New Mail Order Brides Series by Susan Leigh Carlton

Winnie's father wanted a boy. She wasn't. His resentment was deep, and he took no role in her life. She arrives at the Crystal Butte Watering Stop, hoping to be a mail order bride, only to find the letters she’d received and responded to were full of lies. The man she’d come to meet was in the territorial prison, awaiting trial for rustling Walton Ranch cattle. Victimized again, she trudges toward the small settlement. Dusty Walton hasn’t yet met the type of girl he’s been looking for... moreWinnie's father wanted a boy. She wasn't. His resentment was deep, and he took no role in her life. She arrives at the Crystal Butte Watering Stop, hoping to be a mail order bride, only to find the letters she’d received and responded to were full of lies. The man she’d come to meet was in the territorial prison, awaiting trial for rustling Walton Ranch cattle. Victimized again, she trudges toward the small settlement. Dusty Walton hasn’t yet met the type of girl he’s been looking for. That changes the day he runs into a feisty teacher and her mother dragging a trunk away from the Crystal Butte Train watering-stop. Her anger spilled over, settling on Dusty when she learns he was the one who turned her suitor over to the sheriff knowing he would probably hang for stealing cattle. He is smitten and so is she but won't admit it. If they can't overcome the past and fight the onrushing life threatening events together, he will be relegated to the life of a cowboy, and she will have to settle for the boring life of a teacher. Will he perservere? Or will they both give up? less

This tells the story of Susannah Parker, a naive twenty-three year old girl. She has no experience with men and is inexperienced in love. She dreams about those who are nice to her. She is a dressmaker in a women’s clothing firm, with ambitions of being a designer. Her mother is highly opinionated and dominates every aspect of the home. Her father finds it easier and more peaceful to just go along, but Susannah rebels... moreThis tells the story of Susannah Parker, a naive twenty-three year old girl. She has no experience with men and is inexperienced in love. She dreams about those who are nice to her. She is a dressmaker in a women’s clothing firm, with ambitions of being a designer. Her mother is highly opinionated and dominates every aspect of the home. Her father finds it easier and more peaceful to just go along, but Susannah rebels. Susannah’s Aunt Edith was a mail order bride, and the only sister of Susannah’s father. His wife, Irene, did not allow Edith in her home. Edith knew all about Susannah, even though they have never met. She named Susannah as heir to her ranch in Weatherford, Texas, and her sizable estate. There is a contingency clause. Even though Aunt Edith never met her, she did not want Susannah to continue to be dominated by her mother. She made the inheritance contingent on Susannah moving away from her mother and living on the ranch. If she continues to live at home, she gets nothing. Susannah moves to Weatherford on a trial basis, and loves the new life. She decides to stay. Randy Clark, the handsome son of the will’s executor says he loves her and presses her to sleep with him. He also wants her to move back to New York City. He’s suave and comes from a family that moves in New York’s high society circles. Knowing she would not fit in, and would affect his future, she declines. Susannah meets Joshua Hardin, the hard working son of a neighboring ranch owner and likes him. He is interested in her and asks her out. Who will win her love? The suave New York Law-yer or the down to earth rancher? word count: 35,000 less