The Mail-Order Standoff

I love this type of book! You get four very well written novellas that are full of drama, excitement and romance. The stories are the perfect length for when you don't have time for a full length novel. Each story is different, but they are all so good! If you like historical romances that will make you laugh, cry and cheer, grab this book! Thank you Barbour Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this wonderful book! All opinions expressed are my own. This book deserves more than 5 stars!

If you like romance novels of western mail order brides, this is it! Four different stories each with characters that make you feel you are friends with them. Can you imagine marrying someone within a few days of meeting them and living happily ever after?? These stories are a short read but long on interesting story lines! Enjoy! I did!!
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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.

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.

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.