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Undercover Ladies #2
Undercover Bride
Pinkerton detective Maggie Cartwright is tasked with going undercover as a mail order bride. Her “fiancé” is widower Garrett Thomas, aka the suspected Whistle-Stop Bandit. No sooner does Maggie arrive in Arizona Territory when she's confronted with an early wedding date—the clock is ticking on her detective work or she may end up a criminal's wife! As the day of the wedding draws near, Maggie begins to panic. The problem is that the more she gets to know Garrett and his two adorable children, the harder it is to keep up the deception. Can a man as kind and gentle as Garrett really be the Whistle-Stop Bandit?
318 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2015
46 people are currently reading
675 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Brownley
68 books775 followersBEST-SELLING AUTHOR MARGARET BROWNLEY has penned nearly forty novels and novellas. Her books have won numerous awards, including Readers' Choice and Award of Excellence. She's was a two-time Romance Writers of American RITA® finalist and has written for a TV soap. She is currently working on a new series. Not bad for someone who flunked eighth grade English. Just don't ask her to diagram a sentence.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
September 12, 2023
This is a great book. I shall give a full review when I finnish the trilogy.
February 22, 2026
Really enjoyed this story! The storyline was really good and something I haven’t come across before so I loved it. Also great Christian content.
March 12, 2015
I love Ms. Brownley's westerns, I always feel like I've stepped back into time. She creates an inviting atmosphere that doesn't feel like a history lesson, yet I always learn something new. I especially like learning about the Pinkerton Detective Agency, I read about them while in college, but its really brought to life in this series, in a fun way.
Maggie is a private investigator and has been assigned to find concrete evidence that Garrett Thomas was the one to rob a train of seventy-five thousand dollars. She posses as a mail-order bride and quickly establishes herself as doting fiancé and loving step-mom. Garrett and Maggie have instant chemistry, which makes it hard for Maggie to keep her emotional distance. As time goes by she starts to doubt all the overwhelming evidence piling up against Garrett.
I thought this was a fun read and fun mystery. The characters were likable and well developed. The story was well paced and kept my attention. I liked it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun western. While this is the second book in the Undervocer Ladies series, it can stand on its own.
Content
Romance: Squeaky clean
Language: None
Violence: Mild
Religious: Mild
Read Again: Yes
Source: Netgalley
Maggie is a private investigator and has been assigned to find concrete evidence that Garrett Thomas was the one to rob a train of seventy-five thousand dollars. She posses as a mail-order bride and quickly establishes herself as doting fiancé and loving step-mom. Garrett and Maggie have instant chemistry, which makes it hard for Maggie to keep her emotional distance. As time goes by she starts to doubt all the overwhelming evidence piling up against Garrett.
I thought this was a fun read and fun mystery. The characters were likable and well developed. The story was well paced and kept my attention. I liked it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun western. While this is the second book in the Undervocer Ladies series, it can stand on its own.
Content
Romance: Squeaky clean
Language: None
Violence: Mild
Religious: Mild
Read Again: Yes
Source: Netgalley
September 17, 2016
This was a really fun read! Some of the names were a bit silly & made me kinda roll my eyes every time I read them (such as: Dr. Coldwell & a seamstress named Mrs. Button), but that didn't bother me. I liked the characters and the storyline, it's quite good and enjoyable. I had no problem finishing it in a single day-- of course, I didn't have much else to do, really... but still. ;P
Finished this at about 2:00 this morning... Oh, how nice it is to not have to get up early after a late night of book indulgence. haha! ;D
Finished this at about 2:00 this morning... Oh, how nice it is to not have to get up early after a late night of book indulgence. haha! ;D
March 16, 2016
About this book:
“Pinkerton detective Maggie Cartwright is tasked with going undercover as a mail order bride. Her “fiancé” is widower Garrett Thomas, aka the suspected Whistle-Stop Bandit. No sooner does Maggie arrive in Arizona Territory when she's confronted with an early wedding date—the clock is ticking on her detective work or she may end up a criminal's wife! As the day of the wedding draws near, Maggie begins to panic. The problem is that the more she gets to know Garrett and his two adorable children, the harder it is to keep up the deception. Can a man as kind and gentle as Garrett really be the Whistle-Stop Bandit?”
Series: #2 of the “Undercover Ladies” series. {Read review of book #1 Here!}
Spiritual Content- Prayers and Blessings over food; The Lord’s Prayer is said; Many Talks about God, praying, & the Bible; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Church going; Hymns are sung & miracles happen; Mentions of those in the Bible; Garrett has no regard to religion and has a negative opinion on the church; *Spoiler**End of Spoiler*.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘stupid’, a ‘sure in blazes’, a unfinished ‘what the—‘, three ‘blasted’, three ‘blast it/blast it all’s, three ‘drat’s, three forms of ‘confound it’, two ‘dumb’s, four forms of ‘shut up’s, four versions of “____ in Sam’s Hill.”; A bit of sarcasm; Maggie’s father was hanged (barely-above-not-detailed); The whole plot is set around criminals, killers, murders & robberies; Blood (barely-above-not-detailed); Many, many, many, many mentions of the war, shooting & prisons (semi-detailed); Mentions of alcohol, drunks, gambling & tobacco; Mentions of hangings; Mentions of Indians & Scalping; A mention of spankings.
Sexual Content- two semi-detailed kisses, a detailed kiss; Mentions of & remembering kisses (semi-detailed); Noticing & Smelling; Touches & dancing (up to semi-detailed); a ‘wanton’, Rikker dresses up as a woman (for the case) and mentions of his fake bosoms; Mentions of undergarments; Mentions of a wife & sister who died in childbirth; Talks about the game of Chess & it’s history as a game of courtship; A couple mentions of an old bordello; A mention of a name only marriage; Mentions of an unmarried woman living with a man, waiting till the wedding & her virtue; Love, falling in love, & the emotions.
-Maggie Cartwright, age 26
-Garrett Thomas, age 45
P.O.V. switches between them {Maggie mostly. Garrett around ten times.}
Set in 1882
320 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
I remember being really excited for this series to release back before I reviewed book #1, “Petticoat Detective” and was disappointed a bit with its plot. I feel basically the same with “Undercover Bride”. It was pretty good, but did have some Sexual Content in it that I wasn’t a fan of. I do have to say that I wasn’t very comfortable with the 19 year age gap between the main characters. (I know that was probably pretty normal back them but still….) All that said, I am still looking forward to book #3 coming out next year.
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Shiloh Run Press) for this review.
“Pinkerton detective Maggie Cartwright is tasked with going undercover as a mail order bride. Her “fiancé” is widower Garrett Thomas, aka the suspected Whistle-Stop Bandit. No sooner does Maggie arrive in Arizona Territory when she's confronted with an early wedding date—the clock is ticking on her detective work or she may end up a criminal's wife! As the day of the wedding draws near, Maggie begins to panic. The problem is that the more she gets to know Garrett and his two adorable children, the harder it is to keep up the deception. Can a man as kind and gentle as Garrett really be the Whistle-Stop Bandit?”
Series: #2 of the “Undercover Ladies” series. {Read review of book #1 Here!}
Spiritual Content- Prayers and Blessings over food; The Lord’s Prayer is said; Many Talks about God, praying, & the Bible; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Church going; Hymns are sung & miracles happen; Mentions of those in the Bible; Garrett has no regard to religion and has a negative opinion on the church; *Spoiler**End of Spoiler*.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘stupid’, a ‘sure in blazes’, a unfinished ‘what the—‘, three ‘blasted’, three ‘blast it/blast it all’s, three ‘drat’s, three forms of ‘confound it’, two ‘dumb’s, four forms of ‘shut up’s, four versions of “____ in Sam’s Hill.”; A bit of sarcasm; Maggie’s father was hanged (barely-above-not-detailed); The whole plot is set around criminals, killers, murders & robberies; Blood (barely-above-not-detailed); Many, many, many, many mentions of the war, shooting & prisons (semi-detailed); Mentions of alcohol, drunks, gambling & tobacco; Mentions of hangings; Mentions of Indians & Scalping; A mention of spankings.
Sexual Content- two semi-detailed kisses, a detailed kiss; Mentions of & remembering kisses (semi-detailed); Noticing & Smelling; Touches & dancing (up to semi-detailed); a ‘wanton’, Rikker dresses up as a woman (for the case) and mentions of his fake bosoms; Mentions of undergarments; Mentions of a wife & sister who died in childbirth; Talks about the game of Chess & it’s history as a game of courtship; A couple mentions of an old bordello; A mention of a name only marriage; Mentions of an unmarried woman living with a man, waiting till the wedding & her virtue; Love, falling in love, & the emotions.
-Maggie Cartwright, age 26
-Garrett Thomas, age 45
P.O.V. switches between them {Maggie mostly. Garrett around ten times.}
Set in 1882
320 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
I remember being really excited for this series to release back before I reviewed book #1, “Petticoat Detective” and was disappointed a bit with its plot. I feel basically the same with “Undercover Bride”. It was pretty good, but did have some Sexual Content in it that I wasn’t a fan of. I do have to say that I wasn’t very comfortable with the 19 year age gap between the main characters. (I know that was probably pretty normal back them but still….) All that said, I am still looking forward to book #3 coming out next year.
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Shiloh Run Press) for this review.
June 5, 2015
Sent to find solid proof to convict Garrett of theft and murder, Maggie finds it difficult to reconcile the information in her files with the man she gets to know. Unaware of her hidden agenda, Garrett simply wants a wife and mother for his children — even though he never expects to love another woman again.
Humor, mystery, tenderness — Undercover Bride has it all. While it was not a nail-biting suspense, I did not want to set it down! I enjoyed uncovering clues with Maggie as I watched her relationship with Garrett unfold.
I’m not sure I could pick a favorite character. The imaginative children, Aunt Hetty and her ailments, Rikker and his crazy disguises… They all come together to form a wonderfully entertaining tale.
There seem to be a lot of stories of healing and forgiveness lately. Perhaps because forgiveness — and the healing it brings — is such a needed (and often misunderstood) component in our lives. While Undercover Bride touches on these issues, it is in no way preachy.
Undercover Bride is the second in the Undercover Ladies series. The books are complete, independent stories, and thus can be read in any order. I can’t wait for the next one to release!
(This review was first published on my blog -- sarahruut.com. I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts expressed here are entirely my own.)
Humor, mystery, tenderness — Undercover Bride has it all. While it was not a nail-biting suspense, I did not want to set it down! I enjoyed uncovering clues with Maggie as I watched her relationship with Garrett unfold.
I’m not sure I could pick a favorite character. The imaginative children, Aunt Hetty and her ailments, Rikker and his crazy disguises… They all come together to form a wonderfully entertaining tale.
There seem to be a lot of stories of healing and forgiveness lately. Perhaps because forgiveness — and the healing it brings — is such a needed (and often misunderstood) component in our lives. While Undercover Bride touches on these issues, it is in no way preachy.
Undercover Bride is the second in the Undercover Ladies series. The books are complete, independent stories, and thus can be read in any order. I can’t wait for the next one to release!
(This review was first published on my blog -- sarahruut.com. I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts expressed here are entirely my own.)
February 14, 2018
Hey guys please bear with me as I try to find my reviewing style in,one of my first reviews 😀
Where to start ! This book was amazing !
I love Margaret Brownleys characters in both of the books that I'd read so far . They are so unique ,whimsical , and hillarious ! I even enjoyed the villians .
Maggie the main character is a Pinkerton detective. Her newest assignment is to pose as a mail order bride for none other than the man suspected to be the Whistle Stop bandit a bank robber . Maggie has only a few weeks before they are to be married to find the evidence she needs to give to the court . But as she investigates she doesn't find Garret to be the hardened criminal she suspects him to be ,but instead he is a living kind man deeply scarred by his time as a prisoner of war during the civil war .
Thanks for reading ! 💋
Where to start ! This book was amazing !
I love Margaret Brownleys characters in both of the books that I'd read so far . They are so unique ,whimsical , and hillarious ! I even enjoyed the villians .
Maggie the main character is a Pinkerton detective. Her newest assignment is to pose as a mail order bride for none other than the man suspected to be the Whistle Stop bandit a bank robber . Maggie has only a few weeks before they are to be married to find the evidence she needs to give to the court . But as she investigates she doesn't find Garret to be the hardened criminal she suspects him to be ,but instead he is a living kind man deeply scarred by his time as a prisoner of war during the civil war .
Thanks for reading ! 💋
May 8, 2020
It was serendipity! I found this book while searching for another. It was a very enjoyable read. Ms. Brownley brought the characters to life and the plot kept the reader guessing. A Pinkerton detective's life was not easy; interesting how hard it was for them to gain the confidence of local law enforcement officers.
I loved the chess analogies and the interactions between the children and others in the story. It was sad to say good-bye to the characters at the end; they stayed on my mind for several days.
I loved the chess analogies and the interactions between the children and others in the story. It was sad to say good-bye to the characters at the end; they stayed on my mind for several days.
May 2, 2017
Eeek!! *Squeals* Finally, I read this book!! Super duper good! Could not put it down!!
August 12, 2020
I really enjoyed the book, however, I did not enjoy that the heroine initially tricked the hero by pretending to be a mail-order bride. Meanwhile, she was a detective working undercover.
A few other points...
The relationship between "Rikker" and "Duffy" was also quite sweet and touching. I also enjoyed how the game of chess was incorporated into this book, for a variety of different reasons.
Sorry for the minimal review... my mind is elsewhere today. I will be reading "Calico Spy" next :)
A few other points...
The relationship between "Rikker" and "Duffy" was also quite sweet and touching. I also enjoyed how the game of chess was incorporated into this book, for a variety of different reasons.
Sorry for the minimal review... my mind is elsewhere today. I will be reading "Calico Spy" next :)
March 17, 2017
Undercover Bride was a fun read! I liked how the main character was a Pinkerton agent and that she was undercover as a mail-order bride! SO interesting and fun! I really enjoyed the mystery and the romance was sweet. All in all, just a great read. I recommend it and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
*I received a complimentary eBook copy via NetGalley for my honest review.*
*I received a complimentary eBook copy via NetGalley for my honest review.*
March 12, 2016
If you like westerns, detective novels, romantic stories, and books that will make you laugh out loud, then you need to read Undercover Bride without further delay!
This second book in Margaret Brownley’s Undercover Ladies series is jam-packed with the perfect amount of suspense, history, humor, and of course romance. It is perfectly fine as a stand-alone; in fact, you can read the books in any order as they are really only connected by theme rather than by characters. And while we’re on the subject, never fear if the first book in the series – Petticoat Detective – wasn’t your favorite. It wasn’t mine either. (I liked PD… just not as much as some of her other books.) Don’t let that stop you from reading Undercover Bride. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the wide range of emotions I experienced while reading it.
Maggie’s partner Rikker gave me most of my laughs – each new getup/disguise (and Maggie’s reaction to them) amused me more than the ones he’d previously used. Sharp-tongued hypochondriac Aunt Hetty and inventor-in-the-making Toby (who confidently had an answer for everything) also proved to be delightfully humorous. If I wasn’t grinning at their antics, I was grinning at Garrett’s romantical gestures (and Maggie’s reaction to them). Cue the dreamy sigh.
But that’s the thing about this book. My dreamy sighs didn’t last very long because I spent most of the book keeping pace with Maggie as she tried to decide whether or not Garrett was guilty. Just about the time Maggie & I became convinced of his innocence, Margaret Brownley would throw us another emotional curveball, and it was back to the drawing board. Then I thought I had the co-culprit figured out… only to discover I was wrong.
Definitely a truly entertaining must-read.
Thank you, Netgalley, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read more of my review at: https://readingismysuperpower.wordpre...
This second book in Margaret Brownley’s Undercover Ladies series is jam-packed with the perfect amount of suspense, history, humor, and of course romance. It is perfectly fine as a stand-alone; in fact, you can read the books in any order as they are really only connected by theme rather than by characters. And while we’re on the subject, never fear if the first book in the series – Petticoat Detective – wasn’t your favorite. It wasn’t mine either. (I liked PD… just not as much as some of her other books.) Don’t let that stop you from reading Undercover Bride. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the wide range of emotions I experienced while reading it.
Maggie’s partner Rikker gave me most of my laughs – each new getup/disguise (and Maggie’s reaction to them) amused me more than the ones he’d previously used. Sharp-tongued hypochondriac Aunt Hetty and inventor-in-the-making Toby (who confidently had an answer for everything) also proved to be delightfully humorous. If I wasn’t grinning at their antics, I was grinning at Garrett’s romantical gestures (and Maggie’s reaction to them). Cue the dreamy sigh.
But that’s the thing about this book. My dreamy sighs didn’t last very long because I spent most of the book keeping pace with Maggie as she tried to decide whether or not Garrett was guilty. Just about the time Maggie & I became convinced of his innocence, Margaret Brownley would throw us another emotional curveball, and it was back to the drawing board. Then I thought I had the co-culprit figured out… only to discover I was wrong.
Definitely a truly entertaining must-read.
Thank you, Netgalley, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read more of my review at: https://readingismysuperpower.wordpre...
April 9, 2016
When I started the book, I was certain that Garrett was innocent. All they have linking him to the crime is circumstantial evidence. Some of his habits appear suspicious, but I had great faith that they could be explained away. But as time passed, the author certainly did a good job of making me question my convictions!
Even in a lighthearted story like this one, the ramifications of lying--even undercover as a detective--are clear and painful. After hours of worrying together over a sick child, it is terribly difficult for Maggie to separate her undercover role from her feelings, and it just gets worse as time goes by. And then the betrayal that Garrett feels after preparing to wed the woman . . . The author does a good job exploring the feelings of both parties.
The supporting characters were delightful--Garrett's hypochondriac aunt, Maggie's crazily disguised partner, the precocious children. I highly enjoyed the snippets of information on the Pinkertons and undercover work that are sprinkled about the book, which Maggie employs with aplomb. Over all, it was a highly enjoyable novel, with a creative plot and delightful characters.
Thank you Barbour and NetGalley for providing an e-copy for review. I was not required to make it positive, and all opinions are my own.
Even in a lighthearted story like this one, the ramifications of lying--even undercover as a detective--are clear and painful. After hours of worrying together over a sick child, it is terribly difficult for Maggie to separate her undercover role from her feelings, and it just gets worse as time goes by. And then the betrayal that Garrett feels after preparing to wed the woman . . . The author does a good job exploring the feelings of both parties.
The supporting characters were delightful--Garrett's hypochondriac aunt, Maggie's crazily disguised partner, the precocious children. I highly enjoyed the snippets of information on the Pinkertons and undercover work that are sprinkled about the book, which Maggie employs with aplomb. Over all, it was a highly enjoyable novel, with a creative plot and delightful characters.
Thank you Barbour and NetGalley for providing an e-copy for review. I was not required to make it positive, and all opinions are my own.
May 2, 2015
I freely admit that I love to read Historical Fiction involving mail order brides. Now I think I might have a definite liking for tales of Pinkerton detectives as well, especially female Pinkerton detectives.
Undercover Bride involves both. Maggie Taylor is a Pinkerton operative, undercover as a mail order bride for a suspected "Whistle Stop Bandit," Garrett Thomas. Maggie doesn't make the best first impression on arriving, and the hotel is somehow full, so she stays in Garrett's home despite his misgivings about her suitability. Expecting a psychopath, instead she finds a handsome, doting father of two.
This is the second book in Margaret Brownley's Undercover Ladies series, and I enjoyed it enough that I am going to read the first book, Petticoat Detective soon. There is enough tension and suspense with the mystery element to keep the readers interest.
An expanded version of this review is available on my Wordpress blog: http://wp.me/p5Tcfi-1U
Recommended for fans of clean historical romance and mystery. Or if you just want to know why (according to 5 year old Elise) everyone who eats cornbread dies. 3.5/5 stars
This review refers to an ebook I read for free courtesy of the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Undercover Bride involves both. Maggie Taylor is a Pinkerton operative, undercover as a mail order bride for a suspected "Whistle Stop Bandit," Garrett Thomas. Maggie doesn't make the best first impression on arriving, and the hotel is somehow full, so she stays in Garrett's home despite his misgivings about her suitability. Expecting a psychopath, instead she finds a handsome, doting father of two.
This is the second book in Margaret Brownley's Undercover Ladies series, and I enjoyed it enough that I am going to read the first book, Petticoat Detective soon. There is enough tension and suspense with the mystery element to keep the readers interest.
An expanded version of this review is available on my Wordpress blog: http://wp.me/p5Tcfi-1U
Recommended for fans of clean historical romance and mystery. Or if you just want to know why (according to 5 year old Elise) everyone who eats cornbread dies. 3.5/5 stars
This review refers to an ebook I read for free courtesy of the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2015
I was very impressed with this novel. It has taken me a while to find a book where the characters and the story plot was entertaining to read about. A really good thing about this novel is that you don’t have to read them in order.
The heroine was a great character to read about. I always love to read novels that includes a mail order bride or a marriage of convenience stories especially in a western historical fiction setting. I thought it was really cool to read about a female detective in the early 1880’s. It was awesome!
The novel itself had a very nice mixture of history,romance,and comedy. The characters were lively and well thought out. The mystery was also great to read about. The drama in this novel really pulled my heart-strings which is always a good things. There’s also some historical facts about the Pinkertons included in the story. I was entranced by this novel and I love it when a novel can pull me into its depths from everyday life.
I’m planning on reading the first book and the next book in this series. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend this novel to anyone who’s looking for a spectacular afternoon read. :)
The heroine was a great character to read about. I always love to read novels that includes a mail order bride or a marriage of convenience stories especially in a western historical fiction setting. I thought it was really cool to read about a female detective in the early 1880’s. It was awesome!
The novel itself had a very nice mixture of history,romance,and comedy. The characters were lively and well thought out. The mystery was also great to read about. The drama in this novel really pulled my heart-strings which is always a good things. There’s also some historical facts about the Pinkertons included in the story. I was entranced by this novel and I love it when a novel can pull me into its depths from everyday life.
I’m planning on reading the first book and the next book in this series. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend this novel to anyone who’s looking for a spectacular afternoon read. :)
September 1, 2015
If you love a good Western romance, you'll want to get this one in your sights, 'cause with Margaret Brownley it's sure shootin'!
The dry hot Arizona Territory harbors the elusive Whistle-Stop train robbers, and Pinkerton detectives are hired to flush them out. Maggie Cartwright just wants to do her job, then head onto her next assignment, but deep down all she really wants is a family of her own. How can she stay detached when there are two sweet kids and their gentlemanly father in the mix? Is he as innocent as he seems?
Quirky characters, witty dialogue, and plenty of action are ahead as the story heats up, including some courtroom drama, plus a sweet romance that seems doomed from the start. Who knew that chess could be so romantic?
Some faith references, prayers and church scenes put this firmly in the Christian romance genre, but it's not too preachy making it appealing to anyone looking for good clean historical fiction. An enjoyable read from beginning to end! 4.5 stars
(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the book provided in exchange for my unsolicited honest review.)
The dry hot Arizona Territory harbors the elusive Whistle-Stop train robbers, and Pinkerton detectives are hired to flush them out. Maggie Cartwright just wants to do her job, then head onto her next assignment, but deep down all she really wants is a family of her own. How can she stay detached when there are two sweet kids and their gentlemanly father in the mix? Is he as innocent as he seems?
Quirky characters, witty dialogue, and plenty of action are ahead as the story heats up, including some courtroom drama, plus a sweet romance that seems doomed from the start. Who knew that chess could be so romantic?
Some faith references, prayers and church scenes put this firmly in the Christian romance genre, but it's not too preachy making it appealing to anyone looking for good clean historical fiction. An enjoyable read from beginning to end! 4.5 stars
(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the book provided in exchange for my unsolicited honest review.)
May 1, 2019
Absolutely adored this book. The books in this, “Undercover Ladies” series stand-alone, you can read the books in any order.
This is the first Margaret Brownley book that I have read. Her writing style was wonderful, the story was easy to get into, I was hooked from the beginning and had a hard time putting it down. The mystery aspect of the story was somewhat predictable but there was a bit of a twist near the end that I hadn’t seen coming. The characters were so well written and the plot really came to life between the pages. Can’t wait to read more from Mrs. Margaret Brownley!
Ps. I hasn’t read the first book in the series before reading this one. The plot for the first one didn’t appeal to me. As of now, I am not planning on reading it.
This is the first Margaret Brownley book that I have read. Her writing style was wonderful, the story was easy to get into, I was hooked from the beginning and had a hard time putting it down. The mystery aspect of the story was somewhat predictable but there was a bit of a twist near the end that I hadn’t seen coming. The characters were so well written and the plot really came to life between the pages. Can’t wait to read more from Mrs. Margaret Brownley!
Ps. I hasn’t read the first book in the series before reading this one. The plot for the first one didn’t appeal to me. As of now, I am not planning on reading it.
July 28, 2016
This was a fun western romance. I liked the story. It was an interesting blend of romance and mystery. I liked the outcome of the investigation and way the mystery was solved. That was interesting. The characters were, for the most part, likable. The main characters, Maggie and Garrett, I liked from the beginning. I also liked his children, Toby and Elise. They were cute. Although I don't like the desert, I did like the setting of this book, which was a small town in Arizona. There was a happy ending, which I always like.
December 26, 2015
4.5 stars
I liked this even better than the first book! It was enjoyable and is one of my favorite of Brownley's books so far. I've been waiting for it to come out, so grabbed a copy as soon as it came in at the bookstore. I read it all in one evening today and definitely loved the characters. The whole little family was so sweet, especially Toby's humorous attempts to know the answer to everything: "A fibula...is someone who lies." Classic!
I liked this even better than the first book! It was enjoyable and is one of my favorite of Brownley's books so far. I've been waiting for it to come out, so grabbed a copy as soon as it came in at the bookstore. I read it all in one evening today and definitely loved the characters. The whole little family was so sweet, especially Toby's humorous attempts to know the answer to everything: "A fibula...is someone who lies." Classic!
February 6, 2016
The Pinkerton's are trying to solve a train robbery. Maggie shows up in town as a mail order bride for Garrett. She happens to be an agent and he happens to be their suspected robber/murderer. Maggie is surprised when she starts to have feelings for Garrett and they include more than her suspicions that they are after the wrong guy. She loves his children and wishes she could marry him for real. But when he learns of her deceit, there's not much chance of that. This was a great story.
April 8, 2015
Review at TCM later. It is excellent!!
May 18, 2018
This was an excellent second installment of the undercover ladies series. I think I might’ve liked this one better than the first! I really enjoyed Maggie and Garrett’s story and getting to know everyone in town. You really did get lead on quite a merry chase throughout the novel with different ideas of who may have been the culprit in the whistle stop train robbery. The children were charming as well and I loved Aunt Heddy. She was a hoot! I think this series is very well written with allusions to Christian undertones without having to be banged over the head with it. It was also great how the Christian values and teachings were cleverly woven into the story and it really made you think about some of them. The book was not overly “preachy“. And of course it was good clean entertainment without the unnecessary seen that many of us find uncomfortable. I’m looking forward to the final installment in the series as well as reading other works by this author.
November 11, 2017
I enjoyed this, but I can't rate it higher than three stars, mostly because I kept thinking about the living arrangements, which were totally unbelievable.
April 25, 2018
I like what the qualifications is for a Pinkerton detective. Would one past that today. Maggie is on the run for a pickpocketer , he disappears, and she has dust covering her. When asked if okay, it was her contact Garret Thomas, to whom she is to marry. Now she knew it would be anything but easy, to find out what he really had been doing. For him, he has doubts, after finding her running about in town. What other character flaws does she have. Aunt Heddy was a force to reckon with her pointed questions and piercing eyes, determined to get them married. Delightful, humorous story of a family, thinking she came to marry Garret. Will they find out what she really was there for.
March 20, 2021
I enjoyed this book a lot and recommend it as a fun and quick read! Unlike #1 in the series, Petticoat Detective, which I found corny and a bit clumsy in its storytelling, the plot of Undercover Bride was well-spun and entertaining. The characters were much more believable than the previous book, and I was rooting for their relationship. I also found the mystery aptly told as I was surprised by the unfolding of events and the way things were revealed, if not always by the revelations themselves.
The incorporation of faith into the plot was also much more effective and natural in this book than in Petticoat Detective.
The incorporation of faith into the plot was also much more effective and natural in this book than in Petticoat Detective.
December 10, 2018
This book definitely had me on the edge of my seat. I kept wondering how Maggie was going to solve the mystery, and if Garrett was innocent. I wanted to believe he was, but Margaret Brownley did a great job of dropping clues that left me second guessing. A wonderful read that made me excited for the next Pinkerton mystery!
March 1, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Set in 1882, Maggie arrives in the Arizona Territory as a mail order bride. In actuality she is a Pinkerton detective and the person she is investigating is none other than her supposed future husband who is suspected of being a train robber. I read book one, which was good, but this one was so much better.
March 24, 2021
It has been entirely too long since I've read a Margaret Brownley novel. I loved Undercover Bride! The idea of pretending to be a mail order bride to investigate a train robbery is bizarre, but somehow believable for a Pinkerton.
Fall in love with the characters of Furnace Creek and discover both of the robbers.
Fall in love with the characters of Furnace Creek and discover both of the robbers.
September 2, 2017
This is not my normal kind of read… But I have to admit that I really really like it. I'm glad that I decided to give this book series a chance because it has opened my eyes to new opportunities in reading different types of books.
May 15, 2018
I really enjoy Margaret Brownley as an author. This book had a lot of action and kept my interest. The one drawback, from my perspective, was that the male lead character in this book was too passive. There was much development of the female lead character.
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