Belle

Mistletoe Falls Christmas Brides #3

by Sylvia McDaniel

A Kiss Sends Her Fleeing… Runaway Bride

Belle Bishop and her sisters, wealthy southern belles, are set to marry old men her guardian uncle has chosen for them. When the elder man kisses her, she knows it’s time to go. All three women sneak out of Savannah as penniless mail-order brides for a new chance at love and happiness in Mistletoe Falls, Montana.

Martin Keegan owns the local saloon and dreams of owning a ranch. He’s ordered a mail-order bride, hoping she will accept him as he is—a poor struggling working man. Will his new wife help support him until spring for them to move to the land he longs for? Or will his once-entitled wife desert him like his mother left his father?

Will Christmas bring them together or will Belle return to Savannah and wealth?

Genres: Historical, Christmas

124 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 16, 2022

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Sylvia McDaniel has published more than forty western historical romance, contemporary romance and even a few sci-fi novels. Known for her sweet, funny, family-oriented romances, Sylvia is the author of The Burnett Brides a historical western series, The Cuvier Widows, a Louisiana historical series, Lipstick and Lead, a western historical series and several short contemporary romances.

Former President of the Dallas Area Romance Authors, a member of the Romance Writers of America®, and a member of Novelists Inc, her novel, A Hero’s Heart was a 1996 Golden Heart Finalist. Several other books have placed or won in the San Antonio Romance Authors Contest, LERA Contest, and she was a Golden Network Finalist.

Married for over twenty years to her best friend, they have two spoilt dachshunds that reign supreme over the house. She loves gardening, hiking, shopping, knitting and football (Cowboys and Bronco’s fan), but not necessarily in that order.

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Reviews

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A business arrangement? Lies by omission?

Belle and Martin have a very rocky start, both are there because circumstances gave them no choice, both are keeping secrets and both are wary about opening their heart....
But their defenses gradually lower, a snowstorm strands them and an unexpected visitor causes tension, and Belle realises she may have been quick to make judgement and Martin really does have a good heart...once you find it! Martin realises falling in love is not a choice, it happens whether you are ready and willing or not!
I have enjoyed this trilogy, three sisters, written by three authors, a lovely festive read which I read on Kindle Unlimited.

[Millie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series

I read Belle:: American Western Historical Mail Order Bride(Mistletoe Fall Christmas Bride-Book Three) through the kindle Unlimited program. I throughly enjoyed Belle and Martin's story. Clean, sweet, Christmas.. what's not to love.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too Much Story Needed to Be Told

Their guardian uncle puts Belle and her two sisters in an untenable position. He wants to marry them all off to his cronies to whom he owes money so he can get a hold of their dowries before they’re of age and pay off his debts in one fell swoop. After being treated horribly by the old man her uncle wants her to marry, she and her sisters decide to escape out west as mail-order brides. This is a novella, and unfortunately, it fell prey to one problem with novellas. Namely, the author tried to shoehorn too much of a story into the limited word-count real estate of a novella. This story has great bones, but because so much time passes, and the couple and the hero (in particular) have much to get over and get past so they can truly achieve an HEA. So the hero's growth arc and the romantic arc are blazed through at a rapid speed, without the development needed for the complexity of the problems. Everything tied up too neatly and simply at the end, given what the problems were. And the story ended much too abruptly: everything is just tied quickly, and the story is just done. But so much happened at that end—there should have been much more reaction to all the heroine did—that it would have been nice to see a few more scenes or an extended epilogue that would show what happened to all the key characters, including the three prostitutes, and perhaps something about owning their dream farm/ranch and the building of their family. All in all, I was disappointed in this story because there needed to be much more of its telling to be truly satisfying.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

[Knight Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Belle Bishop a southern bell from Savannah, Georgia had been dealt a bad deal in life. She had lost both her parents in a carriage accident leaving her and her two sisters in the guardianship of their mother's brother, at the end of the Civil War. Their uncle had found each of them a fiance three times their ages so they decided to become mail-order brides to men in Mistletoe Falls, Montana. When Belle's intended picked her up at the stage, they went straight to the church to get married. There were lots of things she did not know about Martin Keegan. He was a good man, but he had not sent for a wife, his father had sent away to get one for Martin. His father neglected to tell her, he operated a saloon that housed whores for their safety, and her home would temporarily be above the saloon. He was wise enough not to tell her, until after they were married and almost to Mistletoe Falls from Angel Falls. Needless to say Belle was thunder struck upon this enlightenment, but after she met the women and discovered, they were no threat to her marriage, plus they were friendly to her. It would take time, but she had a positive outlook with an outgoing personality. As a couple, they found each other attractive, and they did have an attraction to one another. A wonderful story in the mountains of Montana during winter time where a blizzard can give you solitary time with your new spouse so you could get know one another. Highly recommend reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elaine Coghlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Belle is an American western historical mail-order bride story, and book 3 in this series, the other two books are written by two different authors, which I have not read.
I don't normally read this genre, but I do like reading Sylvia's books though I have only just started those too.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, found it to be very well written and it gave you the feeling of the past.
I will need to purchase the others as they are the story that follows Belle's sisters who are also mail-order brides also in Mistletoe Falls.
The Bishop girls are from a wealthy family background in Savannah, whose parents have passed away and are under the care of an older uncle. Who has ideas for them?
I highly recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[casvec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Belle and Martin's story is a delightful read that was easy to get lost in. Belle and her sisters are running away from marriages her uncle set up to become mail order brides. Martin runs a saloon with his father, marriage is the last thing on his mind, so when he told that a bride was arriving for him, he decided it could be a business arrangement. Belle is not standing for that.

Belle was a great character. She is strong determined southern woman that can give as good as she gets. Although thrown off by the situation when she arrived in Mistletoe Falls, Belle does amazing things for Martin, the women at the saloon and the customers.

Great story for any time of the year.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Belle and her two sisters from Savannah Ga. decide to become mail order brides to men in Mistletoe Falls because their guardian uncle wants to marry them all of to his much older friends all the while robbing them of their inheritance from their deceased parents. Belle is promised to Martin who owns a saloon which he has not told her about nor the fact that he has three working girls who all live upstairs at the saloon. Belle is upset at first but decides to make the best of the situation and she certainly does that. She is all positive and caring that everyone around loves her.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amanda Marlowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Belle's uncle has arranged for her sisters and her to marry older men. They decide they'd rather be mail order brides and run away.
Martin's father has decided he needs a wife so he can have grandchildren! So he sends for a mail order bride for him.
What Belle doesn't know is that Martin runs a bar and has set up a place for ladies of the night upstairs.
Will she accept that or go back home?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Another great read in the series from Sylvia.

[Ash Juillet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Booksprout for a copy of this book.

Belle and Martin's love story is simple, sweet, and heartwarming. They meet when Martin's father orders him a mail-order bride even when he's not interested in marriage, and love begins to blossom after they decide to try to make their marriage work. The plot had good pacing, the characterisations and backgrounds of both Martin and Belle were interesting, to say the least, and the addition of Pops and the working girls at the saloon made the story a bit more unique.

[Marichus Real · Rating 5 out of 5]

Belle and her sister need to escape from their uncle. He wants them to marry some of his friends that are too old for them. So, they decide to become mail-order brides.
Martin has no idea his father has ordered a mail-order bride for him. He thinks the saloon is not a good place to raise a family.
I liked this story. I like the characters and the goodness and compassion in them. Both, Martin and Belle, liked to help people in need.
And I loved the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Belle

Belle traveled from Savannah to Montana with her sisters to become mail order brides. Her intended, Martin didn't really want to get married but his Pop ordered Belle for him. When he goes to the church to marry he tried to get Belle to agree to a business arrangement and she wants nothing to do with that. They do get married but will they ever be truly a married couple or room mates?!

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the Western aspects and getting to know the characters. It worked in the time-period it was set. I'm glad I got to read this and I look forward to read more in this series and from the author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Belle by Sylvia McDaniel was a delight to read. It starts out heartbreaking for the sisters, but in the end Belle finds her way to her hea. The characters are well developed and the storyline hooks you. Sylvia does not disappoint in this book. I will definitely be reading more books by Sylvia!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Juanell Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Belle

The Mistletoe Falls mail-order-brides series has been fun to read. Belle is a bride whose marriage starts out rather strange as her groom want their marriage to be a business arrangement, to which she does not agree to. Their story winds up being a lovely story and at times somewhat of a tear jerker, and ends up being a beautiful love story. Very good reading indeed.

[Mary Edith · Rating 5 out of 5]

mistletoe falls Christmas brides series

I just finished all 3 of the books in this series and I enjoyed everyone of them. I only wish they would continue and tell how each sister got along and what happened in their lives. Maybe you ladies would continue!!!

[Xantippi Leska · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, the characters and story line were both very well written and keep you wanting more. The story has some plot twists thrown in the mix, so be prepared.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sandra Sorola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. It's characters and their story are very enjoyable! It just goes to show you that no matter what, Love will find you when it should. Grab a copy and get to reading!