Right on Time by Angela Breidenbach - 3 stars
Interesting story, but the characters' emotions were told rather than felt, romance was flat.

Pistol-Packin’ Bride by Margaret Brownley - 5 stars
Great characters, funny premise, enjoyed the romantic chemistry. The hero was so patient!

The Bride Who Declined by Susan Page Davis - 4 stars
Loved the story and characters, but missed the element of romance since there was none until the very end.

Twice the Trouble by Vickie McDonough - 5 stars
So fun to see the twins fall in love with the "wrong" man. Entertaining story and the couples quickly developed lovely chemistry as they got to know each other.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

The Mail Order Stand-Off is a collaboration of four Christian authors. Each of these four talented writers has used their unique skillets to write a Mail Order Bride story. Set in Texas and Montana in the 1880s, each one of these quaint tales grabbed my attention immediately. I did not set the book down until the final story had concluded.

Right on Time by Angela Breidenbach is the story of Timothy Higgenbottom. He is finished and wants out of the ridiculous rules of society. Tim has plans to travel to Montana and become a ranch foreman. Unbeknownst to his mother, Tim plans this without allowing a word to escape. Tara and her Pa both need of a ranch foreman. She hopes that he will stay. Most of the ones recently hired run away to the mines. Packed with timeless life lessons, this was a wonderful story.

Pistol Packin’ Bride by Margaret Brownley
This tells the story of Elizabeth Colton. She is journeying to Texas to meet her groom to be, Ben Heywood. When the stagecoach is stopped, she prepares her derringer, because the “wilds” are full of Indians and stagecoach robbers and they didn’t appear to be close to a town. Ben is ready to send his mail order bride back home, and be done with his meddling parents. The story is fast paced and action packed Delightful story with Ben’s parents being quite a force to be reckoned with, along with him being the town’s favorite son.

The Bride Who Declines by Susan Page Davis
Here we meet Rachel Paxton. She is a dressmaker. One day she receives a letter, then later a telegram telling her to go to Texas, to a ranch that has been willed to her. The catch, she has to stay there a month. Rachel is a city girl from Boston, and the Wild West seem a bit terrifying. This caught my attention very early and did not release it until I had read the entire book. With the vivid descriptions and authentic dialogues, I was transported to Texas in the 1880’s.

Twice the Trouble by Vickie McDonough
In this favorite story, Katie Quinn and her twin sister, Keeley are on their way to Texas to marry the two men, Connor McLoughlin and Brian Barnett, who have chosen them as their brides. Wanting to learn more, Katie devises a plan to postpone the wedding until they determine if their intendeds are God fearing, honorable men. When they arrive on the stage they tell the men that. What’s worse is they won’t even say who is which bride until they make their decision.. Delightful story with the twins and their intended along with a few townspeople. Likeable characters and a nice twist to this story keep the reader engaged throughout the story.

I highly recommend this collection and give it a 5 out of 5 star rating. A copy was provided by Net Galley, but these are my honest opinions.

Things don't always start out as expected in Mail Order matching, but when the couples include God in their lives, they can't go wrong.

Right on Time
1883 Kentucky and Montana
Looks can be deceiving. An English Lord, third son, wants to be a veterinarian and learn ranching, to make a life for himself. Which is why he answers an ad for a mail order husband placed by the Ranch owner. Tara, his daughter, isn't in on the deal. They make things tough for him, but he holds his ground, proving to be a valuable asset. Deep story with tragedy and success and life lessons.

Pistol Packin’ Bride
Absurdly, hilariously sweet and romantic. Very entertaining when a handsome lawyer who had been adopted by three families in a small town in Texas meets his mail order bride that he knew nothing about. She has a lot to take in, since she also accidently shot him and is sent to jail in the town where they all love him.

The Bride Who Declined
1885 Boston then Texas
An upscale Boston seamstress inherits a ranch when the man she had answered an ad for a mail order bride, and had turned him down, died. But there are conditions. Jack is the Foreman and helps her get to know the ropes. Another man shows up thinking the Ranch should have been his, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to get it. God throws us unexpected roads, but He has a plan with our best interests at heart.

Twice the Trouble by Vickie McDonough
Cactus Creek, Texas Early May 1888
Irish twins answer a Mail order bride ad to get away from their aunt. When they get to Texas they decide to gain some time and won't tell the men their names. Interesting story of their getting to know one another and find their true matches, and decipher God's plan for them all.
I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Four novellas written by my (and your) favourite authors. Well written. Thought provoking. Stimulating. Read this novel this summer on your front porch or back deck. You will not be disappointed. Five stars.

I received an ARC from Barbour Publishing, via NetGalley. This review is my personal opinion.

I had a great time while reading this collection, I must say that I enjoy mail order- bride stories and I have read many. Without a doubt, each author did a great job. On the first(Right On Time) story we found the most unlikely couple, the third son of an Earl and the daughter of a rancher. I like the historical details on this one and how Angela Breidenbach takes her time with each character and how they change through the story. The layers and the descriptions are lovely, on the second story (Pistol Pakin Bride) I must say I laugh (a lot) I will like to know where that idea of six parents came to Margaret Brownley?. Mistakes can bring something good and a new beginning. In the third story (The bride who declined) What I like about this story is that reminds us that sometimes takes us outside of our comfort zone because he has others and better plans. And finally, Twice the trouble, twins sister decides to be mail order and many things happen when they arrive town.

What I like the most of this collection is not just for having a great time, but to reflect in great trues, each of this story is well written have a great balance between love, romance, faith, family, second chance and of course many funny situations.

I absolutely adored each story in this collection! Novellas have always been my favorite in this genre and I LOVE a well done mail order bride premise. Wonderful and always had me eager to finish each story.

Right on time by Angela Breidenbach
This is a sweet read about the third son of an Earl, that wants to make a life oof his own. He loves open land and animals, so he answers an ad to become the ranch foreman and to marry the mans daughter. So many twists and turns kept this story interesting. The characters were smart and fun. It is a good clean western romance with a bit of English snobbery!

Pistol packin’bride by Margaret Brownley
Adopted by three sets of parents?? What a sweet funny story. The characters are hilarious, as is the story. I didn’t want to put it down. An original clean short story.

The Bride Who Declined by Susan Page Davis
Another sweet short story. In this one, Rachel is a seamstress with her own shop in Boston. Although, she had turned down a man in Texas to be his bride, He left his ranch to her. The characters and story are well developed and fun to read.

Twice the Trouble by Vickie McDonough
This is the last story in this anthology. It iis a story of identical twin sisters, going to Texas, to marry two cousins. Deciding that they wanted to keep their iidentities a secret, until they deciphered, if the men were true honest man. I enjoyed the characters in the story, it also had more of a Christian reference, but not overly done.
Overall, I thought all four stories were good clean romances. I am leaving my honest review for this book, that I received from the publisher, through net galley. #mailorderbride #netgalley

This was a collection of four stories about mail order brides. The stories were filled with wit and romance and very enjoyable to read.
Many thanks to Barbour Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

With four stories of mail-order romance, how could I resist requesting an e-galley of this newer collection format from Barbour Books? Authored by Angela Breidenbach, Margaret Brownley, Susan Page Davis, and Vickie McDonough, these are stories that pack a lot of entertainment into a shorter form.

Unified by the theme of mail-order brides whose matches have obstacles that might be deal breakers, some similarities are inevitable but each author has crafted a standoff that may surprise and definitely would stand out in a collection with lesser writers.

Meddling families, prickly courtships, and a mess of misunderstandings make this a recommended read for those who enjoy a bit of fun and a western setting in their Historical Inspirational Romance reading.

This review refers to a digital galley voluntarily read through NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

These were fun novellas from the Western Frontier in the mid 1800’s. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories and would read them again! Each author did a great job with their characters and storylines! Enjoy!!!

Underneath all of the spelling errors, inconsistent and incorrect grammar, improper formatting, and bad editing, they are 4 very nice stories. I wish that the author or publisher would have taken the time to correct all of the errors, because, if you decide to read them, they are pretty decent stories. So sad that they are not.
The general premise of every story was similar: each mail.order bride was either sent without one of them knowing, or once they arrived, they weren't sure if they wanted to marry. All of the heroines had independent spirits and the heroes were all believable. There were 2 stories that were slightly better than the others. I was not happy with the lack of continuity of the stories. Sometimes it was formatting issues (an entire page seemed to be missing), sometimes the grammar and spelling were just so bad, it was intolerable. I would give this a guarded recommendation to read. If the formatting errors are corrected, it would be a nice book to own. 3 stars for potential.

