The Vigilante's Bride

I usually love mail-order bride stories, and I even like an occasional western, but the combination of both in this book just did not do it for me. I'm not sure where it started to go wrong, but overall, the story did not flow well.

I came into the story expecting Emily's point of view. After all, the story is called "The Vigilante's Bride," emphasis on bride. She came out west as a mail-order bride to this foul man, which she, thankfully, did not have to marry. Once she was released of her marital obligations, the story switched to Luke's point of view. He's the vigilante of the story, and that's really where I lost interest. There seemed to be too much focus on the unrest between the New Hope ranch where Luke and Emily were living, and the ranch owned by Bart Axel, the man Emily came out west to marry. Also, there was little to no romance, and hardly any character development, particularly for Emily.

If you're looking for a story about a mail-order bride, then let me suggest Lori Copeland or Amanda Cabot. As for western stories, I highly recommend Mary Connealy. All of these authors weave excellent stories that will hold your interest...I guarantee it. My rating for The Vigilante's Bride is 2 Stars.

The Vigilante's Bride, started out strong, but got weak towards the end.
Emily is too old to stay at the orphanage, so the Board is sending her away to be a mail-order bride. No amount of arguing on her side will get them to change her mind, and next thing Emily knows, she half way to Montana. Enter Luke Sullivan, vigilante, and cattle-rustler-punisher. He hangs a criminal every other week, but the job has gotten too much for Luke, and he decides to head back to the only home he has known, to the orphanage. But, while stopped at a tavern, Luke over hears that his enemy, the man who stole his families land, is expecting a shipment on the stage, that very night. What ensues is calamity filled evening for both Emily and Luke.

I liked how Emily wasn't a simpering female, but I feel as if her character could have been stronger and more detailed. Luke was one of the more interesting characters and definitely had a history I wanted to know more about. I did like the romance between Emily and Luke was sweet, but it seems that Bartholomew Axel, Luke's enemy and the man who ordered Emily from the orphanage to be his bride, didn't care as much as the synopsis on the back of the book. I think I would have liked Bartholomew to fight more, to get Emily back; at least then there would have been more actions. The book had some nice details that draw me in, but the plot and overall story lost me and left me wanting. This is not to say, you shouldn't give it a try.

*This book was given to me by the publisher in return for my honest review. I was not compensated in any way or influenced to write a positive review*

I had heard a lot about this book, so was looking forward to an exciting, gripping read about a girl who at first was forcibly taken from her intended, but in the end, was willingly accepting her kidnappers help to stay away from her intended. Though the story loosely followed this expectation, I feel it fell far short from what it could have been.

Once Emily was rescued from Bart, from what I read on the back of the book, I expected Bart to go to great lengths to get Emily back. I was surprised that, after the first attempt, he apparently forgot about her! Not what I was expecting - I thought the book would be about Bart trying to get her back and Luke protecting her.

The Sheriff was another character I couldn't quite understand. At first, from the way he treated Luke, I thought he was one of Bart's henchmen. But since he didn't side with Bart either, I didn't understand why he had such a big problem with Luke - I would've thought he'd want to help Luke put Bart in his place. So I was a little confused/disappointed in this character.

Emily and Luke, however, were well developed characters and by the end, I felt like I knew them pretty well. There were a few moments where the author hinted at some inappropriate things, but as it was only natural in the setting the characters were placed, it was understandable, though didn't need to be said. The first time they kiss in the book was, also, a bit disappointing - but since I don't want to give away anything, I won't say what it was that was such a disappointment. :-)

So, all in all, while I enjoyed the read, I was disappointed in the plot that didn't live up to the expectations I got from the back of the book. But if you like a story about a stubborn woman and an equally stubborn man who form a partiality towards each other, then you should enjoy this read!

Thanks to Bethany House Publisher's for sending me a review copy of this book

Hold on to your hat and prepare yourself for a wild ride across Montana in this romantic western by Yvonne Harris. In The Vigilante's Bride, Emily McCarthy is forced to leave the girl's home in Chicago where she was raised and sent to Montana to marry a well-to-do rancher she's never met. Full of spirit and life, Emily vows to find a way to support herself so she doesn't have to marry a man she doesn't love let alone has never met.

However the decision is taken out of her hands, when she is kidnapped the night before her wedding by a vigilante who is out to take back what rightfully belongs to him. Luke Sullivan didn't intend to take the girl, he simply wanted his father's money back, but he couldn't leave such an innocent girl at the mercy of Bart Axel.

Harris did a great job of capturing my attention early on in the novel. The opening chapter was a little confusing as she jumped from present time to a month earlier and back again. I love the spicy character of Emily and her can-do attitude. Luke is every woman's dream man: tall, dark, powerful, a touch mysterious, and yet has a tender side. The Vigilante's Bride is a great read.

The Vigilante's Bride
By Yvonne Harris
Published by Bethany House

In 1884 unwed women have few options, even less so for orphans like Emily McCarthy who at eighteen is informed she will be married to a wealthy rancher per his recent advertisement. With no family, employment prospects or means to support herself, Emily resolves to do her best to become a good wife to Bart Axel. Being abducted by a tall, dark, ruggedly handsome yet completely infuriating cowboy is the last thing Emily expects upon her arrival in Billings, Montana. Even more distressing is the discovery that her betrothed is an ill-natured, wife beating, murderer old enough to be her grandfather.

Luke Sullivan, orphan and former vigilante, seeks to clear his fathers name and prove that Bart Axel conned his family out of their land and home. The last thing he expected to do is rescue a quick-tempered young woman on her way to marry the very man he endeavors to destroy. Even less expected is his growing attraction to the exasperating woman.

The Vigilante's Bride is a fast-paced thrill ride from start to finish. Harris brings the old west to life in this absorbing tale of life, love and trust in the one true God who's plan for our lives is much greater than the plans we envision for ourselves.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.

This book takes place Dec 1884 in Chicago Ill. we are introduced to Emily McCarthy, an 18 yr old girl who has lived in the Aldersgate Home for Girls most of her life, she had been working as a teacher but was suddenly informed by the director that she has been promised to Bartholomew Axel as his new bride. He had advertised in the paper and an arrangement had been made between him and the school that Emily would travel to Repton Montana to become his wife. Emily can't imagine doing such a thing but she really has no other options. Within miles of reaching her destination the stagecoach is robbed, well sort of, the robber only took a small amount of the money on board, and he also takes Emily.

Our first glimpse of Luke Sullivan is of him being part of a vigilante gang that is hanging a man for stealing, the man about to be hanged gives Luke a peace of information that confirms that Mr. Axel had cheated his father out of the family farm and in Luke's mind ultimately cost him his family, so he decides to quit his job and head back home, his home was an orphanage as well called New Hope, and upon overhearing that Mr. Axel's fiance along with his money will be traveling by stagecoach, he decides to extract a little revenge.When he kidnaps Emily and takes her to New Hope with him, she isn't sure whether she should be afraid of him or thank him.

This was a perfectly written historical cowboy fiction. It had a bit of everything Indians and cowboys, a rotten bad guy,cows and cattle rustlers, horses, and alot of action. I really enjoyed how we could read the story from both perspectives, Luke's as well as Emily's. The friction between them early on made for some funny moments. The underlying christian theme was very refreshing, it wasn't overdone but it was there.

A very fast paced book that is not your typical inspirational read, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an entertaining read with a splash of humor thrown in.
5/5
I was provided a copy of this book by Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.

The Vigilante's Bride isn't your typical romance, and it's definitely not your typical inspirational romance. Harris pushes the bounds of Christian romance in a new and refreshing way.

The story opens with our heroine being asked, forcibly, to leave the orphanage, the only home she's ever. Without giving her an option, the board of directors at the orphanage answers a newspaper ad that will bind Emily in matrimony to a man not of her choosing. Fortunately for Emily, fate intervenes in the guise of a stagecoach robbery.

As a reader I can buy the difficult circumstances, giving a woman during this period little choice, but there are times when Emily's character does not always stay the course. It is difficult to believe that she would willingly accept her fate when it comes to leaving the orphanage, yet fight the hero every step of the way even after she meets her would be husband. But, I have to say, even with the inconsistencies, I do admire Emily's feisty nature, which comes in handy in difficult situations.

Our hero, Luke Sullivan, is far from perfect. And I like him. A lot. He definitely gets cowboy of the year award from me. The author does an excellent job portraying a man wandering his way back to God, especially with this wounded alpha type. Luke is the quiet-intelligent type, even if he is a bit rash in a few of his actions. There are several scenes that I absolutely loved finding in a Christian inspirational. I could tell you what they are, but then I'd have to tie a rope to the nearest tree.

The romance between the two is near perfect, even if their love is resolved much sooner than I would have liked. I did miss the much-anticipated black moment that one would expect from two very dominate personalities, but that doesn't mean there weren't any *sigh* moments, because there were. And delicious ones, too.

My biggest complaint about The Vigilante's Bride is some confusion involving the land rights. There were a few times when I had to go back and read to figure out what was what. However, the confusion is very minor and does not take away from the story.

If you're looking for an out-of-the-box inspirational that pushes the bounds then I highly recommend this novel. Even with the minor issues, The Vigilante's Bride is a definite keeper.

This book was so-so. Luke Sullivan is a ranch foreman and the leader of a group of vigilantes, at least he was until one of the rustlers told him a secret that brought the past to the present for him. Luke returns 'home' to the orphanage where he grew up but robs a stage and kidnaps a lady along the way. The lady he kidnaps is Emily and she is to wed Luke's enemy Axel. Emily sees Luke's 'rescue' as interference and is quite a handful, until she meets her betrothed and changes her mind. The only problem is, Axel hasn't changed his!
I just couldn't get into the two main characters of this book. Emily was a snotty little stinker who is entirely too uppity. Luke is never wrong and a bit dense though extremely smart at the same time. I did like the messages of God and his love that were there throughout the book and I liked several of the supporting characters. Molly seems to be a very smart woman who has a wonderful heart and I love the story of how she took Luke in! I also enjoyed all the children and how they were portrayed and the Indians. Not to mention the animals in the book, especially Luke's horse are great.
Overall a 3/5. It has a good message and the story line is ok, but the characters needed more developing.

Thank you to BethanyHouse for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

I love cowboys. There is just something about a cowboy in a Stetson riding a big ole horse that makes my heart beat a little faster. And if that cowboy just happens to be the fastest draw in the west, trying to shed his bad boy image but has a little attitude - all the better! Yvonne Harris' first book, The Vigilante's Bride, hits all the right notes with me. It has everything I like in a Western - mainly a hot cowboy.

Hotness Factor: 4 stars So let's talk about our cowboy, Luke Sullivan. At the very beginning of the book, we find Luke hanging a cattle rustler. This isn't his first time participating in a hanging or shooting either. He's been doing this awhile as a member of the vigilance committee in Montana. As a vigilante, he and others like him, take the law into their own hands and mete out justice for offenses usually resulting in death by shooting or hanging. There wasn't a lot of law in Montana in 1884.

He decides to quit his "work" and go back home but not before he robs a stagecoach and kidnaps Emily McCarthy. Oh, you've gotta' love that guy! Luke and Emily are attracted to each other from the start and have a lot of tension going on but also a lot of funny moments. For example, when Luke takes Emily to drop her off at the New Hope Orphanage.

"I've never been in a place like this in all my life," she quavered. "How dare you bring me here? I'm a decent, respectable Christian women." Luke stiffened and looked down at her, puzzled. "Never said you weren't." Her voice rose, "I've heard of these sporting houses for men. I'm not that kind of woman. I will not stay here. The very first chance I get -" Luke cranked the little handle on the door so hard it nearly flew off in his hand. "Miss McCarthy, can you read?" His lips barely moved with the words. "Of course, I can read!" "Then, do it!" He struck a match and held it over a small brass plate attached to the doorframe. In raised black letters, it said: New Hope Foundling and Orphan Asylum.

So funny! You think one thing is going to happen but then the opposite occurs. In a typical romance, the heroine falls and the hero catches her. In this book, she jumps out of a tree and lands on his back instead of in his arms! Lines like "he ambled through the kitchen to the dining room to find Emily McCarthy so he could ignore her" make me smile. I like that the book breaks out of the typical expectation of the romance genre.

Overall Rating: 5 stars Luke is the quintessential cowboy - a past that haunts him, men who want to exact revenge on him while he struggles to "be good," and women who find him irresistible. Yet somehow, even though the book follows the typical cowboy western pattern, I felt that it had a refreshing quality to it by changing things up here and there. It's clear that I am most enamored by Luke but there is the firecracker Emily, sweet Molly and a gaggle of orphan children to love too. I could really see this book made into a movie and I would be first in line to buy a ticket!

Christianity: 5 stars There are some wonderful lessons of forgiveness, doing what's right even when it's not easy, coming back to Christ when you don't feel worthy. Luke doesn't feel like God hears his prayers and has stopped praying a long time ago but then he learns how to begin again. The book isn't preachy yet the thread of who God is and his pursuit of us is woven throughout.

Summary Plot: Robbing a stagecoach on Christmas Eve and kidnapping a woman passenger is the last thing Luke Sullivan expects to do. He just wanted to reclaim the money stolen from him, but ends up with a feisty copperhaired orphan thrown over his shoulder who was on her way to marry Sullivan's bitter enemy. Emily McCarthy is an orphan out of options. Forced to marry because she was too old for her orphanage, she doesn't take kindly to her "rescue." Still she trusts God can turn any situation to good especially when it seems Sullivan may just be the man of her dreams. But Sullivan's crossed a dangerous man unused to losing and Emily may just be the prize he's unwilling to sacrifice.

The FTC and I, want you to know that all reviews shared are my own. This book has been provided to me by the publisher. I'm under no obligation to write a positive review. Anyone who knows me, knows I speak my mind and voice my own opinions. Free book or not.

The beginning of this book really drew me in! There is some great imagery--some lines that really made me feel like I was there, experiencing the haunting and wild aspects of the West. And the anticipation, along with the action, made me power through the first half of the book, eager to keep on reading.

However, I must say that I was disappointed with some parts of this book. There were some great set-ups at the very beginning for some deep digging into emotional turmoil, but I sensed a loss of that toward the end, like the plot took precedence over characterization. The ending didn't really satisfy me, and the romance that seemed so prevalent at the beginning slipped to the back burner until some quick decisions were made in the last few pages.

Also, I was confused with some of the attitudes and actions of certain characters, like Bart Axel and the Sheriff. The last line of the back cover description seems to suggest that Axel would be more concerned and forceful when it came to Emily McCarthy, but she seemed to be only one minor detail in Axel's mind. And as for the Sheriff, I didn't understand his anger. At times I suppose he was humorous, but I don't know where his impatience came from. After all, he was the one who took the job, so why would he get mad if he had to actually work?

Overall, this book was entertaining. I enjoyed reading it, especially the first half, even though the book didn't quite seem to reach its full potential in my opinion.

*With thanks to Jim Hart from Bethany House Publishers for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*