Undercover Bride is an entertaining read filled with humor, mystery, and surprising plot twists.

I was not grabbed straight away with the story. But once I read more about Maggie and why she was there as a mail order bride I was hooked. Maggie is an undercover agent looking in to a train robbery. Enter Garrett Thomas he is a prisoner of war who is looking for a new wife & step mother for his two children. She gets to spend time with the children & Garrett and she realises that Garrett could never had robbed that train and killed a man. She gets to meet the people of the town and she learns a lot about them and what standing that Garrett has in the town. Can she prove that he is innocent even though she can't prove it yet. Can Garrett ever forgive her for lying to him and hurting his children as they have all come to love her. Can she prove to Garrett that he loves him and that it is no longer just a job. I did not see the two person as the robber surprise. I loved that the story pulled you into their world and made you believe that people do deserve second chances

I freely admit that I love to read Historical Fiction involving mail order brides. Now I think I might have a definite liking for tales of Pinkerton detectives as well, especially female Pinkerton detectives.

Undercover Bride involves both. Maggie Taylor is a Pinkerton operative, undercover as a mail order bride for a suspected "Whistle Stop Bandit," Garrett Thomas. Maggie doesn't make the best first impression on arriving, and the hotel is somehow full, so she stays in Garrett's home despite his misgivings about her suitability. Expecting a psychopath, instead she finds a handsome, doting father of two.

Garret is a tinker and a survivor of the Battle of Gettysburg and the horrors of Andersonville Prison, a time he prefers not to speak of. Maggie has a past that she prefers not to speak of as well, even if it wouldn't blow her cover as an innocent farm girl from a good family. But it goes a long way to explain her motivation to be a successful detective.

Is Garrett a train robber, why are hundred dollar bills from the robbery suddenly appearing around town, and was his wife's death an accident? As Maggie investigates, the reader is treated to an interesting cast of characters, including Maggie's master-of-disguise partner. Garrett's children are catalysts for some important pieces of the plot, and his hypochondriac Aunt Hetty (who reminded me of my grandmother) helps increase the stakes as she pushes the wedding planning along.

Undercover Bride succeeds both as a romance and a light mystery story. There is enough tension and suspense to keep the readers interest. Maggie's difficulties in keeping to her role and staying professionally unattracted to the subject of her investigation, were well done as were the dropping in of small, but important, bits of information along the way. As the mystery is slowly unraveled, the pieces fall into place for the reader.

There is a sweetness to the scenes where Maggie teaches the children to pray, and great humor when she takes them to church. But Maggie as the person of greater faith did not add up in my mind. It made sense that Garrett's distaste for religion stemmed from his experiences at Andersonville, but the roots of Maggie's faith weren't evident (or I missed them) and this didn't seem to mesh with her background in my mind. This, and Maggie somehow being able to cook wonderful meals based on just a few lessons and one cookbook, were the only things that gave me pause in my reading.

This is the second book in Margaret Brownley's Undercover Ladies series, and I enjoyed it enough that I am going to read the first book, Petticoat Detective soon. More Pinkerton lady detectives? Yes, please! I just hope that I enjoy it as much.

Recommended for fans of clean historical romance and mysteries set in 1880's Arizona Territory, mischievous boys, handsome Civil War veterans, mail order brides and Pinkerton detectives. Or if you just want to learn why everyone (according to 5 year old Elise) who eats cornbread dies.

Undercover Bride is what you would expect from Margaret Brownley. I just love her books and this one is no exception. I love Maggie and how she was a Pinkerton detective. When she and Garrett interacted with one another was pure fun. And those kids of his were a perfect addition to the story.

Highly recommended.

Five stars.

Once again, I have jumped into the middle of a series, but once again, it doesn't really matter. The characters stand alone and the reader does not feel that she is missing something.

Maggie Cartwright, aka Maggie Taylor is Garrett Thomas' mail order bride, but in reality, Maggie is a Pinkerton agent out to prove that Garrett was the Whistle-Stop Bandit. Once Maggie meets Garrett, she begins to doubt that Garrett actually WAS the Bandit. Still it's her job to find the evidence to prove the charges one way or the other. In the meantime, Maggie falls in love with Garrett's two children, and then falls in love with Garrett himself.

While Margaret Brownley did follow the accepted romance formula, she did it in a most entertaining way. Her books are always marked with humor and light-heartedness and this one is no different.

Maggie has had to take on many roles in her job as a Pinkerton, but she's never really learned the homemaking arts--especially the essentials like cooking, so she hides her discrepancies as best as she can. She uses a cookbook but she doesn't let anyone else know about it by hiding it after she uses it.

I have loved every one of Margaret Brownley's books that I've read. I recommend this one to anyone who likes light-hearted historical romance. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a Pinkerton Agent who'll find all your secrets.

My thanks to Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

Maggie finds herself doing more than her job when she goes undercover and Arizona. She poses as a mail-order bride so she can get closer to the suspect, but soon finds herself falling not only for his family, but him as well. She realizes that she has to figure out what is really going on before she finds herself too involved.
I really liked how Maggie was able to stick to what she believed in and her job, but was able too, to realize that things aren't always what they seem to be. She was able to look beyond the obvious and follow her instincts. I received a copy of this book free to review.

Maggie is a Pinkerton Detective sent to investigate the Whistle-Stop train robbery. The main suspect is Garrett Thomas, who has recently placed an ad for a mail-order bride. Maggie answers that ad, and moves into his home, making it easier for her to search for the money. But as she get's to know Garrett and his children she begins to question her suspicions...

I loved Garrett's children, Ellie and Toby, who quickly fall in love with Maggie, and she with them. Garrett is very gentle but firm with his children, and it is his close relationship with his children that makes Maggie question her suspicions.

I also really liked Rikker, Maggie's partner, and how he is constantly there is help her, and coming up with all kinds of hilarious disguises!

I loved this book from the terrific primary and secondary characters, to their interaction and how Maggie relies on her faith throughout. Fast-paced, adventure with the perfect blend of great characters, humor, mystery, faith, adventure, this is probably my favorite book from this author, Ms. Brownley has a winner on her hands!

Overall, a fantastic read and one of my favorites of this year so far, highly recommend!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Title: UNDERCOVER BRIDE Author: Margaret Brownley
Publisher: Shiloh Run Press June 2015 ISBN 978-1628366273 Genre: Historical romantic suspense Series: Undercover Ladies book 2

Pinkerton detective Maggie Cartwright is tasked with going undercover as a mail order bride. Her “fiancé” is widower Garrett Thomas, aka the suspected Whistle-Stop Bandit.

No sooner does Maggie arrive in Arizona Territory when she’s confronted with an early wedding date—the clock is ticking on her detective work or she may end up a criminal’s wife!

As the day of the wedding draws near, Maggie begins to panic. The problem is that the more she gets to know Garrett and his two adorable children, the harder it is to keep up the deception.

Can a man as kind and gentle as Garrett really be the Whistle-Stop Bandit?

I picked up UNDERCOVER BRIDE one evening when I wanted to read just a little before I went to bed. I didn’t read just a little! I was caught up instantly in the story and couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t help but fall in love with the characters in the story and identifying them. I laughed about the church miracle, and everyone knows somebody like Aunt Hettie.

Even though UNDERCOVER BRIDE is the second book in the series, it easily stands alone. Fans will want to read Petticoat Detective though, just so they don’t miss a single one of Ms. Brownley’s books. She is one of my favorite historical authors.

Fans of Ms. Brownley will enjoy reading this story. I am looking forward to reading the third book in this series later this year. Recommended to fans of historical romance or historical romantic suspense.

5 stars. Available in ebook, hardcover, and paperback. 320 pages.

I received this book from the author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good story filled with mystery and romance. The characters were well-developed and the story moved at a brisk pace. I did suspect one person who did it near the beginning of the book but was wrong about another. It is a Christian Romance so do expect religion to play a part in how some of the characters react.

If you love a good Western romance, you'll want to get this one in your sights, 'cause with Margaret Brownley it's sure shootin'!

The hot dusty Arizona Territory harbors the elusive Whistle-Stop train robbers, and Pinkerton detectives are hired to flush them out. Maggie Cartwright just wants to do her job, then head onto her next assignment, but deep down all she really wants is a family of her own. How can she stay detached when there are two sweet kids and their gentlemanly father in the mix? Is he as innocent as he seems?

Quirky characters, witty dialogue, and plenty of action are ahead as the story heats up, including some courtroom drama, plus a sweet romance that seems doomed from the start. Who knew that chess could be so romantic?

Some faith references, prayers and church scenes put this firmly in the Christian romance genre, but it's not too preachy making it appealing to anyone looking for good clean historical fiction. An enjoyable read from beginning to its satisfying end! 4.5 stars

(Thank you to NetGalley.com and the publisher for the ARC provided in exchange for my unsolicited honest review.)

Margaret Brownley always writes with a sense of humor. Even when her characters get into deep trouble, you realize it's all going to come out ok in the end. In this instance, Maggie Cartwright must go undercover as a mail order bride to Garrett Thomas whom the Pinkerton's suspect of Train robbery and possible murder. This situation creates many delightful twists and turns in this story.

Garrett Thomas is one of the more serious protagonists that have peopled Ms. Brownley's stories but he is a brooding hero you can't help but be drawn to and sympathize with.

Maggie, the heroine, takes some getting used to. Her job requires her to be sneaky and deceitful--not characteristics I like in my heroine; but in the end, she redeems herself as both she and the reader recognize she has lost her heart to Garrett Thomas; but can she prove his innocence after producing the evidence against him herself.

Then, there are Garrett's aunt and two children who will suffer the consequences if Garrett goes to jail, or worse hangs. The game of chess figures throughout the story and our characters must figure out if they are in a battle or a courtship or both. You must read to find out.

She's a Pinkerton agent. She'll do anything she needs to do to get evidence. Even pretend she's a mail order bride...

Shiloh Run Press and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It's already been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

Maggie is checking out Garrett Thomas. He's a widower with two children and he's suspected of being a train robber. She goes all prepared to find the money and get out. But finding the money is not easy. He keeps his bedroom locked and she hasn't found a hint of any secret in the house. Not even the outbuildings show her much. How is she going to prove her case? And does she want to once she gets to know him?

Garrett's Aunt Hetty is off and running with wedding plans. The whole town is grinning at her. She's even trying a wedding gown and the whole time she feels like a fraud. That all changes when she finds the money up in the children's "tree house" in the barn. Then she has no choice but to turn him in.

She does, but she doesn't believe he's guilty. So she keeps looking and she cons her Pinkerton partner into staying longer and helping her. The romance is sweet but the mystery was intriguing and kept me reading. I spent more time smiling while I read this story than I usually do when reading and I liked that. I really liked the ending. Try it and tell me what you think.

"Undercover Bride" by Margaret Brownley is the second book in the “Undercover Ladies” series, published by Barbour publishers.

Maggie Taylor is a Pinkerton private eye sent to find the Whistle-stop bandit by posing as a mail-order bride to Garrett Thomas, the main suspect. Throughout her career she's faced dangers of life and death, but never the danger of falling in love with the suspect.

Garrett Thomas is a Civil War veteran and widower with two young children who wants to marry a woman based off mutual respect. He doesn't know if his heart can handle loving another woman after losing Katherine, but knows the children need a mother. Can his broken heart mend enough to love Maggie even if she's not what she seems to be?

The book has an interesting setting and plot, and made for a quick read with lots of laughs. I felt that the romantic aspect of it was a little unsteady because of the identity illusions between the main characters, but the story was sweet and was a fairly light read. It didn't necessarily keep me on the edge of my seat, but I didn't get bored with it either. All in all, I'd recommend it.

Thanks to Barbour publishing for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and we're not required to be positive.

If you like westerns, detective novels, romantic stories, and books that will make you laugh out loud, then you need to read Undercover Bride without further delay!

This second book in Margaret Brownley's Undercover Ladies series is jam-packed with the perfect amount of suspense, history, humor, and of course romance. It is perfectly fine as a stand-alone; in fact, you can read the books in any order as they are really only connected by theme rather than by characters..

Maggie's partner Rikker gave me most of my laughs - each new getup/disguise (and Maggie's reaction to them) amused me more than the ones he'd previously used. Sharp-tongued hypochondriac Aunt Hetty and inventor-in-the-making Toby (who confidently had an answer for everything) also proved to be delightfully humorous. If I wasn't grinning at their antics, I was grinning at Garrett's romantical gestures (and Maggie's reaction to them). Cue the dreamy sigh.

But that's the thing about this book. My dreamy sighs didn't last very long because I spent most of the book keeping pace with Maggie as she tried to decide whether or not Garrett was guilty. Just about the time Maggie & I became convinced of his innocence, Margaret Brownley would throw us another emotional curveball, and it was back to the drawing board. Then I thought I had the co-culprit figured out… only to discover I was wrong.

Definitely a truly entertaining must-read.

I give Undercover Bride 5 out of 5 stars and a place on my faves shelf!

This is the second in the series about women working for the Pinkerton National Detective Agency and it is every bit as good as the first one. Pinkerton is on the trail of a train robber and murderer. All the signs point to Garret Thomas, a widower with two kids. When he posts an advertisement for a wife, Pinkerton assigns Maggie Cartwright to respond. Using an assumed name and a made up family history, she corresponds with Garret and then goes to the Arizona Territory to meet and supposedly marry him. In reality, she is going to investigate him and prove he is the wanted man. The only problem is that he seems too nice to be a murderer. He is so nice, in fact, Maggie is having second thoughts.

There are some interesting issues brought up in this novel. One is how we handle an unsavory past. Maggie's father was an outlaw and was hanged when she was young. As she grew up, she told people he had died in the Civil War, not wanting people to know the truth. Might we do something similar to make our past socially acceptable?

Another issue is how our past influences our career. Maggie chose working for Pinkerton because it helped alleviate the shame of an outlaw father. She found that working undercover, lying about who she was, was actually easy because she had done it about her own past.

I really like the way Brownley writes. For example, Maggie gives a beggar some money. Elise asks why she did that. Because God wants us to help those in need, Maggie answers. Elise wants to know why God doesn't help them Himself. “Because God doesn't want to keep the fun of helping others all to Himself.” I like that! There's a good bit of humor in the book too. The church scene with mischievous Toby trying to steal the cross was a laugh out loud one.

Brownley's characters are delightful. That little Toby, wanting to go to the moon and constantly designing ways to get there. And then there is Garrett's aunt, a wonderful woman, even if she is a hypochondriac. I appreciate it when the main characters are well developed and the supporting ones are very entertaining.

I also appreciate learning about something in a novel and in this one it was about imprisonment during the Civil War. Given rice to eat but no way to cook it, Garrett learned to make a pot from his canteen. He made spoons from brass buttons and cups from wood. That led him to a career as a tinker after the war. And all that information about chess! Who would have thought it was a game of love? And the novel was based on an actual train robbery from 1871.

I really liked this novel. It had great characters, was an entertaining story, and had a pretty suspenseful end. I recommend it.

Margaret Brownley is the author of more than thirty novels and a RITA finalisty and INSPY nominee. You can find out more at www.margaret-brownley.com.

Shiloh Run Press, a division of Barbour Publishing Inc., 320 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

Highly entertaining. A book I wanted to read in one sitting.

Maggie Cartwright is a Pinkerton detective and assigned to go undercover as a mail order bride. Widower Garrett Thomas is the suspected Whistle-Stop Bandit. Once Maggie gets to know Garrett and his two children she had trouble believing him to be the robber and murderer they thought him to be. I enjoyed how the author brought these two together and found Maggie to be a very intelligent and quick thinking detective. There was plenty of action and emotions throughout. The children and the role they played in the story made a wonderful addition to the story. I found it a wonderful story of a mail order bride and the smart woman Pinkerton detective who could make it all work. I'd recommend this book, it had romance, faith, and mystery. I found it a delightful book! I would like to thank NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for gifting me a copy for my honest opinion which I have given.

Undercover Bride is so much fun to read! I found myself thinking about it when I wasn’t reading, and I was dying to find out what was going to happen next. Undercover Bride is book two in the Undercover Ladies series. I read the first book, Petticoat Detective and loved it. That being said you don’t have to read book one to love book two. Undercover Bride follows Maggie, a Pinkerton detective, to the Arizona territory in 1882. Maggie is there on a mission from her boss to uncover proof that they found the Whistle-stop Bandit. But she didn’t count on how handsome Garret Thomas was.

