THE ANONYMOUS BRIDE by Vickie McDonough 

Review by Carla Stewart

 Publisher: Barbour
Publishing, Inc. (April 1, 2010)

ISBN-13: 978-1602606968

Veteran writer Vickie
McDonough’s
first trade length novel, THE ANONYMOUS BRIDE, delights and entertains with
fresh characters and puts a fun, new spin on the mail order bride story. Set in
late nineteenth century Texas in the fictional town of Lookout, the characters
dance off the page from the very first scene. When Luke Davis returns to the
hometown he left several years, he is excited about being the new town marshal,
but dreads facing Rachel, the woman who betrayed him and married his best
friend years ago. Before he’s hardly unpacked, three mail order brides arrive –
each under the impression that she will be the marshal’s bride. The scenario
makes for many humorous moments as the town becomes involved in the drama of
the prospective brides competing to be the marshal’s wife. When an anonymous
bride enters the competition, the stakes are raised as well as a few eyebrows.  

Vickie has assembled a fun cast of characters. Particularly
engaging were Rachel’s daughter, Jack (Jacqueline) and a rowdy ex-outlaw named
Carly, who is not who she seems. The Anonymous Bride has enough twists and turns, laugh-out-loud moments,
and tender romance to keep the any lover of historical romance happy. I loved
this book and applaud Vickie for this stellar first course in the Boardinghouse
Brides series.