Lori Copeland has a penchant for writing some rootin', tootin', rip-roarin' books and each one is a gem in its own right. I just finished a trilogy of Wild West Brides and I thoroughly enjoyed all three of them.

Three Claxton brothers are returning home from the uncivil Civil War, and each one encounters love in a significantly different way. Wynne Elliot is on her way to River Run, Missouri, to find Cass Claxton to do him a serious injury because he took her money and left her standing at the altar. While on her journey, she is overrun by the Beeson gang and robbed of her last bit of money to finance her trip. Cole and Beau Claxton happen on the stage just moments after the robbery occured, and offered to take her into town and help her out for a bit. What Wynne doesn't know is that they are Cass's brothers. When she finds out, she decides to strike out on her own to find Cass and do him in. Cole can't let that happen, so he follows her and from there, all kinds of sparks fly.

Beau comes home from the war to marry his high school sweetheart, Betsy. About a year later, Bets is bitten by a rattlesnake that kills her and their unborn child. After the funeral, Beau leaves River Run--in an effort to run from his grief. His running leads him to Cherry Grove, Kansas, and into the mouth of an angry, injured wolf--which does him a great injury itself. Charity Burk sees what happens and drags him to her house and takes care of his injuries until he gets better. In the meantime, her best friend, Letty, dies in childbirth and her husband leaves the baby in Charity's care. In order for Charity to keep her claim and keep the baby, she needs to marry Beau, it's just getting Beau to come around to her way of thinking.

On his way home from Kansas City, Cass drops in on Beau--the day he marries Charity--and helps him prove up Charity's land. On a trip to town, he and Beau encounter Leviticus McCord and his daughter Susanne. Susanne is rather spoiled and not afraid to throw a major hissy fit in public in order to get her way. She ends up hitting Cass in the face with her purse and later comes to Charity's house to try to talk Cass into taking her to St Louis. When her original plan doesn't work, she resorts to blackmail to force Cass to marry her and take her to St Louis. When Cass drops her off, he demands that she get the marriage annulled. Six years pass by and now Susanne needs a place to run her orphanage and house "her" nine children, and the place she finds to fill her needs is owned by Cass Claxton. When he won't lease the place to her, she decides to move the children back to Cherry Grove to live with her father. She manipulates Cass by sending a telegram to him "from" Beau telling him he needs Cass's help. On the way to and after they reach Cherry Grove, Susanne does a lot of growing up, especially in her spiritual life. This one of the three novels had me crying for more than half an hour.

Lori has done a tremendous job with these three novels. There was a bit of repetition in SOME of the elements of the books--Charity and Susanne both do a bit of manipulation to get their way and their man. Both of them retreat from their manipulation, but not until they have done some serious damage to their relationships. That is the only real criticism I have for these books or for Lori's writings. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a wagon train ride west.

Wild West Brides is a fabulous read! I loved all 3 Old West Romances! They were great. I look forward to more by this author.
5 stars.

If you enjoy reading a series here is a three in one for you. Men of the Saddle focus on three brothers returning home from war. I personally love stories where the men take the lead role, for some reason this is not usually the case. The peacemaker was my least favorite however I enjoyed this series.

The Peacemaker - Wynne Elliot has one thing on her mind, revenge. She can’t believe what Cass Claxton has done to her and she will get her revenge. She never expected to wind up being robed and in need of any assistance from any man. Let alone one like Cole. When she discovers who he actually is, she can’t wait to get away from him, yet what is it about him that she just can’t seem to get over? Wynne is a very determined, selfish woman, to be honest I didn’t really care for her much. However the chemistry between her and Cole is great.

Cole Claxton can not wait to get home to his mom and her home cooking. The last thing he wants to do is help this stubborn, addlebrained woman. Yet he was raised by a southerner and knows he must do what is necessary. When he discovers exactly what Wynne is up to he must put a stop to it. Can he stop her and keep his feelings for her in tact? Cole is a strong, independent man, Him I liked. I love his straight forward ways.

The Drifter - Beau Claxton is still getting over the loss of his wife, even after a year. He finds it hard to move on. When he must rely on others to help him can he repay the kindness to Charity and guard any feelings he may have. When he dares hope for a second chance does God have it in for him?

Charity Burk has begged God to send her a man. Since the death of her first husband she has been trying to keep the Kansas farm up and running. But is failing. When Beau is in need of help she has to wonder if this is the man God sent her. Is he ever going to be in any shape to help? Then when an unexpected bundle is dropped in their lap will it help push them together or will rumors tare them apart.

Beau and Charity have both been through very difficult circumstances. Both are strong and opinionated. I love the dialogue between the two and the emotional baggage they have.

The Maverick - Cass Claxton has built a great life for himself. In fact he is a most sought after bachelor. However when Susanne reenters his life he knows things will never be the same. Will she ever change? Why do they seam to always fight? She is nothing but Trouble, however he is drawn to her. When he is somewhat forced to help her and her nine children can he do it without killing her and without his heart getting involved?

Susanne McCord just wants to do what is best for the orphanage kids. When she realizes she need help from Cass, she wonders if God is trying to teach her something. She understands his mistrust of her, after all she is a changed woman, but how would he know. Why is it he brings out the worst in her? When she realizes she has lost her heart to him will God give her the desires of her heart or must she face the circumstances of her past and be forced to live with out him.

I will admit I did not like Susanne at first however I eventually started to like her. She and Cass must learn some valuable lessons. I love their personalities.

I was given a copy of this book from net galley for my honest opinion.

Three great Christian romance stories by Lori Copeland! The story of three brothers who find their perfect matches in the old West.

Will the three Claxton brothers find love?

In this three in one novel collection from best-selling author, Lori Copeland, Cole, Beau, and Cass meet their matches. Veterans of the Civil War, they proudly served their country, now they are on their way home to Missouri, to find themselves again, and return to civilian life after the war.

In the first story, The Peacemaker, Cole and Beau witness the robbing of a stagecoach and by the time they reach it, the robbers are gone. They find only a young woman, Wynne Elliot, holding a gun on them. Cole takes an instant dislike to her, but beau convinces her that they are good guys and invites her to stay with them when he finds that she has no where to go.

When Cole finds out that Wynne is looking for his youngest brother, Cass, he joins her, keeping his distance but in awe of her determination.

I loved the verbal sparring between Cole and Wynne, it was fun humorous read.

In the second story, Charity Burk, is alone on a homestead claim that she needs to prove up on, so she prays for a man. She looks out the window and sees a man being attacked by wolves, she rescues the man, but is then called away to help at a birthing. Two squaws show up, to care for the man, who's name is Beau, but they now think that he belongs to them! Will Charity be able to rescue him, not once, but twice?

In this story I like how Charity and Beau help each other out, and how they grow to care foe each other, and comes to terms with the second chance at love they are given.

To say that Cass ans Susanne are off to a rocky start, may be an understatement in the third story of the collection, has she tricks her father in to forcing Cass to marry her so that she can get out of Kansas to St. Louis, and six years later she is still up to her old tricks.

A humorous tale, as Cass and Susanne transport 9 orphans to Kansas. I liked how Cass bonded with the boys and taught them things about being a man.

Overall, a splendid collection of stories. Definitely plenty of fun for lovers of western romance.

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."

Sweet and surprisingly feisty…

I love romance and am happy to give almost every sub-genre a try. Almost. I admit to still shying away from the zombies (*shudder*). If I choose based on pre-conceived ideas though I may miss out on a good read (zombies excluded, of course). And this time out, I would have missed out on three exceptionally fun romances.

This is a bundle of three historical, Christian romances set in the post-civil war era of the old American west. The horror of war, the aftermath that followed and the atmosphere of a country still in its infancy was an eloquent backdrop to the Claxton brother’s stories. Cole, Beau and Cass are heading home from war and their paths are going to lead them all to love…

There is deception, bravery, humour, danger and, above all else, love in these stories of overcoming physical hardships and the challenges of life that exist in any time period. I loved the characters who were all different but shared so many likable traits. Wynne and Cole’s story was the funniest of the three with their romance rife with slapstick moments (a mule is all it takes) and humour galore. Beau and Charity have a more dangerous time of it as a life-threatening situation soon has them falling in love with each other (reluctantly) and a cute little baby… Suzanne is a new, better woman when she meets up with Cass again but he is not easy to convince. Maybe one last blackmail attempt will do the trick!

I loved the writing style and three unique stories with couples that had me laughing one moment and misty the next. Old-fashioned for sure, with faith a huge part of their lives and their romance, it was a step back in time that felt just right. I’ll be looking for more of this author’s stories. Perhaps the Claxton brothers have cousins?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.