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Gold Dust Brides #1
Lead Me Into Temptation
Violet Webster is a bride on the run. The last thing she wants is to get married, especially to a stranger twice her age. However, agreeing to be a mail-order bride had been her only option and it paid the steep passage to San Francisco so she could locate her father. She’d find him too, if only her betrothed’s son would stay out of her way.
Garrett Sutherlin is on a mission. Delivering the striking, ebony haired beauty to his father’s doorstep not only paid off his debt, the effort would grant him freedom from the man’s condescending hold. As far as he’s concerned, Miss Webster made her own bed.
Unfortunately, his father will be the one to lie beside her.
Garrett Sutherlin is on a mission. Delivering the striking, ebony haired beauty to his father’s doorstep not only paid off his debt, the effort would grant him freedom from the man’s condescending hold. As far as he’s concerned, Miss Webster made her own bed.
Unfortunately, his father will be the one to lie beside her.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2017
551 people are currently reading
511 people want to read
About the author
Devon McKay
11 books18 followersAmazon Bestseller Devon McKay writes historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance with a western flair. If she's not writing, she's busy with chores on her small ranch, working on a stained glass project or walking one of her three dogs through the woods. Her greatest joy is putting a smile on a readers face and hearing from fans.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 12, 2018
You're going to want to gallop along with the horses at breakneck speed to finish this mail order bride western clean romance. I read it in one sitting! Violet Webster is in financial straits and she'll do whatever it takes to survive. If that means being a mail order bride to a man she's never met so be it. When she goes to meet her perspective husband to be at the depot she is met by a much younger and swoon worthy man than she expected. No, he's not her husband to be but his son coming to deliver her like cattle to his father. She is a bride to be on the run though as she is on the lookout for her father who left the family more than a year ago when gold fever struck! You are in for a the rollicking adventure as you read about Indian attacks, a fire,treks across the plains. A bit implausible but adventurous.
Pub Date 31 Jul 2017
I was given a complimentary copy from Backlit PR through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely mine.
Pub Date 31 Jul 2017
I was given a complimentary copy from Backlit PR through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely mine.
December 11, 2017
3.5 stars, "Lead Me Into Temptation" by Devon McKay was a clean, sweet, slightly unrealistic but enjoyable mail order bride historical romance. I've been on a mail order bride novel run lately and I while this was a solid story, I would have liked to read more heat and passion between the couple.
Violet is supposed to marry an older man, a rich one, but she has plans to ditch her prospective groom. She really just wants to find her father, but she needed Mr. Sutherlin's money he sent to her for the fare and the spending money to make it west.
Garrett Sutherlin is on a mission, bring his father's bride, Violet, home to him and his father will deed him with his own spread. He himself has been scarred by his father and disappointed in love, he doesn't have a good opinion of Violet and her marrying his father. Garrett believes she is only marrying his father for the money.
Adventures begin as Violet tries to search for her father, running away from Garrett, and Garrett brings her back. He reluctantly offers his help and of course there story has a happy ending.
No heat between the couple which I would have enjoyed, but a solid, enjoyable story a bit on the wholesome side.
Violet is supposed to marry an older man, a rich one, but she has plans to ditch her prospective groom. She really just wants to find her father, but she needed Mr. Sutherlin's money he sent to her for the fare and the spending money to make it west.
Garrett Sutherlin is on a mission, bring his father's bride, Violet, home to him and his father will deed him with his own spread. He himself has been scarred by his father and disappointed in love, he doesn't have a good opinion of Violet and her marrying his father. Garrett believes she is only marrying his father for the money.
Adventures begin as Violet tries to search for her father, running away from Garrett, and Garrett brings her back. He reluctantly offers his help and of course there story has a happy ending.
No heat between the couple which I would have enjoyed, but a solid, enjoyable story a bit on the wholesome side.
February 8, 2019
Can you imagine being a mail order bride and not meeting your husband until you arrived? Violet had no intention of marrying the man twice her age. She just needed to get to California and find her gold mining father. After all she has to take care of her sisters and make sure they do not end up forced to marry. When the man who meets her at the train is young and handsome, she finds out he is her betrothed's son Garrett and thus the adventure begins!
Garrett has his own reasons to get Violet to his father and make sure they marry. He only wants what was his due and he thinks she is just after his father's money. So what could happen? She cannot get away from him it seems when she tries to find her father.
A fun adventure that will keep you entertained and hoping these two will have a happy ending if they can ever get past all the obstacles!!
This is the first book I have read by this author but I look forward to more!
Garrett has his own reasons to get Violet to his father and make sure they marry. He only wants what was his due and he thinks she is just after his father's money. So what could happen? She cannot get away from him it seems when she tries to find her father.
A fun adventure that will keep you entertained and hoping these two will have a happy ending if they can ever get past all the obstacles!!
This is the first book I have read by this author but I look forward to more!
June 29, 2020
A very good easy read that I really enjoyed. Look forward to reading further stories of Devon's.
October 4, 2020
Great Western Love story
In Holllywood days of old, this book would make a great Western film with Erol Flynn as Garret and Barbara Stanwyck as Violet. Violet's journey to a very primitive San Francisco is long and arduous. She doesn't want to be a mail-order bride, but she had no choice. When Garrett met the coach, she was bowled over by how handsome he was. Unfortunately, he wasn't her intended groom. The adventures had just begun. The love story is classic and Devon McKay tells it beautifully. I look forward to the next books in the series. Enjoy!
In Holllywood days of old, this book would make a great Western film with Erol Flynn as Garret and Barbara Stanwyck as Violet. Violet's journey to a very primitive San Francisco is long and arduous. She doesn't want to be a mail-order bride, but she had no choice. When Garrett met the coach, she was bowled over by how handsome he was. Unfortunately, he wasn't her intended groom. The adventures had just begun. The love story is classic and Devon McKay tells it beautifully. I look forward to the next books in the series. Enjoy!
February 8, 2019
Irritated, Garrett Sutherlin waited for the stage coach which was now two days late! The muggy heat was making it even worse. And the muddy San Francisco roads would make it difficult for the coach to get through. Things got wild at night, and he preferred to be off the streets before the rampages began. Garrett had already spent a large sum of money for coach fare for a mail order bride who never showed. Garrett had learned to never trust a woman. This time it was his father’s bride he waited for, escorting her back to the Sutherlin Ranch in return for a piece of land in his name. She had to be a gold digger to set her sights on the richest man around, Earl Sutherlin, a tough and difficult man to deal with.
Violet Webster was having a difficult time keeping down her breakfast biscuit as the body odor and terrible smells and disgusting passenger habits kept her queasy. She couldn’t even roll up the leather window cover for some fresh air. She had spent over 3 weeks in this coach. She wanted a bath. She felt guilty about coming here as a mail order bride when she had no intention to wed. She needed to get here to continue the search for her father who had foolishly come out here for gold. With her two sisters being forced to marry bad men, she needed her father to protect them. She would pay Mr. Sutherlin back one day for the $300 coach fare – she wasn’t a thief, just a liar. She saved what she could of the $3 meal per day meal allowance, just so she would have a little money to get by on.
They finally arrived at San Francisco and Violet looked out the coach window. A tall, handsome man was in the crowd, but he was her age, not in his 50’s as Mr. Sutherlin said he was. As she tugged her trunk from the coach, the handsome man approached and spoke. But she denied that she was Ms. Webster and walked away. He went after her, grabbing her arm to show her the miniature portrait of her she had sent to his father. She grabbed it and pulled her arm free, tearing her dress.
Garrett and Violet are attracted to each other from the start, as difficult as that encounter was! Will Garrett help her find her father once he understands her mission? Will he help her avoid marriage to his own father who is a cruel man, especially since Garrett begins to want her for himself? This fast-paced story line will draw the reader in to follow the action and events in the story. I really enjoyed this author’s writing and the wonderful scene she paints for the reader, making you feel the hot desert heat and the uncomfortable stagecoach travel. I look forward to reading the next book in the series as well.
Violet Webster was having a difficult time keeping down her breakfast biscuit as the body odor and terrible smells and disgusting passenger habits kept her queasy. She couldn’t even roll up the leather window cover for some fresh air. She had spent over 3 weeks in this coach. She wanted a bath. She felt guilty about coming here as a mail order bride when she had no intention to wed. She needed to get here to continue the search for her father who had foolishly come out here for gold. With her two sisters being forced to marry bad men, she needed her father to protect them. She would pay Mr. Sutherlin back one day for the $300 coach fare – she wasn’t a thief, just a liar. She saved what she could of the $3 meal per day meal allowance, just so she would have a little money to get by on.
They finally arrived at San Francisco and Violet looked out the coach window. A tall, handsome man was in the crowd, but he was her age, not in his 50’s as Mr. Sutherlin said he was. As she tugged her trunk from the coach, the handsome man approached and spoke. But she denied that she was Ms. Webster and walked away. He went after her, grabbing her arm to show her the miniature portrait of her she had sent to his father. She grabbed it and pulled her arm free, tearing her dress.
Garrett and Violet are attracted to each other from the start, as difficult as that encounter was! Will Garrett help her find her father once he understands her mission? Will he help her avoid marriage to his own father who is a cruel man, especially since Garrett begins to want her for himself? This fast-paced story line will draw the reader in to follow the action and events in the story. I really enjoyed this author’s writing and the wonderful scene she paints for the reader, making you feel the hot desert heat and the uncomfortable stagecoach travel. I look forward to reading the next book in the series as well.
August 27, 2020
This book was such a disappointment. It was certainly fast-paced and offered plenty of action. However, by the middle of the book, I realized that this book was too much of too much. Garrett and Violet are interesting and well-developed characters that the reader could care about in this story.
Violet has accepted the money from a wealthy man (Garrett's nasty-spirited father) so that she can (travel to California) to find her own father, who succumbed to the lure of gold. She has no intention of marrying Garrett's father. She plans to get her father to pay back Mr. Sutherlin after she finds him. She is really searching for her father because her uncle plans to marry her two younger sisters to men who are less than worthy of the ladies.
It's a fairly convoluted plot but it works until -- it doesn't. All of the action was well-written (with a couple of exceptions, that I will tell about later) but it was just too much; life just isn't like that. Garrett saves himself and Violet from a hotel fire, then Violet runs away with a man who promises to take her to her father but is planning on turning her into a whore. He attempts to rape her but is stopped by an Indian attack. The Indians murder all the men but Violet; she is saved by Garrett.
Then Garrett is shot by an arrow and almost dies but is saved by the man who shot him (an Indian). I never really understood why he returned and saved his life. Now we are a bit past the first half of the book. Are you getting the point? Wait, there's plenty more to come.
The author pieces the plot together well and the major characters have interesting and informative conversations. I really wanted to like this story because it had so much going for it.
Violet has accepted the money from a wealthy man (Garrett's nasty-spirited father) so that she can (travel to California) to find her own father, who succumbed to the lure of gold. She has no intention of marrying Garrett's father. She plans to get her father to pay back Mr. Sutherlin after she finds him. She is really searching for her father because her uncle plans to marry her two younger sisters to men who are less than worthy of the ladies.
It's a fairly convoluted plot but it works until -- it doesn't. All of the action was well-written (with a couple of exceptions, that I will tell about later) but it was just too much; life just isn't like that. Garrett saves himself and Violet from a hotel fire, then Violet runs away with a man who promises to take her to her father but is planning on turning her into a whore. He attempts to rape her but is stopped by an Indian attack. The Indians murder all the men but Violet; she is saved by Garrett.
Then Garrett is shot by an arrow and almost dies but is saved by the man who shot him (an Indian). I never really understood why he returned and saved his life. Now we are a bit past the first half of the book. Are you getting the point? Wait, there's plenty more to come.
The author pieces the plot together well and the major characters have interesting and informative conversations. I really wanted to like this story because it had so much going for it.
February 3, 2019
Action-packed historical romance
If you’re a fan of high stakes, fast moving westerns with a romantic core, you’ll love Lead Me Into Temptation! The Old West in 1851 California comes alive with gamblers, miners, and hostesses. Costuming and historical setting are thickly woven in amid the characters’ emotional roller coasters. Violet and Garrett, the heroine and hero, are intricately developed and described. Their romance is steamy and sensual but not over the top.
Violet signs on as a mail-order bride for Earl Sutherlin, a cruel and exacting man who sends his son Garrett to collect her in San Francisco from the stage. Garrett is intent on completing the delivery in order to get out of debt to his father and out from under his harsh thumb. Unfortunately for Garrett, Violet is intent on using her passage to California to find her missing father and has no intention of becoming Mrs. Sutherlin.
Gunfights, fires, stagecoach attacks, deadly injuries, and a steamy, spiraling romance—this novel has it all. This is the first book I’ve read by Devon McKay, and I can’t wait to read more!
If you’re a fan of high stakes, fast moving westerns with a romantic core, you’ll love Lead Me Into Temptation! The Old West in 1851 California comes alive with gamblers, miners, and hostesses. Costuming and historical setting are thickly woven in amid the characters’ emotional roller coasters. Violet and Garrett, the heroine and hero, are intricately developed and described. Their romance is steamy and sensual but not over the top.
Violet signs on as a mail-order bride for Earl Sutherlin, a cruel and exacting man who sends his son Garrett to collect her in San Francisco from the stage. Garrett is intent on completing the delivery in order to get out of debt to his father and out from under his harsh thumb. Unfortunately for Garrett, Violet is intent on using her passage to California to find her missing father and has no intention of becoming Mrs. Sutherlin.
Gunfights, fires, stagecoach attacks, deadly injuries, and a steamy, spiraling romance—this novel has it all. This is the first book I’ve read by Devon McKay, and I can’t wait to read more!
July 7, 2020
I found this hard to get into. Violet, a young girl who’s a mail order bride destined to marry Garrett’s despicable father, is on a mission. Much to the surprise of Garrett who doesn’t discover this till later. When he’s already fallen for her. There’s a hotel fire, a hostage situation, an attack by Native Americans and a lucky escape.
The story had plenty of drama, albeit not entirely realistic. My hang up was the lack of connection to the characters. Violet is a mail order bride and, although she is doing it to support her sisters, she falls (rather quickly I might add) for the son of her betrothed. So ends up with a husband but no income.
I think the novels intentions and ideas were good but not well executed. I hope the two follow up novels are stronger in relatability for the reader.
Thank you to Voracious Readers Only for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story had plenty of drama, albeit not entirely realistic. My hang up was the lack of connection to the characters. Violet is a mail order bride and, although she is doing it to support her sisters, she falls (rather quickly I might add) for the son of her betrothed. So ends up with a husband but no income.
I think the novels intentions and ideas were good but not well executed. I hope the two follow up novels are stronger in relatability for the reader.
Thank you to Voracious Readers Only for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2024
Although, this mail order bride story has a unique plot twist. These two have no respect for or are willing to honor the agreement to the mail order bride contract. In fact, the author completely ignores that fact all through the story as these two wander far from home and to a wild west mining town nicknamed"Hangtown". There are no repercussions for their behavior from the wronged party. In fact, both Garrett and Violet irritated me throughout the whole story. These two deserve each other for the selfish creatures that they are. All Garrett cares about is what he can get for himself and Violet's attitude is to find her father regardless of who she swindles or hurts. In fact, Garrett should have tied her up when he found her the first time and dropped her off at his father's ranch. Instead, well, you'll have to read the book.
December 14, 2017
Definitely a buy buy buy book!
If you like a clean and good read then you need to buy this one!
It was a totally enjoyable read. I like the style of writing as well as the characters and the plot line. I enjoyed the unfolding of the story as well as the pace it was written at. I also enjoyed the fact that I did not have to skip many many pages due to sexual scenes that were drawn out over a chapter or at least a half a chapter! This writer is talented and it shows in her writing. The story she has written keeps your attention and feeds the part of me that wants more! Perhaps a little more heat could of been involved but all in all I sincerely enjoyed this one! I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna Swedenmom
If you like a clean and good read then you need to buy this one!
It was a totally enjoyable read. I like the style of writing as well as the characters and the plot line. I enjoyed the unfolding of the story as well as the pace it was written at. I also enjoyed the fact that I did not have to skip many many pages due to sexual scenes that were drawn out over a chapter or at least a half a chapter! This writer is talented and it shows in her writing. The story she has written keeps your attention and feeds the part of me that wants more! Perhaps a little more heat could of been involved but all in all I sincerely enjoyed this one! I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna Swedenmom
August 23, 2020
A saccharine version of the old West...
I grabbed this freebie as a palate cleanser after a particularly difficult book, figuring a different genre altogether was called for. Unfortunately, I found myself in the middle of something even less compelling, riddled with odd word choices and an irritating predilection toward Bradley using commas as a means of separating sentences into coherent thoughts. When did they stop teaching actual English, anyway? 😒
Most baffling is what becomes of the original groom, as that problem seems to be solved by simply ignoring the agreement in the end.
I grabbed this freebie as a palate cleanser after a particularly difficult book, figuring a different genre altogether was called for. Unfortunately, I found myself in the middle of something even less compelling, riddled with odd word choices and an irritating predilection toward Bradley using commas as a means of separating sentences into coherent thoughts. When did they stop teaching actual English, anyway? 😒
Most baffling is what becomes of the original groom, as that problem seems to be solved by simply ignoring the agreement in the end.
January 28, 2019
This has an interesting twist with the hero going to get his father's mail-order bride. Violet has agreed to be a mail-order bride in hopes of finding her father. This is a fast-paced story with action that will keep you glued to the story. Devon McKay is a new author for me and I enjoyed her story looking forward to the next book in the series
September 1, 2020
Garrett goes into town to fetch his abusing fathers bride from the stagecoach Violet wants to find her father. She is taking a risk and it can cost her more then her freedom.
She meets Garrett and tries to lie saying she isn’t the woman his father sent for.
There is danger around every corner.
I enjoyed reading this book! Definitely worth the time to read it! You won’t be disappointed.
She meets Garrett and tries to lie saying she isn’t the woman his father sent for.
There is danger around every corner.
I enjoyed reading this book! Definitely worth the time to read it! You won’t be disappointed.
September 16, 2020
Slow Starter
This book started as a typical romance novel with the protagonists exhibiting hostility mutual hostility at first sight. The language is over the top, trying too hard to create sensual tension. The story improved near the middle and when McKay stops trying so hard to write a Romance, she writes an interesting book.
This book started as a typical romance novel with the protagonists exhibiting hostility mutual hostility at first sight. The language is over the top, trying too hard to create sensual tension. The story improved near the middle and when McKay stops trying so hard to write a Romance, she writes an interesting book.
February 7, 2021
A good clean story.
Violet needed to find her father to help rescue herself and her sisters in St Louis. Being a false mail-order-bride in San Francisco seemed her only way to find him. However her future unintended marriage is interrupted by her intended's son Garrett, the shark Franklin's desire to use her in prostitution, and the indian Leyati. She finds herself in a mess!
Violet needed to find her father to help rescue herself and her sisters in St Louis. Being a false mail-order-bride in San Francisco seemed her only way to find him. However her future unintended marriage is interrupted by her intended's son Garrett, the shark Franklin's desire to use her in prostitution, and the indian Leyati. She finds herself in a mess!
November 14, 2024
Lots of Excitement
I enjoyed this story; especially the twist with the Native American becoming their friend. Lots of excitement. I read this from start to finish without stopping. I couldn't put it down. I would have liked to see Garrett's Dad track them down and them getting through that situation.
I enjoyed this story; especially the twist with the Native American becoming their friend. Lots of excitement. I read this from start to finish without stopping. I couldn't put it down. I would have liked to see Garrett's Dad track them down and them getting through that situation.
February 1, 2018
“Lead Me Into Temptation” is an entertaining adventure of a mail-order bride gone wrong.
Read full review in the 2018 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2018 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.
August 23, 2020
My Father's Bride-to-be
Violet took the offer to be a mail order bride as a way to reach California to search for her father. Garret was sent to bring his father's bride back to him not to fall in love with her.
Violet took the offer to be a mail order bride as a way to reach California to search for her father. Garret was sent to bring his father's bride back to him not to fall in love with her.
August 24, 2020
Fun Gold Rush Romance
Garrett waits for his father's new bride to arrive, sure she is nothing but a gold digger. Fun characters in this action packed romance with its enjoyable ending.
Garrett waits for his father's new bride to arrive, sure she is nothing but a gold digger. Fun characters in this action packed romance with its enjoyable ending.
August 24, 2020
Although it’s a fairly short book, it is full of action. Violet agrees to be a mail order bride to an older man in order to travel to California to find her father. She had no plan to marry the man just find her father and repay the groom for her trip west.
September 4, 2020
Pioneer life in the rough
Violet is going west to find her father and avoid tragic marriage matches for her sisters but she meets with more adventures than she had planned. An interesting trek but I would have liked much more strong men as heroes.
Violet is going west to find her father and avoid tragic marriage matches for her sisters but she meets with more adventures than she had planned. An interesting trek but I would have liked much more strong men as heroes.
September 6, 2020
Wonderful story!
So many adventures in this story! I’m so glad Violet married Garrett. I also liked Lee and the healing with flowers and ants aspect. Can’t wait to see what happens with her sisters.
So many adventures in this story! I’m so glad Violet married Garrett. I also liked Lee and the healing with flowers and ants aspect. Can’t wait to see what happens with her sisters.
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July 7, 2021Good storyline
The characters were likeable, for the most part. A bit to easy of a read for my taste however. Too predictable. I just think it could have been plumped out quite a bit more.
The characters were likeable, for the most part. A bit to easy of a read for my taste however. Too predictable. I just think it could have been plumped out quite a bit more.
March 24, 2022
This was a copy from voracious readers only so the format was a little distracting in places but this was a sweet, clean romance that was easy to read. The idea of the uncertainty of being a mail order bride in a western is always an interesting topic and pleasant to spend time reading
December 8, 2022
Lead Me Into Temptation
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade but at whose expense. Why are you so concerned about getting father's blessings to marry when you've already put the cart before the horse. Making lemonade ain't easy.
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade but at whose expense. Why are you so concerned about getting father's blessings to marry when you've already put the cart before the horse. Making lemonade ain't easy.
Want to read
August 22, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/22/2020)! 🎁
August 25, 2020
Fighting for love
Read during the Corona Virus Pandemic of 2020. This was a very interesting historical fiction read. I like the interaction between the characters.
Read during the Corona Virus Pandemic of 2020. This was a very interesting historical fiction read. I like the interaction between the characters.
August 28, 2020
Story good
Editing atrocious. I had to back up and re-read more frequently than I like. Six more words, 3 more words
Editing atrocious. I had to back up and re-read more frequently than I like. Six more words, 3 more words
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews