Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Iron Creek Brides #9

The Hotelier’s Mail Order Widow

Rate this book
You can set out on one path in life, but there is no telling where you’ll end up when love is involved.
Jonny Cable isn’t like his twin brother.

Andy might have chosen to settle down and marry, but Jonny has a duty to fulfill in the army.

It shouldn’t matter that he sometimes yearns for a different life—one where he can stay in one place and make a simple living running a hotel.

Or that he should long for companionship like his brother has with his own lovely wife.

These things shouldn’t matter. Not compared to his duty as a soldier.

Yet somehow, Jonny is beginning to realize that they do.

So, when his life takes an unexpected turn, Jonny decides to make the best of his situation and advertise for a mail-order bride for himself.

Since the untimely death of her husband, Cassandra Burton is doing her best to raise her young son alone.

She has found employment as an apprentice milliner, determined to earn a living despite how unhappy she is at the position.

But then she hears her colleagues mention finding a husband through matrimonial adverts in the paper—and finds Jonny’s placement for a mail-order bride.

There is no question that Jonny’s letters have Cassie intrigued, and hope begins to bloom that this might be the start of a new chapter for them all.

Yet life is often unpredictable, and it’s a long road to reach Jonny in Iron Creek.

Who knows what might be waiting for her along the way…

The Hotelier’s Mail Order Widow is a captivating journey of trust and taking chances on true love. Will Cassie and Jonny find their way to each other? Or is this one journey to Iron Creek that won’t be ending at the altar?

175 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 29, 2022

558 people are currently reading
67 people want to read

About the author

Karla Gracey

76 books64 followers
Karla Gracey was born with a very creative imagination and a love for creating stories that will inspire and warm people's hearts. She has always been attracted to historical romance including mail order bride stories with strong willed women. Her characters are easy to relate to and you feel as if you know them personally. Whether you enjoy action, adventure, romance, mystery, suspense or drama- she makes sure there is something for everyone in her historical romance stories!

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
367 (67%)
4 stars
113 (20%)
3 stars
38 (7%)
2 stars
16 (2%)
1 star
6 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
3,706 reviews332 followers
November 6, 2023
3.4 stars. It was an easy read. There's not much relationship there. The most interesting part of the book is hearing about the various historical facts that the author includes. But, it was an audio book
Profile Image for Sherrie.
501 reviews1 follower
September 1, 2022
Love the Iron Creek Series! Each one can be read as a stand-alone book, but it is so much better following through the series. This one has Jonny Cable, the twin brother of Andrew, finding his spot in the world. Johnny decides to leave the Army and return home, and he dreams of opening a hotel in Iron Creek. Cassie is married and expecting a baby. She and her husband Daniel have come to America by ship from England. Daniel paid his passage by working as crew on the ship. After getting settled, the Captain offers him a big salary if he will do another voyage. Daniel agrees, as the money will set their family up for success. Unfortunately, Daniel dies on the voyage. Now Cassie is alone, just she and the baby. This is a very exciting, emotional book, and will really take you on a grand tour of life. Another excellent book in the Iron Creek Series.
2,537 reviews
December 21, 2022
free ebook

her husband went on ship and got killed. she had baby without him and lost her job. she got a job at hat shop but the lady was mean and the man touched her butt. she answered ad in paper to write to a man who just wanted a friend, not wife

he was a twin, his twin got hurt and is in wheelchair. he got married. he got out of the service and moved back to the home town of his mom and brother. he started building a hotel, needed someone to help sew the chairs and asked the girl he was writing to to come out. she agreed and brought her friend from the hat shop with her but on the train they were kidnapped. he put up the $1000 to get them back, and the sheriff got his money back for him

the girls liked the town and were happy in the shop.

he didnt know about her son but liked him, the baby liked him too

they ended up getting married and her friend did too
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
133 reviews2 followers
August 31, 2022
Isn’t it funny how love can find you when you aren’t even looking for it? That’s precisely what happens for Jonny and Cassie in the latest book in the Iron Creek brides series. I received this book as an ARC and went on such a roller coaster of emotions reading it! I love when a book has a HEA, but these two characters really had to work for theirs. Prepare to fall in love along with them as you return to Iron Creek. This town develops more and more with each book and even though they could be read alone, reading them as a series gives you a depth that’s breath taking.
542 reviews
September 1, 2022
Karla Gracey takes us back to Iron Creek with Jonny's story. He's happy his twin found love but he isn't looking for a wife. He just wants someone to correspond with while he does his duty in the military. This book is filled with interesting characters that are as diverse as any you would happen to meet on the street. There are tender moments as well as danger and intrigue. And best of all, there's a HEA!
4,589 reviews31 followers
September 2, 2022
I fell for Jonny Cable in the last book when he took such good care of his injured twin. His love for his mother and his country make him stand taller than many others. Cassie’s story can’t help but touch his heart even though all he wants is a corresponding friend. Karla Gracey keeps drawing us back to Iron Creek and it is always good to visit with our friends there. No one could have predicted the path Jonny and Cassie would have to travel to find love.
Profile Image for Melody Tregear.
307 reviews
November 5, 2023
It was ok

It's a little predictable but not bad. I think it would have been nice to have them invite Cassie's old neighbours considering how good they were to her. That would have made the ending even better. There was no conclusion about what she would do afterwards - e g. if she'd carry on working seeing that she was still an apprentice, or not. No follow through on what happened to the villains or the one that got away. So yes, several loose ends but overall, ok
Profile Image for Janet.
1,991 reviews3 followers
August 31, 2022
This one left me misty eyed. I know that a lot of women came west to find a better life. Some did and some did not. It is just life to have to take a chance some times. Very good story. It was such a joy to read it. Sad at times dangerous also but then Happy too. I received a complimentary review copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Profile Image for Lucia Valenzuela.
2,024 reviews11 followers
September 1, 2022
Good storyline with interesting characters. Jonny and Cassie meet through correspondence but are not looking for a spouse. Death, birth, bad employer, kidnapping and of course falling in love. This story has it all and holds your interest throughout.
I received a free copy of this book and this is my voluntary, honest review.
Profile Image for Vickie Raynor.
1,178 reviews17 followers
September 5, 2022
What a heartbreaking, suspenseful, and heartwarming book all in one. It moved at such a fast pace, I couldn’t put it down. It wrapped you up in the characters as they made their way westbound and faced dangers unbeknownst to them. I always loved old western books, and that this was a mail order bride story too, made it that much better. Book gifted to me.
542 reviews2 followers
September 25, 2022
The N hoteliers Mail Order Widow

Another great book in the Iron Creek Brides series.After his twin brother finds happiness Johnny wants the same but doesn't really k km ow how.He does what others in town have done and sends? For a bride.Only his came with some baggage he didn't know about.
870 reviews1 follower
November 23, 2024
The Hotelier's Mail Order Widow

The story was interesting. It had romance. It had drama. The story even had mystery. There is a lot of unfinished story left. What about Cassie's sister. Do they get together in the end. The one blackmailer never was captured. He is running around yet.
Profile Image for Delbora.
1,462 reviews6 followers
August 31, 2022
I love this book! Johny has been an interesting character in this series so reading his story in this book is everything interesting! He is the consummate bachelor with no desire for wife or family until the right woman enters his life.
146 reviews
September 5, 2022
I really liked the stories about the twin brothers, Jonny and Andy Cable. Nothing is more endearing than reading about siblings who have a great love for each other. Being twins makes it more interesting in how they just know how to read each other.
Profile Image for Susan Waclawski.
266 reviews8 followers
September 9, 2022
most unusual

This was the most unusual mail order bride book I’ve read. But when I think about it starting as friends to correspond with before getting to know each other was exactly what Cassie and Jonny needed.
1,171 reviews16 followers
February 3, 2023
Mail Order Widow

Her husband was lost at sea without knowing of his sons birth. Lonely and in a horrible job she answers a matrimonial friendship advertisement and her life forever changes. Hardship and dangerous travel with a few sweet romances made for an interesting journey.
Profile Image for Bernadine Sydow.
225 reviews
March 5, 2023
Mail order bride

I enjoyed reading this book. I found it amazing how hard a situation is that with hard work and determination that it would be accomplishment. Love the romance timing in how would there be time for the opposite sex.
2,649 reviews10 followers
May 22, 2023
Beyond sweet

This was really a story that kept my interest, at every turn there was many facts and tidbits that made the whole story jell. This family was just so tight and generous.
18 reviews
May 3, 2024
Sweet Story

To find out how the hotel was built added to other stories I’ve read. The kidnapping added a different twist to other mail order brides. I have enjoyed the Iron Creek books very much.
Profile Image for Pam Johnson.
48 reviews
April 13, 2023
Healing, Hope and love again

I enjoyed this book. Karla Gracey has this unique way of bringing her readers into the story and keeping it clean, but enjoyable to read.
Profile Image for Mark.
2,503 reviews52 followers
May 29, 2023
Not a Christian book, but clean
10 reviews
January 8, 2024
great book!

I loved this sweet book. Didn’t want it to end. Great characters and different plots and suspense. Well written. Thank you for a great read. More please!
318 reviews
May 30, 2025
sweet romance

Sweet romance and flulike of warmth love. Another story by a wonderful author named Karla Gracey. Can’t wait to read more
Profile Image for Sharon Thomas.
661 reviews3 followers
May 30, 2025
Very sweet love story. Cassie and Nessa were kidnapped on their way to Iron Creek. Johnny and Nelson go to rescue them. Great characters great story.
Profile Image for ReadingWench.
2,103 reviews13 followers
September 5, 2022
I had been looking forward to Jonny’s book since I read about his twin. The heroine this author creates is awesome. The complex storyline was great! I loved the friend aspect as well. The deep emotions involved in this story really pulled it all together. A wonderful book
643 reviews1 follower
December 12, 2022
It’s good to be back in Iron Creek with old friends and new. The characters are amazing as always, but this time Jonny is wondering if he should continue with his military career or find someone to share his life with. When he decides to take a chance with a mail order bride things really take some unexpected twists and turns. Don’t miss out!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.