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Brides of Beckham #11
Mail Order Misfit
Elaine had spent over half of her life walking with a cane and being treated as if she were made of glass. When she sees no other option, she sneaks out and goes to see the owner of the mail order bride agency in Beckham. She picks out a man who seems perfect for her, and travels to Kansas City to be his bride.
Colin goes to lunch at the restaurant in town to consider sending off for a mail order bride when he notices a beautiful woman limp into the establishment. During his unashamed eavesdropping, he hears that she's a mail order bride who is being rejected by the man she's come to marry. He jumps up immediately and asks the beautiful girl to be his bride. Will they be able to make things work? Or will her insecurities keep them from ever being truly happy?
Colin goes to lunch at the restaurant in town to consider sending off for a mail order bride when he notices a beautiful woman limp into the establishment. During his unashamed eavesdropping, he hears that she's a mail order bride who is being rejected by the man she's come to marry. He jumps up immediately and asks the beautiful girl to be his bride. Will they be able to make things work? Or will her insecurities keep them from ever being truly happy?
99 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2014
132 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
September 8, 2020
Ok, I dunno what’s going on, but it strongly feels like I’m reading a replica of Eye of the Beholder by Ruth Ann Nordin.
And trust me, if you a get a feeling like you’re reading another author’s Book that you’ve read before it’s not a good feeling and definitely not a reaction an author should be expecting of their readers!
I was going to say the book was carbon copied, in other word it’s plagiarism, and IP theft, however, I’m not going to be unkind. But let me just put it here, This book is hugely similar to pass it off as coincidence. I’m suggesting Osbourne was heavily influenced by Nordin’s book and she should have given credit to Nordin for inspiration.
And trust me, if you a get a feeling like you’re reading another author’s Book that you’ve read before it’s not a good feeling and definitely not a reaction an author should be expecting of their readers!
I was going to say the book was carbon copied, in other word it’s plagiarism, and IP theft, however, I’m not going to be unkind. But let me just put it here, This book is hugely similar to pass it off as coincidence. I’m suggesting Osbourne was heavily influenced by Nordin’s book and she should have given credit to Nordin for inspiration.
December 24, 2018
2.5 Stars
Mail Order Misfits is just ok, but still entertaining if you like the mail order bride genre. The voices of the H and h sound too modern, although it is hard for me to put my finger on why that is. I did wonder why Elaine did not get a shoe with a built up sole to acommodate for her shorter leg. That is a solution that was available in the 19th century.
Mail Order Misfits is just ok, but still entertaining if you like the mail order bride genre. The voices of the H and h sound too modern, although it is hard for me to put my finger on why that is. I did wonder why Elaine did not get a shoe with a built up sole to acommodate for her shorter leg. That is a solution that was available in the 19th century.
June 26, 2019
Mail Order Misfit is book 11 in the Brides of Beckham series. It was short and so very sweet. Elaine is a twenty-two year old woman who suffered an injury 12 years earlier that left her with a limp. She feels suffocated by her mother who refuses to allow Elaine to move on so she decides to become a Mail Order Bride. When Elaine arrives her soon to be husband is a terrible man who is disgusted with her disability and refuses to marry her. Colin needs a wife, he's tired of eating beans which is all he can make. He decides to go to the dinner for lunch and overhears what John is telling Elaine, so he decides to ask the beautiful young woman to marry him. Colin was such a wonderful man, he treated Elaine so well and was so appreciative to everything she did. I loved them together.
March 25, 2019
3.25 stars
September 25, 2024
Previously read May 30, 2017
April 17, 2018
Reviewed at Historically Romantic
Elaine had lived the life of a pampered daughter – not that she wanted that life, but it was certainly forced upon her by an overprotective mother. Elaine had been injured in a fall as a little girl. The broken leg was so bad that she limped from that time onward as the bone simply stopped growing leaving her one leg inches shorter than the other. As a result her mother made certain that nothing would ever happen to Elaine again – so she smothered her in embroidery and never allowed her to do anything physical… ever. Elaine was quietly going insane. If it weren’t for the family cook who encouraged her to sit in on cooking lessons and helping where she could Elaine would have felt totally useless. She knew she’d never marry for her mother didn’t allow her out of the house to meet anyone. Something had to change, and her one true friend in the household set that change in motion.
Mail Order Misfit is a touching story of standing up for yourself, proving your own worth to the person it matters most to… yourself. Elaine dodged a bullet when the man she came to Kansas to marry rejected her because of her limp. Life often works in odd ways because sitting at a nearby table was a young man who was just thinking about sending for a mail order bride. Colin knew the man who had been so rude and hateful to this young lady – and John Black was truly bad news. He took a chance and asked a beautiful, strong woman to marry him. After all, she’d come here to marry a stranger, he’d simply be a different stranger. To his surprise and delight Elaine said yes.
Elaine will come to know exactly what she is capable of, and it’s far more than even she had hoped for. Colin was a delightful character. Loving, a bit goofy at times, always showing his affection and determined to protect his bride. Elaine faced danger, she faced down her mother and she finally faced her own fears – and came out a winner. If you enjoy Western Historical Romance then I’d recommend Mail Order Misfit or any of the stories in the Brides of Beckham series.
I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Elaine had lived the life of a pampered daughter – not that she wanted that life, but it was certainly forced upon her by an overprotective mother. Elaine had been injured in a fall as a little girl. The broken leg was so bad that she limped from that time onward as the bone simply stopped growing leaving her one leg inches shorter than the other. As a result her mother made certain that nothing would ever happen to Elaine again – so she smothered her in embroidery and never allowed her to do anything physical… ever. Elaine was quietly going insane. If it weren’t for the family cook who encouraged her to sit in on cooking lessons and helping where she could Elaine would have felt totally useless. She knew she’d never marry for her mother didn’t allow her out of the house to meet anyone. Something had to change, and her one true friend in the household set that change in motion.
Mail Order Misfit is a touching story of standing up for yourself, proving your own worth to the person it matters most to… yourself. Elaine dodged a bullet when the man she came to Kansas to marry rejected her because of her limp. Life often works in odd ways because sitting at a nearby table was a young man who was just thinking about sending for a mail order bride. Colin knew the man who had been so rude and hateful to this young lady – and John Black was truly bad news. He took a chance and asked a beautiful, strong woman to marry him. After all, she’d come here to marry a stranger, he’d simply be a different stranger. To his surprise and delight Elaine said yes.
Elaine will come to know exactly what she is capable of, and it’s far more than even she had hoped for. Colin was a delightful character. Loving, a bit goofy at times, always showing his affection and determined to protect his bride. Elaine faced danger, she faced down her mother and she finally faced her own fears – and came out a winner. If you enjoy Western Historical Romance then I’d recommend Mail Order Misfit or any of the stories in the Brides of Beckham series.
I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
February 18, 2018
This book is about Elaine who goes to Kansas to become the bride of John Black. When John meets her he is very disappointed. Over lunch at a nearby restaurant he tells her he doesn't want to marry her because she didn't tell him she was a cripple. Colin who is setting at a nearby table overhears their conversation. He had been contemplating getting a mail order bride so after John storms off Colin walks over and introduces himself to Elaine and tells her he had overheard the conversation and suggests she marry him.
Like Kirsten Osbourne's other books, this one was hard to put down and I read it in one sitting. I highly recommend this book.
Like Kirsten Osbourne's other books, this one was hard to put down and I read it in one sitting. I highly recommend this book.
January 9, 2022
Mail Order Misfit
I have read several books in the Brides of Beckham series and have enjoyed reading them very much. This book is very well written with an engaging story line with relatable characters. Elaine is a beautiful mail order bride trying to prove her worth after a terrible accident. I did pounder why no one every thought to add hight to the bottom of her shoe to even out her walking. There were several typos or grammatical errors but they do not detract from the story at all. I would recommend this book and the series.
I have read several books in the Brides of Beckham series and have enjoyed reading them very much. This book is very well written with an engaging story line with relatable characters. Elaine is a beautiful mail order bride trying to prove her worth after a terrible accident. I did pounder why no one every thought to add hight to the bottom of her shoe to even out her walking. There were several typos or grammatical errors but they do not detract from the story at all. I would recommend this book and the series.
January 22, 2021
A well written story
I rarely give a romance five stars, as my background with classics provides much competition. But the premise --- that a person is "less" due to a physical impairment --- and the bride's resulting struggles are well presented. As she gains physical strength, she also develops self-esteem. And as a true romance novel, the best man wins, and her mother admits she was wrong.
I rarely give a romance five stars, as my background with classics provides much competition. But the premise --- that a person is "less" due to a physical impairment --- and the bride's resulting struggles are well presented. As she gains physical strength, she also develops self-esteem. And as a true romance novel, the best man wins, and her mother admits she was wrong.
January 4, 2024
A very sweet story full of family love and learning to love again through grief. The only issue I had and I know it’s showing the mindset of the time period but didn’t really need to be mentioned within this book that’s written in the modern day as it has no baring on the story is the 1 racist comment.
February 11, 2024
This was ok, it wasn’t super super well written and it could have been better with better pacing, characterization, etc. like I can’t tell you how annoying it was to hear her every five seconds talk about how she didn’t believe he loved her. But overall both characters were cute.
July 1, 2025
This is a meh for me. Some of the clunkiest dialogue I've read. Repetitive phrases and eye rolling logic. Didn't have enough spice to make it worthwhile. Really like this premise, but not the execution.
June 23, 2019
Very Nice Novella
This story is shorter than most of the Brides of Beckham series but packed full of details and interesting characters.
This story is shorter than most of the Brides of Beckham series but packed full of details and interesting characters.
August 5, 2021
Good book
February 21, 2022
It was kinda cute; nothing special; fade to black
May 22, 2022
Such a good book
June 30, 2022
Very stilted writing. No setting to the story other than saying it was Kansas. A disappointment.
March 22, 2024
A sweet story. Good characters, and storyline.
April 3, 2024
Fabulous book. I loved it.
September 9, 2024
A beautiful love story that will have you swooning!! Grab this book and enjoy the journey that Elaine and Collin must traverse before they can have their HEA!!
December 29, 2015
Mail-Order Misfit (Brides of Beckham #11)
By: Kristen Osbourne
4/5 stars
Elaine broke her leg as a child and it never healed correctly, leaving one leg shorter than the other and a noticeable limp for the rest of her life. Her mother has kept her confined to the house parlor working on embroidery and other things that aren’t taxing or dangerous. But when she was able, Elaine would sneak off to the kitchen to learn how to cook & do other household chores.
Elaine knew she had to leave her hometown, because her mother treated her like an invalid and that’s all that other people saw when they looked at her. So she became a mail-order bride. But when she arrived, her husband-to-be was mad that she had a disability and refused to marry her. Though she had the money to return home, she wanted to be independent and was thinking that she’d just get a job.
Colin overheard the discussion when his neighbor refused to marry Elaine, and he offered to take the man’s place and become her husband. Though Elaine had doubts as to why Colin would offer to marry her, she went ahead with it, determined to be the best wife possible. But Colin wants her to see her true worth as he knows it lies not in her abilities but her heart.
By: Kristen Osbourne
4/5 stars
Elaine broke her leg as a child and it never healed correctly, leaving one leg shorter than the other and a noticeable limp for the rest of her life. Her mother has kept her confined to the house parlor working on embroidery and other things that aren’t taxing or dangerous. But when she was able, Elaine would sneak off to the kitchen to learn how to cook & do other household chores.
Elaine knew she had to leave her hometown, because her mother treated her like an invalid and that’s all that other people saw when they looked at her. So she became a mail-order bride. But when she arrived, her husband-to-be was mad that she had a disability and refused to marry her. Though she had the money to return home, she wanted to be independent and was thinking that she’d just get a job.
Colin overheard the discussion when his neighbor refused to marry Elaine, and he offered to take the man’s place and become her husband. Though Elaine had doubts as to why Colin would offer to marry her, she went ahead with it, determined to be the best wife possible. But Colin wants her to see her true worth as he knows it lies not in her abilities but her heart.
June 26, 2015
Love for a women with a limp
When Harriet the matchmaker moves to Seattle to wed, she leaves the mail order bride agency to Elizabeth Miller, the sister of a previous mail order bride.
Elaine fell out of a tree when she was 10 years old. She damaged her leg and has walked with a limp ever since. Her mother has coddled her all these years, but thankfully Mrs. Jenkins, the cook has taught her much. She need to get away from her mother so that she can enjoy her life.
John Black writes to the agency and is matched with Elaine. Colin Monroe is thinking about it when Elaine comes to town and is rejected by John. He skips the intermediate steps and asks Elaine to marry him on the spot. Will John let things go?
This is a nice story about a woman with a disability. She doesn't let it hold her back. She is a good wife and hard worker. She obsesses because she cannot get down and scrub floors and mopping isn't good enough. I think that is the wrong message. Mopping is an accommodation. Good enough, especially since the farmer hadn't washed his own floors since his wife had dies years ago.
When Harriet the matchmaker moves to Seattle to wed, she leaves the mail order bride agency to Elizabeth Miller, the sister of a previous mail order bride.
Elaine fell out of a tree when she was 10 years old. She damaged her leg and has walked with a limp ever since. Her mother has coddled her all these years, but thankfully Mrs. Jenkins, the cook has taught her much. She need to get away from her mother so that she can enjoy her life.
John Black writes to the agency and is matched with Elaine. Colin Monroe is thinking about it when Elaine comes to town and is rejected by John. He skips the intermediate steps and asks Elaine to marry him on the spot. Will John let things go?
This is a nice story about a woman with a disability. She doesn't let it hold her back. She is a good wife and hard worker. She obsesses because she cannot get down and scrub floors and mopping isn't good enough. I think that is the wrong message. Mopping is an accommodation. Good enough, especially since the farmer hadn't washed his own floors since his wife had dies years ago.
June 11, 2016
Pretty good book, but also pretty standar theme. A girl with a limp and a very controlling mother sees her freedom in a mail order bride business. She accepts to be a mail order bride, but when her groom sees her limp he decides she is defective and doesn't want her. Another man that is tired of eating beans (the only thing he knows how to cook) hears about it and decides to take her as his bride, and since she is an excellent cook and a pretty lady he fall in love with her, but since all her life she's been told that she is useless, she feels worthless every time there's something she can't do by herself or she fails to meet her own crazy standards.
At the end, after weeks of Colin telling her how amazing she is and how beautiful she is, and her new friends telling her the same, and last after managing to defend herself from the bad guy, she finally acknowledges that she is not bad after all and that is possible for Colin to love her.
At the end, after weeks of Colin telling her how amazing she is and how beautiful she is, and her new friends telling her the same, and last after managing to defend herself from the bad guy, she finally acknowledges that she is not bad after all and that is possible for Colin to love her.
August 28, 2016
Elaine was injured as a child and now walks with a sever limp. Her mother is over protective and Elaine knows the only way she will ever be independent and have a life is if she gets away from her mother. The family cook helps her get in touch with a mail order agency and a few weeks later she finds herself headed to Kansas. Only when she gets there, her groom decides she lied to him and tells her to go back home. Lucky for her, Colin is sitting in the same restaurant lamenting that he doesn't have a wife and when he sees Elaine, she catches his attention. When John leaves, Colin talks Elaine into marrying him. They have to work through some issues, including Elaine thinking Colin just married her because he felt sorry for her. This was a fun story and it was fun to watch Elaine's confidence grow. This is book 11 of the Brides of Beckham.
April 20, 2014
Another fantastic read from the brides of beckham, I love that these characters they come to life, the stories or characters don't become repetitive as seems to happen with a lot of series.
Elaine is a girl on a mission. She needs and wants to be independent, wanted, loved and to prove she can live a full normal functioning life, but while she's living under her mother's care that won't happen....when she steps off the train and is met with not an ideal situation, she is not going to give up on her dream.
The lovely Colin helps her over come her insecurities and makes her see her for what she really is...
Wonderful read
Elaine is a girl on a mission. She needs and wants to be independent, wanted, loved and to prove she can live a full normal functioning life, but while she's living under her mother's care that won't happen....when she steps off the train and is met with not an ideal situation, she is not going to give up on her dream.
The lovely Colin helps her over come her insecurities and makes her see her for what she really is...
Wonderful read
June 10, 2015
Love the author's plot lines but the lack of editing makes them difficult to read. I'm not good at reviewing so my review will be the same for all the books from here on out. I read them all but wanted to take a red pen out all the way through. She did not spread "Flower" all over the kitchen while baking. (book 15) October to December does not equal " years" ( Book 11) A large cattle operation is a whole lot more than 40 acres. Some of the mistakes were just typos but quite a few were just careless research. I loved her characters but hated the lack of realism.
October 14, 2019
Love at first sight, wonderful story .Colin gets his wish miracle come true when He see Elaine and fall head over heel in love with here and luck was on both their sides when the person she actually was supposed to marry rejected her on sight but Colin didn’t waste a minute asking Elaine to marry him she accepted but her confidence was shaken by John’s rejection she realises later He isn’t a good man she would’ve never been happy with him and how lucky she is too be wed to Colin. A Beautiful story
October 4, 2015
Enjoyable, but....
This is an enjoyable read, but if you have read any of the other Brides of Beckham books, then you will recognize the same predictable storyline from the author. I can't imagine how hard it must be to write multiple books in a series, but I'm starting to get very bored by the same story over and over again with only a few changes to keep it interesting. If you've never read any of the series, you will probably like this story.
This is an enjoyable read, but if you have read any of the other Brides of Beckham books, then you will recognize the same predictable storyline from the author. I can't imagine how hard it must be to write multiple books in a series, but I'm starting to get very bored by the same story over and over again with only a few changes to keep it interesting. If you've never read any of the series, you will probably like this story.
January 11, 2022
Another great book from Kristen Osbourne. The story of a young lady who had an over protective mother who tried to wrap her in wool to protect her. Elaine was stubborn enough to try and fight for some form of independence. She found out about a Matchmaker and went to see her, later Elaine was able to get her father to agree to let her leave.
Her adventures began when see meet her intended and he didn’t want her. She meet Colin and he wanted her. But that’s when her adventure started
Her adventures began when see meet her intended and he didn’t want her. She meet Colin and he wanted her. But that’s when her adventure started
May 31, 2020
When mail order bride Elaine is rejected she has little to no hope. Colin is just sitting in the café just pondering a mail order bride. When the lovely Elaine enters the café, his heart is lost and he does not see her cane, just how beautiful she is. Looks like cupid's arrow has it its mark once again.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews