The Anonymous Bride

Title: THE ANONYMOUS BRIDE
Author: Vickie McDonough
Publisher: Barbour Books
April 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60260-696-8
Genre: Inspirational/historical romance

Luke Davis as served years in the cavalry, but now he is out and looking for a job. When he learns that his old hometown has an opening as a marshal, Luke is torn. Return home and get the only woman he’s ever loved out of his system, or run as far as he can in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, duty calls, but Luke’s arrival in town is less than pleasant. Instead, stopping at a water hole, he is accosted by three children who end up knocking him in, forcing Luke to present himself dripping wet. He does manage to capture one of the offenders and haul him into town, only to discover to his horror that the him is a her and her mother is none other than the woman he’s been dreading.

Rachel Hamilton loved Luke, but she decided to give up her dreams of love for riches. But instead she got heartbreak, shame, and a headstrong daughter that she can’t control. Not to mention, her husband is dead, but Luke is back. How can Rachel face him every day, knowing what she did? Rachel begs for his forgiveness, but Luke has none to give.

But then three women arrive each of them claiming to be ordered for Luke through newspaper ads. The only place for them to stay is in the town boarding house. And none of the women are willing to give Luke up! How many brides does one man need? Which woman will Luke choose?

THE ANONYMOUS BRIDE is the first book in Vickie McDonough’s Texas Boardinghouse Brides series. It says on the back that this is Ms McDonough’s debut novel, but anyone that has read Heartsong Presents knows that she has had many books published with them, and has even been named favorite historical author for that line.

Ms. McDonough is a talented historical author. I could almost taste the dust in the trails and see the marshal and his cousins swagger down the road shoulder to shoulder like gun-slingers itching for a fight. I could also feel Luke’s dread in the pit of the stomach as he faced Rachel for the first time, and realized that the bratty child he was man-handling was actually her child.

If you are looking for a good historical read, especially one with an old west feel, you’ll want to consider THE ANONYMOUS BRIDE. I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series, Second Chance Bride, coming in the fall of this year. $12.99. 347 pages.