Capital Bride: a sensual, mail-order bride, historical western romance (Matchmaker & Co. Book 1)

I thought this was a wonderful read that has a few issues. I did find a few things hard to believe, I will say it did make the story more interesting. I felt that for the time period the author wrote in that a little of the story line was over the top. I am torn on how many stars to give because it really was a great, interesting read that kept your attention and really a page turner. The author does give you mystery, pain, sorrow, love along with the characters having trust issues they must overcome. I feel sure somewhere in history this story did play out in some parts just not in the parts that were over the top.With the above in mind the few things I had issues within the time period were: Women were raised to be shy, I would think that on meeting a stranger that she wouldn’t remove clothes and lay on top of a bed the first night of marriage to said stranger she just met that day with never even have wrote to him. I felt the story moved a little fast in a few things. William turned out to be mean and said he hurt children before. Never was there a sign of this he seemed to me a wonderful man and then stated he loved bring pain and it had been a while since he hurt a child but would really enjoy it. Now it could have been written just to scare the little girl which would go with the story line but the author never clears this up. There were a few other little issues not any that were that important.With the above said I do have to say it does add to the story line and makes it a much better read. This was a really good read with lots of passion. It is a page turn and has a lot of what you love in a old west romance. The author gives you wonderful characters that are very likable and sweet, ones you would be proud to call friends or even family. I loved how Sarah and John raised both their girls together and loved them equal. This family is what family is all about. It is an easy flow read, you have to keep turning the pages to see what the author has in store for you. It is a fast moving read that you will want to finish at one setting. Even though I didn’t find this story to be believable I totally loved the plot and story.

Capital Bride (Matchmaker and Co. #1)by Cynthia Woolf (Goodreads Author)I really like to read mail order bride books for some reason. I love the old frontier stories. They aren’t deep, they don’t take huge amounts of concentration and thought. They don’t challenge the brain much. I just enjoy them! Some authors are able to make the stories very real by going into great detail on the different ways they did things. They didn’t have our luxuries back then that’s for sure. A woman who has a child before she is married is really frowned upon and most don’t want anything to do with her, to employ or to marry. Sarah Johnson slept with her true love, they were to be married in the next few days. He was going to be called up to go to war. He did get called up and his captain wouldn’t even allow him to take a few hours that day to marry his true love. She ended up pregnant, he died. Her Father threw her out of his home. A family friend took her in, but when she passed, Sarah and her daughter had nowhere to go. Her cousin wanted to marry her but she wasn’t about to marry a cousin. She found an add about Matchmaker and Co. and decided to visit them. She was soon on her way to marry a rancher and she sent a telegram stating when she would arrive. Her letter and telegram arrived but it was too late, her soon to be groom had been mauled by a bear and had died. His brother picked her up at the station with his daughter. He absolutely was not going to marry again. His wife had been killed during a bank robbery and his daughter was the only one to see it. She stopped speaking then. He lived with his sister. He was going to take her to town soon so she could see if she could get a job, but she fell off the porch and broke her leg. He had to get to know her like it or not. Soon he began to like her. Whether they end up together or she ends up working in another town is for you to find out. Her cousin comes after her he wants to marry her still. Read the book and find out! I received this e-book in exchange for an honest review.Description as found on Good Reads:Unexpectedly homeless, un-wed mother Sarah Johnson has few options. They could go live with her cousin William, but Sara believes there’s something untoward about his offer and it leaves her feeling uncomfortable. She's qualified to be a governess, but no one will have her because she wasn't married when she had her precious MaryAnn. Matchmaker & Co could be her salvation as mail-order-bride to Mr. John Atwood.Single father, John Atwood, is raising his daughter the best he can in the wilds of the Colorado Territory but knows he needs help. No woman he knows wants to take on the raising of his daughter who hasn't spoken since she saw her mother brutally murdered during a bank robbery. Can Sarah, John and their two daughters overcome their pasts and find happiness together?

Sarah Johnson registers to be a mail order bride and Mr. John Atwood and his seven year old daughter is chosen – so that Sarah’s five year old daughter will have a sister. They hit it off right from the start, but their pasts have a way of interfering. Then her cousin William comes from the East to get Sarah and marry her.

Capital Bride Book 1 of the Matchmakers & co series was an enjoyable story of romance and action. The children became a good part of the story line making it a real family story.

I liked the story & the fact it linked up with characters from other books by the same author. I would read this again.

Really enjoyed this book - definitely recommend it!

Very, very short book. Easy read. Couple of typos on the kindle version, but overall, a one sitting book that requires little thinking.