In Want of a Wife

Jane Middlebourne leaves a bad situation in New York City in 1891 to head west to Wyoming as a mail order bride. She is not exactly what rancher Morgan Longstreet expects as she does not resemble the picture he was sent (a mischief-maker exchanged the photo). After a day spent considering how to proceed, they marry and head to the ranch. Both come to the marriage with secrets that are revealed as the need arises, fortunately communicating when confronted instead of a long drawn out 'big misunderstanding' plot. I liked both of the main characters and the secondary characters. There was humor and a major bad guy confrontation as well as romance. Very nice job.

I am a super-fan of Ms. Goodman. I've read a significant portion of what books she's had published and own quite a few of them too. She is one of the authors whose books I turn to when I want a comfort read, even when the subject of her books are not necessarily comforting (and I've read them 3 or four times already). I really enjoy her straight-forward and slightly formal writing style and think that she's incredible at showing and not telling. The MC's of her books rarely have thoughts like "I wanted to be around him/her and I didn't know why" but when the "I love you"'s come, I am never surprised or feel like they are forced. Also, she manages to parcel out the backstory without dragging it on too long.

I really like the Bitter show more Springs series so far, in no small part because of Finn and Rabbit. The two of them are so funny and charming and they help keep the tone of the books from getting too down. In this book particularly, when Morgan and Jane's pasts are revealed. There is some foreshadowing about Morgan's past specifically, but I still found myself crying when his whole story was revealed. I did really love how well he and Jane fit together and how they helped heal each other. I did think there was some inconsistency with how Jane's family was portrayed and how badly they affected her and I wish that one particular trope had been thrown out the window, but overall I was pretty happy with this book. If the series ends here, I'll be sad but satisfied. show less

When Morgan Longstreet sends for a mail-order bride, frail-looking Jane Middlebourne is not what he expected. Jane is stronger than she looks and soon settles into ranch life. Of course, both are hiding secrets that will soon expose them to danger.
I loved this story. The writing is great and the pacing moves the story right along. Both Morgan and Jane are wonderful characters, and it's fun to watch them adjust their expectations as they get to know one another. The rest of the characters fill out the story well despite me not having read the first two books in the series and getting to know them in those books. This story has some twists and the ending is quite dramatic.
Jo Goodman is a terrific writer and I'll definitely be reading more show more of her books. show less

As a big Jo Goodman fan, I was disappointed by this book. The third in the Bitter Springs series, "In Want of a Wife" is a bit of a snooze fest. Rancher Morgan Longstreet and mail-order bride Jane Middlebourne entered a marriage of convenience - clearly obvious because there was absolutely no chemistry between them. Rabbit and Finn, two mischievous but endearing characters in Bitter Springs, made this story bearable. And the intrigue in the last four chapters saved this book from being a total waste.

Just OK. The situation that the characters were in was interesting and they had some reasonably touching moments, but not a lot of chemistry.

My Booklist review:

Goodman’s (True to the Law, 2013) latest Bitter Springs, Wyoming, romance delves into family bonds in the Old West. When red-haired rancher Morgan Longstreet advertises back east for a wife, Jane Middlebourne, the unwanted, orphaned relative of a wealthy family in New York City, agrees to marry him. Her first surprises are his ginger hair and his tight-lipped attitude about his family; he is surprised by how she doesn’t look anything like the picture she sent, a picture her cousin surreptitiously substituted in Jane’s letter to him. Despite those glitches, they manage to get along and come together, each appreciating the other’s frankness and dry sense of humor, until Morgan’s long-forgotten brothers show more threaten to bring past trouble into the present. Goodman’s fans will be thrilled with this newest story, a solid romance which achingly depicts, in her laconic style, the unsettling beginnings of a mail-order marriage. Once again, her meticulous research, signature eye for the telling detail, and ear for humor in a desperate time shine. — Pat Henshaw show less

IN WANT OF A WIFE by Jo Goodman is another interesting Western Historical Romance set in 1891 Bitter Springs, Wyoming. #3 in the "Bitter Springs" series, but can be read as a stand alone. A marriage-of- convenience love story.

Meet, Jane Middlebourn, a mail-order bride and Rancher Morgan Longstreet, who wishes a wife and partner to help him work his ranch, the Morning Star. Jane goes to Wyoming with a hopeful heart, Morgan, enters this marriage with a she is not the one, but a fragile young woman. Boy, is he in for a rude awakening!

Fast paced and filled with secrets, struggles, finding love and an HEA. Just the right mixture of romance, adventure and passion. Ms. Goodman is a wonderful storyteller who brings the Western frontier to life, show more with her engaging and enduring characters. An enjoyable read! Received for an honest review from the publisher.

RATING: 4

HEAT RATING: MILD

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More show less