Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Left at the Altar
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 7/31/1946
WEBSITE: http://margaret-brownley.com/
CITY:
STATE: CA
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LOC Entries are Under both names:
LC control no.: n 2009070461
Descriptive conventions:
rda
LC classification: PS3602.R745
Personal name heading:
Brownley, Margaret
See also: Brownley, Megan
Found in: Brownley, Margaret. A lady like Sarah, 2009: ECIP t.p.
(Margaret Brownley)
Email from pub., Nov. 3, 2009: (Megan Brownley is a ...
pseudonym; Grieving God's way ... Megan Brownley)
Waiting for morning, 2013: ECIP t.p. (Megan Brownley) data
view (b. 7/31/1946)
================================================================================
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AUTHORITIES
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20540
Questions? Contact: ils@loc.gov
LC control no.: no 91029012
Personal name heading:
Brownley, Megan
See also: Brownley, Margaret
Found in: Her Silent walks the moon, 1991: t.p. (Megan Brownley) t.p.
verso (copr. by Margaret Brownley) p. 2 (novelist;
magazine columnist; teaches novel and fiction writing in
Calif.; b. in Britain)
Email from pub., Nov. 3, 2009: (Megan Brownley is a ...
pseudonym; Grieving God's way ... Megan Brownley)
Not found in: NLC 12/09/91
================================================================================
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AUTHORITIES
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20540
Questions? Contact: ils@loc.gov
PERSONAL
Born July 31, 1946; married.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
MEMBER:ACFW, RWA.
AWARDS:Readers’ Choice and Award of Excellence; RITA finalist.
WRITINGS
Also the author of a number of self-published e-book novellas.
SIDELIGHTS
American romance author Margaret Brownley has written dozens of novels, many of them set in the Old West, blending romance and humor. Several times a finalist for the RITA award from the Romance Writers of America, Brownley pens both stand-alone romances as well as series, such as “Rocky Creek Romance,” “Brides of Last Chance Ranch,” and “Undercover Ladies.” As Brownley notes on her Facebook page, she got her start in writing by penning her church newsletter. But after making the church picnic “sound like a Grisham novel,” her pastor took her aside and suggested that perhaps God wanted her to write fiction novels instead. She took this advice and has now published bestselling novels published in more than a dozen languages.
Petticoats and Pistols and Ribbons in the Wind
In her 1995 stand-alone, Petticoats and Pistols, Brownley posits a pair of inventors of the opposite sex accusing each other of stealing the other’s invention. Ultimately Kate Whittaker and Jonas Walker come face to face to prove the other a thief, but instead they end up falling in love. “This warm-hearted story will hold a special place on readers’ shelves,” noted online RT Book Reviews website writer Cindy Royce.
Ribbons in the Wind is a companion piece that features Elizabeth Davenport, who is determined to become the first woman to win a cross-country race in the new Model T. Electrician and mechanic Jimmy Hunter finds himself swept into her plan as a ride-along mechanic when he learns that she wants to use the prize money to open an orphanage. Subsequently, sparks parks fly from more than the ignition. RT Book Reviews Website writer Frances L. Trainor felt that “Jimmy’s unfailing tenderness and understanding help heal Elizabeth’s deep scars and add a special touch.”
Touch of Lace and Buttons and Beaus
Touch of Lace finds Abigail Parker searching for her uncle, last seen traveling west and selling his cosmetics in the brothels of new gold mining towns. She departs from Boston and arrives at Dangling Rope, Colorado just as Gunnar Kincaid is attempting to make the mining town appear respectable. When Abigail gets out of her stagecoach and goes to the nearest brothel to make her uncle’s cosmetics delivery, the miners take her for a working girl. When things settle down, Abigail’s search for her uncle soon involves Gunnar and his brother Nathan, both who fall promptly in love with her, but Abigail has eyes for only one. “Brownley writes a warm, entertaining love story with a cast of colorful secondary characters and the farcical elements of the best comic Western films,” observed Gerry Benninger on the RT Book Reviews website.
Buttons and Beaus sees independent-minded Amanda Blackwell making a living in Manhattan as a cycling instructor following the death of her father in a building collapse. Damian Newcastle was also affected by that tragedy with his builder father sent to prison for negligence. Now Damian wants to prove his father’s innocence by constructing a new building. The only problem is, Amanda’s school adjoins his site and she has no desire to help. “Generous historical details highlight the background of this suspenseful romance,” commented Royce in the online RT Book Reviews.
A Lady Like Sarah, A Suitor for Jenny, and A Vision of Lucy
Brownley launched her “Rocky Creek Romance” series with A Lady Like Sarah, featuring scrappy outlaw Sarah Prescott and disgraced preacher, Justin Wells, who meet en route to Rocky Creek, Texas, and soon opposites attract. “This wonderful novel has amazing
characters and a believable love story between two mismatched people,” observed RT Book Reviews Website writer Patsy Glans.
The series continues with A Suitor for Jenny, with another feisty female in the lead. Rocky Creek resident Jenny is determined to find good men for her two sisters but ends up attracting Marshal Rhett Armstrong to herself instead. “Brownley has a way with words that keeps the reader interested until the last page,” noted Glans in the online RT Book Reviews. A Vision of Lucy concludes the series with the tale of a spunky female photographer who finds her match with the local eccentric. Glans termed this a “satisfying read” in RT Book Reviews Website.
Dawn Comes Early, Waiting for Morning, and Gunpowder Tea
Dawn Comes Early is the first title in the “Brides of Last Chance Ranch” series. Here Boston novelist Kate Tenney heads for Arizona when her latest work of fiction is banned as immoral. There she meets blacksmith Luke Adams, her polar opposite, or so she thinks at first. A Publishers Weekly reviewer noted of this work: “It’s not a dime novel, but just like that genre will find readers interested in light diversion.”
The second series installment, Waiting for Morning, is a “sweet, enduring historical romance with characters who are charming, witty and also a little bit cunning,” according to Glans, writing in RT Book Reviews Web site. Again set in Cactus Patch in the Arizona Territory, newcomer Molly Hatfield is trying to make a new life and wonders if the local doctor, Caleb Fairbanks, will figure in that. Gunpowder Tea is an “exquisitely intriguing finale” to the series, according to a Publishers Weekly reviewer. Miranda Hunt, like her father before her, is a Pinkerton Agent now working her biggest case yet. She goes undercover in the Arizona Territory but wonders if the man she has fallen in love with is the train robber she is trying to capture.
Petticoat Detective, Undercover Bride, and Calico Spy
Brownley’s “Undercover Ladies”series begins with Petticoat Detective, set in Kansas in the 1880s. Here, Pinkerton operative Jennifer Layne goes undercover in a brothel to catch a bandit only to be waylaid by former Texas Ranger Tom Colton, who is trying to clear his dead brother’s name. Library Journal reviewer Jane Blue felt that this novel “has handsome cowboys and girls in distress, who also stand up for themselves, making this a work that fans of the genre will wish to devour.” Similarly, a Publishers Weekly contributor thought that it “strikes a fine balance of humor and realism.”
Pinkerton agent Maggie Cartwright is the focus of the second series installment, Undercover Bride, set in the Arizona Territory where she is working undercover as a mail order bridge to catch a train robber. However, her prime suspect turns out to be her true love. Writing in the online RT Book Reviews, Sarah Frobisher felt that this tale “moves at just the right pace, allowing readers to get to know the characters while progressing quickly to keep their interest.” Calico Spy finds Katie Madison sent to Kansas by the Pinkerton Agency to investigate the murder of two women, but fears the killer may actually get away. “This lighthearted mystery has just enough action to keep the plot exciting without being too much to lose the audience,” noted RT Book Reviews Website writer Frobisher.
Left at the Altar and A Match Made in Texas
In her novel Left at the Altar, Brownley focuses on spirited Meg Lockwood who is abandoned at the altar. Her father subsequently files a breach-of-promise lawsuit against the intended groom, much to Meg’s chagrin. However, things get better when her father hires handsome lawyer Grant Garrison. A Kirkus Reviews critic termed this a “sweet, touching love story.”
The sequel, A Match Made in Texas, features women’s rights activist Amanda Lockwood, who wants to run for town mayor and ultimately forms a woman’s posse to fend of rustlers. But meanwhile, she also falls in love with handsome Rick Barrett. Writing in RT Book Reviews Web site, Kathe Robin termed this a “delightful, humorous yet realistic western romance packed with engaging characters.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 2016, review of Left at the Altar.
Library Journal, February 15, 1997, Kristin Ramsdell, review of Chocolate Kisses, p. 126; August, 1997, Kristin Ramsdell, review of Buttons and Beaus, p. 66; January 1, 2015, Jane Blue, review of Petticoat Detective, p. 99.
Publishers Weekly, January 16, 2012, review of Dawn Comes Early, p. 33; August 19, 2013, review of Gunpowder Tea, p. 42; October 13, 2014, review of Petticoat Detective, p. 44; September 12, 2016, review of Left at the Altar, p. 41.
ONLINE
Fantastic Fiction, https://www.fantasticfiction.com/ (May 23, 2017), “Margaret Brownley.”
Happy Ever After, http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/ (June 7, 2017), Joyce Lamb, “Down & Dirty with Margaret Brownley, Author of A Match Made in Texas.“
Margaret Brownley Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/ (May 23, 2017).
Margaret Brownley Website, http://margaret-brownley.com (May 23, 2017).
Smart Bitches Trashy Books, http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/ (May 20, 2017), review of Left at the Altar.
RT Book Reviews, https://www.rtbookreviews.com/ (May 23, 2017), Renae Dryer, review of Body Languag; Frances L. Trainor, review of Ribbons in the Wind; Gerry Benninger, review of Touch of Lace; Cindy Royce, review of Buttons and Beaus and Petticoats and Pistols; Patsy Glans, review of A Lady Like Sarah, A Suitor for Jenny, A Vision of Lucy, Dawn Comes Early, Gunpowder Tea, A Bride for All Seasons, and Waiting for Morning; Sarah Frobisher, review of Undercover Bride and Calico Spy; Michele Hagenlock, review of Petticoat Detective; Lindy J. Swanson, review of Four Weddings and a Kiss; Kathe Robin, review of Left at the Altar, and A Match Made in Texas.*
Margaret Brownley
USA flag
aka Megan Brownley, Kate Damon
Margaret Brownley was born on July 30. At a very young age, her naturereflected romanticism. She once told her first-grade teacher that a handsomeman with "startled" eyes stole her homework. At the age of seven, shethought the word "startled" meant starry-eyed. Right from her childhooddays, she developed a habit of turning her daydreams into interesting shortstories. She had always been a storyteller and could never realize when shebecame a writer.
As a grown up, Margaret started writing articles for a number of magazines.She has written more than 400 articles for different magazines till date.She has a long list of interesting speeches and talks, which would attractthe writing groups. She is a popular speaker and has spoken to women'sgroups, religious and charitable organizations, and national conferencesacross the country.
Margaret is also an author of romance novels and has more than 23 published books to her credit, most of them set in the 1800's.
Married to her real-life hero, George, Margaret and her husband live inSouthern California, happily surrounded by five grandchildren.
Series
Hunter Family Saga
1. Petticoats and Pistols (1995)
2. Ribbons in the Wind (1996)
thumbthumb
Rocky Creek Romance
1. A Lady Like Sarah (2009)
2. A Suitor for Jenny (2010)
3. A Vision of Lucy (2011)
Brides Of Last Chance Ranch
1. Dawn Comes Early (2012)
2. Waiting for Morning (2013)
3. Gunpowder Tea (2013)
Undercover Ladies
1. Petticoat Detective (2014)
2. Undercover Bride (2015)
3. The Calico Spy (2016)
4. The Red Door Inn (2016)
Match Made in Texas
1. Left at the Altar (2016)
2. A Match Made in Texas (2017)
3. How the West Was Wed (2017)
Novels
Full Circle (1987)
Napa (1989) (as by Kate Damon)
The Kissing Bandit (1993)
Rawhide and Lace (1994)
Wind Song (1994)
Touch of Lace (1996)
Buttons and Beaus (1997)
Spittin' Image (2001) (with Lee Duran)
A Long Way Home (2012)
Head Over Heels (2012)
High Button Shoes (2013)
A Bicycle Build For Two (2014)
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
Omnibus
Honeymoon Suite (1995) (with Jennifer Blake, Ruth Jean Dale and Sheryl Lynn)
For the Love of Chocolate (1996) (with Raine Cantrell, Nadine Crenshaw and Sandra Kitt)
Flower Girls (1996) (with Beverly Beaver, Janet Dailey and Ruth Jean Dale)
Chocolate Kisses (1997) (with Raine Cantrell, Alexis Harrington and Sue Rich)
A Message from Cupid (1998) (with Victoria Barrett, Elizabeth Bevarly and Emily Carmichael)
Historical Romance Box Set (2010) (with Colleen Coble and Cara Lynn James)
A Bride for All Seasons (2013) (with Debra Clopton, Mary Connealy and Robin Lee Hatcher)
A Pioneer Christmas Collection (2013) (with Kathleen Fuller, Marcia Gruver, Cynthia Hickey, Vickie McDonough, Shannon McNear, Lauraine Snelling, Michelle Ule and Anna Carrie Urquhart)
Four Weddings and a Kiss (2014) (with Debra Clopton, Mary Connealy and Robin Lee Hatcher)
Christmas in a Cowboy's Arms (2017) (with Rosanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Leigh Greenwood, Amy Sandas and Anna Schmidt)
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumb
Collections
A Log Cabin Christmas (2011) (with Wanda E Brunstetter, Kelly Eileen Hake, Liz Johnson, Jane Kirkpatrick, Liz Tolsma, Michelle Ule, Debra Ullrick and Erica Vetsch)
A Log Cabin Christmas Collection (2016) (with Wanda E Brunstetter, Kelly Eileen Hake, Liz Johnson and Jane Kirkpatrick)
Novellas
Courting Trouble (2014)
Series contributed to
Hero for Hire
Body Language (1998)
thumb
Bride for All Seasons
And Then Came Spring (2013)
thumb
12 Brides of Christmas
2. The Nutcracker Bride (2014)
The 12 Brides of Christmas Collection (2015) (with Diana Lesire Brandmeyer, Amanda Cabot, Mary Connealy, Susan Page Davis, Miralee Ferrell, Pam Hillman, Maureen Lang, Amy Lillard, Vickie McDonough, Davalynn Spencer and Michelle Ule)
12 Brides of Summer
The 12 Brides of Summer Collection (2016) (with Diana Lesire Brandmeyer, Amanda Cabot, Mary Connealy, Susan Page Davis, Miralee Ferrell, Pam Hillman, Maureen Lang, Amy Lillard, Vickie McDonough, Davalynn Spencer and Michelle Ule)
Second Chance at Star Inn
Do You Hear What I Hear? (2016)
Non fiction
Youths Guide to Job Hunting (1988)
A Parents' Guide to Teenage Pregnancy (1989)
Grieving God's Way (2004)
Megan Brownley
A pseudonym used by Margaret Brownley
Novels
Silent Walks the Moon (1991)
Cry of the Seagull (1992)
Whispers of the Heart (1992)
thumbthumbthumb
About
Suggest Edits
PAGE INFO
Founded in 2012
INTERESTS
Personal Interests
Favorite TV show: Dancing with the Stars. You would never know it to look at me but inside this body is a dancer trying to get out!
CONTACT INFO
margaretbrownley@sbcglobal.net
http://www.margaret-brownley.com
MORE INFO
Affiliation
Member of ACFW and RWA
About
"Exquisitely Intriguing" --Publishers Weekly Starred review for Gunpowder Tea. Available at your favorite bookstore or online.
Biography
Thrills, mystery, suspense, romance: I penned it all. Nothing wrong with that—except I happened to be writing for the church newsletter at the time. After maki... See More
categories
Author
About the Author
Margaret
BEST-SELLING AUTHOR MARGARET BROWNLEY has penned more than forty novels and novellas. Her books have won numerous awards, including Readers’ Choice and Award of Excellence. She’s a former Romance Writers of American RITA® finalist and has written for a TV soap. She is currently working on a new series. Not bad for someone who flunked eighth grade English. Just don’t ask her to diagram a sentence.
Happily married to her real-life hero, Margaret and her husband live in Southern California.
Books
Undercover Ladies
Working Undercover is no job for a lady!
(Print and eBook)
Petticoat Detective
Petticoat Detective
Undercover Bride
Undercover Bride
Calico Spy
Calico Spy
The Brides of Last Chance Ranch Series
(Print and eBook)
Gunpowder Tea
Gunpowder Tea
Dawn Comes Early
Dawn Comes Early
Waiting for the Morning
Waiting for the Morning
Rocky Creek Romance Series
(Print and eBook)
A Suitor Like Jenny
A Suitor Like Jenny
A Lady Like Sarah
A Lady Like Sarah
A Vision of Lucy
A Vision of Lucy
eBooks!
High Button Shoes
High Button Shoes
Head Over Heels
Head Over Heels
A Long Way Home
A Long Way Home
Then Came Spring
Then Came Spring
Courting Trouble
Courting Trouble
The Nutcracker Bride
The Nutcracker Bride
A Bicycle Built for Two
A Bicycle Built for Two
Christmas Stories to Warm your Holiday Season
The 12 Brides of Christmas Collection: 12 Heartwarming Historical Romances for the Season of Love
The 12 Brides of Christmas Collection: 12 Heartwarming Historical Romances for the Season of Love
A Pioneer Christmas Collection
A Pioneer Christmas Collection
A Log Cabin Christmas Collection
A Log Cabin Christmas Collection
Stand Alones
Four Weddings and a Kiss: A Western Bride Collection
Four Weddings and a Kiss: A Western Bride Collection
A Bride For All Seasons (Mail Order Bride Collection)
A Bride For All Seasons (Mail Order Bride Collection)
Non-Fiction
(Margaret wrote this book following the loss of her oldest son)
Grieving God’s Way: The Lasting Path to Hope and Healing
Grieving God’s Way: The Lasting Path to Hope and Healing
Down & Dirty with Margaret Brownley, author of ‘A Match Made in Texas’
2 shares
share
tweet
email
By: Joyce Lamb | June 7, 2017 12:01 am
Margaret Brownley, whose Western romance A Match Made in Texas is new this week, joins us to answer some rapid-fire questions.
Margaret Brownley
First, about A Match Made in Texas:
Welcome to Two-Time Texas:
Where tempers burn hot
Love runs deep
And a single woman can change the course of history:
There’s a new sheriff in town.
Amanda Lockwood gets more than she bargained for when she’s elected Two-Time Texas’s first female sheriff. Anxious to prove herself, she sets out to stop crime in its tracks—taking down wanted man Rick Barrett in the process. But there’s something special about the charming outlaw. Common sense says he must be guilty…but her heart keeps telling her otherwise.
So what’s a sheriff to do? Gather an all-female posse and ride to save the day.
Things sure don’t look good for Rick. If he doesn’t convince the pretty sheriff to let him go, he’ll soon be pushing up daisies. But his plan to woo her to his side backfires when he’s the one who falls head over heels. Now he must choose between freedom or saving the woman he loves…and the clock is ticking.
Who knew A Match Made in Texas could be such sweet, clean, madcap fun?
Let’s get Down & Dirty …
Guilty pleasure? Walking barefoot in the sand.
Favorite class in school? Science.
Funniest thing a reader has said? Your book put me to sleep. (I think she meant it in a nice way. But then, again, maybe not.)
Favorite thing a reader has said/done? You look too young to be a writer. (Don’t you just love 100-year-old readers?)
Last picture you took? I was fiddling with my phone and took a picture of my foot.
Biggest fear? Someone will invent another electronic device that will further complicate my life.
Least favorite food? Eggplant.
Favorite ice cream? Rocky Road.
Favorite junk food? M&M’s.
What’s in your coffee/tea? Nothing. I drink them black.
What’s on your pizza? Everything but anchovies.
Biggest pet peeve? People glued to cellphones.
Worst habit? Talking on the cellphone.
First author hero? Louisa May Alcott.
Last book you read? All the Light We Cannot See.
Last movie you saw in a movie theater? La La Land.
Last person you texted/e-mailed? My agent.
Last Google search? How to shoot someone without doing serious damage. (If the FBI ever checked my search history, I’d be in big trouble.)
What did you want to be when you grew up? A writer.
What would you be if you weren’t an author? A ballet dancer.
Hidden talent? Twirling without getting dizzy.
Last TV show you binge-watched? This Is Us.
What movie made you cry the most? Toy Story 3 when Andy left for college.
I’m really good at … working with children.
I’m really bad at … waiting in line.
I don’t know how to use … my new phone.
My best friends tease me incessantly about … my writing obsession.
I fear I’d act like a total idiot if … I ever met a ghost.
About Margaret
Bestselling author Margaret Brownley has penned more than 40 novels and novellas. Her books have won numerous awards, including the National Readers’ Choice and Romantic Times Pioneer awards. She’s a two-time Romance Writers of America RITA finalist and has written for a TV soap. She is currently working on her next series. Not bad for someone who flunked eighth-grade English. Just don’t ask her to diagram a sentence.
QUOTE:
sweet, touching love story
Margaret Brownley: LEFT AT THE ALTAR
(Sept. 15, 2016):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Margaret Brownley LEFT AT THE ALTAR Sourcebooks Casablanca (Adult Fiction) 7.99 11, 1 ISBN: 978-1-4926-0813-4
When Meg Lockwood’s fiance abandons her at the altar, he dashes her hopes for healing the family feud that split their Old West town—and things become even more complicated when her father sues the groom, bringing a handsome East Coast lawyer into her life.The Farrells and the Lockwoods have issues, which means the town of Two-Time, Texas, has issues, since Mr. Farrell and Mr. Lockwood are the local jewelers, and their animosity means the town is divided into two time zones—Lockwood time and Farrell time. No one knows why the two men detest each other, but it’s had a divisive and confusing effect on their neighbors. Lockwood’s middle daughter has agreed to marry Farrell’s son, her lifelong friend, under the condition that the two men bury the hatchet, but when Tommy balks at the last minute, Meg’s father sues him for breach of promise. She doesn’t approve of the lawsuit, but her father won’t drop it, and most of the town's condemnation comes down on her rather than on him. Even more problematic, the lawyer who takes Tommy’s case is Grant Garrison, the compelling East Coast attorney who’s recently moved to town. Despite being adversaries, Meg and Grant often find themselves thrown together and realize they share both values and an attraction. However, as the lawsuit progresses and the town becomes increasingly hostile, Meg begins to question Grant’s intentions, until a tragic event forces everyone to re-evaluate their beliefs and attitudes. This chaste (kisses only) historical romance has a unique hook, a quirky Old West town chock full of interesting characters, and some unexpected twists that make the story refreshingly original. A sweet, touching love story that revisits a fascinating and overlooked aspect of history: the confounding way time was kept and how it could cause more problems than it solved.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Margaret Brownley: LEFT AT THE ALTAR." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Sept. 2016. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA463216078&it=r&asid=405d5e30da4590666b9615967943b25f. Accessed 11 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A463216078
Left at the Altar
263.37 (Sept. 12, 2016): p41.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Left at the Altar
Margaret Brownley. Sourcebooks Casablanca, $7.99 mass market (384p) ISBN 978-1-49260813-4
Brownley's 19th-century western romance leaves much to be desired. When Tommy Farrell leaves Meg Lockwood at the altar in Two-Time, Tex., her father files a $10,000 breach-of-promise lawsuit against him. Humiliated by her father's insistence that she is now "damaged goods," Meg is also horrified by her attraction to Grant Garrison, the new-to-town lawyer Tommy hires. The two friends were marrying to end their fathers' long-standing feud; as the town's two jewelers, they set time locally, and each worked on a different clock. The feud's genesis is anything but mysterious, and the townsfolk fulfill roles straight out of Central Casting, from Meg's suffragist sister to the outlaw awaiting hangin'. Choppy storytelling does not serve the romance. Agent: Natasha Kern, Natasha Kern Literary Agency. (Nov.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Left at the Altar." Publishers Weekly, 12 Sept. 2016, p. 41. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA464046265&it=r&asid=06530be97436ac582ec51172de9f8dfb. Accessed 11 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A464046265
QUOTE:
strikes a fine balance of humor and realism,
Petticoat Detective
261.41 (Oct. 13, 2014): p44.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2014 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Petticoat Detective
Margaret Brownley. Barbour/Shiloh Run,
$13.99 trade paper (320p) ISBN 978-1-62836626-6
Romance fans will welcome this first of the Undercover Ladies series set in frontier Kansas in 1883. Former Texas Ranger Tom Colton's mission to clear the name of his recently deceased brother forces him to the door of the local brothel. Seeking to talk with the prostitute his brother allegedly planned to marry, he instead is paired up with Amy, who is actually an undercover Pinkerton operative named Jennifer Layne on the trail of a notorious bandit. With Amy's true identity unknown, Tom finds his attraction to this "prostitute" confusing and alarming. As their parallel investigations cross and eventually collide, Jennifer struggles with her own feelings for Tom and the increasing fear that her evidence will incriminate his brother. Their shared faith gives both characters a high sense of justice and honesty, causing inner conflict over the inevitable lies and ruses that come with undercover work. Playful and funny secondary characters lighten things up, and even the judgmental church ladies prove teachable. Brownley (Gunpowder Tea) strikes a fine balance of humor and realism, not glossing over the darker side of the Wild West as she explores childhood abuse, broken families, and double standards. Agent: Natasha Kern, Natasha Kern Literary Agency. (Dec.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Petticoat Detective." Publishers Weekly, 13 Oct. 2014, p. 44. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA386341385&it=r&asid=c4cfc1bc04586218a86b8cfd8da06d0a. Accessed 11 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A386341385
Buttons and Beaus
Kristin Ramsdell
122.13 (Aug. 1997): p66.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 1997 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Amanda Blackwell, owner of the popular Miss Blackwell's Cycling School and guardian of her mentally disabled younger brother, is not about to let anyone interfere with her life -- not her wealthy uncle, who wants to send her brother to an asylum, nor the much-too-attractive architect Damian Newcastle, who plans to build a 20-story building next to her school. But Damian has an agenda of his own -- which, among other things, includes Amanda. Some hilarious cycling scenes and a cast of often quirky secondary characters make an interesting contrast to a plot that features political scandal, murder, physical and mental disabilities, and court battles. Brownley (Ribbons in the Wind, Topaz, 1996) uses a casual writing style and has clearly done her historical homework on New York City in 1880. She lives in Simi Valley, Cal.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Ramsdell, Kristin. "Buttons and Beaus." Library Journal, Aug. 1997, p. 66. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA19719944&it=r&asid=2ecdfd00300d857ee388372fb2405bbd. Accessed 11 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A19719944
QUOTE:
has handsome cowboys and girls in distress, who also stand up for themselves, making this a work that fans of the genre will wish to devour.
Brownley, Margaret. Petticoat Detective
Jane Blue
140.1 (Jan. 1, 2015): p99.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
* Brownley, Margaret. Petticoat Detective. Shiloh Run. (Undercover Ladies, Bk. 1). 2014. 320p. ISBN 9781628366266. pap. $13.99; ebk. ISBN 9781634090605. cf
Pinkerton agent Jennifer Lane has taken on the role of a lifetime. Posing as a lady companion at Miss Lillian's Parlor Flouse and Boots, Jennifer is hot on the trail of the Gunnysack Bandit. Tom Colton, a former Texas Ranger, just wants to clear his deceased brother's name. Thrust together time and again, even as sparks fly, Tom and Jennifer finally figure out that working together and perhaps learning to trust each other might get them what they both want. The disappearance of Jennifer's sister many years before haunts her dreams, and a mystery yet unsolved is adeptly included in this cozy Western. The budding relationship between the protagonists adds a bit of romance to the enjoyable narrative, although their inability to see how God is blending their lives together will keep readers on edge. VERDICT RITA Award finalist Brownley's new series opener has handsome cowboys and girls in distress, who also stand up for themselves, making this a work that fans of the genre will wish to devour.--Jane Blue, Andrews P.L., NC
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Blue, Jane. "Brownley, Margaret. Petticoat Detective." Library Journal, 1 Jan. 2015, p. 99. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA443057029&it=r&asid=1585dedbac0dfccd773e5d5a3bd26fc0. Accessed 11 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A443057029
QUOTE:
It's not a dime novel, but just like that genre will find readers interested in light diversion.
Dawn Comes Early
259.3 (Jan. 16, 2012): p33.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2012 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Dawn Comes Early
Margaret Brownley. Thomas Nelson, $15.99 trade paper (320p) ISBN 978-1-5955-4968-6
Brownley (A Lady Like Sarah) entertains western romance fans in this formulaic but sprightly beginning to the Brides of Last Chance ranch series. Kate Tenney takes her chances when she answers an ad seeking a woman to inherit a cattle ranch in Arizona Territory in 1895. She's escaping Boston, where her latest dime novel has been banned for "immoral content." Almost as soon as she steps off the train in Cactus Patch, she is accosted by resident outlaw Cactus Joe and just as promptly rescued by blacksmith Luke Adams. The sparks that fly aren't from Luke's forge, but Kate's college education and Luke's frontier style make an obvious mismatch. More important but less obvious is Kate's mistrust of men, starting with the father who abandoned her. And easterner Kate has many hard lessons to learn about the harsh land and the duties of ranching if she is to win the trust, and estate, of heirless ranch owner Eleanor Walker. Brownley's narrative arc of growth and transformation is unsurprising. It's not a dime novel, but just like that genre will find readers interested in light diversion. Agent: Natasha Kern Literary Agency. (Mar.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Dawn Comes Early." Publishers Weekly, 16 Jan. 2012, p. 33. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA278169672&it=r&asid=6b3ec9dcc964dfaa26a9d0c8bc06546c. Accessed 11 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A278169672
QUOTE:
exquisitely intriguing finale
Gunpowder Tea
260.33 (Aug. 19, 2013): p42.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2013 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
* Gunpowder Tea
Margaret Brownley. Thomas Nelson, $15.99 trade paper (352p) ISBN 978-1-59554-972-3
In the exquisitely intriguing finale to her Brides of Last Chance Ranch trilogy, Brownley blends faith and romance with a dash of mystery to serve up a cozy, fulfilling story set in the Arizona Territory of the 1890s. Miranda Hunt is a female Pinkerton continuing in her deceased father's footsteps. Miranda is sent to investigate the biggest case of her life she must determine the identity of a train robber known only as the Phantom. In her guise as Annie Beckman, auditioning to inherit a ranch owned by cantankerous and heirless rancher Eleanor Walker, she encounters myriad different personalities, but none as attractive as the mysterious ranch hand known as David Branch. Suspicion vies with attraction as the pair engage in a battle of wits as old as time, even with time running out to catch a thief. This enchanting account" of the hardships and wonders of the Old West features many delightful characters. The story stands on its own merits, independent of the first two in the series, drawing readers into a world that is difficult to leave. Agent: Natasha Kern, Natasha Kern Literary Agency. (Oct.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Gunpowder Tea." Publishers Weekly, 19 Aug. 2013, p. 42. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA340422597&it=r&asid=ec8520064b37135f75f767848b058e85. Accessed 11 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A340422597
Chocolate Kisses
Kristin Ramsdell
122.3 (Feb. 15, 1997): p126.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 1997 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
St. Martin's. Feb. 1997. c.310p. ISBN 0-312-96111-1. pap. $5.99. HISTORICAL
Love and chocolate are the order of the day in this charming collection of historical novellas by four of St. Martin's best-known romance writers. Humor runs rampant as Josh Travis must deal with the consequences when his romantic poem and box of chocolates are delivered to the local spinster schoolmarm by mistake in Margaret Brownley's "Rocky Road"; a bizarre wager turns romantic for the town's most eligible bachelor and a creative dessert chef in Raine Cantress's "Miss Delwin's Delights"; a heroine resigned to the death of her lover agrees to marry another in Alexis Harrington's "A Taste of Remembrance"; and a rancher and a candy store owner with a chocolate allergy spar in Sue Rich's "Sweet Creations." Pleasent and lively, these stories are delightful reading and should appeal to most readers.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Ramsdell, Kristin. "Chocolate Kisses." Library Journal, 15 Feb. 1997, p. 126. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA19147436&it=r&asid=d79280a3fbe640020da02c05e3787925. Accessed 11 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A19147436
Left at the Altar by Margaret Brownley
by Guest Reviewer · May 20, 2017 at 2:00 pm · View all 9 comments
Left at the Altar by Margaret Brownley
Left at the Altar
by Margaret Brownley
November 1, 2016 · Sourcebooks Casablanca
Order →
View SBTB Media Page
B-
Genre: Romance, Historical: American
Theme: Small Town
This RITA® Reader Challenge 2017 review was written by Phyllis L. This story was nominated for the RITA® in the Short Historical category.
The summary:
Welcome to Two-Time Texas:
Where tempers burn hot
Love runs deep
And a single marriage can unite a feuding town
…or tear it apart for good
In the wild and untamed West, time is set by the local jeweler…but Two-Time Texas has two: two feuding jewelers and two wildly conflicting time zones. Meg Lockwood’s marriage was supposed to unite the families and finally bring peace. But when she’s left at the altar by her no-good fiancé, Meg’s dreams of dragging her quarrelsome neighbors into a ceasefire are dashed.
No wedding bells? No one-time town.
Hired to defend the groom against a breach of promise lawsuit, Grant Garrison quickly realizes that the only thing worse than small-town trouble is falling for the jilted bride. But there’s something about Meg’s sweet smile and determined grit that draws him in…even as the whole crazy town seems set on keeping them apart.
Who knew being Left at the Altar could be such sweet, clean, madcap fun?
Here is Phyllis L.'s review:
I did enjoy this, but I fear I will forget it quickly. I LOVED the aspect of Two-Time, Texas, being called that because there are two feuding jewelers/clockmakers who set their clocks differently. That the feud doesn’t just cause trouble inside the town, but causes the trains to not run on time, makes it more crucial that the feud be solved.
No spoilers, but “What Time Is It?” used to be a bigger headache than jet lag or adapting to Daylight Savings.
Meg, the daughter of one of the clockmakers, is supposed to marry her longtime friend, the son of the rival, and solve the feud. She’s a bit too understanding when the groom talks to her in the graveyard, saying he’d rather travel to the Pacific Islands. A handsome stranger overhears them and says if he had a woman like her, he wouldn’t throw her over.
Meg hides out at home and in her dad’s store/workshop, nursing bruised pride until her dad sues the non-groom for a huge amount of money for breach of promise. So now she’s been jilted AND everyone thinks she’s horrible.
It was at this point that I wondered if she has any friends outside her sisters and the guy she was supposed to marry.
Grant, the handsome stranger, is an East Coast lawyer who moved to town to be near his sister, but she died right before he got there. He opened a law office anyway, but has approximately zero business because the town is insular. The ex hires him to defend him, which throws him into company with Meg, but as he’s on the other side of the lawsuit, he can’t pursue her. There are a few secret kisses, but nothing can really happen.
They don’t spend enough time together, getting to know each other, to make me fully believe in the love.
The trial was….a trial. It was comic, but like some of the other comedic moments in the story, it felt like they were trying too hard to be goofy.
My main problem with the story was that by about halfway through I wanted them to admit their love to each other. Because they don’t, the Big Misunderstanding drags on, each one thinking the other isn’t really interested. The Black Moment would have been more intense if they admitted their feelings before being pulled apart.
This is listed on Amazon as “Clean and Wholesome” and….well, I won’t go into my reaction to the implication that sex is “dirty.” I also like sexy books, so this one was a metaphorical cigarette between bouts of good lovin’; there are a couple of kisses, lots of longing, but nothing graphic.
As I mentioned earlier, I’m going to forget a lot about this book. Meg lets everyone else dictate her life and ends up being fairly bland. Grant was more interesting as a fish out of water who observed and then absorbed into the quirkiness of the townsfolk.
I kept wondering just how big this town was. There seemed to be a lot of strangers around AND everyone knew everyone’s business AND there were enough people to support two clockmakers AND multiple lawyers AND a newspaper – or two?
The two time zones will stick with me. So will some of the characters, like the heroine’s sister, a suffragette who wears enormous, bizarre hats and keeps getting tossed in jail for causing trouble. Her book, the second in the series, is out next month and yeah, I’m tempted. According to the blurb, she gets elected sheriff and falls in love with an accused thief. So there’s that.
There’s also – and correct me if I’m wrong – that this is the only non-British-Isles book in the Short Historical category. USA! USA!
I give it a B-. But I’m a harsh grader.
BODY LANGUAGE
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
After receiving a letter bomb, a workaholic computer programmer hires a bodyguard who turns out to be the opposite of his expectations in more ways than one. BODY LANGUAGE (1) by Margaret Brownley starts with an interesting premise, only to falter due to ineffective plot evolution, two-dimensional characters and an unevenly developed romance.
Reviewed by:
Renae Dryer
QUOTE:
Jimmy's unfailing tenderness and understanding help heal Elizabeth's deep scars and add a special touch
RIBBONS IN THE WIND
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
Through a series of assumptions and misunderstandings, electrician Jimmy Hunter finds himself accompanying Elizabeth Davenport in her Model T in a race from Buffalo, NY, to Seattle.
Elizabeth is indubitably the most reckless driver Jimmy has ever seen. All Jimmy wants to do is get on a train back to Buffalo, but he can't when he learns that she plans to use the prize money to build an orphanage.
Jimmy is attracted to Elizabeth, but she is wary of men. Jimmy decides to leave Elizabeth in the hands of another mechanic, but before long her new man is in fear of his life. After a run in with a plate glass window, a field of crops and an enraged bull, he quits.
In the meantime, Jimmy has changed his mind and catches up to her on the road. And together, with a new pair of goggles meant to improve her eyesight, they continue.
As a woman willing to attempt the unheard of in a man's world, Elizabeth is becoming a heroine to women across the country. If only her budding romance with Jimmy would go as smoothly.
In a beribboned "old Ironsides," armed with the essentials-chewing gum and Oreos-Ms. Brownley takes her readers on a once in a lifetime journey. Much to the reader's delight, Jimmy's unfailing tenderness and understanding help heal Elizabeth's deep scars and add a special touch to RIBBONS IN THE WIND. SWEET (Nov., 344 pp., $5.99)
Reviewed by:
Frances L. Trainor
QUOTE:
Brownley writes a warm, entertaining love story with a cast of colorful secondary characters and the farcical elements of the best comic Western films,
TOUCH OF LACE
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
Seeking clues to help her find her missing uncle, Abigail Parker returns to the streets of Boston where she lived between the ages of ten and seventeen. What she learns takes her West, following the last known route her uncle took to sell cosmetics in the brothels of gold mining towns.
In Dangling Rope, Colorado, near infamous Cripple Creek, Gunnar Kincaid is trying to help his impractical brother Nathan realize his dreams of transforming a ragtag population of misfits into a prospering town. Abby arrives on the day Gunnar and the townspeople are displaying themselves as a town fit to be a county seat. Her unscheduled stagecoach stop promises to impress the visiting dignitaries until she marches up to the local brothel to deliver her uncle's cosmetics. Then she promptly causes a comic riot defending her virtue from stubborn miners mistaking her for a working resident.
Abby's quest for her missing uncle soon involves Gunnar, Nathan and the future of Dangling Rope. She wins the love of both Gunnar and Nathan but loves only Gunnar, who's caught between his love for her and his need to avoid hurting his brother.
Margaret Brownley writes a warm, entertaining love story with a cast of colorful secondary characters and the farcical elements of the best comic Western films like "Support Your Local Sheriff" and "Two Mules For Sister Sarah." Even the local Utes play along. SENSUAL (Feb., 384 pp., $5.50)
Reviewed by:
Gerry Benninger
QUOTE:
Generous historical details highlight the background of this suspenseful romance,
BUTTONS AND BEAUS
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
The bicycle craze has hit Manhattan and provided Amanda Blackwell a career as a cycling instructor. Bloomer-clad and independent, Amanda works to support herself and her mentally-challenged bother, Donny, since their father was killed in the collapse of the Continental Theater balcony.
Damian Newcastle's life was shattered in the accident, too, which crippled his son and sent his father to prison as the builder accused of negligence.
Damian has worked to prove his father's innocence and he's planning a feat to restore the Newcastle building reputation: the construction of a 20-story building. All that stands in his way is the building on the adjoining property, Amanda's school.
Amanda has no desire to help a Newcastle and her life is already complicated by her uncle's attempt to have Donny institutionalized. Their ties grow as someone attempts to sabotage the building.
Generous historical details highlight the background of this suspenseful romance. For readers who like a combination of passion and mystery, BUTTONS AND BEAUS should fit the bill. SWEET (Sep., 347 pp.,$5.99)
Reviewed by:
Cindy Royce
QUOTE:
This warm-hearted story will hold a special place on readers' shelves,
PETTICOATS AND PISTOLS
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
Kate Whittaker's inventions have rocked Hog's Head, Indiana with explosions and confusion, but she's sure her carpet sweeper will make a fortune once it's patented. When the Federal Patent Office notifies her that someone has applied for the identical patent, she's sure her idea has been stolen.
Inventor Jonas Walker hopes his fertilizer spreader will gain him the funds he needs. When he loses his patent to a woman, he knows that somehow she has stolen his idea and he travels to Hog's Head to prove it.
Jonas discovers that Kate is an eccentric from a family of eccentrics. Her near-deaf Aunt Hattie runs the general store, constantly confuses orders and is preparing for war against the new Sears and Roebuck mail-order catalog.
The unusual family, with the houseful of devices, gives Jonas plenty of material as he searches for his proof. But the closer he gets to Kate, the less he's able to keep his mind on inventions.
A parade of inventions appears in Ms. Brownley's charming story, but none more interesting than the explosions these two characters create. This warm-hearted story will hold a special place on readers' shelves. SWEET (July, 384 pp., $4.99)
Reviewed by:
Cindy Royce
QUOTE:
This wonderful novel has amazing
characters and a believable love story between two mismatched people
A LADY LIKE SARAH
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
This wonderful novel has amazing
characters and a believable love story between two mismatched people. It will have readers believing that there's someone out there for everyone. Brownley has taken her writing talent to a higher level with this latest offering.
Sarah Prescott has never known a respectable life, just a hardscrabble childhood and brothers who taught her to shoot straight. Justin Wells left Boston in disgrace, heading out alone to Texas. But when the once-respected clergyman encounters a feisty redhead in handcuffs with a dying U.S. Marshal at her side, their journey takes a dramatic turn. The two clash from the start as they make the difficult journey toward Rocky Creek. Will they find common ground to make a fresh start together? (THOMAS NELSON, Jan., 320 pp., $14.99)
Reviewed by:
Patsy Glans
QUOTE:
moves at just the right pace, allowing readers to get to know the characters while progressing quickly to keep their interest
UNDERCOVER BRIDE
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
Once again Brownley brings the ladies of the Pinkerton Detective Agency to life with the fun character Maggie Cartwright. Her keen intuition and observations make her a capable woman who holds her own amongst dangerous outlaws. The insight Brownley gives readers into Maggie’s thoughts and feelings allows them to fully understand the dilemma she faces. This story moves at just the right pace, allowing readers to get to know the characters while progressing quickly to keep their interest.
When Maggie Cartwright arrives in Arizona Territory undercover as a mail order bride, she doesn’t know what to expect. Her target, and suitor, is Garrett Thomas — prime suspect in the Whistle Stop train hold-up. As Maggie spends time with Garrett and his children, all that she thinks she knows about him comes into question. However, when things turn up that incriminate Garrett, she must decide if she is going to trust her intuition or the evidence. (SHILOH RUN, Jun., 320 pp., $13.99)
Reviewed by:
Sarah Frobisher
QUOTE:
Brownley has a way with words that keeps the reader interested until the last page
A SUITOR FOR JENNY
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
The second book in the Rocky Creek series features a feisty female lead who only wants the best for her sisters, with unexpected and funny results. Brownley has a way with words that keeps the reader interested until the last page.
Rocky Creek, Texas, 1881: Jenny Higgins is bound and determined to make perfect matches for both her sisters, though she does not intend to find a husband for herself. She puts up fliers and starts to interview potential grooms. Marshal Rhett Armstrong is in awe of the Higgins sisters, especially Jenny, since they seem to honestly believe they will find their dream husbands here in Texas. He will make sure to be close by to pick up the pieces of Jenny’s broken dreams. Jenny begins to fall for the Marshal, but fights her feelings for him. Rhett has his work cut out for him to win her over and meet her high standards. (THOMAS NELSON, Sep., 320 pp., $14.99)
Reviewed by:
Patsy Glans
QUOTE:
satisfying read
A VISION OF LUCY
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
In the third book of the Rocky Creek Romance series we meet Lucy Fairbanks, a feisty female photographer Though the storyline drags a little in the beginning, it picks up and redeems itself and becomes a satisfying read.
Texas, 1882: Lucy Fairbanks finds herself in some strange situations just to get the best picture she can. She wants to prove to her father that what she loves to do is important. She also wants a job at the local newspaper, and thinks she can impress the editor by bringing him a picture of the elusive David Wolf, whom the townspeople refer to as the “wild man.” When they meet, David knows right away that Lucy is a caring, if somewhat careless, person. Lucy is determined to show David that the tragedy that happened when he was young is not a reason to have so much distrust, and the right thing to do is forgive those who hurt him so deeply. (THOMAS NELSON, Jul., 320 pp., $14.99)
Reviewed by:
Patsy Glans
DAWN COMES EARLY
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
Brownley’s latest is a sweet romance between two characters who have protected themselves from heartache for so long, that they don’t know if they can handle true love. Brownley brings freshness and newness to an old storyline in the latest Brides of Last Chance Ranch story.
Kate Tenney flees the city that banned her latest dime novel to answer an ad to be a “heiress” to a large cattle ranch. She does not know the first thing about being a rancher, but she has nothing else to fall back on, as her writing career is going nowhere. She soon learns this is the hardest thing she has ever had to do, but she’s determined to succeed. With the help of Luke Adams, she slowly begins to handle ranch life and her heart is starting to warm up to the possibility she will have the kind of love she has written about in her novels. She will need to keep her head focused in order to become the heiress. With Luke around this will be harder than writing one of her those novels. (THOMAS NELSON, Mar., 352 pp., $15.99)
Reviewed by:
Patsy Glans
A VISION OF LUCY
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
In the third book of the Rocky Creek Romance series we meet Lucy Fairbanks, a feisty female photographer Though the storyline drags a little in the beginning, it picks up and redeems itself and becomes a satisfying read.
Texas, 1882: Lucy Fairbanks finds herself in some strange situations just to get the best picture she can. She wants to prove to her father that what she loves to do is important. She also wants a job at the local newspaper, and thinks she can impress the editor by bringing him a picture of the elusive David Wolf, whom the townspeople refer to as the “wild man.” When they meet, David knows right away that Lucy is a caring, if somewhat careless, person. Lucy is determined to show David that the tragedy that happened when he was young is not a reason to have so much distrust, and the right thing to do is forgive those who hurt him so deeply. (THOMAS NELSON, Jul., 320 pp., $14.99)
Reviewed by:
Patsy Glans
GUNPOWDER TEA
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
The hunt is still on for a heiress to the ranch in the third installment of the Brides of Last Chance Ranch series, filled with wit, charm and secrets. Characters are not what they seem and will risk everything to right a wrong. Brownley blends humor and sincerity to create a believable storyline, along with twists and turns thrown in to keep readers guessing.
Miranda Hunt is undercover as potential ranch heiress Annie Beckman for the Pinkerton Detective Agency to catch and bring in the Phantom, the infamous train robber, who the agency believes is hiding on Last Chance Ranch. Jeremy Taggert, an undercover Wells Fargo agent, is also looking for the Phantom. Though Miranda is suspicious that Jeremy could be the person behind the robberies, there is something between them that she can’t ignore. (THOMAS NELSON, Oct., 352 pp., $15.99)
Reviewed by:
Patsy Glans
A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
This touching anthology covers one year, 1870, during the four different seasons with four novellas written by four different authors. All the stories have one thing in common: mail-order brides hoping for a second chance at love and making the most out of their situations, knowing they have nowhere else to go.
MaryJo is frantic when her groom, Daniel, doesn’t meet her at the train station in “And Then Came Spring,” by Brownley. When she learns he has died, Daniel’s brother, the local sheriff, comes up with a plan — marry him instead! Clopton’s Texas-set tale, “An Ever After Summer,” stars a proud Bible thumper and a rancher who has lost his faith. In “Autumn’s Angel,” by Hatcher, Luvena travels from Boston to Idaho territory with her younger siblings in tow. She hopes that Clay will still agree to marry her and that they all can adjust to new circumstances. David is convinced he is dying in “Winter Wedding Bells” by Connealy. He needs to find a woman who can take care of his young children and run a ranch. Megan is certain that David is not going to die and has to turn his thinking around and focus him more on life than death. (THOMAS NELSON, Jun., 400 pp., $15.99)
Reviewed by:
Patsy Glans
QUOTE:
sweet, enduring historical romance with characters who are charming, witty and also a little bit cunning
WAITING FOR MORNING
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
Book two of the Brides of Last Chance Ranch series is a sweet, enduring historical romance with characters who are charming, witty and also a little bit cunning. Readers will delight in how Brownley skillfully sketches an evocative picture of the 1890s Colorado and Arizona Territory.
Molly Hatfield comes to Cactus Patch for a new beginning and new dreams. She meets the local doctor, Caleb Fairbanks, but is uncomfortable around him. She does not like how well he gets along with her wheelchair-bound brother. Molly needs this opportunity to work out, as she does not have anywhere else to go. Will her hard work pay off in the end for both her and her brother, or will she fail? (THOMAS NELSON, Jan., 320 pp., $15.99)
Reviewed by:
Patsy Glans
PETTICOAT DETECTIVE
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
Brownley’s story, based loosely on Kate Warne’s life (a real-life female detective), is a fresh look at a historical period on the American frontier. Set against a backdrop of America’s oldest profession, Ms. Brownley takes on a story that is both uplifting and heartbreaking. The characters are written realistically and multilayered. This looks to be a great new series.
Employed by the Pinkerton Detective Agency, Jennifer Layne has seen many an undercover job. But this latest mission in Ms. Lillian’s Parlour House and Boots tests her beliefs and faith. On the case to find the Gunnysack Bandit, Jennifer, posing as Amy, is confronted with a murder the first night on the case. Since so few people were there the night of the murder, the case proves to be a challenging one. Add in Tom Colton, who is desperately trying to clear his brother’s name as the Gunnysack Bandit, and Amy is working overtime to prove Tom has nothing to do with the murder, since feelings for him have gotten mixed in the fray. Will Amy find the bandit and land the love of her life? Only time and patience will tell ... if the Gunnysack Bandit doesn’t get the better of them. (SHILOH RUN PRESS, Dec., 320 pp., $13.99)
Reviewed by:
Michele Hagenlock
FOUR WEDDINGS AND A KISS
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
This amazing group of authors shares how love is sparked under unfamiliar circumstances. The tidy way these novellas are bound together makes this one of this reviewer’s all-time favorite anthologies. The most unexpected matches will make readers laugh and cry. The authors manage to draw our attention and deliver each love story in a quick, easy read. This collection is extremely entertaining and will make readers think back to their first kiss.
A group of traveling ministers tell these stories to a young, engaged preacher who’s contemplating a life-changing decision. In Connealy’s “Spitfire Sweetheart,” tomboy Maizy finds love unexpectedly when she injures her neighbor and must become his caregiver. Jack Ludgrove is brought in to take charge of Molly Everton’s father’s newspaper in Hatcher’s “Love Letter to the Editor.” Molly plans to make that difficult for him to accomplish, but as she gets to know him her feelings change. In Clopton’s “A Cowboy for Katie,” Katie Pearl is grieving great losses and a tornado has left her so skittish she shoots at anything before she knows what she’s doing. Will the man she’s hired to help on the ranch also help to rebuild her trust in others? Grace Davenport is arrested in Brownley’s “Courting Trouble” as a suspect in her husband’s death. Her son must convince attorney Brock Daniels that his mother is innocent and she’s a loving wife and mother despite what others believe. (THOMAS NELSON, Jun., 400 pp., $15.99)
Reviewed by:
Lindy J. Swanson
LEFT AT THE ALTAR
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
Brownley proves that sometimes a match made in Texas isn’t exactly one made in Heaven. Her refreshing voice , the eccentric characters, twists and turns make this unconventional tale a pleasure. While delighted by the humor, history buffs will savor the fascinating facts of how time was determined in the Old West.
There’s a longstanding feud in Two-Time Texas between the town’s jewelers who set the time zones. The only way to settle the problem is for their children, Meg Lockwood and Tommy Farrell, to get married. Though they’ve been friends since childhood, they are not in love. However, when Tommy calls off the wedding, Meg’s irate father sues him for breach of promise. The only lawyer Tommy can find to take his case in newly arrived Grant Garrison. Grant finds nothing beautiful about the town … except for Meg. Being on opposite sides of the lawsuit doesn’t prevent Meg and Grant from continually running into one another — or the sparks their kisses ignite. But being the jilted bride makes it hard for Meg to believe Grants affections are true. It takes a near tragedy to force the town to meld together and see that time heals all wounds. (SOURCEBOOKS, Nov., 380 pp., $7.99)
Reviewed by:
Kathe Robin
QUOTE:
This lighthearted mystery has just enough action to keep the plot exciting without being too much to lose the audience
CALICO SPY
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
Calico Spy is a fast moving, fun mystery set in 1880 Kansas. Katie Madison makes an entertaining undercover investigator — full of wit, gumption and just a bit of clumsiness, whick keeps things upbeat. This lighthearted mystery has just enough action to keep the plot exciting without being too much to lose the audience. Overall an enjoyable read for historical fiction fans.
Katie Madison has been sent to Kansas to investigate the murder of two of “Harvey’s Girls” — waitresses who work at a tightly run train station café. As she teams up with the local sheriff to pool their resources, Katie is hopeful she will find the killer — until she hits dead ends everywhere she goes. When she finally makes a breakthrough, it may be too late, as the killer appears to have slipped through her hands for good. (SHILOH RUN, Jan., 320 pp., $14.99)
Reviewed by:
Sarah Frobisher
QUOTE:
delightful, humorous yet realistic western romance packed with engaging characters.
A MATCH MADE IN TEXAS
Author(s):
Margaret Brownley
Brownley returns with the second entry to her Two-Time Texas series with a delightful, humorous yet realistic western romance packed with engaging characters, loads of action, several mysteries — all enough sizzle to satisfy her fans. Brownley crafts her characters so they leap off the pages, and readers will be more than willing to go on an adventure with them, cheering them on along the way.
Amanda Lockwood wants to further the cause of women’s rights, and if that means running for Two-Time Texas’s sheriff, then she’s ready … she’s just not prepared to win. Wanted man Rick Barrett gives Amanda a ride into town the day he arrives and she helps him in a shoot-out with stage robbers. She has no idea he’s hellbent for vengeance. Amanda isn’t one to back down from a challenge; even one as handsome and perplexing as R.B. She’s determined to see justice done by helping him clear his name. Meanwhile, she has to handle the usual troubles: cattle thieves, fires and brawls. Amanda calls on her friends for help, forming the Red Feather posse, and these women prove they’re able to take care of themselves. The only problem? She’s in love. So how does a modern woman keep her ideals and her man? (SOURCEBOOKS, Jun., 380 pp., $7.99)
Reviewed by:
Kathe Robin