary is the author of forty-five published novels and five novellas as Mary Burton and as Mary Ellen Taylor.
A member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., and Romance Writers of America, Mary is known for creating multiple suspense stories connected by characters and/or place.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
January 29, 2020
3.5 STARS
I quite enjoyed this one. Strong heroine who decides to live her own life and leave her "family" (she was more of a housemaid, if you ask me) and travels, as a mail order bride, to Montana. Nothing too overwhelming in the storyline but it was a good enough read - would read more by this author.
I quite enjoyed this one. Strong heroine who decides to live her own life and leave her "family" (she was more of a housemaid, if you ask me) and travels, as a mail order bride, to Montana. Nothing too overwhelming in the storyline but it was a good enough read - would read more by this author.
October 11, 2020
Una novela corta y muy entretenida que transcurre en el oeste
La autora engancha con una historia sencilla, con muchos clichés pero que te lees en un día.
Una buen historia de superaciones
Lo mejor, esa Abigail, valiente que lo deja todo para empezar su vida de nuevo
Matthias me ha parecido un personaje muy coherente,
Los niños un amor ♥
Una lectura para las que os gustan las novelas en el oeste ;)
el problema es que es corta y me han faltado diálogos, aunque a veces, las miradas dicen mucho.
Abrumante lo práctica que resulta la realidad, como la viva misma
La autora engancha con una historia sencilla, con muchos clichés pero que te lees en un día.
Una buen historia de superaciones
Lo mejor, esa Abigail, valiente que lo deja todo para empezar su vida de nuevo
Matthias me ha parecido un personaje muy coherente,
Los niños un amor ♥
Una lectura para las que os gustan las novelas en el oeste ;)
el problema es que es corta y me han faltado diálogos, aunque a veces, las miradas dicen mucho.
Abrumante lo práctica que resulta la realidad, como la viva misma
September 1, 2010
Pretty good mail order bride story. They didn't get married until almost the end though and I prefer when it is about 2 strangers making a marriage work.
October 26, 2021
Me ha gustado mucho, sobre todo el personaje de Abby, es una mujer que a pesar de su juventud sabe lo que es el trabajo duro. De hecho se ha hecho prácticamente invisible en la cocina de sus tíos, es una sombra, porque sabe que no es muy querida. Por eso responde a un anuncio de un ranchero buscando esposa en Montana, y no duda en dejarlo todo atrás y conseguir su sueño, tener su casa, su familia y sobre todo sentirse querida y necesitada. Pero cuando llega se encuentra que nada es como ella se esperaba. Matthias es viudo y con dos niños muy pequeños y un rancho con mucho trabajo, y no desea volver a casarse, no ha olvidado a su difunda mujer, así que no la recibe con los brazos abiertos.
He empatizado mucho con Abby, como a pesar de que nada es como ella esperaba no se rinde y trabaja muy duro para hacerse un hueco, para ser aceptada. Más de una vez he sentido un pellizco por ella, porque Matthias es muy bruto y tanta sinceridad a veces no es necesaria. Ella se desvive por cuidar a sus hijos y el rancho y digamos que no es muy agradecido ni amable con ella 🤬.
Eso sí, hay mucha atracción, pero me ha faltado amor, ternura, comprensión y esas cosas que debe tener una historia de amor. Puedo entender que él no quiera enamorarse otra vez, ni casarse, que siga pensando en su mujer, que con ella se fue todo parte de su corazón, pero no ha sabido apreciar a Abby hasta el final, y viendo que la iba a perder. He estado esperando toda la novela que se diera cuenta de todo lo que vale Abby y no solo por cómo cuida de él y sus hijos, como cocina y limpia y trabaja duro, sino por todo lo bueno que tiene para dar. Ella es fantástica, cariñosa, trabajadora, inteligente y siempre dispuesta ayudar, sincera y muy práctica, se merecía que él sufriera un poquito para conseguirla.
¿Si tiene tantos defectos porqué le doy cuatro estrellas? Porque ha conseguido transmitirme todo, por los personajes, sobre todo el de Abby, que es una mujer 10 y los niños, que le han dado ternura a la historia. Me ha fallado Matthias o al menos, la forma en que la autora resuelve la relación entre ellos, hasta la última página no aclara sus sentimientos por ella. Muy apresurado y poco creíble.
Es una novela que me ha hecho sentir todo y por eso me gusta.
He empatizado mucho con Abby, como a pesar de que nada es como ella esperaba no se rinde y trabaja muy duro para hacerse un hueco, para ser aceptada. Más de una vez he sentido un pellizco por ella, porque Matthias es muy bruto y tanta sinceridad a veces no es necesaria. Ella se desvive por cuidar a sus hijos y el rancho y digamos que no es muy agradecido ni amable con ella 🤬.
Eso sí, hay mucha atracción, pero me ha faltado amor, ternura, comprensión y esas cosas que debe tener una historia de amor. Puedo entender que él no quiera enamorarse otra vez, ni casarse, que siga pensando en su mujer, que con ella se fue todo parte de su corazón, pero no ha sabido apreciar a Abby hasta el final, y viendo que la iba a perder. He estado esperando toda la novela que se diera cuenta de todo lo que vale Abby y no solo por cómo cuida de él y sus hijos, como cocina y limpia y trabaja duro, sino por todo lo bueno que tiene para dar. Ella es fantástica, cariñosa, trabajadora, inteligente y siempre dispuesta ayudar, sincera y muy práctica, se merecía que él sufriera un poquito para conseguirla.
¿Si tiene tantos defectos porqué le doy cuatro estrellas? Porque ha conseguido transmitirme todo, por los personajes, sobre todo el de Abby, que es una mujer 10 y los niños, que le han dado ternura a la historia. Me ha fallado Matthias o al menos, la forma en que la autora resuelve la relación entre ellos, hasta la última página no aclara sus sentimientos por ella. Muy apresurado y poco creíble.
Es una novela que me ha hecho sentir todo y por eso me gusta.
June 5, 2017
A very sweet read. Totally enjoyable.
August 24, 2010
If you are looking for a short historical romance to read that is about redeeming love then try this book. Abby Smyth made the mistake of her life eight years before. She'd fallen in love with a young lawyer she met through her uncle. Douglas Edmondson, had a poet's heart and a gift for words that made her knees go weak, but love had not been what he was after. Abby learned of his shallow heart too late and in the end he made a fool out of her.
Matthias Barrington moved to Montana with his one true love and wife, Elise. While giving birth to their third child she and the baby died. Heavy of heart, he thought there was no way he could open his life again to another.
Unaware, several townsfolk decide to play matchmaker and write letters to Abby pretending to be Matthias. "He" asks to marry her and sends her money to come to his homestead. Misunderstandings aside, she slowly breaks the prison that surrounds his heart. This is actually a pretty good book for a 'Harlequin Historical'.
Matthias Barrington moved to Montana with his one true love and wife, Elise. While giving birth to their third child she and the baby died. Heavy of heart, he thought there was no way he could open his life again to another.
Unaware, several townsfolk decide to play matchmaker and write letters to Abby pretending to be Matthias. "He" asks to marry her and sends her money to come to his homestead. Misunderstandings aside, she slowly breaks the prison that surrounds his heart. This is actually a pretty good book for a 'Harlequin Historical'.
January 29, 2015
Una historia divertida, entretenida y que está bastante bien dentro de su género. Le reprocho la brevedad, me hubiera gustado que fuese más larga y más compleja, pero es tierna y a mí me pareció interesante ya que me causa mucha curiosidad la vida del viejo oeste y el tema de las mujeres por correo.
January 17, 2021
Me gustó mucho el estilo de la autora. Primer libro de ella que tengo en mis manos. Me gusta mucho estos libros antes de 1900 de la América rural 4✨
August 1, 2021
It was a good read, my first Mary Burton. Except the H had too many TSTL moments to rate it anything higher than 3.
March 9, 2020
FINALLY.
A "good read" :)
I've gone far too long, reading one and two star historical westerns these past few months, and had just about given up - when Mary Burton's "The Unexpected Wife" found itself on the top of my reading pile.
Wow. It was great a great story of Abby and Matthias finding love in Montana. Sure, it has a lot of clichés that are quite common when it comes to western historical romances - ie: mail order bride, widowed Hero (with young children), dangerous animal (and man/villan) stalking about etc... but Mary Burton does it right and created an easy, enjoyable read.
I finished this book in less than a day. Highly recommended.
A "good read" :)
I've gone far too long, reading one and two star historical westerns these past few months, and had just about given up - when Mary Burton's "The Unexpected Wife" found itself on the top of my reading pile.
Wow. It was great a great story of Abby and Matthias finding love in Montana. Sure, it has a lot of clichés that are quite common when it comes to western historical romances - ie: mail order bride, widowed Hero (with young children), dangerous animal (and man/villan) stalking about etc... but Mary Burton does it right and created an easy, enjoyable read.
I finished this book in less than a day. Highly recommended.
June 17, 2022
A very sweet romance. Way to go Abby. Fantastic heroine- hard working, optimistic, stands up for herself and makes the best of what she's been given. Mathais is ok but the book is all hers.
Recommended 👍
Recommended 👍
November 14, 2017
cotação: 3,7 estrelas
Mathias, um viúvo inconsolável cai nas tramóias do sogro (Frank), seu amigo (Holden) e de Hilda, que colocaram um anúncio no jornal, procurando uma noiva. Abby, uma moça cujo pais morreram e que vive humilhada pelos tios, encontra nisso uma maneira de se libertar dessa vida solitária e sofrida. E embarca para Crickhollow, na esperança de uma nova vida.
Lá ela descobre que ambos foram enganados. Mas, a necessidade de uma mulher para cuidar do rancho e dos filhos, faz com que Mathias, a contragosto, leve-a para o rancho como uma ajudante. Abby porém deseja casar, mas aceita a condição e segue-o. Num lugar perdido, eles viverão e aprenderão um a respeito do outro e terão que superar suas diferenças, esconder a atração que sentem e fazerem a escolha que lhes traga a felicidade.
Bons personagens, leitura leve e agradável.
Mathias, um viúvo inconsolável cai nas tramóias do sogro (Frank), seu amigo (Holden) e de Hilda, que colocaram um anúncio no jornal, procurando uma noiva. Abby, uma moça cujo pais morreram e que vive humilhada pelos tios, encontra nisso uma maneira de se libertar dessa vida solitária e sofrida. E embarca para Crickhollow, na esperança de uma nova vida.
Lá ela descobre que ambos foram enganados. Mas, a necessidade de uma mulher para cuidar do rancho e dos filhos, faz com que Mathias, a contragosto, leve-a para o rancho como uma ajudante. Abby porém deseja casar, mas aceita a condição e segue-o. Num lugar perdido, eles viverão e aprenderão um a respeito do outro e terão que superar suas diferenças, esconder a atração que sentem e fazerem a escolha que lhes traga a felicidade.
Bons personagens, leitura leve e agradável.
July 14, 2021
I love Mary Burton ❤️ I would love to read all her books one day😊
But l can't tolerate shameless woman🤦🏽♀️ I was ashamed on behalf of her🙄🙄🙄yeah I understand she cut off all her ties to come here so she couldn't just be gone. But she could do other things like be their home-maid for the time being then save some money and move on some other place to start anew😑okk yes I also know it was 19th century 🙄🙄but still she could do something else. But she chose to be shameless.
But of course, the writing style is as always brilliant 🤍
I would still love to read her books. Not necessary I have to love all of those.
But l can't tolerate shameless woman🤦🏽♀️ I was ashamed on behalf of her🙄🙄🙄yeah I understand she cut off all her ties to come here so she couldn't just be gone. But she could do other things like be their home-maid for the time being then save some money and move on some other place to start anew😑okk yes I also know it was 19th century 🙄🙄but still she could do something else. But she chose to be shameless.
But of course, the writing style is as always brilliant 🤍
I would still love to read her books. Not necessary I have to love all of those.
October 26, 2013
I've become interested in mail-order brides recently. Mary Burton came highly recommended. This was a sweet story. I liked Matthias and Abigail well enough. I felt for both of them and loved their fiery internal struggles with themselves and their external struggles with each other. It is hard to fall in love again after being hurt deeply and this was written well. It was an easy read. I finished it in one day. But nothing exceptional.
I am interested in reading the next book in the series though. I want to know what happens with Holden and his mail-order bride.
I am interested in reading the next book in the series though. I want to know what happens with Holden and his mail-order bride.
August 2, 2017
Storia di un matrimonio per corrispondenza, architettato dagli amici di un vedovo che avrà amore sempre e solo per la defunta moglie. La donna che ne dovrebbe prendere il posto è pratica e tutt’altro genere rispetto alla rivale. Ma il destino orchestra i suoi piani e non tutto va come si sperava, né come si temeva… È carino, si può leggere.
December 28, 2013
No. Just not for me.
September 7, 2021
Sabemos que hay algunos vecinos que son muy metiches... pero nadie le gana a estos vecinos que piden una novia por correo y el pobre Matthias se encuentra perdido entre el pasado y el presente.
Abby desea escapar de la casa de su tío donde nunca fue feliz, sobre todo luego de encontrarse en una situación comprometida y ser tachada de indeseable... por ello decide responder a un anuncio e irse a comenzar una nueva vida, pero luego allí nada es lo que parece... su futuro marido no sabe nada de ella, no la quiere ni ver cerca pero al estar en un aprieto con sus pequeños hijos no le queda otra opción que tenerla unos meses en su casa y es allí donde de a poco, todo cambiará.
Me ha gustado muchísimo esta historia, los romances falsos o por conveniencia son mis favoritos, y aquí Matthias se ha hecho de rogar, pobre Abby agotada de la casa y de pelear con un fantasma del pasado le hace dar cuenta que tal vez esa vida no es la que ella merece y decide empezar a hacer nuevos planes pero todo se desmadra claramente, como no puede ser de otra manera.
Los personajes me gustaron mucho, Abby es una mujer fuerte que se la re banca, Matthias por otro lado merecía un buen golpe sobre todo luego de un momento muy particular que es el que termina rompiendo lo poco que habían avanzado y los pequeños son dos soles que merecen una familia.
Si buscan algo no tan corto, pero que disfruten por la ternura de los niños, un cabezota que querrás golpear y una mujer decidida a cambiar su futuro, esta es una excelente historia.
"Aquel matrimonio ya no era para ella tan solo una cuestión de conveniencia. Amaba a Matthias Barrington con una fuerza que la sacudía hasta lo más profundo de su ser"
Abby desea escapar de la casa de su tío donde nunca fue feliz, sobre todo luego de encontrarse en una situación comprometida y ser tachada de indeseable... por ello decide responder a un anuncio e irse a comenzar una nueva vida, pero luego allí nada es lo que parece... su futuro marido no sabe nada de ella, no la quiere ni ver cerca pero al estar en un aprieto con sus pequeños hijos no le queda otra opción que tenerla unos meses en su casa y es allí donde de a poco, todo cambiará.
Me ha gustado muchísimo esta historia, los romances falsos o por conveniencia son mis favoritos, y aquí Matthias se ha hecho de rogar, pobre Abby agotada de la casa y de pelear con un fantasma del pasado le hace dar cuenta que tal vez esa vida no es la que ella merece y decide empezar a hacer nuevos planes pero todo se desmadra claramente, como no puede ser de otra manera.
Los personajes me gustaron mucho, Abby es una mujer fuerte que se la re banca, Matthias por otro lado merecía un buen golpe sobre todo luego de un momento muy particular que es el que termina rompiendo lo poco que habían avanzado y los pequeños son dos soles que merecen una familia.
Si buscan algo no tan corto, pero que disfruten por la ternura de los niños, un cabezota que querrás golpear y una mujer decidida a cambiar su futuro, esta es una excelente historia.
"Aquel matrimonio ya no era para ella tan solo una cuestión de conveniencia. Amaba a Matthias Barrington con una fuerza que la sacudía hasta lo más profundo de su ser"
May 24, 2023
2.5 stars
i wanted to rate it more but few instances in the story held me back
Didn't feel the love between h/H, at best as they say they had a great partnership,
from the h's side i am sure she loves the H but the reverse is not true.
As someone commented that in the harsher montana condition she was best bet for the H and he realised it.
I really liked the resilience of the h, but at times she came across as desperate, i mean she was such a strong character hardworking ,resourceful and i can sympathise with her situation where she had nowhere to go and was in a desperate circumstances but she could have done much better with someone else rather than throwing herself at the H and expecting he will feel the same.
I want my Heroes to have this soulsearing love for their ladies and am sorry but didn't feel it in here.
i wanted to rate it more but few instances in the story held me back
Didn't feel the love between h/H, at best as they say they had a great partnership,
from the h's side i am sure she loves the H but the reverse is not true.
As someone commented that in the harsher montana condition she was best bet for the H and he realised it.
I really liked the resilience of the h, but at times she came across as desperate, i mean she was such a strong character hardworking ,resourceful and i can sympathise with her situation where she had nowhere to go and was in a desperate circumstances but she could have done much better with someone else rather than throwing herself at the H and expecting he will feel the same.
I want my Heroes to have this soulsearing love for their ladies and am sorry but didn't feel it in here.
May 18, 2019
Two people set their widowed friend up with a mail order bride. Abby (the intended bride) thinks she's meeting a man who wants to marry her while Matthias (the unsuspecting groom) knows absolutely nothing about what's going on!
Abby ends up moving into Matthias' tiny cabin as his housekeeper! That seems pretty risque for back in the 1800's.
I loved Matthias' two children. And Abby was a natural mother and homemaker. However, I found Matthias' stubbornness about getting married frustrating and ridiculous. Abby's constant state of arousal was also a bit much. I also found the author's referral to Matthias as Mr. Barrinton irritating.
The ending was too abrupt for me. The epilogue just leads in to the next book.
That said, it's a fast, pleasant read.
Abby ends up moving into Matthias' tiny cabin as his housekeeper! That seems pretty risque for back in the 1800's.
I loved Matthias' two children. And Abby was a natural mother and homemaker. However, I found Matthias' stubbornness about getting married frustrating and ridiculous. Abby's constant state of arousal was also a bit much. I also found the author's referral to Matthias as Mr. Barrinton irritating.
The ending was too abrupt for me. The epilogue just leads in to the next book.
That said, it's a fast, pleasant read.
April 15, 2025
very nice read
This was a very nice read by Mary Burton. A young woman is forced to work for her Aunt and Uncle without pay. The only thing she wanted was to be loved and have her own family. So she answered the ad for a bride. Only to find out he did not write the ad after she runs away from her home to a new life. He is a rancher with two small boys without a wife. She had died in child birth. But his friends had decided the boys needed a mother so they ordered one. A very enjoyable book to read.
This was a very nice read by Mary Burton. A young woman is forced to work for her Aunt and Uncle without pay. The only thing she wanted was to be loved and have her own family. So she answered the ad for a bride. Only to find out he did not write the ad after she runs away from her home to a new life. He is a rancher with two small boys without a wife. She had died in child birth. But his friends had decided the boys needed a mother so they ordered one. A very enjoyable book to read.
November 8, 2020
Abigail Smyth acepta la propuesta de matrimonio del ranchero Matthias Barrington, deja todo atrás para formar una familia junto a un hombre del que no conoce casi nada, salvo lo poco que le ha contado en sus cartas. Lo que no espera es que él no sepa nada de esas cartas, ni que sus amigos le han tendido una trampa para que vuelva a casarse. Sus hijos necesitan una madre pero él no está dispuesto a casarse, y menos a tener sentimientos por otra mujer.
March 20, 2021
Una historia entretenida y rápida de leer. Ella es una mujer valiente que lo deja toda para cambiar de vida. El un hombre arisco y dolido por el fallecimiento de su mujer. Me ha faltado algo para disfrutarla más, pero en general esta bien. Es la típica historia del oeste y conseguir esposa por correspondencia.
June 28, 2023
I kept reading this book just for the cute kids and Abby! Abby was a sweetheart that just gave everything her all. I loved her journey. The kids were so cute and played such a big part of the story. Now Matthias? The story could have left him out. He was a pig! I couldn’t get over what he did and wish she ditched him! The worst type of hero.
- forced proximity
- enemies to lovers
🌶️ 2/5
- forced proximity
- enemies to lovers
🌶️ 2/5
June 15, 2026
Had some real cringe moments icl
And there were parts that bothered me too, like ik his wife died like 1.5 yrs ago and he was so hung up on her, it felt silly to make him fall in love with the fmc. Her death was pretty recent
There were cute found family moments, but this Boone as unfortunately disappointing. I wish another cute guy came and whisked Abigail away
May 23, 2018
Unexpected gem. I vary through genres and had just finished some of Linda Howard’s books looking for something new to read and stumbled across MB. Haven’t read her suspsense yet because i wanted a light read and this was a good read for me.
March 17, 2020
Cute book! I'm a sucker for a mail order bride story! The only drawback was the ending was a little abrupt. It was like she'd almost met a page limit, so she had to cut the ending short. Otherwise, I would recommend it.
June 23, 2020
Me parto yo sola leyendo este tipo de libros de encefalograma plano en los que es completamente predecible qué va a pasar desde que lees la primera palabra. Pero me ha divertido un rato que es lo que yo le pido a la vida, así que bien. Pero no os lo léais
August 15, 2022
Abby es un personaje muy fuerte, que parte de su vida a sido difícil pero ella se mantiene a flote y anhela tener su propio hogar así que no duda en aceptar ser una novia por correspondencia.
Me gustó que cuando Matthias la lástima, ella lo hace sufrir.❤️
Me gustó que cuando Matthias la lástima, ella lo hace sufrir.❤️
September 15, 2023
loved it
Fabulous Read I was gripped from the start. This not my normal historical reading but now I’m truly hooked. I even fell in love with Mathias!!.. loads of ups and downs but truly a great read.
Fabulous Read I was gripped from the start. This not my normal historical reading but now I’m truly hooked. I even fell in love with Mathias!!.. loads of ups and downs but truly a great read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews