Mail-Order Brides of the West

By: Debra Holland

Narrated by: Lara Asmundson

Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

The well-educated daughter of a lawyer, Trudy Bauer arrives at the St. Louis based Mail-Order Brides of the West agency full of excitement for an adventure of a lifetime. She befriends the agency's maid, Evie Davenport, and the two form a strong and lasting friendship. They vow to stay in contact through letters when Evie takes hold of her destiny and arranges a marriage on the sly. Each brave young woman is ready to face whatever an unknown groom and life in Montana can throw her way.

In Holland's book, bride-to-be Trudy Bauer rides the train to Sweetwater Springs, in a Montana Sky Novel. In Fyffe's novel, house servant Evie Davenport travels by stagecoach to Y Knot, Montana in a McCutcheon Family Novel. Through their correspondence, the friends keep each other abreast of their hardships, trials, and tribulations - some of heartbreak, some of love.

©2013 Debra Holland (P)2014 Debra Holland

Such a sweet story!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, because I really liked the story! It was well written and I loved the characters!

Who was your favorite character and why?

I fell in love with Trudy right away!! She was strong in her convictions to do the next right thing for her family and those around her and brave enough to take a chance in reaching her dream of love and happiness!

Which scene was your favorite?

When Seth realized he loved her and chased down the train to tell Trudy!! I loved that he made it clear that he was willing to go all the way home with Trudy until he convinced her to come back with him!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I just thoroughly enjoyed this story!! There were times I'd smile or chuckle and even a few times that were suspenseful and I'd find myself practically holding my breath! I just know by the end I was just like...awwwwe!! It left me feeling so good!

Any additional comments?

This was my first experience listening to an audio book and I was so pleasantly surprised. I never thought I'd like it but the narrator did a great job and I think this was the perfect story for my first try! I plan to listen to more of this series!!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Mail-Order Brides of the West: Trudy

Where does Mail-Order Brides of the West rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is at the top of my list of audiobooks. I loved everything about this story and how it was narrated. Being able to listen to the story I felt like I was right there in Montana with the characters in this story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Seth. He was such a guy. As women we think we have the market on doubts in relationships. Seth was funny with all his insecurities but he really meant to be a good husband, provider and protector for Trudy.

Which character – as performed by Lara Asmundson – was your favorite?

Trudy. Her voice seemed just right for this character's personality.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

?

Any additional comments?

This was my first book by Debra Holland and I thoroughly enjoyed it and will read others by her. The story held my interest straight through to the end. The thing I really liked was when the H&H decided they loved each other the story didn't drag on and on with that. It happened and went on from there.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Lovely Sweet, Chaste Western Romance!

Where does Mail-Order Brides of the West rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's one of the best squeaky-clean western romances ranking up there with other tales from both Debra Holland and Caroline Phyffe!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Trudy was my favorite character. She was very mature and responsible having taken care of her sisters after her mother passed. She craved adventure and, in 1886 when this story is set, securing a husband in the wild west was her answer for attaining her dream for adventure!

What about Lara Asmundson’s performance did you like?

Lara Asmundson is the talented narrator for this book and she does an excellent job at bring the characters to life. She inserts pauses and emotion at the appropriate times. Her voice is very clear and well-paced to the tale. She has also been the narrator for two other Mail-Order Brides of the West books: Evie's and Heather's.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The author's descriptions place the reader in the story's setting, smelling the clean, crisp air and feasting upon the clear, starry Montana sky. The ending gave me the warm fuzzies and, thinking about it, still brings a smile to my face.

Any additional comments?

My full review including my favorite quotes from the tale has been posted at Reading Between The Wines Book Club.

Debra's writing, as always, is first rate. The story is well-paced. The characters are well-drawn. The romance is engaging and squeaky clean. I highly recommend MAIL-ORDER BRIDES OF THE WEST: TRUDY to anyone who enjoys charming, poignant western romances.

4 1/2 Wine Glasses!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Strangers to friends to lovers

I loved the story from start to finish. I found myself listening very closely and very into the settings and characters. It was so nice to see two strangers meet and Marty and then take the time to get acquainted. Even though they waited for intimacy until they were ready and felt more for one another, the chemistry was there right from the start and simmered. Seth and Trudy feel like old friends of mine and I look forward to listening to more of Debra Holland's Mail Order Brides of Montana series.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Such a wonderful book and great narrator!

What made the experience of listening to Mail-Order Brides of the West the most enjoyable?

Despite not physically reading the story which is a poor oversight on my part due to thinking this being a book that I would not like I have grossly misjudged this book until Ms. Debra Holland gifted it to me, making me really think to not judge books of this genre. Trudy decides to leave her safe sheltered haven to be a mail ordered bride and in doing so becomes the bride for Seth. I just loved Trudy from the get go she seemed like such a warm caring person who is not only brave but full of hope and dreams someone I could become friends with easily. Seth on the other hand yes he was the handsome strong silent introspective type but also had quite a few secrets for my taste since he is not totally honest with Trudy kind of bothered me which I couldn’t really understand him on one hand especially since there was such strong attraction between the two and could possibly destroy their fragile fledgling relationship.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Well besides Gertrude or Trudy the female heroine of course and is a given. Evie one of Trudy’s friends just intrigued me. Trudy and Evie want to remain friends even though both of them are being married have decided that they will always be friends also they give each other support even with their situations. Plus I just suspect that there is more to her than meets the eye.

What does Lara Asmundson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

For some reason it was easier to imagine the scenes the things that the characters do in everyday life but some of the hardships that they had to live through to survive was not only difficult to be a mail order bride but living on the American frontier. Also Ms. Lara Asmundson was able to bring such depth and different vocalizations for every single character that all the characters instantly came to life.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There are two parts of the book that really got to me. Seth has kept his saloon mistress that he thought he had feelings for before Trudy a secret but when they finally come to light and Trudy figures out that there was something between them that I really felt for Trudy and wanted to slap and beg for Trudy to please leave him and go home. The other one was the hidden physical secret abuse between Evie and Chance is hinted at and makes me eager to find out what exactly happens to Evie.

Any additional comments?

As I stated above that I received this audio book as a gift from the author herself. This was a wonderful book despite me not reading very many in this historical western romance genre but this was really a good story with strong wonderful characters whether they are major or minor Ms. Debra Holland really writes very well and I will definitely purchase more books whatever they may be.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great book

Loved it!!!! I have listened to all the books before this one and they are all great. Can't wait to listen to more.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Trudy

Where does Mail-Order Brides of the West rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This books ranks right up at the top of my audio books.

What other book might you compare Mail-Order Brides of the West to and why?

I have no other books to which I might compare Trudy; this is the first western, female slanted book that I have read. Usually Westerns are male primary with a wink to females.

Which character – as performed by Lara Asmundson – was your favorite?

Trudy, of course, with a strong interest in Evie. Lara Asmundson made all characters very real to me. There seemed to be changes in voice and inflection for each of the characters and I say characters because even the men were different and real.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did laugh in several places in the book and I became very angry when Trudy got on the train and her husband just kissed her good bye. Then I cheered when he "borrowed" a horse and charged after her. I LOVED that they learned to like and then love before sex. The story left a LOT of space in my mind to finish this particular story in my mind; I do understand that as other BRIDES stories are told Trust's story will be filled out.

Any additional comments?

I have read and Loved Debra Holland's DREAM series and truly did not expect the quality of a different style of story to be as high; I was so wrong and I do apologise to this wonderful author. Thank you, Debra Holland.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

This is an amazing book

If you could sum up Mail-Order Brides of the West in three words, what would they be?

Awesome. Compelling. Enjoyable

What was one of the most memorable moments of Mail-Order Brides of the West?

When Seth caught the train.

Which scene was your favorite?

The waterfall scene. I could picture it.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes. I laughed aloud at Trudys antics, and cried when McCurdy lied.

Any additional comments?

Wonderful book. I highly recommend it.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

An OUTSTANDING Old Fashion Romance

What made the experience of listening to Mail-Order Brides of the West the most enjoyable?

An exciting listen that made you feel you were right there experiencing the ups and downs of as the narrator brought the story to life.

What about Lara Asmundson’s performance did you like?

The emotion she brought to the story was so emotional, the changes in the voice so you know different characters where speaking. Lara make you feel the pain, love, unhappy etc that the characters were experiencing.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

How the men of the west found wife's and the trials they went through to keep them.

Any additional comments?

What a lovely clean read about a women and a man who wanted more out of life and what they were willing do to get it. A story of love, passion and trails of bring a women out west to marry who is a total stranger. You feel like you are part of them, as the narrator brings the story to life as you listen to their amazing story. A wonderful put together sweet romance the author put a lot of time into to make it a wonderful enjoy read. The narrator breathes life into the book that makes you want to listen over and over again with her sweet innocent tones that gives the book a life of its own.

This is a wonderful romantic adventure that will make you smile, and bring tears to your eyes. Two people must find themselves and what they want that are total strangers. You experience the needs, wants and desires. I loved how the book ended with Trudy and Seth saying goodbye to us the readers and giving highlights to what is to come in the series. It made me want to go pick up the next book in the series to see how they and their friend grow as they go through the changes in their life’s. It is definitely a story I want to listen to again.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Awesome!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend this audiobook to everyone!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Trudy of course

What does Lara Asmundson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love Lara Asmundsons voice, smooth, soft and very good. I can get all my work done and listen to the book at the same time. I love it! I could listen to Lara read all day.

Any additional comments?

Thanks Debra for this audio book. Love Love Love the Brides of the West! I hope to listen to them all in audio version.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful