I did sadly not love it. I found the start to be somewhat odd, and it was a bit "too much" happening with both main characters. We got to know Melanie good, but i felt like we did not get the same with Tait. But i enjoyed the happy ending!

The Mail Order Bride’s Secret (Outlaw Mail Order Brides #3). By Linda Broday. 2020. Sourcebooks Casablanca (ARC eBook).

There are secrets, old enemies, friends and new beginnings in this western romance. I think Broday balances the action, romance and family aspects well to deliver quite the adventure for the characters.

This is the first of this series that I have read and I really want to thank the publishers, author and NetGalley for the Advance Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Outlaw Tait needs a bride desperately. Through a cruel twist of fate his sister’s orphaned children are now his responsibility and he has no idea how to care for them. When Melanie arrives and marries him immediately he is incredibly relieved and, although he’s vowed never to love again, finds himself very attracted to his new bride. But as they start to raise the children together and start to get to know each other better, Tait realises that Melanie is hiding a dangerous secret that could put their little family in jeopardy. I love how these characters are not perfect and how they slowly come to trust each other. The characters are well drawn and the storyline is fast paced and engaging. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series,

This was a great book. I haven’t read the series but think I reading the previous books would have helped me to keep up with all the characters. The characters were great and were well developed. The book was full of emotions, action, intrigue, and Old West drama.

Intense western romance. Likeable characters. Action packed. Revisit past characters from Brody's Men of Legend series.
Back to the unique town of Hope. A town full of quirky people.

This is Melanie Dunbar and Tait Trinity’s story, third in the Outlaw Mail Order Bride series; a standalone, happily ever after, no cheating, historical romance with sizzle.
I have mixed feelings about this story, its well written, characters are well developed, era is well represented. Spoiler alert --What had me tossed is the unconcern for her sister in jail. I felt like Melanie should have been working harder and smarter to gain her release. If she was trusting enough to sleep with Tait, she surely should have trusted him with her secret.
I received an electronic copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

I've read the previous books in this series and I absolutely love the concept. A town built for outlaws who want to change their ways and their mail order brides.
I really enjoyed this story. The children and Tait. The appearances of past characters. Melanie and all she would do to help save her twin sister. Gunfights and bad guys. The love that develops between Tait and Melanie. *sigh* Love.
Looking forward to more from Linda Broday, especially in this series.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. I really enjoyed this book. It was really well written and it just had you trying to solve the mystery. I look forward to seeing what’s next from this author.

"Sometimes a person had to cling to hope no matter how slender the thread."

The Mail Order Bride's Secret by Linda Broday is Book Three of the Outlaw Mail Order Bride Series. While all the books can stand alone, don't do it! The characters overlap, and each book is a treasure to be enjoyed and savored.

In 1881, Hope's Crossing in the Texas Panhandle is home to outlaws, renegades, and anyone else looking for a new beginning and a fresh start. Tait Trinity is the star of The Mail Order Bride's Secret and next in line for a bride. But this particular intended bride, Melanie Dunbar, has a secret as big as Texas and a hidden agenda that could very well spell the end of Tait Trinity. But what is a young lady to do when her life and her twin sister's life are at stake?

Tait is a wanted outlaw, holed up in Hope's Crossing and biding his time until he can hopefully secure a pardon for his crimes and begin anew as a free man. Melanie is the daughter of a gambling father who has no qualms about leaving his twin girls to take the heat as he escapes into the night to avoid an angry town. But Melanie is no shrinking violet and has seen her share of saloons, bedrooms, and card games. When Melanie finally arrives in Hope's Crossing to meet Tait in person, she finds a smoldering hunk of a man and his recently orphaned niece and twin nephews. The situation for both of them has taken a decidedly unexpected turn. Watching these two navigate a new relationship and handle two angry and frightened young boys and their adorable three-year-old little sister will make you laugh and turn you to mush.

Linda Broday has created a believable Texas world and populated it with all sorts of wonderful characters, both good and bad; young and old, who entice, intrigue, and entertain. For Melanie, her marriage to Tait starts off as nothing more than a cruel sham to save herself and her sister, but can she come clean and throw the truth down at Tait's feet? Can the love they are beginning to feel conquer the betrayal and the danger headed their way? It is only a matter of time before Tait must face the consequences of his past and Melanie must face an incredibly hard decision.

A main theme in The Mail Order Bride's Secret (in the entire series, actually), is family and what it means to be a family. Children play a vital, contributing role in all these stories, and it is interesting to see how gruff outlaws and women who never knew they wanted children rise to the occasion when children are in need of family and love.

While revenge and shootouts are served up and dished out, The Mail Order Bride's Secret is ultimately about trust, loyalty, love, and the sweet human need for companionship, family, and friends. Even as the romance heats up between Tait and Melanie, the danger and drama run high as these two first face off against each other before joining forces to outwit and outmaneuver an extremely bad man with an old grudge and no scruples whatsoever in how he exacts revenge. Keep a close eye on Melanie's father because he is full of surprises and may just steal your heart, and one recurring character in Hope's Crossing that I personally want to read more about is Dr. Mary and her necklace made of bullets.

I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.

He's got a price on his head, but that's not nearly as scary as the three children who get off the stage that are now his. Her life has always been a gamble and now she's up against a stacked deck. Now, it's time to roll the dice and take their chances together. I perked right up when I spotted the blurb on this latest in a fabulous Texas frontier romance series.

The Mail Order Bride's Secret is the third in a spin-off series of standalone western historical romances that are loosely tide together and are much more engaging when read in order and especially, after the Men of Legend series.

Professional gambler and reluctant con artist, Melanie Dunbar is in a peck of trouble when her con artist father skips town leaving incriminating fake promissory notes in the possession of her and her twin sister. They are at the mercy of a sleazy, crooked sheriff and an ambitious and equally crooked judge who are after bigger game. Melanie is just the bait for a trap needed to draw out the hard-bitten outlaw, Tait Trinity and the thousands he stole from the railroad. She can gain the freedom for her sister and herself when she follows up on the letters she has been exchanging with Tait through a mail order bride service and seduce him into giving up the money and leaving the protection of the secluded town of Hope's Crossing. If only it didn't feel like she was selling her soul. Or, that on meeting Tait and learning his situation, which is her dream of home, husband and family, she must make an impossible choice of who to betray- Tait or her own sister?

Tait Trinity has rode the owl-hoot trail and earned some hard-bitten enemies, but none so set on destroying him and leaving him in misery as the Berrigers and the railroad man. They started the criminal acts and he responded with force, but lost all he held dear in the process. And, now he has lost even more as his sister is killed and he now has charge of her three grieving children who want nothing to do with their no-account uncle. With the men after him and the law that will catch up eventually, he does not need this added complication. In desperation, he sends out a plea to marry immediately to the sweet seamstress he has been writing. He knows the moment the woman gets off the stage that Melanie has secrets and she is no shy seamstress. He is confused by her responses to his care and attention as if she wants to embrace the new life together, but has reasons to hold back. Slowly, he learns they both have troubling pasts and may be the very thing to heal and help each other. Until Melanie's secrets and his bloody past blows up in his face...

I love this author's writing and I love this series. I didn't even hesitate to pick this book up. But, I would be lying if I said I didn't wonder just how much I would like this book when the woman is lying from the moment she hits town and there were kids involved. The past books have shown me that the author does a great job of backing her characters into a corner and then getting them out again. Secrets, though...yeah, tough hurdle.

Melanie was confusing at first. Her thoughts and feelings were all over the place. I expected it since she's come to do a terrible thing to save her sister and then she falls in love with the man, his kids, and his town and learns he's not ONLY an outlaw. I had more patience with her as a result knowing that nearly every person on the planet would have done the same under those circumstances. Even her fear to put it all out there made sense the longer she let things ride and knew that the way Tait felt about the truth and had poured out his entire past to her would make it worse. In truth, the only time I thought she pulled a stupid was that part she played in the climax scenes which I can't detail out because spoilers. Let's just say that she got lucky and this is a romance because in real life, I'm pretty sure the outcome would have been different considering that particular villains proven track record.

As to Tait, I liked that he owned to his past, but had matured and made himself into something more after all the tragedy he had endured. He's gritty and morose at times, but when the kids and Melanie were there, oh so gentle, caring and loving. He felt he was undeserving, but he still wanted to make the world a better place for everyone he could whether it was with his gun or anything he could give. He had so much on his plate, but he stayed strong even in the face of the further trials that came his way.

The romance had the added complexities of two strangers arranging to come together in a marriage. But, they were both people who had no hesitation in a healthy romp in bed. Tait respected Melanie being experienced and didn't hold her past as a female gambler and daughter of a con artist who didn't exactly live the life of the straight and narrow. He supported her even when she admitted to not having any domestic skills and showed her that he thought her a beautiful woman and mother to his nephews and niece. I had no doubt they were good for each other and could only wait to see what the fallout would be when Melanie came clean.

A few enjoyable extras were the town children getting up a circus show, the town dance, and the visit from all the Legend men. Le sigh... I do love a Legend men appearance.

The villains were vile and one was a crazed sadistic who I really wanted to find a gruesome end. The bad guys had it all their own way for most of the book and were a formidable force which made the action-packed climax series of scenes a nail-biter. I love that the author doesn't go soft on the western action plot side to the story.

So, my qualms were soothed and my senses assaulted in a good way between the gritty action scenes, sizzling sexy times, and a patchwork group coming together as a family. Those who enjoy western historical romance really must give this author/series a look see.

It’s no secret that I cherish my time visiting the town of Hope’s Crossing with Linda Broday. The town progresses – we have a newspaper now! – we meet new characters, and we fall in love over and over. This time around, we even have a visit from Stoker Legend and his sons (from the Men of Legend series). It’s always great to catch up Ms. Broday’s characters. (And dang. I just realized I never read Sam Legend’s story. I MUST fix that error on my part!)

Tait is still a wanted man when we meet him. A gunsliger with a large bounty on his head. I enjoyed Ms. Broday’s description of when Tait and Melanie first meet that he:

"sauntered towards her, slow and easy like a wild animal stalking his prey"

The visual description paints such a great picture for me that I can almost hear his boots as he walks towards Melanie. As Melanie (and the reader) becomes more acquainted with Tait, we really get a sense of his character. He may be a criminal in the eyes of the law, but really, he’s looking for justice, which is rather admirable. He steps up when needed to take in his niece and nephews. He’s willing to put his life on the line for those he loves, including his friends in Hope’s Crossing. I do seem to have a soft spot for bad guys who are really good guys!

When we meet Melanie, she’s between a rock and a hard place. She’s being blackmailed: her twin sister’s freedom in exchange for her new husband’s. She needs to make some difficult decisions, and those decisions really weigh on her shoulders. What I appreciate about Melanie is that she knows her mind and isn’t afraid to go for what she wants. She isn’t completely straight-forward with Tait with her motives at the beginning, but she isn’t afraid to speak up when it’s needed. Including in the bedroom. She really shines towards the end of the novel. I think Melanie is someone I would get along with.

The romance between Tait and Melanie is realistic and starts more as a business deal than love. I really appreciate this aspect. The insta-love in many romances feels inauthentic. Here, we really see how the love between these two characters slowly develops and grows as they get to know one another. And by the end of the novel, I was hoping for their own version of happily ever after.

Generally, I can take or leave kids in my romance books (Preferably leave. I know. I’m just not into kids.) But Ms. Broday does seem to have a way with making me feel for the kids in her novels. In the case of Mail Order Bride’s Secret, Tait’s niece and nephews really play an important part in the romance between Tait and Melanie and the plot of the novel. The twins, Joe and Jessie are rapscallions! And toddler Becky is just adorable. I chuckled over Joe’s initial description of Becky being not ‘housebroke yet’. I smiled while the kids were trapping and training animals for their circus. And had a large twig or something in my eye towards the end of the novel when redacted for spoilers occurs.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Mail Order Bride’s Secret. The romance progresses naturally. The characters are believable. Check this out if you are a fan of historical romance!

Heart-pounding action from the deadly beginning to the daring rescue in the end. With her justice-seeking outlaw hero Tait and brave mail-order bride heroine Melanie, Ms. Broday once again gave readers an exhilarating tale of romance, family (both blood and found), and community amidst the lawless landscape of the Old West.

"I want someone to share my life with--the sunshine, the storms, and the days when everything seems just about perfect."

What began as an unwilling deception on Mellie's part and helpless desperation on Tait's developed into heated desire and a love so strong they're both willing to lay down their lives for the other. I really liked the slow build-up of the relationship between these two main characters. There was an instant attraction but they didn't act on it until they were already wed. I appreciate the choice to have Mellie confess her deception mid-way into the story. Had her false act gone on too long without Tait knowing would have disappointed me and made me enjoy the story less. Even more so if he found out before she told him. That speaks so well about Ms. Broday's expertise in crafting an engaging tale.

"I've found out that love is like the flow of a river--constant, something that fills up all the aching, empty places."

I think this book is well-balanced in that the heavy elements are lightened by funny bits especially from the antics of the twins Joe and Jesse and their adorable sister Becky. What a scene-stealer! I also liked seeing characters from previous books featured to move Tait and Mellie's story along without overpowering them. I suspect (and hope) that a couple of the secondary characters will have their full-length stories made and I am looking forward to reading them.

While I enjoyed the majority of the book, there were a few things that had me knocking down some points in my overall rating. I had to suspend disbelief with the speed of the telegram system they have in place, the convenient coincidences, and the ease in which the rescue was accomplished. Also, the villains were practically cardboard-cutouts; there were too many of them and their characterizations are one-dimensional.

Content advisory: There's plenty of gun violence in this book. This is a historical western novel and new readers should be aware of the numerous on-page shooting and taking of life scenes.

When Tait's nephews and niece show up at his doorstep after their parents are killed, he knows that he has no idea how to raise them. Having been corresponding to a mail order bride, he requests that she come to him so that they van meet and decide if they will suit. As a wanted man, he knows that he can't leave the kids without someone to care for them.

Melanie is surprised to find three kids along with the man that she has been corresponding to, but can't complain too much as she has secrets of her own. The only reason she agreed to marry Tait was to save her sister. She must find out where he is hiding the money that he stole from the railroad and give it to the corrupt judge that is holding her sister.

While this is a marriage of convenience, Tait and Melanie start to have feelings for one another. But what happens when Tait realizes the reason that Melanie married him?

I really enjoyed Tait and Melanie's story. It is always interesting to watch those in a marriage of convenience learn about one another because they are already married and in close proximity to one another. So much different than if Tait would have had time to court Melanie before getting married. The kids in this story were also a nice addition. They sure kept things lively!!

The Mail Order Bride’s Secret is the third title in the Outlaw Mail Order Brides series, and this couple’s romance is certainly not your typical mail-order bride situation – not by a long shot.

Do two wrongs ever make a right? Probably not under normal circumstances but Tait and Melanie find themselves in trouble deep from their beginning and it’s not about to get better until they take control of the truth and deal with it. Most of what you’ll need to know can be found in the cover description, and I really don’t want to get into the plot for I normally don’t anyway, and it plays out so much better if you experience it for yourself. It’s easiest to say that neither Tait nor Melanie had been honest with each other, both may have had good reasons for that but as events flow around them it’s so easy to see that this outlaw and this rebel really do fit together perfectly – they’re just going to have to deal with more than most couples bargain for before that happy ever after can come along.

If you’ve followed the series so far then you’ll find some old friends in The Mail Order Bride’s Secret. There are vile villains, nasty pieces of work to be dealt with, sizzle, laughter, adorable and mischievous children, and a couple who could be perfect for each other if their pasts can just get out of the way. I enjoyed myself back in this world, and although you could step into this series here I’d still recommend the earlier books for they are so good on their own and add more to the overall feel of this series. If you’re in the mood to watch two wrongs indeed make a lifetime right then pick up Melanie and Tait’s story now.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Who can resist a sexy, dangerous cowboy? It seems Melanie can't. She's supposed to be saving her sister by betraying her new husband. Too bad feelings start to get in the way. Tait has a hidden story that is coming back to haunt him. It's about to destroy all the things he has come to cherish. Melanie and Tait's journey is an exciting one. Together they can conquer anything! Great read!

The Mail Order Bride's Secret is book 3 in the Outlaw Mail Order Brides series. While I haven't read books 1 & 2 and the couples appear in this book it reads fine as a standalone. I thought this book was ok. I liked all the characters enough but I could never connect to the story or to this authors writing. Overall I found the story boring and the ending was rushed. I don't plan to read anymore books in this series.

The Mail Order Bride's Secret is the third book in Linda Broday's exciting historical western romance series Outlaw Mail Order Brides. Never fear, this book stands alone quite well. This is not one of those sweet clean mail order bride books that abound; this series has some grit! The men are outlaws, the women sassy, and the sex hot.

Tait Trinity is an outlaw who comes to Hope's Crossing, a town built by outlaws, to heal and make a life for himself. One afternoon a trio of children - a set of young rambunctious twin boys and a sweet 3 year old girl - are delivered to him. They are his sister's children, now orphaned. Tait is flummoxed; what the heck is he going to do with them?! He knows nothing about children, plus he wants to avenge his sister who was brutally murdered. Then he remembers the possible mail order bride with whom he has been corresponding...perfect! He requests that she join him immediately. When she arrives, however, he finds a woman who is not going to let him leave her with the children as he heads out! Unbeknownst to Tait, mail order bride Melanie Dunbar has a secret. She is sent to Tait to find the money he stole from the railroad, return it to its owners and betray Tait. If she doesn't, her twin sister will be killed. As she begins to know Tait, however, she doesn't know if she can betray him...

This book was fast paced, heartbreaking, sexy and exciting. I normally don't care for kids in books (once again, don't judge me!), but these kids grew on me, especially little Becky. Both Tait and Melanie had secrets they were keeping from each other. That romance trope usually annoys me, but it works well here; we see how emotionally attached they are becoming to each other and the children. How will they possibly get past the hurt of betrayal? Though Tait is a tough outlaw, he opened up his heart to his new family. Melanie was a tough cookie herself, but the thought of losing Tait or her sister almost brought her to her knees. The battle near the end of the book was most exciting. Also, I really enjoyed seeing favorite characters from previous books. It's like coming home again. Definitely a western romance you don't want to miss!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The first thing you probably need to know about this book is that, even though it’s a standalone novel, it’s also the third book in the “Outlaw Mail Order Brides” series and sometimes the “abundance” of characters can get a bit confusing when you haven’t read the first two books in the series.

However, I’m gonna try and focus my review on the main story of this book—Melanie and Tait’s love story. As an avid romance reader, I was a bit dissapointed at the lack of that intense-tension-leading-to-passion-and-heated-fights that’s so characteristic of this genre and that the plot in the blurb clearly suggested (outlaws, secrets, broken promises and treason? Yes, please!). The characters, instead, quickly agree on having a marriage of convenience with no love and only after consumating the marriage they seem to develop deeper feelings for one another. Personally, I’d have preffered falling in love with them slowly.

One thing I really loved about this book is the setting. I have a soft spot for western stories and anything that can transport me to a land full of dirt roads, saloons, outlaws, some pistoleros, or the so-called wild west, keeps me going. And that’s the main reason I had to continue reading this book—I simply wasn’t ready to return to the present.

However, I felt the conflicts were too loosely built and very easily solved. Also, the character’s mistakes were too quickly forgiven and that, in itself, represented a problem of plausibility for me, since I found it very hard to relate to them or to get on their side. If you think of Melanie as a gambler who had a pretty rough childhood and whose twin sister’s life depends on her betraying a virtual stranger, the fact that she’s having second thoughts right after meeting Tait doesn’t speak very highly of her loyalty to her sister (the only person she could always count on no matter what).

Luckily, all’s well that ends well and that’s the case for our bandit characters. At the end of the day, good and love conquer all and these two finally get the second chance they so-much deserve.

While this was a well-written and entertaining story, it was a tough one for me to get hooked into and stay involved in until about half way through. While I liked both main characters, I just never really connected to either of them the way I normally would have expected/hoped. I can't pinpoint exactly what it was because I enjoyed the plot line and there was lots to love about both Tait and Mellie (and the kids), so maybe it was just the timing of reading it. The last half—most especially the last big "event"—is what saved this book for me and made me glad I kept pushing through.

Tait and Mellie both had some pretty horrific pasts and heavy burdens they were carrying, both afraid to fully trust in what they got in each other and grasp hold of something good. I could feel Tait's struggle especially. I appreciated after the big reveal of Mellie's secret that after the dust from the explosion settled, there was a maturity to how they interacted with each other - even though I wished it would have played out a bit differently.

The last part of the book where everything built to it's ultimate climax kept me at the edge of my seat watching how all the threads weaved together. I adored the strength and love shown through actions (in all the relationships, not just between Tait and Mellie), the bonds made, the way everything worked out.

Readers who enjoy some laughter mixed in with drama (almost angsty)-fueled secrets and a good bit of old-fashioned shoot-'em-up action will enjoy this story.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

Sweet and spicy, with one of the more affable heroes and daring heroines I’d seen in a while. Can’t wait to read more from this author