Mail Order Calamity

Kansas Brides Series, Book 4

By: Barbara Goss

Narrated by: Reagan Boggs

Length: 3 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Elaina Andrews witnesses a bank robbery and recognizes one of the bandits, and struggles with fear and stress from his threats. Her best friend, Sarah, gives her a train ticket so she can take her place as the mail order bride of Peter Mullins, constable of Hunter's Grove.

Pete turns out to be a fine gentleman and he marries her and brings her to his farmhouse. Every domestic duty Elaina performs turns into a disaster. She doesn't like the house or the chores he'd burdened her with. She wonders if she should have the unconsummated marriage annulled even though there is a definite physical attraction between them. A rich man, Brock, steps into the picture. Is he her escape route, or will she find a way to reconcile with Pete?

©2016 Barbara Goss (P)2017 Barbara Goss

Each story gets better.

I never know what's going to happen next. I really enjoyed listening to this story. Can't wait to listen to the next one. Barbara Goss is a great story teller.

Another must read from Barbara Goss!

Would you listen to Mail Order Calamity again? Why?

I fully intend to listen to it, and all her books again.

What other book might you compare Mail Order Calamity to and why?

It's in a class by itself..along with all her others.

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

Not that I am aware of.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would have been glad to, but I mostly listen when driving.

Love is blind

Truly in the case of Elaina's sister, love must have been blind. How could she not know what her fiancee' and some of his family members were doing.While this book did not grab my attention like most of the authors other books, it was still an interesting read with a good mix of romance and suspense.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author and I am voluntarily leaving this review.

Another Great One!

Another great mail order bride novel by the talented Barbara Goss! Elaina is witness to a bank robbery in her hometown, and is shocked to recognize one of the bandits as a man close to her family. He threatens to kill her if she identifies him. She confides in her best friend, Sarah, who offers to give her the train ticket she was sent by a man in Hunter's Grove, Kansas. Elaina realizes this is her only option and accepts, hoping that the man she will meet there will protect her.

Peter is the constable for Hunter's Grove, and owns a dilapidated farmhouse outside of town. He's happy to find Elaina so kind and beautiful, and agrees to marry her immediately. He brings her home where things don't go as well as he'd hoped. Elaina can't cook, and the old house seems to be too much for her to handle. Immediately she brings up an annulment, but Peter wants to fight to make the marriage work.

I love books filled with descriptions of domestic duties during that time, and this one has plenty. I really enjoyed Elaina and Peter's personalities, and the book had plenty of action and villains, as well as the romance. It kept me hooked the entire time. There are appearance by other couples from the series, but this can be read as a standalone.

Reagan Boggs was an excellent narrator as always, she pulled me right into the story without overacting. I was provided a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Taming the Wild West

Ah, the wild west as it was being tamed! This was a romantic period in our history, at least as told by the penny dreadfuls of the time; the Westerns of the '50s, '60s, and '70s; and the romance novels of our day.

For a relatively short novel, an enormous amount of in-depth character building and plot are presented for your reading or in my case listening [AUDIO] pleasure. The narrator has a very pleasant voice which beautifully captures each of the individuals, drawing you deeply into the action. I had listened to one other book by Ms Goss and was thus very enthusiastic when I had the option of listening to this one. [DISCLAIMER: “I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”]

While I knew I was starting with book number four of this series, I hadn't realized how interlinked the various stories are until some of the backgrounds of other characters unfolded and I realized at the end that the next novel was being set up nicely. That said, the background is sufficient to make this story stand all by itself and that other tales are out there is simply an encouragement to me to find them and read them too, knowing I will be enjoying another delightful HEA!

Loved it

Mail order Calamity

Listened to the audio version. I enjoyed the narrator and she did a good job of bringing the characters to life. Elaina had seen when the bank was robbed and knows one of the robbers. To get out of town she trades places with her friend to be a mail order bride. Pete is the groom and is ok with the change. I love his character, he tries so hard to teach Elaina on how to do things. Actually enjoyed all the characters in the book, definitely recommend the book no matter what version. I did receive an complementary copy of it.

Recommended

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

Yes. It's a good, clean exciting romance novel

What was one of the most memorable moments of Mail Order Calamity?

Elaina's learning how to cook and keep house

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

yes. this one is very well done also

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Another smash hit for Barbara Goss. A romantic adventure that keeps the
reader enthralled until the end. Elaina, after witnessing a bank robbery,
leaves town with a friend's Mail Order Bride offer. Her intended is the
Constable, and he finds himself defending the town and Elaina from a gang
of outlaws. The narration by Reagan Boggs is spot on!

Mail Order Challenges

I feel that if I was a mail order bride this would be my book. Elaina finds herself suddenly thrown into a mail order situation and is unable to cook, butcher chickens, make toast, you name it! Pete acts like he wants more of a housekeeper than a wife and judges Elaina on her housekeeping skills. When push comes to shove and Elaina finds herself in trouble Pete steps up.
This was a nice easy read, well paced, with characters I can relate to, and a narrator who did an excellent job bringing the characters to life. I will be listening to this one again.
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Mail Order Bride

Any additional comments?

Mail Order Calamity is Book 4 in the Kansas Brides Series and can be listened to as a standalone. Overall I enjoyed Elaina and Pete's story but had issues with Elaina's behavior. I thought that she was a bit selfish, wanting everything her way. Marriage should be a compromise between both spouses but it seemed that Pete was making all of the compromises to keep her happy. It was callous and insensitive of her to be dating another man while they were still married. Pete tried to be sensitive about consummating their marriage but it was misinterpreted as him only wanting a maid, not a wife. More communication on his part probably would have helped. He also should have spruced up the house a little prior to her arrival. What woman would want to live in a house with peeling paint and a broken stove? I'm glad that they got it right in the end. The narration was well done and she had a very pleasant voice. I would recommend Mail Order Calamity.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This review is my honest opinion.

Funny Story

I got this book via audiobook boom. This was a different take on the mail order bride series. I loved how Ilana would be strong then cry at the drop of a hat because she could not do anything domestic. Pete tried to help her but she was so set on annulling the marriage that she almost lost the best thing that ever happened to her. In the end, though Pete saved her from being kidnapped, raped, and killed. This story is basic with enough twists to make it interesting. The narrator again was very good and added to the story. This has been an entertaining series of stories so far.