Review: Calico Spy by Margaret Brownley

About the book:

Pinkerton operative Katie Madison’s newest case takes her to Calico, Kansas, where two Harvey House restaurant waitresses were murdered in mysterious circumstances. Calico’s sheriff, Branch Whitman, has never met a Pink he liked and is stunned to learn the pretty redhead’s true identity as she works undercover as a Harvey girl. A tornado hits town, and a past deception puts Branch’s eight-year-old-son in danger. Now the Sheriff has no choice but to work with Katie—or chance losing everything he holds dear.

My rating:
4 stars
(View my rating system)

My thoughts:

Read More

Review: Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley

Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley
The Brides Of Last Chance Ranch: Book Three
Thomas Nelson / 2013
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

About the book:

In a case that could change her career, Miranda uncovers a love that will change her life.

When Miranda Hunt sees the classified ad for an heiress to the legendary Last Chance Ranch, she knows assuming the identity of Annie Beckman is the perfect cover. As one of the finest agents for the Pinkerton Detective Agency, Miranda has been tasked with apprehending the Phantom—an elusive and notorious train robber thought to be hiding on the sprawling ranch.

But she isn’t the only one at the ranch with something to hide. Wells Fargo detective Jeremy Taggart is working undercover as well. Their true identities may be a secret, but it is impossible for Jeremy and Miranda to hide the sparks flaring between them.

Neither is about to let romance interfere with such a huge case. Besides, Miranda hasn’t removed Jeremy from her list of suspects yet. The closer they get to uncovering the identity of the Phantom, the more dangerous he gets—and no one on the ranch is safe.

The longer Miranda and Jeremy spend working together, the harder it becomes to keep their feelings in check. Their careers—and their lives—depend on solving this case. Love will just have to wait.

My rating:

My thoughts:

I've read several of Margaret Brownley's books, but Gunpowder Tea is the first from her Brides Of Last Chance Ranch series I've read. When I read the description for this book, and saw the word "Pinkerton", I knew I had to read it and I absolutely loved Gunpowder Tea!

One of the things that made Gunpowder Tea such an enjoyable read, was how the two main characters were undercover detectives/agents for different agencies. It was funny how both Miranda and Jeremy suspected each other of possibly being in cahoots with "The Phantom".

I loved all of the characters and look forward to reading the first two books in this series someday. The mystery of who was "The Phantom" was really good. I had a hard time sticking to one suspect, though I did guess correctly some other aspects of the story.

Overall, Gunpowder Tea was a great read! It had romance, suspense, danger, and some humor. I recommend it to fans of historical fiction.

*I received this book for free for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Was my review helpful? If so, please click "yes" on Amazon. Thanks!

~Litfuse Tour Page~

Margaret Brownley's latest release, Gunpowder Tea, is receiving high praise, and she's celebrating with a Kindle Fire giveaway and a "Tea with Margaret" Facebook party!

  One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 7th. Winner will be announced at the "Tea with Margaret" Facebook Author Chat Party on the 7th. Connect with Margaret and friends for an evening of book chat, prizes, and get an exclusive look at Margaret's next book!

So grab your copy of Gunpowder Tea and join Margaret on the evening of November 7th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN at the event page. Spread the word — tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on 11/7!

Read More

Review: A Bride for All Seasons by Margaret Brownley, Robin Lee Hatcher, Debra Clopton, & Mary Connealy

A Bride for All Seasons: The Mail Order Bride Collection

Thomas Nelson / 2013

Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

About of the book:

1800s mail-order bride catalogs facilitated many happy marriages. Here are the stories of four couples who owe their wedded bliss to creative editing by The Hitching Post publisher.

“And Then Came Spring”—Margaret Brownley

Sheriff Tom Garrett wants vengeance on his brother’s murderers, but he must think of his orphaned nephew. Then Mary-Jo shows up, swearing she married Tom’s brother by proxy and he’d neglected to mention a son.

“An Ever-After Summer”—Debra Clopton

Widower Matt McConnell wrote his ad with no room for misunderstanding—Bible believers need not apply. But Bible-thumping Ellie shows up on his doorstep. Matt’s so desperate for her help that he accepts.

“Autumn’s Angel”—Robin Lee Hatcher

Luvena Abbott is a singing sensation in New York. But as guardian to her brother’s children, she has few options to provide a home. Clay Birch won an abandoned theater in a poker game. The Hitching Post editor thinks they’ll make a perfect match.

“Winter Wedding Bells”—Mary Connealy


David Laramie is looking for a woman to care for his children. In exchange he’ll make her financially comfortable for life. But no woman wants to marry a dying man. Then Megan responds to his ad. It seems his “edited” letter contained no mention of him dying.

My rating:

My thoughts:

I'm typically not a huge fan of novellas, but this collection of four "Mail-Order Bride" novellas was great! The first two, "And Then Came Spring" by Margaret Brownley and "An Ever-After Summer" by Debra Clopton, were very good and had me laughing a lot. "Autumn's Angel" was my least favorite of the four, probably because it felt way too short and rushed (especially towards the end). My favorite was the last one, "Winter Wedding Bells" by Mary Connealy - it was just so good!

Melvin, The Hitching Post publisher, and his interference in the couples' lives/letters added such a neat element to A Bride for All Seasons. I just couldn't help shaking my head (and sometimes laughing out loud) at some of his antics! Oh, and I loved the glossary of terms at the end of Margaret Brownley's novella - too funny!

Overall, I enjoyed reading all of the novellas and loved three of them. I definitely recommend A Bride for All Seasons - it had great characters, romance, and humor! If you enjoy historical reads (especially mail-order bride ones), I think you will like A Bride for All Seasons.

*I received this book for free for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Was my review helpful? If so, please click "yes" on Amazon. Thank you!

Litfuse Tour Info:

Four novellas, four brides, and four stories to fall in love with. 


Enter the world of mail-order brides with four of your favorite authors: Mary Connealy, Robin Lee Hatcher, Debra Clopton, and Margaret Brownley. In A Bride for All Seasons (Thomas Nelson) each of the prospective brides is hopeful for a second chance at love—and that second chance always seems to come in an unexpected package.
 
The authors are celebrating with a fun 12 Days of Unexpected Packages Giveaway! Between July 12-23 visit the authors' Facebook Page to enter to win a new giveaway each day. Winners will be announced at the Facebook Author Chat party on July 23rd! Such fun!

Read More

A Vision of Lucy (#3) by Margaret Brownley

A Vision of Lucy by Margaret Brownley


My Rating: 


Lucy Fairbanks is a spunky woman whose adventurous spirit and dream of becoming a professional photographer for the local newspaper keeps putting her in dangerous situations.

Like her mother, Lucy felt compelled to capture the world around her and preserve moments in time that would never be repeated. The only difference was their choice of expression. - Page 28

Her father doesn't understand her dream of photography and would rather she paint (like her deceased mother did) and get married.

She stared at her father in open defiance. "I have plans for my life. Big plans. They do not include marriage." - Page 26

One occasion, when Lucy was in danger, was when she was in a horse chestnut tree trying to capture the mythical wild white mustang on film. She instead witnesses (and interrupts) a stage coach robbery, almost is killed, but is rescued by the 'wild man', David Wolf.

David Wolf is a man who is on a mission. He is a half-breed (half-white, half-Indian), and he's had a difficult life because of that. He doesn't know his real name, who is parents are - or if they are even still alive, and he doesn't even know where he belongs. Everywhere he goes he finds people who judge him just because of his blood - until he meets Lucy.

I loved how many of the same character from the books 'A Lady Like Sarah' and 'A Suitor For Jenny'  were continued in 'A Vision Of Lucy'. What I didn't like, however, was how Old Man Hank Applegate's name was changed in this book to Old Man Appleby. He seemed like the same character from previous books, yet his name was different.

Another thing I enjoyed about 'A Vision of Lucy' were the new characters. David Wolf's story was really interesting, as was Lucy's. Some parts of this book were predictable for me and a couple of things I didn't care for all that much, but other than that I really liked 'A Vision of Lucy'.

I was somewhat disappointed when I read that this is the final book in the 'Rocky Creek Romance' series. But I'm looking forward to reading Margaret Brownley's next series 'Brides of Last Chance Ranch' which comes out sometime in 2012 (according to her website).

I recommend 'A Vision of Lucy' if you enjoy reading romance novels.

*I received 'A Vision Of Lucy' for free from the publisher through BookSneeze®.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.*

View all my reviews

• Find 'A Vision of Lucy' at Christianbook
• Author's Website: Margaret Brownley
• Author's Twitter: Twitter.com/margaretbrownly
• Author's Facebook: Margaret Brownley
• Publisher's Website: Thomas Nelson

Powered by Ingram Digital

Product details:

ISBN: 1595548114

ISBN-13: 9781595548115

Format: Trade Paper

Trim Size: 5.40 x 8.10 x 1.10      

Style#: 9781595548115

Page Count: 336

Read More

A Suitor For Jenny (#2) by Margaret Brownley

A Suitor for Jenny by Margaret Brownley

My rating: 


The second book in the Rocky Creek Romance Series, 'A Suitor For Jenny', I found just as enjoyable (if not more) than the first book, 'A Lady Like Sarah'.

Many of the same characters from 'A Lady Like Sarah' make appearances in this book, including old man Hank Applegate, Pastor Justin Wells, Kip Barrel the barber, etc. I found some of the new characters funny, especially Mary Lou Higgins and Jeff Trevor.

I also found the plot interesting - three sisters coming to Rocky Creek, Texas to find 'suitable' husbands (ones that have adequate funds, pass the 'potential husband aptitude test', along with other requirements).

"I don't need a husband," Jenny said with as much regret as bitterness. The burdens of her past weighed heavily on her shoulders. At times she resented her sisters, resented the choices she'd made to provide for them after their father died. She loved them both dearly, of course. Still, it was hard not to resent the circumstances that had forced her to relinquish her own dreams of marriage. No decent man would ever want her as a wife, not after what she had done. - Page 12

The major themes in 'A Suitor For Jenny', from my viewpoint, was guilt, forgiveness and God's grace. Jenny Higgins and U.S. Marshall, Rhett Armstrong both struggled with guilt.

"There's a big difference between guilt and godly sorrow," she said. "Godly sorrow helps us to grow. Guilt is more likely to destroy us. There's only one cure that I know of, and that's God's grace." - Page 103

I don't feel it is necessary to read 'A Lady Like Sarah' first; however, I do think it adds something extra to 'A Suitor For Jenny' - mainly the background story to the people of Rocky Creek, Texas. I realize now that most of the duplicated words in 'A Lady Like Sarah' were part of the story. Mrs. Hitchcock often repeats herself.

Overall, I loved 'A Suitor For Jenny' and that's why I'm giving it such a high rating.

View all my reviews

• Find 'A Suitor For Jenny' at Christianbook
• Author's Website: Margaret Brownley
• Author's Twitter: Twitter.com/margaretbrownly
• Author's Facebook: Margaret Brownley
• Publisher's Website: Thomas Nelson

Powered by Ingram Digital

Read More

A Lady Like Sarah (#1) by Margaret Brownley

A Lady Like Sarah by Margaret Brownley

My rating: 

'A Lady Like Sarah' is mainly about a pastor and an outlaw. Justin Wells, the previous pastor of a church in Boston, is making an adventurous journey to Rocky Creek, TX to pastor a church. Along the way he encounters U.S. Marshall's, locust, Indians, a stampede, & an outlaw.

Justin and the outlaw, Sarah Prescott, created a bond when traveling this journey to Rocky Creek together. She's a Prescott, the sister to one of the most wanted outlaw gangs in Rocky Creek. She wants a normal life-to find a husband and start a family. But since she's an outlaw, will she be able to?

"If only she wasn't a Prescott. Why hadn't someone helped her & her brothers through their grief following the loss of their parents? Someone like Justin? Would that have made the difference?"

I didn't know how much I would enjoy 'A Lady Like Sarah', but found that I enjoyed it very much. Once I got used to the old west theme and characters, I thoroughly enjoyed 'A Lady Like Sarah'. The characters were funny and kept my attention.

Throughout 'A lady Like Sarah' there was a story of grace and miracles.

One of the reasons I didn't give this a higher rating is because, in my opinion, there seemed to be a lot of typos and duplicated words. Another reason is it was hard to understand the meaning of some sentences.

Overall though, a great story that held my attention and kept me slightly on the edge of my seat. I'm looking forward to reading 'A Suitor For Jenny'.

I recommend 'A Lady Like Sarah' if you enjoy reading historical, western, or romance novels.

View all my reviews

• Find 'A Lady Like Sarah' at Christianbook
• Author's Website: Margaret Brownley
• Author's Twitter: Twitter.com/margaretbrownly
• Author's Facebook: Margaret Brownley
• Publisher's Website: Thomas Nelson

A Lady Like Sarah Book Trailer

Powered by Ingram Digital

Read More