Mail-Order Brides of the West: Bertha

By: Debra Holland

Narrated by: Lara Asmundson

Length: 3 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

Mail-Order Brides of the West: Bertha, a Montana Sky Series novella by NY Times and USA Today best-selling author Debra Holland

Bertha Bucholtz returns to her St. Louis home after an unsuccessful stay at the mail-order bridal agency. Her family house is overflowing with her thin, beautiful sisters and their many suitors, and shy, overweight Bertha is lost among the chaos. Even her baking skills - so praised at the agency - aren't special, for her six sisters and her mother are also excellent cooks. Desperate to be living on her own, Bertha searches for a job as a cook but with little success.

Then a letter arrives from her nemesis at the bridal agency. Shrewish Prudence Crawford, now Mrs. Michael Morgan, invites Bertha to move to Morgan's Crossing, Montana Territory and work as a cook and housekeeper at the boarding house for her husband's miners.

Upon her arrival in Morgan's Crossing, Bertha has to contend with Prudence, who seems to have mellowed - or has she? The boarding house is dirty, run-down, and full of uncouth miners. As the only single woman for miles around and a lauded cook, Bertha quickly becomes the siren of the tiny town as well as nearby Sweetwater Springs, as miners and cowboys flock to court her. Now the shy woman who had no choice of suitors has an abundance of them to pick from. She never would have dreamt having too many swains was a bigger problem than having none at all.

©2014 Debra Holland (P)2015 Debra Holland

So Shy and So Sweet

Bertha, is the shyest and sweetest, yet I believe the most talented in the kitchen, of all the brides at the agency. When "Prudence" asked for her help out west to hire her as cook and manager of the cowboy mess hall, what a shock to her and everyone. Prudence has the sharpest tongue and most always directed her insults at poor Bertha. So why would Bertha even consider such an invitation?

Well, the letter was unusual for Prudence. Nice, considerate, apologetic...wait, who is this from??? Before she writes back she writes to her bride friends in Sweet Water near where Prudence went as a mail-order bride and asked them if she really had changed. When she hears back she hesitantly decides to go. Wow, things are different. Low and behold, in a short while the man who Prudence brought with her to help pick Bertha up took a shine too Bertha and her to him. Another successful, yet accidental mail-order bride happy ending.

2 people found this helpful

!love

This story was about people not fitting into the normal looks but being people whom also need and want love

1 person found this helpful

This is my Favorite one!

I hate that her name is Bertha but.... stereotypically... A Bertha... would be old school, Big and Beautiful. And not only is she that, but she has a good heart and the woman can cook! She can cook for an army too! basically lol. And I totally adore her Beau! He is the silent strong type! If only there were more people like the two of them 💝

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a pretty good book

It seems like the characters changed so much & WAY too fast! How can someone that is deathly shy allowed a stranger to run her feet? And her kiss a man on the cheek when she has just met the man!?! Should have built up more on the characters more slowly.

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The end of the series

This is the last one from the Mail-Order Brides of the West series and just like the rest of them, this one is very sweet and clean. It doesn't have as much action / drama like others but its a very sweet story.
I will keep listening to this author and the Montana Sky series.
#tagsgiving #sweepstakes #audible #listeningatwork #mybooks

1 person found this helpful

Mail order brides of the West

Not long enough . Needs to be a novel like the rest of Debra Holland's and Caroline offers bookks

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Mail order bride

A historical romance of a mail order bride who didn’t find a match at the agency, traveled west to run a boarding house, in Morgans crossing where prudence found her match and is now the lady of the town. Bertha is much surprised at how the men want to court her in this mining town but she has her heart set on one. I love reading how this shy woman blossoms into her own, a clean love story in Montana territory

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Very Entertaining!

I enjoyed this book very much. I hope reading/listening to it will give my fellow peaches much deserved confidence. I have found a few extra pounds bothers me far more than anyone else and unkind remarks tell far more about the speakers than the recipient. Unkind words can do much damage so please think before speaking.

1 person found this helpful

Bertha is always quiet and shy.

I have loved this whole series of mail order brides. Bertha didn't get to be a mail order bride and she felt so out of place even at home. She is a quiet person and is a little plump, so she thinks that men aren't interested in her like they are her sisters. So, when an employment opportunity comes up, she decides to take it. Even if her employer will be Prudence, she will be able to be near some of her friends from the agency. It seems Prudence has changed and Bertha is willing to take the chance that the change is permanent. When arrives, there is a man who is a lot like Bertha, he is quiet and reserved. Will they be able to make a go of it?

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Mail Order Bride: Bertha

Would you listen to Mail-Order Brides of the West: Bertha again? Why?

I would listen multiple times to Bertha's story because the couple is sweet and both shy, yet overcome that shyness to make life better for others.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bertha is sweet, shy and uncertain when the book starts, but by the end, much more self confident. A budding flower to full bloom.

Have you listened to any of Lara Asmundson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I like Lara Asmundson's performances. They are both soothing and compelling enough to keep your interest.

Any additional comments?

Mail Order Brides of the West: Bertha by Debra Holland

A beautiful and sweet conclusion to the Mail Order Brides series by Holland. It's the story of a shy and overweight girl blossoming with a job and independence. She falls into the arms of a shy and quiet man who soon wants to kiss her toes rather than just rub her sore feet in the shadows.
Definitely an "awwww" romance.
Novella length and can stand alone.

1 person found this helpful