Linda Bridey

I chose another book from my TBR pile. This time it is about a sweet historical romance between an unhappy Eastern high society mail-order bride and a lonely Western hardworking ranch owner.

Westward Winds is book 1 in the Montana Mail Order Brides series told from dual perspectives (Tessa and Dean). It follows a rebellious mail-order bride from Pennsylvania to Montana who wants adventure in her life and to fall in love with a man of strength and substance. What she finds is a widower with show more two adorable children and two matchmaking brothers who only want their brother's happiness.

Tessa is reckless and headstrong as she decides to leave everything she knows to marry a stranger. I admire her nerve and vigor to find her happiness in an unknown land, but I found it questionable that she was able to fit into the ranch lifestyle so quickly. Tessa's relationship with everyone is comfortable though Dean seems to keep his feelings to himself which becomes a problem. Dean is responsible and more serious than his brothers because he has two children to raise and a ranch to run. He also took charge after his parents died when Seth was away on a cattle drive and Marcus was too young at that time. In addition, Dean lost his wife and baby soon after which changed him. Therefore, communication problems abound between the stubborn Dean and the obstinate Tessa. After some advice from friends and family, the lovebirds work out their issues and live happily ever after.

I enjoyed Dean's brothers, Seth and Marcus with their quick wit and unconditional love of family and I'm sure their own stories will be fun.

I liked the story, but the writing was too simplistic for me. It wasn't descriptive enough and the characters' conversations seemed stilted and didn't draw me in until the last quarter of the book.

If you want a nice change of pace with a sweet, clean historical romance filled with laughter, angst, and love, give this book a try. show less

I didn't find the story as gripping as I would have hoped. I was actually more intrigued by the brothers than I was by Tessa and Dean. It's a nice story and all, but nothing like what I was wanting it to be. I think Tessa would have been better suited for the book-smart brother than Dean, but that's just my own unasked opinion.