Garret Thomas has been through a lot in his life, and doesn’t want to take a chance at falling in love again. He’s done that once, and is now a widower. Knowing that Toby and Elise, his children, need a mother figure in their lives, he placed a mail order bride ad. When Maggie arrives he finds her in a unexpected situation. Maggie is prettier than he planned on, and Garrett wonders what he’s got himself into. Can Garrett get past his hurts and take a chance at love again? Will he find out who Maggie really is? Will they accept God’s plan for their lives? Or be too scared to reach for it?

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Fiction. It had me laughing out loud and nervous at other times. I really enjoyed getting to know Maggie and Garrett and know you will too. I can’t wait to read the next in this series knowing how much I enjoyed the first two. I received a copy of this book from Shiloh Run Press, a division of Barbour Publishing, and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

What a fun read!

Undercover Bride's unique story line about a woman Pinkerton agent, is what captured my interest at first. The great suspense, Christian romance, history, and humor though is what kept me reading page after page.

The story was told with some great characters, including Garrett, poor old Aunt Hetty, Riker, and Little Linc. My favorite character throughout the book was Maggie, the woman Pinkerton agent. Maggie won me over with her constant faith in God and her willingness to find the truth.

Af first I would have told you that the ending was just too a bit too predictable. Margaret Brownley proved me wrong by throwing in some twist and turns, that I would have never imagined.

Great book!

Loved it! Unfortunately, I don't have the time to write a proper review but I definitely recommend the book!

I loved this book. I read it in a day. I loved everything about this book including the characters, the plot, the setting, and of course the cover of the book. This book was a fun read. It is full of twists and turns an humor. I loved Maggie and how she was a detective. It is the second book in the series but it can be read before the first. It inspires you that people do deserve second chances. This is a must read book.

I was provided with an ARC copy of Undercover Bride through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I loved the Pinkerton Detective Agency as a setting for the heroine to be developed so well. Maggie Taylor answers a mail-order bride ad in hopes to capture the criminal who has gotten away with the crime so far. Maggie had a hard time growing up with a criminal for a father and a mother who didn't want her children for whatever reason. Garrett Thomas feels the need to move on after his wife dies in order to help him raise his 2 children. Being a guy he figures it can work out best just 2 adults without love, so wrong.
It is well written with plenty of detail and it really lets you connect with the characters.

Great story!!

Maggie Cartwright is a detective for the Pinkerton Detective Agency. She and her partner have been sent to Furnace Creek, Arizona, to find evidence to convict Garret Thomas of the Whistle Stop Train Robbery. He fits the general description of the man seen robbing the train, killing a guard and riding off with $70,000.00 in cash.

The Pinkerton's have had Maggie pose as a mail order bride and correspond with Garret in an effort to embed her in his life and get the evidence needed to convict the man of the crime.

Unfortunately when she meets Garret who knew that she would fall in love with him. Who knew that she would be taken in by his two children and his kindness. This complicates things as she has a job to do but in doing that she is lying to a man that she is developing strong feelings for and desires to actually become his wife.

Margaret Brownley develops the characters well and develops the plot line of the story very well. She builds on the plot from one chapter to the next while all the time building the 'backstory' of the characters involved. In the midst of this she also weaves through the story the theme of forgiveness, a need for God, trust in the Almighty as well as in your fellow human.

Side plots involve Garrets time in the Andersonville Prison during the Civil War. It also involves Maggies growing up in an orphanage because of a terrible family background.

Can the two find love? Can Maggie find the robber? If it turns out to be Garret, can she bring him to justice? All good questions and woven well in a fun story.

Enjoy!

Maggie is a detective for Pinkerton. She goes undercover as a mail order bride for a case already two years old. Her soon to be husband Garrett is actually suspected of being the “ Whistle Stop Bandit “. Garrett is a widower with two children - Toby, and Elise. Maggie discovers she is very attracted to Garrett as he is her. Yet could she actually be attracted to a killer? Also where is the money he got from the train robbery? I really loved this story and plot. So fun to read had me laughing out loud and not wanting to put it down until I had read the very last page. I loved the characters especially the twists and turns Maggie and Garrett went through. I highly recommend.

Undercover Bride was a fun read! I liked how the main character was a Pinkerton agent and that she was undercover as a mail-order bride! SO interesting and fun! I really enjoyed the mystery and the romance was sweet. All in all, just a great read. I recommend it and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

*I received a complimentary eBook copy via NetGalley for my honest review.*