The main character, Margaret, is a forthright and sensible young woman who has decided to advertise for a husband. We meet her when she’s preparing to meet the young man she’s been corresponding with, but quickly discover that his older brother Joseph has come instead… along with his four young children: all boys. I assume it's set towards the end of the 19th century.

I was a little irritated by the number of times people were described as rolling their eyes, a phrase which meant something rather different until the middle of the 20th century. Still, I quite liked the characters and was pleased when Margaret decided to accept Joseph; unfortunately, the author included several pages of detailed description of what happened on Margaret and Joseph’s wedding night; it added nothing, and I skimmed most of it.

The latter part of the book has a rather silly sub-plot involving some not particularly nice people, and it felt as if the author was poking fun at caricatures. I did continue to like Margaret, and was pleased that the book stands alone despite, apparently, being a sequel. Joseph and the small boys were likeable, too. But a lot of the writing was trite, the bedroom scene was unnecessary, and the ending really didn't work.

Available free for the Kindle, so worth downloading if you want something light and undemanding. It's a novella than a novel, and I read it in a couple of hours. ( )

This was a nice and simple story. I didn't read the prior book, so I can't based it upon that.

Jokingly with friends, we would say that we need a store to find boyfriends (or husbands in this instance); and if you found a nice one but weren't able to purchase him, you could always put him on layaway. This story, however, has a woman placing an ad for a husband.

She ends up with the brother of the supposed groom and his 4 little boys. The plot is simple and quick to read ( )

Another great book by Ruth Ann Nordin. Love Margaret and her spunkiness. I laughed and cried with Margaret through all her troubles and triumphs. Waiting for her mail order husband and not getting what she thought she was. But, getting MUCH more than she had asked. Companion book (2nd book) to A Bride for Tom. Easy read. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. I just loved the kids! ( )