Marriage plans are put on hold in the Old West when four mail-order brides have second thoughts. How will their grooms win their trust?

Right on Time by Angela Breidenbach
Montana, 1883
Could two people be less suited than an English gentleman and a western gal who is used to giving the orders? From the wild Montana Territory to the refined Kentucky horse farms, can Timothy prove worthy of Tara’s heart?

Pistol-Packin’ Bride by Margaret Brownley
Prickly Pear, Texas, 1885
Attorney Ben Heywood didn’t expect to get shot on his wedding day—and certainly not by his mail-order bride.

The Bride Who Declined by Susan Page Davis
Boston, Massachusetts, 1885
Rachel Paxton turns down a mail-order proposal, but a few months later she learns the man she rejected has died—and left his ranch to her in his will.

Twice the Trouble by Vickie McDonough
Cactus Creek, Texas, 1888
When Connor McLoughlin and his cousin Brian order a pair of mail-order brides, they think they’re getting two sweet Irish lasses. But what they get is a stage load of shenanigans.

These all are sweet easy to read stories. A good way to spend a quiet afternoon while enjoying the day.

I was given this book by Barbour publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in anyway.

I love Mail Order Bride stories and I fully expected to love this collection. Honestly, if you are looking for a light fluffy read this will probably suit you.
Perhaps I’m too practical for some of the circumstances surrounding these characters to truly resonate within me. I like humorous reads, but I feel the reasons one would dare travel across country to marry a complete stranger would need to be truly sufficient reasons and these fell short in my humble opinion.
I found myself rather bored with the impractical situations and felt the characters “fell in love” way too fast to really be able to call it love. I have read books by these authors before and enjoyed them so I’m not sure why I couldn’t get these stories to appeal, but they just didn’t.
Having said that-I realize they are novellas and things must move rather quickly to reach a promising conclusion by the end of the story. They are lighthearted reads with humor and romance thrown in. They just weren’t my cup of tea, to my surprise.

An interesting read.

I would recommend this book.
Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

The novella collections by Barbour never fail to delight me! This one centers on mail-order brides who have second thoughts about marrying their prospective grooms. Set in the 1800s primarily in Montana and Texas, these stories are engaging, light-hearted, and full of romance. For all who enjoy reading about mail-order brides, this is a must-read! My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC for this my honest review.

Novellas are usually a great way to be introduced to new-to-me authors. I love that about these collections. The downside is that I usually want more.
This collaboration has some unique twists to the typical Mail-Order bride stories that I've read in the past. There is a gender swap, a groom gets shot, a long distance proposal and denial, and an intentional twin mix-up. All four are amusing and can be easily read in a short amount of time.
Thank you, Barbour Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced copy! All thoughts in this review are my own.

I finished reading "The Mail-Order Bride Standoff" and it was good. There are 4 short stories in this book. *Thank you #NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book. All opinions are my own.

The Mail-Order Standoff by Angela Breidenbach; Margaret Brownley; Susan Page Davis; Vickie McDonough

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Four authors bring readers some fun, action-packed stories that include excellent characters and fairly good plots which will leave readers wishing they all were full-length books.

I can go either way with books like this that include multiple stories – either I love them and wish there was more or I force myself to finish them because I need to have a complete picture of them before writing a review. Thankfully these stories fell into the former category and as I look back at them again, I wish the stories could be further developed. The first of the stories was Right on Time which was a great beginning. It features a young British man who is the third son of the Earl of Cumberland seeking to find his own way in the world. Having attained his degree as a veterinarian, Timothy is ready to step out from under the family umbrella of duties and put down roots in America. Against the wishes of his marriage minded mother, Timothy accepts a job as the ranch foreman on the JBarF ranch in Montana and heads out West. He has also conditionally agreed to marry the owner’s daughter….if they suit each other. The problem is, Tara Johnston has no idea of her father’s plans and is very displeased when she is told. Tara has always planned to work alongside her father and take over the ranch when he is gone. She is hoping for a love match one day but doesn’t need someone to come swooping in and take over her life. But despite the circumstances of Timothy’s arrival, Tara soon discovers that he is willing to work side-by-side with her and doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to marry/take over. Tragedy brings them closer together and soon gives them a reason to really work together – love. I liked this one pretty well given the characters were well matched and the story developed enough that it could end well in spite of the fewer number of pages. It would have done better as a regular length story so that the characters were delved into a little more and a reader might connect better with them then. The second story in this book was Pistol Packin’ Bride which tells of a young woman on her way to Texas to become a Mail-order bride to a young attorney. But said attorney doesn’t know of her coming and when he finds out, he quickly sets out to catch her along the way to ensure she can save her money and return home. He didn’t count on her being armed and ready to defend herself from the “bandit” stopping her stage. Injured and frustrated, Ben must now find a way to help his “bride” escape the hanging the town is insisting on for her “crime”. Elizabeth cannot believe she shot a man, especially the man to whom she is betrothed. But her imagination went straight to the many stories she’s heard about bandits in the west accosting innocent travelers along the road. Fearful of the vehement anger towards her from the town, she is ready to make her appearance before the judge and head back to Ohio before anything else happens. Ben never intended to fall for her but as they spend time together, he soon will find himself unable to let her go. Now, if only he can convince the town she is harmless and that he really wants her to be his bride. It was a tie for me with this story and the last as to which one I liked more. This one was really cute and I loved the secondary characters as much as the main ones. It could easily carry over into a sequel as well and I really hope it might?!? The plot was well written and I liked that it didn’t seem rushed or shortened at all. And the crazy family that Ben had made for such entertaining conversations throughout the whole story that I wished it was longer to be able to read more of them. The third story in this collection The Bride Who Declined was my least favorite as the whole story seemed a bit rushed and under-developed. It tells of a young woman in Boston who had written to a bachelor about becoming his bride but eventually declined his proposal given her desire to own her own dress shop. A twist comes into her story when a lawyer sends her notice that Mr. Hill has since died and she is listed as his heir. Traveling to Fort Worth to view her property and decide if she will keep it is her first priority. But Rachel didn’t count on having to decide on anyone’s future but her own and as she gets to know the ranch workmen, she realizes she must consider everything carefully. But another heir will make things hard for Rachel and when her life is in danger she will look to the young foreman, Jack Callen, for help. Jack isn’t sure why the ranch was left to Rachel, except that Mr. Hill had been in love with her. Respecting his boss’s wishes begins as a burden but soon becomes a desirable job as he comes to know Rachel better. If he can keep her safe, they might have a chance at a future together. This story was good but it was too much to try to cram this much information into so few pages. It needed further development of both the plot and characters to really make it a great story. Perhaps Ms. Davis will write a needed sequel to answer all the questions readers are sure to have by the end of the story. The final story of this collection was Twice the Trouble and I really liked this one. It’s the story of a set of identical Irish twins who are coming to Texas to wed two good friends, the town sheriff and the general store owner. But things don’t turn out like the men planned when the ladies arrive and refuse to tell them who is who – until they get to know them better. Frustrated by this unexpected situation, both men try to make the best of it and set out to show the ladies they can be trusted. But the plan also gives way to an interesting discovery – both the ladies and gents are drawn to the other’s supposed match. Can everything be sorted out or will the original plans go through after all? I loved the entire plot and development of the story/characters of this one. The men were excellently written the the ladies were good matches for them, both in wit and conversation. I liked how everything came about and while it would have been nice if the story had been longer, it didn’t seem rushed or incomplete at the end. I will certainly be recommending this book as I am sure others will enjoy it as well. Hope these ladies will offer up another collection of stories like these soon.

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

Right on Time by Angela Breidenbach is a fun twist to a mail-order bride story with an Englishman turned cowboy. Angela's book was a delight to read.
Pistol-Packin’ Bride by Margaret Brownley made me chuckle when the mail-order bride shot her intended. This is an entertaining tale.
The Bride Who Declined by Susan Page Davis is an enjoyable novella about second chances.
Twice the Trouble by Vickie McDonough is a lively book about twin sisters who won't tell which they are until they get to know their intended better. It's a heartwarming story.
The Mail-Order Standoff was such a lively book to read. If you're a fan of mail-order bride stories, you'll love this book.

I received this book free but was under no obligation to provide a favorable review. The pleasure was mine.

The Mail-Order Standoff is a faith-based, easy-to-read collection of novellas written by four talented authors set in the 1880s in Montana and Texas. These are diverse stories with a common thread that offer adventure and romance with a bit of humor thrown in. The characters in each narrative are believable and engaging. The plots incorporate fun twists and strong faith elements. I highly recommend this book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.