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Oak Grove #2
Winning the Mail-Order Bride
She was promised to another…
When widow Fiona Goldberg and her two adorable sons arrive in Oak Grove, Kansas, proclaimed bachelor Brett Blackwell is instantly captivated. But when he learns she is promised to the mayor, he tries his best to keep his distance…
Out of desperation, Fiona had agreed to become a mail-order bride to the disagreeable, self-important mayor. But something about her neighbor Brett makes her feel safe. She knows she must fight her growing feelings for the forbidden blacksmith, even while longing for him to rescue her and take her as his bride himself!
369 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2017
48 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Lauri Robinson
176 books127 followersLauri Robinson's chosen genre to write is Western historical, and when asked why, she says, "Because I know I wasn't the only girl who wanted to grow up and marry Little Joe Cartwright."
With a degree in early childhood education, Lauri has spent three decades working in the non-profit field for Head Start, Child Abuse Intervention, the March of Dimes, and United Way. She claims the once upon a time and happily ever after premise of romance novels has always been a form of stress relief. When her husband suggested she write one, she took the challenge and has loved every minute of the journey.
Lauri lives in rural Minnesota, where she and her husband spend every spare moment with their three grown sons and their families, which includes three granddaughters, two stepgrandsons and two granddogs. She volunteers for several organizations, including her local library, and spends most fall weekends filling the freezer with homemade foodstuffs from the bountiful harvest of her husband's green thumb. She's a diehard Elvis fan (yes, she's been to Graceland), and loves to spend Sundays watching NASCAR, either live or on TV. However, she says her favorite weekends are spent in the woods of northern Minnesota on the land homesteaded by her great-grandfather.
Most of her childhood was spent in western Kansas, which is the setting for several of her stories. Lauri is a member of RWA, Northern Lights Writers,and Hearts Through History Romance Writers, as well as several online writing groups. She writes for Harlequin, Mills and Boon and The Wild Rose Press.
For updates on her writing please visit www.laurirobinson.blogspot.com
With a degree in early childhood education, Lauri has spent three decades working in the non-profit field for Head Start, Child Abuse Intervention, the March of Dimes, and United Way. She claims the once upon a time and happily ever after premise of romance novels has always been a form of stress relief. When her husband suggested she write one, she took the challenge and has loved every minute of the journey.
Lauri lives in rural Minnesota, where she and her husband spend every spare moment with their three grown sons and their families, which includes three granddaughters, two stepgrandsons and two granddogs. She volunteers for several organizations, including her local library, and spends most fall weekends filling the freezer with homemade foodstuffs from the bountiful harvest of her husband's green thumb. She's a diehard Elvis fan (yes, she's been to Graceland), and loves to spend Sundays watching NASCAR, either live or on TV. However, she says her favorite weekends are spent in the woods of northern Minnesota on the land homesteaded by her great-grandfather.
Most of her childhood was spent in western Kansas, which is the setting for several of her stories. Lauri is a member of RWA, Northern Lights Writers,and Hearts Through History Romance Writers, as well as several online writing groups. She writes for Harlequin, Mills and Boon and The Wild Rose Press.
For updates on her writing please visit www.laurirobinson.blogspot.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 22, 2023
I've read another book by the author and liked it, so I decided to grab this one since it was on sale.
Tropes:
- Mail-order bride/marriage of convenience
- A widowed heroine with children
- Blacksmith/ feed store owner hero
- Small town
Things I liked:
- Brett is the epitome of a cinnamon roll hero. He is a super nice guy who just wanted a wife to start a family and ease his loneliness.
- Fiona is the sort of heroine I like; resilient and courageous in facing adversity. She was recently widowed, but her husband died in a somewhat scandalous circumstance, leaving her penniless. She left Ohio with her two sons, Wayne and Rhett (I love this name!), hoping for a better life for them.
- The sense of community. I loved the inclusion of the townspeople in the story.
Things I did not quite like:
- The simplistic writing style. Nothing wrong with that. It's just a matter of preference.
- The mayor turned out not to be so villainous, although it points out otherwise earlier in the story. The mayor, in the end, is just an inconsiderate bastard.
Harlequin's historicals are hit-or-miss for me, but this one's not exactly a surefire hit but more of a banked fire. It's perfect if you're in the mood for a kind and considerate hero (the alphas in HR definitely get tiring after a while!) and a sweet romance. 3.5 stars from me.
Tropes:
- Mail-order bride/marriage of convenience
- A widowed heroine with children
- Blacksmith/ feed store owner hero
- Small town
Things I liked:
- Brett is the epitome of a cinnamon roll hero. He is a super nice guy who just wanted a wife to start a family and ease his loneliness.
- Fiona is the sort of heroine I like; resilient and courageous in facing adversity. She was recently widowed, but her husband died in a somewhat scandalous circumstance, leaving her penniless. She left Ohio with her two sons, Wayne and Rhett (I love this name!), hoping for a better life for them.
- The sense of community. I loved the inclusion of the townspeople in the story.
Things I did not quite like:
- The simplistic writing style. Nothing wrong with that. It's just a matter of preference.
- The mayor turned out not to be so villainous, although it points out otherwise earlier in the story. The mayor, in the end, is just an inconsiderate bastard.
Harlequin's historicals are hit-or-miss for me, but this one's not exactly a surefire hit but more of a banked fire. It's perfect if you're in the mood for a kind and considerate hero (the alphas in HR definitely get tiring after a while!) and a sweet romance. 3.5 stars from me.
September 1, 2017
IT WAS A PICKLE. AND NOT A SWEET ONE
I enjoyed this addition to the Mail Order Brides of Oak Grove Saga. It was easily read as a stand-alone and does have many of the main characters from the first book. The town of Oak Grove, Kansas created a Betterment Committee where men donated to help bring in brides from Ohio. From the first story, it was supposed to be twelve eligible brides and only five showed. The town’s attorney and mayor have promised more are on their way, but he isn’t playing by the rules.
Fiona Goldberg was left widowed with two young son, Rhett, and Wyatt, and due to the nature surrounding her late husband’s, Sam, death, she is now being treated as an outcast. When the pastor’s wife informed her of Oak Grove, she was given the name of Josiah Melbourne and with a quick exchange of letters, agreed to come and marry him.
Josiah knows that he needs to be a married family man for his social status. In his mind, marrying a widow with children will improve his standing in the community. The way he goes about it isn’t as upstanding, and when the other men in town find out, it nearly causes a riot.
The plot will have Fiona and her two sons coming on the train to Oak Grove, being met by Josiah and shuffled off to an empty house with one bed and told to stay there. They are left in a strange town, hungry, and without food or provisions. Next door neighbor, Brett Blackwell, sees Wyatt and Brett and befriends them, offering them food, and insist Fiona join them for fish he just caught.
The story has so many secrets to be revealed, plenty of angst, anger, and confusion, along with one woman being pulled in two directions. One man wants her to be his wife just to have a wife, and the other man is falling in love with her and her sons. Honoring her word is important, and she is trying to teach her sons that a person’s word is their bond leaves her in a pickle. There is no chemistry or attraction between Fiona and Josiah and when it comes to his treatment of her and the boys, it leaves a sour taste in her mouth. Is marrying this man what is best for her family? “If you want to be treated like a queen, you have to act like one.”
Brett Blackwell wants what the other men in town do, a wife, a helpmate, a friend, and a future with a family. Sending a telegram to his mother is kept secret, with only one other man knowing the truth. What will happen when the young woman shows up in Oak Grove to become his wife? When Brett meets Fiona and her sons, there is instant chemistry. When he learns of her commitment to Josiah, and the way Josiah has treated them, he isn’t happy.
The story will take on a life and death situation for Fiona that will bring the towns people together and throw a wrench into Josiah’s plans. Now Fiona must decide what lesson to teach her sons. Is the happiness of her family worth suffering by marrying someone in haste because of a promise? Or, should the welfare of her children and herself be her top priority? Two men want her, but only one truly cares for her and her children.
“Fiona wondered if she’d been caught in a Kansas tornado. Some claimed those fierce wind twisters popped up out of nowhere, and that was exactly what it felt like. As if she’d been lifted up, twirled around and set back down again so fast her head was spinning.”
I enjoyed this addition to the Mail Order Brides of Oak Grove Saga. It was easily read as a stand-alone and does have many of the main characters from the first book. The town of Oak Grove, Kansas created a Betterment Committee where men donated to help bring in brides from Ohio. From the first story, it was supposed to be twelve eligible brides and only five showed. The town’s attorney and mayor have promised more are on their way, but he isn’t playing by the rules.
Fiona Goldberg was left widowed with two young son, Rhett, and Wyatt, and due to the nature surrounding her late husband’s, Sam, death, she is now being treated as an outcast. When the pastor’s wife informed her of Oak Grove, she was given the name of Josiah Melbourne and with a quick exchange of letters, agreed to come and marry him.
Josiah knows that he needs to be a married family man for his social status. In his mind, marrying a widow with children will improve his standing in the community. The way he goes about it isn’t as upstanding, and when the other men in town find out, it nearly causes a riot.
The plot will have Fiona and her two sons coming on the train to Oak Grove, being met by Josiah and shuffled off to an empty house with one bed and told to stay there. They are left in a strange town, hungry, and without food or provisions. Next door neighbor, Brett Blackwell, sees Wyatt and Brett and befriends them, offering them food, and insist Fiona join them for fish he just caught.
The story has so many secrets to be revealed, plenty of angst, anger, and confusion, along with one woman being pulled in two directions. One man wants her to be his wife just to have a wife, and the other man is falling in love with her and her sons. Honoring her word is important, and she is trying to teach her sons that a person’s word is their bond leaves her in a pickle. There is no chemistry or attraction between Fiona and Josiah and when it comes to his treatment of her and the boys, it leaves a sour taste in her mouth. Is marrying this man what is best for her family? “If you want to be treated like a queen, you have to act like one.”
Brett Blackwell wants what the other men in town do, a wife, a helpmate, a friend, and a future with a family. Sending a telegram to his mother is kept secret, with only one other man knowing the truth. What will happen when the young woman shows up in Oak Grove to become his wife? When Brett meets Fiona and her sons, there is instant chemistry. When he learns of her commitment to Josiah, and the way Josiah has treated them, he isn’t happy.
The story will take on a life and death situation for Fiona that will bring the towns people together and throw a wrench into Josiah’s plans. Now Fiona must decide what lesson to teach her sons. Is the happiness of her family worth suffering by marrying someone in haste because of a promise? Or, should the welfare of her children and herself be her top priority? Two men want her, but only one truly cares for her and her children.
“Fiona wondered if she’d been caught in a Kansas tornado. Some claimed those fierce wind twisters popped up out of nowhere, and that was exactly what it felt like. As if she’d been lifted up, twirled around and set back down again so fast her head was spinning.”
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August 7, 2017Miniseries: Oak Grove
October 1, 2017
Good book. Oak Grove, Kansas, is a town with a need for women who are looking for husbands. Many of the men of the town got together and put money into an Oak Grove Betterment Committee, and the mayor wrote to a friend in Ohio advertising for wives. He promised twelve brides, but so far there have only been five arrive, leaving quite a few disappointed men.
Fiona is a recent widow with two young sons who has been living in Ohio. Thanks to the circumstances of her husband's death, she and her sons have been treated as outcasts. It is strongly suggested that she become one of the brides. The mayor personally invites Fiona to become his bride, bypassing the Betterment Committee. When she arrives in Oak Grove, the mayor quickly shuffles Fiona and her boys to a small house, telling them to stay there. The house is empty of everything except one small bed and has no food or provisions of any type. Fiona herself has no money to purchase these things.
Brett lives in the house next door to Fiona's. He is a successful businessman and one of the disappointed bridegrooms. He encounters Fiona's sons, Wyatt and Rhett, on his way back from fishing. Learning of their situation, he invites them and Fiona to eat with him. I loved Brett. He was one of seven boys growing up and immediately connects with both Wyatt and Rhett. He knows just how to talk to them and treat them.
There are so many emotions in this book. There is loneliness. Brett wants what the other men have found - love, friendship, passion, and a family of his own. Fiona has been alone in a way since even before her husband's death, thanks to his drinking and other problems. There is anger. The anger of the men who feel that they have been deceived, Brett's anger at the way Josiah treats Fiona, and Fiona's anger at Josiah over the way he treats her sons. There is also confusion, as Fiona is torn between keeping her word to Josiah and following the heart that increasingly leans toward Brett.
Most of all, there is love. I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Brett and Fiona. There is an attraction from the get-go, though both try to resist it. Both know that Fiona is promised to Josiah. But Brett can't deny that Fiona is everything that he has been looking for, and he quickly feels very protective of her and the boys. I loved how Brett took care of them, both with food and simply caring about their needs and wants. It was really sweet to see how quickly Wyatt and Rhett began to look up to Brett. Fiona quickly discovers that Brett is everything she could wish for in a husband. His kindness, generosity, and caring are a balm to her wounded soul.
But things look pretty bleak for a happy ending for them. Fiona is promised to Josiah and, having been the victim of broken promises, refuses to break her word to Josiah. I ached for her because it was obvious that Josiah is all wrong for her. Brett has a similar problem because, before he met Fiona, he had wired his mother that he was looking for a wife, and she had already found a woman for him. So both Fiona and Brett are honor-bound to other people. A life-threatening injury for Fiona and an unexpected twist in the other woman's arrival bring matters to a head. The solution to Brett's problem is quite clever, while Fiona's required her to put herself first.
The secondary characters were well done. Josiah, the mayor, was a character it was easy to dislike. He was pompous and had a very high opinion of himself. He was also a bit underhanded in his dealings with the men and with Fiona. He had selected Fiona for very selfish reasons, feeling that he needed a wife for his social and political well-being. His treatment of her and the boys showed a man who doesn't think of others before himself. He did redeem himself a little bit at the end, but I still found him to be very unpleasant. Fiona's sons Wyatt and Rhett were terrific. Wyatt was only seven, but he tried so hard to be the man of the house. Rhett, at five, was adorable, especially the way that he hero-worshipped Brett. I loved the various townspeople, especially the ladies that took care of Fiona. It was sweet to see the way that they all pulled Fiona into their lives, offering friendships like she'd never had before.
Fiona is a recent widow with two young sons who has been living in Ohio. Thanks to the circumstances of her husband's death, she and her sons have been treated as outcasts. It is strongly suggested that she become one of the brides. The mayor personally invites Fiona to become his bride, bypassing the Betterment Committee. When she arrives in Oak Grove, the mayor quickly shuffles Fiona and her boys to a small house, telling them to stay there. The house is empty of everything except one small bed and has no food or provisions of any type. Fiona herself has no money to purchase these things.
Brett lives in the house next door to Fiona's. He is a successful businessman and one of the disappointed bridegrooms. He encounters Fiona's sons, Wyatt and Rhett, on his way back from fishing. Learning of their situation, he invites them and Fiona to eat with him. I loved Brett. He was one of seven boys growing up and immediately connects with both Wyatt and Rhett. He knows just how to talk to them and treat them.
There are so many emotions in this book. There is loneliness. Brett wants what the other men have found - love, friendship, passion, and a family of his own. Fiona has been alone in a way since even before her husband's death, thanks to his drinking and other problems. There is anger. The anger of the men who feel that they have been deceived, Brett's anger at the way Josiah treats Fiona, and Fiona's anger at Josiah over the way he treats her sons. There is also confusion, as Fiona is torn between keeping her word to Josiah and following the heart that increasingly leans toward Brett.
Most of all, there is love. I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Brett and Fiona. There is an attraction from the get-go, though both try to resist it. Both know that Fiona is promised to Josiah. But Brett can't deny that Fiona is everything that he has been looking for, and he quickly feels very protective of her and the boys. I loved how Brett took care of them, both with food and simply caring about their needs and wants. It was really sweet to see how quickly Wyatt and Rhett began to look up to Brett. Fiona quickly discovers that Brett is everything she could wish for in a husband. His kindness, generosity, and caring are a balm to her wounded soul.
But things look pretty bleak for a happy ending for them. Fiona is promised to Josiah and, having been the victim of broken promises, refuses to break her word to Josiah. I ached for her because it was obvious that Josiah is all wrong for her. Brett has a similar problem because, before he met Fiona, he had wired his mother that he was looking for a wife, and she had already found a woman for him. So both Fiona and Brett are honor-bound to other people. A life-threatening injury for Fiona and an unexpected twist in the other woman's arrival bring matters to a head. The solution to Brett's problem is quite clever, while Fiona's required her to put herself first.
The secondary characters were well done. Josiah, the mayor, was a character it was easy to dislike. He was pompous and had a very high opinion of himself. He was also a bit underhanded in his dealings with the men and with Fiona. He had selected Fiona for very selfish reasons, feeling that he needed a wife for his social and political well-being. His treatment of her and the boys showed a man who doesn't think of others before himself. He did redeem himself a little bit at the end, but I still found him to be very unpleasant. Fiona's sons Wyatt and Rhett were terrific. Wyatt was only seven, but he tried so hard to be the man of the house. Rhett, at five, was adorable, especially the way that he hero-worshipped Brett. I loved the various townspeople, especially the ladies that took care of Fiona. It was sweet to see the way that they all pulled Fiona into their lives, offering friendships like she'd never had before.
July 23, 2023
DNF at 54%
Gave it a good go, but it was just interminable and a bit boring. The main conflict of the story is: h promises to marry the cartoonishly awful mayor because he paid her train fair to Oak Grove. She actually wants to marry blacksmith Brett, but she can't because of the promise. Never mind the mayor verbally abuses her and her children, leave them to starve, doesn't allow them to go to church or walk about town, has no room or beds for the children etc etc - a promise is a promise and that's that. She would rather let her children be abused and neglected so she can be a good example about how you keep a promise. Bitch please.
Anyway - the entire first half of the book pretty much takes place in people's heads. We read endlessly about what the h is thinking about her situation, then endlessly about what the H is thinking. The ONLY actual things that happen in the first half of the book is they go fishing and eat some fried chicken. That's IT! Then more introspection, and mulling over the past, and worrying about the future, and thinking and thinking and thinking. I just want OUT of these people's heads already.
Another issue I had was the vast quantity of tertiary characters, who I assume all appear in other book series written by this author. Well, I've not read those other series, so here I am annoyed at the volume of nobodies I'm being forced to meet, none of which have anything to do with the plot, we just have t meet them for old time's sake I guess.
A total dud for me. Weird since I gave book 1 in this series 5 stars. This book feels like a whole bunch of filler, a bridge book, an obligation... no ta.
Gave it a good go, but it was just interminable and a bit boring. The main conflict of the story is: h promises to marry the cartoonishly awful mayor because he paid her train fair to Oak Grove. She actually wants to marry blacksmith Brett, but she can't because of the promise. Never mind the mayor verbally abuses her and her children, leave them to starve, doesn't allow them to go to church or walk about town, has no room or beds for the children etc etc - a promise is a promise and that's that. She would rather let her children be abused and neglected so she can be a good example about how you keep a promise. Bitch please.
Anyway - the entire first half of the book pretty much takes place in people's heads. We read endlessly about what the h is thinking about her situation, then endlessly about what the H is thinking. The ONLY actual things that happen in the first half of the book is they go fishing and eat some fried chicken. That's IT! Then more introspection, and mulling over the past, and worrying about the future, and thinking and thinking and thinking. I just want OUT of these people's heads already.
Another issue I had was the vast quantity of tertiary characters, who I assume all appear in other book series written by this author. Well, I've not read those other series, so here I am annoyed at the volume of nobodies I'm being forced to meet, none of which have anything to do with the plot, we just have t meet them for old time's sake I guess.
A total dud for me. Weird since I gave book 1 in this series 5 stars. This book feels like a whole bunch of filler, a bridge book, an obligation... no ta.
February 1, 2023
Widow Fiona comes with her two young sons to Oak Grove to marry the mayor, a devious, inconsiderate boor, she immediately finds out. She quickly falls in love with Brett, a kind, handsome, strong, successful businessman, who realizes he wants to marry her. But the mayor paid her fare from Ohio and and she promised she’d marry him. There are other complications, but the happy ending is never in doubt.
Many of the characters are ever so pleasant, if somewhat idealized, and the reader is always rooting for Brett and Fiona. Oak Grove is nicely drawn as a lovely, welcoming community. The mostly obnoxious mayor adds some tension to the story. That’s the positive side of the book. On the negative side, Fiona clings to her belief that she has to marry the mayor for so long it becomes tiresome, and the author keeps throwing in modern day societal customs that are annoying. Like characters insisting that people they just met immediately call them by their first names. That just wouldn’t have happened back then, especially having children do it. The plot, which is predictable and syrupy sweet, drags on a little too long.
I went through this novel very quickly, but I’m not really interested in reading a book like this again
Many of the characters are ever so pleasant, if somewhat idealized, and the reader is always rooting for Brett and Fiona. Oak Grove is nicely drawn as a lovely, welcoming community. The mostly obnoxious mayor adds some tension to the story. That’s the positive side of the book. On the negative side, Fiona clings to her belief that she has to marry the mayor for so long it becomes tiresome, and the author keeps throwing in modern day societal customs that are annoying. Like characters insisting that people they just met immediately call them by their first names. That just wouldn’t have happened back then, especially having children do it. The plot, which is predictable and syrupy sweet, drags on a little too long.
I went through this novel very quickly, but I’m not really interested in reading a book like this again
November 10, 2022
Awesome
There was nothing to dislike. This book was interesting from beginning to end. Loved the feel of respect all the way through it.
There was nothing to dislike. This book was interesting from beginning to end. Loved the feel of respect all the way through it.
January 21, 2023
Lauri Robinson is very good.
I loved her story. I was rooting for Brett the whole time. Definitely an author to check out for yourself. I recommend this book.
I loved her story. I was rooting for Brett the whole time. Definitely an author to check out for yourself. I recommend this book.
August 11, 2023
Great story. I really enjoyed it.
February 1, 2026
3.75⭐️
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October 26, 2017"Robinson has taken an old theme — mail-order brides — and given us a delightful, charming and gasp-filled romance between two lonely hearts looking for love and family. Readers will enjoy the multiple twists and turns before the final HEA. This novel is well-written, with memorable characters in a small town we'd all like to live in" (4 stars @ RT Book Reviews).
Miniseries: Oak Grove
Miniseries: Oak Grove
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews