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Montana Courtships #1
Mail-Order Christmas Baby
The Rancher's Special Delivery
The "package" is addressed to him, but rancher Sterling Blackwell certainly didn't order a baby! More scandalous still, he and the town's pretty teacher are named as parents. With gossip running wild, only a marriage of convenience can protect little Gracie and their reputations until her real family is found.
Heather O'Connor is content to be the spinster schoolmarm of Valentine, Montana…until Gracie's arrival stirs her heart. She can't keep the adorable child without Sterling's help, though she promises not to interfere with his life. But staying aloof from her handsome husband isn't easy with a tiny matchmaker in tow. A mistake brought them together, but love might just make them a family by Christmas…
The "package" is addressed to him, but rancher Sterling Blackwell certainly didn't order a baby! More scandalous still, he and the town's pretty teacher are named as parents. With gossip running wild, only a marriage of convenience can protect little Gracie and their reputations until her real family is found.
Heather O'Connor is content to be the spinster schoolmarm of Valentine, Montana…until Gracie's arrival stirs her heart. She can't keep the adorable child without Sterling's help, though she promises not to interfere with his life. But staying aloof from her handsome husband isn't easy with a tiny matchmaker in tow. A mistake brought them together, but love might just make them a family by Christmas…
278 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published November 7, 2017
45 people are currently reading
399 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 35 reviews
December 19, 2017
The premise of this book appealed to me, a baby sent in the mail, by train, no return address. Hmm... where can the author take this I wondered?
What she did was create a delightful book. I was left wondering why someone would send a precious baby girl to an unmarried couple, listing them as the parents? Strange. It was beyond the realm of comprehension, but given the time period, had a bit of realism.
Sterling and Heather were a fun couple. They had interest in each other without anyone else knowing about it. They are unexpectedly thrown together in a scandal and have a quick wedding. Through it all, they showed grace and fortitude. The baby, Grace, was absolutely adorable.
The book has an element of intrigue that takes a while to be revealed. I didn't realize the full scale of the deception until the end. Sherri Shackelford does a great job at keeping part of her plot a secret and surprising the reader.
If you are looking for a cute, quick book to read. This would be a great one to pick up. It is a clean romance with some kissing and Christian themes.
Source: I requested a copy of the book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
What she did was create a delightful book. I was left wondering why someone would send a precious baby girl to an unmarried couple, listing them as the parents? Strange. It was beyond the realm of comprehension, but given the time period, had a bit of realism.
Sterling and Heather were a fun couple. They had interest in each other without anyone else knowing about it. They are unexpectedly thrown together in a scandal and have a quick wedding. Through it all, they showed grace and fortitude. The baby, Grace, was absolutely adorable.
The book has an element of intrigue that takes a while to be revealed. I didn't realize the full scale of the deception until the end. Sherri Shackelford does a great job at keeping part of her plot a secret and surprising the reader.
If you are looking for a cute, quick book to read. This would be a great one to pick up. It is a clean romance with some kissing and Christian themes.
Source: I requested a copy of the book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
October 27, 2017
Absolutely love the clever premise for this Christmas romance. A neat switch on the traditional mail-order bride story. And little Gracie is as adorable and beguiling as she appears on the cover of this book. It isn't long before she has Stirling and Heather wrapped around her baby finger.
Which is my cue to say there is something so...heart-stopping attractive about a big ol' rancher turning into a marshmallow over the feminine wiles of a two-year old. :-) And that's a good thing because he is so gnarly stubborn about being noble he nearly misses the boat when it comes to Heather. And she's just as gnarly stubborn with her determination to not disrupt Stirling's life even though they are living in the same house! There's a lot of frustrated longing in that marriage of convenience and I loved every page-turning second. But then an unexpected mystery draws these two together into a united front as they fight for a future they suddenly both desperately want.
Which is my cue to say there is something so...heart-stopping attractive about a big ol' rancher turning into a marshmallow over the feminine wiles of a two-year old. :-) And that's a good thing because he is so gnarly stubborn about being noble he nearly misses the boat when it comes to Heather. And she's just as gnarly stubborn with her determination to not disrupt Stirling's life even though they are living in the same house! There's a lot of frustrated longing in that marriage of convenience and I loved every page-turning second. But then an unexpected mystery draws these two together into a united front as they fight for a future they suddenly both desperately want.
September 6, 2017
I've read several Christmas novels recently and this one had many aspects I adored. First of all a baby and then a historical romance that takes place in the Old West. There was also the mystery of where the baby came from. I didn't figure that out but did figure out early on who was behind the ranch's frequent accidents. I love seeing a marriage of convenience blossom and it was entertaining seeing the interaction of Sterling and Heather. So pull up a comfy chair and enjoy this and many other Christmas reads from Harlequin this Christmas season.
December 27, 2018
Mail-Order Christmas Baby was another great read from this author. I've enjoyed several of her previous stories, so I was looking forward to this one. The story line was unique -- instead of a mail-order bride someone received a baby in the mail...and the birth certificate said the parents were the main characters!
I found the characters delightful and the romance was sweet. I loved how there were a few mysteries in the book and the ending was great.
All in all, Mail-Order Christmas Baby was a lovely read and I recommend it.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
I found the characters delightful and the romance was sweet. I loved how there were a few mysteries in the book and the ending was great.
All in all, Mail-Order Christmas Baby was a lovely read and I recommend it.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
September 14, 2022
What a conundrum these two are in! It's kind of a hopeless case of being forced into a situation because of a mystery and the reverend not standing up to gossip. I liked how Heather and Sterling made the best of it, and a true friendship grew. I thought the romance could have been stronger, and I missed the development of that aspect of their relationship. The plot is steady, although the narrative was a bit disjointed, but I was invested in the outcome of the mystery of where baby Gracie came from and who she really belonged to. The author dropped some hints as to the person stirring up trouble, and it was a sad reveal for the family to realize the betrayal. Baggage from the past woven in with faithful friends in the present gave Heather and Sterling plenty to figure out yet a strong support system while they did.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
November 20, 2017
I love it when a book leaves me in good spirits and smiling, and Ms. Shackelford manages to do that with her stories each and every time!
Mail-Order Christmas Baby does deal with rather serious issues of family dysfunctions and baby abandonment and it definitely isn't all feel-good light fluff, yet it leaves the reader with hope for the better days to come and that message lifted my spirits.
Sterling Blackwell and Heather O'Connor find themselves in a predicament many couldn't handle well. I admired their patience, perseverance, and goodwill to look after the precious baby-girl and sacrifices they made for her wellbeing.
Heather is a character I easily connected with. She loves order and numbers, enjoys baking and crafts, she is smart, capable, with an independent spirit, she has a kind heart and she is careful to guard it against hurt and pain.
Sterling is an alpha male, in charge and commanding, yet his good heart, his kindness, and his generosity are obvious to anyone around him. He is not afraid to take a stand for what he believes is right, he joyfully takes care of the baby and plays with her, and even play the nurse when the need arises. His nightmarish childhood and the verbal abuse from his father still plays a part in his life, both Sterling and Heather need healing from the past pain and wounds to be able to move on.
The shyness Sterling and Heather process around each other is endearing, but the connection between them is palpable, their feelings obvious to all around them. I enjoyed the complicated courtship between them, as they try to get to know each other and take care of the baby and the ranch in an all-around difficult situation.
Historically, the timeframe of the story is an interesting period, as the country is trying to get back on its feet after the war and trying to build for a better future. The development of technology and the new challenges the people face are well embedded into the tale as it smoothly flows off the pages while paining clear images in the reader's mind of the events occurring.
An entertaining and uplifting tale of overcoming obstacles, learning to trust and forgive, opening your heart to the new possibilities offered to you, and daring to face them head-on. A story that will touch your emotions yet will leave you with a smile and faith for the better tomorrows to come
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
Mail-Order Christmas Baby does deal with rather serious issues of family dysfunctions and baby abandonment and it definitely isn't all feel-good light fluff, yet it leaves the reader with hope for the better days to come and that message lifted my spirits.
Sterling Blackwell and Heather O'Connor find themselves in a predicament many couldn't handle well. I admired their patience, perseverance, and goodwill to look after the precious baby-girl and sacrifices they made for her wellbeing.
Heather is a character I easily connected with. She loves order and numbers, enjoys baking and crafts, she is smart, capable, with an independent spirit, she has a kind heart and she is careful to guard it against hurt and pain.
Sterling is an alpha male, in charge and commanding, yet his good heart, his kindness, and his generosity are obvious to anyone around him. He is not afraid to take a stand for what he believes is right, he joyfully takes care of the baby and plays with her, and even play the nurse when the need arises. His nightmarish childhood and the verbal abuse from his father still plays a part in his life, both Sterling and Heather need healing from the past pain and wounds to be able to move on.
The shyness Sterling and Heather process around each other is endearing, but the connection between them is palpable, their feelings obvious to all around them. I enjoyed the complicated courtship between them, as they try to get to know each other and take care of the baby and the ranch in an all-around difficult situation.
Historically, the timeframe of the story is an interesting period, as the country is trying to get back on its feet after the war and trying to build for a better future. The development of technology and the new challenges the people face are well embedded into the tale as it smoothly flows off the pages while paining clear images in the reader's mind of the events occurring.
An entertaining and uplifting tale of overcoming obstacles, learning to trust and forgive, opening your heart to the new possibilities offered to you, and daring to face them head-on. A story that will touch your emotions yet will leave you with a smile and faith for the better tomorrows to come
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
October 9, 2017
There are a couple reasons I adored this book! One, I love the author! She writes fantastic historical fiction and this one is right up my alley! Two, I happen to love the cover! Three, the story was fascinating! Yes, it's a marriage of convenience story but the way it starts out is so unconventional!!! There was a time in the old west when you could mail CHILDREN to someone! That fact just floored me! That's how the story begins! This cute little baby, Grace, gets mailed to Sterling, a handsome land owner and he doesn't know what to think! When the birth record is checked, it lists him and the school teacher, Heather as the parents!!! Can you even imagine??? The gossip, of course, is all over town and Heather is totally mortified! The town preacher is a total jerk, in my opinion but you'll have to read the book to find out why!!! Eventually Sterling and Heather decide to get married and keep the baby safe on his ranch so Grace wont go to an orphanage. This was one marriage of convenience story that really felt "true to life" for me. They didn't really know each other and there were a lot of things that had to get worked out. I liked the way they eventually worked together to get the ranch running again and the men on the ranch were fun characters to read about! There are "accidents" happening on the ranch and you have to figure out who is responsible for those.
A wonderful holiday book and the theme of love, forgiveness, friendship, and holiday spirit made this a must-read for me! I definitely recommend it!
A wonderful holiday book and the theme of love, forgiveness, friendship, and holiday spirit made this a must-read for me! I definitely recommend it!
February 12, 2018
Absolutely love this story by Sherri Shackelford. Sterling Blackwell receives a package, only it's nothing he's ordered. Who would send a baby through the mail? In an envelope with the baby, Sterling and the town's teacher Heather O'Connor are named the baby's parents. As Sterling and Heather take care of baby Gracie and find out who she belongs to, secrets from the past threaten to destroy the future they have planned.
The characters made me feel a part of the town and the story. Who does the baby belong to? Can Heather trust Sterling to take care of her and the baby? When the truth unfolds about Gracie's parentage, will it free Sterling and Heather to become the family they've been pretending to be or tear them apart? For a great inspirational historical romance, you won't want to miss Mail-Order Christmas Baby.
I received a free copy in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
August 30, 2017
The one thing that would have made this story perfect is if the town had fired the minister. His actions towards Heather and Sterling, while standing in church, had me pursing my lips and glaring at the words that I had just read. It also made me thankful for all of the Rights and Freedoms that I sometimes take for granted. Well written historical fiction does that...
I really enjoyed the mysteries that started on page one. Although, I had a very good idea about who the villain was, I couldn't quite wrap my head around the motive. Well Done Sherri!
I really enjoyed the mysteries that started on page one. Although, I had a very good idea about who the villain was, I couldn't quite wrap my head around the motive. Well Done Sherri!
September 28, 2017
A very sweet historical story that is a must for any reader interested in this period! Sterling, Heather and baby Grace will wrap your heart and squeeze it. I loved it!
May 9, 2022
The story was interesting. However, the huge sticking point for me was the way the "baby" Gracie character was written. The claim was this girl was 22 months old. A mere 2 months away from being 2 years old. But this character was written like she was a 9 month old baby, instead of a toddler. This girl can't say any real words, she still crawls all over, gums her food... with her two teeth. The list goes on. This really took away from what could have been a really good story.
January 9, 2023
Cute story, has a few small issues.
2-year old Gracie is sent via Wells Fargo as a 'package' to two people who are NOT her parents (are not married, and not even friends). The problem is, 'walk at one, talk at two'... and this two-year old was either severely mentally disabled, or written to be THE most 10-month old two-year old ever. She gums envelopes and peoples faces (!!), crawls around banging things, and has to be carried everywhere. She's *NOT* two.
Heather is accused of having had Gracie in Butte over a summer holiday. But the author writes that there's a town doctor - the first thing Heather would've done was go *STRAIGHT* to him to prove that she was a virgin. So the whole premise of 'gotta get married because people s.u.s.p.e.c.t.' is very forced in this.
Sterling has always loved Heather, even though the book assures us that she's 1) not pretty, 2) an outsider, and 3) his brother's paramour. Except the author really plays with the paramour thing - first it's that Heather was desperate for acceptance and mistook Dillon's gentlemanly kindness for affection, when he never cared for her. Then it morphs into Sterling's jealousy of Dillon causing unrequited love that had to become callous for them to part. But then it spins around into Dillon's knowing that Sterling liked Heather, so he was playing up to Heather to make his brother jealous. Then it became Otto seeing Sterling's attraction to Heather, and first pushing Dillon towards her as a distraction, but then talking him into leaving, thus leaving her open to be Sterling's downfall, whilst Dillon is out of the picture. Yeeeeeesh!!
That's not to say that I didn't really like the story. The friendship that develops between Sterling and Heather, the friendships with Irene, the young boy, the ranch hands... they were well done.
I wanted more romance, though. I felt cheated - Sterling's there, absolutely adoring her, but standing aloof the whole time. Whilst wrapping his arms around her. It was... a tug of war between propriety and affection, with propriety making it so that we didn't really feel the love between them as we wanted to.
I know I'm complaining a lot - don't get me wrong, this was a *REALLY* good book. It was well-written, with a bit of mystery to it (although the author lets go who's behind everything WAY too soon)... I enjoyed the read. I just feel like it could've been done better.
Also disappointing was Dillon's amputation. He didn't show, and didn't show... and I'm sitting back, thinking "yup. Injured in the war, pride in the way trope." And whaddya know.
I may take a stab at this storyline, myself. Especially since the 'Love Inspired Historical' line has been cancelled, and Dillon's story isn't ever going to be put out...
2-year old Gracie is sent via Wells Fargo as a 'package' to two people who are NOT her parents (are not married, and not even friends). The problem is, 'walk at one, talk at two'... and this two-year old was either severely mentally disabled, or written to be THE most 10-month old two-year old ever. She gums envelopes and peoples faces (!!), crawls around banging things, and has to be carried everywhere. She's *NOT* two.
Heather is accused of having had Gracie in Butte over a summer holiday. But the author writes that there's a town doctor - the first thing Heather would've done was go *STRAIGHT* to him to prove that she was a virgin. So the whole premise of 'gotta get married because people s.u.s.p.e.c.t.' is very forced in this.
Sterling has always loved Heather, even though the book assures us that she's 1) not pretty, 2) an outsider, and 3) his brother's paramour. Except the author really plays with the paramour thing - first it's that Heather was desperate for acceptance and mistook Dillon's gentlemanly kindness for affection, when he never cared for her. Then it morphs into Sterling's jealousy of Dillon causing unrequited love that had to become callous for them to part. But then it spins around into Dillon's knowing that Sterling liked Heather, so he was playing up to Heather to make his brother jealous. Then it became Otto seeing Sterling's attraction to Heather, and first pushing Dillon towards her as a distraction, but then talking him into leaving, thus leaving her open to be Sterling's downfall, whilst Dillon is out of the picture. Yeeeeeesh!!
That's not to say that I didn't really like the story. The friendship that develops between Sterling and Heather, the friendships with Irene, the young boy, the ranch hands... they were well done.
I wanted more romance, though. I felt cheated - Sterling's there, absolutely adoring her, but standing aloof the whole time. Whilst wrapping his arms around her. It was... a tug of war between propriety and affection, with propriety making it so that we didn't really feel the love between them as we wanted to.
I know I'm complaining a lot - don't get me wrong, this was a *REALLY* good book. It was well-written, with a bit of mystery to it (although the author lets go who's behind everything WAY too soon)... I enjoyed the read. I just feel like it could've been done better.
Also disappointing was Dillon's amputation. He didn't show, and didn't show... and I'm sitting back, thinking "yup. Injured in the war, pride in the way trope." And whaddya know.
I may take a stab at this storyline, myself. Especially since the 'Love Inspired Historical' line has been cancelled, and Dillon's story isn't ever going to be put out...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2017
I can just see the headlines now; Extra! Extra! Read all about it! A mix-up with the mail makes two people instant parents!
A baby sent though Wells Fargo to Valentine, Montana stirs up a bees nest for town gossips as Heather O'Connor and Sterling Blackwell are named as parents. It doesn't help that baby Grace has fiery red hair to match the hue on Heather's head. In spite of their denials that the young girl isn't theirs, they either must marry to save their reputation or Grace will have an unknown future.
This was definitely a pleasant twist on any mail-order story I've read! Take a big rough & tumble ranch owner & put a baby in his arms and he becomes like melted butter. Little Grace charms the big guy with just her smiles and giggles. Heather's just as taken with her and will do what it takes to care for her. All while trying to stay aloof from each other, which as you can imagine, is more challenging than it seems. Then things start happening at the ranch and they form a united front to solve it all while realizing they want what's right in front of them. This ones got a bit of mystery, a lot of love & sprinkled in with faith all over to delight the reader. Charming and engaging with characters to love, don't miss this warm Christmas themed novel for the upcoming holidays!
*I received a complimentary copy from the author. No favorable review was required, all opinions are my own, *
A baby sent though Wells Fargo to Valentine, Montana stirs up a bees nest for town gossips as Heather O'Connor and Sterling Blackwell are named as parents. It doesn't help that baby Grace has fiery red hair to match the hue on Heather's head. In spite of their denials that the young girl isn't theirs, they either must marry to save their reputation or Grace will have an unknown future.
This was definitely a pleasant twist on any mail-order story I've read! Take a big rough & tumble ranch owner & put a baby in his arms and he becomes like melted butter. Little Grace charms the big guy with just her smiles and giggles. Heather's just as taken with her and will do what it takes to care for her. All while trying to stay aloof from each other, which as you can imagine, is more challenging than it seems. Then things start happening at the ranch and they form a united front to solve it all while realizing they want what's right in front of them. This ones got a bit of mystery, a lot of love & sprinkled in with faith all over to delight the reader. Charming and engaging with characters to love, don't miss this warm Christmas themed novel for the upcoming holidays!
*I received a complimentary copy from the author. No favorable review was required, all opinions are my own, *
October 16, 2017
Sterling, a rancher, is at the train depot to pick up some sheep that he ordered. But there is another package waiting for him. It's addressed to him and a single young lady in town. But who in the world would deliver a baby by train? Especially considering the baby doesn't belong to him or Miss Heather. And too bad that a crowd of people see the note attached to the darling little baby and assume it's Miss Heather's since they share the same beautiful red hair.
This book was so fun to read. It was set historically in a small won in the west and followed all of the things that great stories do - there was marriage, adorable children, a "bad" guy out to ruin them, faith, and family. The author really brought out the strengths in the two main characters while showing that they were flawed and in need of a savior. The story was tied up nicely at the end, and yet left an opening for the next book in the series. I look forward to reading it and many more books by this author.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts expressed are my own.
This book was so fun to read. It was set historically in a small won in the west and followed all of the things that great stories do - there was marriage, adorable children, a "bad" guy out to ruin them, faith, and family. The author really brought out the strengths in the two main characters while showing that they were flawed and in need of a savior. The story was tied up nicely at the end, and yet left an opening for the next book in the series. I look forward to reading it and many more books by this author.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts expressed are my own.
October 27, 2017
This was an interesting book to read. I did have a very strong suspension about who was the bad guy but it did not change my enjoyment as I read. Sterling Blackwell does not know what to do with the baby that was mailed to him. Heather O'Connor steps in. She knows what it feels like to be unwanted as a child and will not let that happen to this child. That leads to a wedding between the two and the start of a mystery. Who mailed the child and how and who named Heather and Sterling the parents?
At the heart of the mystery is not only the baby but the ranch that Sterling is working hard to save. Seems someone does not want that to happen. This is a very well crafted story with great characters. Seeing Sterling and Heather get their HEA left me with a very warm feeling. This is book one in a new series and there were plenty of new characters who need their HEA. Don't know who will be next but I will watch and then read the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.
At the heart of the mystery is not only the baby but the ranch that Sterling is working hard to save. Seems someone does not want that to happen. This is a very well crafted story with great characters. Seeing Sterling and Heather get their HEA left me with a very warm feeling. This is book one in a new series and there were plenty of new characters who need their HEA. Don't know who will be next but I will watch and then read the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.
June 19, 2018
A redhead baby girl is delivered by Well Fargo to Valentine, Montana. The baby is to be delivered to Sterling Blackwell, who is shocked by a baby being dropped to his care. Spinster schoolmarm Heather O'Connor is quick to care for the baby and worrying over the child's situation. Soon, a document is produced naming Sterling and Heather as the parents. Both know they are not the birth parents, but are pushed to marry or be kicked out of their church.
Sterling has been carrying a torch for Heather, since she hadA dated his older brother, but his pride keeps him from declaring his love. Likewise, Heather has too much pride to declare her love for Sterling. They live separately in the ranch house as their friendship and devotion grow.
The mystery of Gracie's birth brings a reporter and various claims. Also, the mystery of missing money on the ranch hints that the Blackwells have an enemy.
A sweet romance where family and love win.
Sterling has been carrying a torch for Heather, since she hadA dated his older brother, but his pride keeps him from declaring his love. Likewise, Heather has too much pride to declare her love for Sterling. They live separately in the ranch house as their friendship and devotion grow.
The mystery of Gracie's birth brings a reporter and various claims. Also, the mystery of missing money on the ranch hints that the Blackwells have an enemy.
A sweet romance where family and love win.
November 4, 2017
This is book one in the Montana Courtships series, so what a great place to start. If you like marriage of convenience type books you will love this one. It is not your typical mail-order type book, for this one involves a baby and not wife or groom on the train. There is humor, love, friendship, mystery and more in this novel, I look forward to reading more from this series.
Sterling Blackwell is a handsome rancher living in this small town, when he finds his name on a birth certificate along with the pretty school teacher he is not sure what to think. Sterling and Heather must find common ground and make some serious decisions.
Heather O'Connor has never really felt loved or pretty. When Gracie is claimed to be her child an overwhelming love surrounds her. But will she be able to face all the gossip this small town has to give?
Sterling Blackwell is a handsome rancher living in this small town, when he finds his name on a birth certificate along with the pretty school teacher he is not sure what to think. Sterling and Heather must find common ground and make some serious decisions.
Heather O'Connor has never really felt loved or pretty. When Gracie is claimed to be her child an overwhelming love surrounds her. But will she be able to face all the gossip this small town has to give?
November 16, 2017
Sterling was more then surprised to find a baby sent to him through Wells Fargo but even more stranger was that the lovely Heather was claimed to be the mother while he the father when they had never had such a connection. Now to save their reputation they decide to marry and give little Gracie a home that is until the true parents come to claim the child.
So I'm not sure how I came upon requesting this book through Netgalley. I think the cover drew me in and that was all I knew that it was gonna be a Christmasy kind of book. While ready I quickly came to realize that this was a historical romance and I'm not a fan of historical romance. For me this was a pretty slow read, it was still a good book but just not for me. The story line was interesting, the characters were pretty good. Overall it was a pretty good story just not the type of book that I'm usually drawn to.
So I'm not sure how I came upon requesting this book through Netgalley. I think the cover drew me in and that was all I knew that it was gonna be a Christmasy kind of book. While ready I quickly came to realize that this was a historical romance and I'm not a fan of historical romance. For me this was a pretty slow read, it was still a good book but just not for me. The story line was interesting, the characters were pretty good. Overall it was a pretty good story just not the type of book that I'm usually drawn to.
November 11, 2017
Mail Order Christmas Baby a Montana Courtships series by Sherrri Shackelford. This Romantic Historical takes place in 1880. Sterling Blackwell receives a package at the train station. Surprised its a live baby girl. Two years old. A certificate saying he is the father. Also stating that school teacher Heather O'Connor is the mother. No way is this true but it raises rumors about the two. They end up getting married for the baby. Lots going on and someone is messing with things at the ranch. Plus someone wants the ranch. A good read.
December 17, 2017
Love marriage of convenience stories
If you love story about marriages of convenience, this is for you. A baby is delivered in the Wells Fargo mail with a birth notice. The notice state that Heather is her mother and Sterling is her father. No way they both screamed. The town is full of gossip, the minister is kicking Sterling and Heather out of church because of their lack of morals. So a marriage of convenience it is. This story has a bit of mystery also, a wolf in sheep's clothing has stolen money from the family, and is now trying to blackmail them.
If you love story about marriages of convenience, this is for you. A baby is delivered in the Wells Fargo mail with a birth notice. The notice state that Heather is her mother and Sterling is her father. No way they both screamed. The town is full of gossip, the minister is kicking Sterling and Heather out of church because of their lack of morals. So a marriage of convenience it is. This story has a bit of mystery also, a wolf in sheep's clothing has stolen money from the family, and is now trying to blackmail them.
June 14, 2022
The premise of this Christmas story is quite different with a mail order baby arriving at the Wells Fargo Train Depot in Valentine, Montana. The scandal that endured surrounding the mysterious baby’s arrival naming Sterling Blackwell and Heather O’Connor as parents only created more gossip. The author penned a wonderful tale that leaves you feeling good but also disappointed in one character.
This was a used book purchase from our library book sale. Thus no review was required, I have simply left my own thoughts.
This was a used book purchase from our library book sale. Thus no review was required, I have simply left my own thoughts.
November 2, 2017
Okay so first WHO SENDS A CHILD THROUGH THE MAIL? I'm freaking out here! Really a good story. I LOVED the characters and the Montana setting is my favorite. I can't wait to read the next book in the series (I hope its Dillion's story)😀
November 11, 2017
Awesome short read for me
This story took my emotions on a roller coaster ride. It touched them all, suspenseful, drama, banter, laughter. Thank you for this.
This story took my emotions on a roller coaster ride. It touched them all, suspenseful, drama, banter, laughter. Thank you for this.
November 14, 2017
I had a hard time getting into this book but overall it was worth a read. I'm very interested to read Dillon's story.
December 31, 2017
Sending a baby through the mail? Crazy to think anyone ever tried to do that! What an interesting story to weave around that story. I enjoyed it and all the twists and turns.
November 11, 2024
Love the story and the love for the baby these 2 shared...not my normal read but a nice change
June 28, 2025
didnt love the ending and didnt feel the romance grew naturally but i did enjoy the book and characters
October 18, 2025
Sweet with a bit of a surprise ending.
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November 25, 2017Received 4 1/2 stars @ Harlequin.com (as of 11/25/17). To view reviews, go HERE> https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/...
Miniseries: Montana Courtships
Miniseries: Montana Courtships
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