A historical romance set in the wide open space of Montana. A really well done historical romance that sucks the reader back in time and causing them to fall in love with the characters, the time, the place- just everything!

What I like most about reading American historical romance is losing myself in a place and time when the only thing standing between our ancestors and their dreams was their phenomenal courage and steely determination to survive. Recently widowed Marilyn Svenson is not your typical helpless female but in the rough mining town of Helena, Montana she needs to find a husband or risk losing her homestead. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Marilyn went about choosing between the only two men she would consider marrying. This is a smartly written and heartwarming storyline with wonderful characters and and unexpected plot twist that had me holding my breath right up until the happily-ever-after. My only regret is that this book isn’t a full length novel because I never wanted it to end. I read an early copy of this book provided by Zebra Books through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.

Marilyn Svenson is a widow in this historical romance novella set in Montana Territory. Her ranch is located near the mining town of Helena, and she knows she needs to remarry... most likely, to one of the town's rough and ready bachelors. Past marriages were often made for practical reasons, and she hasn't many options if she's going to prove her land claim. Maybe she'll just head back to Minnesota.
David Pawlikowski came out west without hoping TO CATCH A BRIDE. Men well outnumber women. The few single women here... let's say they do profitably. David is the only man who hasn't propositioned Marilyn for marriage since her late husband's death. His store sells her the goods she needs for survival, mends her wagon wheels. Jonas Forsyte is a new lawyer in town, and his services will be very useful in getting Marilyn made head of the household so she can control her land.
David becomes suspicious that someone wishes the widow ill -- and maybe her husband's death wasn't accidental. Marilyn has more important considerations than a few sheep, and she has to consider seriously an offer of courtship.
I enjoyed this look at the realities of life for a widowed, pregnant woman in 1865. Marilyn's story can be a positive inspiration and the relatively simple suspense plot allows us to focus on characters and personal dilemmas. An old- time classic Western novel might have a very similar feel, except that the leading character who focuses the events would be male. TO CATCH A BRIDE by Gina Welborn and Becca Whitham rebalances the genre nicely. This book in the Montana Brides series will be enjoyed by anyone who wants to learn about the challenges women faced, through a historical romance.

As soon as I read the description of this novella on NetGalley, I had to request a copy for review.  The words that captured my interest?  "Logically, she proposes."

Now, I don't know about you, but I find a heroine who is slightly unconventional to be a definite draw.  Marilyn Svenson, as that heroine, is an interesting character that in other times and circumstances would likely have become a scientist.  With a logical nature that thrives on experiments, she might seem unlikely as a love interest to either of the town's most eligible bachelors, but only at first glance.

As danger looms, and as Marilyn finds herself boarding with a woman who is everything she is not in terms of being a wife and mother, she also finds an unexpected blessing from her past.  Her future?  Well, beyond the happily ever after in this novella, I expect that will be addressed further in the next novel in this series.  And perhaps the man she doesn't choose in the end will find his happily ever after somewhere down the line as well.

I was unaware of the Montana Brides series prior to requesting this novella, but now it is definitely on my reading radar.  If you enjoy Historical Romance with a bit of danger, a bit of romantic conflict, an unconventional heroine and a faith element then this novella should tick quite a few boxes for you.

This review refers to an e-galley read courtesy of Kensington Books through NetGalley.  All opinions expressed are my own.

To Catch a Bride is part of the Montana Brides series. I thought it was a good read and recommend it who enjoy clean stories.

I enjoyed this read, it is quick, and I read it in one sitting, and hated that it ended.
The author presents a story of loss, greed, and new beginnings. Set in the settlement of the Montana Territory and the gold rush. While the land was tamed by man, the roots were put down by woman, and we are show some really strong ones here.
I loved how a pregnant woman had two suitors and how she chose. Hoping for more from this author!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Kensington Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

A sweet novella that could have easily been a fully length book. Marilyn is in a pickle- sadly, she's been widowed and she's pregnant and she must marry in order to keep her land. (NB- very happy things have changed!). David isn't certain what to do when she proposes to him. I had not read the earlier books but this was a fine standalone which can be read in a sitting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For those who like romances set in the West.

I've read all the books in this series. In this one we find newly widowed Marilyn trying to keep a hold of her ranch in rural Montana Territory. Her only options are to marry since the judge won't follow by the rules. Marriage, her options are from two men in this wild mining town better suited to non law abiding citizens and prostitutes. The two honorable men are a shop keeper and a newly minted lawyer. Now here's the fun part she sets her mind on one of the men and proposes to him and while he thinks himself unworthy of her because of his previous wife Marilyn sets out to woo him. A miracle occurs to Marilyn after so many failures and she is determined to keep it right there. Fun, fun, fun. I recommend this novella length western historical romance.
Pub Date 26 Jun 2018
Thank you to Kensington Books for a review copy that I received through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Marilyn Sevenson is left alone in 1800's Helena, Montana with her husband's untimely death.
She has little choice or rights as a widow. If she wants to keep her homestead, she must remarry.
The town is full of rough and guff men but there are only two men whom she can even see herself married to. When she makes her choice, she proposes but is flatly turned down. Circumstances change for her, putting her life in danger. One man stands out above the other, she can only hope he will not only accept her proposal but protect her too. This is a very sweet romance set in the wild 1800's where there is little law and no rights for women. Marilyn is strong and straightforward for the time, but will that be enough. No bad language, no vulgarity or sexual content. A good read for and teen, her older sister and her mother.... I recommend reading To Catch a Bride.

This is a heartwarming story about two people who weren't looking for love but, they found it with each other. David decided to never marry again after having a bad marriage that ended with his wife's death. Marilyn had recently lost her husband and then found out that she was pregnant. Brought togethef by circumstance that evolved from friendship to love. This is a wonderful read and I would definitely recommend it.

The Montana Territory is a rugged part of America and Marilyn Svenson must decide if she can get title to her farm after her husband's death. She seeks the help of people in town and figures out that she is pregnant and cannot travel back to her farm on the bumpy wagon ride. She decides to stay in town and also becomes the target for romance from two of the town's most eligible men. I have to say that I loved this story and wished that it was longer. (It is a novella.) Great, sweet, love story about the hard times in the west during the Gold Rush. Well-developed characters and a unique twist to this story had me reading nonstop until the end!

To Catch a Bride by Gina Welborn will be available June 26, 2018 from Zebra, an imprint of Kensington Books. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

A fair but short story of a young widow in Montana territory. With her husband dead, and the crabby judge not giving her the power of ownership, she tries to find a way to get ownership, even if that means getting married. There are two men she would consider, but both have baggage. A quick read, but would have preferred more details. Would recommend for an easy summer read.

To Catch a Bride by Gina Welborn and Becca Whitham

To Catch a Bride by Gina Welborn and Becca Whitham is a quick read. The novella is about a strong woman who needs a husband and so she takes the lead in finding a husband. Marilyn Svenson’s husband died suddenly and she is left alone on the Montana prairie. Alone and with no help, she is left with few options. The local judge would not allow her to claim head of household, so she can’t even sell the land. To top it all off, she discovered that she was pregnant. So what does Marilyn decide to do. Get remarried, of course. Of the two men in town that she would choose from, David Pawlikowski is the better choice, only he does not want to get married. He is still traumatized from his prior marriage. Marilyn knows that she is not for everyone, she isn’t a normal wife. She constantly is trying to new things and many people do not understand her. But David does understand her, she just needs to change his mind. To Catch a Bride by Gina Welborn and Becca Whitham was a pretty good read.

This book was given to be for free in exchange for an honest review and all opinions are my own. I loved that this was a simple sweet and to the point book. A widow loses her husband and has no intentions of remarrying. She must get the head of household changed into her name but the judge doesn't want to grant that to a widow, even if the law says that widows can apply. Enter a new to town lawyer and a store salesman. Each one have noticed the widow but only the lawyer is taking action. The stores salesman isn't the marrying type and doesn't want to subject his heart again for heartbreak. The widow finds out she is pregnant and can't leave town in fear of her baby being miscarried. In the end fate works itself out and the right man comes forward just in time to be the right husband and father.

This was a delicious read with an upbeat, strong, honest female protagonist and a super nice yet “manly” male protagonist, both with good reasoning for obstacles on their way to their HEA relationship.
Widowed homesteader needs to either re-marry or leave Montana, however, leaving is not an option if she doesn’t want to abandon all the work she and her late husband put into their ranch. The local repair guy and a new-arrived attorney may be able to help her selling her place and move back east … or should she stay?
This is a novella with about 140 pages (best guess) and the story did fit perfectly into this length – highly recommended.
There are no intimate scenes in this story, but towards the end He is mentioned more frequently, this novella might fall into the Christian genre, however, it was not overpowering.

Narrative: 3rd POV altering between male and female protagonist
Location: 1865 Helena, Montana
Sexual content: none
Historical romance

A historical Western romance that delves into the rights of women. Characters are all likable and a believable romantic tale.of the West.