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Quaid #1
Yankee Wife
When a pretty spitfire who's down on her luck clashes with a stubborn man in search of a wife, sparks must turn to flames....A year after the Civil War, courageous former Union nurse Lydia McQuire was gamely scraping out an honest living. But now, as she said yes to marrying a stranger, her knees gave way with fear. Mr. Devon Quaid had seemed polite and handsome when she answered his ad for a wife. Only after Lydia had arrived in Washington territory did she learn that her bridegroom wasn't to be sweet Devon Quaid, but his older brother Brigham, a widower with strapping shoulders, hands as strong as steel, and an arrogant belief that he was lord and master of his lumber empire, the town of Quaid's Harbor, and the woman he married. Lydia's dislike of him was instantaneous...yet Brigham was awakening in her a white-hot passion, and a firm resolve; before she would share his bed, he would have to surrender himself, heart and soul, to love....
343 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1993
202 people are currently reading
975 people want to read
About the author
Linda Lael Miller
553 books3,222 followersThe daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is a #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 historical and contemporary novels, most of which reflect her love of the West. Raised in Northport, Washington, Linda pursued her wanderlust, living in London and Arizona and traveling the world before returning to the state of her birth to settle down on a spacious property outside Spokane.
Linda traces the birth of her writing career to the day when a Northport teacher told her that the stories she was writing were good, that she just might have a future in writing. Later, when she decided to write novels, she endured her share of rejection before she sold Fletcher’s Woman in 1983 to Pocket Books. Since then, Linda has successfully published historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, mysteries and thrillers before coming home, in a literal sense, and concentrating on novels with a Western flavor. For her devotion to her craft, the Romance Writers of America awarded her their prestigious Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Long a passionate Civil War buff, Linda has studied the era avidly for almost thirty years. She has read literally hundreds of books on the subject, explored numerous battlegrounds and made many visits to her favorite, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where she has witnessed re-enactments of the legendary clash between North and South. Linda explores that turbulent time in The Yankee Widow, a May 7, 2019 MIRA Books hardcover, also available in digital and audiobook formats.
Dedicated to helping others, “The First Lady of the West” personally financed fifteen years of her Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women, which she awarded to women 25 years and older who were seeking to improve their lot in life through education. She anticipates that her next charitable endeavors will benefit four-legged critters.
More information about Linda and her novels is available at www.lindalaelmiller.com, on Facebook and from Nancy Berland Public Relations, nancy@nancyberland.com, 405-206-4748.
Linda traces the birth of her writing career to the day when a Northport teacher told her that the stories she was writing were good, that she just might have a future in writing. Later, when she decided to write novels, she endured her share of rejection before she sold Fletcher’s Woman in 1983 to Pocket Books. Since then, Linda has successfully published historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, mysteries and thrillers before coming home, in a literal sense, and concentrating on novels with a Western flavor. For her devotion to her craft, the Romance Writers of America awarded her their prestigious Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Long a passionate Civil War buff, Linda has studied the era avidly for almost thirty years. She has read literally hundreds of books on the subject, explored numerous battlegrounds and made many visits to her favorite, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where she has witnessed re-enactments of the legendary clash between North and South. Linda explores that turbulent time in The Yankee Widow, a May 7, 2019 MIRA Books hardcover, also available in digital and audiobook formats.
Dedicated to helping others, “The First Lady of the West” personally financed fifteen years of her Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women, which she awarded to women 25 years and older who were seeking to improve their lot in life through education. She anticipates that her next charitable endeavors will benefit four-legged critters.
More information about Linda and her novels is available at www.lindalaelmiller.com, on Facebook and from Nancy Berland Public Relations, nancy@nancyberland.com, 405-206-4748.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
December 29, 2015
It had a very good plot with lots of potential, but I think the author quite mixed it up. It just did not seem well thought-out. There was no congruity to the flow of story. And even with really well-written characters, the story continued to be a jumble of events and continuous internal wars that seemed to rise from nowhere. Also, it took a pretty weird turn in the latter half and then everything sorted out pretty swiftly, not to mention very conveniently.
August 19, 2020
DNF.
I practically threw this book out the window.
I practically threw this book out the window.
December 20, 2025
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed this first read by the author. It was about a desperate heroine looking to better her life by agreeing to marry an ad calling for a wife. She met the man - Devon - and found him handsome, gentlemanly and rich, hence, she agreed. Little did she know that she was actually arranged to wed the man's older, brooding and gruff brother - Brigham. A man with 2 daughters.
I loved the heroine and Hero's interaction. They didn't have any good impression of each other. They clashed and they bantered. But they were attracted to each other.
I also liked the twist about the Devon and Polly.
Interesting. Even the bits Brigham almost marrying Polly.
I liked the angst and the twists the author provided. It kept me on my toes. Heck, I even read the Epilogue. It's good.
I enjoyed this first read by the author. It was about a desperate heroine looking to better her life by agreeing to marry an ad calling for a wife. She met the man - Devon - and found him handsome, gentlemanly and rich, hence, she agreed. Little did she know that she was actually arranged to wed the man's older, brooding and gruff brother - Brigham. A man with 2 daughters.
I loved the heroine and Hero's interaction. They didn't have any good impression of each other. They clashed and they bantered. But they were attracted to each other.
I also liked the twist about the Devon and Polly.
Interesting. Even the bits Brigham almost marrying Polly.
I liked the angst and the twists the author provided. It kept me on my toes. Heck, I even read the Epilogue. It's good.
August 28, 2023
this author always does the “I won’t marry you because I love you and you won’t say you love me” trope, it’s petty and too weak to hinge 150 pages of conflict on, it gets tedious, thankful for the secondary characters who kept the story alive
April 26, 2025
Me gustó mucho, después de estar en un bloqueo lector este libro me ayudó mucho. El protagonista wow muy lindo todo un alfa jajajaj como me encantan, la prota muy terca bueno los dos, pero más ella por lo demás no le tengo ningún pero.😍🩷
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December 30, 2025Utter nonsense. The worst soap-opera of a romance I’ve ever read yet. I cannot even begin to relate where this started and how it turned into a poop-tornado.
This author’s addressing POC and sex workers is beyond problematic. Not justifiable, whatsoever.
0 stars.
This author’s addressing POC and sex workers is beyond problematic. Not justifiable, whatsoever.
0 stars.
February 25, 2013
This was just a nice comfortable read about two brothers, their brides and a developing town. One of the husbands already had children and they are such lively characters. The next book I believe is about the eldest daughter.... cant wait.
April 21, 2015
Good read
Fourth or fifth time reading.....love this book. Linda Lael Miller is one of my favorite authors...and this book is one of the best.
Fourth or fifth time reading.....love this book. Linda Lael Miller is one of my favorite authors...and this book is one of the best.
July 18, 2015
It had everything I like in a romance. Dual POV & epilogue.
May 24, 2022
So I really enjoyed this book though I wasn't too crazy about the main characters. This story had a great cast of supporting characters and side stories/romances. While sometimes this can be a hindrance and take away from the main event, it actually added depth to the story.
Here's the plot, Lydia McGuire is in San Francisco after the Civil War, destitute and playing piano for pennies at the local saloons. She sees an advertisement for a woman willing to wed a man and come live in Washington State. She meets the man, Devon, and agrees to it. Devon is handsome, polite, and kind - plus he provides her money for necessities and her own hotel room. When they set off, she discovers that she somehow misunderstood (not exactly sure this happened) and he actually just procured a bride himself. Lydia is intended for his widower brother, Brigham, a mill owner with two daughters.
Lydia is not happy about this miscommunication, but they are already on their way. She tells Devon that she will not marry Brigham, but she will act as governess to his daughters. Why the change? I am not sure. Devon tells her that Brigham is not aware that she is coming anyway and he is bringing her as a "gift". Devon thinks that Brigham needs to settle down again, but Brig wants nothing to do with marriage again. But when these two meet, there is a powerful attraction, which Brigham does not mind taking advantage of every chance he gets. All the people around notice the change in him for the better (except him of course!)
There are other suitors for Lydia (after all, women are difficult to come by) and Brig finds he doesn't like these men flocking to the woman that he thinks of as his own. There is just a lot of back and forth between these two and after a while it became tedious. Even the daughters are baffled as to why they aren't together already.
I did really like all the other stories, but it is too much to really elaborate on in this review. I could imagine this as a TV series, seeing how Brig builds his lumber town and the people who live there.
Here's the plot, Lydia McGuire is in San Francisco after the Civil War, destitute and playing piano for pennies at the local saloons. She sees an advertisement for a woman willing to wed a man and come live in Washington State. She meets the man, Devon, and agrees to it. Devon is handsome, polite, and kind - plus he provides her money for necessities and her own hotel room. When they set off, she discovers that she somehow misunderstood (not exactly sure this happened) and he actually just procured a bride himself. Lydia is intended for his widower brother, Brigham, a mill owner with two daughters.
Lydia is not happy about this miscommunication, but they are already on their way. She tells Devon that she will not marry Brigham, but she will act as governess to his daughters. Why the change? I am not sure. Devon tells her that Brigham is not aware that she is coming anyway and he is bringing her as a "gift". Devon thinks that Brigham needs to settle down again, but Brig wants nothing to do with marriage again. But when these two meet, there is a powerful attraction, which Brigham does not mind taking advantage of every chance he gets. All the people around notice the change in him for the better (except him of course!)
There are other suitors for Lydia (after all, women are difficult to come by) and Brig finds he doesn't like these men flocking to the woman that he thinks of as his own. There is just a lot of back and forth between these two and after a while it became tedious. Even the daughters are baffled as to why they aren't together already.
I did really like all the other stories, but it is too much to really elaborate on in this review. I could imagine this as a TV series, seeing how Brig builds his lumber town and the people who live there.
March 6, 2025
I was really struggling with what to rate this book because the writing was really nice. Now the content...
I felt like I was being edged this whole book with its potential that it never reached.
To start, Brigham was a mysoginstic piece of shit who was so set in his ways and felt like women shouldn't have thoughts other than to cook and warm beds. Lydia was a badass independent Union war nurse who has seen the horrors of war.
I was intrigued!!! I was so excited thinking Lydia is going to make this man eat his words and he'll be on his knees by the end of this book worshipping the ground she walked on.
Boy was I wrong. What happened was Brigham didn't change at all and instead Lydia was cowed into following his will by the end of this book and it was so frustrating to read.
There were SO MANY fights in this book where I just hoped and prayed Brigham would be humbled and grovel for Lydia and understand her perspective. He never did. Every single disagreement between them ended with him getting his way and Lydia saying "ohh shucks he's so stubborn but I love him and I miss him"
STAND UPPPPP
yeah guys maybe this wasn't for me because I hate seeing baddies being beaten down by gross men. the potential was there with the characters but I wished we saw Brigham turning more open minded and kind instead of Lydia just becoming more subservient.
I felt like I was being edged this whole book with its potential that it never reached.
To start, Brigham was a mysoginstic piece of shit who was so set in his ways and felt like women shouldn't have thoughts other than to cook and warm beds. Lydia was a badass independent Union war nurse who has seen the horrors of war.
I was intrigued!!! I was so excited thinking Lydia is going to make this man eat his words and he'll be on his knees by the end of this book worshipping the ground she walked on.
Boy was I wrong. What happened was Brigham didn't change at all and instead Lydia was cowed into following his will by the end of this book and it was so frustrating to read.
There were SO MANY fights in this book where I just hoped and prayed Brigham would be humbled and grovel for Lydia and understand her perspective. He never did. Every single disagreement between them ended with him getting his way and Lydia saying "ohh shucks he's so stubborn but I love him and I miss him"
STAND UPPPPP
yeah guys maybe this wasn't for me because I hate seeing baddies being beaten down by gross men. the potential was there with the characters but I wished we saw Brigham turning more open minded and kind instead of Lydia just becoming more subservient.
September 8, 2022
The Civil War is over leaving behind many orphans and widows with no financial means of survival. A daughter of a military doctor is now orphaned and alone in Virginia. She travels to California in hopes of opening a music school, but is forced to play piano in a seedy bar for a few pennies. She answers an advertisement for a bride and moves to Washington state. There she meets Brigham Quade, a widower with two young daughters. He is strong, handsome and broody. She refuses to become his bride without love, but does accept a position as the girls' tutor. Women are rare in the rough country of Quaid Harbor and she is pursued by many men until word is out that she is the boss' woman.
Independent and opinionated they clash on many things, but share an overwhelming passion for each other. A few little side stories are included in the story making it a very good read!
Independent and opinionated they clash on many things, but share an overwhelming passion for each other. A few little side stories are included in the story making it a very good read!
June 30, 2017
And again why do couples has to fight with each other a lot of times..... please please please I like the fact that the H/h of this book are talking with each other rather than having misunderstanding but I hope. they don't fight too much.... twists are good too but one twist left me soooo nervous and scared that I had to put it down and let myself breathe...That's when I thought the hero is about to marry Polly by the way I love her name is... it almost sounds Fool because well she is... I didn't like Polly from the beginning .... and for Lydia other than her soooo defiant nature I can't say that I don't like her... which I am thankful because for the past few days I have encounter nothing but annoying heroine...
March 14, 2023
I loved parts of this book and really disliked others. I don't know very much about PTSD which is what I assumed Lydia had after the War Between the States, since she served as a nurse during that war. Her behavior seemed bizarre from time to time, and I couldn't make much sense out of her. Brigham, on the other hand, was so focused on building his town that his behavior was almost that of a bully. Both were used to surviving in hard conditions and making their own decisions, but still . . . It resulted in a case of reading parts where I couldn't put the book down and others where I couldn't pick the book back up. I guess the fact that I reacted so strongly means that Ms. Miller can write well, just not always what I want to read.
May 19, 2017
I struggled to finish this one. What an asshole Brigham is! I have no idea why Lydia kept on putting up with him or how she came to fall in love with him. He was verbally abusive and practically forces himself on her when she's "not obeying" him. The only character i remotely cared for was Millie, Brigham's daughter. The "climax" of this was anything but. LLM is one of my favorite authors but I hate this book.
October 20, 2020
This book !
I loved this book. I loved the characters . I loved their stories. Loved the ending and the beginning! I loved it so much I stayed up all night reading it. Not my first L. Miller and she never disappoints. I told myself to go to bed several times but I had to know the end.Read this book. If you like romance you will love this. Now back to the real world. I gotta make some coffee.
I loved this book. I loved the characters . I loved their stories. Loved the ending and the beginning! I loved it so much I stayed up all night reading it. Not my first L. Miller and she never disappoints. I told myself to go to bed several times but I had to know the end.Read this book. If you like romance you will love this. Now back to the real world. I gotta make some coffee.
May 4, 2022
Well, usually I love her especially the early works but this one OMG! I kept reading because I paid for it but wow let's talk redundant!!! I wanted to smack both lead characters. I wish some authors today woud stop repeating the same thoughts every several pages just to have more pages. This will be the last one I get no matter how tempting the story line.
May 28, 2018
Loved the story line and the fast pace of this book. Great beach read and keeps you turning the pages just to see what happens next. Never a dull moment. I love this author and have read many of her books and never disappointed.
January 2, 2021
*** 3.5 stars ***
I thought Lydia was a bit annoying for refusing to marry him. I like that she did fight back. Brig was a little stubborn but I understood where he was coming from. Devon and Polly were okay. Their story could have been more interesting.
I thought Lydia was a bit annoying for refusing to marry him. I like that she did fight back. Brig was a little stubborn but I understood where he was coming from. Devon and Polly were okay. Their story could have been more interesting.
July 29, 2022
Already started the review
I started my review about 30% into the book. This would be better as a mini-series. This was a looong story about 2 (almost 3) couples coming together.
That’s all I got. It dragged on way too long but I felt I had to finish it.
I started my review about 30% into the book. This would be better as a mini-series. This was a looong story about 2 (almost 3) couples coming together.
That’s all I got. It dragged on way too long but I felt I had to finish it.
January 18, 2018
This is one of those romance novels that has stuck with me over the years. I'm glad to see it is still as good as I remembered!
March 26, 2018
I got through 5 chapters and gave up reading this book. It was slow moving, no plot, and was very choppy.
May 28, 2018
Brought in as a mail order bride, life in the west timber cutting lands takes a few turns; nice to read about other couples successes and struggles
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2018
Devon sets out to bring a wife back to the mill, for his brother Brigham. Lydia has nursed men throughout the civil war with her doctor father, and since his death, is in need of a home.
December 27, 2018
This is a phenomenal book! Similar to the romance in high country bride. Love this one.
May 21, 2019
Well done romance.
August 14, 2019
I have not read a romance novel in a long time. I came across this title, and knowing the author, decided to read it. I was not disappointed.
January 18, 2020
Another Hit
Her books are wonderful. Again I wish this would have been part of a series. It would be nice to know what happened to the doctor.
Her books are wonderful. Again I wish this would have been part of a series. It would be nice to know what happened to the doctor.
September 12, 2020
I have read some of Ms. Miller's works before, but it's been several years. I did not recall such explicit sex scenes.
April 2, 2021
April TBR Historical romance prompt
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews