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Texas Brides #1
Alma's Mail Order Husband
A historical western cowboy romance story about a mail order husband.
** A clean historical novella **
Book 1 of The Texas Brides Series unravels the mystery of Jude McCann. Jude travels to the desolate desert flats along the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, Texas, to marry Alma Goodkind. The Goodkind Ranch runs just fine since Clarence Goodkind broke his back falling off his horse. His three daughters, Alma, Amelia, and Allegra, manage the herds, guard them in their pastures, brand the young calves, and drive the cattle to the sale yards. They do all the jobs of cattle punching on the ranch without any help from anyone. All of that changes when eldest sister, Alma, decides she wants to get married and orders herself a mail-order husband.
Alma and Jude McCann get married in the little adobe church in Eagle Pass. But the minute they come home to the ranch, their plans for happily ever after run off the rails. Jude joins the sisters on the range, and conflicts develop in their approaches to managing the ranch. Alma’s new marriage puts her loyalty to her sisters to the test. At the same time, her bond with her sisters strains her budding romance with Jude. Can their marriage survive, and can the ranch survive so many competing interests and personalities? Worst of all, the sisters’ father, Clarence, instantly detects that Jude is hiding something, a secret that threatens to push this family to its limits and shatter the peace they’ve worked so hard to build.
** A clean historical novella **
Book 1 of The Texas Brides Series unravels the mystery of Jude McCann. Jude travels to the desolate desert flats along the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, Texas, to marry Alma Goodkind. The Goodkind Ranch runs just fine since Clarence Goodkind broke his back falling off his horse. His three daughters, Alma, Amelia, and Allegra, manage the herds, guard them in their pastures, brand the young calves, and drive the cattle to the sale yards. They do all the jobs of cattle punching on the ranch without any help from anyone. All of that changes when eldest sister, Alma, decides she wants to get married and orders herself a mail-order husband.
Alma and Jude McCann get married in the little adobe church in Eagle Pass. But the minute they come home to the ranch, their plans for happily ever after run off the rails. Jude joins the sisters on the range, and conflicts develop in their approaches to managing the ranch. Alma’s new marriage puts her loyalty to her sisters to the test. At the same time, her bond with her sisters strains her budding romance with Jude. Can their marriage survive, and can the ranch survive so many competing interests and personalities? Worst of all, the sisters’ father, Clarence, instantly detects that Jude is hiding something, a secret that threatens to push this family to its limits and shatter the peace they’ve worked so hard to build.
152 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 10, 2014
251 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 5, 2019
Frustrating!
Having read Ms Whitsby's Montana Brides Series I was disappointed with this book.
The plot was weak and the characters changed their actions and opinions that often I felt like I had whiplash. There was very little to endear you to any of the characters, couple that with the slow pace and rushed, unfinished ending and I am afraid I won't be buying the next in the series.
This was a free download, so nothing lost by trying it but I am glad I didn't pay for it.
Having enjoyed the Montana Brides Series I will try more by this author, but not more from this series.
Having read Ms Whitsby's Montana Brides Series I was disappointed with this book.
The plot was weak and the characters changed their actions and opinions that often I felt like I had whiplash. There was very little to endear you to any of the characters, couple that with the slow pace and rushed, unfinished ending and I am afraid I won't be buying the next in the series.
This was a free download, so nothing lost by trying it but I am glad I didn't pay for it.
Having enjoyed the Montana Brides Series I will try more by this author, but not more from this series.
March 27, 2020
Great book. I wanted to punch the hero in the face, but that is good because it makes you feel connected and invested in the characters and book.
October 9, 2018
I Didn't Like Any of the Characters
There was so much missing from the description of the home life of the family. There wasn't any mention of ever washing their clothes or cleaning themselves. One sister had a tragedy in her past that apparently shaped who she was, but we never heard what it was. There was too much bickering and yelling for my taste.
There was so much missing from the description of the home life of the family. There wasn't any mention of ever washing their clothes or cleaning themselves. One sister had a tragedy in her past that apparently shaped who she was, but we never heard what it was. There was too much bickering and yelling for my taste.
September 14, 2019
Mail Order Husband?
I was attracted to this book because I have seen lots of mail order bride books, but this was the first husband I noticed. The process is the same: put an advertisement in a newspaper. Wait for someone who seems interesting to answer your ad. Meet, interact, and get married.
In this book, Alma posted an ad, Jude responded, so the parties decided to meet for a marriage ceremony. This couple did not seem to question if they would be compatible. The groom in this book had a surprise when he arrived and found thAt all family members lived in a one room house and the couple shared the room with everyone.
Very interesting read. I will probably read another book to see if others have similar scenario.
I was attracted to this book because I have seen lots of mail order bride books, but this was the first husband I noticed. The process is the same: put an advertisement in a newspaper. Wait for someone who seems interesting to answer your ad. Meet, interact, and get married.
In this book, Alma posted an ad, Jude responded, so the parties decided to meet for a marriage ceremony. This couple did not seem to question if they would be compatible. The groom in this book had a surprise when he arrived and found thAt all family members lived in a one room house and the couple shared the room with everyone.
Very interesting read. I will probably read another book to see if others have similar scenario.
Read
July 24, 2022Mex-Tex Border Rancher Cowboy Bride Orders Husband. Alma, a manish Tex-Mex mixed race rancher, tired of running a ranch with her two sisters, contracts for a cowboy mail order husband, but learns post wedding that 1880's cowboys have a hard time with female ranch bosses. Read series in order. Audiobook available free, for reviews, at freeaudiobookcodes com.
(Critique: these three sisters are some of Whitsby's least loveable or believable and the narrator could do female voices and characterizations better, buy 3 hour book is still very enjoyable.)
(Critique: these three sisters are some of Whitsby's least loveable or believable and the narrator could do female voices and characterizations better, buy 3 hour book is still very enjoyable.)
March 3, 2021
Forgive me, but ... what was the point of this story? And why would people own over a thousand head of cattle yet continue to live in a one-room hovel??? -And even expect a marital relationship to exist in full view of a father and two other grown sisters!!! And did any of them ever bathe??? Did they really need to eat like beasts???
I recognise the author's descriptive narrative skill, but did I like this story? Not really.
I recognise the author's descriptive narrative skill, but did I like this story? Not really.
July 21, 2021
disappointing
Maybe I'm old-fashioned but this woman being overly strong is not what I call good reads. Seems like today women have to make men look weak and stupid. In my experience, men aren't weak or stupid. I enjoy books that men and women are equal not one always trying to make the other "stronger".
Maybe I'm old-fashioned but this woman being overly strong is not what I call good reads. Seems like today women have to make men look weak and stupid. In my experience, men aren't weak or stupid. I enjoy books that men and women are equal not one always trying to make the other "stronger".
April 29, 2018
Slow read.
A storyline that dragged in the beginning. Not enough clarification in certain situations to keep a reader informed to what may come. What likely the solution should be to problems.
A storyline that dragged in the beginning. Not enough clarification in certain situations to keep a reader informed to what may come. What likely the solution should be to problems.
January 14, 2021
Three sisters, a dad, & a groom
A disabled dad and three sisters work a poor cattle ranch. The women dress like men and work like cow hands.
Then Alma decides to wed.
Marriage is an adjustment for all of them. Can the marriage survive the beginning growing pains?
A disabled dad and three sisters work a poor cattle ranch. The women dress like men and work like cow hands.
Then Alma decides to wed.
Marriage is an adjustment for all of them. Can the marriage survive the beginning growing pains?
June 28, 2017
This was the stupidest book I have ever read. Stupid storyline. Stupid characters. I wish I could go back in time and never read it.
April 28, 2019
Mail order Male or female!
This was a very well written story about how a mixup and and old wounds can cause grief and pain!
This was a very well written story about how a mixup and and old wounds can cause grief and pain!
June 2, 2022
Rated G
January 15, 2015
This is a very simple story, very simply told.
Heroine tells her two sisters she's ordered a mail order husband.
Sisters are worried a husband will disrupt their routines.
They fetch the husband from the train station.
Husband tries to disrupt their routines.
Sisters and husband learn they need to respect each other's opinions.
Invalid father gets confused and thinks the husband is the enemy.
Invalid father's confusion clears and he accepts his mistake.
That's it. But it is told very sweetly, with each sister gaining a distinct personality. A few typos, but good writing and grammar. There is perhaps more about the family dynamics than about romance. Worked for me, though.
However...I picked up another one of the author's books and found it to be very similar. I will go ahead and read the other book, but will need to give it some time first, as otherwise it will feel like reading the same book again.
Heroine tells her two sisters she's ordered a mail order husband.
Sisters are worried a husband will disrupt their routines.
They fetch the husband from the train station.
Husband tries to disrupt their routines.
Sisters and husband learn they need to respect each other's opinions.
Invalid father gets confused and thinks the husband is the enemy.
Invalid father's confusion clears and he accepts his mistake.
That's it. But it is told very sweetly, with each sister gaining a distinct personality. A few typos, but good writing and grammar. There is perhaps more about the family dynamics than about romance. Worked for me, though.
However...I picked up another one of the author's books and found it to be very similar. I will go ahead and read the other book, but will need to give it some time first, as otherwise it will feel like reading the same book again.
January 15, 2015
Alma is one of three sisters living out on a ranch with their father. He had an accident and for the past 5 years the girls have been taking care of the ranch. Alma decides to get a mail order husband, Jude. He arrives and things go in all different directions. Her father thinks he is someone else and Jude tries to force his ideas.
Jude came across as very harsh to me concerning the women. At times he was loving to Alma and other times he was coming across as one that has a strong attitude.
I might check out more of this series not too sure yet. The story was just ok.
Jude came across as very harsh to me concerning the women. At times he was loving to Alma and other times he was coming across as one that has a strong attitude.
I might check out more of this series not too sure yet. The story was just ok.
February 1, 2015
This is a clean historical western romance. It didn't have much of a plot and I felt sorry for their old, crippled father. The three sisters have been running the ranch and living as cow punchers since their father's accident. When Alma, the oldest, sends for a mail order husbands it starts to change things. I thought the girls were a little naive and I would have liked more character development. Not sure if I'll read more of the series or not.
September 18, 2016
Accepting Differences
This was a switch with a mail order husband. Jude and Alma were drawn to each other right away. The two sisters and disabled father took longer to accept how things must change. All of them lived in a small one room dugout and that made it harder. It was a good read.
This was a switch with a mail order husband. Jude and Alma were drawn to each other right away. The two sisters and disabled father took longer to accept how things must change. All of them lived in a small one room dugout and that made it harder. It was a good read.
February 3, 2015
Mail Order Husband????
Really??? A Mail Order Husband?????
Yep, thats right and his wife is set in her own ways of running the family cattle ranch with her sisters. Can Jude change their minds or will he succumb and learn their ways??
Really??? A Mail Order Husband?????
Yep, thats right and his wife is set in her own ways of running the family cattle ranch with her sisters. Can Jude change their minds or will he succumb and learn their ways??
February 12, 2015
Great story but ended too soon. have to read next instlment. Gives new meaning to needing a change in your life. Three sisters all used to doing the same thing every day until one marries and everything changes. Loved it. need to read more of this author
May 27, 2015
This story had a different flavor to it with it being the husband that was mail-order. Interesting opinions he had about how things should be done. All of the characters have their own interesting quirks.
October 28, 2014
Very interesting beginning to this series!I loved the way the story unfolds.Especially the Dad.
June 10, 2015
Kind of weird and too stiff of language and characters.
October 23, 2015
Husband
This book was ok. The characters are interesting and the story line was ok. It will be interesting to read about the other sisters.
This book was ok. The characters are interesting and the story line was ok. It will be interesting to read about the other sisters.
July 9, 2016
I have read other things by Whitsby but this was not my favorite. Strange setting, strange characters, strange book. I'll not be reading this series.
April 17, 2017
Entertaining
Alma's Mail Order Husband by Kate Whitsby is a entertaining story with some twists and turns. The first twist is it's a mail order husband. Which is a nice enjoyable change. Very good story Thanks
Alma's Mail Order Husband by Kate Whitsby is a entertaining story with some twists and turns. The first twist is it's a mail order husband. Which is a nice enjoyable change. Very good story Thanks
April 10, 2019
What a depressing story. None of the characters had any compassion for anyone else. I understand that times were tough but how would one compassionate act spoil the story?
The writing itself was okay. It was the story that I did not like.
The writing itself was okay. It was the story that I did not like.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews