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MAIL-ORDER BRIDES OF THE WEST: HEATHER - Book Four in the McCutcheon Family Series (Western Historical Romance)

Mail-order-bride-to-be Heather Stanford dreads the day the matron of the St. Louis bridal agency finds her a husband and sends her west. Heather actually has no desire to marry; she just wants to free her struggling family from the financial burden of another mouth to feed. Still, she holds true to her plan when the fateful day arrives and Mrs. Seymour sings the praises of her prospective groom. She girds herself to leave behind all she holds dear, and wonders if anyone can live up to the matron’s glowing description.

After a mill accident leaves Hayden Klinkner’s father injured, he’s faced with the challenge of a huge order to fill—short-handed—on a tight timeline. Further complicating matters, the handsome, dyed-in-the-wool bachelor discovers his meddling mother has a surprise to share with him—a wife! With the pressure he’s under, a wife--even one as lovely and suitable as Heather Stanford--is the last thing he needs. Y Knot, Montana is set abuzz when the “Mail-Order Bride Done Wrong” goes back on the market and every eligible man for miles around is interested. Hayden's eyes are now opened, but can he convince Heather he’s a changed man? Can he win back her heart before she says “I do” with someone else?

233 pages, Paperback

First published December 18, 2013

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493 people want to read

About the author

Caroline Fyffe

30 books628 followers
USA Today Bestselling Author Caroline Fyffe was born in Waco, Texas, the first of many towns she would call home during her father's career with the US Air Force. A horse aficionado from an early age, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications from California State University-Chico before launching what would become a twenty-year career as an equine photographer. She began writing fiction to pass the time during long days in the show arena, channeling her love of horses and the Old West into a series of Western historicals. Her debut novel, Where the Wind Blows, won the Romance Writers of America's prestigious Golden Heart Award as well as the Wisconsin RWA's Write Touch Readers' Award. She and her husband have two grown sons and live in the Pacific Northwest.

Visit Caroline at www.carolinefyffe.com
See her photographs at www.carolinefyffephoto.com
http://facebook.com/caroline.fyffe
Twitter @carolinefyffe
Write to her at caroline@carolinefyffe.com. She loves hearing from readers!

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5 stars
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3 stars
216 (11%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
Profile Image for Seon Ji (Dawn).
1,051 reviews276 followers
July 9, 2022
Really good.

Hayden and Heather's story.

Meddling mother orders a mail order bride for her only child Hayden. Hayden wasn't looking to get married. Long story short, the couple fell in love but hid their true feelings because they didn't think they were wanted by each other.

When the McCutcheon clan see how much Hayden and Heather secretly pine for each other, they come up with a plan to get them together.

Content concerns:
Profile Image for Julie Morales.
420 reviews1 follower
January 7, 2020
MATCHMAKING GONE WRONG

I'm not a huge fan of stories like these, where a meddling mother or some other relative writes, posing as a guy looking for a bride, but that's exactly what we have here, and even though these aren't my favorite mail-order bride type stories, this one is from the same bridal agency where Evie, from the last story, had worked, although Heather was a client. She was a different sort of client, though. She entered the bridal agency not even really wanting to find a husband, but her family was so large, she knew moving on would give her family one less mouth to feed, and as she hadn't been successful finding work, this was the only other option she thought she had. She didn't think she really wanted to get married, though, until the match actually happened and she heard about Hayden.
The problem was, Hayden hadn't written the letter asking for a bride...his mother had. Of course, that causes all sorts of trouble when Heather gets into town and finds that out, but she's determined to find work and make the best of it, and she does. She hasn't quite escaped the meddling, though, as her friend Evie cooks up a plan to make Hayden realize Heather really is the one for him. Heather isn't aware of this plan, though, so it seems like a bunch of scheming and gaming through most of the story. There was enough good action to keep me interested, though. Of course, we always have the happily-ever-after endings. That is, after all, why we read stories like these!
Profile Image for Cynthia.
2,097 reviews22 followers
September 5, 2015
The author shows another side to the mail-order brides that I am sure has happened a few times. It isn't all hearts and roses sometimes things happen out of your control that my leave the bride or groom waiting at the altar with no partner. As is the case for Heather she really has no choice but to be a mail order bride coming from a big family with so many mouths to feed and little money she decided this was the best choice for her since she could not find work. What she finds on coming to Montana is Hayden isn't interested in a bride, his mother wrote the letter which leaves Heather devastated. She came all this way after many lost nights of sleep wondering if this was the right decision for her. Now to have the man stand up and say I do not want a bride is just a little much for her. What does she do, where does this leave her and how will she make her way. Hayden feels bad but there is no way he is going to marry some women he has never met much less one he has. Plus she is one of those city women who doesn't know how to cook or take care of a family. He just doesn't have time to turn the princess into a small town girl. He has to much on his plate with the new mill order, his father hurt and the machine broken down he just cannot deal with more. Sorry sweetie but you are on your own....

Heather is a lovely girl who might be from the big city but she isn't any princess. Being the oldest she had to help at home taking care of all the other children. There isn't much this little lady can't do. if she sets her mind to it she will find a way. Hayden is about to be in for the shock of his life when this lady shows him a thing or two as she turns the tables on him. I really loved this character she is full of life, caring, she grabs the bull by the horn as she makes her way to a new life without a husband. Now she just has to tell her friends and family. She holds her head high as she takes the town by storm to show them just what a big city girl can do. Does this mean life is easy for her, no as a women back in this time making a living isn't easy. There will be many trying times as the men learn she is up for grabs and grab they do as she is come to be known as the mail order bride done wrong. You have never seen the likes of men coming out of the woodwork making a play for the lovely Heather. This woman has so much to give that every man in Montana comes running to see if they can make her his bride.

Hayden is a sweet man he doesn't like hurting anyone's feeling but dang it mother just should have kept her nose out of it. The whole town is up in arms over how wrong he did this pretty little lady when he had nothing to do with it. How much more can a man take, he has way to much to do to even deal with this beside he doesn't have time for a city women. What he finds on the first morning is this city women isn't anything like he thought. Man does he get his eyes open the more he sees the more he likes. When others make a play for her hand he finds he doesn't care to much for this. He turned her down now how can he turn this around without looking a fool. He has his hands full in more ways than one. There are a few more surprises in store for you that will keep you laughing and smiling all the way.

The narration is outstanding as Lara Asmundson takes you on the journey of Y Knots new mail order bride and the trying times that the author writes about. I just love Ms. Asmundson as a narrator she brings life to the story with her many different voices. If you have listened to other books in this series you know each character has its own voice and they keep the same one no matter how many books are written. Each emotion you can hear and feel as the narrator tells a story that will break your heart and then keep you laughing at the messes these two wonderful characters get into. Her tones are even, her emotions you can feel in her voice. She never leaves you guessing as to who said what or how they feel. There isn't any background noise nor any uneven tones. Just a smooth rich voice that flows easily. This narrator gives me what I come to expect a well told story that has me hook for the first page.

Ms. Fyffe brings so much to the mail order bride series as does Debra Holland. I know when I see Ms. Fyffe's name it is going to be a well told story which will make me sad, even shock at times. One thing I always count on no matter what she will have me laughing before long as she spins and twist her story taking her characters from one mess to another through misunderstanding as they work out what they truly feel. I had to laugh at how the town got involved and the men starting coming around from all over the state. I really felt for Heather so many men to trip over you can hardly move. I think I know how a worm feels when you throw him into a pond of a million fish with each one wanting a bite. Ms. Fyffe gives you stories you can relate to with wonderful characters you will love as she takes you back to a time when things in many ways were simpler, when family meant respect, love, honor, hard work but life was good when you had your family working alongside you before life became the fast lane of high tech. If you haven't read any of the mail order brides series I suggest you start with one of Ms. Fyffe's you won't be sorry.
Profile Image for Lucimar.
569 reviews13 followers
October 13, 2021
2,3
Embora o enredo seja bom, o romance demora acontecer.
Mocinho indeciso e eu gostei mais da personalidade dela. Forte e resoluta.

Muitos personagens na história me incomodaram, embora tivesse uns personagens interessantes como a June e o irmão da mocinha- porém o romance andou longe...
Profile Image for Fayley.
208 reviews19 followers
June 29, 2014
Normally I don't review the romances I read unless they are really good, but I just had to say something right now. Was it written by an interfering mother-in-law? Probably not, maybe she is lovely, but how else can I explain her crazy treatment of the hero's mother? First her poor adult son was afraid to move away and hurt his mothers feelings so he builds his house adjoining hers! The mother could only have 1 child and instead of enriching and living her own life, she tries to live vicariously through her son so that she can have more children (ie grandchildren through him). She practically admitted that she would take them for herself. She fraudulently pretended to be her son and tricked a woman into wasting her savings to come out and marry. When the woman discovers the lying fraud she isn't angry and doesn't blame the mother at all and they become fast friends. What? No, any normal person would be furious and rightly so. Sounds like author wish fulfillment to me.
Profile Image for Haley Whitehall.
Author 35 books67 followers
May 1, 2015
I have enjoyed the sweet historical romances in the Mail Order Brides of the West series. However, after reading several they are all starting to sound very similar. After meeting Hayden in Evie's book I was curious who his bride would be. Heather was the answer. Unfortunately, the story was very predictable and I never really felt the romance building between the two. I almost wish Heather had chosen Roady.

Following the format of previous books, this western romance does have a Christian bent without being preachy. I appreciated that. I'm looking forward to another mail order bride book written by Debra Holland. Maybe she can freshen things up.
Profile Image for Annette K Hernandez.
355 reviews1 follower
July 17, 2014
The "hero" was a jerk!

The "hero" was a jerk!

The hero's mom wanted a kids so bad that she ordered a bride for her son. it didn't work our, the son didn't want a wife, but by the end of the story, he had a change of heart and they were married and very happy.
Profile Image for Kathy Heare Watts.
6,954 reviews175 followers
October 19, 2018
EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON

The story is another great addition to not only the McCutcheon series but also the Mail-Order Brides of the West series. The story will have characters that have been met in each of the series and some new characters but will read well as a stand-alone story too.

The plot will have Heather Stanford as a mail-order bride at the St. Louis Bridal Agency being matched up with Hayden Klinkner of Y Knot, Montana. In reality, Heather isn't as interested in being a bride as she would like to find a job to help out her family in St. Louis. She will agree to the match and leave her family behind and arrive in Y Knot without Hayden showing up to meet her stage. It won't take long for her to become alarmed, and then Ina, Hayden's mother, comes to meet her bring her back to her home.

Arriving with Ina at the lumber mill, and finding chaos with an accident that has seriously injured Mr. Klinkner will have Heather stepping in to help the Deputy and Hayden get Norman inside and then assisting the doctor. She proves she is resourceful and has a level head on her shoulders. She is dismayed at how Hayden treats her, acting as if he has no clue who she is or why she is there.

What a shock to learn that it wasn't Hayden who sent for a mail-order bride, but instead, Ina, and then the phrases in the letter makes more sense. Now, what is Heather to do? Hayden really wasn't planning on marrying anytime soon. Ina is distraught over the accident; Norman is unable to work at the lumber mill, Hayden has the burden of making a deadline on a large order and dealing with a female isn't in his plans, and Heather is a jilted mail-order bride without a clue as to what will happen to her.

Heather once again proves her worth; she lines up multiple jobs in town, makes a deal with the boarding house for reduced rates by helping with the cooking and cleaning, she works with the towns Doctor and does bookkeeping for the mercantile owner. When word gets out that there is a jilted mail-order bride in Y Knot, the letters and offers of marriage start pouring in, to the point that Heather is overwhelmed and refusing to read any of the letters.

I love the letter exchanges between Heather and mail-order bride, Lina, and the face to face interaction with former friend and bride of Chance Holcomb, Evie (book three in this series.) What a shock too when Morgan, one of Heather's older brothers shows up in Y Knot and becomes a hero in himself.

Will Hayden regret his decision to not accept Heather as a bride? She may be from the city of St. Louis, but she isn't pretentious, is a great cook, has a sweet spirit, not afraid of hard work, and not only that, he can't quit thinking about her. Listening to the other men talking about Heather, how they think she is up for grabs doesn't sit well with him, or seeing her going out with Roady either. Is it too late for them? What will it take to win her love? Will life become a guessing game of 'what ifs and if only's? '

The story has a great cast of characters and I the reality of the hardships for large families, with so many mouths to feed that it takes sacrifices to survive. Heather, as the oldest girl, can't find work to help her mother and siblings decides being a mail-order bride is the only other option. Will this be a marriage of convenience or will it be a marriage of love? But first, she has to have a groom who wants to be married to her. Has her heart set on Hayden? Will she accept another or hope and pray that everything will work out?
700 reviews7 followers
May 11, 2020
This book is not about the McCutcheon family

A bit of a non starter for me I'm afraid. These titles are misleading being under the umbrella of McCutcheon series, when they only pay lip service by inserting a McCutcheon on the periphery.
Heather has turned up as a mail order bride in the town of Y Knot, Montana for Hayden Klinkner, who along with his father owns and works in the lumber mill. The problem is that Hayden did not send for her...his mother did, unbeknownst to him. He rejects her which leaves Heather open to every single man out there.
Profile Image for HR-ML.
1,270 reviews54 followers
October 21, 2022
St. Louis Mo. & then Montana territory 1886. This
kisses-only western MOB rom was better than book #1,
but I felt the formula.

Heather was 1 of 10 kids, her mom & family scraping by.
She & oldest sibs, now adults. Hayden wrote: encouraging
her to be his MOB. Turns out his mom arranged this
instead. Her big bro Morgan showed up to help. After
Heather landed 3+ jobs in town. A nice twist-several men
encouraged this romance. However, this story did not
re-invent the romance wheel. We saw Hayden clueless
for too much of the story.
Profile Image for N.W. Moors.
Author 12 books159 followers
November 24, 2022
Heather doesn't want to be married but wanting to be less of a burden on her large family, she signs up to be a mail-order bride. Hayden's mother wants grandchildren, so she sends away for a wife for him, but when Heather arrives, he rejects her, so every eligible male for miles around decides they want the jilted bride.
This was a very satisfying mail-order bride story. Heather and Hayden are fun to watch as they gradually overcome their objections and fall in love. The hi-jinks in the town around them and getting to see other characters from the series also adds to the reader's enjoyment.
417 reviews
January 16, 2018
Lots of Interesting Characters

This book combines characters from Sweetwater Springs, Mail-Order Brides of the West, and the McCutcheon Family. The action moves right along keeping you interested. The dangers are typical of the West in the late 1800s. The angst isn't over-blown and doesn't drag on. A very enjoyable book!
Profile Image for tonette maples.
47 reviews
December 23, 2020
Mail-Order Brides of the West:Heather ( McCarthy

Heather was a mail order bride didn't want a husband and wanted to one less mouth to feed. Handen was a bacalor who wanted to be single the rest of his day running the mill. His mom had different ideals send for Heather and sparks fly.
Profile Image for Kathy.
1,699 reviews5 followers
March 27, 2022
Heather travels in response to a mail order bride letter. The problem is that Hayden’s mother wrote the letter. He has no plans to marry. When she arrived there was an explosion which broke Haden’s father’s leg. Heather helped out the family until they were sure his father would live. Then she decided to move to town and find a job. Enjoyable book.
108 reviews
September 6, 2025
Mother knows best, even in the West

The dilemma of being mail order bride. At least Heather knew and trusted the report the lady who ran the Mail order business for brides could be trusted. But would it work? What if they hated each other? Will love make it to the finish line??
Profile Image for Debbi.
1,010 reviews
July 26, 2017
Heather is at the agency brushing up on her domestic skills but she is hoping the matron does not find her a match. She's only there to save her family from feeding her. But match her they do and out to Montana she goes but what a shock she finds when she gets there! A short, fun read.
Profile Image for Tammy Rolle.
360 reviews6 followers
July 29, 2017
You can't go wrong with a Caroline Fyffe novel. Her leading ladies represent the best of the west. It's western romance with a backbone. Heather knows what she wants in like and and refuses to be someone's maybe. Always ready to read her books, and look forward to many more to come.
Profile Image for Kathy Brickert.
3,461 reviews18 followers
December 29, 2018
Excellent

Wonderful story about finding love in the old west! A mail order brides that doesn't go right, which you have to know sometimes they didnt! Humorous and light hearted reading, keeps your interest! Great read!
3,586 reviews16 followers
July 11, 2020
Loved this series!

This series is well written and lots of sweet romance! This one had me wondering for a while but turned out perfect! I hope Morgan and the horseshoer need up with a book of their own!
Profile Image for suzy.
827 reviews2 followers
November 25, 2022
Least favourite in the series so far. Hayden and Heather weren’t together for much of the book, not a lot of interaction between the main couple, which is what has made all the other books very good. Still a sweet story. Look forward to book four.
Profile Image for Ashley Lavering.
Author 10 books125 followers
May 11, 2023
Not my favorite

This one wasn't my favorite and we didn't have enough time in there love story towards the end to feel like all would be well. However I really liked her brother and June. That was funny.
295 reviews1 follower
May 15, 2023
Heather's Story, Another good read!

Another of the girls sent off to marry! This completes a circle I have been waiting to see close with the McCutcheon acquaintances. So glad this FINALLY😉 happened in the end! I love these stories.
311 reviews
June 14, 2018
Heather!

This was a fun read. and I enjoyed reading it. It was fun watching the town get involved in this.
40 reviews
July 24, 2018
So far this is awesome series. I'm on #5 and I just love the characters in each book.
2 reviews
September 21, 2018
Great books.

I love this series of books. Makes w s by to experience something like this. It is a well writen book.


Profile Image for THal.
51 reviews1 follower
November 6, 2018
Once again, I loved the romance & suspense of this novel!
830 reviews
November 3, 2019
Good read

I have often wondered why men are so Thick in the head, well at least the prospective groom finally woke up 😁 Enjoy 💜
Profile Image for Library K.
498 reviews
December 7, 2020
Clean Romance: Typical of genre. Enjoy the McCutcheon Family and Y Knot for a quick, easy read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews

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