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Brides of Beckham #14

Mail Order Misfortune

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When Anna arrives to meet her groom two weeks later than expected, she is more than a little surprised to find him already married. It's just her luck that she finds his new wife to be one of the sweetest women she's ever met. She reluctantly takes on the role of teacher for her new community, hoping that she will be able to make a place for herself there.

Jesse moves to Wiggieville, Texas, with his young son, hoping the two of them can leave his son's mischievous reputation behind. When he's called in for a meeting with the schoolteacher, he's shocked when she berates him for the way he's raising his son. After getting her fired, he does the only thing he knows to do, but will he ever find a peaceful life with the little spitfire?

126 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 7, 2014

103 people are currently reading
137 people want to read

About the author

Kirsten Osbourne

335 books509 followers

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5 stars
326 (50%)
4 stars
189 (29%)
3 stars
101 (15%)
2 stars
21 (3%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Nancy.
391 reviews
February 24, 2018
Anna Simmons, an orphan, headed to Wiggieville, Texas to marry Thomas Harding. When she arrived she found out there was a mix-up and Thomas had married another Miss Simmons. Since the other Miss Simmons was supposed to be the teacher, and they didn't allow married women to be teachers, and Anna had been a teacher she was hired as the new teacher.

When Anna had a problem with a student she sent a note home to his father requesting a meeting after school. When Jesse Hoover got to the school for the meeting they got into an argument and Jesse pulled her to him and kissed her. One of the other students had come back to the school to give the teacher some flowers and saw Jesse and Anna kissing. That student told her father and he in turn told the school board member, Mr. Hanson. Mr. Hanson then fired Anna.

Anna is at wits end trying to figure out what she is going to do now that she is homeless and jobless. She checks to see if anyone has placed a help wanted ad and finds out there is a man who needs a housekeeper. She goes to see that man and finds out he is the same guy who kissed her in the school. Needing a job but because of proprieties she knows she can't take it because a single woman should never be alone with a man. Jesse says he will marry her but won't love her because he will always love his deceased wife.

You will need to read this book to find out how these two finally make things work. This is a very good book.
Profile Image for Marsha Keeper Bookshelf.
4,290 reviews88 followers
July 22, 2018
Reviewed at Historically Romantic

I find myself in an unusual place with the Brides of Beckham series. I’ve loved the series, overlooked editing problems because I focus on the story. Yet with Mail Order Misfortune I find myself really, really disliking the Hero. Let’s be blunt. I find Jesse to be an arrogant, full of himself, self-absorbed jerk for 9/10ths of this story. Loved Anna’s portion of the story, even got to eventually like little Ernie but Jesse. No. Just no. So this time around I’m simply going to say that while I enjoyed the premise of this story and some characters this one falls into that “good book” category where I didn’t hate it, didn’t love it but still could be entertained by the story.

This reaction is unusual for me for I can normally find something that will make a character redeemable to me. I couldn’t do that with Jesse no matter what I tried. So, I’m simply moving on to the next story. And wish Anna a good life with the man she loves.

I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Profile Image for Lindsay Bray.
515 reviews
February 27, 2021
My Rating: 3.5 Rounded Down To 3 STARS

My Review: I’ve been really loving mail order bride stories, I can’t seem to get enough of them. This was a fairly short but good, historical romance. The plot felt a little choppy at the beginning but it was still an enjoyable read. I liked the characters, Anna and Jesse were perfect for each other. My Rating was brought down a bit from the writing. There were a few grammatical issues that were a annoying and created a bit of confusion.
Profile Image for Laura.
1,193 reviews4 followers
April 10, 2024
Excellent book. I loved it.
417 reviews
June 29, 2019
Nice Novella

Although the books in this series are stand alone,I highly recommend you read the story before this Mail Order Misunderstanding it tells the story of Tom and Julia messing up Anna's plans to marry Tom.
Profile Image for Cindy.
2,010 reviews39 followers
July 3, 2017
Another great series by Osbourne. She brings her great sense of humor into every story and I love the way her characters and series overlap.
Profile Image for Kathy .
1,303 reviews3 followers
June 19, 2015
Didn't finish it

It is rare that I don't finish a book but this one was a big disappointment. There were editing errors like when Jesse mentions his wife "Anna" dying when Anna is the current wife and Deborah the deceased. I was also annoyed by the immaturity of the adult characters. Jesse only kisses Anna when he's mad and he is rude and disrespectful, yet almost from the beginning Anna says she knows he will make her a good husband. Then there is the super woman aspect.... The house is filthy, all the clothes need washing and mending and she has it all done in a day and a half. Plus she can make 6 different kinds of cookies in between making breakfast and preparing lunch not to mention have the material cut out and ready for several shirts and pants. I know this is a novella, but reality shouldn't be totally suspended. I much prefer it when these stories have a more realistic feel. If this had been the first book I had read by this author I wouldn't read another.
Profile Image for Kathleen.
22 reviews3 followers
July 8, 2014
Sometimes a mix up is a good thingf

where to start? I've read every book in the series. And I thought it would grow old but I just keep going for more! I love how characters are incorporated from other books in the series! (demon horde) demon spawn! And Elizabeth too! Anna is small but has a lot of energy and pep! Her friend Julia was right about it not taking long,the energy and vibs were very present. And love,well you know how that is. And someone having the nerve to come on someone's property and call them a harlot,it just makes any man lose his mind. From the first kiss they were both goners!
99 reviews
November 7, 2016
Enjoyable stories

I have been working my way through the whole series this last week. I enjoy the fact that they don't take hours and hours to read, because I would read that long and get nothing else done! My only real negative comment is the poor editing. Names being mixed up, words misspelled. It doesn't ruin the enjoyment of reading the books, it just catches me by surprise sometimes and I find it curious that there are so many little errors. Isn't that what editors are for? Or are these self-published? Perhaps slowing down in terms of quantity to improve quality? But I won't quit reading them just because of something like that. I truly do enjoy the stories.
15 reviews
December 5, 2016
I needed more

I just couldn't like him. Not only was he a very poor husband, he allowed another man to abuse her and he did nothing. I'm sorry but a man keeps calling your wife a w.h.o.r.e and he does nothing. The man was going to take a belt to both your son and wife and you hit him once. Same man then manhandles your wife calling her names again and you just tell him to leave.

This is not a man. I mean he even called his wife a w.h.o.r.e because he forced himself on her and she didn't stop him.

I need more romance. You say is going to court her like she deserves and one time he picked flowers. Wow such romance, that us all she deserved.
39 reviews
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.
Profile Image for Jeene Hobbs.
558 reviews1 follower
June 28, 2015
Two schoolteachers named Simmons get off the train

Anna Simmons is tried of teaching and decides to be a mail order bride to Texas. Julia Simmons is supposed to be the next schoolteacher in the small Texas town. There is a mixup.

Jesse Hoover is a new rancher who needs a cook and housekeeper, but does not want a wife.

Can Jesse and Anna make a business only marriage work?

I rated this lower than some others in the series because I get tired of reading about all the misgivings and mental turbulence that goes on with some characters.

Profile Image for Liz melia.
127 reviews2 followers
September 22, 2014
Didn't disappoint

if you love the brides of Beckham, Anna's story will keep you happy, shy young woman who makes trip to be a mail order bride only to discover her groom has married someone else...what does she do now?

he agreed to marry a man to save her reputation, can they will themselves to have a real marriage
Profile Image for Annette K Hernandez.
355 reviews1 follower
May 1, 2015
Love for an orphan.

Anne decided to be a mail order bride because she hated teaching unruly children. She goes to Texas only to find out that her fiancee married someone else. She has no choice but to become a teacher again. The Monday of her third week, she got her first unruly student, when she sent a note home, she met her future husband.
93 reviews3 followers
July 12, 2014
Short read pretty good, but I paid $3 for a book that is not even 100 pages long, just the other week I brought a book that was 99¢ and it was 200 + pages what a joke these authors are becoming. It is like it is more about money thea really good book( long book).
Profile Image for Marcia.
153 reviews12 followers
September 7, 2014
Sweet romance belongs on hallmark channel

This follows the authors formula if you like her books you will like this one. if you are looking for steam move on. Another cute mail order bride finds her bride although not the man she thought.
24 reviews1 follower
July 9, 2014
Another mixup

Every book in this series is so enjoyable, and heartwarming! I cannot put this book down until I finished. These stories always me feel good.
2 reviews1 follower
July 12, 2014
A sweet love story.

A good story to read on any day, thank you Kirsten Osbourne. It was exciting and heartwarming. I have enjoyed all the Mail order books.
Profile Image for Patti.
1,454 reviews10 followers
September 10, 2024
A very enjoyable love story that you will not be able to put down!! Grab this book and enjoy the journey that Anna and Jesse have to take to get to their HEA!! A quick read but very enjoyable!!
Profile Image for Victoria Busby.
237 reviews3 followers
March 28, 2016
Sweet story

Such a good story about a mail-order bride. A teacher who grew up in an orphanage has a mix up when she is late arriving to meet her new husband.
Profile Image for Sharon.
2,770 reviews7 followers
March 31, 2020
Anne and Jesse-
Loved this story that is well written with charismatic characters and witty dialogue. Their story has a satisfying HEA.
288 reviews4 followers
May 21, 2016
As Above

This was A Wonderful Story All The Way. So I guess this makes up for the Two I was disappointed with.
Thank You
Shirley Ketcham
11 reviews
September 20, 2016
Love it

I can always count on having a smile on my face when I finish reading one of the BOB books.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

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