Kate Whidby doesn't want to impose on her newly married brother after their parents die, so she accepts a mail order bride offer in the paper. Little does she know the man she intends to marry has a dark past, sending her fleeing into a neighboring town and into Jesse Jenning's life.
Jesse never wanted to be in law enforcement, but after a band of robbers kills his fiancee, he dons the badge and swears revenge. Will he find his fiancee's killer? And when Kate flies into his life, will he be able to put his painful past behind him in order to love again?
Lorana Hoopes is an inspirational romance and children’s author originally from Texas. She now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and three children. When not writing, she can be found singing or acting on stage or kickboxing at her gym. You can also find her hosting her show Write the World where she interviews authors and writers.
I enjoyed this story that is part of a new series, A Texas Lawkeeper Romance, by a group of talented authors. Each story in the series will read as a stand-alone and can be read in any order. The stories will all feature law enforcement heroes and the women who love them. The stories are sweet, clean based stories where the lawman finds his woman.
Mary Katherine Whidby, better known as Kate, has decided that it is time to leave Boston and probably head west. Checking out ads seeking mail-order brides, she will write to a man in Texas, and he will respond back. With both parents deceased, and her only sibling, a brother, Robert now married, she needs to make her own way.
Back in Sage Creek, Texas along with neighboring townships are having a rash of robberies, they will enter the bank, shots will ring out, and a deputy and innocent woman will be casualties. Jesse Jennings has been working hard to get his homestead ready for his marriage to Pauline, and in one afternoon his world will spin out of control with her death. She has time to give him a description of one of the robbers before she dies.
“We can’t always see God’s plan, but he has one, Jesse, and we have to trust that good will come even in the midst of our trials.” –Pastor Lewis
The plot will have Kate leaving Boston on her way to Texas to become a mail-order bride to Bill Easterly. She will meet an older woman, Ellen along the journey and they become fast friends on the train and stagecoach. With about an hour left in Ellen’s journey, the stagecoach will be stopped and robbed, taking all of the passenger's valuables. While the bandits wear a mask, Kate still is able to make out some distinguishing features.
When Kate goes on to her destination, she has a bad feeling about Bill Easterly and knows she can’t marry him. But how can she escape and where will she go without money or transportation. By luck and the grace of God, Kate will make it back to Sage Creek, and Jesse will find her, but she is still penniless and now without her clothing. Some good people will give her lodging for a couple of nights. What are her choices now? The only job for a woman is the saloon or to marry.
Two people, both placed in unusual circumstances can help each other. Can Jesse move forward and offer marriage to Kate? What starts out as a marriage of convenience at least has a common ground that both of them are Christians. Can they find happiness and even love?
“You both have had a rough patch starting out, but maybe you can find a greener pasture together. Besides, here in Sage Creek, we take care of our own.” --Martha Davis
The story has a Christian element but isn’t preachy. There is plenty of mystery, suspense, angst, danger, and also two people who trust the Lord to lead them. The story is a clean western romance of a lawman and the woman who will help heal his heart, and teach him that he has room for happiness.
There is nothing worse than death or the unknown for Kate losing her parents sends her life in a tail spin really only leaves one option open to be a mail order bride. For Jesse life was great that is until the love of his life was killed by a robber. With little left to do but find the man her killed her he becomes the deputy sheriff out for blood. Both of these choices make their lives cross more than once and changing their lives forever. Kate finds herself on the run for her life right into Jesse’s arms. It seems faith has a hand in the turn of events as they fight the bad guys together will love come or will they lose more than they will even know.
Kate is sassy she takes things on the chin, never one to back down from a fight. She is great but it looks like the town doesn’t think so. She isn’t one to cry over spill milk and will find away to get through this just as she has everything else. Jesse’s has the world on his shoulders as his ex’s family turns against him. He has one goal in mind and that is finding the killer. He has a plan and puts it into motion, he will do anything to keep the women who saw the killer with him to help take him down.
A nice Christian read with great characters, a good plot with mystery, danger and a little action to keep it interesting. I finished it in just a few hours, it holds your attention and moves fast. It goes very well with the rest of this series,
This story is about a young lady with spunk who travels west to marry via the mail order bride system. Upon arrival she finds out her intended is not as he portrayed. There is a young deputy sheriff who has just lost his fiance and is dealing with grief and blame from her family. These two form a union and work together. There were some portions of this story that I felt didn't stick accurately with the time period, otherwise this is a easy read that helps to portray the difficulties faced by women in the 1800's. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased opinion.
Lawfully Matched by Lorana Hoopes has it all - a mail order bride, cowboys, lawmen and of course, romance! Kate is on her way to marry Bill, a man she has not met. She finds herself a victim of a stagecoach robbery and is delayed in arriving to meet her mail order husband. Things happen that will keep you turning pages to make sure all ends well.
Lawfully Matched The Lawkeepers By: Lorana Hoopes Narrated by: Daniel James Lewis
Mail order bride books typically are easy listens with no real suspense or drama. Easy listens, I find them fun, but this one adds action and thrills making it even better! Jesse is looking forward to being married to his fiance Pauline, building his house and future. When she is unexpectedly killed, he decides to take the deputy position he was being offered to find her justice. Kate doesn't want to live with her brother after the death of her parents and enters the mail order bride pool. When she goes to meet her groom, she finds he is not what he portrayed. Luckily, Jesse is there and marries her. Will these two find the happiness they deserve? This is a fun love story. I was smiling when Kate was cooking, when the two found they have so much in common and their faith banded them together. The suspense of finding the killer adds to the story with action and suspense. Daniel James Lewis adds to the listen with his wonderful narration. It's a fun listen!
Lawfully Matched (A Texas Sheriff Lawkeeper Romance) was a great read by Lorana Hoopes. Jesse wanted nothing more than to marry Pauline. Unfortunately she is killed by a band of robbers. He becomes a deputy Sheriff in hopes of getting justice for her death. Kate becomes a mail-order bride to get out of her brother and his wife’s house. She arrives in Texas to find out her betrothed has a dark secret. I enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to read more by the author.
I received a free audible copy of this book & that is what I am reviewing. This is a really good, clean western story about finding love, getting the bad guys, restoring family, beginning a new life. Very well written & narrated by Mr. Lewis. I love Ms. Hoopes writing style, stories, interaction between characters. A must read!
This is a clean, sweet romance and cute. Kate is a mail-order bride but the stagecoach gets robbed on the way to meet her groom. Jesse's financee was killed in a recent bank robbery shooting. He's become a Deputy in order to find her killers. Can they team up to catch the killers? I really liked this book. It's one of my favourites of this series.
Even though I don't typically like mail order bride type books, I really enjoyed this one. The characters were developed and the storyline believable. I love how Kate shares her faith and she and Jesse are believers. The book has suspense in it as well as romance. No spoilers here, but I liked the ending! This was a clean, sweet, Christian read and I loved it.
**Audiobook Review** Enjoyed listening to this book. Great western romance full of drama, adventure, faith & eventually love. The two main characters are both dealing with a broken heart but together they mend their broken hearts and fall in love.
Kate didn't end up with man she was promised to, but she did end up with the man God meant her to have. Katie and Jessie were forced to join forces to find justice for the men who killed his fiance Pauline and robbed Katie on her way to be a mail order bride. There was plenty of suspense in this marriage of convenience romance as they battle the robbers and Pauline's family and the townspeople's disapproval over their hasty marriage.
I listed to the Audible version and the narrator had a nice western accent with lots of inflections and voice chances. However, he was slow in his reading and I had to increase the narration speed to get through it.
I really enjoyed this historical read! It wasn't that long but I felt the characters were fully developed and the story wasn't rushed. I liked the main characters and enjoyed their personalities! Kate is from Boston and doesn't fit the norm of the day - she wants to marry but doesn't like the men that have "come calling" because she's not the normal woman of the day! She's a strong, thinking kind of woman and doesn't want to just sit around in a house all day! When her parents suddenly die, she doesn't have anywhere to go but her brother's home and her sister-in-law doesn't like her so she feels her only recourse is to become a mail order bride in the West. That's just something I can't imagine doing! She gets on a train, and thankfully, meets an older woman who befriends her. Many crazy things happen to Kate as she navigates this Western experience - not all of them good, including being robbed on the stagecoach! Deputy Jesse's fiancé was killed by bandits and if it's the last thing he does, he's going to catch them and bring them to justice! He doesn't expect someone like Kate to crash into his life and make that happen! These two characters are just made for each other but they don't even know it! I really liked the adventure they went on and would highly recommend you take that adventure with them!
When Kate loses her parents, she must give up the rented home they lived in. She moves in with her newlywed brother,Robert & his wife Abigail. She feels very uncomfortable being an extra financial burden on them & Abigail with her cutting comments let her know that Abigail doesn't want her there. Kate decides to take matters into her own hands & answers an ad in the newspaper from a farmer, close in her age,, looking for a brave women to help with his homestead. Jesse just wants to get his homestead built so he can marry the love of his life, Pauline.On the train to Texas Kate meets & becomes fast friends with Eileen, an older woman also going to Texas. She has lost her husband, so is going to move in with her family. These three main characters pull you into their stories, tugging on your heartstrings. Praying they can overcome the circumstances that get thrown at them. Kate finds out she is indeed a strong woman when she comes against obstacles in her path. this story has a little bit of everything, romance, suspense & mystery taking place in the beautiful wilds of 1883 Texas. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys these things in a story. I was given an ARC copy of this book from the author, I was not required o leave a positive review, just an honest one.This review is my own honest opinion.
Mary Katherine “Kate” Whidby has brains and a strong-willed spirit, but becomes a mail order bride to leave her brother’s home, and her sister-in-law’s spitefulness. She is to marry Bill Easterley in Lisbon, Texas, but her life takes a turn for the worse when her stagecoach is robbed, leaving her with nothing but her clothes, and she discovers who Bill Easterly really is. In Sage Creek, Jesse Jennings becomes a deputy sheriff after his fiancé is killed. Kate and Jesse are perfect for each other, but they have several obstacles to overcome if they want to find happiness together. Through their faith and with God’s help, things work out for a happy ending. I especially liked their ending in the Epilogue. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would recommend it to everyone. I look forward to more books in this series. I received an advance reader copy of this book and this is my honest review.
I really enjoyed Lawfully Matched. It is the first book in this new series. This book takes place in the 1800's which has always fascinated me. It shows how it was to travel from the East Coast to Texas. It also shows how women needed to either be married or have a job. Poor Kate is almost considered a spinster. There is a lot that happens in this short novella that makes the book a very quick read. I really enjoyed the main character, Kate Whidby. She is feisty and strong and makes the story so interesting. I also enjoyed that she relies on her Christian faith to help her get through the hard times or events that she faces. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write and honest review.
I enjoyed this book so much because of the sheer determination of the Mary Katherine Whidby or Kate to make her own decisions and lead her own life. Kate's parents have passed away and she doesn't want to place a burden on her brother and his wife. Kate decides to send a message to a man looking for a mail order Bride. When she meets him she feels that maybe she has made a rash decision. He is short tempered and gruff with her. He wants her to change her clothes and go get married as soon as she arrives! When there are a rash of robberies in Sage Creek, guess who she thinks it is? The book is an amazing good read. Wonderfully done. The characters flow into each other and place to place. I recommend this book as a good read.
A level headed woman from Boston, after losing both parents, moves to Texas - answering an ad for a mail order bride. Unforseen circumstances have her marrying Jesse, a lawman whose fiancee was just killed and who is out to avenge her death. What follows is a story of these two people finding their way through their own tragedies, and finding love where they didn't expect it. Lorana provides characters to love and cheer for. In this quick and pleasant read, she manages to develop the characters in a story that is completely satisfying despite the short length of the book. Lorana graciously provided a copy of this book. The thoughts and opinions are completely my own.
Feb 3, 2018 This was my first book of Lorana's! A great way to be introduced!! I'm delighted with the turn of events and how this book had some suspense and mystery woven through the romance!! This book had a solid Christian atmosphere to it, without being preachy! I appreciated the second half of the stagecoach scene! I'll definitely be reading more of this series and Lorana's books!
Mar 6, 2020 I’ve been listening to the audiobook version just over 2 years later. I’m not particularly fond of the narrator’s cadence or the fact that his narrator voice is the same as one of the main characters.
After Kate's parents die, she lives with her brother. When her brother gets married, Kate feels she needs to get out of their house. With no place to go, she decides to answer a mail-order bride ad. When Kate heads west to meet her prospective husband, they are robbed. Kate keeps her head and arrives at her destination. Jesse is set to marry Pauline until she is in the wrong place at the wrong time and is killed during a robbery. Once deputized, his goal is to seek revenge. God has plans for Kate and Jesse, both believe that although their tests are different. Great historical christian read!
Kate feels unwanted in her brothers home by her new sister in law. She answers a mail order bride ad and travels to Texas. Her coach is robbed leaving her with nothing and it turns out her intended is a criminal unbeknownst to her but her instincts send her running from him. She meets Jess a deputy sheriff who lost his fiancee in a robbery. He marries her to keep her safe but he doesn't allow his hear to care for her. Kate is a very bravevvwoman who will prove she is a good wife and it will take her life being on the line for Jess to realize how much he cares if he makes room in his heart. I received a complimentary copy and I am voluntarily reviewing.
A mail-order bride tale set in the late 1800's which was most certainly anything but ordinary. Kate leaves Boston due to an ad for a mail-order bride wanted in Texas. What should have been a typical mail order marriage agreement turns into something chilling.
The author's characters were very well developed and the descriptions made me feel like I was right there with them. Lots of action and suspense. I enjoyed the spunkiness and quick thinking bravery of Kate who adapts to life in Sage Creek, Texas.
The storyline was exciting, fast-paced, and very entertaining.
Lawfully Matched by Lorana Hoopes This clean historical western is filled with adventure, a mail-order bride, robbers, and a new deputy sheriff. The story moves along at a good pace, and the dialogue flows naturally. I liked the fact that the h had turned down a proposal from a non-believer because of his lack of faith. She trusted God that her situation would work out. She and the H go through some hard events, but there is a satisfying HEA. I would recommend this book to my friends who like this genre. I was given an ARC, but my review is voluntary and my own opinions.
My first western from wonderful author Larana Hoopes. The author’s Texas roots show as her books are set in The Lonestar State, even this mail order bride goes to Texas. I read 507 books last year and this author is the very best of the lot. This is another amazing Christian read, God's hand is throughout the book, If there's a flaw in this book it's that it's too short, I want to read more about Kate & Jessie. I don't do spoilers though so you'll have to read it and find out for yourself! (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
I enjoyed this book very much. The book was well laid out and it ended well. I liked the main characters, Kate Whidby and Jesse Jennings. However all the characters in the book made the book quite enjoyable from Easterly and the other bank robbers to the two pastors, along with the other women in the story. I especially like the type of woman Kate Whidley is and what her expectations for her husband and family should be. I look forward to reading more of this author's books.
Lawfully Matched is a historical quick read. Kate is a strong leading female character who answers an ad for a mail order bride to find the man is not who she thought. Jesse is a well-written male character. I would call it a light story although the book does include murder, a bank robbery and stage coach robbery so there is lots of action. I received a complimentary advance e-book of Lawfully Matched from the author. This is my honest opinion.
This is the second book of this author that I have been fortunate enough to read. Very sweet romance. The characters were well matched and made a good fit even though they had no idea!
Enjoyed how the steadily paced book progressed and there was suspence and romance to keep things interesting.
The book was of a novella length and I was able to finish it in one sitting. I enjoyed it very much.
I received an ebook copy from the author. All thoughts are my own.
This was a good book. I liked the characters. Kate had great inner strength, and Jesse was good and kind. I enjoyed the storyline. There was suspense and danger. I just wish there had been more romance. Kate and Jesse don’t get together until three-fourths of the way through the book, and since it’s a novella, there was very little time for a relationship to develop.
I received a complimentary copy of the book, which I voluntarily reviewed. I have given my honest opinion.
This one played out like I thought mail-order bride might happen. She ends up with a robber and murderer. She escapes and finds a lawman to help her. He marries her for convenience, but of course they fall in love. This story is well-written and has lots of action. Despite her running from the man who sent for her, our heroine is brave and has a lot of gumption, more woman than our hero is used to.
I absolutely loved this book. The author paced it really well and it was a good romance. The adventure and danger we're in just the right amounts. The romance was not a really cheesy romance and that was nice and I like that Jesse was so chivalrous and good hearted. It was really well done and I would definitely recommend it.👍🤗
I love the way Kate and Jesse get together. This is a mail order bride story that was very interesting. Kate finds out the one she was going to marry is not the one she the kind of person she thinks. This was my first book by Lorana Hoopes and I enjoyed her writing. I received an advanced copy of the book from the author.