Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Brides of Evergreen #3

Mail-Order Deception

Rate this book
(Alternate cover edition of ASIN B077C8JQY5.)

Secret identities lead to stolen hearts.
Can love survive the truth?

Intrepid reporter Ellie Blair wants a story—the one story—that will make her name bigger than Nellie Bly’s. She’ll do anything to get it. Lie, masquerade as someone else … even walk away from love.

Treasury Agent Jim West has to break the back of the Irish Mob and will do anything to bring them all down—lie, masquerade as someone else, even sacrifice a chance at love.

What will it take for these two, blinded by ambition, to see beyond the masks and into each other’s hearts?

150 pages, ebook

Published November 16, 2017

69 people are currently reading
50 people want to read

About the author

Heather Blanton

74 books299 followers
“Heather Blanton is blessed with a natural storytelling ability, an ‘old soul’ wisdom, and wide expansive heart. Her characters are vividly drawn, and in the western settings where life can be hard, over quickly, and seemingly without meaning, she reveals Larger Hands holding everyone and everything together.”
MARK RICHARD, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, AMC’S HELL ON WHEELS, and PEN/ERNEST HEMINGWAY AWARD WINNER

I write Christian Historical Western Romance. Yes, that often entails the use of firearms in a threatening manner. Sometimes there are fistfights. There may even be politically incorrect but historically accurate language. But also, there is always an inspirational message and strong allusions (at least) to the gospel.

A former journalist, I am an avid researcher and endeavor to skillfully weave truth in among fictional story lines. I love exploring the American West, especially ghost towns and museums. I have walked parts of the Oregon Trail, ridden horses through the Rockies, climbed to the top of Independence Rock, and even held an outlaw's note in my hand.

I grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina on a steady diet of Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and John Wayne Westerns. My most fond childhood memory is of sitting next to my daddy, munching on popcorn, and watching Lucas McCain unload that Winchester! My daddy also taught me to shoot and, trust me, I can sew buttons on with my rifle.

I can be reached several different ways:

http://ladiesindefiance.com/
https://www.facebook.com/authorheathe...
https://twitter.com/heatherfblanton
https://www.pinterest.com/heatherfbla...

I am a proud member of Western Writers of America.

My novels are all Christian Western Romance because this is the genre that lets me write about strong, pioneer women and men who struggle to find God and then live out their faith in real ways. Like good old fashioned Westerns, there is always justice, a moral message, American values, lots of high adventure, unexpected plot twists, and more than a touch of suspense. Of course, romance is always a strong element in my stories because it is such a beautiful gift from God and a perfect reflection of how he loves us: sacrificially and lavishly. My stories aren’t preachy or cheesy, but I hope they are inspirational, heart-warming, realistic, illuminating, and glorifying to God.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
62 (59%)
4 stars
30 (28%)
3 stars
7 (6%)
2 stars
1 (<1%)
1 star
4 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
353 reviews2 followers
February 20, 2020
This is book 3, in the Brides of Evergreen series.

This is a truly delightful book, its clean, funny and you may need a tissue.
There us a lot happening in this book.
The characters, pull you into the book, as their personalities, and the story is revealed

I love Heather's books. They are well planned and a really good read.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
1,189 reviews
November 23, 2017
Mail-Order Deception: A Christian Historical Western Romance (Brides of Evergreen-Book 3 )
By; Heather Blanton
Mail-Order Deception is book there of Brides of Evergreen series. This is a fun and delightful Christian historical western romance. The story was easy to read and the characters were well developed. Reporter Ellie Blair wants a story and she will do anything to get it. Jim West will do anything to do what he has to do for his job. Will these two go to far and throw love out the window? Is the mail-order bride who she says she is? What about Clegg Holt, is he ready for his mail-order bride? This was a fast and delightful read by Heather Blanton. When I started I did not want to put it down.
I was given a complimentary copy ,but was not told that I had to give a positive review.
1,093 reviews10 followers
January 10, 2018
Heather Blanton has become a new favorite author of mine because of her down-to-earth western romances that have just the right amount of mystery and suspense and are often sprinkled with witty dialogue and situations that keep me laughing. In no way does that detract from her great stories and romance.

“Mail Order Deception” has a brilliant plot of mistaken identities. Reporter Ellie Blair accepts an assignment in which she must pose as a mail order bride, hoping to make a name for herself. Little does she know that her “husband” is not who he claims to be either. Despite their suspicions, Ellie and Jim West find themselves more and more attracted to each other but will true love win when all their secrets are revealed?

This was such a fun book with plenty of action, danger, humor, and romance to keep me turning those pages. I loved Jim and Ellie’s characters and their determination to see justice done. Even though as an avid reader, I pretty much knew how things would turn out, Blanton managed to keep me wondering a few times along the way.

If you have not read any books by Heather Blanton, do yourself a favor and try one or three. “Mail Order Deception” might just be a good place to start.

I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Jessica Baker (A Baker's Perspective).
1,434 reviews86 followers
January 6, 2018
This story was packed with adventure, action, suspense, romance, and excitement. Add a strong heroine (which I find in many of Heather’s books) and a smooth hero and you’ve got success. Heather Blanton knows how to write a story that will keep your fingers swiftly turning the pages and hungry for the ending. And once you get it to the ending you find yourself breathing a sigh of relief that you made it, immediately followed by a sigh of sorrow because the story is over.

Ellie was my favorite character. She was determined and not afraid to take a risk. She fought for her place in the journalist world, and perhaps paved the way for other women in that time period to enter the business world. As strong as she was in this way, she had a smidgen of vulnerability when it came to love. I think Jim put her off her game a little bit and I liked seeing that side of her too. She trusted her gut, got dirty when necessary, and opened her heart to a man that seemed to unknowingly sweep her off her feet.

A great twist on a mail order Bride story, historical fans and romance fans alike are sure to enjoy this story. I received a complimentary copy of this story. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
2,354 reviews164 followers
November 16, 2017
"She'd had enough of men telling her where to go, what to do, how to act, how to do her job."

Ellie Blair is a self-made woman, working tirelessly to prove herself as a respected Boston journalist in a predominately male profession. When the opportunity of a lifetime presents itself, she goes undercover, posing as Whiskey Creek Ranch foreman Clegg Hoyt's mail order bride. Of course, neither has met the other and as it turns out, neither is who they claim to be.

"Clegg Hoyt" is stunned when his bride-to-be arrives in Evergreen, Wyoming. Pretty as a picture, and as inquisitive as a two year old, "Stella Hardwicke", seems terribly out of place. She's definitely a distraction, but can't he use that to his advantage? After all, a malicious gang member is reportedly on ranch property and "Clegg" is determined to use every means necessary to wrap up the case.

Delightful and witty, "Mail Order Deception" offers a romantic conundrum that will grab readers' attention from the very beginning, while they witness her unsuspecting characters try to serve "match points".

I received a copy of this book from the author. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Profile Image for Anne Rightler.
1,966 reviews37 followers
November 27, 2017
Mail-Order Deception by Heather Blanton is third in the Brides of Evergreen and is a charming Christian Western Romance. The characters are full of vim and vigor and readers will get caught up in their story right from the start. Ellie is a female reporter trying to make it in a male-dominated world and she is off to a chance-of-a-lifetime story. Things were not as expected when she arrives at her destination but that doesn't stop her. Will she get her story and maybe find love too? The story moves quickly and has some fast-paced action, some suspense and of course, romance. The author has captured the time and setting well with descriptive scenes and entertaining dialogue. Having read this author's Romance in the Rockies series, I was expecting a good story and I was not disappointed. Heather Blanton knows how to tell a story well.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book and was not expected to write a review. The opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Lori.
219 reviews16 followers
March 18, 2021
Another beautiful cover. I love how the covers say so much about the characters. Ellie is determined to be the best female reporter. But to what lengths will she go? Jim is a tough and yet a gentleman who is searching for Saun O’Dea, a thief. Will he find his man? Two opposing careers. Can they work together, or will their careers get in the way of true love? I found this a delightful story. It is full of stubbornness and strength of will on both Ellie and Jim’s part. I love how the author weaved in Gods strength and love. We are human, but can do so much more when we learn to lean on our Heavenly Father.
841 reviews7 followers
February 29, 2020
Action-Packed Drama

Twenty dollar dies for making silver coins have been stolen from the U. S. Mint in Denver. A Treasury Agent is trying to find the dies before counterfeit coins can be made. The dies are hidden on a ranch. A newspaper reporter and a lawman are separately trying to find the dies (molds made to have molten silver poured into them). They end up at the ranch and begin investigating people who are using false identities. The outcome may not be whatever you expect.
108 reviews4 followers
January 29, 2021
Is deception ever right?

I chose to give this a five star rating because this book was well written, it was written in a way that did not raise any red flags as things that were out of sync with the time period.
Deception is always hard forms to justify, even in a story. Both of our main characters were Believers, yet chose professions that cause them deceive others. I guess this is a question each of us has to come to terms with. Ellie and Jim learn what's most important. Thank you Heather for another wonderful read.
Profile Image for Joleen.
2,656 reviews1,227 followers
November 23, 2021
Reporter Ellie Blair gets an undercover assignment as a mail-order bride and heads off to Wyoming where she discovers her potential groom isn’t what he appears to be, either. 

A mystery behind several people's identities makes this a fun read.

What lowered my star rating was the escalation from focus on doing their jobs to lots of physical contact. Deep kissing after one day of meeting each other, then talk of the way her breasts felt against him, ugh! If the author had been a bit less detailed on that it would have been a really good book.
734 reviews11 followers
May 5, 2021
Secrets can lead to love

Ellie wants nothing more than to write the story that will make her journalistic career.
Jim is a treasury agent determined to get his man and recover plates stolen from the treasury department in San Francisco.
When they both assume an alias and wind up on the same ranch, after the same man, things might just get interesting. Loved this book!
397 reviews5 followers
March 20, 2019
Awsum

This is a truly inspiring book, I love the story and characters. So well put together. The Author knew exactly how to Wright this great story.. Thank you so much for the book and I recommend this book and author to my friends and family I also look forward to read all of your books.....
Profile Image for MaryEllen.
2,889 reviews29 followers
March 22, 2019
I received this book as a gift and this is my voluntary review.
As another reviewer said, this is not your usual mail order bride story!

The characters were so well done that one of them behaves out-of-character he himself points it out. :)

There were twists and turns around every corner. There was romance and action and intrigue––all keeping with the place and time.

I loved it!
Profile Image for Judy.
1,792 reviews12 followers
January 22, 2021
Ellie and Jim 💞

Another great story in this series! I loved the relationship between Ellie and Jim! She kept trying to fight against the pull she felt towards him, but every time she was away from Jim, she yearned for his presence. The ability at keeping their secrets from each other was something else, as well! What a fun story 😁
Profile Image for Patti Brennan.
269 reviews
March 24, 2018
Excellent

This book is full of surprises not your usual mail order bride story. I really enjoyed reading it and having a different spin on a mail orde bride looking forward to the next book in the series
Profile Image for Susan.
623 reviews30 followers
March 27, 2018
This was a really good book. There was a lot of excitement, especially toward the end. I was afraid I would lose track of the characters with so many having an assumed identity, but Ms. Blanton did a great job in keeping them straight. I would recommend this book.
34 reviews
June 17, 2019
A very good story I liked this story because of the fast moving reading and the way the author could write it and you could see the pictures r

in your mind. I know that I'm a blessed person to have read as many of her books that I have!
102 reviews3 followers
November 18, 2017
This book was a lot of fun to read. Nobody is who they say they are and lies begin to unravel . Love even comes into play. It's a quick read but the characters are fun .
Profile Image for Amy Anguish.
Author 19 books197 followers
November 29, 2017
Very fun story. A little more kissing than a lot of Christian fiction, but not too bad. Sweet ending!
I received a free copy of this book from the author, but the opinions are all mine.
Profile Image for Cissie Breland.
332 reviews2 followers
March 15, 2019
Great read

As always, I loved Heather's book. I didn't want to put it down. There is enough chemistry, suspense, and love to keep you reading.
Profile Image for Janet Swiftbird.
1,878 reviews6 followers
December 31, 2019
Surprises abound

She is posing as a mail order bride.
He is posing as a ranch foreman.
Can they catch their man and have a HEA?
745 reviews8 followers
October 22, 2022
Great book

What a fantastic story. I enjoyed it very much. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a clean sweet historical romance.
Profile Image for Cindy.
2,280 reviews83 followers
September 7, 2022
What an exciting story! I've never read anything like this story line, but I absolutely LOVED it! Two people undercover fall in love, but their lies, necessary for the investigation, pull them apart! Heather is such a talented and creative author! This is a Christian romance, with casual conversations about God, without being preachy.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.