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Mail Order Brides #8

A Western Love for an Unexpected Bride

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Safe is a funny word for a Bride heading West... But not when he is there to become her guardian angel…

After years of service as a maid, Mary Caer MacDougall, forced to take the place of another, she suddenly finds herself traveling to the West as a Mail Order Bride. A place she should have never been in...

With his heart utterly broken, Emmanuel Martinez has no other choice but to leave his life as a Rancher behind and start a new one as a simple worker on the Train Railroad. Away from the cause of his suffering, he finally finds the peace he has been looking for.

But plans can be fragile in this wild nature and when everything’s ruined, no one can predict the path you’ll follow...
When a train robbery brings Mary and Emmanuel together, they will be forced to trust each other, if they want to make their way to safety.

But reaching their destination is not the end of their hardships, as they will soon find out that their journey hasn’t even begun…

885 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 13, 2019

376 people are currently reading
60 people want to read

About the author

Etta Foster

97 books252 followers
Etta Foster grew up in Maine and has studied Conservation Biology at Boston University.

Her studies and adventurous spirit led her to meet the love of her life in Lovelock, Nevada.
She currently lives there with her rancher husband and their two teen daughters. She delights in writing about women who came also a century before her to find love in the West.

She got her first idea of a story while taking care of the horses with her loving husband. He was the one to push her not only in the actual riding but in the exciting ride of writing as well.

Except writing, she enjoys making wooden handicraft artifacts with the help of her two daughters who by the way, exceed her.
Right now her daughters are teaching her how to connect with her readers!

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5 stars
108 (63%)
4 stars
32 (18%)
3 stars
20 (11%)
2 stars
7 (4%)
1 star
2 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
454 reviews1 follower
November 20, 2020
She had worked 10 years for a family in New York as a maid

She thought she had to do what her mistress had said. Thank goodness the robbers on the train changed her direction her mistress had told here to do. He was a worker on train and he saved her when she got throwed off the train by the robbers.
435 reviews6 followers
January 19, 2021
A young maid follows her mistress' orders

A young miss sends her maid west--to take her place as a mail -order bride. A train robbery throws a wrench into those plans when the maid is injured falling off the train during the robbery.

Will the young man who rescued the maid become her knight in shining armor?

Read this convoluted tale to its delightful end!
943 reviews3 followers
September 13, 2020
Excellent reading

Enjoyed reading about Emmanuel and Mary’s adventures. From New York to Sam Miguel. What’s the changes of being on two different trains and being robbed 2 different times. Bad luck or good luck. Read and find out the travels of Emmanuel and Mary
6 reviews
September 13, 2020
Enjoyed reading about Emmanuel and Mary’s adventures. From New York to Sam Miguel.What’s the changes of being on two different trains and being robbed 2 different times. Bad luck or good luck. Read and find out the travels of Emmanuel and Mary
2,646 reviews10 followers
November 20, 2020
Mesmerizing

I couldn't image how these two survived after being abandon at such a young age. Their journey to adulthood was amazing to read, and then the chance meeting as they struggled to grow up and face their past. A very unique love story.
718 reviews11 followers
November 22, 2020
A fantastic tale!

A fantastic tale of romance and adventure in the west, two young people meet and a intriguing beginning starts for both of them on a journey through the west.This was unbelievably sweet and beautiful story that will keep you wanting more .
98 reviews
December 11, 2023
Love (lost and found)

This was a thrilling story. Every one should read it.
I recommend it highly. Thank you for inviting me to read it.
Profile Image for Jill Anna  Freeman.
549 reviews10 followers
March 16, 2020
A Western Love for an Unexpected Bride-A Historical Western Romance novel “ by Etta Foster is a tale of one Mary Caer MacDougall...headed west as a mail-order Bride via train...and one new railroader worker Emmanuel Martinez...and when the train is robbed ...they are thrown together ....Mary is out of her league as a former maid having come from Ireland prior to that ...she is unprepared for the challenges of heading west...and “Manny” takes her under his wing...and together they face many trials ...on their way to Utah. Once there ...does the couple achieve a HEA?!?
Read and See!! Much enjoyed and Highly Recommended. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Copy of this book
1,246 reviews10 followers
February 26, 2020
Sweet

Emmanuel was already to marry his girl but she had other plans. He is left feeling alone and not wanted again. See he doesn't feel anyone cares. Emmanuel at his 'Families urging starts an adventure across the country. Meanwhile Marty is enjoying her work with the family thinks cares about her. Her share asks her to take her place and marry a complete stranger. Mary and Emmanuel meet during a bad situation. The adventure brings them close but soon they are 1000 of miles apart. Can they make it back to each other? * On a personal note If you are an author and include an Extended Epilogue make it so a person can listen to it.
Profile Image for JoAnne.
3,153 reviews32 followers
October 27, 2019
An easy read that made me fall in love with the characters and their good hearts. A Western Love for an Unexpected Bride had me visualizing where I was and feeling the cold, the heat, the fear, the love. When Emmanuel, or Manny, meets up with Mary unexpectedly on the train out West, he finds himself taking care of her. He's attracted to her but is only helping her out to get her to where she needs to be. When neither of them like where her charge back in New York City led her to become a mail-order bride in her place, things get even more interesting.

There were twists and turns to the story as a chance meeting and Manny's protectiveness feels right. He had wanderlust and left his family's ranch to work on the railroad. He gets more than he bargains for but so did quiet Mary who was sent from Ireland to New York City at a young age to become a maid. But she's far from New York City and all she knows when their paths cross.

The characters had a depth to them and everyone they encounter plays an important role. I like how we get to know each of them through their thoughts as well as when they tell others about themselves. Manny's family rounds out the story nicely as do some of the people she meets as she crosses the country to get to her various destinations. Mary has more of a backbone than she realizes and it comes in handy many times. There was a nice flow to the story and a happily ever after or two especially thanks to the extended epilogue. It helped tie up some loose ends but left others open. I hope we get to see where Manny and Mary end up next.

Ms. Foster has fast become a favorite author of books set in the west during the settling of it. This is the fourth book that I've read that she's penned and I look forward to reading many more of her books that always make me feel like I am there.
261 reviews1 follower
February 23, 2020
Finding the right person

Fascinating story. I loved how it explored irish and Mexican couple and their backgrounds. Train robberies. First time I've read of a morman ordering mail order bride.
Highly recommend that you read this.
2,673 reviews12 followers
October 17, 2019
A restless heart finds love…

Mary McDougal had served the Pennington family since she was ten years old. Sent by her family to escape the famine in Ireland, she was now seventeen and had advanced to the position of tutor, shopping companion, and now chaperone to their willful, fourteen-year-old daughter, Miss Beatrice. When Miss Beatrice’s practice of writing love letters in response to mail order bride advertisements resulted in a train ticket to marry a Utah farmer, her solution was to send Mary west to be a bride in her stead and promising to explain everything to her parents. Trained to be obedient and loyal, Mary barely had time to pack before she found herself on a westbound train.

Emmanuel Martinez left his home in San Miguel three years ago rather than endure the pity of his family and neighbors after his bride-to-be eloped with another man the day before their wedding. Now he was working on a train heading back to New Mexico and his family but he still had not found the answer to his restless spirit. After bandits holdup the train he finds himself unable to abandon an unconscious young woman, with flaming red hair, who had fallen from the train during the robbery and is left behind as the train pulls away. It is only the beginning of their adventures together.

The characters are likable although their fears and insecurities often seem to rule their lives. At the very beginning, the story seemed a little stilted but it got better as it went along. I found myself rooting for Mary and Emmanuel as they became more assertive. This is an enjoyable mail order bride romance.
Profile Image for Glenda Parker.
Author 14 books21 followers
November 1, 2019
My review today is on the Historical Western Romance, A Western Love for an Unexpected Bride. I really enjoyed this book. It is well written, full of twists and turns, and heart warming. I really liked the characters.

Emmanuel Martinez lives in San Miguel. He is to be married tomorrow. He goes to see his bride only to learn she had eloped with another man. Heart broken he leaves the only home he can remember to find some kind of peace. Emmanuel had been found out in the desert wandering around, almost dead ten years ago. Xavier Martinez found him and brought him home to his sister. Together they had raised him. For the next three years ago Manny goes from one adventure to another. Then as he is working on a train the train is robbed and he helps a young Irish woman that has fallen off the train.

Mary MacDougall is a maid to Beatrice Pennington. She came to America when she was but ten and has worked for the Pennington's ever since. Beatrice loves to write love letters but when one man refuses to take no for an answer she commands Mary to take her place and marry the man. She would continue to pay Mary her wages. Badly frightened she takes off for Utah. In Wyoming the train is robbed. She is thrown off the train. A man from the train stay and watches over her unconscious body. He agrees to help her after the train has left. He would take her to Utah.

A trying journey through snowstorms, illness, and many misunderstandings. God has a plan for these two, a plan for a hope and a future. God has a plan for you too; a good plan and not for evil. Give Him your heart and watch Him move in your life.
Profile Image for Billie.
5,783 reviews72 followers
October 17, 2019
Safe is a funny word for a Bride heading West... But not when he is there to become her guardian angel…
After years of service as a maid, Mary Caer MacDougall, forced to take the place of another, she suddenly finds herself traveling to the West as a Mail Order Bride. A place she should have never been in...
With his heart utterly broken, Emmanuel Martinez has no other choice but to leave his life as a Rancher behind and start a new one as a simple worker on the Train Railroad. Away from the cause of his suffering, he finally finds the peace he has been looking for.
But plans can be fragile in this wild nature and when everything’s ruined, no one can predict the path you’ll follow...
When a train robbery brings Mary and Emmanuel together, they will be forced to trust each other, if they want to make their way to safety.
But reaching their destination is not the end of their hardships, as they will soon find out that their journey hasn’t even begun…

What a wonderful story of triumph!
Such heartbreaking trials and tribulations this couple suffer but love finds it's way through.
Wonderful plot and story line with lots of twists and turns.
Well written characters that are so engaging.
Wonderful gripping adventure with great world building.
Recommend reading!

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Profile Image for Kaye.
7,177 reviews71 followers
October 13, 2019
ONE UNBELIEVABLE EXPERIENCE!!!
Astounding! Etta's knocking 'em out and hitting home, propelling this bad boy into a tailspin thrusting this baby forward with staggering results. An arresting storyline and riveting plot reveal an abundance of twists and turns that blasts this baby to life beautifully. A swirling throng of vexing contingents and a bevy of surprising mishaps catapults those swirling emotions bursting into play. Drama, intrigue, danger and suspense fuse this bad boy together piece by piece. Throw in determination, revelations and plenty of mayhem and you have one thrilling mix that blows this bad boy wide open. Leaping through hoops, hurdling the trials and tribulations around every sharp corner and sleek line bursts those swirling emotions into play for one incredible experience. The dynamics and presentation in layer upon layer that you peel back with each page your drawn into this web so deep you feel everything the characters feel one page at a time. The characters personalities are authentic, genuine and realistic with depth and qualities that transform and blend smoothly. The scenes are so vividly detailed and descriptive its paints a fantastic backdrop that really makes the storyline pop. Amazing job Etta, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
Profile Image for Sheree K.
172 reviews5 followers
October 14, 2019
Don't be afraid to try something new

Mary arrived from Ireland to NYC at age 10. She was procured as a lady's maid and she knows no other life. Then, the unthinkable happened: her lady had been sending love letters to a man in Utah and he proposed. She can't accept so she sends Mary instead! Mary feels obligated to her employer to do whatever is asked of her, but this?

What follows is an unfortunate series of events that keeps you interested to find out what happens next. Train robberies, being stranded in a snowstorm in the middle of nowhere, then total disillusion with her intended. What now?

An employee from the train who was ousted at the original robbery with Mary escorted her to Utah but his destination is his home in New Mexico. She thinks she should go back to NYC; but Emmanuel encourages her to go with him to New Mexico to start a new life. Should she?

This is a wonderful read. The only downfall to me was Mary's biting her lip or chewing on her jaw. 20 times...yes I counted. It was that disruptive to me. That's the reason for the 4*.

I received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary review.
206 reviews2 followers
October 16, 2019
A replacement bride finds love 💘after all

Mary, a maid in a wealthy household had injured her leg while trying to keep up with the daughter of the house. After quite some time had passed, they finally had a doctor look at it and the pain pills he prescribed for her were kept by her mistress. Unbeknownst to her parents,their daughter had been writing to men seeking a mail-order bride and she sends Mary out west in her place to marry a man she'd been corresponding with.
The train 🚆that she is traveling on is robbed and after she falls off the train 🚆and ends up unconscious, she comes to with a young man looking after her. Emmanuel helps her find her way to the man 🚹 that corresponded for a mail-order bride and they find more than Mary bargained for. The two of them end up going back to the small town near where the train 🚆had been robbed and Emmanuel invited Mary to go home with him but she declines as she believes that she's expected back east, so Emmanuel leaves her there.
When Mary finds that she is no longer employed by the family she'd been with, she finds herself missing Emmanuel and unbeknownst to her,he is missing her too.
Profile Image for Elda.
1,203 reviews6 followers
October 18, 2019
There is much to think about reading through this historical romance novel. I think Ms Foster couldn’t have said it better than through a novel about the old west, of people migrating from Mexico to settle in the territories of historical America. She also included the Irish immigrants during a time when their lands and people were poor and suffering. A young Mexican boy no more than eight years old left in the desert of New Mexico to die but rescued by the compassionate town sheriff on his way home. The boy named Emmanuel grew up to become a compassionate, happy young man who was able to care about and lift up others just through his personality. A young Irish girl sent by her family alone on a ship when she was no older than 10. Eventually, Mary MacDougall was able to find a job as a maid in New York. They both came from two different worlds but somehow managed to find each other and fall in love. I’m very glad that I purchased this book so I could put in my two cents worth in this review. It is a clean and wonderful romance story with happy times and difficult times, but in the end it had a wonderful HEA. I find this book very easy to recommend.
Profile Image for Danielle Carpenter.
1,833 reviews11 followers
October 28, 2019
This story is unusual in the fact that Mary is quiet, shy and rarely stands up for herself. She lets Emmanuel do all the fighting and taking charge. Doing what she was told, her employer's daughter sends her out to Utah to marry a man the employer's daughter was writing letters to. Emmanuel takes her to meet the man and then bring her back, but she is so wrapped up in servant mode that she allows Emmanuel to continue west while she waits for the next train east. While the characters differ, Mary needs someone to tell her what to do. Emmanuel needs someone who will devote themselves faithfully to him only. Unfortunately, we only see one instance where Mary defend herself, then she lets talks herself out of a beautiful future because she saw Emmanuel talking to his old flame. I loved Emmanuel's character in this story, because he overcomes his heartbreak by sitting back and actually seeing the relationship for what it really was. I liked Mary and she is someone I could be friends with, but this character needed to grow more than she did in this story. The story and plot work well together and keep you on edge to find out what is going to happen next.
Profile Image for Franki.
401 reviews4 followers
October 17, 2019
Etta Foster is a master storyteller. Her stories aren’t perfect in every historical detail, but she weaves a complex cast of characters into a vivid setting that has you hanging on to every word.
This book is a continuation of A Sheriff to harness her heart, though it isn’t absolutely necessary to have read that story before this one. This story is Emmanuel’s story. It digs deeper into how he learns to deal with his past, accept himself for who he is, and to believe that not everyone will leave him.
Along the way, he meets a young woman named Mary. She has learned to bury her spunk and her dreams in a grave of what practically equals bondage.
If these two can survive snowstorms, train travel, snobby socialites and so much worse; there’s no telling what the future might hold them.
967 reviews8 followers
October 18, 2019
Etta Foster is a master at western romance! This is about an orphan boy lost in the desert taken in by and brother and sister when they r only teenagers themselves. Emmanuel is grown and restless. His family sends him away to search for what he’s missing. 3 yrs later he’s ready to come home when he meets Mary. Mary was sent to America at 10 yrs old and has workers as a maid in NYC. Her mistress sends her out west on an errand which turns into an adventure for her and Emmanuel. This book had plenty of drama, action, adventure and even humor. Etta Foster really brings her characters to life! You can picture the Wild West and the excitement the characters are feeling. If you love western romance this is the book for you!
Profile Image for Cindy C..
1,142 reviews13 followers
October 31, 2019
A Must Read!

What a wonderful story! Etta Foster novels keep getting better and better. Her stories are always interesting and allows a reader to imagine themselves as one of the characters. A Western Love for an Unexpected Bride has amazing characters that are believable and easy to relate to. It's a rollercoaster ride full of twist and turns and adventures. Emmanuel and Mary are so well developed you feel every emotion that they are feeling throughout their story and they become very endearing as the story progresses. With sweet romance, a few giggles, trials and tribulations, hope, bank robbers, and family love make this one outstanding read that you won't want to miss. It hooked me from the start and kept me turning the pages to the very end.
1,459 reviews23 followers
October 19, 2019
Not lonely anymore

I received an ARC of this book from the author, Etta Foster, and this is my voluntary and honest review. This is a great western clean romance between Emmanuel and Mary. They were both lonely even when surrounded by people, but fate brought them together. I loved the exciting events from two train robberies, to a fight to right a wrong, a birth, and a wedding. There was also humor. I especially liked when Mary who was very shy found the courage to resist train robberies twice. There is a HEA ending and the extended epilogue is a must read because it makes the ending perfect. I highly recommend this book.
104 reviews
December 30, 2019
Two opposites, yet seemingly made for each other.

A boy, Emmanuel, left in the desert to die because the family didn't have enough food! Miraculously rescued & taken into a loving family & brought up to be a man of principle & good family values. On the other side of the country, an Irish lass, Mary, maid to a wealthy New York family, is sent as a mail order bride because her mistress enjoyed writing love letters, but didn't want to go herself! A train robbery throws Mary & Emmanuel together, a very unlikely couple, backgrounds so different one from another. So much more happens, but you'll have to read it to find out! Very enjoyable read!
1,027 reviews11 followers
October 17, 2019
This is a sweet, heart warming story with wonderful characters. This is Emmanuel and Mary's story and is a mail order bride story with a twist.. Mary, ever loyal to her employer and the employer's family, agrees to travel west and marry a man who the employer's daughter has been corresponding with. Along the way, Mary's train is robbed, and Emmanuel, an employee of the train company helps Mary out. They both have much to work through before they reach their HEA. I enjoyed this story and recommend it; I believe you will enjoy it.
Profile Image for Tracy Sylvester.
1,021 reviews9 followers
October 17, 2019
Emmanuel Martinez had a rough childhood. When he is abandoned by his family in the desert as a child he felt he had no hope. Thankfully he was rescued by Xavier Martinez and later adopted by Xavier's sister Bianca. Emmanuel was living a happy life as part of the Martinez family when they adopted him. As he grew older he grew curious and wanted to travel. On his travels he came across a quiet, shy Irish maid named Mary. This story kept my attention from cover to cover! You'll fall in love with the characters and their romance story.
457 reviews1 follower
February 10, 2020
Lots of Action and Romance.

Very strong young woman that has a strange idea of loyalty to her young mistress. Very courageous young man that helps her see it is time to live for herself.
390 reviews2 followers
October 13, 2019
Etta Foster is new to the writing scene but does not disappoint. Mary is sent out West as a Mail Order Bride in place of another. Thoroughly confused, she meets Emmanuel and they discover common ground on their way to adventure and danger. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a great storyline. I received this ARC in exchange for a voluntary honest review which I have freely written here
5,403 reviews67 followers
October 19, 2019
A Western Love for an Unexpected Bride A Historical Western Romance

Wow Etta Foster has done it again written a wonderful western romance story about Mary a maid that is sent to take her bosses place as a mail order bride and Emmanuel a young man that is restless after a broken heart but God intervenes and after a train robbery and Mary's encounter with a polygamist they realized they are the one for each other and the extended epilogue is enjoyable .You will love this book
Profile Image for Ruth Ann.
246 reviews3 followers
October 22, 2019
Always the Maid

This book was very well written by Etta Foster and I enjoyed it very much. A spoiled rich girl, a maid, a young man, letters, train robbers, a maid determined to do as her mistress told her to do, a mail order bride, unexpectedly finding the one you love. This book has a lot more going on and I don't want to give some surprises away. If any of this intrigued you , buy it and enjoy reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews

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