It’s been a long time since I’ve read a historical western romance and this one was definitely a great way to start again.

*****

The Outlaw’s Mail Order Bride

Outlaw Mail Order Brides, #1

by Linda Broday

Pub Date: January 29, 2019

ISBN: 9781492651048

Blurb:

When the West was wild

And man’s law favored the few

These extraordinary women could be found…

…in the heart of an outlaw.

Former outlaw Clay Colby is abuzz with his mail order bride’s expected arrival. He’s fought long and hard to drag Devil’s Crossing out of lawlessness…so when his homestead is set ablaze by a bitter rival, he’s heartbroken. There’s no woman in the world who’d stand by him now.

But Tally Shannon is no ordinary woman.

After escaping the psychiatric hospital in which she was wrongfully detained, Tally only wants someone to protect her and the little girl under her care. She doesn’t mind that Clay’s home is dang near burned to the ground—not when he makes her feel so safe. So cherished. But it’s only a matter of time before the ghosts of her past come calling…and her loving cowboy must defend his new bride—and the family they built together—to his very last breath.

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*****

Excerpt:

Clay and Tally stood on the rim of the bluff overlooking Devil’s Crossing. The outlaw town was invisible below, cloaked by the rocks and brush. He turned to face the woman he would vow to care for and protect with his life.

Tall and graceful, Tally wore the sunny lemon dress she’d arrived in the day before. And Clay had nothing fancy either—just plain, everyday clothes, which were good enough.

Eyeing her dress, Clay could see a place where she’d mended it. There were probably others as well. He made a silent vow to buy her the prettiest dresses he could find the next time he went to a town of any size. And he’d make her a new pair of boots to replace the shabby ones she wore. Although she tried to hide it, he could tell by her limp that her feet killed her.

Something had happened. While his lady was held in Creedmore? Maybe.

His lady. The words didn’t seem real yet. He reached for her hand and found it a chunk of ice. But the scared angel he’d held last night had vanished. In her place stood the bold, self-assured woman he’d first met. She didn’t smile.

He studied her proud profile, facial bones delicately carved. A full, lush mouth. And her hair—wind-whipped strands of fire. Something stirred inside him.

“Are you sure about this, Tally?”

“This is my path to follow, and follow it I will.”

“So will I.” Maybe this once the bride wouldn’t walk away and leave him before the ceremony. But they had yet to speak their vows. At least she’d left off her gun and holster, although he suspected she was rarely without the hardware.

He’d guard her and the child with his life. They’d given him a reason to keep breathing.

Ridge Steele, tall and somber in his black frock coat, stood before them with his tattered Bible, his gun hanging from his hip. He hated to be pressed into service—a reminder that he still couldn’t reconcile his past deeds with his teaching. Like them all, he struggled to find his way.

“We’re gathered here on this fine morn to join Clay and Tally together as one mind, one heart, one purpose,” Ridge began.

Violet, wearing a crown of braided daisies, removed her hold from Bullet and clutched Tally’s dress. Clay glanced down at her upturned face and winked before he remembered she lived in darkness. He ached for the pretty little golden-haired girl. He couldn’t imagine such a life with peril at every turn that she couldn’t even run from.

He swung his attention back to Ridge and repeated his vows. His eyes misted as he realized all a marriage entailed. From now on, he had to put Tally and Violet before his own needs. That was the true mark of a man.

“Do you have a ring, Clay?” Ridge asked.

“Of sorts.” Clay fumbled in his pocket for the ring he’d found nestling in the sack of coffee beans. He took Tally’s right hand and looked deep into her eyes. “This isn’t much, but it’s all I have right now.”

He slipped the silver band on her finger. The small, sparkly stone glittered in the sun, but he stifled a curse when he realized that it was too large. “Sorry about the fit.”

“It’s perfect.” Tally gave his hand a reassuring squeeze but still didn’t smile. “I’ll wrap string around the band and it’ll be fine.”

“Just until I can do something better.” She was clearly used to settling for less but Clay would one day get her a ring that fit or die trying.

Ridge concluded the ceremony. “You may now kiss the bride, Clay.”

Swelling with emotion, Clay pulled his beautiful Tally close and lowered his mouth. At the touch of her lips, warmth swept the length of his body.

“This is my path to follow, and follow it I will.”

“So will I.” Maybe this once the bride wouldn’t walk away and leave him before the ceremony. But they had yet to speak their vows. At least she’d left off her gun and holster, although he suspected she was rarely without the hardware.

He’d guard her and the child with his life. They’d given him a reason to keep breathing.

Ridge Steele, tall and somber in his black frock coat, stood before them with his tattered Bible, his gun hanging from his hip. He hated to be pressed into service—a reminder that he still couldn’t reconcile his past deeds with his teaching. Like them all, he struggled to find his way.

“We’re gathered here on this fine morn to join Clay and Tally together as one mind, one heart, one purpose,” Ridge began.

Violet, wearing a crown of braided daisies, removed her hold from Bullet and clutched Tally’s dress. Clay glanced down at her upturned face and winked before he remembered she lived in darkness. He ached for the pretty little golden-haired girl. He couldn’t imagine such a life with peril at every turn that she couldn’t even run from.

He swung his attention back to Ridge and repeated his vows. His eyes misted as he realized all a marriage entailed. From now on, he had to put Tally and Violet before his own needs. That was the true mark of a man.

“Do you have a ring, Clay?” Ridge asked.

“Of sorts.” Clay fumbled in his pocket for the ring he’d found nestling in the sack of coffee beans. He took Tally’s right hand and looked deep into her eyes. “This isn’t much, but it’s all I have right now.”

He slipped the silver band on her finger. The small, sparkly stone glittered in the sun, but he stifled a curse when he realized that it was too large. “Sorry about the fit.”

“It’s perfect.” Tally gave his hand a reassuring squeeze but still didn’t smile. “I’ll wrap string around the band and it’ll be fine.”

“Just until I can do something better.” She was clearly used to settling for less but Clay would one day get her a ring that fit or die trying.

Ridge concluded the ceremony. “You may now kiss the bride, Clay.”

Swelling with emotion, Clay pulled his beautiful Tally close and lowered his mouth. At the touch of her lips, warmth swept the length of his body.

*****

Review:

I usually stick to the lords and ladies of England when it comes to any historicals that I read but every once in a while something else will catch my eye.  And I have to say I’m really glad that something was this book.

Things have been really, really hard for both Tally and Clay (and their friends).  Horrible circumstances and maybe some bad decisions by themselves and/or others have led them down a difficult path.  Clay’s life as an outlaw has left him with a price on his head but he’s intent on starting over and creating a new life for himself.  One that involves a woman to share it with.  Unfortunately Tally has her own demons to fight and she brings a bit of trouble with her to Devil’s Crossing.

I loved that both Clay and Tally are determined to find a way to have a good life.  They don’t turn away when things get difficult, or if they do they quickly figure out that they need to stand up for themselves and what’s right even when it’s challenging.  Neither of them are coming to this relationship whole but they know they want better and they are willing to work at it.  There are people that depend on them and they are making a new family, a new life, together and it requires them to learn to trust each other and work together.

Broday doesn’t make things easy for anyone here but she definitely gives readers a page-turner of a story.  With every new hardship or threat that comes knocking at their door, Clay and Tally do their best to meet it head on.  They’ve had rough times in the past and the future isn’t coming easy, but they are going to face it together.  Moments of danger kept me glued to the pages but so did the more tender moments as they work together to make a family of their little band of misfits.  It’s as heart-warming as it was suspenseful, and I look forward to having Broday take me for another ride.

(Note: This is the first in this series, which is a spinoff of an existing one.  It can stand alone but I’m curious how much I would have already known about these characters if this wasn’t the first book I’d read by this author.  I don’t think it impacted much but may have added some depth.)

*****

Author Info:

At a young age, Linda Broday discovered a love for storytelling, history, and anything pertaining to the Old West. After years of writing romance, it’s still tall rugged cowboys that spark her imagination. A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Linda has won many awards, including the prestigious National Readers’ Choice Award and the Texas Gold. She resides in the Texas Panhandle where she’s inspired every day.

*****

Giveaway:

Five copies of The Outlaw’s Mail Order Bride

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/54ca7af7728/

*****