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

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.

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.

'Heather' Is Such An Enjoyable Story!

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

This mail order bride's story included so many more characters than the previous ones in the series, requiring so many more voices from the narrator. She did a superb job differentiating all the characters: Evie's voice still sounded like Evie from the previous book, Lina still sounded the same from her exerpt in Evie's book. I was very pleased at Ms. Asmundson's consistency with all her different voices. 'Heather' ranks in the top of my collection.

What did you like best about this story?

When Heather arrived at YKnot to marry Hayden Klinkner she discovered that it was not Hayden, but his mother, who'd written the letter to her. Hayden declared that he did not want a wife, which broke Heather's heart. Still, she didn't let that stop her, but found work and made a place for herself in her new hometown. Though she had offers of marriage from others (way too many!) she remained true to her feelings and prayed that Hayden would change his mind.

Heather was a very realistic character who tried to make the best of things. She hadn't initially wanted a husband, and had signed with the mail order bride agency to make things easier on her struggling family by removing herself from their responsibility. When she found herself matched with Hayden she warmed to the idea so much so that she was shocked and disappointed to learn that Hayden didn't really want a wife. She continued to stay in her new hometown, working to support herself, and found though many others offered marriage, she wasn't interested.

This book has a lot more of the townspeople involved in the story which gave a sort of personality to the whole town, yet that did not get in the way of the story. It was quite interesting to see how far members of the community would go to help Heather's broken heart mend. The storyline of 'Heather' wouldn't have gone quite as far without all of them, and I really liked that. It showed how far some people would go for their loved ones.

What about Lara Asmundson’s performance did you like?

I liked all the different voices she uses for the characters. I'm amazed that she can make characters from the previous books still sound the same as they did at first introduction.

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

I'd just have a huge dinner for the whole town, outside, and be sure to sit between Heather and Evie! Now THAT would be fun.

Any additional comments?

Even though this story was enjoyable to listen to, and the plot was fun (although Hayden's pigheadedness went on far too long!) I liked the realities of that time period. Who even remembers paying six cents for a stamp? And although it was sad to hear of Heather's younger sister's illness, the story gave a snapshot of probably many at that time who could not go back once they'd ventured west.

Heather's story was just as good as Evie's, if not a little better. I like Caroline Fyffe's stories and can see why her writing partnership with Debra Holland is so successful. Now I really have to go back and pick up on the McCutcheons I keep hearing about! I'm always excited about finding authors whose works I can enjoy.

**I was given the promo code for 'Heather' for an honest review.

Life in the Old West...

I received this audio book in exchange for a honest and unbiased review. Mail-Order Brides of the West: Heather: McCutcheon Family Series, Book 4. This book takes us back to the Old West days again. This time it is Heather's turn to find a husband. I love the Mail-Order Bride book. It was great hearing from the other girls again too. These girls are fierce go-getters. I so enjoy listening to how life worked back in these times. It is funny too how they decided who to marry. This book like, all the others by this author won't leave you disappointed. If you are reading this and you just read the books yourself. Give audio books a try, it is a world like no other. The narrators breathe life into the stories!

The author, Caroline Fyffe did a fantastic job once again in this story. The plot is great. The story has substance and really sticks to your ribs (that's a good thing). The narrator, Lara Asmundson, does a great job as always delivering this story to us. She has a smooth flawless delivery that is pleasing to the ear. I love all the simple rustic voices she adds to this book!

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

good book!

i very much enjoyed this book and the characters as well. it was a nice book

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.

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!!!!

Mail-Order Brides of the West: Heather

Would you consider the audio edition of Mail-Order Brides of the West: Heather to be better than the print version?

Yes! The different personalities were brought to life in the audio-book version.

What did you like best about this story?

The town filled with match makers made this enjoyable.

Which scene was your favorite?

The proposal scene

Any additional comments?

Highly Recommend!

Good

I love to listen to books by Caroline Fyffe she is an excellent writer and identifies with the Christian faith in all her books. Which makes them wonderful she also uses no explicit material in her stories and is still able to demonstrate the attraction the characters have for one another. This book was a great listen and goes very well with the 4th book in the McCutcheon series.