Cowboy looking for a wife to work the land, help with the business, and raise the next generation. Must be practical, reasonable, and honest.

Harlan Carey needs a wife, and fast. Because his father is dying and wants to see his five sons settled before he goes. It makes sense to put out an ad like he’s on the frontier and he’s looking for a bride from somewhere back in civilization. He’s expecting something workable. What he gets is a wildfire.

Kendall Darlington needs to disappear from her messy life. Becoming a mail-order bride sounds close enough to actual time travel to work. What she’s not expecting is to fall, hard, for the beauty of the land and the surprising delight that is Harlan himself.

But when her past comes calling, can Kendall trust the future Harlan promises enough to finally stay—with the only man she’s ever loved, in the only place that’s ever felt like home?

Titles in The Careys of Cowboy Point series include:  The Cowboy’s Mail-Order Bride* ~ The Cowboy’s Forbidden Bride *~ The Cowboy’s Secret Babies* ~ The Cowboy’s Best Friend* ~ A Christmas Baby for the Cowboy ~

This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.

Title:  The Cowboy’s Mail-Order Bride
Series:  The Careys of Cowboy Point #1
Author:  Megan Crane (aka Caitlin Crews)
Published:  May 9, 2024
Publisher:  Tule Publishing
My Rating:  4.5 stars

The Cowboy’s Mail-Order Bride begins The Careys of Cowboy Point series with a delightful introduction to Harlan and Kendall, each with their own unique reasons for entering into a mail-order bride situation.  Neither expected love to grow, but surprising things usually happen when you least expect them.  I love returning to Marietta, Montana once again… and again, this town is as much a character in this story as any other, with the shenighans to prove it.  Although Cowboy Point is near Marietta, this town still shines even as a neighbor.

Harlen’s father has had enough of his sons not settling down, he’s determined to get himself some grandkids one way or another… and hatches the perfect plan.  And while I may not agree with this plan, it definitely worked.  Harlen, the first of the Carey brothers we’ll meet, is a man of the land.  He works the ranch 24/7 without fail; it’s his life, and he wouldn’t change a thing.  Yet now he’s got to go looking for a wife (which he doesn’t want, thank you very much, Dad).  His decision?  Do it the old-fashioned way, offer marriage to a mail-order bride in this century, and see what happens.  He never expected Kenall, and certainly never expected to fall in love with his mail-order bride!  But she brings secrets to the ranch.  Where his life is an open book, Kendall’s past is shrouded in mystery… something that could get them both hurt beyond repair.

Kendall is determined to change her life around, to get away from her grifter family.  The ad for a mail-order bride seemed like a heaven-sent escape from a life she wanted to leave in the rear-view mirror.  If she can manage to completely get away from her family.  And that’s a big if, but she’s willing to take a chance.  Only Harlen certainly didn’t fit the idea of her unknown groom, and his family is one that she could love and feel at home with.  But can a marriage based on a lie really flourish?  She’s about to find out when the past comes calling, and her new family circles the wagons to protect her.

I loved everything about The Cowboy’s Mail-Order Bride.  It’s well-written (which isn’t a surprise from this author), emotional, filled with secrets and possibilities, hurt and healing, and the chance for a lifelong love to grow old with.  If you love a really good story, full of believable characters, unique situations, and a love that is worth every risk, then you’d love Harlen and Kendall’s story.  I’d highly recommend it, along with the rest of this series.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. I am choosing to leave a review to share my personal opinion about this book.*  I also own a Kindle edition of this title.

If you enjoy this author’s work, please visit our Megan Crane page for other titles you may have missed over time.

This title is available at Amazon