Book Review: Mail Order Bride: Christy (Orphan Brides Go West Book 1) - Vivi Holt
Synopsis:
Christy finds herself orphaned and alone when her parents are tragically killed in a robbery gone wrong. Without a home to return to, she is stranded in a strange town where she discovers the kindness of a stranger and an opportunity for new love.
Brent has lost the love of his life and after years of loneliness he hopes to find a life-long companion through a Mail Order Bride service.
When the two strangers meet sparks fly, but misunderstandings threaten to tear them apart. Before Christy and Brent can have their fairy tale ending they will have to learn to trust each other and take a chance on love.
My thoughts:
Updated Review:
The author read the reviews and took the reader's suggestions and reviews and tweaked her book. I have to say the new revised book is extremely better than the first go around. I didn't feel that I was reading a book I had already read as there are so many new pieces to the story. I loved the additional information in the beginning of the book and end. All the missing pieces are there and the book is not understandable and more believable. Thank you to the author for listening to the concerns and growing from it. Not all authors listen and make changes, kudos to the authors that can grow and make adjustments as needed. Definitely a read, now, if you like mail order brides and short western stories.
Previous Review:
I felt that there was missing pieces to the story throughout. There was an accident on a train that killed Christy’s parents. I feel that there should have been a little more information into this. It has them on a train, there was gunshots, Christy wasn’t allowed off the train and its assumed her parents got shot. If the train was robbed, why would the parents get off the train? I missed where the robbers ordered them off the train.
Needing to make a life on her own and not be a burden on others, Christy sets out on a train to meet her new husband. Typically, there would have been several “getting to know you” letters between the couple before they are set to meet. I either failed to see this or it wasn’t in the book. I felt that their “love” was rushed. They met one day and two days later was in love. That seems very farfetched and not real. I would have liked to see more of a “get to know you” period before they started acting/falling in love.
Additionally, at the end it didn’t state how the fire started. If the room or house was filled with smoke and they were coughing, then the fire had to be a decent size. I feel that the fire and smoke scene with the ashes on the gown was not realistic.
I think the story overall has a good premise but could be really good with more information, additional history and a longer period of them getting to know each other.