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Brides of Simpson Creek #1
Mail Order Cowboy
With beaux scarce in post–Civil War Texas, practical Milly Matthews and her "Spinster Society" friends have their hands full protecting their ranches. Their only advertising for mail-order grooms. But aristocratic British cavalry officer Nicholas Brookfield isn't exactly Milly's idea of a cowboy—or a man she can trust. And the more Nick proves himself as a ranch hand, the more he must hide his past from the woman he longs to make his own. Now Milly and Nick will need all their courage to face hidden dangers…and believe in a love that can answer all their prayers.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 2010
27 people are currently reading
544 people want to read
About the author
Laurie Kingery
25 books89 followersLaurie Kingery is a central Ohio author and veteran E.R. RN who wrote 16 historical romances as Laurie Grant and now writes inspirational historicals for Steeple Hill. She won the Reader's Choice for short historicals in 1994. Her website is http://www.lauriekingery.com. Country Christmas was her first inspirational historical in Oct. '08; her next release from Steeple Hill was The Outlaw's Lady in Aug. '09. Her next release will be Marrying Milly in November 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 2, 2016
Quite good!
One thing that I really liked: Though it (the relationship) seemed to be going overly fast at the beginning, I liked that it slowed down and they didn't just go get married the first time they laid eyes on each other.
Over all, a good read. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series. :)
One thing that I really liked: Though it (the relationship) seemed to be going overly fast at the beginning, I liked that it slowed down and they didn't just go get married the first time they laid eyes on each other.
Over all, a good read. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series. :)
August 13, 2016
It was time for an 'Inspirational Luvvv' book... and I figured I'd go for a Western.
Except that it was sorta Western. Sorta British. Sort of Bombay, India. Sort of Civil War in the South. It couldn't make up it's mind WHAT it wanted to be. It was... hard to get a feel for, as a result.
***All Spoilers, All the time.***
Millie and her sister organize a ladies' group to advertise for husbands for their society, since the Civil War left their town in Texas with a shortage of men. The men are supposed to write a letter of submission and include a photo, but the first guy that shows up... Okay, frankly it made NO sense. Millie placed the ad, but it didn't have her name on it - it was on behalf of the society. So HOW Nicholas knew to show up in town and ask for Millie is never explained. But he does - sight unseen, he doesn't even cast a glance at the other ladies when he walks in on their meeting. Which seems... odd.
Odder still, you have these good ol' girls, and Nicholas is British nobility who just happens (on a whim?) to show up for a mail order bride in Podunk, Texas?! And as if THAT isn't enough, later the author has ANOTHER British guy (from the SAME regiment) just happen to be in Texas post-Civil War. WTHeck!? And even weirder, Nick gets the ol' West town to build a stone fortress a la medieval times - I've never in my life...
At the same time, she has Millie hiring emancipated blacks, and a group in the town called 'The Circle' doing KKK-type stuff at her place. Cuz... there's time for THAT while building a castle keep and managing a marriage society and running a ranch and re-building a homestead and baking for the hotel and sewing for the mercantile and hosting parties, too. And as if ALL that weren't enough, she had to make Nick have malaria, so that Millie could take time off in the middle of ALL of this to nurse him to health. It just... was too much. WAY too much for one place/time.
In addition, the author tells us repeatedly that nobody has money after the war, but conveniently everyone has money the entire way thru the book - paying for pies, buying store-bought dresses, even paying to dance with their wives (like anyone would stop them?) It was really badly done.
And she CHEATS. All the bad guys in the book conveniently end up dead at the end. C'mon... let's not suspend reality or anything. Badly done, Kingery.
The characters were fine, but there was absolutely no chemistry. The 'inspirational' was laughable - consisted of a few sits in church, a brief prayer or two, and a few vague Bible phrases thrown around. The writing was solid, but... like I said, the author had WAY, *WAY* too many irons in the fire. Pick a twist and go with it. Add a secondary for spice, but SHEESH!
Except that it was sorta Western. Sorta British. Sort of Bombay, India. Sort of Civil War in the South. It couldn't make up it's mind WHAT it wanted to be. It was... hard to get a feel for, as a result.
***All Spoilers, All the time.***
Millie and her sister organize a ladies' group to advertise for husbands for their society, since the Civil War left their town in Texas with a shortage of men. The men are supposed to write a letter of submission and include a photo, but the first guy that shows up... Okay, frankly it made NO sense. Millie placed the ad, but it didn't have her name on it - it was on behalf of the society. So HOW Nicholas knew to show up in town and ask for Millie is never explained. But he does - sight unseen, he doesn't even cast a glance at the other ladies when he walks in on their meeting. Which seems... odd.
Odder still, you have these good ol' girls, and Nicholas is British nobility who just happens (on a whim?) to show up for a mail order bride in Podunk, Texas?! And as if THAT isn't enough, later the author has ANOTHER British guy (from the SAME regiment) just happen to be in Texas post-Civil War. WTHeck!? And even weirder, Nick gets the ol' West town to build a stone fortress a la medieval times - I've never in my life...
At the same time, she has Millie hiring emancipated blacks, and a group in the town called 'The Circle' doing KKK-type stuff at her place. Cuz... there's time for THAT while building a castle keep and managing a marriage society and running a ranch and re-building a homestead and baking for the hotel and sewing for the mercantile and hosting parties, too. And as if ALL that weren't enough, she had to make Nick have malaria, so that Millie could take time off in the middle of ALL of this to nurse him to health. It just... was too much. WAY too much for one place/time.
In addition, the author tells us repeatedly that nobody has money after the war, but conveniently everyone has money the entire way thru the book - paying for pies, buying store-bought dresses, even paying to dance with their wives (like anyone would stop them?) It was really badly done.
And she CHEATS. All the bad guys in the book conveniently end up dead at the end. C'mon... let's not suspend reality or anything. Badly done, Kingery.
The characters were fine, but there was absolutely no chemistry. The 'inspirational' was laughable - consisted of a few sits in church, a brief prayer or two, and a few vague Bible phrases thrown around. The writing was solid, but... like I said, the author had WAY, *WAY* too many irons in the fire. Pick a twist and go with it. Add a secondary for spice, but SHEESH!
October 23, 2013
The premise of this book--mail order grooms--intrigued me from the start. I enjoyed reading about the Spinsters Society and the members' plot to get husbands by advertising for them. Millie's determination to keep her ranch and protect it from marauders is admirable, and finding a partner and possible husband in a British calvary officer was an unexpected surprise. Mail Order Cowboy has humor, adventure, romance, and an inspiring message of forgiveness. It was a delight to read.
April 15, 2011
I love this opening...
Simpson Creek, Texas, July 1865
"The problem, as I see it," Millicent Matthews announced in her forthright way, looking around the edges of the quilt at the members of the Ladies Aid Society, "is that we unmarried ladies are likely to remain so, given the absoute lack of single men who've come home to Simpson Creek from the war. The few men who did return were already married, and while I'm very happy for their wives, of course--" she added quicky as one of th town's matrons looked up"--the rest of us will have to leave or remain single unless Decisive Action is Taken."
The women agree to advertise and few very special men show up in town. One is a British cavalry officer, could Nick become a Texan cowboy and be the answer the Milly's dreams?
279 pages
Simpson Creek, Texas, July 1865
"The problem, as I see it," Millicent Matthews announced in her forthright way, looking around the edges of the quilt at the members of the Ladies Aid Society, "is that we unmarried ladies are likely to remain so, given the absoute lack of single men who've come home to Simpson Creek from the war. The few men who did return were already married, and while I'm very happy for their wives, of course--" she added quicky as one of th town's matrons looked up"--the rest of us will have to leave or remain single unless Decisive Action is Taken."
The women agree to advertise and few very special men show up in town. One is a British cavalry officer, could Nick become a Texan cowboy and be the answer the Milly's dreams?
279 pages
October 31, 2020
Mail Order Cowboy by Laurie Kingery is an Inspirational Historical Romance with a twist to the classic mail order bride.
In 1865 Texas, Milly Matthews and the single women of Simpson Creek come up with the idea of advertising for husband's. It isn't long before Nick Brookfield, ex-military Englishman, comes to town.
With Indian attacks and having to deal with the "circle", Milly and Nick struggle with creating a relationship between the two of them.
This was the first book by this author that I have read and I enjoyed it. The ending was satisfying and set the stage for the next book in the series. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good feel book.
In 1865 Texas, Milly Matthews and the single women of Simpson Creek come up with the idea of advertising for husband's. It isn't long before Nick Brookfield, ex-military Englishman, comes to town.
With Indian attacks and having to deal with the "circle", Milly and Nick struggle with creating a relationship between the two of them.
This was the first book by this author that I have read and I enjoyed it. The ending was satisfying and set the stage for the next book in the series. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good feel book.
January 19, 2018
This Christian historical fiction book has interesting characters and is a quick and easy read. This time, instead of mail order brides it's mail order grooms, and the effect this has on the town is big. Set right after the plot involves clean romance, faith, hatred, bigotry, indian uprisings, and neighbors helping neighbors during a crisis. This is the first book of the Brides of Simpson Creek series, and I hope to read the other two.
June 17, 2020
I stayed another Western type novel and was shocked and disgusted when it turned into a book i could not revoked due to the sexual concern, in the first chapter. I am happier with this author, she is not only respectful and much more modest in the handling of her charades. She developed their religious beliefs and made them better examples.
February 19, 2017
Decent, not engaging. Able to set aside in the middle.
December 12, 2018
I really liked the whole series.
April 29, 2020
This was a fun twist on the mail-order bride story. It was funny and dangerous. It also gave me a look at a small town after the Civil war.
June 4, 2020
Boring and cold.
December 3, 2020
Good story! Not your usual romance. I enjoyed it.
December 16, 2010
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
"Mail Order Cowboy" by Laurie Kingery is one of those romances that I never usually pick up. I'm more into hotter, angstier stuff, but I do like a sweet romance once in a while. I had mixed feelings about this one. The storyline is refreshingly original, and the idea of a woman choosing a man through a mail-order is empowering and different than the usual genre conventions in historical romance. I just wish there was more. The characters (Milly and Nicholas) were interesting, but I was often irritated by the heroine. Milly was endearing up to a point. As the book went on, she became more and more childish and needy. She sounded more like a 15-year old teenager to me than an actual adult. She would constantly ask herself dumb questions, such as, "Did he have any idea how he affected [me]?" I liked her at the beginning, but after she started falling for Nick, she became so annoying and needy. I liked Nick, though. I usually feel more of attachment to the heroine and her goals in romance novels, but in this one, I liked Nick much better. He came off as more of an adult, and he was really sexy! The Texas setting was gorgeous and the Texan way of speaking was incorporated really naturally into the dialogue. The tidbits about the British in India were also interesting.
Overall, this was a heartfelt romance that was nicely written. I would have rated it higher had I not been so irritated by the heroine throughout the novel. But I would definitely recommend this, and if all inspirational romances are this sweet, I think I'll read some more in the genre!
Verdict: 3 stars
"Mail Order Cowboy" by Laurie Kingery is one of those romances that I never usually pick up. I'm more into hotter, angstier stuff, but I do like a sweet romance once in a while. I had mixed feelings about this one. The storyline is refreshingly original, and the idea of a woman choosing a man through a mail-order is empowering and different than the usual genre conventions in historical romance. I just wish there was more. The characters (Milly and Nicholas) were interesting, but I was often irritated by the heroine. Milly was endearing up to a point. As the book went on, she became more and more childish and needy. She sounded more like a 15-year old teenager to me than an actual adult. She would constantly ask herself dumb questions, such as, "Did he have any idea how he affected [me]?" I liked her at the beginning, but after she started falling for Nick, she became so annoying and needy. I liked Nick, though. I usually feel more of attachment to the heroine and her goals in romance novels, but in this one, I liked Nick much better. He came off as more of an adult, and he was really sexy! The Texas setting was gorgeous and the Texan way of speaking was incorporated really naturally into the dialogue. The tidbits about the British in India were also interesting.
Overall, this was a heartfelt romance that was nicely written. I would have rated it higher had I not been so irritated by the heroine throughout the novel. But I would definitely recommend this, and if all inspirational romances are this sweet, I think I'll read some more in the genre!
Verdict: 3 stars
September 7, 2011
I liked this book more than I thought I would. With the Civil War having ended, marriageable men are scarce in Texas, and a group of Christian women decide to place an ad in a local paper asking for mail-order grooms, a nice twist on the tired plot device of mail-order brides. Milly, the instigator of the ad, finds herself with British Calvalry officer Nicholas Broomfield, who's not technically a cowboy but who promises to learn how from her ranch hand, Josh.
The author nicely weaves in a subplot about racism when Milly takes in four former slaves as ranch hands; the subject is explored from the locals' reaction (some of the men are members of the KKK) and Nicholas' own experiences as a British officer in India, then held as a colony by the empire. Wisely, the author explores the issue through her characters without them preaching to each other or to the reader.
The plot is fun; the women hold a barn-raising for Milly and her sister, Sarah, ostensibly to not only provide for the sisters but to meet more eligible bachelors. Milly discovers her entrepreneurial spirit when she offers her skills as a seamstress to the owner of the general store. All the characters are somewhat flawed, but they don't fall into stereotypes. The book's cover states that this is part of the "Brides of Simpson Creek" series, so here's hoping the other novels are as much fun to read as this one.
The author nicely weaves in a subplot about racism when Milly takes in four former slaves as ranch hands; the subject is explored from the locals' reaction (some of the men are members of the KKK) and Nicholas' own experiences as a British officer in India, then held as a colony by the empire. Wisely, the author explores the issue through her characters without them preaching to each other or to the reader.
The plot is fun; the women hold a barn-raising for Milly and her sister, Sarah, ostensibly to not only provide for the sisters but to meet more eligible bachelors. Milly discovers her entrepreneurial spirit when she offers her skills as a seamstress to the owner of the general store. All the characters are somewhat flawed, but they don't fall into stereotypes. The book's cover states that this is part of the "Brides of Simpson Creek" series, so here's hoping the other novels are as much fun to read as this one.
September 30, 2012
I picked this book up on a whim because it said "Mail Order Cowboy" and while I've read quite a few stories about mail order brides, I've never read one about mail order grooms so this caught my eye. And was a good enough story to keep my attention span.
It's been less then a year since the Civil War ended and for many of the men in Simpson Creek, they did not come home. So the single ladies of the town decide to band together and form a group and place a ad in the paper inviting men to come out to Simpson Creek and meet them. What I liked the most about the group was that all the girls got along and they all played fair. When they got replies back they drew straws to see who would get the chance to write to the men but at the same time they agreed that when the men came to visit, they could choose any of the women. I liked that. There was a sense of sisterhood with this group which, knowing the Civil War had just happened, felt real and true to life.
The first man to see their add, Nicholas Brookfield, third son of a British viscount comes into town and is immediately taken with Millie Matthews. Add in Comanche Indian attacks, racism against newly released former black slaves and ghosts from Nick's past and you have a really good love story set against the background of what I just mentioned.
Very well done. I kinda want to read the other stories in this series, just to see what else is in store for the brides of Simpson Creek.
It's been less then a year since the Civil War ended and for many of the men in Simpson Creek, they did not come home. So the single ladies of the town decide to band together and form a group and place a ad in the paper inviting men to come out to Simpson Creek and meet them. What I liked the most about the group was that all the girls got along and they all played fair. When they got replies back they drew straws to see who would get the chance to write to the men but at the same time they agreed that when the men came to visit, they could choose any of the women. I liked that. There was a sense of sisterhood with this group which, knowing the Civil War had just happened, felt real and true to life.
The first man to see their add, Nicholas Brookfield, third son of a British viscount comes into town and is immediately taken with Millie Matthews. Add in Comanche Indian attacks, racism against newly released former black slaves and ghosts from Nick's past and you have a really good love story set against the background of what I just mentioned.
Very well done. I kinda want to read the other stories in this series, just to see what else is in store for the brides of Simpson Creek.
November 16, 2013
This book was very engaging historically and in terms of the fun twist on the mail order bride theme. In post Civil War Texas, there are not enough men of marriageable age so the unmarried ladies place an ad in the paper and so the series begins.
Our heroine is a capable kind of female and our hero is a third son of a British lord making a new start in America due to a bit of scandal while he was a solider in India.
They are very likable and the love story is decent. This is a Inspirational romance so a great deal of the development of their relationship is in the spiritual realm. We get a strong building of a foundation of a future marriage and realistic looks at resolving a number of conflicts.
Most compelling to me about this book though was the historical detail. Kingery does a wonderful job of managing a very complex moment in history. We are in post civil war, the end of slavery, the forced removal of Native Americans from the land, the migrations of ex slaves westward, the start of the KKK, and the British relations with their Colonies (like India) and the reality of the weight of the class system in England.
All of this background makes of a great setting and a book worth reading.
Our heroine is a capable kind of female and our hero is a third son of a British lord making a new start in America due to a bit of scandal while he was a solider in India.
They are very likable and the love story is decent. This is a Inspirational romance so a great deal of the development of their relationship is in the spiritual realm. We get a strong building of a foundation of a future marriage and realistic looks at resolving a number of conflicts.
Most compelling to me about this book though was the historical detail. Kingery does a wonderful job of managing a very complex moment in history. We are in post civil war, the end of slavery, the forced removal of Native Americans from the land, the migrations of ex slaves westward, the start of the KKK, and the British relations with their Colonies (like India) and the reality of the weight of the class system in England.
All of this background makes of a great setting and a book worth reading.
February 3, 2019
Interesting take on the mail-order bride genre. This time we have a mail-order groom. From England. Who is an absolute saint with a checkered past. It actually made for a somewhat entertaining story. Not quite 3 stars...but really close.
Honestly, what kept it from being a 3 star read was a combination of really poor editing (one character's name switched from Walters to Waters to Walters so many times I can't figure out which one was correct), the too good to be true townsfolk, and heavy-handed "friend from the past" being a cartoon villain. The last little bombshell wasn't necessary, unless it fuels the plot in future books.
It really was better than the 2 stars indicate. Let's call it 2.75 stars and call it a day. I will read book 2, because I just can't help myself.
Honestly, what kept it from being a 3 star read was a combination of really poor editing (one character's name switched from Walters to Waters to Walters so many times I can't figure out which one was correct), the too good to be true townsfolk, and heavy-handed "friend from the past" being a cartoon villain. The last little bombshell wasn't necessary, unless it fuels the plot in future books.
It really was better than the 2 stars indicate. Let's call it 2.75 stars and call it a day. I will read book 2, because I just can't help myself.
April 24, 2011
I received this book through Goodreads FirstReads
I enjoyed this book. It was a sweet romance and reminiscent of some of my favorite TV shows such as Little House on the Prairie and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
The author writes in a very readable style, using accessible language. Everything from the setting to the characters,dialogue, and costumes were depicted very authentically.
My ethnic origin is Indian so the historical reference of the British in India was especially interesting and familiar to me.
The author's note at the end about how she came up with the idea for the story/series was helpful and I look forward to the next book in the series.
I enjoyed this book. It was a sweet romance and reminiscent of some of my favorite TV shows such as Little House on the Prairie and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
The author writes in a very readable style, using accessible language. Everything from the setting to the characters,dialogue, and costumes were depicted very authentically.
My ethnic origin is Indian so the historical reference of the British in India was especially interesting and familiar to me.
The author's note at the end about how she came up with the idea for the story/series was helpful and I look forward to the next book in the series.
May 21, 2012
Really disappointing. This book started out on a promising premise - a mail order groom - but had NO idea what it wanted to be when it grew up. It had, among other things, British lords, Indian attacks, flash-backs to a war in India (so, 2 types of Indians) and a failed romance with the daughter of a raja, post-civil war race tensions, the KKK, a herione that is "poor" but constantly has new dresses, a barn raising, and varies neighbors that act so inconsistently, you have no idea what their characters are supposed to BE.
Liked the premise....waiting for someone else with less ideas and more skill to write it.
Liked the premise....waiting for someone else with less ideas and more skill to write it.
January 8, 2015
This was a very good book, I know some of the reviews were not appealing to the fact they felt that it was western, civil war, British and a India story, but not all things that happened in the west would have been cut and dry western. I'm sure there were people from other cultures such as Nick was from Britian that were in the area or time period. All those things just made up the story. I loved the gentleness of the characters and the fact of the future stories makes for fun reading and develop more of the other characters stories. I came to love Mrs. Detwiler who was very funny in the end. Bring on more Brides of Simpson Creek!
November 20, 2016
Really disappointing. This book started out on a promising premise - a mail order groom - but had NO idea what it wanted to be when it grew up. It had, among other things, British lords, Indian attacks, flash-backs to a war in India (so, 2 types of Indians) and a failed romance with the daughter of a raja, post-civil war race tensions, the KKK, a herione that is "poor" but constantly has new dresses, a barn raising, and varies neighbors that act so inconsistently, you have no idea what their characters are supposed to BE.
Liked the premise....waiting for someone else with less ideas and more skill to write it.
Liked the premise....waiting for someone else with less ideas and more skill to write it.
June 26, 2013
This is a series of "Sweet" romance books that my Mom got me into. Sometimes I just like an easy story to read and this series meets my needs. It's does NOT have any heat in it and that is OK since I am not reading this series for that purpose. It's an Historical western set in the great state of Texas just after the "Civil War" period. All of the stories have HEA which I have to have in any of my romances I read, be it "Sweet" or "Hot". Because in MHO if a romance doesn't have a HEA it ain't no romance. So There!
November 23, 2011
Laurie Kingery wrote a Western with a new twist! Mail Order style books are popular, but Kingery orders a husband instead of a bride. Mail Order Cowboy is the first in a series entitled Brides of Simpson Creek. I look forward to her next installment.
What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. ~ Micah 6:8
Time Period: Western, 1860's
Location: Texas, USA
What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. ~ Micah 6:8
Time Period: Western, 1860's
Location: Texas, USA
April 25, 2012
Mail Order Cowboy offers a cute twist on the popular historical romance theme: Mail Order Brides. The story takes place in 1865 on a ranch in Texas. The plot moves along at a good pace and the story is relatively engaging for an "inspirational historical romance," but, in my opinion, the characters weren't developed fully enough for this to be a four star read.
February 20, 2015
This was a good read set right after the Civil War with freed slaves looking for work. Indians attacking and burning out ranchers. I liked reading about Milly and how she came to marry her mail order English husband. Those were rough times in Texas, and it was interesting to read the story with the background given it.
Now I'm going to read about her sister Sarah and her mail order selection.
Now I'm going to read about her sister Sarah and her mail order selection.
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December 23, 2014Miniseries: Brides of Simpson Creek
To enter giveaway, go here. Countries available: US, CA, GB, and AU. Contest ends Dec 10, 2010
To enter giveaway, go here. Countries available: US, CA, GB, and AU. Contest ends Dec 10, 2010
February 25, 2011
I actually give it a 4.5. Very fun story line. The main characters were so likeable and I loved how they pulled the town together. I'm anxious to read the next one in the Brides of Simpson Creek series.
May 31, 2011
I loved the idea of this one since the women were the ones advertising for spouses. Nice twist on the traditional mail-order bride story. Nice romance with alittle suspense and action. On to #2 in the series, The Doctor Takes a Wife.
June 10, 2013
After the civil war, in a little Texas town, the single and widowed women decide to take romance into their own hands and form a "Spinster Societhy" to find mail-order grooms for themselves. This is their story and more. A very good ending.
July 14, 2013
I was very pleasantly surprised. A relatively quick read with a simple story line; quite enough to keep you amused and entertained. It was refreshing to have a [historical] romance that didn't include rather messy, mature, adult-only scenes. Just love at its simplest. Appropriate for all audiences.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews