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Copper Creek Mail Order Brides #3
Mail Order Holly
To avoid an unwanted suitor, Holly Ross becomes a mail order bride. She travels to Copper Creek a few short weeks before Christmas. Along the way, she’s asked to take a bundle of letters to a certain cowboy in Copper Creek. They’re from another mail order bride who’s had a change of heart.
The journey seems endless. Holly peeks at the letters, reads one, and then another. She can’t resist learning more about the Barstow family.
When she arrives, there’s no one to greet her. She fears that her husband has jilted her. Stranded, alone on the train platform, she accepts help from a rugged cowboy.
None other than Jacob Barstow, the man whose letters she read.
Jacob Barstow never expects to inherit his uncle’s ranch. His dream to raise and train horses is almost in reach. But his uncle left a marriage clause. If Jacob wants the ranch he’ll need to take a wife by Christmas. And if he doesn’t marry, the family land will go to his uncle’s lawyer.
The journey seems endless. Holly peeks at the letters, reads one, and then another. She can’t resist learning more about the Barstow family.
When she arrives, there’s no one to greet her. She fears that her husband has jilted her. Stranded, alone on the train platform, she accepts help from a rugged cowboy.
None other than Jacob Barstow, the man whose letters she read.
Jacob Barstow never expects to inherit his uncle’s ranch. His dream to raise and train horses is almost in reach. But his uncle left a marriage clause. If Jacob wants the ranch he’ll need to take a wife by Christmas. And if he doesn’t marry, the family land will go to his uncle’s lawyer.
149 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 6, 2020
467 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
January 6, 2024
Good light reading.
November 17, 2025
Holly is working as a teacher for a family with two young boys. But soon learns a relation to the family is seeking to be a suitor, which she does not want. She goes to apply to be a mail order bride to leave the situation. She wants to go to Texas, which leads her to go to Copper Creek, even though Christmas is fast approaching. She is to travel with another young woman, who has changed her mind. So Holly will be traveling alone on the long journey from the East to Texas. The young woman gave her letters to return to the suitor she is to be married too. But Holly's curiosity gets the better of her and reads the letters. Then getting to know all about a family named Barstow. When she arrives her suitor has not shown up. Mr. Barstow is there to pick up his mail order bride, but Holly tells him she did not come. She then hands him all those letters. He does offer her the long ride to Copper Creek.
Holly finds Mr. Barstow's family is having a family gathering and she is invited. Although, she still wants to confront front her suitor. But she enjoys this large friendly family. Learning from a family member her suitor is to marry another. James Barstow takes a liking to Holly, you see he must marry before the end of the year. It is written in his Uncle's will he must marry to inherit the ranch he is left. So James takes to courting her, with her permission of course.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, as Mail Order Bride books do take you back in time. Charlotte Dearing, I am so looking forward into reading your other many Mail Order Bride books. It was a book I found hard to put down.
Holly finds Mr. Barstow's family is having a family gathering and she is invited. Although, she still wants to confront front her suitor. But she enjoys this large friendly family. Learning from a family member her suitor is to marry another. James Barstow takes a liking to Holly, you see he must marry before the end of the year. It is written in his Uncle's will he must marry to inherit the ranch he is left. So James takes to courting her, with her permission of course.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, as Mail Order Bride books do take you back in time. Charlotte Dearing, I am so looking forward into reading your other many Mail Order Bride books. It was a book I found hard to put down.
December 31, 2022
This is one of the BEST mail order bride books I’ve read. Holly is such a wonderful character and the author does an excellent job of making the reader want to know how things work out for her. Her love of birds adds to her charm. Not too much angst and just a lovely, enjoyable read.
He needed to proceed carefully to win Holly’s heart. Even though she’d come to Texas for a marriage of convenience, she held romantic notions of courtship. He groaned inwardly. It was a dang shame because he was about as romantic as a fence post.
She stood by the window, set her palms on the sill, and asked for God’s guidance. As she prayed, she felt the weight lift from her shoulders. Somewhere deep inside, she knew that she should have sought His guidance from the very beginning.
He needed to proceed carefully to win Holly’s heart. Even though she’d come to Texas for a marriage of convenience, she held romantic notions of courtship. He groaned inwardly. It was a dang shame because he was about as romantic as a fence post.
She stood by the window, set her palms on the sill, and asked for God’s guidance. As she prayed, she felt the weight lift from her shoulders. Somewhere deep inside, she knew that she should have sought His guidance from the very beginning.
May 18, 2023
I heart went out to Holly at the beginning and the 2 little boys that she had to leave, all because of male. I wanted to let the family know about him and why 2 maids had left and why Holly was leaving. I can't stand it when family won't listen because it is a family member. I've been through that and it is rotten. The family blamed me, it couldn't be their precious son. So blind.
Once the first unsettling part is over for Holly her life gets better. The story becomes a sweet, warm story.
Once the first unsettling part is over for Holly her life gets better. The story becomes a sweet, warm story.
December 20, 2020
a clean, sweet romance that's an easy & likable read.
charming characters. good story.
FYI: this is listed as a stand-alone but it's actually the third in a trilogy. (the barstow brothers)
charming characters. good story.
FYI: this is listed as a stand-alone but it's actually the third in a trilogy. (the barstow brothers)
January 4, 2021
Sweet family oriented storu
A youmg woman who survived a bad carriage accident that scarred her, left her father an invalid, and killed her mother, was told by her father that she would never be able to marry or have children. He dies, leaving her enough money to finish her training. When the story starts, she is a governess for 2 rough and tumble boys. Their uncle has a reputation as a roue and a cad, as the term of the times would describe him. He decides he is going to pursue the young lady. His overindulgent sister believes that falling in love and getting married will settle him down. And the cad himself has said he will be staying there over the holidays while the family is on holiday elsewhere. Realizing her danger should she stay - and having nowhere else to go - she sneaks out early one morning and goes to an agency many servants of the household in the past have used to become mail order brides for the exact same reason she seeks to use the agency now - to leave before the cad ruins their reputation. Seeing her dire straits, the agent is upset because there is only one position available, for a man her father's age, a marriage of convenience only. He pays for the train fare to facilitate her leaving, 0mce he os sure she intends to follow through, intending to bill the customer. He also tells her she will be traveling with another bride, but the bride shows up at the depot, obviously in the family way, and gives her all the correspondence she exchanged, asking her to tell the man she has changed her mind and will be marrying the child' s father. And so, on the long train ride, unsure of what the future holds, she reads the letters to be sure she'll be safe.
Once she gets there, however, despite the telegram sent to her husband to be, no one is there for her...and the man who was coming to get the young lady who decided to stay put, is there with no one to pick up. And so starts a chain of events that causes a few mixups and rough spots, and a lot of eventual joy (despite a few moments of sheer terror).
There are 3 books in the series; the forst is Ruth; the second, Rebecca; Holly is the last.
A youmg woman who survived a bad carriage accident that scarred her, left her father an invalid, and killed her mother, was told by her father that she would never be able to marry or have children. He dies, leaving her enough money to finish her training. When the story starts, she is a governess for 2 rough and tumble boys. Their uncle has a reputation as a roue and a cad, as the term of the times would describe him. He decides he is going to pursue the young lady. His overindulgent sister believes that falling in love and getting married will settle him down. And the cad himself has said he will be staying there over the holidays while the family is on holiday elsewhere. Realizing her danger should she stay - and having nowhere else to go - she sneaks out early one morning and goes to an agency many servants of the household in the past have used to become mail order brides for the exact same reason she seeks to use the agency now - to leave before the cad ruins their reputation. Seeing her dire straits, the agent is upset because there is only one position available, for a man her father's age, a marriage of convenience only. He pays for the train fare to facilitate her leaving, 0mce he os sure she intends to follow through, intending to bill the customer. He also tells her she will be traveling with another bride, but the bride shows up at the depot, obviously in the family way, and gives her all the correspondence she exchanged, asking her to tell the man she has changed her mind and will be marrying the child' s father. And so, on the long train ride, unsure of what the future holds, she reads the letters to be sure she'll be safe.
Once she gets there, however, despite the telegram sent to her husband to be, no one is there for her...and the man who was coming to get the young lady who decided to stay put, is there with no one to pick up. And so starts a chain of events that causes a few mixups and rough spots, and a lot of eventual joy (despite a few moments of sheer terror).
There are 3 books in the series; the forst is Ruth; the second, Rebecca; Holly is the last.
December 21, 2020
I found this book for free on Amazon via Freebooksy; this is my honest review.
-Great clean holiday romance. I thought this was a standalone. It is but it's related to two other books which tell the story of Jacob's two brothers. I wasn't lost or confused though.
-My LOL moment: Mr. Derby says “My assistant will be along soon. I can offer you some tea when she arrives.” ... because he won't make it!
-I loved the "playful back and forth" between Jacob and Holly. Good banter.
-Lovely picture of a family: "The Barstow family was big, boisterous, and knit by strong bonds of love."
-What I liked most from the author is that it's a clean romance with some snippets to show us these people are Christian but no sermons, prayers, etc.: "She stood by the window, set her palms on the sill, and asked for God’s guidance."
-Great editing: Only typo I found was "Barn owns have" = owls.
-Repeats: "Pops wanted to see his three sons married and Jacob was the last one to take a bride." The same sentiment was written at least three times' twice already at 15%. A bit much since the book is less than 150 pages.
-Great clean holiday romance. I thought this was a standalone. It is but it's related to two other books which tell the story of Jacob's two brothers. I wasn't lost or confused though.
-My LOL moment: Mr. Derby says “My assistant will be along soon. I can offer you some tea when she arrives.” ... because he won't make it!
-I loved the "playful back and forth" between Jacob and Holly. Good banter.
-Lovely picture of a family: "The Barstow family was big, boisterous, and knit by strong bonds of love."
-What I liked most from the author is that it's a clean romance with some snippets to show us these people are Christian but no sermons, prayers, etc.: "She stood by the window, set her palms on the sill, and asked for God’s guidance."
-Great editing: Only typo I found was "Barn owns have" = owls.
-Repeats: "Pops wanted to see his three sons married and Jacob was the last one to take a bride." The same sentiment was written at least three times' twice already at 15%. A bit much since the book is less than 150 pages.
October 29, 2023
Mail Order Holly Copper Creek Mail Order Brides Book 3)
Holly became a teacher of teacher and lived with a family widow little boys. Their uncle came to see his nephews, but he had a habit of making Holly feel the unwelcome attention. When he said that his family was going away during Christmas break and he would come to their house and stay while they were gone, she made a hasty decision to escape his advances by becoming a Mail Order Bride. Because she had always desired to see Texas, she made arrangements to be a bride of an older man who was retiring from the hardware store he owned. As best layer plans go, many things changed...and the adventures began. Her intended is engaged to someone else by the time she arrives by train. Jacob arrives to pick up his mail order bride, who backs out of coming because she's fallen for another and is in the family way with his child and will marry him soon. This book was very interesting and had so many twists and turns. Who will Holly marry? Be sure to read.
Holly became a teacher of teacher and lived with a family widow little boys. Their uncle came to see his nephews, but he had a habit of making Holly feel the unwelcome attention. When he said that his family was going away during Christmas break and he would come to their house and stay while they were gone, she made a hasty decision to escape his advances by becoming a Mail Order Bride. Because she had always desired to see Texas, she made arrangements to be a bride of an older man who was retiring from the hardware store he owned. As best layer plans go, many things changed...and the adventures began. Her intended is engaged to someone else by the time she arrives by train. Jacob arrives to pick up his mail order bride, who backs out of coming because she's fallen for another and is in the family way with his child and will marry him soon. This book was very interesting and had so many twists and turns. Who will Holly marry? Be sure to read.
March 7, 2021
Holly Ross must leave her employment as a governess due to unwanted advances from the children's uncle. She decides become a mail order bride to escape into a marriage of convenience with a much older man in Texas. At the train station of departure, she is supposed to travel with another bride, but the woman decides to stay back. She asks Holly to let her intended, Jacob Barstow, know that she will not be coming.
Jacob must marry in the next month or forfeit the inheritance of his uncle's ranch. When Holly arrives, she informs Jacob that his bride did not come. She later learns that her own intended husband has become engaged to someone else. Holly and Jacob decide to marry each other since each is now available. Will love blossom? This book is a perfect extension of the Copper Creek Mail Order Brides series. A sub-theme of birding and ornithology will interest many readers. The importance of family love is also an important theme in this sweet romance novel.
Jacob must marry in the next month or forfeit the inheritance of his uncle's ranch. When Holly arrives, she informs Jacob that his bride did not come. She later learns that her own intended husband has become engaged to someone else. Holly and Jacob decide to marry each other since each is now available. Will love blossom? This book is a perfect extension of the Copper Creek Mail Order Brides series. A sub-theme of birding and ornithology will interest many readers. The importance of family love is also an important theme in this sweet romance novel.
December 13, 2020
Holly and Jacob 💞
Holly is a governess to two little boys and enjoys her position, but their uncle is making her very nervous with his untoward advances. She finds out about a elderly man named Obadiah wanting a mail order bride in name only and jumps at the chance to escape.
As she's ready to board the train, she's to be paired up with another young lady heading to the same town. Unfortunately Edna has changed her mind on Jacob and is staying put, but asks Holly to give him back the letters she's received.
When Holly meets Jacob, all her own plans fall by the wayside.
The only problem I had with this book was the epilogue. I wish there would have been more on Holly and Jacob and what their future held as well as how he received Holly's revelation of her childhood injuries.
Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed this story! ❤️
Holly is a governess to two little boys and enjoys her position, but their uncle is making her very nervous with his untoward advances. She finds out about a elderly man named Obadiah wanting a mail order bride in name only and jumps at the chance to escape.
As she's ready to board the train, she's to be paired up with another young lady heading to the same town. Unfortunately Edna has changed her mind on Jacob and is staying put, but asks Holly to give him back the letters she's received.
When Holly meets Jacob, all her own plans fall by the wayside.
The only problem I had with this book was the epilogue. I wish there would have been more on Holly and Jacob and what their future held as well as how he received Holly's revelation of her childhood injuries.
Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed this story! ❤️
February 7, 2021
Oh this was a sweet story! Holly was a governess that needed to escape the attentions of a man she disliked so she signed up to be come a mail order bride. She was to wed an elderly gentleman in a marriage of convenience. Upon arriving she discovered he already had a fiancé and was due to be wed in a week. Jacob has inherited his late Uncles ranch but to keep it must wed by the end of the year. He sent off for a mail order bride but she never showed. He and Holly travel together back to their town where she begins to get to know him and his family. It takes some time but she marries him. Still a marriage only in name but Jacob aims to change that. It’s a great story!
August 11, 2023
4.5 stars for a Sweet Romance
The plot was good and held my attention. The lawyer wasn't as bad as I expected ( an unexplained surprise). Of special note, I appreciate the fact that the author put the entire story with an epilogue in one place and did not ask readers to download an extra epilogue. For that fact alone it should rate an extra star, but this is a lovely story that stands tall as a great read for teens and adults. Charlotte Dearing does a wonderful job making characters come alike and transporting the reader into the Texan setting. I also loved the mention of all the different birds mentioned in the story, it was like a bonus surprise.
The plot was good and held my attention. The lawyer wasn't as bad as I expected ( an unexplained surprise). Of special note, I appreciate the fact that the author put the entire story with an epilogue in one place and did not ask readers to download an extra epilogue. For that fact alone it should rate an extra star, but this is a lovely story that stands tall as a great read for teens and adults. Charlotte Dearing does a wonderful job making characters come alike and transporting the reader into the Texan setting. I also loved the mention of all the different birds mentioned in the story, it was like a bonus surprise.
December 21, 2020
For those who enjoy a sweet and clean mail-order bride novel with a theme of bird-watching, this may be for you. A couple of mix-ups throw Holly and Jacob together on his Texas ranch which he will inherit if he weds within the month. Both of their intended reneged on their promises leaving the two of them to work it out, perhaps for the best. Enjoyed the bird-watching emphasis which added an extra dimension to the novel.
January 14, 2021
Mail Order Holly By Charlotte Dearing
Four stars, cute little story base on a series of prior books. Jacob the youngest ordered a mail order bride, but she change her mind, Holly shows up as a mail order bride to a older man.. But he changed his mind, so naturally Jacob and Holly are attracted to one another and they get married. Good Christian romance and naturally a happy ending.
Four stars, cute little story base on a series of prior books. Jacob the youngest ordered a mail order bride, but she change her mind, Holly shows up as a mail order bride to a older man.. But he changed his mind, so naturally Jacob and Holly are attracted to one another and they get married. Good Christian romance and naturally a happy ending.
December 28, 2022
Holly Ross finds herself in a mail order bride office trying to find a husband to avoid the unwanted advances of a man she doesn't like. She travels to Texas but finds herself being stood up by her future husband. At the train station she meets Jacob Barstow who incites her because he couldn't remember the name of his intended who backed out of the marriage and is having holly return his letters. This was a sweet holiday read.
December 31, 2022
I enjoy finding new-to-me authors who write stories that touch my heart. Holly's difficulties lead her to run away, hoping to find shelter in Texas with a older gentleman. Jacob needs a bride in order to retain his inherited ranch and requests a mail-order bride. Neither's plans work out, and watching the romance bloom between these two people is a joy. Add in a large, spirited family, and you have a wonderful tale of love. I look forward to reading more by this author.
November 12, 2023
The main characters unbelievably fall in love in one day, despite arguing multiple times during that day. Their love seemed based solely on physical attraction - in their PoV chapters, they almost exclusively think about the other person's good looks rather than anything about their personality.
Add to that the H getting unattractively possessive over someone he's known for one day and the story made me roll my eyes more than once.
Add to that the H getting unattractively possessive over someone he's known for one day and the story made me roll my eyes more than once.
June 28, 2021
Lovely sweet story!
This is the last of a series and while you don't have to read the others first, I think it helps! The youngest of the brothers sends for a bride, but she doesn't come and the lady who was supposed to marry someone else takes her place! It's a delightful tangle that makes for a great read!
This is the last of a series and while you don't have to read the others first, I think it helps! The youngest of the brothers sends for a bride, but she doesn't come and the lady who was supposed to marry someone else takes her place! It's a delightful tangle that makes for a great read!
December 20, 2021
I found this storyline lovely, refreshing, and enjoyable (appreciated the lack of sexual scenes). My only criticism is that it needed some editing pertaining to over use of the words “untoward” and “rascal” along with the meaning of “rascal”. That term was used at times in a derogatory way as a scoundrel instead of a cheeky male and at times as a mischievous male.
December 26, 2021
Change in command
Lots of discussion regarding the various types of birds. As I am not a person to appreciate the different types of birds, I was not interested in the stories. However the story regarding mail order bride was attention getting. The story seemed to stop short of a finish.
Lots of discussion regarding the various types of birds. As I am not a person to appreciate the different types of birds, I was not interested in the stories. However the story regarding mail order bride was attention getting. The story seemed to stop short of a finish.
December 23, 2022
A Sweet Christmas Romance
I enjoyed this story with its twist of an instructor with a love of birds. She meets up with a man, not her intended mail order groom, only to discover the the unthinkable has happened. I enjoyed enjoyed the in-depth character development and the plot. A sweet romance with a lovely ending.
I enjoyed this story with its twist of an instructor with a love of birds. She meets up with a man, not her intended mail order groom, only to discover the the unthinkable has happened. I enjoyed enjoyed the in-depth character development and the plot. A sweet romance with a lovely ending.
December 28, 2022
Holly was such an endearing character in this sweet, romantic story. I immediately liked her and sympathized with her situation. With her future unsettled, I found that I had to continue reading until I was certainand she was safe. This fast-paced, entertaining narrative with its many interesting characters and such a captivating plot was a pleasure to read. Good Read!!!!
December 26, 2020
Good book
This is a good book, better than average, I had a hard time putting it down. It has some of the usual we can't love each other stuff in it but it's handled differently enough not to ruin the book.
This is a good book, better than average, I had a hard time putting it down. It has some of the usual we can't love each other stuff in it but it's handled differently enough not to ruin the book.
December 28, 2020
Courageous
How scary it must have been to board a train and go to another part of the country to become a stranger's wife. These women were desperate and courageous. I enjoyed the story of this one bride.
How scary it must have been to board a train and go to another part of the country to become a stranger's wife. These women were desperate and courageous. I enjoyed the story of this one bride.
January 20, 2021
Holly
What a beautiful poignant story! The third in this series, it ties together a few loose ends and brings to life the youngest Barstow brother. Ho!my comes to Texas as a bride, but not his bride. Best, as if foreshadowed, he falls in love immediately.
What a beautiful poignant story! The third in this series, it ties together a few loose ends and brings to life the youngest Barstow brother. Ho!my comes to Texas as a bride, but not his bride. Best, as if foreshadowed, he falls in love immediately.
February 11, 2021
Holly
This has been a wonderful set of stories about three brothers finding love. Each book is unique with their own set of circumstances even though all three are mail-order-bride. Each is a loving, sweet story.
This has been a wonderful set of stories about three brothers finding love. Each book is unique with their own set of circumstances even though all three are mail-order-bride. Each is a loving, sweet story.
July 11, 2021
Out of this series, this one actually brought me to tears. I don't know if it was Jacob and Holly, or Pops and Rosalind, or Gabby that got me choked up. The story just flowed so well together. Katherine Noelle was the icing on the cake!
December 15, 2021
Sweet Love Story!
I enjoyed this book, a love story that had no objectionable content. Read this love story about the true meaning of love and Christmas. I heartily recommend this book and this author. I hope you enjoy it also.
I enjoyed this book, a love story that had no objectionable content. Read this love story about the true meaning of love and Christmas. I heartily recommend this book and this author. I hope you enjoy it also.
December 17, 2021
Cute story
Jacob wasn't interested in marriage, he couldn't even remember his mail order brides name. But when Holly stepped off the train instead of Edna he knew he had to marry her.
Jacob wasn't interested in marriage, he couldn't even remember his mail order brides name. But when Holly stepped off the train instead of Edna he knew he had to marry her.
December 31, 2021
This was a clean mail order bride, lite read. The characters were nice. The read was a typical Mail Order Bride type cozy except a wee bit shady in the beginning. If you want a nice gentle read, this book is in that category.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews