Their Wanted Bride

I was impressed with the quality of the read of this first novel of the now well-known Bridgewater Brides Universe created by Vanessa Vale. In fact, this looks like a Book 1 of a series that will be mass-published over the next few months, and I can't wait to see the rest!! If they're anything like what Ms. Greywood has put out here, I'm buying the rest!<br /><br />The biggest issue I've seen in Vanessa Vale's works towards the end is a frightful redundancy to the point I almost didn't buy the last two books! Ms. Greywood kept to the original flavor that it didn't feel "wrong" or "inadequate" per what I have been used to. She didn't fall for the template that Ms. Vale was resorting to. And the few possible predictable subplots she could have taken advantage of... well, she didn't. In fact, by going down the less-used pathway, she made this book feel far more realistic.<br /><br />Our heroine, Maddy, isn't your shy wallflower. She is your feisty Kentucky upper class woman who knows her horseflesh, farm management, cigars, and bourbon. She can make a mean bowl of salt pork and beans, biscuits, and spring greens with morels. She can fish herself a mess of trout if needed as well as manage her Arabian stallion's stud service. But she finds herself in a situation of being foisted off on a local bar/brothel owner who wants her badly and would even threaten to send her favorite stallion to the glue factory if she doesn't marry him. Her stepmother is more than willing to steal Maddy's inheritance since her father had recently died. So what is a woman to do? Answer an ad where two men are asking for a bride: "...Must be willing to work and have a horse and saddle. No portrait necessary."<br /><br />Justin is from a free black family who was hired by Caleb's family to work on a grand homestead. Both Justin and Caleb grew up together, learned how to read together, travelled everywhere together, and were determined to start their own ranch in Big-Sky Montana near Bridgewater. They both are familiar with the Mohamir custom of one wife and two or more husbands to protect her. (I'm not certain HOW they came about to know the original clan which I would have LOVED to know.) And because of their own close association to each other, they are determined to continue the tradition. Caleb comes up with brain-crazy idea of advertising for such a bride, and though Justin feels like this is a fool's errand, they both are surprised with Maddy's accepting their offer.<br /><br />The only people NOT happy with this arrangement are Maddy's stepmother AND the bar/brothel owner.<br /><br />The world-building isn't as much as we do get a lovely reintroduction to the original Bridgewater crew which I felt was important. And why not have Ann become instant friends with Maddy? But beyond that, this novel is pretty much on its own. I was a little put off by some references that were hardly period, but this soon disappeared as the original storyline took over.<br /><br />Justin, Caleb, and Maddy are quite believable characters... well, I'm not sure if Justin was as believable. Being black ain't easy no matter the time line, and I saw nothing but 100% acceptance. NOT period. I know that Montana wasn't as bad as, say the Deep South, but there still was quite the resentment of newly settled folk that weren't long-term locals, and on top of that list were the Eastern Europeans like me (the original Euro Trash!) and the blacks. I had expected more intolerance even in a tolerant community like Bridgewater. I wish we could have seen more of Justin's personality. There are times he is way too much like Caleb.<br /><br />I liked Maddy's strong female character. She isn't that far away from being unbelievable and STILL has that touch of frailness that never fully is far from that tough surface. I appreciate Ms. Greywood's attempt to keep her as a believable woman and not be the usual too stupid to live heroine. Nor was she prone to saying/doing totally stupid things. Yes, I know not telling your husbands where you're going isn't cool in the middle of the dangerous wilderness, but that's understandable. She quite knowledgeable about some things yet not as knowledgeable about others. That's fine. She isn't a know-it-all, and I'm glad.<br /><br />As much as I really enjoyed this book and its ending, I just wasn't that satisfied. I wished she could have fleshed a few parts out better or make Justin be more individual... That might have helped. But I still greatly enjoyed it to the point I wonder who was a better writer — Ms. Vale or Ms. Greywood! I guess you'll have to decide that for yourselves.<br /><br />I would highly recommend not just reading this book but purchasing this book. I'm thinking about rereading it yet again today because it does leave me with a warm, fuzzy feeling. I can't wait to see how the rest of this new multi-author series goes!

This is part of Vanessa Vale's Bridgewater Brides world. She has opened it up so that other authors can write in it. <br /><br />We have Maddy, who is escaping a bad family situation in Kentucky. I think that she is incredibly strong, brave, and fierce. She is definitely a Raisa Greywood heroine. She's also very resourceful. Other people may have let everything going on drag them down, but Maddy looked for a way to handle the situation, which leads her to Justin and Caleb. <br /><br />As part of the Bridgewater community, they are looking for a bride, so they created an ad. I think that they are both really good guys. They are definitely good friends, and you can tell by the way they poke at each other, and jolly each other along to get what's going on. I think that they are really good for Maddy, and that she is really good for them.

What a kick off to the Bridgewater Brides world! I'm so excited to be also be a part of this, but Raisa has given me a lot to live up to =) Characters that are easy to fall in love with, sizzling hot love scenes, and just a fantastically fun story set in Vanessa Vale's Bridgewater world. Heroines like Maddie are my favorite!

Welcome to Bridgewater,where the men honor the Mohamir way of life. And where the women are more than happy to be shared by two husbands. To my pleasure,Raisa decided to dedicate a story of her own to this town. And it was a beauty,short,but very delicious. <br /><br />Maddy’s stepmother has plans for her,plans she doesn’t agree with. She wants to marry her off to Nathan,and that man is....YUCK! Even worse is the fact that he tells her she’ll have to marry him,or he’ll send her horse Prince to the butcher..... Her friends Dahlia and Reggie help her escape to Bridgewater,where the man she wrote to in reply to his advertisement for a bride. Only when she gets there,she finds out he won’t be the only one she’ll marry.... <br /><br />Caleb and Justin love the way of life in Bridgewater,and they can’t wait to find their own sweet bride. Aside from a small hickup when they meet,they are happy with their future wife,and move things along swiftly. The troubles she had at her hometown behind her,they’re happy they brought her to them. If only those troubles stayed where they belonged..... <br /><br />A delicious story,with a splash of danger and a lot of heat.

YOU’RE OUR DREAM COME TRUE<br /><br />As a huge fan of Ms. Vanessa Vale’s Bridgewater series, both historical and contemporary, I was thrilled to learn that her town of Bridgewater was adding new stories and inviting other authors to spin a tale. Bridgewater is a town that has the uncommon practice of more than one husband per wife—a Mohamian custom adopted by soldiers who served in Mohamir. I enjoyed Raisa Greywood's tale of Maddy, Caleb, and Justin.<br /><br />Madeline O’Connor learns her step-mother has plans that include marrying her off to the local saloon owner, Nathan Bergman. But when Nathan informs her that Celeste has sold Prince, Madeline’s horse to him as leverage to force the marriage, Maddy knows she is out of time and needs to escape. Finding an advertisement for a mail-order bride is her only saving grace, and with the help of her friend, Maddy will leave Kentucky for Montana. <br /><br />“Wife needed, aged eighteen to thirty-five. Must be able to cook and clean for two healthy men, aged thirty and twenty-nine, owners of JC cattle-ranch north of Bridgewater, Montana Territory. Must be willing to work and have a horse and saddle. No portrait necessary.”<br /><br />What a shock for Caleb Mathis and Justin Carter to get a response, and she is on her way. Meeting the train leaves them questioning things, but Maddy can straighten things out. What a shock for Maddy to learn that Bridgewater men live the Moharmian custom of two men taking one wife. <br /><br />“Our lives will be spent making you safe, comfortable, and happy. That is, if you accept us.”<br /><br />“Give me leave to do whatever I think I can. Be patient with me when I make mistakes, and let me help you. If you give me those things, I’ll marry you.”<br /><br />The story has the good, the bad, and the ugly of people. The marriage between Maddy, Caleb, and Justin is everything they all three wanted and could desire. Maddy is a fast learner of erotic adventures her husbands introduce her to. She proves to be intelligent, hard-working, a great cook, and passionate lover—but she still has a secret she hasn’t shared. What will happen when Caleb and Justin learn about what she left in Kentucky? Have they married in haste?<br /><br />“It almost seemed too good to be true. We had a good-natured, sweet wife with right fine skills in the kitchen. It made me doubly determined to make sure she was so well-pleasured in bed she’d never have a reason to regret out hasty marriage.”<br /><br />Trouble is coming and will test the binds that joined these three together. Will Caleb and Justin be able to save Maddy before it is too late? Will secrets come between them?<br /><br />The story has several spankings and explicit erotic scenes that include ménage between Maddy, Justin, and Caleb. Best of all, it does have a happy ending.

When Maddie escapes her evil stepmother and the local bar owner's plans for her, she takes her prized horse Prince with her. Caleb and Justin advertised for a wife who can work and has a horse, so Maddy answers Caleb and goes to meet her groom. In Bridgewater, it's the custom for one woman to have two husbands and Maddy is all in! Everything is going well until Maddy's unwanted fiance causes trouble trying to claim Prince as his. As all Bridgewater marriages go, Maddy learned she has two husbands to love and protect her, and she needs their loyalty and protection now more than ever.<br />I can't wait for the next Bridgewater Brides to release, I love the custom of two men to one woman.

<strong>Their Wanted Bride - 5 Stars! </strong><br /><br />This I Caleb, Justin and Maddie’s story. First let me start by saying that I love Vanessa Vale’s Bridgewater books and that she’s opened it to other authors. <br />On that note, Raisa Greywood did a freaking fabulous job writing characters that I fell in love with. It’s also full of friendship, angst, high heat. I will definitely be anxiously awaiting the next book!

I remember getting an epub copy of the first book in Vanessa Vale’s Bridgewater Brides series through some sort of giveaway and it sat on my kindle for a while before I got around to reading it. Admittedly, I have close to 4000 books on my Kindle and have probably read about 25% of them. I might have a book-buying problem. Tiny one. Anyway. I found the story thoroughly entertaining and read it in an evening. So started me down that winding path to Bridgewater, Montana, where I continued to read these stories. Admittedly, I prefer period westerns to contemporary stories (I’ve read those too!), so I was excited to find out that Ms. Vale had opened her world to other authors. Which brings me Raisa Greywood’s contribution in Their Wanted Bride.<br /><br />Hold onto my crackers and cheese for a moment while I get way too exuberant because I LOVED THIS STORY!!! Seriously, if you’re new to Raisa Greywood, then you should know that she has this amazing ability to take a trope and turn it on its head, giving you exactly what you didn’t know you wanted in a story and more. Everything about it was pure entertainment. Maddy was as sensible as she was sassy; Caleb and Justin were a happy combination of hot husbands and in awe of the woman who agreed to become their wife. There are so many details in the story that took this story up so many notches but to mention them will give away spoilers, so you just have to read the book. It’s good. Really, really good. <br />

Back to Bridgewater we go!!! I was so happy to see that some other authors were going to write in Vanessa Vales' world and Raisa Greywood's book is the first one up. Did I mention I love the original series? LOL Maddy has to escape her home so she isn't married off to an evil and cruel man who is in cahoots with her stepmother. Sending in a letter to be a mail order bride, she leaves for Montana and find outs she is going to marry not one but two men, Caleb and Justin. The best friends had decided to share a wife between them a long time ago and Maddy seems to be perfect for them. When trouble follows her to her new home, it's up to her husbands to rescue her. Will they get there in time? I loved how Maddy became friends with some of the other "brides" in town and how they took her under their wings. Ms. Greywood did a wonderful job with this story and now it makes me excited to see what the other authors are going to offer up!!!

This is my first exposure to the Bridgewater world and it won't be my last. This was a fantastic read. The writing was great as the story was filled with action, suspense, drama and super steamy scenes. I absolutely loved Maddy. She was just the strong-willed, independent woman that Justin and Caleb needed to complete their family. Great read. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.<br /><br />I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.