Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Intimate Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third person perspective from both hero and heroine

Should I read in order?
Probably – this one is okay as a stand alone, but there’s so many interwoven friends becoming family relationships in this small town that I think your enjoyment would be better following everyone’s HEAs together.

Basic plot:
Ridge Steele is a former preacher. Accused of crimes, he must make his home among a town of outlaws but he longs for someone to share his life with. He corresponds with a prisoner, Adeline, to be his mail order bride. Upon her release, she travels to meet him.

Give this a try if you want:
- Western America setting in 1882 (Texas)
- There’s plenty of heavier themes running through this book – it is very much focused on finding love and recovery after trauma so be okay with various content warnings (There’s not too much on page, much of it is remembered/implied)
- Disability featured – heroine suffers from selective mutism
- Mail order bride trope/marriage of convenience
- Big family feel – their town has a family feel with everything coming together and helping each other, though they aren’t actually related
- Light to medium steam - 3 scenes but they are on the light side

Ages:
- Heroine is 20, couldn’t find an age for hero (would guess late 20s?)

My thoughts:
So, I definitely don’t want to let my lower rating deter anyone from giving this a try! If you think the things above sound like something you would enjoy then definitely give it a try.

This book has a lot of themes about healing within it. So many of the characters suffer, and they find ways to cope and overcome their life traumas. There’s also a lot of things that happen on page, where the characters work together, or work with other members of the town to really bond together and fix problems.

But, for me, I just didn’t like it. There was so much going on, so so much. The romance got a little lost for me and sadly I didn’t feel much tension between the two of them. I eventually got bored, even though there was a lot of action and things happening. I wanted the book to end a few times earlier, but then a new drama would occur that they would have to overcome. It was just a lot for a person that tends to prefer those simple books based on relationship development.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Well I did not really care much for the story. I just found it annoying that the main female character who could take before could not talk to her husband. The dialogue was just boring and all they did was fight and then be in love with each other and then fight again and be in love. She didn't want to be owned by a man which if fine whatever but she seemed to be irritated with her husband the whole entire book. I think the story could be cut down a lot. It is way to long with nothing really happening. Just couldn't hold my interest. I found the audiobook on my local library app so I switched over to that but I did not like the narrator at all. She is very dull and has no emotion. Very robotic.

I read this book ages ago and just realized I never wrote a review. This was a quick romance that I got through easily enough. Enjoyed the characters and their development.

The 4th book in the Outlaw Mail Order Brides Books. It lived up to the previous books in the series. I recommend reading in order. I regret that this is the last book in the series. Makes me feel second chances can be hand and people can start over when people have friends and support. A bit of faith helps.

A nonstop adventure that pulls you into the story from the very first. My heart was pounding and I was as anxious as the heroine trying to get away!

Two wounded souls that need redemption and to find love, so much it just tied my heart up in a knot!
Ridge has been accused of a crime he did not commit and forced to take refuge in not the best place. But to find a way out he corresponds with Addie, to become his mail order bride.

Addie, bless her heart, has been in prison and in traumatized and cannot even speak when she gets out (oh that is a story of it's own). Ridge is so good with her and they really help each other.

But of course nothing goes smoothly as their journey to happiness is fraught with danger and evil men. There is so much to this story, that I could only give a heavy sigh of happiness as I turned the last page. Wow what a series and will miss these wonderful characters!

I’m a sucker for a mail order bride and an outlaw. This book didn’t disappoint. An ex preacher turned outlaw and a mail order bride is a recipe for a good book.

Meh, fell flat and boring. I could not connect or care about the characters. It started out good, but ended up boring.

I have loved Linda Broday's books in the past and was exciting to read her newest release, Once Upon a Mail Order Bride. I was definitely not disappointed with this fourth installment from the Outlaw Mail Order Brides series. It is getting a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it.

What a great ending to this series! I enjoyed the unique circumstances Addie and Ridge had to overcome. It is a great example of how important communication, in any form, is in a relationship. The characters are wonderful and the plot was great.

Release Date: November 24th 2020

📖📖📖

Addie has spent the last three years in prison and is not on her way to meet her husband. She carries secrets with her. Ridge Steele is an outlaw. His mail order bride Addie has her secrets but so does Ridge. With some much that could tear them apart, how can they survive together?

This is the last book in the #outlawmailorderbrides series. This book was a full telenovella in written form when you think nothing else possibly could happen to these characters, nope here come more. That being said it was an engaging and quick read. I haven’t read the other books but will likely try them as well. I wouldn’t re read this book but I do recommend it for a dramatic beach read.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

#bookstagram #netgalleyreads #bookrecommendations. #Lindabroday #outlawmailirderedbrides

First story that I read from the author.

I like how hopeful Ridge and Addie to become better persons. The supporting characters are good too.

A bit long to read but it's worth it.

Thank you for the ARC!

One faced jail and the other the hangman's noose and the danger is still threatening when they join the outlaw mail order bride service. Saving the best for last is exactly how I felt when I finished this final book in the series. Western settings, hard-fought action and romance, and tender characters who only want to find love and make things right.

Once Upon a Mail Order Bride is the fourth standalone romance in the historical western romance Outlaw Mail Order Brides series.

Ex-preacher and accused rapist and murderer, Ridge Steele has remade himself as the tough-bitten mayor to the fledgling town full of outlaws looking to start over fresh. He has seen his friends and fellow town founders find love and start families and he wants that even if he doubts that a guy like him could be so lucky. He starts exchanging letters with Adeline Jancy and starts to hope a little when he meets her at last and learns the truth is a great deal more than what the woman shared in the letters. He'll have to dig deep and stand strong against the danger and sorrow in her wake if he wants to build something with Addie.

Addie is the daughter of a not so benevolent cult leader and made a decision to save a child from the fate of being son to the cruel man she knows as father. This leads to three years of traumatic suffering in isolation under the prison. She emerges with no voice and two of her father's killers on her tail because she was the one to hide his son. Writing with Ridge and finding herself in Hope's Crossing begins a healing that she hadn't expected. She expected Ridge to be like her father and takes time learning the difference, but just when happiness is in her grasp, the past catches up.

Talk about two people with gut-wrenching stories. They connect on so many levels as a result. Wrongfully accused, abused for doing the right thing, and living down a rep while never trusting in people the same way again. Addie had it really bad- the evil people can do. I think because of their dark, bleak pasts, that made their connection of slowly building trust and love all the more sweet.

Like with past books the western frontier world is vividly drawn and each person's background and the rough and danger lives they live reflect that. I am glad the author put the extra time in to make all this come to life infusing the romance and family-feeling of the Hope Crossing community with something more.

Speaking of the community, this was the last book and I was glad to see all the familiar well-loved faces from previous books getting to be part of this one backing up their lonesome Ridge and welcoming Addie into the fold.

All in all, I was feeling especially emotional for this book and found an extra connection and sympathy with Ridge and Addie so that though I loved every book in the series, this was the one that truly resonated strongly. Absolutely, western historical romance fans need to go out and get this one.

I want to get the ONLY negative I found in the book out of the way first. In the middle of the story is where I felt the author was just trying to get to the recommended number of pages, which made for some boring reading times,
Otherwise, I found the ex-preacher turned outlaw Ridge and his lovely but mute mail-order bride Addie's love story as a HEARTFELT,EMOTIONAL and very INTRIGUING journey! I feel anyone who enjoys romance or historical fiction wouldn't mind adding this to their reading list! It will make you WANT to read the other books in the series if you haven't yet! Linda Broday keeps her stories as true to life as you & me and has us beleiving we may just have a hero out there waiting for us too! I'm anxious for her next series, Will it be based around another western town, with more interesting sexy outlaws & their beautiful but mysterious mail-order brides?
**Thanks so much to Netgalley & Sourcebooks Casablanca for allowing me to give my honest opinion in exchange for this wonderful book!

Honestly I can't put this down, even fell asleep late just to satisfy my curiosity. The last book of the series, that I got the chance to read the first book only, will do the rest later.

The story of both hero and heroine who came with a dark background that unveiled once they got married. Both carried burdens but through their marriage and understanding, they can overcome the problems.

Always like Linda Broday's novels about Wild West and the romance hidden in every nook and cranny.

“Dancing, like life, was all about learning the steps, making sure to avoid any obstacles, and not stepping in a pile of manure.”

Linda Broday never disappoints and once again presents an excellent romantic western that is sure to delight even the hardest of hearts. Once Upon a Mail Order Bride is Book 4 and the grand finale in the Outlaw Mail Order Brides series. Linda has created a wonderful world in Hope’s Crossing, Texas, inhabited by people who have shady pasts or are still wanted by the law. Hope’s Crossing is a safe haven with limited access, but it is not invisible or impervious from being discovered by bad people looking to collect some bounty on an outlaw or wanting to exact evil revenge for perceived crimes.

Ridge Steele is the latest outlaw in Hope’s Crossing to gain a bride, but Addie brings her own secrets and her own danger to the town. Their relationship starts off on a bit of a silent and rocky note, but they both find comfort and healing in each other's presence and are soon completely smitten.

As with the previous three books in the series, family plays an important role in Once Upon a Mail Order Bride. While couples continue to get married and have children, many have taken in orphans that have found their way to Hope’s Crossing and have no one to care for them. These families may be unconventional, but they are brimming with plenty of love, acceptance and laughter. A thought-provoking theme in Once Upon a Mail Order Bride is unearthing the courage to find your voice during traumatic situations, both literally and figuratively. Addie is not the only one to experience the struggle of speaking up and speaking out to save herself and others. All the books in this series can be read out of sequence, but please read them in order so that you can see the secluded town of Hope’s Crossing and its residents grow and thrive across all four books.

Word of advice: Don't be fooled by the "mail order bride" aspect here. All the women are strong, capable, and determined to live their lives on their own terms, but Addie is the latest and the last in the series to discover that patience and kindness wrapped up in a sexy outlaw can go a long way toward finding healing from a troubled past and securing a promising future.

Linda Broday consistently deliveries excellent stories that are eloquently written and filled with main characters that highlight the ineffable truth that love and life always find a way. Once Upon a Mail Order Bride has love and romance aplenty, but it also has enough evildoers and calamities to keep the pace quick and the drama high. Once Upon a Mail Order Bride may be the end of this wonderful series about outlaws, brides, family, atonement, and new beginnings, but Linda Broday has plenty of other romantic historical westerns for you to enjoy, and enjoy them you will. Trust me!

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

Finding something new to say when you have already reviewed the first three books in the series (and another 5 by Ms. Broday!) is a challenge. It’s pretty much a given that I’m going to love the book. Great characters, lots of action, believable romance, and excellent writing are all hallmarks of Ms. Broday’s works. (See all my other reviews here.) In Once Upon a Mail Order Bride, we have Adeline Jancy and Ridge Steele’s story (FINALLY!).

Ridge has long been one of my favorite secondary characters in the Mail Order Bride series and I’m glad that he is finally getting his own Happily Ever After. The former preacher turned outlaw’s backstory is very compelling. He’s a dependable friend to those in town, always willing to put himself in harm’s way to protect others. Ridge is certainly the classic Western romance hero that I want to read about.

I was drawn to Addie right away as a character. Why was she in jail? Why can’t she speak? I was turning pages to discover more about her. She’s faced adversity but manages to come out the other side mostly intact. What really impressed me with Addie, and Ms. Broday’s writing in this instance, was the emotions that she conveyed, despite not being able to speak. And I love this quote from the beginning of the novel:
“Doubts jumped into her head like circus fleas on a dog”
I very much pictured The Flea Circus cartoon reading that line!

The romance between Ridge and Addie is slow-building after a great meet-cute that I won’t spoil! Addie and Ridge learn to trust and love each other over time. I really appreciate this element of the story. The love between these two characters is real and believable.

Once again, Ms. Broday’s writing and storytelling are on point. One aspect that I really appreciate is how Ms. Broday weaves details (characters, especially) from her other novels into her stories, including Once Upon a Mail Order Bride. This allows new readers to easily catch up with the storyline but doesn’t bore loyal readers. (And sometimes helps when a loyal reader may have forgotten the details. 😉) I always appreciate catching up with the citizens of Hope’s Crossing, Dr. Mary especially. She is a hoot!

This novel is chockablock full of action. Shoot-outs, kidnappings, a tornado, and more kept my heart pounding and my attention riveted while reading. I do love some action (pardon the pun!) in my romance stories!

I am a little sad that this series is now finished. I’ve more than enjoyed my visits to Hope’s Crossing. While each book can be read separately, they are certainly best enjoyed as a series. After reading Ms. Broday’s comments on another tour post (over here), I’m positive there are more stories to come that I’ll enjoy equally as much!

So I'm a little late reading Once upon a Mail order bride and getting my review up thanks to getting Covid and having it kick my butt. Better late than never. I have been a fan of this series since Clay's book. I love reading about mail order brides and life back in the wild west and this series has both those. Ridge Steele has been my favorite since book 1, so finally getting his story was great. It was nice to take a step back from the stress of life and enjoy his love story.

Ridge was everything I wanted and more. I really enjoyed his back story and getting to know what made him the way he was. He had such a good heart and was easy to fall in love with. Addie was amazing and perfect for Ridge. Not only was she smart and pretty but brave and loyal too. She did what was right no matter the cost to her. They made a really cute couple.

The plot was really good, but I did take one star off because there was so much danger coming at the couple from both sides and I felt like it was a bit too much. With so much going on in the world it would have been nice to have a little bit more calm to the story. Still I loved reading it. Getting to see all the other couples and the kids. I think this was the last book in the series and that's sad because I would love to see the kids get married. If you are looking for a good read with a wild west flavor this is the book for you. Also I recommend you read the whole series because they are all good.

A terrific read that had many twists and turns. Sometimes a little too many, but I did really enjoy this book. Addie is so traumatized that her voice has been silenced. Ridge can't wait to meet his mail order bride. The fact that she can't speak isn't a deterrent. In some ways it helps him to come to know her better because he has to read her body language. These two belong together and I'm glad they find a way to do it!

Once Upon a Mail Order Bride is the 4th and final book in Linda Broday's exciting Outlaw Mail Order Brides series. I hate to see it end, as I've enjoyed it immensely. And it certainly ended with quite a bang! I'm going to miss the outlaw Texas town of Hope's Crossing and its unusual residents.

Ridge Steele, a former preacher, was accused of a crime he didn't commit. (Is it just me, or does that name sound like one of an adult film actor?) He makes his home in Hope's Crossing as mayor and runs a land office. Lonely, he corresponds with mail order bride Adeline Jancy, and they agree to wed when she is released from jail. When the beautiful young woman arrives, Ridge discovers that she cannot speak due to trauma and communicates by writing. As they draw closer, Addie gets her voice back and they begin to build a lovely life together. But danger lurks - there's a bounty on Ridge's head, and Addie's psycho preacher father is looking for her to exact revenge. Will they survive, or will burgeoning love be cut short?

Both Ridge and Addie were fascinating characters and made an awesome couple. When Ridge was accused of the crime he did not commit, he lost his faith and would no longer preach. He was as stubborn as a mule, especially when he was trying to protect Addie; however, he was putty in her hands. Addie was thrown in jail because she helped hide a little boy her father wanted in his clutches. She was basically in solitary for 3 years and lost her voice. But when Ridge was in danger, she found it. She was such a sweet woman but had a spine of steel. There was a lot of action in this book and it moved at a quick pace. I loved seeing the couples from the previous books and catching up with their lives. My favorite supporting character was Bodie, a 15-year-old boy whose life Ridge saved. The most heartwarming sections of the story dealt with Ridge, Addie and Bodie making their own loving family in the midst of chaos. The perfect book to end the series!

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.

What a thoroughly satisfying conclusion to an action-packed and love-filled series! I’ve read and reviewed all of the Outlaw Mail Order Brides books these past two years and I can honestly say I’m going to miss the extraordinary citizens of Hope’s Crossing.

Ms. Broday has created some amazing characters in these books. These outlaws and their mail-order brides are not your typical heroes and heroines in romance. They’re ex-convicts, fugitives, thieves. They have blood on their hands. Yet, readers can’t help but root for them to have a fresh start, find love, build a family, belong to a community. They’re fighters, survivors, exemplifying the best of the old West. Even as I say goodbye to Clay and Tally, Jack and Nora, Tait and Melanie, and Ridge and Addie, I have hope that I’ll see them — and characters just like them — in future books by Ms. Broday.

"Life is 10 percent made up of what happens to you. Everything else is how well you cope with the events. Don’t waste time being bitter. A mistake is not a life sentence. We learn, we grow, and we move on—hopefully as better people."

I’ve been waiting for Ridge’s story since Saving The Mail Order Bride and Once Upon a Mail Order Bride did not disappoint. This preacher-turned-outlaw’s back story is as fascinating as any of the others before him. So is Adeline’s. Their story consists of breathtaking action and slow fall into love. They not only try to escape from bounty hunters and vindictive fathers, but also from natural disasters. Ms. Broday spent a good bit of time having Ridge and Addie adjust to each other, gain each other’s trust, and develop their attraction to make their growing love believable. I’m happy that there’s neither instalove nor excessive push-and-pull.

There were updates on previous couples and storylines were tied up neatly, including those of minor characters and new people introduced to the community. A few of them might not have been necessary and could have been cut to tighten the story even more. While I didn’t agree with some of Ridge and Addie’s decisions and wasn’t entirely convinced with the about-face of some of the characters, I still really enjoyed this series-ender and recommend these books and other titles in Linda Broday’s backlist to lovers of historical western romance.