This is the first in the Outlaw Mail Order Bride series, Clay Colby and Talley Shannon’s turbulent story (not their love story per se, but everything happening in the plot); a HEA story with some sizzle.
This is a well written story, but not my cup of tea. I know this is a story that more, then not, will give 4 or 5 stars, I could not, as I like more romance, then turmoil and angst in my romance novels.
I have read and loved Linda Broday’s novels in the past and will continue to read them.
I received a copy of this story through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

It was ok, that can pass the time. So we are in the past in the west and we meet Cole who is an outlaw and trying to get a better life for himself and starting a town filled with other outlaws who are trying to better themselves. He sends for a mail order bride hence the name and meet Tally who her story was pretty heartbreaking actually the majority of them were heartbreaking. So Tally is wary of marrying Cole because she fears men and it is hard for her to trust others and when you read the story you totally understand. This thoughts went thru that and what these places that existed because these woman and children weren't wanted broke my heart..Cole and the others showed humanity and totally proved there worth.

This is a first time read by author, Linda Broday. This book is categorized a historical romance, but I thought it was something more than the genre. I did enjoy the writing style, the descriptions and visualization of the scenery that the author portrayed in the story. The characters were well-developed, and the story was well-paced. The story has a host of characters and some did tug at my heart and some were heartfelt. It was also nice that the author included quite a bit action throughout the story.

Only drawback for me with the story was the frequency of abuse. I could have enjoyed it more if it was not as prevalent. While I do enjoy quite a bit of historical romance that feature mail order brides, I think this one was not quite for me. Would I be averse to reading other stories by this author? N0t at all… although this story did not appeal to me.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The book is a little strange for a historical romance but I really loved it. The main character, Tally, has alot of family issues (her stepmother killed alot of people with the help and out her in an insane asylum.

After escaping the asylum, I'm surprised how well adjusted Tally is. Anyone would be a mess. She tries really hard to be strong. Clay, her husband, helps.

You should give the book a try. At the very least it's unique.

I feel as if I joined this book mid series. There are lots of additional characters and I haven't read anything by this author before so I am not sure if it carries on from another series but I felt like I had missed something.

The Outlaw's Mail Order Bride book by Linda Broday is quite possibly my favorite Linda Broday book to date. That is quite a recommendation considering I've loved all of her books that I've read and she's one of my favorite Historical Western Romance authors to boot! All of Linda Broday's books start off with a bang that draws you in and keeps you wanting to know more from the very first few pages of the book. This book is no different and starts off with gun fire and the newly built town, Devil's Crossing, burning down. Clay Colby and a group of outlaws have built Devils Crossing to give themselves and other outlaws, wanted men, a place to call home. Its a place for them to have a new beginning that is built in a location that gives them the benefit of not being easily snuck up on.  Clay Colby has always hated Monday's and this one is only started out to prove why. To his despair his mail-order-bride is supposed to arrive on this very day. Between Clay being an outlaw with a checkered past, being a wanted man with very little to offer a bride, his town now burnt down to ruins and the only home he has to offer his bride being a dugout built into this walls of a desolate canyon far off the beaten path. What woman in her right mind would want this life with him. Clay was lucky enough to end up communicating via letters with one of the strongest woman of their time. Tally Shannon is not your typical mail-order-bride.

Tally has a past wrought with pain and suffering. A past that you will find quite shocking as bits and pieces of her suffering is told through out this book. Tally escaped from an insane asylum that her step-mother put her in after murdering her father and brother. Her step-mother put her there even though Tally was not insane. The evil woman only wanted Tally's father's estate and all that came with it all to herself. Her step-mother left her there with the instructions to make Tally's life a living hell and then to kill her. Tally went on to help other woman escape the asylum and brought them to a place to call home, Deliverance Canyon. A place that only the woman that lived there and the Legend men that helped them knew of the very hidden location. Having escaped from the asylum that was nothing more than a torture chamber, the woman of Deliverance Canyon, led a very isolated desolate life, always in fear of being found, but a life still is leaps and bounds better than the one they escaped from. These woman were not insane and were just thrown away by their families. The atrocities they suffered will live you shocked and wanting them all to be avenged and wanting them to all have happily-ever-afters. Well except for the villians that you will want to suffer slow painful deaths.

I cannot wait to read the sequels in this series and see what other characters get their happily-ever-afters. Many of the outlaws from Devil's Crossing and the escaped woman of Deliverance Canyon are writing each other. Broday has set a new bar for mail-order-bride books so don't let the title fool you into thinking "its just another mail-or-bride Historical Western Romance". You will not regret reading this book and you'll be left yearning to know more about these characters that have made Devils Crossing their home and dying to see who else makes this once outlaw town their hometown. If you haven't read the Men of Legend series by Linda Broday that introduced many of the character's in this book you'll want to after reading this book. This book just blew me away and left me wanting more! This is an action packed, you'll ever guess what's going to happen next, book with characters you'll fall in love with! All I can do now is just sigh with my heart full and wait for the next book in this series!

As Texas as bluebonnets growing on hillsides, cattle grazing lush pastures, or cowboys riding for the brand and longing for a place to belong, Ms. Linda Broday has an extraordinary place in The Lone Star State and the hearts of her fans.

Outlaw Mail Order Brides is the 1st in a epic new trilogy from such a talented story teller. Ms. Broday never ceases to amaze her readers with her picturesque ways of telling a story.

“You didn’t have to be born to someone to be family. The one you chose is often much better. Clay had lost his at a tender age and had never found a replacement.
Until now.”
“Home wasn’t a place, but being with the person you loved. And Tally was his.”

Tally suffered the most brutal captivity a person could endure. Tally knows she can’t live in fear forever, but is Devil’s Crossing and Clay her passage to freedom, a safe life she’s always craved?
“Just for once, she wanted to know what being protected felt like.”

Ms. Violet and Bullet will weave their way into your heart and will take up residence for a lifetime.

If you are seeking an action-packed adventure with amazing characters, this one will steal your heart. Be ready for your emotions to run high, because this book cannot keep them settled.

Clay and Tally’s story will captivate the historical western lover in us all.
Linda Broday has earn her way into the coveted title of “Queen of Texas Historical Romance.”

Spoiler Alert:

This series starts off with action right out of the gate. Montana Black has torched the new buildings for Devil's Crossing taking hope away from outlaw Clay Colby. His mail order bride is to arrive any time now. Bullets are flying and Bullet the dog is in the thick of it. Tally Shannon is not going back.

Escaped from Creedmore Insane Asylum and now Deliverance Canyon, she is tracked by her three torturers. Men defended town and sent two to make sure they did not come back. Feeling unsafe, she takes off with blind eight year old Violet her daughter. Clay comes to the rescue them both.

The Januarys arrive with Rebel Avery (from Wildcat Saloon), from Clays past. Tally and Rebel begin the battle for Clay, even though he told Rebel he was now married. Tally and Clay finally after a month consummate their marriage after trust is established.

Montana returns injured and saves Violet from a rattler. Luke and pregnant Josie bring six wagons of building supplies and hands from the Lone Star to help with building. Houston is with them and Dr. Mary.

Josie has baby two months early. Both were in bad shape. Josie nearly dying due to hemorrhage. Susan Worth comes for Clay to be an avenger. Same three that tortured Tally killed her family and took a wagon because of injuries received by men from Devil's Crossing.

Clay and Tally go after them to Creedmore. Montana went, too. Get women out. Kill two of the three men and watch the third (Tarver) die in the fire set to the place. Wounded Montana dies. Step mom Lucinda ( who put Tally in the place to be rid of her to take the ranch) pulls up. Words fly. Houston has sent an attorney to get Tally's ranch back and justice. Also, will look into amnesty for Clay and Jack.

Tarver did not die, but escaped. He takes Tally and shoots Rebel. Clay kills Tarver and rescues Tally. Dr. Mary works to save Rebel. Bullet the dog had been hurt trying to protect Tally. Tally, Violet, two rescued kids and Clay go to the new home he had built for Tally.

News comes with a court date, but a witness must be found or will lose. Clay takes off to find him and get him to court in time. He ends up rescuing two women being worked by this man in the saloon for both have information to help him and the case.

He gets there just in the nick of time. They win case and step mom goes to jail for trial. She may even hang. And, Clay's amnesty came through. But, Jack's did not.

Back at renamed Hope's Crossing, a celebration with the case won. Money from sale of ranch and holdings to be donated to town and enough for blind Violet to go off to school for blind.

Clay and Tally in outdoor shower. After lovemaking, Tally tells Clay he is to be a father again.

Wow! And I thought it was gonna be tough out doing To Catch a Texas Star. I WAS WRONG!!!

This one had so much going on with different story lines and the action was kick out of the gate to the end!!!

Clay rocks on every button any woman would desire or think of (thoughtful, caring, sees women as equals, sensitive to a woman's needs, romantic, gives foot rubs, dances, protective, picks flowers, and more) and handsome to boot. Clay sees Tally as beautiful from the get go and strong, independent, and smart.

I know this is the first book in this series. Knowing Linda, each will be a notch or more higher like a musical crescendo. I just hope I can take it all.

I need to catch my breath. 5 stars my foot. This is off the chart.
I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.

This book is a historical romance. I am sure that many people will probably like it. I like the writing style. It is very descriptive and easy to visualize the scene. I liked the characters in the book they were well developed and endearing. What I didn't like was the descriptive abuse. It felt real and disturbing. The storyline was realistic but, it was just too much for me. Honesty, I just read the first 8 chapters. I could tell that more of the abuse was going to be in the forefront of the story and decided that I was not going to finish the book. Although, this is rare for me not to finish a book, I did not want to read anymore about the dark subject matter. If the abuse in the book had been left out, I believe that this book could have been a 5 star read.