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Mail-Order Cowboy: Hopeful Husbands
Anders was ready to settle down, and thoughts of a wife and family were more appealing every hour he spent on a dusty trail. He was confident he could find another job, knowing all about ranching and most about farming. But he would never find a wife while following behind a herd of cattle. It was time for a change.
Justine had taken over her father’s ranch, trying to fulfill plans they had always dreamed of. Her foreman didn’t want to take orders from a woman and didn’t take her seriously about anything. Men showed up on her doorstep proposing marriage, with true intentions of marrying her ranch...not her. No thank you. If she ever did marry, it would be for love, and the man wouldn’t know about her money beforehand.
A sense of foreboding led her to find she was being sabotaged. Her foreman scoffed she was over-reacting. The situation went from foreboding to deadly dangerous...
She needed a husband quickly; someone who knew every aspect of ranching that she could trust with her heart.
She needed a Mail-Order Cowboy.
Justine had taken over her father’s ranch, trying to fulfill plans they had always dreamed of. Her foreman didn’t want to take orders from a woman and didn’t take her seriously about anything. Men showed up on her doorstep proposing marriage, with true intentions of marrying her ranch...not her. No thank you. If she ever did marry, it would be for love, and the man wouldn’t know about her money beforehand.
A sense of foreboding led her to find she was being sabotaged. Her foreman scoffed she was over-reacting. The situation went from foreboding to deadly dangerous...
She needed a husband quickly; someone who knew every aspect of ranching that she could trust with her heart.
She needed a Mail-Order Cowboy.
187 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 19, 2025
10 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Lynne Lanning
55 books44 followersLynne Lanning has such an effortless way of evoking emotion from her readers. Her characters are so realistic that the reader can feel their pain during trials and their joy during triumphs. Reviews state: "...it's as if Mrs. Lanning lived through this herself." "Couldn't put it down..." "A real page turner." Lynne enjoys turning history and her love of God into enjoyable, relatable stories with practical life lessons that can benefit people today. Each story tells of true bonds of love and loyalty, mixed with tough times and decisions, with a twist of humor and sometimes devastation...the same is true in life. With a blend of her own family members and heritage along with lots of fiction, it's hard to tell where reality stops and fantasy begins.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 6, 2025
what a wonderful heartwarming story. This book shows just how hard it was to be an unmarried woman ranch owner. Trusting the Lord to guide her is the best thing she can do while taking steps to insure she doesn't loose control of the ranch.
June 1, 2025
I loved this book. It’s a story of a strong woman who does what she has to do to prove herself
It was a well written story that I hope will become a series and feature the other characters
It was a well written story that I hope will become a series and feature the other characters
November 26, 2025
What can I say about the book, Mail Order Cowboy, but that it was fantastic. From the first page to the last page, you will be drawn into a story, that will immerse you into the life of a cowboy and a ranch owner. Justine is trying to keep her ranch afloat, since her Father's death, with her cousin, but something isn't right. She doesn't trust her foreman and everyone says she should marry. A woman hasn't the brains to run a ranch, it's a man's job. Well, Justine will show them. She is smart enough to know that she needs help and looks for a mail order husband. Anders is ready to settle down and give up the trail work, but not sure about marriage. He arrives just in time to help Justine. The story doesn't end there, but you have to read the story to see what happens next. Loved the characters and storyline.
I was given an ARC of this book by the author for an honest review.
I was given an ARC of this book by the author for an honest review.
July 4, 2025
LEANING ON FAITH
The story is part of the Honorable/Healing/Hopeful Husbands, a multi-author series. Each story is a stand-alone and can be read in any order. These are clean, Western historical tales in which mitigating circumstances result in couples seeking a mail-order spouse.
Justine Merriweather and her cousin, Corrine, have been struggling since the death of her father. While her father trusted Dean, the foreman, to run Merriweather Ranch, the ladies are very suspicious of the lack of work being accomplished and the dribble told to them. It will be a joint effort of the girls to go out on a limb and write to a matrimonial agency for a husband.
“Matrimonial Agency. Guaranteed Results. Full Service on References. Confidential. If you’re looking for anyone from a mountain man or a fine gentleman, a lumberjack, or a handyman, we can find the perfect match for you. No failed matches in fifteen years of service.”
Anders and Trent have been away on another cattle drive. While they love the ranch they have worked at, Anders wants more out of life—a wife, and a place of his own. Anders finds an ad that catches his attention and writes, and before long, he and a woman are communicating via the agency.
The story was a page-turning event that kept me in suspense and entertained as it unfolded. Justine and Corrine are at the mercy of Dean and his vagueness, and they must come up with excuses to make a difference. Rather than let her take the money to pay the men and get supplies, she uses the list from the ledgers and buys the supplies herself, having them loaded in the wagon. When the holidays are coming around, they bake plenty of pies to take to the bunkhouse, only to hear falsehoods told about what happened to her, and excess spending, which leads the girls to know things are questionable. Talking to the Marshal, and will have him contact the county Sheriff to begin a deeper investigation.
The story does have moments of life and death danger, with a blizzard that puts the girls in jeopardy with not enough wood and no help. The letter writing between Anders and Justine starts out guarded, more about the ranch, but eventually, more of the situation will come into play. I really enjoyed the story and how both Anders and Justine were Christians who trusted God in prayer.
The story is part of the Honorable/Healing/Hopeful Husbands, a multi-author series. Each story is a stand-alone and can be read in any order. These are clean, Western historical tales in which mitigating circumstances result in couples seeking a mail-order spouse.
Justine Merriweather and her cousin, Corrine, have been struggling since the death of her father. While her father trusted Dean, the foreman, to run Merriweather Ranch, the ladies are very suspicious of the lack of work being accomplished and the dribble told to them. It will be a joint effort of the girls to go out on a limb and write to a matrimonial agency for a husband.
“Matrimonial Agency. Guaranteed Results. Full Service on References. Confidential. If you’re looking for anyone from a mountain man or a fine gentleman, a lumberjack, or a handyman, we can find the perfect match for you. No failed matches in fifteen years of service.”
Anders and Trent have been away on another cattle drive. While they love the ranch they have worked at, Anders wants more out of life—a wife, and a place of his own. Anders finds an ad that catches his attention and writes, and before long, he and a woman are communicating via the agency.
The story was a page-turning event that kept me in suspense and entertained as it unfolded. Justine and Corrine are at the mercy of Dean and his vagueness, and they must come up with excuses to make a difference. Rather than let her take the money to pay the men and get supplies, she uses the list from the ledgers and buys the supplies herself, having them loaded in the wagon. When the holidays are coming around, they bake plenty of pies to take to the bunkhouse, only to hear falsehoods told about what happened to her, and excess spending, which leads the girls to know things are questionable. Talking to the Marshal, and will have him contact the county Sheriff to begin a deeper investigation.
The story does have moments of life and death danger, with a blizzard that puts the girls in jeopardy with not enough wood and no help. The letter writing between Anders and Justine starts out guarded, more about the ranch, but eventually, more of the situation will come into play. I really enjoyed the story and how both Anders and Justine were Christians who trusted God in prayer.
June 21, 2025
Justine was left her father’s land and cattle after his passing. She has a few ranch hands to help her, but something starts feeling “off”. She takes over the ledger from the foreman and sees LOTS of issues-such as where is the money from the sale of several hundred head of cattle recorded? Many more things were not listed. She decides she can’t run this place alone-there’s beginning to be not much left and the men have absolutely no respect for her. So, she sends off for a strong, fearless man, and lets him know there is trouble on her ranch. Anders has been wanting to settle down, marry, have children, etc. When he reads Justine’s letter, he feels an urgent pull on his heart. So, he and his best friend go to her ranch, getting law enforcement behind them, as he had read all of the details about the circumstances from Justine, and he knew it was going to take more men and the power behind a badge to take down this predator who was stealing from her, and possibly planning to take her home by whatever means necessary. What an exciting, romantic book!! You really need to get to get this book and read about all of the exciting things that happen! I did receive an early copy of the book and this is my honest review. ♥️
June 26, 2025
If you're looking for a book that will truly capture your heart and keep you on the edge of your seat, look no further than ***Mail-Order Cowboy; Hopeful Husbands*** by Lynne Lanning. This captivating tale follows Justine and Ander, whose lives intertwine in a way that is both exciting and emotional.
Justine's challenging situation on her ranch leads her to boldly advertise for a mail-order husband. The tension and struggles she has with her ruthless foreman, Dean, creates action and adventure that will keep you turning the pages and on the edge of your seat. Enter - Anders, finally arriving as her mail-order husband, creates further action and more adventure.
Lanning masterfully weaves a story that tests the faith of both Justine and Ander, leading to a heartwarming conclusion that will leave you feeling inspired and hopeful. With its perfect blend of action and romance, this book is an absolute page-turner that you won't want to put down.
Don't miss out on this unforgettable reading experience. I highly recommend you dive into this enchanting story—your heart will thank you!
Justine's challenging situation on her ranch leads her to boldly advertise for a mail-order husband. The tension and struggles she has with her ruthless foreman, Dean, creates action and adventure that will keep you turning the pages and on the edge of your seat. Enter - Anders, finally arriving as her mail-order husband, creates further action and more adventure.
Lanning masterfully weaves a story that tests the faith of both Justine and Ander, leading to a heartwarming conclusion that will leave you feeling inspired and hopeful. With its perfect blend of action and romance, this book is an absolute page-turner that you won't want to put down.
Don't miss out on this unforgettable reading experience. I highly recommend you dive into this enchanting story—your heart will thank you!
July 4, 2025
Justine has taken over her father's ranch since he passed away. Dean, the ranch foreman, has been acting shady and Justine can't get him to take her seriously. She and her cousin, Coreen, talk and decide the best thing for Justine to do is to get a mail-order husband. Anders works on a cattle ranch in Kansas herding cattle but is ready for marriage and a safer job like farming or ranching. He sees ads in the paper for mail-order marriage company and decides to apply. This is how Anders and Justine meet. Through a few letters and much prayer and faith, Anders decides he is at least taking a job at Justine's ranch with possible marriage. As Anders learns more about the ranch and what is going on, he knows it is the place he needs to be but they (he and his friend, Trent) have to wait until the worst of winter is over before they can travel to the town near Justine's ranch. This wonderful story has suspense and shows how faith in God can help us through. It has a HEA ending for both Justine and Coreen. I so recommend this wonderful book.
June 14, 2025
Mail-Order Cowboy 🤠 by Lynne Lanning ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Another great addition to the Hopeful Husbands series. All stand alone so you can read them in any order and I highly recommend you read them ALL.
I always say I was born in the wrong century. I love how the world seems so much better than today but it has its challenges to. Women were considered baby mommas and could not own land or businesses. You will read about that in this book. Justine was trying to save her ranch her daddy left her, cause her foreman was a sneaky bully. He mad my face turned heated.
Can she save her ranch? Will she do it alone or will she have help? Will she get her Mail order cowboy?
Pre-order your copy today you'll only have a few weeks to wait. It releases June 19th 2025
Another great addition to the Hopeful Husbands series. All stand alone so you can read them in any order and I highly recommend you read them ALL.
I always say I was born in the wrong century. I love how the world seems so much better than today but it has its challenges to. Women were considered baby mommas and could not own land or businesses. You will read about that in this book. Justine was trying to save her ranch her daddy left her, cause her foreman was a sneaky bully. He mad my face turned heated.
Can she save her ranch? Will she do it alone or will she have help? Will she get her Mail order cowboy?
Pre-order your copy today you'll only have a few weeks to wait. It releases June 19th 2025
June 23, 2025
I enjoyed the book! Justine inherited the ranch when her father died. However, the ranch hands would not listen to her. Justine felt that something was wrong so she contacted a matchmaker service for a cowboy husband. Anders felt he was getting too old to go on cattle trails so he contacted a matchmaker service. They were matched and corresponded throughout the winter. Feeling something was wrong, Anders headed to Justine as soon as the weather cleared in the spring. This is a clean wholesome book - I highly recommend reading this book!
June 2, 2025
Another wonderful book from this author! I felt myself getting frustrated for Justine when her foreman was acting shady! Guess you could say this story really drew me in! You couldn’t help but root for Justine’s knight in shining armor to hurry up and come to her rescue! Because all good happily ever afters must have a hero to swoop in to save the day! I can easily recommend this read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The review is my honest opinion of it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The review is my honest opinion of it.
May 24, 2025
This story had me wrapped around its little finger from the start and didn’t let go! I’ve previously read several books along the mail-order husband or wife subject but nothing with the emotions, the challenges, the ups and downs, the dismantling fear of this one! It covers the complete gamut of anything one could possibly guess or desire! So well written by such an amazing author!
June 19, 2025
Justine and Anders
This book has plenty of excitement and mystery. It has intrigue and drama. There’s just the right amount of romance and a touch of humor. I would recommend it to you all. It has an interesting and unique plot with engaging story telling. And it includes a mail order husband.
This book has plenty of excitement and mystery. It has intrigue and drama. There’s just the right amount of romance and a touch of humor. I would recommend it to you all. It has an interesting and unique plot with engaging story telling. And it includes a mail order husband.
January 22, 2026
A cute sweet story. Great to read for a relaxing evening. Not much as far as suspense or drama which is what I prefer.
The only down side is I did not care for was how women seemed to be put down and in need of an"head"
While I do understand the cultural significance at the time era, I do love a strong heroine.
Overall a sweet story and a quick read
The only down side is I did not care for was how women seemed to be put down and in need of an"head"
While I do understand the cultural significance at the time era, I do love a strong heroine.
Overall a sweet story and a quick read
June 20, 2025
Justine and her ranch
This was very well written with a lot of suspense and mystery, but not much romance. That didn’t occur until the very end, sadly. But otherwise, it was a good story.
This was very well written with a lot of suspense and mystery, but not much romance. That didn’t occur until the very end, sadly. But otherwise, it was a good story.
June 20, 2025
I loved it
Mail order Cowboy by Lynne Lanning was an amazing book. I read a lot of books and this author is really talented. This book grabs your interest from the first page and you can’t stop reading until the end. It’s that good. I highly recommend this book.
Mail order Cowboy by Lynne Lanning was an amazing book. I read a lot of books and this author is really talented. This book grabs your interest from the first page and you can’t stop reading until the end. It’s that good. I highly recommend this book.
July 17, 2025
great book
This was absolutely a great book and by a great author. I highly recommend this book and author. I can’t wait to read the next book by this wonderful author.
This was absolutely a great book and by a great author. I highly recommend this book and author. I can’t wait to read the next book by this wonderful author.
August 18, 2025
It is hard to admit that in the 1800s a woman really did need a man to stand between her and the world. It wasn’t her inability to handle things, it was the failure of men to acknowledge/accept that she could. Justine was capable of running her father’s ranch, she just couldn’t handle the disrespect and duplicity of some of the men around her. Even though it made me mad, I really enjoyed this book.
July 12, 2025
Excellent!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews