An Outlaw Bride: A Sweet Historical Western Romance

Crest Stone Mail-Order Brides #10

by Cat Cahill

The only place she can run is into the arms of one of the most eligible men in Crest Stone . . .

Family means everything to Isabella Sutcliffe. When her father and brothers are arrested, she’s determined to help them. But there’s something standing in her way—the law thinks there’s another Sutcliffe brother out there, one who got away. Except that “brother” is really Izzy. The only way she can find safety and a means to help her family is to become a mail-order bride.

Hale Darby and his sister have worked hard to ensure the success of their boardinghouse in Crest Stone. Ready to start a family, he takes a chance on placing an advertisement for a wife. When Isabella arrives, he’s smitten. She’s friendly, kind, and a hard worker. And yet, it’s clear she’s hiding something that worries her.

Izzy saw marriage as a means to an end, but now she finds herself falling in love with Hale. When she confesses her true identity and the reason why she married him, will that love be enough? Hale will have to decide whether to risk his own good name and the reputation of his business to help her—before it’s too late and he loses her forever.

An Outlaw Bride is the tenth book in the sweet and clean Crest Stone Mail-Order Brides series. It can be read as a standalone or enjoyed as part of the series. The Crest Stone Mail-Order Bride series is a spin-off of Cat's Gilbert Girls series, and many of your favorite characters appear in both series.

120 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2025

Reviews

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabella Sutcliffe's father was using his children to help him rob the wealthy. Isabella (Izzy) naively thought that it was to help the poor, telling herself, "Papa only took from people who deserved it." During the last robbery, her father and brothers are caught, but Izzy escapes. While the law is looking for another Sutcliffe brother, she realizes it's her that's being sought for the robbery. Where to hide? How to survive on her own? She soon answers a mail order bride ad and becomes Mrs. Hale Darby. What follows is a sweet, tender love story. Can 2 strangers become more, especially when 1 of them isn't truthful? I highly recommend this clean historical romance as well as the entire Crest Stone series. I received a complimentary ARC of this book and have given my honest opinion in this review.

[Phyllis Rundell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book #10 in the Crest Stone Mail Order Brides series and one of my favorites. This is Isabella ("Izzy") and Hale's story, and the character development is outstanding. Izzy in a ploy to protect herself decides her best and only choice is to become a mail order bride; Hale and his sister are running a very successful boarding house and Hale decides it is time to take a wife and Izzy becomes his MOB. Oh dear but what about the secret Izzy is harboring; what will happen when she confesses to Hale why she married him in the first place. Will Hale be able to help Izzy and will they be able to work through the deception to discover a HEA? Be sure and read this wonderful story to find out; I know you will enjoy it as much as I did.

[Sandra Sorola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Izzy, a young woman who believed in her family and her Papa. Isabella a young woman who felt she had to do everything to help her brothers and her Papa when they ended up in jail. How to help. Swindled by a lawyer, she chose to become a Mail order bride. Did she make the right decision to gain monetary help to hire a lawyer?
Hale, the owner of a Boarding house with his sister Tansy. What does he need in a wife? Isabella seems to fit his needs perfectly and she just might be falling in love! It was fun to see their story develop into something suspenseful yet beautiful.
This final book in the Crest Stone series is palpable. It has a life of it's own and you are going to love it! Get your copy now!

[Shonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great characters! A beautiful romance that starts out on kept secrets. Isabella is dedicated and loves her family to a fault. Her sweet innocence captured my heart and how strongly she loves is fearless. A great plot which is well written keeps you glued to the pages and well entertained. Some fun courting that will have you laughing and some serious discussions between Hale and Isabella will keep you rooting for a happy outcome for and her and her brothers. Looking forward to more books by Cat Cahill, a delightful and refreshing read!
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

heartwarming and perfect end to the series

Such a delight to read another HEA set in the fictional town in CO. And it being the book 10 in this particular series but connected with other ones like Gilbert Girls, it just felt like coming home.

I’d definitely recommend starting with book 1 or even Building Forever, because I think you’ll be extra blessed to see all other characters pop up here and have a much richer understanding of the little town and its life. However, even if you read it as a stand-alone novel, it’s still heartwarming, with easy and comfortable prose, lovable characters, and a plot that has a twist or two up the sleeve.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed visiting our friends in Crest Stone. I’ve been with them from the beginning, and it is hard to think about not visiting again. I guess that might be how families in the 1800’s felt when their daughters left home to move to a new territory and never knowing if you’d see them again. They had to depend on letters, but never hearing a beloved voice. This one seem particularly poignant. Izzy/Isabelle loved her father and brothers and saw marriage as a possible way to help them. There is just one major problem, her family are outlaws and currently in prison. Will her new husband help her clear her family or will he turn her in? A very enjoyable story.

[Lucia Valenzuela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this final book in the series. Isabella hates leaving her family behind and becomes a mail order bride. Haley’s such an interesting character. He is nervous about marrying and spends a lot of his time running the boarding house. They get along well but Isabella hasn’t told him about her past. I love his reaction when the bounty hunter shows up. Wonderful story about love and forgiveness.
I received this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.

[Jessie Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet

Izzy is such a naive and trusting girl. It was so wonderful that she met such a wonderful and understanding man in Hale. Lovely story. Please don't let the series end. Henry and Carter need their story told and have a happy ever after. Tansy will also need her happy ever after. Please reconsider. It's like losing a family member when the series end. Thanks for all of your great stories, I'm a big fan.

[Tabitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet and clean romance which I enjoyed for the most part.
Izzy is a very loyal daughter and sister. She does everything she can think of to rescue her family. While she seems very smart, she is greatly deceived by her father? I had a hard time understanding that, but otherwise enjoyed the book.

[Rhonda Sledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a way to finish off the Crest Stone series! Who would have thought about a wanted "man" becoming a mail-order bride? This is an excellent book!

[Abigail Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad to see the series end.

[Lana Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabella needed to find a safe, clean, respectable place to live after her father and brothers were arrested. She answers Hale Darby’s ad for a mail order bride. Hale and his sister run a boardinghouse. Isabella has another secret, too, that she needs to explain to her new husband. Will this end their marriage or make it stronger? Fantastic book, perfectly written, and sadly, last book of the Crest Stone Series. Don’t let it get away from you! ♥️📕🤗