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Brides of Beckham #4

Mail Order Mix Up

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When Ellen and her sister, Malinda, are forced out of the only home they’ve ever known by a local banker after the death of their father, they answer an advertisement placed by Harriett Long for mail order brides. Ellen chooses to marry the sheriff of a small town in Colorado while Malinda agrees to marry his brother, a banker. When they arrive, each sister is immediately drawn to one of the brothers….too bad it’s the wrong one!

119 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

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Kirsten Osbourne

334 books510 followers

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5 stars
354 (43%)
4 stars
233 (28%)
3 stars
162 (19%)
2 stars
59 (7%)
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14 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Jessica's Totally Over The Top Book Obsession.
1,223 reviews3,692 followers
May 17, 2018
I am really enjoying Kirsten Osbourne Brides of Beckham series. This book was cute and funny. I love how the sisters are in lust with the wrong brothers. I loved the hero and the heroine. The heroine's sister on the other hand not so much. Her book is next and I'm a little worried because she came off selfish in this book.
Profile Image for Leigh.
1,392 reviews323 followers
January 8, 2019
2.5 stars

Mail Order Mix Up is book 4 in the Brides of Beckham and unlike the others it was a disappointment to me. It started really good, we have two sister who are extremely close facing eviction from their home after the death of their father. So what are two healthy young ladies going to do of course get themselves husbands. They are in luck because Harriett has two brothers looking for wives. One is a Banker and one a Sheriff. Ellen is so upset with the Banker who evicted her she chooses the Sheriff and Malinda is so tired of being poor she chooses the Banker. When the ladies finally arrive at their destination it is love at first sight, each woman goes straight to the man who catches their eye. Unfortunately it is the opposite brother and here is where the fun begins or so I thought. Malinda is the worst h I have ever read, she ruined this book for me. Her sister has sacrificed so much for her and while she wants the Sheriff she is more concerned with money than happiness. Her sister already told her she is attracted to the Banker and wants to marry him but no the sister needs a week to think about it. Why in the world would anyone want to marry her after that. I would have loved for her to wind up alone and working as a maid. Now after all the nonsense with Malinda, Ellen marries the Banker anyway. So now the second half was just blah. I was already done with the book so overall I just didn't enjoy it. I will not waste my time to read book 5 which is Malinda's. I dislike skipping books in series but since this series doesn't build on each book I'm not going to torture myself.
Profile Image for Jen.
659 reviews7 followers
August 11, 2019
This series has been a middle of the road series for me. Not awesome, but also not bad. They're short stories (roughly 150 pages) and since I've been in a mail order bride kick lately and they're on Kindle Unlimited, they're fitting the bill.

However, this book just didn't work for me. I think it mostly could have done with more editing. The story is the first of two focused on two sisters who move to Colorado to marry two brothers as mail order brides. Based on letters, the girls pick their future husbands. But when they arrives, everyone is attracted to the wrong person. Believe me, it's complicated. And it felt that Ms Osbourne was confused as well. There were several times I had to re-read passages because wrong names were used.

All in all, I found that I didn't care about either of the sisters or brothers and I'll be skipping the next book in the series because it focuses on the other couple and enough of their story was in this book.

I will continue this series (it's ridiculously long) in hopes that it gets better. But this one just really missed the mark for me.
Profile Image for Jeene Hobbs.
558 reviews1 follower
June 21, 2015
Sisters marry brothers, part 1

This is the fourth book in a fairly long series. The intimacy in this series is described but not rude or crude in my opinion. If you have read the Dalton Brothers, you will recognize Beckham, MA, as not a good place to be a young women. They all flee from there.

Harriet Long is our matchmaker. She is widowed and rich with a limp and a secret. She makes matches for brides but she always tells them that they do not have to stay in bad (hazardous) marriages. We learn a little more about Harriet in each novel.

Ellen and Malinda are forced off the family farm after their father dies. They move in with Harriet until they travel west to marry Patrick and Wesley. The man they each select is not the man each sister is attracted to upon arrival in Colorado.

This novel tells Ellen and Patrick's story. Read the next one in the series. This one by itself it sort of irritating.
Profile Image for Marsha Keeper Bookshelf.
4,290 reviews88 followers
February 27, 2018
Reviewed at Historically Romantic

Ellen and her sister, Malinda have made the decision to be mail order brides under the worst of circumstances… the bank kicking them out of their home after their father’s death. They’d had no idea that the place they called home was no longer theirs due to a very overdue loan at the local bank. Now not only have they lost their father but their home and belongings as well. The banker was kind enough to allow them to keep their clothes… how nice of him. *eye roll*

They met with Harriet Long and quickly found not only a friend but two brothers who were looking for brides. Only, reality didn’t turn out to be quite as easily handled as meeting through letters. Each brother, each sister was attracted to the wrong potential partner. And when an easy fix was suggested, Malinda turned stubborn – now it’s a waiting game full of frustrations and strong feelings all around.

Although both sisters are part of Mail Order Mix-Up this is mainly Ellen’s story with Malinda’s following in the next book, Mail Order Mistake. I enjoyed this story but definitely liked Ellen better of the sisters. Yet, I haven’t heard Malinda’s side so I’m going to reserve judgement until I’ve read her story. On the surface she came off as a very superficial person with only her own needs important. Frankly, I didn’t like her much, so I actually am looking forward to seeing if that impression changes when the book is more of her point of view. We also got our first true hint into Harriet’s past – although I’m certain we all had our suspicions. I’m sure over time we’ll get Harriet’s entire story, but I’m already a fan of this refined lady who cares so much about the welfare of the brides she helps.

If you love Western Historical Romance then I’s certain you’d enjoy Mail Order Mix-Up and the entire Brides of Beckham series. I’d definitely recommend them and I’m heading over to Amazon for the next story right now.

I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Profile Image for Scarlet Fanning.
626 reviews25 followers
May 10, 2024
Ellen and Malinda are evicted from their farm by the bank two weeks after their father’s death. They turn to becoming mail order brides as long as the men live in the same town or near each other. Luck favors them when Harriet the marriage broker finds two brothers looting for brides. Ellen picks the sheriff and Malinda picks the banker.

When they get the train, Ellen and Patrick are attracted to each other. Malinda and Wesley are attracted to each other. All is fine, till they discovered they coupled with the wrong brother. They decide to stay at the banker’s house and the brothers stay around the sheriff’s house as they court and pick a bride.

Three are sure in their choice, but Malinda is holding out while she enjoys the banker’s house.

This then becomes Ellen and Patrick’s story. They marry, but have to adjust in time schedules. Sweet story as Ellen volunteers at the orphanage and brings a baby home that was turned away because the orphanage was full. They are ready to fill the house with their children.
Profile Image for Jamie Wagnor.
247 reviews2 followers
June 2, 2024
Whew I hated Patrick and Ellen. This couple annoyed me from the word go. I thought I would enjoy the story as it had a great set up- but the more the characters talked about Malinda being selfish the more I wanted to scream- “kettle meet pot”. Honestly Ellen was just unlikable- while the writing was trying to make her seem like the “good” sister. Though Malinda was frustrating at times, and I’m sure that will be explored more in her book, I did find myself understanding her more than Ellen’s point of view. The next book is focused on Wesley and Malinda, but I know unfortunately we’ll have Patrick and Ellen as well. Sadly.
440 reviews3 followers
September 30, 2021
Love at first sight

Ellen and Malinda decided to become mail order brides when they found out the bank was taking their home. They travelled to Colorado to marry brothers. It was love at first sight for Ellen, but it was the wrong brother. Lively tale about a sheriff and a banker and their mail order brides.
Profile Image for Nancy.
391 reviews
February 11, 2018
I loved this story about two sisters who move out west to become mail order brides for two brothers after their father died and the bank repossessed their dairy farm. This is book is more Ellen's story and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to reading Malinda' story next.
Profile Image for Angelena.
774 reviews
July 20, 2018
This book was good, definitely not my favorite of the series. The thing is the author really made Malinda a unlikable character in this book, and the next book is on her. Not really looking forward to that
21 reviews1 follower
January 6, 2019
Two very different sisters

I would recommend this book to anyone who has a stubborn sister you consider strangling often but love them anyway. It does drag a little bit because you want to know how the sisters are going to handle their problems and the answer isn't immediate.
Profile Image for ReadingWench.
2,097 reviews13 followers
July 31, 2018
I liked that there were sisters in this one. The mix up with the grooms and the journey it takes is a good one. Looking forward to reading the other side of this story in the next one.
2 reviews
September 15, 2020
I loved this book!

I loved this book! And I'm looking forward to reading the sequel. Thank you, MS. Osbourne, you are a talented author.
424 reviews2 followers
November 22, 2020
I liked the book. I can’t wait to read the next book. I liked Ellen she is a good character.
Profile Image for Laura.
1,179 reviews4 followers
June 21, 2023
I really enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Vikki Vaught.
Author 12 books159 followers
August 21, 2014
Another cute story about a young woman who decides she's had enough dealing with her demon horde of brothers and sisters. She chooses to marry Jesse, a newspaperman looking for a mail order bride. She arrives in Texas and finds out her groom has been killed. His brother, David asks her to marry him. But wait, there's a problem. David is a widower with four young boys. He convinces her they are well-behaved, and against her better judgment, she agrees to marry him, only to find out the two older boys are hellion of the first order.

I thoroughly enjoyed how Susan turns theses little boys around. This author has a way with writing about children. I do wish there was more interaction between David and Susan. As a romance it's a bit lacking. Also at 3.99 it's a bit expensive for 143 pages. I do notice that she has bundled some of her books together, but even at 7.99 for 399 pages is a bit steep. I'm not sure whether I'll continue to read on or not.
Profile Image for June.
1,542 reviews17 followers
February 26, 2013
The Brides of Beckham is a nice little short story series about Mail Order brides and the surprises they find when they arrive at their destination. There was sexual content, but otherwise, a fun little set of stories. If you read one, read them all. Simple stories. This bride chooses to marry the sort of man she swears she'll never marry. A Banker. It doesn't take long for her to realize that not all bankers are the same. She and her sister are to marry brothers. When they arrive, they both fall for the brother that they didn't choose through the letters. We learn quite a bit about the Bride Broker in this story as the sisters live with her for a while before getting on the train.
165 reviews5 followers
October 13, 2014
I liked Ellen, she is so giving and this book takes you through her journey to the man she loves although his career might be a problem based on Ellen's past.
I really liked this book, have read it several times
Profile Image for Annette K Hernandez.
355 reviews1 follower
April 25, 2015
Ellen and Patrick are great!

Ellen and her sister have just lost their father, the banker gives them three days to move out of their home. They get a paper to look for jobs and find an ad for mail order brides. There is where the story changes.
Profile Image for Sharon.
2,770 reviews7 followers
March 31, 2020
Ellen and Patrick - (goes with bk5 grooms are brothers and brides are sisters)
Loved this story that is well written with charismatic characters and witty dialogue. Their story has a satisfying HEA.
56 reviews3 followers
June 18, 2017
2 brides + 2 grooms

What happens when 2 Sisters and 2 brothers answer ads... hotly going to spoil the read let me just say hilarity ensues. This book is a companion book to mail order mistake... I absolutely love this author....
164 reviews
July 2, 2013
Good story idea but could have used more research of the time period and less mixing in of terms and phrases from today.
Profile Image for Shiela.
560 reviews1 follower
August 6, 2013
I enjoyed this series, Patrick and Ellen chose the right people to marry, everything worked out in the end.
Profile Image for Victoria Busby.
237 reviews3 followers
March 18, 2016
A good story

More in the series of mail-order bride stories. Each is a good story by itself or get lost in the series.
Profile Image for Sharon L. Mason.
29 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2016
Ellen in Mixed Up Brides

I absolutely moved this story! I loved the characters and the story plot and I am looking forward to the next one about her sister!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

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