Mail-Order Brides Club Series by Ashley Merrick, Cindy Caldwell

Emma Byrne grew up in a Catholic orphanage in Boston, and her prospects are limited. She and her group of girlfriends, who all met in the orphanage, are barely getting by, working as nannies, cooks, and live-in maids for rich families. When Emma's employer, Gerald, threatens her with losing her job if she doesn't submit to his very unwanted advances, she stumbles onto an opportunity to be a mail-order bride and decides that couldn't possibly be worse... moreEmma Byrne grew up in a Catholic orphanage in Boston, and her prospects are limited. She and her group of girlfriends, who all met in the orphanage, are barely getting by, working as nannies, cooks, and live-in maids for rich families. When Emma's employer, Gerald, threatens her with losing her job if she doesn't submit to his very unwanted advances, she stumbles onto an opportunity to be a mail-order bride and decides that couldn't possibly be worse. Except that the groom in question had no idea that his brother sent for a wife. When Emma shows up, at the train station in Bozeman, MT, it's her groom's brother, Joshua that is there to greet her. As it turns out, Ethan is furious that his brother went behind his back and sent for a wife. He's still grieving from the unexpected death of his wife Allison only a year earlier, and spends all his time when he's not working, being a good dad to his only child, Emily, who is three. Montana is hugely different from Boston, and Emma is surprised that she immediately falls in love with the area. Though taken aback at first to discover that Ethan wasn't aware that she was coming, she's secretly relieved to have a little time to get to know him and her new home. She is also quite fascinated by his family. Ethan is the oldest of ten, and eight of them are brothers, and except for Joshua, all are single. Emma has an urge to play matchmaker, and in book two, her best friend, Julia comes West to meet the brothers. less

Colleen Shea thought she was over the man who broke her heart. The man who invited her out for an elegant dinner, and instead of proposing informed her that needed to marry someone else. That had been devastating enough, but running into him a year later, with wife and new baby, was too much for her to bear. She decides to leave Boston, and to follow her good friends, Emma and Julia, to Bozeman, MT. Emma and Julia are both happily married to Ethan and Liam, two of the many Donovan brothers... moreColleen Shea thought she was over the man who broke her heart. The man who invited her out for an elegant dinner, and instead of proposing informed her that needed to marry someone else. That had been devastating enough, but running into him a year later, with wife and new baby, was too much for her to bear. She decides to leave Boston, and to follow her good friends, Emma and Julia, to Bozeman, MT. Emma and Julia are both happily married to Ethan and Liam, two of the many Donovan brothers. Julia is thrilled to have Colleen join them and shares the good news that not one but two brothers, David and Paul, are both interested in meeting her. Colleen is excited about the possibility being courted by two eligible men....and then, she meets another Donovan, cousin Ricky, the black sheep of the family. less

When newly widowed and pregnant Brianna Sullivan begins to suspect that her husband's death might not have been an accident, she is determined to get out of Boston ASAP. Following her friends to Montana as a possible mail-order bride for one of the Donovan brothers, seems like her best option. Montana is a long way from Boston, but is she really safe there? She'll consider getting married, for the baby's sake, but finding true love again doesn't seem possible.

Ricky Donovan is the black sheep of the family. He's the most successful at business, but no one really understands what he does, or how he does it. He's a charming flirt and a regular at the local saloon. Work hard, play hard. That's Ricky. But he's also ambitious and wants to run for Mayor. His friends, successful businessmen themselves, think he has a good shot at it, but only if he gets married... moreRicky Donovan is the black sheep of the family. He's the most successful at business, but no one really understands what he does, or how he does it. He's a charming flirt and a regular at the local saloon. Work hard, play hard. That's Ricky. But he's also ambitious and wants to run for Mayor. His friends, successful businessmen themselves, think he has a good shot at it, but only if he gets married. He needs to work on his image and presenting himself as a family man, with a wife and possibly even a child, would help. Ricky can be a bit impulsive as well, and decides to ask Sarah, the newest saloon girl, to marry him. Sarah is pretty and blonde and even better, she has a young son, Andrew, who is ten. It seems like the perfect solution. And it is--sort of. Sarah is a recent widow, who accepted the saloon girl job as a last resort, when no other job opportunities were available in her native Philadelphia. The position includes living quarters for her and her son, a tiny, cramped apartment above the saloon. Sarah accepts Ricky's proposal as a business arrangement that will benefit them both. Until she realizes that not everyone in town thinks that marrying a saloon girl is a good idea, and she's afraid that she might be more of a liability, than an asset to Ricky. less

Maeve Turner grew up in an orphanage in Boston and has been a midwife for five years and has loved it, until something goes very wrong with what should have been a routine delivery, and even though it's the doctor's fault, she is blamed, and no one in the city will hire her. Jason Donovan is the Deputy Sheriff in Bozeman, MT and after losing his fiancé to a sudden illness two years ago, he has had no interest in other women... moreMaeve Turner grew up in an orphanage in Boston and has been a midwife for five years and has loved it, until something goes very wrong with what should have been a routine delivery, and even though it's the doctor's fault, she is blamed, and no one in the city will hire her. Jason Donovan is the Deputy Sheriff in Bozeman, MT and after losing his fiancé to a sudden illness two years ago, he has had no interest in other women. His brothers have been trying to persuade him to consider a mail-order bride, since it's worked so well for the, and reluctantly he agrees to meet Maeve. But two weeks after she arrives, two women both die soon after giving birth, and it looks like one of them may be murder. Jason is excited to finally have a real murder mystery to solve, but not when he discovers that one of the people he'll need to investigate is his new wife. less

Fiona Carmichael loves her career as a report with the Boston Globe. Writing is her passion. When her fiance, Harry, forces her to choose between her career or marriage, she knows what she wants to do. But when he tries to manipulate her decision, it gives her little choice but to follow her friends to Bozeman, MT as a mail-order bride for one of the Donovan brothers. Peter Donovan is reserved and artistic, happy building beautiful furniture out of wood, with his sweet dog, Rosie for company... moreFiona Carmichael loves her career as a report with the Boston Globe. Writing is her passion. When her fiance, Harry, forces her to choose between her career or marriage, she knows what she wants to do. But when he tries to manipulate her decision, it gives her little choice but to follow her friends to Bozeman, MT as a mail-order bride for one of the Donovan brothers. Peter Donovan is reserved and artistic, happy building beautiful furniture out of wood, with his sweet dog, Rosie for company. But it's a lonely life and he hasn't courted anyone since he was in love with a local girl, Mary who is now happily married with three children. After seeing his brothers find love with mail-order brides from Boston, he reluctantly decides that it's time for him to do the same. But, Peter doesn't make a good first impression, and reminds Fiona of the things that she didn't like about Harry. Further complications arise when a dead body is discovered, and there may be a disturbing connection to Mary. Fiona is thrilled to join the Bozeman Chronicle weekly newspaper as a reporter. This mysterious dead body and the curious connection to Mary is her biggest story yet. But it also raises doubts about whether she and Peter should be together. less

~Note~ The newest book in the Mail-Order Brides Club series, The Youngest Donovan, is now available for pre-order, at an early discount price for a limited time only.At the age of twenty, Elizabeth is the youngest Donovan and the only girl in the family. She is beautiful, and a talented free spirit who is happiest when lost in the world of her art--painting. There are several local men who would love to marry her, as there is a serious shortage of women in Bozeman, MT in the 1890's... more~Note~ The newest book in the Mail-Order Brides Club series, The Youngest Donovan, is now available for pre-order, at an early discount price for a limited time only.At the age of twenty, Elizabeth is the youngest Donovan and the only girl in the family. She is beautiful, and a talented free spirit who is happiest when lost in the world of her art--painting. There are several local men who would love to marry her, as there is a serious shortage of women in Bozeman, MT in the 1890's. Elizabeth has seen her own brothers send for mail-order brides. Emma was the first young woman to move west from Boston to marry Ethan. Several of Emma's friends followed--Julia, Colleen, Brianna, Maeve and Fiona. But Elizabeth is in no hurry to marry any of the local men. No one has captured her heart in the same way that her childhood neighbor, Julian, did. Theirs was an innocent, but strong, love and their future seemed all but certain to Elizabeth until something terrible happened when Elizabeth was just thirteen. No one has ever said exactly what he supposedly did, but Julian was sent away. Her family said it was for the best, given what happened, and it was made clear to her that should he ever return, Elizabeth would be strictly forbidden from having anything to do with him. Elizabeth thought she'd put Julian out of her mind, considered him gone and part of her past. But when he suddenly returns, all the familiar feelings re-surface and what she is finally told that he has done doesn't reconcile with the person standing before her. Elizabeth is determined to uncover the truth, to prove that Julian is the man she believes him to be. less

Jane Chapman loves working in the kitchen of a fancy Boston hotel. But when she suddenly loses her position and can't find another, her situation becomes dire. She's not eager to marry, but many of her friends have already gone to Bozeman, Montana as mail-order brides and have found love. So, when she's matched with a handsome and wealthy stranger, she's hopeful--until she meets him at the train station and his cold dark eyes send a fearful chill down her spine... moreJane Chapman loves working in the kitchen of a fancy Boston hotel. But when she suddenly loses her position and can't find another, her situation becomes dire. She's not eager to marry, but many of her friends have already gone to Bozeman, Montana as mail-order brides and have found love. So, when she's matched with a handsome and wealthy stranger, she's hopeful--until she meets him at the train station and his cold dark eyes send a fearful chill down her spine. Meanwhile, her friend Maeve, and her brother-in-law, Charlie Donovan, are headed for the train as well, hoping to get there in time to save Jane from making a terrible mistake. less