Seven Brides for Seven Texans Romance Collection

I really enjoyed Seven Brides for Seven Texans. The stories were short and sweet. They all tied together really well and each one made me want to the read the next one even more.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book about the seven Hart brothers! All named after famous Texans, their unique personalities gave each story a distinct flavor of its own; from the charming Hays, the youngest brother and first to get married, to the oldest, steady responsible Austin. When they gathered together, they showed how a family can love and support each other, even with their differences. Each story built on the one before it, so the book flowed well and felt like a full length novel, complete with a satisfying wrap up at the end. Some action, danger, suspense and tender romances, plus a bit of faith, made this an outstanding set of novellas!

While all the characters were good, I have to say that my favorite one was Bowie, the wounded warrior with a kind heart underneath his stoic tough appearance. Going after Elise, the only woman who treated him like she genuinely cared, rescuing her from her own bad situation, remembering her kindness to him after ten years, just melted my heart. Their journey from New York back to Texas was just the start of the long way to becoming a real couple, other than a paper marriage. A swoonworthy ending to this one made it worth the wait!
Highly recommend this book to fans of historical romances with a little faith. 4.5 stars

Fabulous collection! Not only are they 7 Texans but brothers! A whole book about one family! It's so great to see the different characters from different perspectives and see what happens to them after the I do. I love how with the 7 brothers you get to see each one from his brides perspective, his unique characteristics and personality. Often in romances, especially Christian ones, all the characters sound all alike... handsome, kind, generous, helpful with some kind of insecurity. I loved that while all these guys are great, they all are different! Couldn't put this series down and it didn't dissapoint!

And, no, this is not about the movie/play of the same name. This is about Seven Brides for Seven Texans published by Barbour Publishing. 

Seven critically acclaimed authors collaborated to bring together seven Hart brothers and their brides. George Washington Hart has written his will and added a codicil that would shake even the mightiest of men. He has declared that each son will receive a part of the 7 Heart Ranch (which by the descriptions in the various novellas is HUGE) as soon as they are married. The kicker is that each son must be married before the year is out. The youngest son, Hays, decided that he would take the plunge first by posting advertisements around town. Travis, the doctor of the family, was the next to fall into the hands of love, and then one by one, each domino fell. Along the way, each man had to overcome reluctance of his bride, possibly solve a mystery, fall in love, and then present his bride to his family. Each son found a bride who was a perfect fit in personality and grace. 

I absolutely loved this collection of short novels. There's just enough intrigue in each one to keep the reader engaged and there's enough romance to satisfy my heart. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a HUGE family reunion. 

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

A fun collection. There are seven brothers, who need seven brides by the end of the year, otherwise they will lose their inheritance. Each novella is written by a different author, so obviously some are better than others. But overall a fun collection as the reader gets to see each Hart brother find love. The problem with novellas is that they are short and things happen very quickly, but on the other hand the reader gets to see each brother find love without going on and on with trivial things. An easy collection to read and to put down before you go on to the next brothers' story. Highly recommend this collection and authors.

Review of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

“Epilogue” by Erica Vetsch
Erica starts us out by setting the scene of all five boys (two are not there) and George Washington Hart around their dining room table. GW gives each boys an edict....they each have to find a wife by the end of the year in order to receive their land and inheritance! They are shocked!

“First Comes Love” by Gabrielle Meyer
I loved this story of Hays and Emma! Emma has arrived in Texas with her parents and siblings, she is the new schoolmistress in Hartville. Hays is the youngest of the seven brothers. He does everything to make everyone happy because of his childhood. Sparks fly when these two first meet but that electricity continues throughout the story! A delightful love story! 

“The Heart of Texas” by Lorna Seilstad
This story is so packed full of action and surprises! Caro is tough as nails and a spitfire. Chisholm has met his match with her! The story is lassoed with knowing who the cow rustler is and Chisholm getting his bride. 

“The Truest Heart” by Amanda Barratt
This third story is about Travis. He's the town doctor. He's always loved Annie, she is a widowed mother with a young son coming back to Hartville. She has a father that is condescending and belittles her. Annie finds her back bone. Annie has always loved him but she never figured could ever love Travis again because of the guilt she carries in her heart. Their love match is truly one that was meant to be, meant by God! 

“A Love Returned” by Keli Gwyn
Houston has been away for a number of years. He returns to his hometown to prove to his father he will pick up his weight as a rancher but he finds something much more valuable in the end. 
Coralee was a young woman very much in love when Houston left. She had a huge responsibility on her shoulders taking care of her father. A secret no one knew. 
A misunderstanding that could've cost them years of lost love finally reunites them because of a father's edict for his sons to find a wife in a year. 

“For Love or Money” by Susan Page Davis
This story is about Crockett. He comes to his neighbors rescue when he notices smoke. Jane and her brother Ben have taken care of things for over ten years. Sparks fly between Crockett and Jane, one thing leads to another, they discover there's more between them than a fire. 

“Mail-Order Mayhem” by Vickie McDonough
Wow this story of Austin's turned out to be fun! A complete turn around I didn't expect! I was thinking we may have a biblical twist to them getting married. I'm not going to spill the beans on which sister ends up marrying the oldest Hart boy!

“Love at Last” by Erica Vetsch
This last story of the brothers was about Bowie. Bowie was scarred in the war and lost an eye. He hid behind those scars for years, becoming a recluse, except with his family. When his father makes the edict, he's the last Hart to hold out and become married. 
He met his girl when she nursed him a decade ago. She was one woman that didn't turn away from him. He goes to her and asks her to be his bride in name only. 
She's determined to show him that she loves him scars and all. Once all barriers are down love comes at all cost. 

“Prologue” by Erica Vetch
Erica, lassos up the stories with a roundup of the year. We see him talking to his beloved wife’s picture and holding….. (uhhh not going to spoil it!), talking to her about their sons and the wonderful wives they chosen. GW is mighty proud of himself. 

**My thoughts** 
Yeehaw! Have fun reading these fun stories!!A wonderful set of seven stories that are cohesive together. All the writers did a fabulous job of maintaining each story to piggyback with each others story. You will fall in with each story and each Hart brother as they discover their wives by the end of the year! 

Disclosure statement 
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

I loved this collection of books. I especially loved GW. He set out to get his sons married so he could have grandkids before he died and he did.  I could not choose between Bowie or Hays as my favorite stories, Bowie I believe was the best. I liked all of the others so it is hard to tell. One of them was very predictable but that is just my opinion. All were well written.

It has been a while since I have read this genre of book. I have been on a military, (my oldest just came home after a 3 year absence serving in our military.), mystery, medical and or cyber terrorism kick lately. So this was very refreshing! 
First, I was leary of a themed story line about one family, written by all different authors... how could that Possibly flow?!?
Turns out, It was the perfect plan and set up!! Each brother's story was written by a different person, so each had their own style and "personality" that came naturally just through their writer! It was perfect! 
The brothers were great, the dad was well written and a couple of the bride's are as well. 
My one complaint is that after a few stories the bride's started to blur together for me. I don't know why the brothers stayed clear and individual but their wives became a blur after each book was done.
Other than a couple of very unique ones they just became an interchangeable unit of smiling, perfect, females.

This book was my introduction to all the authors listed on the cover.  I have never read anything from these ladies.  I was pleasantly surprised to find a new group of authors I sincerely enjoyed.  Novellas can be a little tricky since there is such a short and finite time frame to complete a story; they can get boring and drag on because the author chooses to prolong one small moment in time or feel rushed without detail to characterization.

These seven novellas, however, were very well written.  It amazed me how seven authors could come together to knit such a tightly woven story that spanned the lives of seven brothers, with a background storyline and character development in the men's father.  The stories seamlessly flowed from one to the other and I could not put the book down.  These seven brothers and their wives became near and dear to me as I lost sleep over two days trying to finish the book.  The romance is sweet, the characters quite believable and real, the faith component of each storyline recognizable.  Each brother and his wife are quite different from the other and easily distinguishable.  I had no trouble remembering each of their personalities throughout the book and that attests to the skill of the authors since there are so many characters to keep track of, with seven main couples and a few other side characters thrown into the mix.

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of novellas, but especially loved the last one.  When a sullen, war-injured brother is mentioned in the very first pages of the book, you know I was just dying to read his story.  And, of course, his story had to be the last one...but well worth the wait.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.  All opinions expressed here are solely my own.

I absolutely adored this book!! I read it straight through in about 3 hours. It was original, engaging, and I could not put it down! I think Bowie's story was my favorite overall. I think that my only "complaint" is that I wish the epilogue had been longer ;) I needed more info! 

Absolutely wonderful!

I'm a huge fan of these novella collections from Barbour--they are beautiful, the stories can be read in about an hour and a half or less, which is great for a busy mom, and they have some amazing authors! This collection is no different. I love the idea of it, which you can find in the prologue--all 7 brothers have a year to find brides in order to inherit their share of the huge ranch they grew up on. 

Each story is a stand-alone story, with some elements weaving through them all to tie them together. Loved this collection!

I love that old movie 7 brides for 7 brothers and because of the name I was attracted to this book. I loved it as soon as I finished the prologue. I knew the writers could easily mess up the stories but I loved the premise. I especially couldn't wait to read Bowie's story. I loved and hated that it was the last one.

GW the father of seven bachelor sons believes he is dying and to ensure the future of his family he decrees that all of his children need to get married before the end of the year or be disinherited.

We start with Hay's story which set such a great tone for the whole book. I loved that he wasn't upset about the whole edict but just jumps into the search for a wife in the most unconventional and crazy way possible. He is the youngest and is tired of being the last to do anything. The brother before him is next then a mixed order with the oldest two getting married last.

Bowie, the second son, a man scarred and wounded both physically and emotionally. His story was beautifully written. It had to be different with a little bit of improbability yet not impossible. Well done.

Considering seven writers took on a continuous series if you will I was worried. They are using the same characters in their own unique writing styles, thankfully there was no chaos. I did notice a few personality inconsistencies in a character or two but nothing great that took away from the story.

I loved this book.

The seven Hart brothers are in trouble. Adam, Bowie, Travis, Houston, Crockett, Chisolm, and Hays are all looking to inherit a piece of property from their Father, GW Hart, and his sprawling 7heart ranch. With their mother having been dead for 11 years and their Father wanting all of his sons married and with children before he dies he agrees to give each of his sons the inheritance before his death, and at the end of the year, if they all get married before New Years day. With none of them courting this seems like a huge and impossible feat.
I loved this book! I would definitely recommend reading this if you like short stories or not. The problem was that I couldn't put it down! 
I liked how each of the characters had their own personalities, character traits, and flaw. I also enjoyed the fact that the stories included other family and facts in them. 
One thing I thought was really neat, maybe because I myself live in Texas, is that each of the Hart brothers were named after Historical figures in Texas history. 
It really is a great book. I give it a five out of five star rating.

Fabulous! One of my favorites in the Barbour novella collection series. I absolutely loved the connections between the novellas. It was such a joy to read about this family. The authors in this collection are highly talented, and I will be recommending this one to my reader and reviewer

Seven Brides for Seven Texans Collection This collection brings with it a variety of authors which makes it so interesting in the way they present each story, but it also makes the collection a fun read because at the beginning we learn that this is all about what GW Hart has imposed upon his seven sons. GW finds out that he is ill and due to the fact that he has waited so long for any of his sons to get married, he decides to tell his sons that if they do not marry within the year, they can’t have their inheritance—a seventh of the ranch in which will be their individual portion. I love the different ways that each author has imparted their own style to show us the son that they are introducing the reader to and how they may or may not want to find a bride in order to save their opportunity of having their portion of the ranch. When it all starts out they are SO not into this bride-thing that their father has imposed upon them. Kind of funny how the first story takes on the view of how the youngest wants to beat the rest of the other brothers to the alter because they have all beat him to everything else in life. I have to say I think I love the last story the most as it’s about the next to oldest son, Bowie who had been in the war and has to carry the signs of that war on his body, namely his face. He doesn’t think that anyone could ever love him…a beautiful story! I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked reading all the different styles of how these seven Texans went out per their father to “get their inheritance” and then some! I recommend this read. I was given this book by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved the format of this book...I am often frustrated by an anthology because the stories don't really go together. This idea of all the stories being part of a larger tale was wonderful.

For a collection of novellas, this one is pretty good. Each takes about an hour to read, making them perfect for those days when you want to enjoy a story but have limited time to do so. The premise is a little farfetched, as I find it hard to believe that a father (at least one who wanted his children to be happy) would require all SEVEN sons to get married in one year.

As with other collections of works by multiple authors,  some of the Hart stories are better than others. For instance, Chrisholm's story was engaging, despite the length, and most of the stories followed suit. However, one issue I found with a series of novellas told about one family yet written by more than one author is that the depiction of the family differed from story to story. Most everything was the same (personalities, characteristics, ect.) but, particularly with how the father related to his sons, there where some differences that bothered me.

If you enjoy these collections, then this is a fun one to pick up and the length of each story makes it a lot easier for busy people to enjoy. And unlike many others, these novellas actually read like complete stories rather than a compilation of writing samples.

I have provided an honest review after having received a copy of this book through Netgalley.

I loved this set of novellas surrounding the seven Hart brothers in their quest to find brides within a year in order to receive their inheritance from their father. Each novella was from a different brother's perspective and showed his search for and then falling in love with their bride to be. I enjoyed getting to know each brother better, and their wives complemented them well. I thought this collection was entertaining, sweet, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in a sweet, romantic set of novellas.

Excellent collection that flows together fabulously! Even though each novella is written by a different author. They did a great job of putting this collection together. The first pages draw you in with Hays story. I was immediately drawn to him and introduced to the brothers. Reading every night about each brother was a great!

Upon getting some bad news, George Washington Hart has lost patience and has taken it upon himself to force his seven sons to settle down and get married. Each of them must decide if they really want to go with his absurd decree.
The stories in this anthology were well-written and sweet. Each author wrote seamlessly, making it hard to remember that it was a different author for each story. I highly recommend.

What a great collection of connected novellas!

Multi-author collections are always a bit tricky to review because there’s generally one or two stand-out stories, a couple of good ones, a couple not-so-good ones, and the rest are just “okay”. Not so with Seven Brides for Seven Texans. I truly enjoyed each and every novella in this collection – and, really, when you look at the author list, you can see why. Seven top-notch authors in Christian historical fiction coming together to write basically a seven book series in one volume.

The prologue and epilogue are written by Erica Vetsch, and they introduce us to GW Hart – who is a fantastic character, by the way – and his plan to have his seven sons married off within the year. The prologue begins New Year’s Day 1874 and the epilogue takes place New Year’s Day 1875… and throughout the course of that year (and the collection) we get to meet all seven Hart brothers and watch them fall in love.

In First Comes Love by Gabrielle Meyer, we watch Hays Hart, the baby of the family, as he decides to put up signs all around Hartville advertising his availability as a husband. Hays is a bit of a flirt (understatement) but when he runs into the new pastor’s daughter Emma he decides to put his energy into wooing her. Emma is a tough case, though. She isn’t impressed (understatement) by his Wife Wanted signs and her heart is still back in Minnesota with the Ojibwe Indians. This is a cute story with heart and humor and a great first kiss! Their attraction is palpable, even though Emma at least tries to fight it. Watching Emma slowly fall in love with Texas, as she falls in love with Hays … and watching Hays’ priority switch from his inheritance to Emma are both highlights of this novella.

The Heart of Texas by Lorna Seilstad adds a little bit of suspense to the mix, as well as a swoonworthy Texas Ranger named Chisholm Hart and a feisty heroine to complement him. Caro and Chisholm may seem like an unlikely pairing in personalities but their chemistry sizzles. Lots of great back-and-forth between these two as they try to figure out who is behind the cattle rustling at the ranch where Caro works. You won’t be quite sure whom you can trust, but your mouth will be watering at all the mention of delicious-sounding food!

Amanda Barrett’s The Truest Heart has a little bit of everything good – drama, suspense, first loves, an adorable child, and strong emotion. Midwife (and widow) Annie Lawrence returns to Hartville with her nine-year-old son Robbie to face two men she’s been dreading: her father and her first love. Her father, she can’t do much about. But she certainly try to avoid her first love, Dr. Travis Hart. That resolve lasts about as long as one of her first deliveries, which proves more difficult than she anticipated, and Travis is brought in to lend support. Old wounds between them run deep but must compete with the affection and attraction that has never gone away. Excellent tension – both the dramatic kind and the romantic – and Robbie is one of my favorite secondary characters across the collection.

In A Love Returned by Keli Gwyn, the Texas air simmers with another reunion between first loves whose wounds and affections still run deep. Instead of fighting in the War Between the States, Sam Houston Hart headed out to California.  Twelve years ago, he asked Coralee Culpepper to join him but she refused, saying she couldn’t leave her family. Houston goes off to California in a snit. Coralee stays home in one. Twelve years later, they’ve never gotten over it – or each other.  But in one startling moment, Houston realizes why Coralee had to refuse him…. and his tenderness, his acts of service to her and her family, from that point forward are so sweet and incredibly touching. Very tender and romantic novella!

For Love or Money by Susan Page Davis is a story of tragedy and heartache as well as redemption and romance. When a tragedy leaves a neighboring family homeless, Crockett Hart takes them under his wing and oversees the community’s efforts to rebuild their cabin and meet their needs. In the process, he falls in love with a girl he’s known since childhood.  Get all cozied up in the warm glow of young love, but don’t get too relaxed. Lots of drama, a little bit of intrigue, and additional tragedy that may end the romance before it has a chance to take root. This is another sweet novella with frequent appearance from the rest of the “cast”, so to speak, that really helps unite the collection even further.

Vickie McDonough’s Mail Order Mayhem is a case of the title perfectly fitting the story. Oldest Hart brother Austin has decided to bypass all the shenanigans his other brothers have gone through to find their brides and sends away for a mail order bride. She finally arrives with her sister, identical twins who couldn’t be more different in personality. While Jenny seems spoiled and immature and flighty, Rebekah is grounded and sensible. Complications abound in this novella – mayhem ensues – and the ending may not be as predictable as you first think. It will make you swoon, though. That I can absolutely guarantee!! Lots of heart fluttering to be had in this story as well!

Finally, in Love at Last by Erica Vetsch, we get the story I’d been waiting on since the prologue – Bowie Hart’s story. Bowie is the Hart brother who most intrigued me right from the very beginning, and I knew that when his story came around it would be a fantastic one. I was not wrong. From the moment Bowie goes all knight-in-shining-armor for the woman he means to marry (even if she doesn’t know it yet), I knew I needed to hasten to the safety of my figurative fainting couch for the duration of this novella. Much swooning to be had, for sure. But also, such an incredibly sweet message of self-value and accepting love – lessons needed for both Bowie and Elise.

Bottom Line: Seven Brides for Seven Texans is an excellent novella collection all the way around. From the characters to the cohesiveness to the setting and the theme, every element in every story is presented with excellence. You will laugh. You will cry. You will swoon. And then repeat seven or so times! I highly recommend this one for anyone who loves historical Western romance.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)

These seven authors have created a collection of novellas that are woven together to form one big Lone Star state story. All the brothers in this tight-knit family are found working and living together throughout the book. 

One of my favorite traits of this book is the fact that the authors didn't simply rely on the brothers' birth order for their matchmaking timeline. As a matter of fact, the first story belongs to the baby of the family, Hays. 

Readers will grow to love each of the seven brothers throughout this novella collection.

I requested the opportunity to read and review this book through NetGalley and won the paperback in a giveaway. The opinions expressed are my own.

This book grabbed my attention and held tightly onto it from the very beginning with author Erica Vetsch setting the scene around the dining room table in the Prologue, through each author's story of one a Hart brothers looking or not looking for a wife, to the very end with Erica Vetsch's Epilogue. To say that I LOVED this book would be an understatement. I began reading it one afternoon, stayed up all night to finish it and have since read it again. This collection by seven authors reads like one great big novel. The book takes place from New Year's Day 1874 where the Patriarch of the family G.W. Hart tells his sons that they must marry by the end of the year or lose their inheritance, to New Year's Day 1875 with G.W. talking to the portrait of his late wife Victoria, reliving the past year. 

Author Gabrielle Meyer starts us out with "First Comes Love" the story of the youngest Hart brother, Hays. He is eager to be the first one to get married, to finally be the first at something in his family of seven brothers. He starts out by posting wanted posters around town. He runs into a challenge with the new pastor's daughter who is also the new school teacher Emma Longley. 

Next, we have "The Heart of Texas" by Lorna Seilstad giving us the story of Texas Ranger Chisholm Hart, away from home on New Year's Day, he gets the news of his father's terms by letter. Chisholm is a busy Texas Ranger, how is he supposed to find a wife? While tracking cattle rustlers Chisholm happens upon a feisty Mexican woman named Caro Marie Cardova Valenzuela. His partner Whit sees there is an attraction there and teases Chisholm about it. This story is full of suspense and danger. I won't give any spoilers but it is so good! 

Third, we have Amanda Barratt's "The Truest Heart." Annie Lawrence is returning to Hartsville a widow with a nine-year-old son. Her cruel father forced her to marry Stuart Lawrence while Travis Hart was away fighting in the war. She never stopped loving Travis and feels guilty for thinking of him on her one night with her husband before he too left for the war and never returned. Being the new midwife in town she is forced to work with Travis ,the town's doctor, on occasion. Clearly, they still have feelings for each other, can she overcome her guilty feelings? Can she stand up to her father? There is so much tension and drama in this story, the cruelness of Annie's father is unbearable and makes me hate him. But I loved how this turns out. 

Next, we have author Keli Gwyn's "A Love Returned" the story of Houston Hart. Houston left for California instead of going to war with his older brothers, some townsfolk didn't care too much for that. Before Houston left Hartsville, he proposed to Coralee and asked her to go with him to California, but she turned him down saying she couldn't go. He left without finding out why. Now, after receiving a letter from Travis about his father's edict, he has returned home. Having a better head for business than ranching he would work hard to show his brothers and father that he was serious about his duties to the 7 Heart. 
This story touched my heart so much, it is impossible to describe. Houston finds out why Coralee could not go with him with such a tender act of kindness, Coralee could not help but let a few of the bricks she had built around her heart fall. There is so much healing and love in this story. Make sure to have some tissues handy.

Number five, "For Love or Money" by author Susan Page Davis is the story of Crockett Hart. It's September, Crockett spends most of his time out tending the huge herd, he was away on a cattle drive and now he is out on the range looking for wondering cattle. Thinking, he just isn't ready to be married yet, or there aren't enough suitable candidates in Hartsville. Crockett smells smoke and rides off to a not so friendly neighbor's ranch to find their small house fully engulfed in flames. He sends up a prayer when he doesn't see any of the family. He gets off his horse to try to save the ramshackle barn. Jane Haymaker shows up and sees him, together they save what they can. Jane and her brother Ben had been friends with the Hart's when they were young but after the death of her mother she and Ben left school to work the small ranch with their father Boyd, who was a lazy drunkard.
You will need some tissues for this story as well. Drama and mystery, the kindness of the community coming together and perhaps the blossoming of love fill this story. 

Author Vickie McDonough's "Mail-Order Mayhem" tells the story of the oldest Hart brother Austin. Was he making a mistake in writing for a mail-order bride? He has worked so hard on the ranch and could not lose it, he had no choice but to find a wife. He felt the full responsibility of the ranch was on his shoulders. When his bride stepped off the stage he couldn't believe how his heart bucked, but then she turns her back to him and helps her identical twin sister down. The second woman was Jenny, his bride, but where was the feeling in his heart? Rebekah, the sensible twin makes up for Jenny's lack of introduction and tries to smooth things over with Austin, Jenny had not told him that she was bringing her sister along. Jenny is not pleased with the town or Austin. Rebekah wishes she would be kinder, this has to work, they were about to be homeless. While in their room at the hotel, Jenny admits that Austin does not make her heartbeat speed up, Rebekah on the other hand, keeps it to herself that her heart took off like a racehorse more than once but she has agreed to wed someone else. This story is full of twists and surprises! Is it wrong that Austin feels for Rebekah what he should be feeling for Jenny? The ending of this story will have you on the edge of your seat!

Now we come to "Love at Last" by Erica Vetsch. The story of Bowie Hart, the second oldest brother was not the same after the war where he lost an eye and had been badly burned, still having dark scars from the black powder and a surly disposition. He preferred animals to people and did not go into town. No woman in the county would look at him, much less marry him. It was almost October what was he to do? He overhears his brother talking to their father about letting him out of the deal to marry or be disinherited clause. G.W says he has to try or he will be alone. Bowie is very upset to have people talking about him behind his back. He packs up his things taking a scrap of linen and lace that he's kept for more than ten years, gets his rifle and his dog and leaves. He stops by his brother's hardware store and asks him to take care of a few things for him. Giving him very little information about his plan Bowie leaves town taking his dog with him. He was going to track down the one woman he would ever consider asking to marry him and propose. If she was already married or refused him that would be it, he would never return to the 7 Heart ranch. Elise, being berated and slapped by the cruel uncle that employed her was braced for yet another slap when she opened her eyes to a massive man with his huge hand gripped around Uncle Zeb's fist. Where had she heard that voice before? Slowly, she recognized his one brown eye, Captain Hart. Bowie asks to speak to her in private. During their talk outside the factory, Bowie learns that Elise in unmarried. He asks if there is somewhere quiet they can talk. They go to a small park near the water. Explaining his father's demands, he proposes a deal. He needs a wife and she needs to escape her uncle. It will be in name only, she will have his protection, the run of the house and no other demands will be placed on her. Can Elise give up her childhood dreams of marrying for love? I cannot say anymore without giving away the secrets held in this beautiful story. You must read it for yourself. 

This is the longest review I've ever written. My bottom line is this, if you like the time period, cowboys, love and Texas, you will want to read this book over and over. It is one of my all time favorite Barbour collections! 
* I requested and received an early e-book form of this book from NetGalley. My review is my own and was not required or influenced by anyone.

I loved this little delightful set of novellas set in Texas .  The Hart men are on a scramble to find a wife within the year or forfeit their inheritance.  I especially loved Bowie Hart's story. He stole my heart.

Seven Brides for Seven Texans - Various Authors
This collection has to be my favourite from Barbour Publishing Inc. - and I don’t say that without a good foundation in the series. This collection follows the stories of the seven Hart brothers of the 7-Heart ranch in central Texas. They all live independent lives until their father decides his adult sons will marry or they will be cut from his will. Each brother has a novella dedicated to their bid to find a wife and there was not a single story I disliked. The brothers all take different approaches to find a bride from advertising in Hartville to attempts at rekindling old romances. There’s a story that everybody can smile at, all while knowing that they have morals from the bible to accompany the reading experience.

This collection is an easy read, good to relax and unwind after a busy day - but you may find you can’t put it down!

I stayed up late several nights in a row reading this because it was just that great! 
Widower, George Washington Hart has seven sons. None of these sons are married. After a scare at the doctor's office he is not sure how much longer he will be around. He tells all of his sons they have to marry within a years time or forfeit their inheritance and land on his vast acreage to build a home. 
I had such a fun time reading this collection of stories by different authors. I loved every story in this collection! It was a great adventure reading how the brothers met their future wives. War scarred Bowie did make me wonder if he'd take a wife but he did. It was refreshing to see him come to realize the woman that loved him, loved him for himself and did not judge him
because of his scars.
Every story seamlessly blended into the next story without a hitch.
I really loved this book and would love to see a sequel collection about the next generation of Hart family. I highly recommend this to lovers of Historical Christian Romance.
Published December 1st 2016 by Barbour Books

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Books for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Seven brothers on the 7 Hart Ranch are given the ultimatum to get married within the year or lose their inheritance.  I loved these stories, easy and enjoyable to read, all seven of them.  Some of my favorite historical authors wrote these and they are all sweet, Christian reads.  And there's lots of reading to keep you busy for quite a while.  I highly recommend this excellent collection.  I am so pleased that I had the opportunity to read these.  

And I couldn't pick a favorite, I loved 'em all!

I was given an ebook copy from NetGalley for my honest review.

I enjoyed every novella in this collection. All the characters were interesting, and well carved. Every story was remarkable. I giggled, smiled and blinked away a tear or two as I journeyed with the Hart brothers and their spouses. My favorite hero was Bowie, the wounded war veteran with a kind heart. Elise was the perfect heroine for this 'beast' and reading about their journey to a happily ever after had me smiling from ear to ear.

If you love historical romances and a touch of faith, you gotta read this!


(An e-book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher. I voluntarily posted my honest review.)

Thank you Netgallery for my free ARC of this book.

I was captured by this series of stories about seven brothers pushing into finding wives fast as their father's health fails.  Like many other reviewers, I stayed up late several nights in a row because I just had to keep reading this book.  I particularly enjoyed the novellas focusing on Bowie, Travis, and Austin.  I had some trouble believing that there isn't real trouble in store for the long-term success of the marriage between Crockett and his wife -- this is the only reason this book did not receive five stars from me.

The stories were compelling and varied widely.  The series did not feel repetitive.  Instead, I was pleased to encounter the new twists as the next brother came into focus for his turn.  The brothers and their potential brides' personalities were well developed, and the El Regalo seemed to play its own important role in the series.

Recommended reading.

7-Heart Ranch is located in central Texas and run by a man who loves his seven sons, but wants to have some grandchildren to carry on his legacy when he's gone. But none of his boys seem remotely interested in getting married. So the father issues an ultimatum. Marry by the end of the year or lose your inheritance. The chaos and romance that ensues is only entertaining to the father. The boys are not amused.

I absolutely loved this story. Some stories were a bit more my style or better written than others, but all of them captured the plot idea and ran with it. They were sweet, romantic, sometimes funny, and filled with a strong sense of faith and family. Several of these authors are ones that I've enjoyed reading before. But it's always nice to try out a new author with a novella to get a feel for their writing style. If you enjoy romance, entertaining family drama, and historical christian fiction than definitely pick up this book. 

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts expressed are my own.

The Setup:

GW Hart gives his 7 sons the ultimatum of marry within the year or lose your inheritance. Each brothers story is written by a different author.

FIRST COMES LOVE by Gabrielle Meyer:

Hays Hart is the youngest of the Hart brothers and he is determined to be the first to wed following his fathers ultimatum. Hays decides that he will put up posters asking for women to apply to be his wife. When Emma Longley the new school teacher catches him hanging one of his posters outside of the church she is highly offended. Hays has always tried to make people happy and Emma is no exception. When Hays finds out that Emma wants to build a schoolhouse he's happy to jump right in and help her. Working with Hays, Emma grows more and more attracted to him, but she mustn't allow that to happen because she is determined to move back to her home in Minnesota sure that God is calling her to teach among the Ojibwe Indians. Besides, how can she be sure Hays isn't attracted to her just to get a wife so he can get his inheritance?

I loved this beginning to the Hart brothers finding wives! I've never read any books by this author, but I was immediately drawn into her story and was quite pleased with how Hays's story turned out. I loved Hays's character. He was funny and yet he was serious in his goal to find a wife. He went after what he wanted. I liked that about him. I liked how sassy Emma was, she won't be pushed around by Hays that for sure! Great story!

THE HEART OF TEXAS by Lorna Seilstad

This is the story of Texas Ranger Chisholm Hart, the next youngest of the Hart brothers. When Chisholm and his partner Whit arrive to investigate cattle rustling they come upon Caro Cardova being overtaken by a group of men attempting to hang her cousin for the cattle rustling. Caro swears that Ricardo is innocent and Chisholm and Whit end up staying at the ranch that Caro and her mother work at. Caro is a spit-fire that captures Chisholms attention immediately. With her quick tongue and feisty behavior it isn't long before Chisholm is quite attracted to Caro. But Caro swears she will have nothing to do with a man who puts duty above those he loves like her father did. And Chisholm is all about his duty as a Ranger.

What a fun story! I loved how feisty Caro was. Yes, she did frustrate at points with not listening or heeding warnings, but that is what endeared her to Chisholm so I forgave her. ha! There was a touch of suspense throughout the story as well as some humor that kept me thoroughly entertained. Another Hart brother has found his match!

THE TRUEST HEART by Amanda Barratt

Years ago Annie Parker's father made her marry a man she did not love. Now a widow and wishing to give her 9 year old son a better upbringing Annie moves back to Hartville. Annie is now a midwife ready to serve in the community, but not ready to meet doctor Travis Hart, the man she has always loved, but the man she can never have.

Travis Hart knew when his father issued his edict that he must marry within a year in order to receive his inheritance that he would probably not get his. There was only one woman that Travis ever loved, and that woman was Annie Parker. Now that Annie is back in Hartville does Travis have a chance to win her heart?

Travis and Annie make a good team. I was definitely not a fan of Annie's father, and wanted to reach through the pages and give him a swift kick to the backside! Loved the way that Travis was with Annie's son Robbie. This is number 3 of the Hart brothers, will the rest find their matches?

A LOVE RETURNED by Keli Gwyn

Houston Hart has returned from California to prove to his father that he can be a cattle rancher like his brothers. Houston left years ago, leaving family and his love Coralee behind. Coralee broke his heart then and Houston has no intention of letting it happen again.

Coralee couldn't possibly leave with Houston years ago, but he didn't even give her a chance to explain why so she has no interest in renewing her relationship with him. Coralee has been happy with her life so she is definitely not interested in Houston being home again.

Awww, poor Houston and Coralee! Both so determined to ignore each other and be just friends, but their hearts have different ideas. I enjoyed this Hart brothers story very much. This couple really complement each other well. They are both very caring and love their families. I loved the way Houston stepped in to help Coralee's brother with their ranch and the way he was so caring to Coralee's father. I also loved that after Houston left the first time that Coralee didn't just whither up and fade away, but she became a part of the community and showed her love for people even in the midst of caring for her father. Another sweet story and another Hart brother to the alter! Three more to go!

FOR LOVE OR MONEY by Susan Page Davis

When Crockett Hart finds their neighbors house on fire he immediately jumps in to help put out the fire. Crockett has always liked his neighbor Jane, but her father is a drunk who has let their ranch sink into disarray. Jane and her brother have tried their best to keep up, but now with the fire they have nothing. Crockett enlists the help of his brothers and other neighbors to help Jane and her family rebuild. With his father's edict hanging over his head even though Crockett knows he must marry soon is he willing to let himself fall for Jane and all of her troubles?

I liked Crockett's care for his neighbors, and his willingness to rally everyone to help the Haymaker's get their home rebuilt. I also liked Jane's character. Even though she and Ben had a lazy father they somehow had developed a moral character that he didn't teach them. I did think that there was a giant leap from the normal concern for a neighbor to the hey, I think I love you, let's get married ending. I wish there had been a bit more character development along with some more romantic scenes between Crockett and Jane. That being said, I am happy to see another Hart boy happily paired up with his lady-love...Two more to go and only a couple of months left to fulfill the edict. Who's next?

MAIL-ORDER MAYHEM by Vickie McDonough

Austin Hart is running out of time to meet his father's edict of marrying in one year. He's come up with a plan to meet that deadline. Austin has sent for a mail-order bride.

Rebekah and her sister Jenny are soon to be penniless and homeless. The only way Rebekah sees out of their predicament is to marry. Rebekah's fiance refuses to allow Jenny to live with them so the only thing that Rebekah sees to do is for Jenny to marry Austin Hart. The problem is that Jenny is not ready to marry and Rebekah is already spoken for. Will Austin have to start all over again to find a wife?

I love mail-order bride stories and found MAIL-ORDER MAYHEM to be quite entertaining. I really like Austin's character and was hoping for he and Rebekah to realize that they were meant for each other. Only one Hart brother left, will Bowie find his perfect mate before the year is up?

LOVE AT LAST by Erica Vetsch

Bowie Hart is the last Hart brother left to fulfill his father's edict to marry in a year in order to receive his inheritance. Bowie knows that no woman around Hartville would ever consent to marry him, a broken and scarred replica of humanity. But Bowie has never forgotten his nurse during the war, the only person who never cringed at the sight of his wounds. Bowie sets off to find her and hope that she will consent to be his wife, at least on paper.

Awwwww, Bowie! I absolutely loved this last Hart brothers story! Bowie is such a wounded soul, and Elise is his perfect match. Both starving for affection, one so ready and willing to give and the other so wounded he pushes people away. I loved how Elise managed to break down Bowie's defenses and show him he wasn't the monster he thought he was. Excellent ending to the Hart brothers stories!

The Wrap Up:

What a fun read! I totally loved the whole book and looked forward to each brother's story. Each author did a great job in portraying their brother and gave each brother a unique character. I was attached to some brothers more than others, but I enjoyed all of them. The ending of the story had me crying happy tears for all of the brothers, and left me satisfied that they all were going to live their Happily Ever After lives with their special brides.

Notes: This review is now posted on my blog: http://myfavoritepastime.blogspot.com it is also posted on my facebook pages

Five of the 7 authors in this collection are authors I've been reading and enjoying for years, so I knew the book would be good. It was actually great though. These authors are really great together. I would have to say that For Love or Money by Susan Page Davis was my absolute favorite part, but all of the stories were really good. And no two were anything alike. I loved the humor and the seriousness, the heartbreak and the HEA. You can't go wrong reading this one. 

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this book and leave an honest review.

You fall in love with this book right off from the beginning.  There are 7 Novella's and each one is better than the last - each one is audacious than the last.  Each one more dependent on the LORD than the last, and each one is separate from the other as night is from day - they run into each other.  Each other has proven how authentic their ability to write is - how momentous a story can be if you actually read them. The seven brothers are to find brides before a certain time if they are to get their inheritance.  Do they ALL do it?  Do they ALL fall in love?  have they trusted in the LORD for what they needed?  GOD is love, GOD is light GOD is faithful day and night HE is eternal and Praise the LORD for that.

I loved this book from the first page until the last. Of course, it had me at the brothers being Texans, but didn't stop there. This book is full of adventure, danger, hurts, and of course love. I was a big fan of Bowie and was rooting for him from the start. I like the underdogs. And the family tradition... I won't spoil the tradition, but I wish it was something I thought of when I had my daughter. When you go from one son to the next, you don't leave the last brother behind. I love how the story builds on the family, not leaving a story behind.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves books set in Texas (because it's awesome), enjoys adventures, and of course romance.

This book is seven short stories about 7 brothers who need to get married quick. I thought it was wonderful. Sometimes these collections of short novellas written by different authors is hard to make it through but this one felt so different. I loved getting to know each brother's personality and see how they went about finding the lady to fill the empty spot in their heart and around the large Hart family table. I loved that the stories seemed to flow one right into the next and that it seemed to build rather than just jump from brother to brother. By the time we got to the final brother, who had appeared in the other brother's stories, I felt like I already knew him and wanted to see him heal and find love. I was anticipating his story and couldn't wait to see how it would turn out. I loved it and can recommend this one to anyone who loves good clean romance.

The concept of several writers continuing a main story is an interesting twist.  Although the writers have different styles, there is cohesion and interest in the next character's story.  It is nice to read about the lovely bluebonnets of Texas in the "scenery" while investing in the Hart brothers, their stories, characters, struggles and transformations.  There is a thread of redemption through the stories as different characters challenge their pasts, relationships with family, friends, potential mates and especially their faith.  Each story line has a fulfilling ending which makes this a great spring break or beach read..

This is a fun collection of novellas featuring seven brothers and a father who is set on getting them all married within a year. His ultimatum is that they have to marry by the end of the year to claim their inheritance, which is a hefty piece of his land for each of them. The boys, of course, are quite resistant to the plan. Each novella is about one of the brothers and his adventure with courting.

I really enjoyed these stories because, even though they are written by different authors, they are built around a common premise that ties them all together. Each of the authors created a unique and wonderful story. They were all delightful.

As I love the old movie, I was drawn in by the title of this one and premise that it set. This is set in the historical time period of just after the war at Gettysburg. The war is finished and life must go on. Each story builds from the main idea and the flow worked really well with well-developed characters in each story. At times my heart strings were happy and at times I felt like I was grieving right along with them. I loved the use of my husband's favorite saying "two shakes of a lamb's trail"!. That had me laughing out loud and I’m so very thankful to Jesus for giving me him.  Why don't you grab a copy for yourself?  I'm definitely thinking you'll be glad you did!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.