Mrs. Victoria Buys a Brothel

by Talhí Briones

A sweeping queer historical romance about chosen family, healing after abuse, women who refuse to disappear, and finding love where no one thought it could exist.

1865, United States—
It took thirty years and a dislocated arm for Victoria to leave her abusive husband.
Heartbroken, she has to choose her own life over the hope of ever seeing her son again. She escapes the manor in the dead of night carrying nothing but a white wedding dress.
Her journey leads to Swainsburg, a tiny town in Wyoming where the local prostitutes take her in as one of their own.
To save them from eviction, Victoria buys the brothel.
Running a house of entertainment turns out to involve far more than piano recitals, cancan performances, and charming lonely cowboys. Her violent past refuses to stay buried, respectable society keeps its distance, and danger follows her across the frontier.
It’s hard to navigate the delicate tensions between respectable ladies and whores, between white society and the “others.” Her new friends are women who carved out a place for themselves in this merciless world; people who, like her, came to Swainsburg after growing tired of running.

Victoria falls in love. She doesn’t notice; she can’t even imagine the possibility.

The townspeople say the widow Díaz is strange. Natane is actually incredibly awkward, kind, and very lonely. Victoria has no name for this burning friendship, but the feeling grows and demands to be acknowledged.

A story about about women who age, gossip, drink, fall in love, and help you hide the body of your dead husband.

*

This definitive edition includes the complete novel plus The Tales of Swainsburg, an exclusive companion collection featuring 13 stories about your favourite characters from the world of Mrs. Victoria buys a brothel.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Queer, Romance, Westerns, Slow Burn, LGBT, Fiction

518 pages, ebook

First published May 20, 2025

About the author

Talhí Briones was born in Chile and grew up in Montréal, Canada.

Both a writer and visual artist, she builds stories from scratch and often illustrates the cover herself. She loves exploring old concepts under a new light. Her stories are character driven and diverse.

Reviews

[Misha · Rating 5 out of 5]

(rounded up from 4.5)

This was really sweet and optimistic. Lots of action, cozy momma bear vibes from Mrs. Victoria, who is fleeing an abusive husband and lands in this tiny town full of interesting people and a very small brothel. She and the three girls working at the brothel have some super cute mom-daughter dynamics, and we see Victoria's transition from a woman with PTSD from abuse to a woman who stands up to armed bandits for her found family and summons the courage to chase a new love with the gorgeous local reclusive widow.

This was fast-paced, hopeful, and lovely, and I had a great time reading it. It's not the most historically accurate book, but if you're looking for a cozy found family and sapphic read, this is a fantastic pick.

[Elysia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was delightful from beginning to end. From the culture shock of the rich lady from Salt Lake City discovering a run down little village, the hilarious cast of main and side characters who all have their own little things going on just barely out of sight, and the cowboys ! A hilarious, delightful lesbian western that manages to take into account darker historical truths, and to have moments of fear for the characters, while being a genuinely lighthearted read. It's great. I loved it.

[Aster]

that was so boring I thought it would never end. surprisingly lack of chemistry and feelings for a romance

[Alina (sylvandreams) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"No amount of scrubbing can wash away your sins!"
"We commit the same sins!"
"Nuh-huh. What I do is lay there and wait for them to be done. What you do involves rope and whips. I even saw a saddle in there!"

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
you know what, i was perfectly ready to give this book less stars cause it feels so casually written, but i genuinely enjoyed it so much!! i ripped through it in three days. yeah there’s some anachronism, the ‘meh’ almost took me out of it. but it’s so cozy and the found family and the banter and the queer romance got me!! great fluffy story to turn off your brain to and just enjoy like a warm blanket and fresh cookies and milk. the girls are just so sweet!!! and the dream of being able to run away from your abuser and fix the lives of the people who gave you a new life?? just lovely

There was a knock at the door. "I don't want to interrupt your screaming, but it's your turn to make breakfast," said Siobhan.

[Kate Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stars: 5 Stars
Format: Digital
Series: Stand Alone
Steam Level: Steamy

CW: domestic abuse, violence, death, racism, attempted murder

I read this for the I Heart Sapphic 2026 Reading Challenge for the location Wyoming.

The Kickstarter for this book showed up on my Recommended For You page and it sounded really fun. I am beyond glad I backed the project and got myself a hardback signed.

Quick Thoughts:
- The start of this book just throws the reader right into the serious drama and doesn’t sugar coat a dang thing
- With how heartbreaking the start of the book was (and as you learn more of Victoria’s past) it was wonderful to see people not only be decent but loving towards her when she needed it most
- There was so much growth Victoria goes through and I enjoyed each new development
- The first time Natane saw Victoria in her cancan outfit (and the dollar thing) had me howling with laughter
- I was a little leery of Belle Porter in the beginning but I ended up really liking the character
- Team Paul forever
- Consuelo, Lisette, and Siobhan were such wonderful characters and I positively adored their relationship with Victoria
- Natane’s backstory and trauma hurt my heart so much because I really loved her character and I’ve read a bit about the real history concerning what happened to her
- The dance in dinning room was smoking hot. I loved watching Victoria just own that scene
- No third act break up!
- Victoria just charms EVERYONE and it was a joy to watch
- The ending was perfect. I loved seeing Victoria be the person she was always meant to be and how much she loved Swainsburg. The town really did need her
- Yay diversity! It’s so easy for writers to be lazy and just pull their “research” from movies that get this setting completely wrong
- In the end of the book Talhí Briones talks about the research she did for this story and the choices she made. It was super interesting and I really like that she included a bibliography in the end
- There were some typos and weird punctuation mistakes in my digital copy but it did not lessen my enjoyment of the book at all

Overall I seriously loved this book. I was nervous about this book since I hadn’t read anything by Talhí Briones and the premise sounded so good; I’ve been badly burned by that combination many times before but not this book! Excellent story and just so much fun. I’m crossing my fingers that there will be an audiobook in the future.

[Corrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs. Victoria Buys a Brothel by Talhí Briones.

It's 1865, and Victoria has just done the hardest thing of her life: after thirty years of an abusive marriage, she flees in the dead of night with nothing but a white wedding dress, leaving behind any hope of ever seeing her son again. She washes up in Swainsburg, a speck of a town in Wyoming, where the only people willing to take her in are the local prostitutes.

Grateful, and with nowhere else to go, Victoria does something nobody expects — she buys the brothel outright to save the women from being run out of town. What follows is equal parts absurd and moving: a sheltered, middle-aged former society wife suddenly organizing piano recitals and cancan shows for the local cowboys, learning that in a town like this, entertainment is worth more than gold. But being a Madam comes with real danger, especially since her husband still has eyes and contacts everywhere, and she has to learn fast how to navigate the tension between "respectable" society and everyone it looks down on.

Into all this walks Natane Díaz — the widow the townsfolk call strange, who Victoria comes to know as awkward, kind, and quietly lonely. Victoria doesn't have a name for what grows between them at first. She's never had room to imagine it. But the feeling won't stay quiet for long, and the slow-burn romance between the two of them is the emotional heart of the book.

There was plenty of drama in this one. Thirty years with a husband like that does real damage, and Victoria isn't magically fine the moment she's out the door — rebuilding herself takes time, and the book lets it take time. What made that journey believable for me was the cast around her. Talhí Briones gives Victoria a wonderful group of people to land among, and there's so much humor woven through even the heavier moments that the book never tips into misery. It's a Western that goes out of its way to widen who gets to be in a Western at all — a diverse cast, a middle-aged heroine at the center, and a real interrogation of whose stories usually get told in this genre.

Briones actually speaks to this directly in her afterword. She writes about how the "typical cowboy" of the Western imagination — the lone, rugged, revolver-carrying hero — is a myth that never really existed, and one that erases the women, Mexican, Chinese, Black, and LGBT+ people who actually built that world, not to mention Indigenous people, who get erased worst of all. She wanted to subvert those tropes from the start, and specifically to push back against the trope of Native Americans as a faceless enemy. Her answer was to "replace hate with love" by making Natane, a Shoshone woman, the love interest rather than the obstacle. Knowing that intention going in made the romance land even more for me.

Up next, I'm heading to Tales of Swainsburg, a companion piece available on Everand — short stories about the characters from the book, set before the events of Mrs. Victoria Buys a Brothel. I'm looking forward to spending more time in this world before I say goodbye to it.

5 Stars

[Hunter Athena · Rating 3 out of 5]

The world needs more sapphic westerns stat! It was also absolutely delightful to read a book that featured middle aged MC’s which is so rare in romance novels, let alone romance with some action novel. I also deeply enjoyed having such a diverse cast of characters which is so rarely depicted in westerns.

I do however feel like this book wasn’t the most historically accurate (which I recognize is a taste of personal preference) and I wish there had been more buildup/development between the characters. Mrs. Victoria slept one night in the brothel and then suddenly wanted to buy it for all the help they gave her? I think I would have liked to see more development between the bonds of the characters instead of an immediate leap to besties. I also found myself wishing to see more chemistry between the two MC’s which I felt was a bit lacking. I’m also a sucker for spice so in a personal vein, I would have appreciated seeing a touch more spice in this read as well. Side note to add: there also was a tiny undercurrent of “sex work is bad and these women want to get out of it”.

All in all it’s not a bad story, it has really good bones, I think for me it would have felt better if the relationships between all the characters had more depth and more relationship building done and perhaps a touch more historical accuracy. It was a solid 3 star read and I do see a lot of promise in this author!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really enjoyed this. i loved victoria, from escaping her husband to buying a brothel because people were kind to her for the first time in years to basically taking governance of the town. her relationship with natane was very sweet (they were so gone for each other) and the burgeoning realisation about her own sexuality was interesting to read (i liked the constant roaring in victoria's head whenever she had ~feelings~ she couldn't understand for natane. and god. their sex scenes). and then there's consuelo, lisette, and siobhan!! and all the other side characters who felt so real to me.

when she killed her husband by doing the cancan kick, i burst out laughing.

my only criticism was that they didn't do much with the doctor. this was such a weird people town but when a super weirdo shows up, we're given nothing. not even a little attempt to understand. i don't think there's even a conversation between him and any other character on page. but he's such a minor character this is a mere quibble.

[Guylou (Two Dogs and a Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝗠𝗥𝗦｡ 𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗔 𝗕𝗨𝗬𝗦 𝗔 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗟 is the second book I’ve read by Talhi Briones, and once again, I’m thoroughly enjoying her writing and layered characters. In this queer historical novel, Talhi excels at blending humor and drama in a way that feels natural and compelling. Victoria’s journey from a sheltered, abused wife to a brothel-owning, piano-recital-hosting Madam in the Wild West is both empowering and unexpectedly heartwarming. I found myself rooting for her from the start! The maps at the beginning of the book were a great addition—they helped me picture the setting and added richness to the reading experience. The story balances social tension, emotional growth, and a slow-burn sapphic romance with the mysterious and kind widow Díaz. I’m so glad the author sent me a copy for review, and I’d happily recommend it to fans of queer romance with a fun, unique historical twist.

[Nathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can say, without the slightest bit of embarrassment, that I’m a big fan of fanfiction. Honestly, I think it’s one of the most incredible things a person can create.

But this book felt like the kind of fanfiction I might have enjoyed if I were already in love with the couple the characters were based on. Because in the end, I finished the book without feeling like I actually knew these people.

And that’s not even getting into the writing itself. There are just too many issues to list. It would be impossible to sum them all up in a single review.

But if there’s one thing I can give the book credit for, it’s the character of Natane. She's an amazing woman, and honestly the only character I truly got to love.

I’m giving it 2.5 stars mainly because I think it’s important that stories about women, written by women and for women, continue to be told.

[Shannon Luchies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victoria has fled her abusive husband with her dowry, and has ended up in Swainsburg, a small town. There she ends up renting a room at the local brothel to give her broken arm time to heal. The women treat her so kindly that Victoria decides to use her dowry money to buy back the building from the bank, both to be her home and to protect the girls.

(The three working girls are actually really funny too)

She meets Natane Diaz, a local widower, who seems bemused by her. Similarly Victoria is taken by her beauty, but tries not to dwell on it.

The town quickly embraces Victoria, especially after she repaires the old piano and plays classical music. Plus she unwillingly becomes the Madam which, oddly, she enjoys.

However, all is not sunshine and roses. There are local outlaws, and her husband eventually turns up.

[Allison Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

So often, books advertised as a sapphic romance fail to ignite any spark. Not so this one! It's clear that Victoria and Natane are utterly into each other. Apart from the romance, there is enough tension to keep me interested and to keep the tale clopping along, and the two side-romances are adorable. My only (minor) gripe is in a couple of word choices that dragged me out of 1860s Wyoming, and the (offhand?) idea of them having a Daguerreotype camera that never seems to get used...probably because they were such a ball-ache. But those were instantly forgiven over the inclusion of a hilarious scene where the women are coming up with all the euphemisms for their genitals they can think of. I liked that although Victoria (and others) came from violent backgrounds and faced violence in this story, they came through it triumphant. Overall, this is a story about women winning.

[Emmie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely, cosy read as a whole, which made the traumatic moments a bit jarring at times. I liked the characters, and I loved Victoria as an older woman and domestic abuse survivor finding her place and her strength. Her maternal way of acting towards the girls came about a bit fast, for me- she starts telling them what to do within days of living with them. I would have liked to see their relationship develop more over time. But as a whole, the family was found, and there were women of all ages and backgrounds finding love and purpose and cowboys (or girls), which made this a lovely western to read.

[nisie draws · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 70% or so. This book was frustrating because it attempts to be a book about women finding their own power while working in a brothel, but you can't avoid the sex work if you're characters ARE SEX WORKERS. The way the characters interacted, it felt more like they were roommates in a college dorm than sex workers. The experiences of Victoria and Natane don't ring true, I don't think the author really knows what it's like to be a middle aged woman. and I'm not saying a young person can't write about older characters, but you should have older people review the book during editing.

overall, this was a great idea but failed in execution

[Vincens]

Mrs. Victoria Buys a Brothel is a delightfully original novel with a premise that immediately grabs your attention and refuses to let go. The story is filled with colorful, endearing characters who leap off the page and make you care deeply about their quirky, heartfelt journeys. It's the kind of book that’s nearly impossible to put down once you’ve started — charming, witty, and full of unexpected warmth. A truly refreshing read!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs. Victoria buys a Brothel is a captivating read. I read this book over a weekend and it was funny, moving, and delightful. The author creates really interesting, fleshed out characters and I wanted to learn about their stories. I thought the pacing was really good and I was rooting for Victoria and Natane throughout the book.

[Cheri Ebisu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozy, romantic, and delightful. I’ve been following this title’s progress on Tumblr and Kickstarter and am so excited to finally have gotten my hands on the physical copy. The Western lesbian antics did not disappoint. All the characters are interesting and well-developed, and the slow burn romance is beautifully done.

[Bertie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful, dramatic, and sincere

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging historical-romance! Equal parts funny and dramatic. You will be routing for Victoria to succeed from the start!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5- the character writing in general and the chemistry building between Victoria and Natane was great!

[Marjo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fun coming of age story featuring a middle-aged protagonist.

[Tabi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sometimes I wanted to beat Victoria and myself

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book stated out lightly but soon delved much deeper. A look at spousal abuse, and redemption. A look at forbidden love and it’s consequences.

[Glfzyenzwfcwsb · Rating 5 out of 5]

lovely story

Worth the read, and the slow burn. So very good!

I couldn’t put it down, honestly. Will be on the lookout for more from the author.

[Carla C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found family tropes that make me sob.

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Paris Jordanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've finished in 1 day in YEARS (and I would kill for book 2)

[Meghan Bohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old West sapphic romance.

[Ella Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

[Elsa ☥°࿐ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5 actually but that was soooo cute