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Santa's Mail-Order Bride: American Mail Order Brides Christmas Collection
Maggie has an unexpected suitor—in a red suit.
Schoolteacher Maggie O’Brien comes home for Christmas on a mission--to gather toys for orphans living on poor farms in Kansas. She's made her list, but there's no Santa in sight. Not until a local shopkeeper volunteers his services.
Gordon Sumner sets his mind on winning the black-haired Irish beauty, but Maggie’s brother is his fiercest competitor, and O’Brien’s loyal sister gives him the cold shoulder. Undaunted, he comes up with a clever plan.
Maggie sees through the fake Santa’s ploy, but with Christmas just around the corner, she’s running out of time to make the holiday happy for needy children. She accepts his help—with a plan of her own. She’ll play matchmaker and find her persistent suitor the perfect bride.
Schoolteacher Maggie O’Brien comes home for Christmas on a mission--to gather toys for orphans living on poor farms in Kansas. She's made her list, but there's no Santa in sight. Not until a local shopkeeper volunteers his services.
Gordon Sumner sets his mind on winning the black-haired Irish beauty, but Maggie’s brother is his fiercest competitor, and O’Brien’s loyal sister gives him the cold shoulder. Undaunted, he comes up with a clever plan.
Maggie sees through the fake Santa’s ploy, but with Christmas just around the corner, she’s running out of time to make the holiday happy for needy children. She accepts his help—with a plan of her own. She’ll play matchmaker and find her persistent suitor the perfect bride.
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 23, 2015
87 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
E.E. Burke
25 books144 followersE.E. Burke describes herself as "a history geek and a sucker for a good love story."
She recently released the 10th Anniversary Edition of her bestselling series, Steam! Romance and Rails, a fast-paced blend of Western adventure, sizzling romance and suspense.
"I love to write stories infused with history, legend, and romance. "
Her novel Tom Sawyer Returns won the Grand Prize for the 2021 LARAMIE Award, a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards. This book and the companion novel Taming Huck Finn were featured by the Mark Twain House & Museum in the author spotlight, Romancing Mark Twain.
She recently released the 10th Anniversary Edition of her bestselling series, Steam! Romance and Rails, a fast-paced blend of Western adventure, sizzling romance and suspense.
"I love to write stories infused with history, legend, and romance. "
Her novel Tom Sawyer Returns won the Grand Prize for the 2021 LARAMIE Award, a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards. This book and the companion novel Taming Huck Finn were featured by the Mark Twain House & Museum in the author spotlight, Romancing Mark Twain.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
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October 4, 2016Santa's Mail Order Bride This book truly showed the true meaning of Christmas helping others and making amends with those you have difference with and who knows it just may lead to your one true love as with Maggie and Sum. I can't express how much I enjoyed these books. I can't wait to read more by this phenomenal author.
December 28, 2019
Gave up halfway through. It’s not a mail-order bride story; there’s little plot; there’s no character development.
December 13, 2023
Not at all what I was expecting, but a good surprise. Happy reading!
January 25, 2017
Great Book
January 7, 2018
Battle between two shopkeepers comes to an end
A proper school teacher and her brother were orphans at an early age. Big brother raised her and was able to send her to school to become a teacher. A stranger comes into town and opened a store across the street carrying many of the same merchandise. He was also determined to marry Maggie. The stranger was not as they first thought.
A proper school teacher and her brother were orphans at an early age. Big brother raised her and was able to send her to school to become a teacher. A stranger comes into town and opened a store across the street carrying many of the same merchandise. He was also determined to marry Maggie. The stranger was not as they first thought.
December 9, 2017
A delightful story
A well written sweet story. I couldn't put it down. The sentiments and emotions are palpable between Maggie and Sum and you can't help but enjoy watching them fall in love.
A well written sweet story. I couldn't put it down. The sentiments and emotions are palpable between Maggie and Sum and you can't help but enjoy watching them fall in love.
December 27, 2022
Overall a cute story. It is a little more risqué than typical for these types of books. I am not a fan of David’s character and even Victoria bothered me a bit in this story, but I guess it was a more realistic version of real families.
December 6, 2017
Wonderful story
Sweet and romantic.
Only thing was the ending. It was lacking...it. just sort of ends in the middle of a conversation.
Sweet and romantic.
Only thing was the ending. It was lacking...it. just sort of ends in the middle of a conversation.
December 11, 2017
Santa's Mail Order Bride
It was cute. Some of it was drawn out too much, but I liked it. Will be reading more of your books.
It was cute. Some of it was drawn out too much, but I liked it. Will be reading more of your books.
January 6, 2020
I like Maggie and Sum, and found myself rooting for them. And just when you think it could never work out...a happy ending. The epilogue with real historical characters was interesting.
December 12, 2015
Ms. Burke is one of my go to authors when I want a smile, excitement and a clean read with wonderful humor, filled with lighthearted passion. She gives an amazing read filled with wonderful characters about years ago as she brings wonderful true history to her readers. This story has more than one competitor. You have Gordon is trying to stay in business and Maggie's brother both trying to out do the other. Gordon is competing for Maggie's heart and Maggie is competing to find him a new wife before she falls for him herself. This was a delightful humorous read that kept me smiling throughout the whole read.
Gordon is a charmer in more than one way. He is trying his best to charm his way into Maggie's heart which she isn't having nothing to do with it. He needs to stay on his toes to keep one step ahead of her and her brother. I found him to be a delightful charming character who is s true gentleman. He is willing to push the lines to get what he wants and do his best to stay out of hot water.
Maggie is a delightful loving, caring women who is worried about the orphan children. She puts a plan in to action to give them all gifts this Christmas. Gordon has ideas of his own as he worms his way into the action and hopefully into Maggie's heart and if this helps his cause so much the better. Maggie has decided since he wants a wife she will help him find one only it will not be her. She has her family to think about and it just wouldn't be right to go against her brother when he is fighting so hard to keep his business afloat.
There is no doubt these two have chemistry as one pulls and the other tugs to get their way. The author gives you a few surprises and a little mystery as she takes you back in time giving you a highly entertaining read. I loved the humor and the baiting between the two. The messes they get into one trying to trap and the other running for the hills. Gordon isn't giving up as he sets his sites and Maggie isn't giving in. They work wonderfully together as a team and if they get their act together they will make the best team to bring happiness to a group of children who has none.
I love the way this author always brings true history to the read. I adore these characters and love how Gordon pushes the line but stays a gentleman, he becomes a caring loving man. Maggie is shy but bold which makes her endearing, she is kind and puts others first. These are two wonderful characters that will pull you in and take your heart as they dance the dance of love.
Ms. Burke gives a wonderful plot with wonderful characters blending in history with outstanding characters. She gives a wonderful clean read just pushing the lines a little. It was a treat to watch these two fall in love and overcome all the things that gets in their way. This is one author who knows her history. She has done her research and puts together a page turning read. One that will keep you smiling and guessing to what she has planned for you. As I put one of her books down I can't wait for the next one to come out to find out what she has planned for me. I hope you pick up Santa's Mail-Order Bride and enjoy it as much as I have. This is one author that always has a wonderful tale waiting for you.
Gordon is a charmer in more than one way. He is trying his best to charm his way into Maggie's heart which she isn't having nothing to do with it. He needs to stay on his toes to keep one step ahead of her and her brother. I found him to be a delightful charming character who is s true gentleman. He is willing to push the lines to get what he wants and do his best to stay out of hot water.
Maggie is a delightful loving, caring women who is worried about the orphan children. She puts a plan in to action to give them all gifts this Christmas. Gordon has ideas of his own as he worms his way into the action and hopefully into Maggie's heart and if this helps his cause so much the better. Maggie has decided since he wants a wife she will help him find one only it will not be her. She has her family to think about and it just wouldn't be right to go against her brother when he is fighting so hard to keep his business afloat.
There is no doubt these two have chemistry as one pulls and the other tugs to get their way. The author gives you a few surprises and a little mystery as she takes you back in time giving you a highly entertaining read. I loved the humor and the baiting between the two. The messes they get into one trying to trap and the other running for the hills. Gordon isn't giving up as he sets his sites and Maggie isn't giving in. They work wonderfully together as a team and if they get their act together they will make the best team to bring happiness to a group of children who has none.
I love the way this author always brings true history to the read. I adore these characters and love how Gordon pushes the line but stays a gentleman, he becomes a caring loving man. Maggie is shy but bold which makes her endearing, she is kind and puts others first. These are two wonderful characters that will pull you in and take your heart as they dance the dance of love.
Ms. Burke gives a wonderful plot with wonderful characters blending in history with outstanding characters. She gives a wonderful clean read just pushing the lines a little. It was a treat to watch these two fall in love and overcome all the things that gets in their way. This is one author who knows her history. She has done her research and puts together a page turning read. One that will keep you smiling and guessing to what she has planned for you. As I put one of her books down I can't wait for the next one to come out to find out what she has planned for me. I hope you pick up Santa's Mail-Order Bride and enjoy it as much as I have. This is one author that always has a wonderful tale waiting for you.
December 21, 2015
This book is the sequel to Victoria: Bride of Kansas, the 35th book from the American Mail Order Brides series. In that book we met David O'Brien, his daughter Fannie, and his sister Maggie, as well as Victoria, who becomes David's bride. In Santa's Mail Order Bride we learn more about Gordon Sumner, the mysterious man who owns the Five Cent Store across the street from David's general store and in addition to being David's major competitor, he hates David and would just as soon run him out of business. When Maggie returns to Fort Scott for the Christmas holidays, she is on a mission to collect Christmas gifts for poor orphans, some of whom are in work houses because they have no family to take them in. Maggie is strong willed and determined to accomplish her goal because she and David lost their parents at an early age and would have been forced to live in a work house if an elderly merchant hadn't taken them in. In order to reach her goal, Maggie is forced to solicit help from Gordon, knowing full well that David is going to be furious with her for even speaking to the man. Gordon Sumner is attracted to Maggie and her dark Irish beauty and agrees to help on the condition that she portray Mrs. Claus in the town's Christmas parade which will give him plenty of time to woo her and make her his own. I really enjoyed the forbidden romance that simmers between Maggie and “Sum”, as well as the delightful flirting they indulge in while spending time together planning the Christmas parade. I was especially touched by the emotional connection that grows between these two characters and the way Sum evolves into a man who is truly in love with a woman he isn't sure he will be able to wed, especially because of his combative relationship with Maggie's brother. This book is extremely well written with plenty of historical details to satisfy history fans like me, as well as a simmering love story with characters that are well developed and very appealing. I am a huge fan of this author and the post civil war historical romances she writes and I am confident that when you read this book you will become a fan as well. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 29, 2015
Maggie O'Brien is a woman on a mission and not much can sway this woman from achieving that end, not even her brother's business competitor. Maggie has been a living away from her family as a schoolteacher and having seen some of the atrocities that poverty can do to a child has made her a champion to better these children's lives, even if it's only the the smallest way of making sure they have the very basic needs for the holidays. When Maggie sets out to collect monies and gifts for the unfortunate children being used as slave labor on local farms, she finds that having people open their pockets can be a task. Her brother David has already pledged to help, but he can only do so much.
David's prime competition, a Gordon Sumner has his own worries to deal with, but when Maggie O'Brien comes through his front door, he is in for one big surprise in the form of this woman who makes him think of a better life. When Maggie comes to Gordon with her proposal, he will do anything to keep her company, even if it's to wrangle the town into helping her cause. Gordon has a few secrets, however and these secrets make it almost impossible to pursue Miss O'Brien. But through their project to bring the town together and help the unfortunate children, Gordon becomes more attached to the school teacher than he would have liked. Maggie on the other hand struggles with the fact that her sudden closeness to Gordon is a betrayal to her family. Her feelings for David become deep ones, but her loyalty to the brother who saved her life when they were children is paramount.
Santa's Mail-Order Bride takes these two wayward souls and places them in a whirlwind. Maggie's loyalty to her brother, while the right thing is most cases, will make or break this young woman's happiness. While Mr. Sumner at first seems the shady character, his progression in this tale makes known his true self and the lengths that he will go for the woman he wants are quite the story.
December 23, 2015
After I read Ms. Burke’s ‘Victoria: Bride of Kansas’ [which btw is 35th book out of 50 in American Mail Order Brides series], I was very happy to hear that she’d gone and written a sequel to it, taking secondary characters of Maggie and Sumner as her heroine and hero.
I wondered how in heck was she going to bridge over some serious obstacles, not to mention two head strong and very competitive men that our heroine cared about deeply.
Color me happy as I giggled my way through this heartwarming, sweet and very tender love story.
I was happy to learn more about our hero, Gordon Sumner, who in the beginning was very mercenary, but Ms. Burke showed him to be compassionate and compelling in this story, and worthy of our heroine.
I also loved catching up with David, Victoria, Fannie and her baby brother. It made me feel warm all over to see how happy they are.
If you’re into sweet and tender romances that are filled with humor, you’ll be entertained with this story, I promise!
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the author
I wondered how in heck was she going to bridge over some serious obstacles, not to mention two head strong and very competitive men that our heroine cared about deeply.
Color me happy as I giggled my way through this heartwarming, sweet and very tender love story.
I was happy to learn more about our hero, Gordon Sumner, who in the beginning was very mercenary, but Ms. Burke showed him to be compassionate and compelling in this story, and worthy of our heroine.
I also loved catching up with David, Victoria, Fannie and her baby brother. It made me feel warm all over to see how happy they are.
If you’re into sweet and tender romances that are filled with humor, you’ll be entertained with this story, I promise!
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the author
December 24, 2015
A Christmas love story for all times.
I have admit I was mesmerized by Gordon Sumner in The Mail Order Bride Series Victoria! There was something special about him. So in Santa's Mail Order Bride Gordon Sumner touched my heart just like Buck did from Her Bodyguard. Maggie is amazing and together she and Sum will wrap you up in Christmas dreams and say "dreams come true"! Thank you EE Burke for a wonderful Christmas story .....
I have admit I was mesmerized by Gordon Sumner in The Mail Order Bride Series Victoria! There was something special about him. So in Santa's Mail Order Bride Gordon Sumner touched my heart just like Buck did from Her Bodyguard. Maggie is amazing and together she and Sum will wrap you up in Christmas dreams and say "dreams come true"! Thank you EE Burke for a wonderful Christmas story .....
March 14, 2016
After reading "Victoria Bride of Kansas" I was excited to learn about this companion book which tells the story of Maggie and her brother's rival Gordon Sumner. I enjoyed the wit and the humor in this story. I also appreciated the actual Fort Scott history that was included. I find that always make a historical novel more interesting.
December 28, 2015
Absolutely a phenomenal book. I loved the characters that are also featured in EE Burke's equally fantastic book Victoria Kansas Bride. This was an exceptional Christmas story and the message within touched me deeply. Truly a bookshelf keeper.
August 4, 2016
I liked this book a lot Another start to a unique series by E.E.
The secondary characters in this one were as interesting as the stars. I can see where I will have plenty of offerings in the future from this author and I look forward to that.
The secondary characters in this one were as interesting as the stars. I can see where I will have plenty of offerings in the future from this author and I look forward to that.
January 2, 2016
3rd book in this series
Loved it! Exceptional work by E.E. Burke. The lives and loves in the town of Fort Scott, Kansas. I don't know if there could be another, but I would like to see this series go on some more.
Loved it! Exceptional work by E.E. Burke. The lives and loves in the town of Fort Scott, Kansas. I don't know if there could be another, but I would like to see this series go on some more.
January 8, 2016
Absolutely a phenomenal book. I loved the characters that are also featured in EE Burke's equally fantastic book Victoria Kansas Bride. This was an exceptional Christmas story and the message within touched me deeply. Truly a bookshelf keeper.
November 7, 2016
Can I find love with a man my brother thinks is a scoundrel?
Maggie wants to give local orphans a Christmas Surprise. She tries to enlist help from her brothers business rival and finds herself in over her head, in love and at odds with her brother over it all.
Maggie wants to give local orphans a Christmas Surprise. She tries to enlist help from her brothers business rival and finds herself in over her head, in love and at odds with her brother over it all.
December 23, 2015
Great read!!!
I loved this book, I honestly couldn't put it down. Dinner was late getting on the table due to this book..
I loved this book, I honestly couldn't put it down. Dinner was late getting on the table due to this book..
February 1, 2016
I just had to keep reading this sequel to Victoria's story so I could find out what happened to David's sister Maggie. This is a sweet love story.
December 8, 2016
Loved it! Always love a story about reaching out to orphans.
January 23, 2017
Not bad, just not my genre.
December 16, 2021
A fun Christmas story that ties in with the American Mail Order Bride series. It is also able to be read as a stand alone novella.
October 26, 2019
Audible Romance Package
AUDIOBOOK: Read 2 October 2019
4hrs 35min
Narrator: Liisa Ivary is ok
Very simple sweat story.
AUDIOBOOK: Read 2 October 2019
4hrs 35min
Narrator: Liisa Ivary is ok
Very simple sweat story.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews