Mail Order Baron

Brides of Tombstone #3

by Cynthia Woolf

When her parents died, Molly McGregor did what she needed to survive in New York City all alone. She took a job for a well respected banker, but made a discovery that put her life in danger. Now in 1882 she is fleeing New York for the western frontier, Molly makes the desperate decision to become a mail order bride in Tombstone, Arizona Territory. She doesn't hope for much, just that her new husband will be strong enough to protect her from the danger she fears will follow.

Ben King was too busy making his fortune in silver to worry about a wife or family. Now he's rich, well known, owns half the town of Tombstone, and is utterly alone. When his heart becomes entangled with his best friend's new wife, he decides drastic action is required and contracts a mail order bride. He requests someone plain, someone simple to warm his hearth and home, someone he can be sure won't rouse his passion or complicate his life. He's tired of fancy women chasing him for his money, and even more tired of hoping any woman could be different. He doesn't believe in true love, and doesn't want the complications that would come with it. He doesn't have time for complicated. He has an empire to run.

But Molly is a shock to his senses. She doesn't care about his money or his fame. All she wants from him is a safe haven, security, and a new last name. Ben tries to keep his heart out of danger, but danger seems to be Molly's middle name. When a rich and powerful enemy chases his beautiful new bride halfway across the country to extract vengeance, Ben discovers his heart is not nearly as cold as he'd hoped. Their passion fires hot, hot enough to kill...more than hot enough to burn them both.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Western Romance, Westerns, Historical

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2015

About the author

Cynthia Woolf is the USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author of eighty-five works of romance fiction. Comprising sixty-six historical western romances, ten contemporary romance novels, two contemporary romance novellas, one historical western romance novella, and six sci-fi space opera romances, which she calls westerns in space. Along with these books, she has also published twelve boxed sets of her books and two short stories.

Cynthia loves writing and reading romance. Her first western romance, Tame A Wild Heart, was inspired by the story her mother told her of meeting Cynthia's father on a ranch in Creede, Colorado. Although Tame A Wild Heart takes place in Creede, that is the only similarity between the stories. Her father was a cowboy, not a bounty hunter, and her mother was a nursemaid (called a nanny now), not the ranch owner.

Cynthia credits her wonderfully supportive husband, Jim, and her great critique partners for saving her sanity and allowing her to explore her creativity.



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TITLES AVAILABLE (English unless otherwise stated)

COLORADO BILLIONAIRES (sweet contemporary novels)
THE CEO
THE RANCHER
THE MAVERICK
THE TYCOON
THE ARTIST (coming soon)
THE QUARTERBACK (coming soon)


MONTANA BILLIONAIRES SERIES (contemporary sweet western novels)
Her Secret Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Mysterious Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Royal Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Christmas Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Bachelor Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Wild Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Elusive Cowboy Billionaire
Her Disguised Cowboy Billionaire


CHRISTMAS AT THE MISTLETOE INN (contemporary novella)
Cooking Up Christmas


THE BRIDES OF THE KLONDIKE
The Gold Rush Bride (Available in German)
The Gold Mountain Bride


THE PRESCOTT BRIDES (Available in German)
A Bride for Ross
A Bride for Frank
A Bride for Tucker
A Bride for Clay
A Bride for Brodie



THE HEART WISH MAIL-ORDER BRIDES SERIES
Heart of Stone
Heart of Shadow


MARSHALS MAIL ORDER BRIDES
The Carson City Bride (Available in German)
The Virginia City Bride (Available in German)
The Silver City Bride
The Eureka City Bride


ANGEL CREEK CHRISTMAS BRIDES
Adele


BRIDES OF GOLDEN CITY
A Husband for Victoria
A Husband for Cordelia
A Husband for Adeline


BRIDES OF THE OREGON TRAIL (Available in German)
Hannah
Lydia
Bella
Eliza
Rebecca
Charlotte
Amanda
Emma Rose
Nora
Opal


BACHELORS & BABIES
Carter (Book 3)


BRIDES OF SEATTLE (Available in German)
Mail Order Mystery
Mail Order Mayhem
Mail Order Mix-Up
Mail Order Moonlight
Mail Order Melody


CENTRAL CITY BRIDES (Available in German)
The Dancing Bride
The Sapphire Bride
The Irish Bride
The Pretender Bride


HOMESTEAD CANYON SERIES
Thorpe’s Mail-Order Bride
Kissed by a Stranger
A Family for Christmas


HOPE’S CROSSING
The Hunter Bride
The Replacement Bride
The Stolen Bride
The Unexpected Bride


AMERICAN MAIL-ORDER BRIDES
Genevieve, Bride of Nevada


THE SURPRISE BRIDES
Gideon


THE BRIDES OF SAN FRANCISCO
Nellie (Available in German)
Annie (Available in German)
Cora (Available in German)
Sophia (Available in German)
Amelia (Available in German)
Violet


THE BRIDES OF TOMBSTONE (Available in German)
Mail Order Outlaw
Mail Order Doctor
Mail Order Baron


DESTINY IN DEADWOOD (Available in German)
Jake
Liam
Zach


MATCHMAK

Reviews

[Jessica's Totally Over The Top Book Obsession · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Sweet spot Stars



Now see this book is what I want when I read me some Cynthia Woolf. A sweet feel good read. Although this one is a little bit more angsty then some of her others it was still a very good read. I loved both Ben and Molly. Loved their story. Loved getting to see the past couples from the other books. I even soften a little towards Matt from book two. I was over the moon for the HEA. This book was just what I needed. A easy read that just makes me happy!

http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received for review

Yep, I did it again and haven't read the first two books. Wasn't lost but am intrigued by all the mentions of those first two relationship that I may go back and read them too. Molly is Ben's mail order bride. There is no hesitancy on either side, but Molly soon finds out that Ben is still in love with his friend's bride. Hurt feelings and a bad guy from her past add to the drama. Great story and beautiful epilogue.

[Sissy's Romance Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an eARC, from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
This is book three in the "Brides of Tombstone" series. I haven't read the first two books yet so I thought it was a standalone book...although they did mention other couples from the previous books. So I will probably go back and read them just because I liked having this book.
Molly McGregor was left alone after her parents died and so Molly took to working as a respectable job as a banker in New York. But Molly learns that her life is in danger and she flees to a western frontier.. Tombstone, Arizona Territory. There she goes forward to be a mail order bride. Ben King has decided to take a wife after becoming well off and because he has started having feeling for his friends wife. The wife Ben gets is Molly... Ben is a strong male type but he doesn't seem to care or go forward with his feelings for Molly until her life is put in danger.

[Bess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this marriage of convenience thing.

Ben wants a wife and Molly is running from her old life.

Ben was a alpha male and very caring still being in love with Julia he
shows a caring for Molly and he will do anything for her. But he could have stop it almost their fights if he has just talk to Molly about his feelings.

Molly shows sush strength and she just someone who loves her.
She could have bitch around but she accept why that meaning she does not making him suffer. hahahaha.

Despite the suspense and atempt to murder everything turns okay and we gain a epilogue
We know how the others characters's life.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Man wants a wife, one woman must get out of town, sometimes a marriage of convenience is just what the doctor ordered. I really enjoyed the suspense, danger, and true emotions the author gives these characters. Ben fell in love with his best friends girl, needing to move on he places an ad for a bride. Molly must get out of town, she saw something she should not have and have men after her. Ben is an alpha male, Molly is use to standing on her own, together they make a pair but first they must overcome some major issues.


Lia Frederick as the narrator did a wonderful job I love her many voices. The male ones were just as great as her female ones. Her normal voice is very pleasant I could listen to her all day. There are not background noises, no volume changes or break in the audio just a wonderful clean and clear audio which you will enjoy from start to finish. She puts feeling and emotion in her audios never leaving you guessing how each character feels. You can hear the pain, sorrow, passion in her voice she has a very calm smooth voice which is easy to listen to. She truly made this an audio to enjoy.

[Amanda Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the "Mail Order Baron" by Cynthia Woolf. Molly decided to be a mail order bride because someone is after her. She was a bank secretary and found evidence of her boss embezzling, he was arrested and then escaped prison and is coming after Molly.
Ben is the richest man in Tombstone, but he fell for his best friend's wife and doesn't think that anyone will replace her in his affections. He decides he wants to at least get married and have children and if he can't love his wife, he wants great affection to grow between them.
Molly is upset to learn that Ben doesn't plan on loving her, but he does promise to be faithful. Ben is eager to marry Molly, she is attractive and he likes her. They get married and there is plenty of chemistry between them. The love scenes were passionate, but not erotic. They did make a good couple and had some of the normal problems newly married, virtual strangers would have when starting a life together.
The threats against Molly escalate, which creates some additional problems between Ben and Molly.
I liked Ben and Molly as a couple, they were sweet and there was chemistry between them. I would highly recommend this shorter novel, it was very good reading.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[GONZA · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting something super or special, but this book was so obvious and foregone and not so well written that it wasn't fun enough to read.

Non é che mi aspettassi qualcosa di meravigioso o di speciale, ma questo libro era scritto male e scontatissimo, tanto che non mi sono divertita affatto a leggerlo.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND ROMANCE CONVENTION FOR THE PREVIEW!

[Lyngay Hemsath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doing right is good, secrets in marriage can be bad.

The last in the series of Brides of Tombstone. A clean standalone romance. Ben, a wealth businessman, Molly, mail-order bride, both with painful or dangerous secrets! Visit with both couples from previous stories and see the exposed secrets and how Molly and Ben adjust to married life. A second chance is almost lost. Well written such that I want to read more of Cynthia Woolf's stories.

[Ruby Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable

It took me a week to read 30 pages. The beginning was too slow. There was no attraction between the characters since the very rich hero said he was in love with another woman in town who was married. The author needs to use dialogue for the historical period. Modern words in dialogue such as incorrect names for furniture, and clothing are distracting. I'm sorry that I cannot give this book a higher rating.

[Sandra Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story

I love this story and this series. Strong loveable characters. This story hits your emotional buttons. Strong, stubborn and handsome cowboys meet independent and courageous women. This series will take you on a entertaining adventure. I highly recommend you read this story and the others in this series and all title's by Cynthia🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟💖💖💖💖💖

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 3 in the series I have not read the others but will for sure catch up as you see glimpses of the other couples.

this book was a good read I loved Ben and Molly and thought they were perfect together.

[Jan Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another

This is another of Ms. Woolf's book series, I enjoyed it as much as I have the others. I always look forward to reading more by this author . That is exactly what I am going to do.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Molly

Molly became a mail order bride to hide from A man she help send to jail. He followed her to Tombstone and kept trying to make her pay for turning him in to the law. She hoped marrying Ben King would keep her safe but does it? Good reading. Enjoy! Jo

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winner!

Another winning story! Lovely, exciting and real. Ben was a tough nut to open, but Molly's love did it! 👍

[karen woodley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly predictable if you read books #1 and #2.

[Tamra LeValley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Love this author but this book was a disappointment.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book a few months ago - looks like my rating and review for whatever reason did not save :P

[Gerri Weatherby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Good reading,easy to follow the story line,interesting characters, great writing style,I would recommend this book for anyone who likes western style books.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst book ever.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved her books.

[CB · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah no this book is a no go for me. The writing is like 12 year old writing. It’s so basic. DNF@ 15%

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A woman needing a safe place to land and a man who wants a family chose to do a mail order bride arrangement. It wasn't supposed to be about love, but it wasn't long before unexpected feelings and a man set on revenge make things interesting for Ben King and Molly MacGregor in the rugged town of Tombstone.

This was book three in the Brides of Tombstone series. And, I didn't realize this when I decided to read it. I wasn't far into the story and realized that Ben and some other folks in the town already had a history together that was ongoing into this book. It wasn't impossible to read this one out of order, but I can definitely see where getting them in order might have made me feel more connected.

The story opens with Molly discovering that the man she testified and was sent to prison for embezzlement and fraud at the bank is now out. She has to get away from New York to a place the man wouldn't think to look so she answers a mail order bride advertisement, exchanges letters with Benjamin King, and then decides to be his mail order bride out west. She arrives and has sharp opinions right away only to find out that Ben is not what she imagined. He's ever so much more and it doesn't take long before she is falling for her husband.
Ben was in love with a woman and his best friend got her. Now he is settling for a family and home, but no deep love. He likes Molly and he is determined to protect her from the man who is after her, but Molly wants so much more. She was willing to settle, but now she wants it all and fears she'll never have it.

Well, this is one of those stories that had all the ingredients for something really good. When put together, it just didn't quite get there for me. This is not because of getting it out of order, but because this particular story got off on the wrong foot with me and just never got back on balance.

I love the mail order bride trope as a fun variation on the marriage of convenience that historicals are famous for. And it is especially good because the relationship is slow burn and is usually hard fought. This story even added the element of a dangerous man set on revenge and some unrequited love. I really should have loved this one, but I couldn't and that bugged me.

It started with Molly's unrealistic attitude. It was demanding. She answers an ad from a guy who says he wants a wife and wants a family. Pretty sure he didn't offer up the guarantee in his letter that 'in two weeks you'll have my undying love and I'll stop working my business and devote myself solely to you'.
But that's what she acted like.
She wasn't there five minutes and she jumped to conclusions (he's at the mine ergo guess that makes him a greedy scrooge who obviously doesn't care a hang about me, but there was a collapse- whoops, my bad guess he's not all bad, but I'm still going to whine about it the first chance I get and I do) and had to realize that she read stuff wrong. Then she spent the whole story jealous and feeling inferior as woman. She wouldn't listen to others who knew Ben well told her she had nothing to worry about and that he really did love her. He really did think her lovely and said so.
Even when I thought Ben deserved a boot up the butt for pulling the ol' 'I'll get over one woman by getting a different one', he didn't lie, he didn't cheat, and he didn't make any promises about love, but he did keep the promises he made and he was even affectionate, kind, and generous with Molly.
Now I grant you, the jealousy was somewhat understandable since Ben had been in love with another woman who picked his best friend. I get that this sounds bad, but it's a marriage of convenience so I really wasn't turned off by this. He made no promises about his heart, but constantly had to reassure her that he would keep his marriage vows.
It was tough because even when I should have totally been rooting for her because she was in love and he was in denial; her petulance, impatience, and demands made it hard. She wanted the right things and I wanted them for her, but argh...she was as in denial in a different way as Ben was.

So, it was mildly enjoyable. I got my mail order bride romance. There were good points. Ben and Molly were actually good for each other when they weren't trying to sabotage their own chances. There was some spice and a few spikes of excitement. I might give another of the author's books a go to see if it was just the heroine because I liked other aspects of the story.

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara Archibald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.

This is the third book in The Brides of Tombstone series for Cynthia Woolf. I love all of her books! This can be read as a standalone, however I recommend that if you haven’t read the first two you should!

Molly McGregor decided to be a mail order bride and was going to travel all the way to Tombstone, Arizona from New York City after she turned in her boss in for embezzling money and he was arrested. She found out before she left for Tombstone that he escaped and she is hoping that he wouldn’t find her because he threatened her life. She wants to go to a faraway place where she could feel safe and protected, also she wanted to start a family.

Ben King is a very wealthy man who has been in love with his best friend’s wife Julia for about a year and decided to send for a mail order bride to start a family. Since Julia wasn’t in love with him and didn’t return his feeling the same way. He made it clear to Molly that he wanted a family but he wouldn’t have feelings for her. He would care for her but not love her.

Ben tells Molly in not so many words that he is in love with Julia. Molly feels like she is always coming up short when it comes to the beautiful Julia. She befriends her but has her reservations bc of Ben’s feelings towards her. Even the house he is building for them he had Julia in mind with the floor plans. When her past catches up and collides with her present, will Ben be the husband she needs? Will he fall in love with her or stay in love with his past? Will he be enough to save her?

[Patty Nobles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The “Mail Order Baron” (Brides of Tombstone Book 3), is the best of the series so far. Molly comes to Tombstone as a mail order bride to the wealthiest man in town, Ben King. Molly comes to Tombstone not only to become a ride, but to hide from her previous employer who has made threats upon her life. Molly is greeted by Ben, whom she finds attractive and personable, and is looking forward to marriage until she meets the pregnant midwife Julia. Julia and Ben share a history and even though Julia is married to Ben’s best friend, Matt, he fancies himself in love with Julia. Ben is honest with Molly, but his honesty causes Molly great pain. When the previous employer makes an appearance in Tombstone, it is Ben’s honesty that pushes Molly into a situation that is harmful. The love story that Ms. Woolf has created for Molly and Ben is one of love and trust and is deeply emotional for anyone who has loved someone who is afraid to fall in love. I was given this book to read by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to have a free copy of this book from goodreads.com. Although this is the 3rd in a series, it is the first book that I have read from this author. It reminds me so much of the old b&w westerns that I loved to watch with my grandfather in the late 1950's to early 1960s. There are references to the previous books, but enough information is provided to make it a stand alone, though I already put the other books on my wish list. Molly, working in a bank in NYC, discovers the banker is embezzling funds, and helps the prosecution, (though I don't think women were accepted as witnesses in 1882). He escaped prison and revenge. She becomes a mail order bride and flees to Tombstone. Her new, rich, handsome husband is in love with his best friend's wife and doesn't expect to ever love again. This is a romance, so duh, he does. But meanwhile the villain tracks her down and tries to murder her. Nice story with adventure and romance.

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mail Order Baron is the third book in the Brides of Tombstone romance series. It is an adequately written, full length novel.

The heroine has moved to Tombstone as the mail order bride of a silver baron. She is fleeing a man that is determine to get revenge against her because her testimony put him in prison. He has escaped and she figured that Tombstone was so far from the east coast that he would never find her. Well, surprise, he does and on top of everything she finds out that her new husband is in love with another woman.

This plot had a lot of potential, but the author wrote in such a stilted style that it was difficult to get involved in the story. The Hero was such a toad that I was routing for her to leave him. Let's just say that the romance was hard to believe.

Even though Mail Order Baron was part of a series it read well as a standalone. It ends with a HEA.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

[Dotty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free in return for a honest review. Ms. Woolf has written another outstanding book. I only recently found her books and look forward to reading more.
Ben King owns at least half of tombstone I think he could have had a pick of many women for a wife but he could not ha e the one he wanted so he ordered himself a bride in the mail.
Molly had a bad boss and she was responsible for him spending time in prison. She needs out of New York quickly now that Tom is out and looking for her. So she becomes a mail order bride.
Both Ben and Molly have secrets they don't want to share but as with all small towns they have a way of surfacing. This makes for an interesting story line. I don't want to spoil it but i will say lives could be in danger, & can people find true love. Read the book to find out. You will not want to put it down.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Brides of Tombstone series and technically can be read as a stand alone novel. I, however, think I would have preferred to have at least read book two in the series since that one focused on Julia. I say this because many of the problems in Ben and Molly's relationship are centered on his love for Julia. But Julia married in the last book. Even though he marries Molly, Ben seems as though he can't let go of the idea of Julia even as he falls in love with Molly. Of course does he let Molly know about his feelings? Of course not just like she won't tell him about the danger lurking in her past. Of course Molly is the first to point out that he doesn't talk to her! Anyway, this was a good historical romance featuring a marriage of convenience that leads to love.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Mail Order Baron" by Cynthia Woolf is a historical romance about a mail order bride. After her arrival, Molly discovers that Ben, her husband, is in love with his friend's wife. Of course, Molly is in danger and that is the reason for her becoming a mail order bride to begin with. At times I liked Molly and other times, she annoyed me a bit. It seemed she expected instant true love. Ben is likable, even if he is hung up on someone else. Of course, the danger helps to bring a bit of life to the book. Unfortunately, while the story held promise, the writing style felt very stiff to me and it was, at times, a bit tough to continue. I'm glad I did as the story itself isn't terrible. Overall, not a bad read but not overly exciting or memorable either. (received copy from NetGalley for honest review)

[Barb Nifong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Book! I received. Free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is the third book in the Mail Order Bride series. Each book stands on its own, and the books can be read outside of order,but you don't want to miss any part of the brides experience. Molly is traveling by stagecoach from New York to Tombstone AZ, as the others before her. She is running from a man who served in prison due to her testimony, and he has vowed to make her pay. She falls in love with Ben, and they marry, though she knows he doesn't love her in return. We are brought up to date on the other Tombstone families as we follow Molly and Ben. I look forward to more books in the series and learning more about the people of tombstone.