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Bride #1
Mail-Order Bride
Kate Murphy arrives in the Rocky Mountain mining town as a mail-order bride just in time to discover she's a widow before she's a wife. Looking to earn the stagecoach fare out of this dangerous town, Kate never expects the true peril to come in the tantalizing form of Trev Trevelyan.
MADE IN HEAVEN
The handsome mine superintendent desperately needs someone to care for his two young, motherless children, and Kate is delighted to take the job. But first the children capture her heart...and then the leaping attraction between sweet Kate and the smolderingly handsome Trev is too powerful to deny. Although Kate longs for the safety of his arms, will she ever be able to accept the danger of his life?
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
29 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
Maureen McKade
21 books35 followersMaureen McKade has been making up stories since the moment she learned to read, write and string sentences together. Her first book, "Winter Hearts", published in 1997 was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America's (RWA) Golden Heart contest, then a finalist in RWA's RITA for best first book. Since then, she's written thirteen more books and a short story for an anthology.
She taught middle school science for three years then held a variety of jobs--bookstore clerk, administrative assistant, customer service manager, department manager, and pharmacy technician--until she settling on writing. (Or, more aptly, until writing settled on her.)
Maureen and her husband, a retired Air Force officer, now live on 40 nature-filled acres in southwestern North Dakota with their two French Brittany Spaniels and three cats. Her eclectic list of leisure pursuits include long walks with hubby and their two dogs, reading, wildlife watching, golfing, bird hunting, and puttering around in the kitchen.
She taught middle school science for three years then held a variety of jobs--bookstore clerk, administrative assistant, customer service manager, department manager, and pharmacy technician--until she settling on writing. (Or, more aptly, until writing settled on her.)
Maureen and her husband, a retired Air Force officer, now live on 40 nature-filled acres in southwestern North Dakota with their two French Brittany Spaniels and three cats. Her eclectic list of leisure pursuits include long walks with hubby and their two dogs, reading, wildlife watching, golfing, bird hunting, and puttering around in the kitchen.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 1, 2019
Kate Murphy arrives in Orion, Colorado, in time to learn that her fiancé has just perished in a mining accident. With no money of her own, Kate takes a job caring for the children of the mine foreman, Trev Trevelyan. Trev is in dire need of help. He's working long hours trying to keep the mine owner from making dangerous changes to the mine and endangering the workers. Trev needs someone to care for his two young children. He swears he'll never marry again, but Kate is making him re-think that vow.
Maureen McKade always writes a solid historical romance. This one is another winner. Both Kate and Trev are both characters that you cheer for. Kate knows absolutely nothing about children and is afraid she'll do something wrong and break them. Trev is trying to keep his children safe while keeping the mine workers from walking off the job. Someone is stirring up trouble among the miners and the accidents in the mine aren't helping matters. These two lonely people need each other. My rating: 4 Stars.
Maureen McKade always writes a solid historical romance. This one is another winner. Both Kate and Trev are both characters that you cheer for. Kate knows absolutely nothing about children and is afraid she'll do something wrong and break them. Trev is trying to keep his children safe while keeping the mine workers from walking off the job. Someone is stirring up trouble among the miners and the accidents in the mine aren't helping matters. These two lonely people need each other. My rating: 4 Stars.
December 10, 2022
This book was okay. It encompassed two plots that co-existed rather awkwardly: a romance and a historical fiction about the plight of miners in 19th century America.
The romance brought together mail-order bride Kate Murphy, whose fiance dies before they can marry, and widower Trev Trevelyan, who juggles being a father to his two children while trying to manage a hellish mine. Kate is not your typical HR willowy damsel in distress but a strong woman in every sense of the word. Trev is not a cruel and confident Alpha. He has weaknesses, self-doubts, and makes mistakes throughout the book, mistakes that cost lives. I would describe him as a tormented Beta hero. He really makes an effort to do the right thing and his unconditional love for his children was his best character trait. But overall, Kate and Trev did not have great chemistry and were kind of bland characters. By the 82 percent mark, they still hadn't figured out they love each other. Come. On. The best lines of the book are given to a secondary character, the irascible Mrs. Hartwick, she of the five husbands and the two cats Samson and Goliath, who stands up for the miners' family against an unfeeling and uncaring administration. Which brings us to the historical fiction part of the story.
The plight of the miners is described with meticulous and chilling detail: their extremely dangerous and terribly unstable and unrewarded work; the misery of their family once their breadwinner dies or worse, is maimed in a mine accident; the crass, unfeeling owners; and the shady, agenda-carrying union organizer. While it is no Germinal, there is definitely enough in there to immerse you into their world and revile the injustice of it all.
Overall, I would recommend it more for fans of historical fiction. The romance aspect is light so don't let the cover misguide you. This isn't the steamy bodice-ripper that the cheesy cover would suggest, if that is the genre you are looking for.
The romance brought together mail-order bride Kate Murphy, whose fiance dies before they can marry, and widower Trev Trevelyan, who juggles being a father to his two children while trying to manage a hellish mine. Kate is not your typical HR willowy damsel in distress but a strong woman in every sense of the word. Trev is not a cruel and confident Alpha. He has weaknesses, self-doubts, and makes mistakes throughout the book, mistakes that cost lives. I would describe him as a tormented Beta hero. He really makes an effort to do the right thing and his unconditional love for his children was his best character trait. But overall, Kate and Trev did not have great chemistry and were kind of bland characters. By the 82 percent mark, they still hadn't figured out they love each other. Come. On. The best lines of the book are given to a secondary character, the irascible Mrs. Hartwick, she of the five husbands and the two cats Samson and Goliath, who stands up for the miners' family against an unfeeling and uncaring administration. Which brings us to the historical fiction part of the story.
The plight of the miners is described with meticulous and chilling detail: their extremely dangerous and terribly unstable and unrewarded work; the misery of their family once their breadwinner dies or worse, is maimed in a mine accident; the crass, unfeeling owners; and the shady, agenda-carrying union organizer. While it is no Germinal, there is definitely enough in there to immerse you into their world and revile the injustice of it all.
Overall, I would recommend it more for fans of historical fiction. The romance aspect is light so don't let the cover misguide you. This isn't the steamy bodice-ripper that the cheesy cover would suggest, if that is the genre you are looking for.
July 18, 2016
A tall heroine.
I must confess that I have trouble with an "unattractive" heroine. I do not need the women to be beautiful. But is it necessary to paint the woman in such an unattractive light? But that is subjective. I suppose many people would not think that "she is a tall one" is not a compliment.
I need to like my heroine. And I couldn't like Kate Murphy.
I must confess that I have trouble with an "unattractive" heroine. I do not need the women to be beautiful. But is it necessary to paint the woman in such an unattractive light? But that is subjective. I suppose many people would not think that "she is a tall one" is not a compliment.
I need to like my heroine. And I couldn't like Kate Murphy.
June 12, 2012
Rating: C
A mining town is a dangerous place, not only for miners but for single women. Kate Murphy doesn't plan to stay single long, she just needs to find her fiancé. When Kate learns her intended has just been killed in a mine accident she is desperate to get out of this rough town and to the nearest city, Denver. Fate places Kate in the path of Trev Trevelyan and she is hired to care for his children. It's funny because Kate has no experience but Trev doesn't have a lot of options so he trusts Kate. I think her looks helped her get the job if only on a subconscious level since Trev definitely noticed Kate's looks. I did like Kate's tenacity that was balanced with her ignorance of mining and the culture of the mining town.
Trev Trevelyan is a very busy mining supervisor, putting in long hours with little time for his children. The time he does spend with them, he cherishes which made me like him. He did come across as very driven to succeed at all costs. This was due to him growing up the very poor son of a miner in Cornwall. If it hadn't been for his relationships with his children he would have felt distant, a character with little warmth. Eventually that warmth was shown towards Kate but the convenience factor did play a role in their romance. Kate was there in Trev's home with no other respectable options for earning money. They did make time to talk and get to know each other but it felt contrived.
The town itself, the mine in particular, play an important role in Kate and Trev's romance. Trev being the superintendent for a number of mines has his future tied to the wealth and future of the mines. Kate doesn't like the danger of the mines or the violence that springs up with the miners and talk of unions. The tension between Kate and Trev is fueled by the drama surrounding the mines. Even with that drama, the plot moved fairly slowly and predictably. The antagonists were obvious, even the one(s) who were not suppose to be. The romance too was predictable with Kate determined to leave and Trev wanting Kate to stay and take care of his children and him as well. Kate was portrayed as an independent woman wanting to make her own way but this was after her fiancé died which didn't fit with a mail-order bride scenario.
Mail-Order Bride might be suffering from predictability but that won't keep me from trying more western romances from this author.
A mining town is a dangerous place, not only for miners but for single women. Kate Murphy doesn't plan to stay single long, she just needs to find her fiancé. When Kate learns her intended has just been killed in a mine accident she is desperate to get out of this rough town and to the nearest city, Denver. Fate places Kate in the path of Trev Trevelyan and she is hired to care for his children. It's funny because Kate has no experience but Trev doesn't have a lot of options so he trusts Kate. I think her looks helped her get the job if only on a subconscious level since Trev definitely noticed Kate's looks. I did like Kate's tenacity that was balanced with her ignorance of mining and the culture of the mining town.
Trev Trevelyan is a very busy mining supervisor, putting in long hours with little time for his children. The time he does spend with them, he cherishes which made me like him. He did come across as very driven to succeed at all costs. This was due to him growing up the very poor son of a miner in Cornwall. If it hadn't been for his relationships with his children he would have felt distant, a character with little warmth. Eventually that warmth was shown towards Kate but the convenience factor did play a role in their romance. Kate was there in Trev's home with no other respectable options for earning money. They did make time to talk and get to know each other but it felt contrived.
The town itself, the mine in particular, play an important role in Kate and Trev's romance. Trev being the superintendent for a number of mines has his future tied to the wealth and future of the mines. Kate doesn't like the danger of the mines or the violence that springs up with the miners and talk of unions. The tension between Kate and Trev is fueled by the drama surrounding the mines. Even with that drama, the plot moved fairly slowly and predictably. The antagonists were obvious, even the one(s) who were not suppose to be. The romance too was predictable with Kate determined to leave and Trev wanting Kate to stay and take care of his children and him as well. Kate was portrayed as an independent woman wanting to make her own way but this was after her fiancé died which didn't fit with a mail-order bride scenario.
Mail-Order Bride might be suffering from predictability but that won't keep me from trying more western romances from this author.
July 20, 2014
Mediocre, boring, lacks depth.
July 26, 2015
3.5 out of 5 stars
October 18, 2012
Originally published in 2000, now resurrected on Kindle.
Benign way to pass the time.
Benign way to pass the time.
January 15, 2019
An enjoyable, quick read. For me, the most interesting aspect of this book was Trev's job. In a lot of these romance novels, the male lead's job usually doesn't revolve around such grueling work (or if it does, they're a rancher). A mine superintendent was a fresh choice!
I liked both leads. McKade kept the manufactured drama to a minimum; I can only remember two scenes where Kate and Trev managed to completely misread each other (ex. they kiss one another and one of them manages to think the other doesn't like them).
The only reason I'm not giving it a 5 star is that... it didn't really grab me. Having finished the book, I can say I've seen all of the plot elements in other books and utilized better. For example, Annie, the daughter, is mute due to It all winds up resolved by the end (because of course it does) and I'm left feeling nothing. I couldn't care about the mother; she was just a one-note character. The plot is fairly predictable as well.
I liked both leads. McKade kept the manufactured drama to a minimum; I can only remember two scenes where Kate and Trev managed to completely misread each other (ex. they kiss one another and one of them manages to think the other doesn't like them).
The only reason I'm not giving it a 5 star is that... it didn't really grab me. Having finished the book, I can say I've seen all of the plot elements in other books and utilized better. For example, Annie, the daughter, is mute due to It all winds up resolved by the end (because of course it does) and I'm left feeling nothing. I couldn't care about the mother; she was just a one-note character. The plot is fairly predictable as well.
March 28, 2026
I really wanted to read a western, and I'm such a sucker for marriages of convenience-- this one has a slight twist the FMC's intended fiance is killed before she ever has a chance to meet him. The MC is a single father of two, who of course does not intend to marry ever again.
Honestly, the story was pretty slow and I actually did not like the FMC. She just felt so shallow, and quite immature to be taken seriously.
All of the things surrounding the mining operations were surprisingly interesting, way more interesting than the main romance.
Anyway, it wasn't the best but it was a quick short book.
Honestly, the story was pretty slow and I actually did not like the FMC. She just felt so shallow, and quite immature to be taken seriously.
All of the things surrounding the mining operations were surprisingly interesting, way more interesting than the main romance.
Anyway, it wasn't the best but it was a quick short book.
February 28, 2026
This book would have been perfect for me had the story focused more on the relationship and romance of the hero and heroine, instead of so much mining information.
The idea of her coming to babysit for him and then they fall in love is cute, but most of the story was the drama taking place at the mine. And with me hating heights and I would totally panic being inside a dark mine, I seriously could not relax and enjoy reading thru the scenes at the mine. Plus, with the lousy mine owner and disgruntled miners, it was all depressing for me.
The idea of her coming to babysit for him and then they fall in love is cute, but most of the story was the drama taking place at the mine. And with me hating heights and I would totally panic being inside a dark mine, I seriously could not relax and enjoy reading thru the scenes at the mine. Plus, with the lousy mine owner and disgruntled miners, it was all depressing for me.
March 2, 2019
I finished this a week ago, so let's see . . . I didn't totally buy the heroine suddenly being against marriage. I think there's a way to do it--you're suddenly "free" and now you realize you can want more things!--but it didn't quite work for me.
It was also anti-union, booo!
Oh, I was also disappointed by the misleading title. It's about a mail order bride, sure, but not about a mail order MARRIAGE.
It was also anti-union, booo!
Oh, I was also disappointed by the misleading title. It's about a mail order bride, sure, but not about a mail order MARRIAGE.
November 22, 2024
3.5, rounded down to 3 in Goodreads. A perfectly nice paperback romance, with only minimal appearance of the tropes that drive me up the wall. I didn't mind the mining subplot, but I did mind Kate's lack of knowing what she wants. Trev was an okay love interest—he was at his best when he was being flirty and sweet, which was often enough to satisfy me. The side characters (especially Annie, Laddie, and Mrs. Hartwick) were loveable. I'm glad Kate got to pursue her dream AND her man in the end.
March 16, 2018
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I had bought it long ago, and since then it has sat on my shelf, simply forgotten. For a challenge, I finally decided to give this title a chance, and actually quite enjoyed it!
August 21, 2019
Started off well enough, but the writing was stilted at times and it just didn't flesh out enough. The writing got a little corny at parts, which is not unusual for a romance novel, but a bit too much for my taste. Some grammatical errors need to be fixed.
November 23, 2020
3.5/4 out of 5
July 2, 2021
Pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this 21 year old book. I got major When Calls the Heart vibes from it. :)
September 6, 2022
I loved the story.
December 10, 2022
2.5: On the sweet side, only one scene in the last 5 pages of the book
June 1, 2025
Ok I get it. Kate was ugly and too tall. Didn’t finish it.
February 10, 2023
Kate Murphy arrives in the Rocky Mountain mining town as a mail-order bride— just in time to discover she's a widow before she's a wife. Looking to earn the stagecoach fare out of this dangerous town, Kate never expects the true peril to come in the tantalizing form of Trev Trevelyan.
MADE IN HEAVEN
The handsome mine superintendent desperately needs someone to care for his two young, motherless children, and Kate is delighted to take the job. But first the children capture her heart...and then the leaping attraction between sweet Kate and the smolderingly handsome Trev is too powerful to deny. Although Kate longs for the safety of his arms, will she ever be able to accept the danger of his life?
MADE IN HEAVEN
The handsome mine superintendent desperately needs someone to care for his two young, motherless children, and Kate is delighted to take the job. But first the children capture her heart...and then the leaping attraction between sweet Kate and the smolderingly handsome Trev is too powerful to deny. Although Kate longs for the safety of his arms, will she ever be able to accept the danger of his life?
June 13, 2019
This is a mail-order bride with a twist: Kate Murphy has arrived in a Rocky Mountain mining town to find that her intended has just died in a mining accident. She realizes that she cannot stay but does not have the funds to board the next stagecoach to Denver.
Mining superintendent Trev Trevelyan goes to get his children (he’s a widower with 2 small children) and finds them alone. The woman keeping the kids in her home arrives soon after; Trevelyan tells her that he will find someone else. When he begins to look, he realizes that there is no one interested in the job.
The characters are very well-written and it is easy to care about them and the problems they face. There’s also a mystery of sorts. On the downside, the book moves at a good pace and then ends a bit suddenly. Although the writer’s style is engaging, the plot was rather common after Kate found her job. The story was saved by the problems at the mines and an unusual difficulty of the daughter, Annie.
Mining superintendent Trev Trevelyan goes to get his children (he’s a widower with 2 small children) and finds them alone. The woman keeping the kids in her home arrives soon after; Trevelyan tells her that he will find someone else. When he begins to look, he realizes that there is no one interested in the job.
The characters are very well-written and it is easy to care about them and the problems they face. There’s also a mystery of sorts. On the downside, the book moves at a good pace and then ends a bit suddenly. Although the writer’s style is engaging, the plot was rather common after Kate found her job. The story was saved by the problems at the mines and an unusual difficulty of the daughter, Annie.
December 7, 2013
I highly recommend this tale of a mail order bride, Kate, who arrives at her destination in a Rocky Mountain Mining Town only to discover her intended has just been killed in a mining accident. She needs a job to earn enough for her stagecoach fare.
Trev, the gorgeous superintendent of these mines, is in need of a sitter to care for his baby son and mute daughter. Kate begins caring for his children and that caring quickly carries over to the father.
Trev's attracted and likes having her around but does his best to keep his distance.
As angry miners try to form a union, all hell breaks loose. Kate is kidnapped and murder is on the menu to get revenge at Trev and he goes on a search for her.
Will he be too late when he finally tracks her down?
You'll love it. I sure did.
Trev, the gorgeous superintendent of these mines, is in need of a sitter to care for his baby son and mute daughter. Kate begins caring for his children and that caring quickly carries over to the father.
Trev's attracted and likes having her around but does his best to keep his distance.
As angry miners try to form a union, all hell breaks loose. Kate is kidnapped and murder is on the menu to get revenge at Trev and he goes on a search for her.
Will he be too late when he finally tracks her down?
You'll love it. I sure did.
October 17, 2016
It's an ok book. The romance between the two is only mildly interesting. The book turned a little bland because of the overlying story of the mine and the miners.
One thing that kind of annoys me in romance books are the over-exaggerations in love scenes. Here's a quote:
"Suddenly, Kate's body stiffened and explosions of unimaginable ecstasy crashed through her. She felt free of earth's shackles and joined the stars high in the sky. Wave after wave of rapture washed through her and her heart pounded with extraordinary joy."
One thing that kind of annoys me in romance books are the over-exaggerations in love scenes. Here's a quote:
"Suddenly, Kate's body stiffened and explosions of unimaginable ecstasy crashed through her. She felt free of earth's shackles and joined the stars high in the sky. Wave after wave of rapture washed through her and her heart pounded with extraordinary joy."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2013
This book was great definitely deserved the five stars. It was a great story to tell about a miner and his love for his children but also how he and his children to move on from his horrible selfish late wife, and Kate helped in so many ways. I understand there were some errors like at one point of the book trev eyes were green but they really are blue and I can swear I remember reading her hair was red headed but it's not, it's more chestnut. Besides that being annoying and trev name was horrible. Trev for short is fine but his full name is ridiculous. Trev trevelyon ...I honestly had no idea how to pronounce it but I did my best.
April 4, 2016
This had been on my TBR list for a while an decided to give it a shot. This is about a woman who has nothing and is trying to make a life for herself. However, her plans go wary when she arrived and her husband to be is killed. She has no money and no where to turn when she meets a man who needs someone to care for his children. I really loved how their love for each other grew. It was a very sweet love story. I am not sure if it was the version I was reading but there were several publishing errors and that is why I can't give it five stars.
May 14, 2012
typical ... boring
May 29, 2012
It's Maureen McKade so it's an automatic "like", but the editor did a lousy job. Spelling and puncuation errors made it a difficult read in places. Other than that, good book!
June 24, 2012
I think this was a pretty good read. The author had well developed characters as well as a little mystery in the plot.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews