Mail-Order Brides of the West: Heather

McCutcheon Family Series, Book 4

By: Caroline Fyffe

Narrated by: Lara Asmundson

Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's Summary

Mail-Order Brides of the West is a collaborative series by USA Today best-selling author Caroline Fyffe and New York Times best-selling author Debra Holland.

Mail-order-bride-to-be Heather Stanford dreads the day the matron of the St. Louis bridal agency finds her a husband and sends her west. Heather actually has no desire to marry; she just wants to free her struggling family from the financial burden of another mouth to feed. Still, she holds true to her plan when the fateful day arrives and Mrs. Seymour sings the praises of her prospective groom. Heather girds herself to leave behind all she holds dear and wonders if anyone can live up to the matron's glowing description.

After a mill accident leaves Hayden Klinkner's father injured, Hayden is faced with the challenge of a huge order to fill - short-handed - on a tight timeline. Further complicating matters, the handsome, dyed-in-the-wool bachelor discovers his meddling mother has a surprise to share with him - a wife! With the pressure he's under, a wife - even one as lovely and suitable as Heather Stanford - is the last thing he needs. Y Knot, Montana, is set abuzz when the "Mail-Order Bride Done Wrong" goes back on the market and every eligible man for miles around is interested. Hayden's eyes are now opened. Can he win back her heart before she says "I do"; with someone else?

See Debra Holland's companion book Mail-Order Brides of the West: Lina to find out what happens to Heather's friend and fellow mail-order bride when she travels to Sweetwater Springs, Montana, to become the wife of widower Jonah Barrett.

©2013 Caroline Fyffe (P)2014 Caroline fyffe

Enjoyable!

Any additional comments?

I love sweet historical romance stories. Especially mail order bride stories. This story has some great unexpected twists in the plot. The ending was happy but I wanted a bit more. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet (clean) entertaining story.

Wonderful outstanding listen, loved it

Any additional comments?

The author shows another side to the mail-order brides that I am sure has happened a few times. It isn't all hearts and roses sometimes things happen out of your control that my leave the bride or groom waiting at the altar with no partner. As is the case for Heather she really has no choice but to be a mail order bride coming from a big family with so many mouths to feed and little money she decided this was the best choice for her since she could not find work. What she finds on coming to Montana is Hayden isn't interested in a bride, his mother wrote the letter which leaves Heather devastated. She came all this way after many lost nights of sleep wondering if this was the right decision for her. Now to have the man stand up and say I do not want a bride is just a little much for her. What does she do, where does this leave her and how will she make her way. Hayden feels bad but there is no way he is going to marry some women he has never met much less one he has. Plus she is one of those city women who doesn't know how to cook or take care of a family. He just doesn't have time to turn the princess into a small town girl. He has to much on his plate with the new mill order, his father hurt and the machine broken down he just cannot deal with more. Sorry sweetie but you are on your own....

Heather is a lovely girl who might be from the big city but she isn't any princess. Being the oldest she had to help at home taking care of all the other children. There isn't much this little lady can't do. if she sets her mind to it she will find a way. Hayden is about to be in for the shock of his life when this lady shows him a thing or two as she turns the tables on him. I really loved this character she is full of life, caring, she grabs the bull by the horn as she makes her way to a new life without a husband. Now she just has to tell her friends and family. She holds her head high as she takes the town by storm to show them just what a big city girl can do. Does this mean life is easy for her, no as a women back in this time making a living isn't easy. There will be many trying times as the men learn she is up for grabs and grab they do as she is come to be known as the mail order bride done wrong. You have never seen the likes of men coming out of the woodwork making a play for the lovely Heather. This woman has so much to give that every man in Montana comes running to see if they can make her his bride.

Hayden is a sweet man he doesn't like hurting anyone's feeling but dang it mother just should have kept her nose out of it. The whole town is up in arms over how wrong he did this pretty little lady when he had nothing to do with it. How much more can a man take, he has way to much to do to even deal with this beside he doesn't have time for a city women. What he finds on the first morning is this city women isn't anything like he thought. Man does he get his eyes open the more he sees the more he likes. When others make a play for her hand he finds he doesn't care to much for this. He turned her down now how can he turn this around without looking a fool. He has his hands full in more ways than one. There are a few more surprises in store for you that will keep you laughing and smiling all the way.

The narration is outstanding as Lara Asmundson takes you on the journey of Y Knots new mail order bride and the trying times that the author writes about. I just love Ms. Asmundson as a narrator she brings life to the story with her many different voices. If you have listened to other books in this series you know each character has its own voice and they keep the same one no matter how many books are written. Each emotion you can hear and feel as the narrator tells a story that will break your heart and then keep you laughing at the messes these two wonderful characters get into. Her tones are even, her emotions you can feel in her voice. She never leaves you guessing as to who said what or how they feel. There isn't any background noise nor any uneven tones. Just a smooth rich voice that flows easily. This narrator gives me what I come to expect a well told story that has me hook for the first page.

Ms. Fyffe brings so much to the mail order bride series as does Debra Holland. I know when I see Ms. Fyffe's name it is going to be a well told story which will make me sad, even shock at times. One thing I always count on no matter what she will have me laughing before long as she spins and twist her story taking her characters from one mess to another through misunderstanding as they work out what they truly feel. I had to laugh at how the town got involved and the men starting coming around from all over the state. I really felt for Heather so many men to trip over you can hardly move. I think I know how a worm feels when you throw him into a pond of a million fish with each one wanting a bite. Ms. Fyffe gives you stories you can relate to with wonderful characters you will love as she takes you back to a time when things in many ways were simpler, when family meant respect, love, honor, hard work but life was good when you had your family working alongside you before life became the fast lane of high tech. If you haven't read any of the mail order brides series I suggest you start with one of Ms. Fyffe's you won't be sorry.

Western love story

What did you love best about Mail-Order Brides of the West: Heather?

I liked the layout of the story describing character attributes, and the weaving of the 2 lives together

Who was your favorite character and why?

Heather, because she was very accepting of changes.

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

I have not listened to her performances prior to heather.

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

I did smile a lot. The story was well written.

Any additional comments?

I enjoy Caroline's books.

Heather

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

yes she is my favorite love her independence and sweet nature

Who was your favorite character and why?

Heather she is a strong independent woman who knows what she wants

What about Lara Asmundson’s performance did you like?

Her voice is wonderful to listen too

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

yes when Hayden realized what he wanted

Another great book

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

The story but also Lara Asmundsons voice adds a lot that I missed when I read the book.

Who was the most memorable character of Mail-Order Brides of the West: Heather and why?

Heather for sure but love all the people in this little town

Any additional comments?

I read this book but when I listened to it in Audible, it was like a new book. Loved it!! Looking forward to listening to all the books in this series.

Big Western Love Story

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

I found that this book was a large undertaking. This story is probably the most western of the series, since Heather has so many interactions with different characters and becomes a central part of town life and gossip. I also liked that the book had very large scale scenes, such as all the men meeting in the bar, and just the sheer number of towns folk that we met. I loved the little details that were included in this book and made it complete. This would rate in the top end of my audio books listened so far.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite characters in this book are definitely the towns folks. But Chance, Evie's husband, and little Jimmy definitely shine through!

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

Lara just brings the books to life! May it be signing the songs or bringing the characters to life through different voices!

If you could take any character from Mail-Order Brides of the West: Heather out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Tobit Priest! I would love to go to dinner with such a romantic farmer that has so much to offer a lady.

Any additional comments?

I found this book excellent and would definitely recommend it. Since I would have liked an epilogue, I cannot wait to listen to the next installment of Mail Order Brides of the West! Also I would have loved to know what happened during those three days between chapters 11 and 12, I think it would have allowed me to better understand Heather and Hayden.

A Fun Romp!

Caroline Fyffe brings her characters and penchant for plot twists to a gloriously woven and heartwarming story. The common theme indicated in the series title of Caroline's books may seem like it be repetitive, but each has its own direction and "Heather" pointedly proves this multifaceted storytelling in a most wonderfully clever way. Ms. Fyffe really hits her stride in this one, this book just fits together and is extremely enjoyable and lovable.

As with any series, hopefully you've started at the beginning with Evie and also included series contributor Debra Holland's "Trudy". And do yourself a favor and include the early "McCutcheon Family Series ", such as Montana Dawn, as these books build up the characters that let's your read/listen of "Heather" make you a member of the town you will know so well and people and friends you'll be so familiar with.

In the Audible edition, Lara Asmundson continues narration of the series which keeps that familiarity of the people of Y-knot and solidifies them in your head and heart.

I did suspect one of the major plot twists early on, though I it was just a nagging intuition. The story is so well done, I was unsure of it until the end, which made the suspense all the better.

Relaxing Romance

Pleasurable story line. Each book can stand on its own however the complete series is recommended. Completely addictive!

Excellent.

Loved it an excellent story. Am enjoying the series of the McCutcheon Family. Good read.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS SERIES!!

Caroline Fyffe is SUCH AN AMAZING story teller!! This series doesn't just ignore the other characters in the series it keeps them all going!! Lara is THE Perfect Narrator for this book!! I just LOVE INA!!! I CAN'T WAIT FOR MORE of the McCutcheon's!!!!