RTC

The story itself has some funny parts, but I felt that it still lacked something. I just didn't feel too drawn into it.

Positives:
It's a LONG book.
You easily love Rachel, Luke, and Jacqueline.
You want to shake your heads at Luke's cousins, but at the same time, you appreciate them for being ornery.

Negatives:
I just don't sense a strong attraction between Rachel and Luke. I think the respect is there, but I wouldn't really go too far out of my way to use the word, "love." Yes, there is guilt (and sorrow?) on Rachel's part because she couldn't control the things that happened to her. And there's a lot of anger and resentment on Luke's part---maybe too much. To me, all the negative feelings he still harbors over the past gets in the way of our ability to see any strong attraction between the two. I'm more inclined to believe that they are in love with their past.

The book ends on a fairly happy note, but there are too many loose ends. ( )

I love this book. In the way that I absolutely adore the writing of Christian Historical Romantic Comedy Author [a:Mary Connealy|58306|Mary Connealy|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1218215353p2/58306.jpg], I now feel the same about [a:Vickie McDonough|101317|Vickie McDonough|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-F-50x66.jpg]. This book had me gasp and inwardly scream. I laughed out loud and snickered to myself. I turned the pages without abandon and I am so eagerly excited for the next book in the series [b:Second Chance Brides|7685407|Second Chance Brides (Texas Boardinghouse series, #2)|Vickie McDonough|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1269966887s/7685407.jpg|10337311] that I forget about the pile of to-be-read books waiting for my attentions.

There are many books and authors that I like, but you have to be something really special for me to absolutely love it. And I love it. I recommend this book without fail. Read it, love it, and escape within the pages to a humorous situation in a historical time that will leave you laughing, giggling and sighing with satisfaction of a wonderful read.

*Thanks to Vickie McDonough and Angie Brillhart for providing a copy for review.* ( )

From amazon.com

Check yourself into the Texas Boardinghouse Brides series by Vickie McDonough, where you’ll meet Luke Davis, marshal of Lookout, Texas, who flippantly tells his cousin he’d get married if the right woman ever came along. When three mail-order brides are delivered to Luke a month later, he’s in an uncomfortable predicament. How will he ever choose his mate? Rachel Hamilton’s long-time love for Luke is reignited with his return to town. So when three mail-order brides appear, she panics. Will she find the courage to tell Luke that she loves him? Or take an anonymous part in the contest for his hand?

My Take: What a wonderful start to a series! I really liked the characters in this book. Luke is a wonderful man who became a Christian a short time before the story starts and is struggling to fogive Rachel for what he believes was a betrayal. Rachel must live with the decision that she made so many years ago but she still is in love with Luke. Her daughter Jaqueline is running amuck and she doesn't know what to do to make her behave.

Then the brides start to arrive. Three of them. All different and special in their own way. But one of them has a deadly secret. And how is a man suppose to make up his mind anyway. By having a contest of course.

The whole Mail order Bride concept has long intrigued me. I cannot imagine leaving everything I know to travel to parts unknown to meet a man I don't know and marry him. But as the book points out some women are in some desperate times and need to take desperate measures.

I have the Second in this series already on my Kindle just waiting for me to get to it. Cann't wait to see what happens in the town of Lookout, Texas.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. ( )

I love this book. In the way that I absolutely adore the writing of Christian Historical Romantic Comedy Author Mary Connealy, I now feel the same about Vickie McDonough. This book had me gasp and inwardly scream. I laughed out loud and snickered to myself. I turned the pages without abandon and I am so eagerly excited for the next book in the series Second Chance Brides that I forget about the pile of to-be-read books waiting for my attentions.

There are many books and authors that ...more I love this book. In the way that I absolutely adore the writing of Christian Historical Romantic Comedy Author Mary Connealy, I now feel the same about Vickie McDonough. This book had me gasp and inwardly scream. I laughed out loud and snickered to myself. I turned the pages without abandon and I am so eagerly excited for the next book in the series Second Chance Brides that I forget about the pile of to-be-read books waiting for my attentions.

There are many books and authors that I like, but you have to be something really special for me to absolutely love it. And I love it. I recommend this book without fail. Read it, love it, and escape within the pages to a humorous situation in a historical time that will leave you laughing, giggling and sighing with satisfaction of a wonderful read.

*Thanks to Vickie McDonough and Angie Brillhart for providing a copy for review.* ( )