Brides of the Old West

Brides of the Old West is a collection of 5 stories. These stories include: Morning Mountain by Suzanne Walters A Bride’s Rogue in Roma, Texas by Darlene Franklin Valiant Heart by Sally Laity Lessons in Love by Nancy Lavo To See His Way by Kathleen Paul I loved all of them but Valiant Heart was my favorite.  A great collection of sweet faith filled stories.
5 stars.

I love reading collections of novellas and getting multiple stories about the same subject, or during the same time period, or about multiple members of a family. So, when I chose to read Brides of the Old West, that's what I thought I was getting: five stories that would take me back to frontier days in United States history. I got better than I was expecting--I got five full-length novels with fully developed plot lines, complex characters, and incredible descriptions. 

Morning Mountain by Peggy Darty A Bride's Rogue in Roma, Texas by Darlene Franklin Valient Heart by Sally Laity Lessons in Love by Nancy Lavo To See His Way by Kathleen Paul

These five women have written from their hearts and put some important spiritual truths in the plots as well as an entertaining story. 

With Lessons in Love, Deborah is raising her younger brother and has been given her Uncle Cyrus' cabin to live in. Luke shows up wanting them out of the cabin because he believes they are interlopers. When the misunderstanding is cleared up, Luke decides to stay on the ranch and keep an eye out for Deborah and her brother. As friendship grows between them, Deborah finds out that Luke can't read, and in an effort to spare his feelings, asks him to sit and take his lessons with her brother as an encouragement to her brother. As he learns to read, he finds spiritual help at the same time--and finds himself needing the Heavenly Father even more than he needs Deborah. When he falls in love with Deborah, he feels he can't offer her the most important thing a man can give: his name--he doesn't have a last name. It's fun to watch how Deborah overcomes Luke's reticence and they get their happily ever after. 

To See His Way finds Tilde being sold into marriage by her aunt's husband--a cruel man who abuses those around him. On their way to Fort Reynauld, the wagon carrying Tilde's aunt and uncle falls over a cliff and both are killed in the accident. The Arapahoe come across the wagon wreck and find Tilde, Boister, Mari, and Evie alone and confused. Boister, Mari, and Evie are Tilde's cousins and the children of the aunt and uncle. Now they are, for all intents and purposes, Tilde's children. As the Arapahoe care for them, a couple of the men of the tribe go and find the big Swedish preacher because they believe that Tilde is his bride. 

These are just two examples of the kinds of writing the reader will encounter in this collection. 

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and unexpected weddings all around. 

My Thanks to Barbour Books for allowing me to read and review this book.

Five full length novels for the price of one.

In Morning Mountain, Suzanne finds Luke after he's been shot, she takes him home and nurses him back to health.

I liked how Blanche takes a chance in A Bride's Rogue in Roma Texas, when stranger Ike Gallagher shows up with  a message from her father. Blanche goes on the riverboat and learns how to pilot it along the way, as well as finds a new friend in Effie.

Amanda and Sarah Jane join a wagon train in Valiant Heart even though the wagon master tells them that they cannot come along. I loved the way the Randolph's took the girls in under their wing.

Lessons in Love was one of my favorites. Deborah travels to Texas with her little brother, Case, in order to make a new life where Case can have a normal childhood. Luke a friend of their uncle's comes by to check on them and ends up staying to help them out. Luke becomes a fast friend, and quickly bonds with Case and Deborah. I liked how she taught Luke to read from the Bible.

To See His Way is another favorite, and one of the most adventure packed and humor filled of them all. Tildie wants to keep her cousins, after her aunt dies in a wagon accident. They are taken in by the Indians, and they befriend Jan Borjesson who has been trying to share Jesus with the Indians.

Overall, five amazing historical romances packed into one terrific volume. You really can't go wrong with this one, filled with fantastic characters and plenty of 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."

I really love these types of stories.  Perfect clean romance novels.  This set contains five full lengths novels by five different authors.  Great stories for those who love romance novels.  I also love the historical aspect of these books These books are encouraging.

This book has five novels. All are wonderful stories of  inspiration and love in the old west. This book has a total of 720 pages and are not short stories.

Morning Mountain by Peggy Darty

This is the story of Luke Thomason, Suzanne Waters and the forever love they find in the old west. Luke has been lucky at the poker table, but luck was not on his side when he was shot and robbed. Suzanne finds Luke barely hanging on his saddle and nurses this fine figure of a man back to health. Luke is a man down on his luck and desperate emotionally; he is bitter and has turned his back on his faith. Suzanne works like a man with her pa trying to keep up the ranch they were defrauded into buying, but things are really bad at this point, they are low on everything including money and her pa has been laid up from an injury. Suzanne keeps her faith that God has a plan and reason for everything. Ms Darty did a wonderful job of weaving the Christian faith into the book without over powering the story; the mystery of Lucas' past is a page-turner.  He is fighting so hard against his emotions he appears gruff, hard and at times uncaring.  Ms Dartys' character growth with Lucas and Suzanne was fascinating to watch.  Suzanne wants to find love, security, and a home, but until Luke appeared no one has caught her attention and the attraction is mutual.  God has plans for Lucas and Suzanne.

The road to love will have many rough spots before the end of the story, the plotting was spot on, the pacing was excellent, Ms. Darty pulled all the threads together to create a wonderful story; it never lagged and I never lost interest. This a great well-written love story.

A Brides Rogue in Roma, Texas by Darlene Franklin

Blanche Lamar meets Ike Gallagher at her mother’s funeral. He's a well dressed dandy and looked out-of-place in the simple country church. Devoted Christians, Blanche and her mother, Cordelia, lived a simple frugal life of giving and doing for others, striving to be better Christians, and unfortunately Blanche could never do well enough to suite her prim strict mother. Cordelia believed the Bible to the letter, strict uncompromising beliefs that at times made Blanche miserable. They dressed simply and with the cheapest cut of cloth Cordelia could sew, Blanche almost had old maid written across her face. Blanche will discover that the father she has never known, has left her an inheritance if she fulfills certain stipulations; whether her father is dead or alive is one of the mysteries in this story.  Ike, as an ambassador for her father, tells Blanche that her father felt she would come to know him best by knowing his boat and all will be revealed at the end of her first riverboat trip.

Ms. Franklin created a story full of emotions, twists, turns, and mystery; then she threw in Ike’s blind sister on the riverboat. She catches the reader from the first paragraph and then weaves all the twists, turns, and mysteries together; creates a character in Blanche that is a delight to watch grow into a mature strong woman with ambitions. Blanche will changes the lives of countless people on the riverboat with her simple strong Christian ethics, kindness of spirit, and determination to bring Christ to the employees and passengers of the riverboat. Her love for the mysterious riverboat pilot Old Obie was a joy to watch as he instills into her a love of piloting the riverboat. Blanche will find she has hidden talents.

There are several plots in this story that will really surprise you when revealed. Of course the conflict of values, the growing attraction and love between Ike and Blanche, the growth of Ike from a good man with unchristian characteristics and principles to a great man of Christian character was well written. Blanche is determined to stop the nightly gambling and I loved how Ms. Franklin wove the solutions into this story.

Ms Franklin depicted faultlessly that Christian values do not have to be rammed down your throat to present the gospel. Her story never felt preachy or pushy, but masterfully depicted the love story between God and man, then man and woman. This is a well-written love story I enjoyed very much.

Valiant Heart by Sally Laity

This story begins with a wonderful prologue.

Amanda and Sara Jane Shelby on their way to the Oregon Trail have buried their father in Independence, Missouri. Low on funds, they must find a solution to their dilemma. Sara Jane, the younger sister, decides they should take the trip to Oregon with the wagon train that is leaving shortly. Seth Holloway, wagon train master, refuses to allow them alone on the train. Amanda and Sara decide to follow behind the train after it leaves. What follows from this decision is an adventure of a lifetime created by the pen of Ms. Laity. They have no concept of what they will face in the journey to Oregon; Indians, floods, raging rivers, insects, storms, impossible mountains, death, mud, you name it, it was on the route.   Amanda and Sara are Christians and have faith God will lead and care for them.

Ms. Laity’s descriptions of the territory and the journey were vivid, her Christian values shine throughout the story, and her sense of humor was awesome. I laughed and laughed when Sara sang to the Indians warrior party. Each woman will find within herself strength, faith and determination to complete this journey and the journey of life.

Sara Jane’s character growth was astounding, as she grows from an immature, naive, girl, to a mature woman. Only the strong could have made the journeys of the pioneers and not only survive but thrive in the untamed west. Seth is fighting his attraction to Amanda tooth and nail; Seth emotionally injured and faith lost, will learn to trust and love God again; you will have to read the book to see if he wins Amanda or is someone else on the tip of Ms. Laity’s pen for her? The pacing of the story was on target and it did not lag. I enjoyed this story of the early pioneers willing to face danger and death to tame a wild land, and form new family units with love of God and for each other in their hearts.

Lessons In Love by Nancy Lavo

This is an absolutely wondrous story of a man, Luke who has never been hugged, held, cared for, or loved, a half-breed man of honor and Deborah.

Luke has no last name and no home other the one that Cyrus, Deborah's Uncle, had given him as a boy.  Deborah had traveled from Louisiana to give her seven-year-old brother, Case a normal life, or as normal as possible for a boy with a turned foot and twisted leg, to the same house Luke considered a place of rest. What a meeting in a dark hallway that was for Luke and Deborah! Deborah seems obsessed with Luke not touching her and all Luke could think was not a bet would he touch that dirty filthy woman who had never seen water.

Deborah’s and Case’s life has been very hard, their home burn down, the rest of family dead and an Aunt took them in was very prejudiced against Case’s birth defect. Deborah had to find a home for Case. Case considers the run down filthy house the Promised Land. Case has a wonderful loving spirit; he loves Jesus, and is fascinated with his new Indian friend Luke. Oh, how Case needs a strong man to look up to and to teach him how to become a man. The gospel story told from the mouth of a child was wonderful to read as he told Luke how Jesus loved him. This small child was a wonderful witness for God love, forgiveness, and redemption.

Luke cannot leave the two of them out in the wilds of Texas alone; they don’t even have a gun. God will use a small boy, Case, with the love, feelings, and wisdom of an adult to change this oh so alone man, and he will drag Deborah along kicking and screaming. I laughed and laughed at the things they did and said; and then on the next page I wanted to cry for all the injustice, evil, and prejudice in the world. I was running the gauntlet of emotions with this story.

What a story Ms. Lavo created. She knows how to grab you and not let go. She hooked me from the first page.  The plotting was perfect, the pacing couldn’t have been better, and the humor was a relief from the sadness, injustice and prejudice you will read in this story. But God is always in control and he had a reason to bring these three marvelous people together. Do not pass up this story as it will brighten your day, touch all your emotions, and leave you wanting more.

 To See His Way by Kathleen Paul

Life has been tough for Tildie, first she her entire family dies from influenza, and then she finds her life with her beloved Aunt Matilda almost unbearable. Her Aunt had remarried an evil, lazy man, John Masters. He sold Tildie to a Frenchman at the fort on the Arkansas River. The family travels to make delivery and an accident occurred; when Tildie awoke she was in an Indian camp, her Aunt is dead, her Aunt’s three young children are fine, and John Masters is dying. Even though Tildie despises John Masters, she presents the Salvation Plan to him as he lay near death. Ms. Paul story is one of wrestling with the demons of hatred, the feelings that John Masters got away with all his evils way by accepting Christ at the last-minute, that she resented God for allowing him his evil without punishment; she wrestles with her conscience for having these feelings and the feeling that God has left her. But God has a plan that will change everything for Tildie and the children for he has blessed them with a Christian Missionary, Jan Borjesson ministering to the territory and Indians. Jan knows that God has provided Tildie as his one and only love, his helpmate, and the children to love. The journey back to civilization is hard and long, they will face raging rivers, heavy snow, crippling injuries, bears, few supplies and the evil of men bent on murder and worse. Through all the tribulations, God is working to build a strong family.   Ms. Paul infused this story with so much emotion, I could feel Tildie’s wrestling with her unchristian feelings, I could feel Jan’s tender care of her and with God’s guidance leading her back from the dark, I could feel Tildie’s insecurity that Jan could not possible love her and want her along with three children.

