Kathryn AlbrightCritiques

Cute clean romance between doctor and unmarried mother. Nothing special and a quick read, but sweet.

Now the premise of mail-order brides is bad enough but being court ordered to go and get married in another place feels a lot like slavery. Mary McCary never wanted this but after her father died she was refused a permit to sell his elixir, which sounds like mead, and about which later there was a lot of prejudice, honestly it would have been more interesting if they were doing something like Kombucha; which is actually a tonic and is sometimes a bit explosive when bottled.
Anyway she jumps off the train and is rescued by Steve Putnam who isn't looking for a bride but for a cook, so she does and romance happens. It felt a bit too rushed to be a proper romance and it almost felt like the author needed more to build the romance more obviously.
The second story is Mary's twin, Maggie, who ends up falling for the Carpenter,Jackson Miller who has sworn off love, but he keeps circling back to Maggie until they can't resist each other any more.
Both stories follow a similar track, the romance is happening outside of the organised bride auction but still the pressure to get married and then to give up their own means of survival is not ideal. Not bad reads but I'm not sure that Western is a good fit for my romance fix.½

Just could not really get into this book. Just didn't care about the characters. The plot seemed real weak. And I know it has nothing to do with the story really but it takes place in San Diego at a lighthouse and the cover with the river and the prairie schooner have nothing to do with the story.

I enjoyed these three stories and I voluntarily chose to review these. I've given this set a 4.5* rating. There is just a little too much sexual content for the under 18 readers. However there was little jewels of content in each story to lighten the stories a bit. All three were good Western Romances.½

This is for "A Family For the Rancher" by Jenna Kernan, only. I enjoyed this but it is not for the under 18 readers because of sexual content. There is some humor, a lot of not knowing what these two can handle, and a lot of forgiveness needed in these two people. Rich or poor, there are lots of things from our childhoods that we sometimes need to heal and move on from. I voluntarily chose to review this. You add two young boys and some things can get real interesting. I've given it a 4* rating.

Mail Order Brides of Oak Grove is two sweet love stories about twin sisters in the Wild West written by two authors: Surprise Bride for the Cowboy by Lauri Robinson features Mary, the responsible “older” sister, while Taming the Runaway Bride by Kathryn Albright features Maggie, who likes to do as she wants, not as she’s told.

Mary and Maggie have recently lost their father, who took them from town to town selling his miraculous tonic. Their lives were interesting but not very stable. With their father gone they have no way to survive except to continue to do what they know – brew up and sell more tonic. Big catch, though, they don’t have a permit to sell the tonic; women aren’t allowed to get a permit. They are arrested and given a choice: stay in jail or go to Oak Grove as mail order brides. They choose Oak Grove, although they have no intention of getting married, now or possibly ever.

Once they arrive in Oak Grove the fun begins. Maggie jumps off the train, right into the arms of Steve Putnam, who doesn’t ever intend to get married either. Maggie stays on the train with the other brides but ends up darting around town trying to avoid the persistent hopeful grooms and run smack into Jackson Miller, another dedicated bachelor.

Mail Order Brides is a fun book, with pretty, willful women, strong yet innocent and handsome, sexy men and a boisterous group of people, mostly wanting to make Oak Grove a better town. I love historical romance, not only for the happy ever afters but also for the history lessons cleverly woven in. It was interesting to get a glimpse into ranch life and to read about the constraints on women in those times, sent off to marry men they don’t know, start entirely new lives, and without many rights at all. I hope there will be many more books in this series as there are many more brides to get to know.

I received a copy of Mail Order Brides from author Kathryn Albright but I was not required to provide a review. All opinions are my own. I loved Mail Order Brides and you will too.

Historical Western, Lawman Tom broke Elizabeth's heart 4 years ago, and now he's back in town. Does the mercantile owner dare to fall in love with Tom again?

SURPRISE BRIDE FOR THE COWBOY by Lauri Robinson

Mary McCary never wanted to be a mail-order bride, but falling off the Oak Grove train into Steve Putnam's lap changes everything... Could he be the cowboy to tempt her down the aisle?

Good book. The story opens with a prologue, showing Mary and Maggie in jail in Ohio. They have been arrested for selling their "tonic" without a permit. They are given a choice of staying in jail or becoming mail-order brides in a small town in Kansas. There really isn't any other logical choice, so they end up on a train bound for Oak Grove, Kansas, with several other potential brides.

Mary has no intention of marrying anyone. The first thing she does when the train arrives in Oak Grove is sneak out a rear door, planning to hide out somewhere until her latest batch of tonic is ready to bottle, and she can sell enough to move on. Things don't go quite as she planned and she ends up hired as a cook on Steve Putnam's ranch for a month.

Steve has no plans ever to marry. He saw what the hard life did to his mother and father and won't put himself through that pain. When his regular cook is injured, Steve needs to find someone to take his place. He's not too happy about hiring Mary at first, but it isn't long before he's glad he did.

I enjoyed the development of Steve and Mary's relationship. Sparks fly between them from the start. Mary needs a place to hide from the bride-hunting men of the town where she can also earn the money she needs to move on. She is feisty and independent, also kind and warm-hearted. Steve is honorable and stubborn. He needs a cook but suspects that Mary is going to be trouble. Over the next thirty days they move from adversaries to friends, to more as they get to know each other. I loved watching them butt heads over her tonic while at the same time they couldn't stop thinking about each other. It was fun to see the way that each got flustered by the other's presence and argued with themselves about what they were feeling. The sparks burned hotter as the time came closer when Mary would have to make a decision. The ending was fun as they were helped along by a rattlesnake and a kick in the pants delivered by the doctor.

TAMING THE RUNAWAY BRIDE by Kathryn Albright

Running from trouble, Maggie McCary signs up to be a mail-order bride. She doesn't intend to actually marry...until she shares one sensational kiss with Jackson Miller!

Maggie and Mary get separated when Maggie wants to stay in town and take advantage of the accommodations being provided for the brides. She has no more intention than Mary does of marrying, but she wants to be comfortable while earning the money to move on. When she realizes that Mary is missing, Maggie worries about her. She also feels bad about their argument but has to trust that her sister will be alright.

Maggie is a bit more sensitive than Mary and feels bad about being portrayed as one of the brides when she has no intention of marrying. She tries very hard to avoid leading on any of the men who pay attention to her. I liked that honorable side of her. She is also determined and clever and finds a way to promote her tonic that also keeps it fairly quiet. The only problem she has is her unexpected fascination with Jackson Miller.

Jackson is the town carpenter. He came to Oak Grove after his fiancée ran off with his best friend and he needed a new start. His brother was the preacher, and Jackson came to help build the church. His brother died before the church was finished, but Jackson promised to stay until it was done. Once it is, he plans to move on. Those plans are upended when he encounters Maggie.

I enjoyed seeing Maggie and Jackson get to know each other. Because neither intends to marry they think they are safe, but Fate has other ideas. Jackson is a bit closed off because of his past, but every time he encounters Maggie her vivacity shines a little more light into the dark corners of his life. There is also an attraction simmering between them, and when Jackson seizes the opportunity to kiss Maggie, the results are life-altering for them both. Neither can deny the effect on their hearts, but there are obstacles. Jackson is not one of the men who paid for a chance at a bride, so he isn't technically eligible to court her. Jackson also makes no secret of his disapproval of her tonic. Mary has the mail-order bride contract hanging over her head and the reason she had to sign it. Things look especially bad when she gets thrown in jail for selling her tonic and trying to evade her contract. The sheriff provided a unique and effective solution to the problem.

I liked the epilogue, which wrapped up the courting period quite nicely. I'm looking forward to reading more stories about Oak Grove's mail-order brides, as only five of the twelve promised have arrived.

Very good book about two people who are looking for fresh starts in their lives. Gemma is a well educated and beautiful young woman who fled west after shooting a man in self-defense. She has put her education to use by becoming a teacher in the small mining town of Clear Springs. Craig is the new sheriff, who is looking for his own new beginning after his fiancee threw him over and married his brother instead. He plans to steer clear of entanglements for a good long time.

Gemma and Craig are first brought into contact by a difference of opinion over how she handles a fight between two of her students. They agree to disagree, but neither is able to forget their encounter. They're brought together again when Gemma receives a threatening note and Craig is determined to investigate.

Craig is impressed, and frequently frustrated, by Gemma's independence and reluctance to rely on his protection. I loved seeing him insist and use her own intelligence to show her what she needs. As he provides protection for her and they get to know each other, feelings begin to grow in spite of their intentions. But the more Craig gets to know her, the more he gets the feeling that Gemma is hiding something from him. Gemma knows she has to tell him what happened, but she's afraid of what his reaction will be. I liked seeing the way that she finally faced her past, knowing that it could have far reaching effects. Craig's reaction was understandable, though somewhat disappointing, but his actions redeemed him.

The mystery of who was threatening Gemma was very well done. It started slow with just a couple notes, but escalated quickly. From thinking it was a disgruntled student or parent to her past catching up with her, Gemma was afraid of what would happen next. The injuring of a harmless old man and the burning down of the school, made Craig and Gemma realize that whoever it was would not give up easily. The identity of the villain during the final confrontation was unexpected, and I loved how Gemma saved herself.

SPRING WEDDING FEVER IN THE WILD WILD WEST!

The City Girl and the Rancher by Lynna Banning
Series: Smoke River (Book 2.5)

Penniless, Clarissa Seaforth leaps at gruff rancher Graydon Harris's offer to become his cook. She's never cared for a man before, but surely it can't be hard to learn…

Very good story. Clarissa has accepted an offer of marriage from an unknown rancher in Oregon, in order to have a home in which to raise her adopted daughter Emily. On the train ride to the west, she becomes acquainted with Gray, another rancher from the same time. When her fiance doesn't show to pick them up, Clarissa takes a job singing in the saloon to earn desperately needed money. When her drunk fiance shows up and makes unwanted advances, Gray is there to rescue her. He offers her and Emily a place on his ranch, where she can serve as his cook until she earns enough to return to Boston.

I loved Gray, who was a kind and honorable man under his gruff exterior. I loved the way he was so protective of them, even though he didn't understand why he felt that way. His family life growing up had left him determined that he would never marry. His ranch was the most important thing in his life. It was fun to see the way that little Emily wiggled her way into his heart first. I loved seeing how he helped Clarissa settle in to life on the ranch.

Clarissa was very naive about what to expect when she came west. Her family had had money until her brother was lost at sea, leaving her with nothing. She believed everything the man she was supposed to marry told her, and was horrified to discover how he had lied. At this point, she doesn't like anything about the west, but has to make the best of it. I liked her determination to learn to cook, since that's what she's been hired to do. The scene with her first chicken was great.

I liked seeing the relationship develop between Gray and Clarissa. There are some sparks that start flying between them that neither is quite sure how to deal with, while other interactions as Gray introduced her to life on a ranch were pretty sweet. Since he had never experienced love, he doesn't realize that that is what he begins to feel for her. All he knows is that he wants to keep her and Emily on the ranch with him. Clarissa is pretty focused on returning home until little Emily opens her eyes to what is right in front of her.

All the time there has been worry about what the man she turned down is going to do. He is already creating problems for Gray because of the ranch. There is definitely a feeling of impending trouble. When it happens, Gray has to decide which is more important to him - Clarissa or the ranch. The resolution came with a surprising twist and a sweet ending.

His Springtime Bride by Kathryn Albright

Spring is in the air… Can rancher Gabe Coulter and Riley Rawlins, the boss's daughter, find forgiveness and renew the lovers' vows they made so long ago?

Excellent story of redemption and second chances. When Gabe got out of prison, after serving his sentence for manslaughter, he went back to the ranch he grew up on, hoping to start his life over. When he got there, he discovered that the land had been bought by the neighboring rancher, a man he considered his enemy, but also the father of the girl he had loved. Gabe has matured a lot since the last time he saw Rawlins, and faces the man determined to get his land back. Meanwhile, Riley has been living in Philadelphia with her mother's family for the last fourteen years, until trouble with her son sends her back to California and her father's ranch. Neither Gabe nor Riley had ever expected to see each other again.

Both Riley and Gabe realize that their feelings had not changed, but neither is sure that they can trust the other. Riley believes that Gabe had used her for revenge against her father and then deserted her, leaving her heartbroken and pregnant. Gabe, half white and half Indian, believes that Riley had thought herself too good for him, and now he believes it too. Then there is Riley's son Brody, who has some serious attitude problems that remind Gabe of himself at that age.

There was a lot going on in this story. There is Gabe's resentment of Rawlins and the things that he believes went on all those years before. Rawlins seems like he could be guilty of those things, but he also gives Gabe a job and the chance to earn back his land. Riley's return gives her a chance to repair her relationship with her father, who she partly blames for her separation from Gabe. Riley also has to decide whether Gabe is trustworthy enough to be told about Brody.

I really liked seeing Gabe and Riley getting to know each other again. It wasn't an easy process as both had conflicting memories of events from fourteen years earlier, memories that had to be compared and reconciled before they could move on. I also liked seeing how Gabe was able to reach past Brody's resentments and help the boy grow and change for the better. Through it all, Rawlins seemed to hold the answers to many of the questions that Gabe and Riley had, and was just waiting to see how both of them handled their new realities before providing them. There were some tense moments at the end, but I loved seeing it all come together.

When a Cowboy Says I Do by Lauri Robinson

Dal Roberts must make his sister's wedding a success, which means accompanying seamstress Ellie to Wichita. Could there be a double wedding on the horizon…?

Fun story. Dal is guardian to his younger sister since the death of their parents. She's about to get married, with her best friend Ellie promising to make her dress. The day that the three are to leave for Wichita to get the supplies, Clara falls down the stairs and breaks her ankle. Dal thinks this will get him out of the trip, but Clara insists that Dal take Ellie anyway. Dal isn't looking forward to a trip with a woman who blames him for the death of her father.

Ellie is both excited and scared about the trip. Excited, because she'll get to experience things that she's only dreamed of. But scared, too, because she's never been to a city before. When she finds out Clara has been hurt and can't go, she's disappointed because she thinks the trip will be canceled, but when she discovers that Dal wants her to go anyway, it makes her even more nervous. She sees him as an arrogant know-it-all who looks down on her because of her father.

I loved the story from the moment Dal and Ellie met at the train station. Ellie may feel that Dal looks down at her, but she has her pride and she refuses to let her nervousness show. I really enjoyed seeing her tell Dal exactly what she thought. Even better was his reaction, and how he began to look at her a bit differently. I liked the train trip and how they got to know each other a little better. It was sweet to see Dal's protectiveness when they got to the hotel and he faced down the snooty clerk. It was fun to see the two butt heads the next morning. I did get a little frustrated with the way that Ellie's pride kept getting in the way of the things Dal tried to do for her.

Dal's protectiveness was still in full swing when he escorted her to the dress shop. That was important when his ex-girlfriend showed up and started making trouble. He did go a bit overboard after he took her back to the hotel, and I loved seeing how Ellie was determined on her own course (but not stupid about carrying it out). I loved seeing Dal come to realize that Ellie was more than her father's daughter. It was really sweet to see him want to make the Cattlemen's Ball special for her.

Ellie also began to see Dal differently. She saw that he wasn't really arrogant, but confident. His love for his sister was also plain to see, which made her soften her attitude toward him. I liked how she found it so easy to talk to him, and their teasing was fun. She found it hard to accept the things he wanted to do for her, but the chance to look beautiful for him was impossible to pass up. The confrontation with his ex at the ball was hysterical, and I loved seeing how Ellie felt her own protectiveness toward Dal. Her feelings for him had grown, but she still feels that the daughter of a rustler doesn't belong with a rancher.

The ending was really sweet, with some interesting twists involving her brothers. Dal was great with his determination to make her see that she belonged with him.

Sweet romance with a touch of suspense. Four years earlier Tom had been a soldier at a nearby fort and Elizabeth the storekeeper in town. They were drawn to each other, though Elizabeth was also being courted by another man, one approved of by her brother. Tom receives a promotion and transfer and isn't able to see her before he leaves. Elizabeth is heartbroken when she doesn't hear from him.

Now Tom has arrived back in town, no longer a soldier, but with a job to do. He is shocked to find that she is still running the store and not married the way he thought. He had never forgotten her and with the new information is tempted by her again. Elizabeth is shocked to see him and surprised by the reason he had stayed away. She hasn't forgotten the way he made her feel, but she's not ready to risk her heart again, especially on a man unlikely to stay around.

I liked Tom. He is a man with a strong sense of honor. His reason for being in town was to ensure the safe transport of a gold shipment. He asked for this particular assignment as a way to make amends to the family of his previous partner who had been killed in the line of duty. Tom felt responsible for it and is determined to stop the thieves this time around. Seeing Elizabeth again has him wondering if there's any chance of a future with her.

I liked Elizabeth also, though there were times I wished she was a bit more forceful. She has been running the store in town for her brother, who has a second store in San Diego. She does everything she can to keep the peace with him because of a promise to her mother. His treatment of her is very patronizing and she just takes it. A confrontation he has with Tom has her wondering what is going on. When she discovers that Terrance interfered in her relationship with Tom she is furious and finally starts to think of herself.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship grow between Tom and Elizabeth. He is very protective of her, especially when she shows up in the town where he is working on the gold thefts. Though he knows he should stay away from her, Tom can't help seeking her out whenever he can. There's a really sweet scene where he shows up at the schoolhouse to help her and her friend. Out from under her brother's thumb, Elizabeth's own personality begins to reemerge. Though Elizabeth is cautious about risking her heart again, Tom's attentions have her dreaming of a future with him. Their conversation at the schoolhouse party draws them even closer, but Tom won't look ahead until he can clear his past.

The suspense comes with Tom's search for the gold thieves and his commitment to get the gold delivered safely. There are many things that could affect the outcome and Tom has to plan for all of them. The resolution of the problem does not go smoothly and Tom has to deal with an unexpected complication. Fortunately it all works out and Tom is finally able to put his past behind him.

I loved the ending. Elizabeth had to trust in Tom's promise to return. She returned to her home and faced what was happening. She came back a different person and I loved seeing her embrace it. Tom's arrival back in town was perfectly timed. I loved his "conversation" with Elizabeth's brother. What happened next was a surprise, but the perfect resolution for Elizabeth and Tom.

A FAMILY FOR THE RANCHER by Jenna Kernan

Two years ago, Dillen Roach fell for wealthy debutante Alice Truett. Now she's at his door with his orphaned nephews in tow! Could Alice be the perfect Christmas gift for this solitary rancher?

Dillen had known Alice back in Omaha and fell in love with her before he knew she came from a wealthy family. Feeling that he wasn't good enough for her, he left her behind to try to make his fortune out west. Two years later he still hasn't achieved his dream, but finds out that Alice will be coming to Colorado to bring him his orphaned nephews. Because of a mix-up with telegrams he is unable to delay her.

Alice has never forgotten Dillen. When his sister, who was also her friend, dies Alice makes it her mission to take the orphaned boys to Dillen. She hopes that seeing him again will rekindle their romance. She doesn't expect him to be so unhappy to see her and determined to find other options for the boys. She convinces him to let her stay and help for awhile and tries to show him that she is able to handle the life.

Dillen has a couple issues working against him. The first is that his pride won't let him pursue his feelings for Alice. Her money has him convinced that he will never be good enough for her. Second is his fear that he isn't capable of properly raising the boys. He is only an employee, with no home of his own. He appreciates Alice's willingness to help, but doesn't think she'd want to stay for long.

I loved Alice's determination to show Dillen what she can do. She has her own fears about what she can do but works to overcome them. I love the way that she showed him that he is able to care for the boys. She also tried to show him that money doesn't matter to her, and she loved that he had cared for her before he knew about the money.

Dillen very nearly let his pride tear them apart again, but saw the truth in time. I loved the way that he went after Alice. It was quite dramatic and fun to read. I also liked seeing him admit his vulnerability to Alice as well as his love.

DANCE WITH A COWBOY by Kathryn Albright

Kathleen Sheridan is determined to leave the tragedy of her past behind her -- including brooding cowboy Garrett. But with Christmas magic in the air, can she resist the warmth of his touch?

Very good story. Kathleen had left Clear Springs five years earlier, after the death of her husband. She hadn't felt truly part of his family and thought things would be easier back in San Diego with her own family. It didn't turn out that way, as her family didn't like the Sheridans. They never forgave her for marrying one, and made their disapproval of her and her daughter clear. So she moved back to Clear Springs, determined to live her life on her own terms.

She hadn't been back long when she ran into Garrett, her late husband's brother. She had had a huge crush on Garrett when she was a girl, but he never gave any indication that he felt the same way. She later fell for Josh when he pursued her so avidly. Unfortunately the marriage hadn't been a happy one. Now that she's back, Garrett has made it clear that the Sheridans want to be part of her and Lily's lives and she's not sure she wants that.

Garrett is a very quiet man, one who has never been good with words. He first noticed Kathleen when she was about fourteen, but knew she was too young for his attentions. By the time he felt she was old enough his brother had already staked his claim. All he could do was watch and fume as he saw the way that Josh treated her. The night before Josh's death, they had had words and Garrett has felt guilty ever since. With Kathleen's return he is determined to watch out for her. He doesn't expect to find that his love for her is as strong as ever.

I loved the way that Garrett showed his love for Kathleen. He helped out with repairs at her aunt's home, he tried to make things easier for Kathleen. He tried to show her that the Sheridans considered her part of their family. I especially loved the way he stood up to her brother-in-law. He really wanted to speak of his feelings, but his guilt wouldn't let him. I was really rooting for him to overcome those feelings.

Kathleen started out trying to keep Garrett at a distance, but his attentions soon started to warm her up to him. She remembered the way she used to feel about him and found those feelings growing stronger. She was afraid that he was only being nice because of his guilty feelings once he confessed what had happened. She had a lot to think about before she could trust both his feelings and her own.

CHRISTMAS IN SMOKE RIVER by Lynna Banning

Gale McBurney is an utter mystery to rich "city girl" Lilah Cornwell. But to make Smoke River her home by Christmas, she'll have to let this rugged cattleman take the reins….

Lilah is a city girl from Philadelphia with aspirations to become a writer. Her aunt left her a house in Oregon and a great deal of money, so she moves there to start her career. When she arrives, she discovers that the house has been empty for years and is not in the best of conditions. She won't let that stop her and immediately begins her renovations, including planting flowers along the front of the yard.

Gale is the foreman of a local cattle ranch. While driving cattle to the train depot in town, several of them tore through Lilah's yard, destroying her fence and garden. Gale feels badly and stops by the house to tell the owner he will make the repairs. He is bowled over by Lilah's beauty and her fiery nature. He returns the next day to make the repairs and a friendship of sorts begins between them.

Gale is fascinated by Lilah and can't stay away from her. He finds himself going to visit her after his work is done, just to spend time with her. He doesn't understand what is happening to him, and at times the strength of his emotions overwhelms him. I loved seeing some of the things he did for her. I especially loved his treatment of the fence and garden and the impression it made on Lilah. Gale also shows himself to be a very sensitive man which made him even more appealing. He has an interesting hobby that ends up having a huge impact on their chances of a future together.

I loved Lilah's independence and sense of adventure. She is very shy and feels awkward around people, but she hasn't let it stop her from pursuing her dreams. She's furious with Gale at first over the damages done to her yard, but she's also intrigued by him. His frequent visits have her thinking about him constantly. I loved seeing how his influence had her trying new things and making new friends. I liked the mental conversations she had with her aunt when she was undecided on what she would do. There was an interesting twist to her aunt's past that had a big effect on Lilah's life.

It ached to see how much the two of them came to love each other but couldn't see a way to make a life together. Gale couldn't see a way that a ranch foreman could aspire to marry a wealthy woman. I loved seeing the ranch owner's wife, Alice, do everything she could to throw them together. I loved the way she finally made it happen.

The only thing that was a bit frustrating about the book was the frequent changes of point of view, with each change being a new chapter. It made the story feel a bit choppy.

This was quite a meaty story, not having read a historical from M&B
before, so I was quite suprised how good it was.½