This is a wonderful story of God’s love for all people whether they are Indian, white, evil or good and how God will work life to his plan. It is a wonderful love story of a mans healing love for a young woman and three children desperately in need of that love. I am very glad this story was in this book.

This is a wonderful collection of books; the stories are tender, sweet and clean. I applaud the authors and publisher for providing such an amazing collection.

I received this book from the publisher, Barbour Books and Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Brides of Old West Five-in-One collection of full length and full adventure and romance novels.
Usually when I pick out a collection I already know that there will be at least one that I won't like at all and at least one that is total money spender. But  with this collection, I loved each story, so unique yet so entertaining in adventure and history, so touching   in the trials they all go through.
Suzanne mends Luke out of the goodness of her heart yet he repays her by falling in love with her and saving her ranch.
Blanche left orphan after her mothers death puts her complete trust in a stranger- Ike Gallagher, only to find her long lost father and bring Ike to his Father from Heaven.
Amanda left no options defies the wagon master and follows his train up to the west only to have him search for her all over.
All Deborah wants is to provide proper life and education for her little brother. Only to get a new student that will teach her more then she bargained for.  Tildie and Jan's story is another success with all the suspance and fun and love.  Absolute recommend !!!
Disclaimer: I have received a free copy of this book from publisher, through netgalley, in exchange for my honest review.

In one of the story’s Suzanne is out checking the fence when she sees a man on a horse and the man is almost falling off his horse as he gets closer Suzanne sees red on his shirt she is not even sure she can get him back to the ranch alive. She finds out when he is in better shape his name is Luke he had won at poker then  he was shot and robbed oh his money. Luke is better now but has lost his faith. Suzanne on the other had alot of bad things happen but still has a strong faith in God. She kept her faith even through all the strife she was going through. There is another story about Blanche and she has inherited money from an unknown father but she has to follow some stipulations: one was knowing her dads boat would reveal alot to Blanche. A third story is about Amanda and Sara Jane who had recently buried there father in Missouri on their way to Oregon. All they really have is each other. The wagon train master won’t let them join alone so they follow behind. Sara Jane and Amanda have faith that God will get through all that happens on this very hard trip. The fourth story is about Luke who was a  half breed and had never known any kind of love or even affection. Deborah’s uncle Cyrus had given him the only home he had ever known at fourteen. Deborah toke her seven year old brother Case who had been through alot with their home burning and his own physical problems . Luke and Deborah met where he considered a rest place. Not a very nice place and dirty. Luke and case become friends. Even though Case has been looked down upon by most and has physical limitations he loves Jesus and has a very strong faith. Luke won’t leave Deborah and Case alone it just wouldn’t be right. The fifth story is about Tildie who has had a very tough life . Her family had all died from illness. Tildie is with her aunt and step uncle who is a very good man . She is traveling with her  aunt and her aunts family when there is an accident and when she wakes up she is in an Indian camp. Her aunt is dead and john her husband is dyeing but as bad as he was Tildie lead him to God before he toke his last breath. Tildie three cousins are still alive and Okay. tilde meets a missionary his name was Jan and as time goes on he loves Tildie and the three kids who have also lost so much and this is about the hard journey back to civilization and Tildie wondering how Jon a man of God could love her and the three kids that aren’t his own. 
These stories were all great and very inspiring even if in a time long gone by. What people endured then yet kept their faith in God was stupendous. There was a mix of stories but all had good plots and ups and downs but with God interweaved into the story, I loved all the stories and I highly recommend.

Christian Historical romance, with strong examples of faith and redemption throughout. Not short stories (which is unusual for a collection), each had something in it that had significance to me personally - lesson and comfort. 

All strong women who encounter tough obstacles in their journey, each has a connection with God that is learned or strengthened along the way.  Some teach their new partner, some are taught.  All of these stories are of value to the reader, and written so that you don't want to put it down or have the book end.  I highly recommend this book. These are new authors to me. I couldn't pick a favorite if I had to. Would make a great graduation present!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Barbour Publishing - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”