What do you think?
Rate this book
Wild West Frontier Brides #2
The Wrangler's Mail Order Bride
Clara had spent most of her life working in her friend Sadie's bakery in cold, snowy Chicago. Until Sadie lost the bakery and moved to Arizona to marry a man, sight unseen. Soon after, Clara was at a crossroads when her brother announced that he and his wife were moving to New York City and she should go with them. She’d also received a letter from Sadie asking her to be the bride of a friend of theirs, a horse wrangler. As Clara had just had an interesting experience with some horses in the cold, a move to warm Arizona Territory instead of New York City was a more appealing adventure.
Hank had spent his life on the open trail, driving cattle across state lines for his father, a gentleman rancher. He’d spent many long days and quiet nights out under the stars, working with horses and molding them to be the best they could be. Now, he was ready to leave the trail and do what he loved—train horses. When his grandfather passed away, leaving him property that would be perfect for horse-wrangling, he thought his problems were solved. There was one catch, though—a big one. He couldn’t inherit the property unless he was married. Clara was suggested as a possible bride and he gratefully agreed. He had no idea his bride knew more about horses than he realized. And about people.
When a tragedy threatens his fledgling business, Hank must decide between his father’s wishes that he stay on the trail, or his dream for his own future. Would his father succeed in tearing them apart or would Clara be able to convince Hank that the two of them belonged together after all?
Hank had spent his life on the open trail, driving cattle across state lines for his father, a gentleman rancher. He’d spent many long days and quiet nights out under the stars, working with horses and molding them to be the best they could be. Now, he was ready to leave the trail and do what he loved—train horses. When his grandfather passed away, leaving him property that would be perfect for horse-wrangling, he thought his problems were solved. There was one catch, though—a big one. He couldn’t inherit the property unless he was married. Clara was suggested as a possible bride and he gratefully agreed. He had no idea his bride knew more about horses than he realized. And about people.
When a tragedy threatens his fledgling business, Hank must decide between his father’s wishes that he stay on the trail, or his dream for his own future. Would his father succeed in tearing them apart or would Clara be able to convince Hank that the two of them belonged together after all?
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 13, 2015
647 people are currently reading
748 people want to read
About the author
Cindy Nichols
98 books115 followersCindy Nichols also writes as Cindy Caldwell
Cindy Nichols writes heartwarming stories interwoven with the bonds of friendship and family that combine what she loves most about women's fiction and romance.
She's lived most of her life near a beach...just the way she likes it. She hopes to share that feeling of peace and serenity with readers in her gently thought-provoking, feel-good stories.
Feel free to sign up for her mailing list to hear about new releases as soon as they are available. Just copy and paste into your browser:
https://www.subscribepage.com/goodreads
Cindy Nichols writes heartwarming stories interwoven with the bonds of friendship and family that combine what she loves most about women's fiction and romance.
She's lived most of her life near a beach...just the way she likes it. She hopes to share that feeling of peace and serenity with readers in her gently thought-provoking, feel-good stories.
Feel free to sign up for her mailing list to hear about new releases as soon as they are available. Just copy and paste into your browser:
https://www.subscribepage.com/goodreads
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
May 16, 2023
Book two in the Wild West Frontier Brides series, Clara worked with Sadie in her family's bakery in Chicago until it was taken by the bank after the death of Sadie's parents. When Sadie moved to Tombstone, Arizona to be near her twin sister and to marry a man she'd never met, Clara went to work in another bakery in town and continued living with her older brother and his wife. Then one day she receives a letter from Sadie with a proposition, move to Tombstone and marry a man she's never met.
I've noticed in the previous book and in this one, there are a few continuity issues but overall a very enjoyable story.
I've noticed in the previous book and in this one, there are a few continuity issues but overall a very enjoyable story.
January 1, 2016
I enjoyed this story, and it is better written than many books in the mail-order-bride genre, but it is a little too sweet for me in that the problems seem to magically disappear because of the mere presence of the heroine.
Read
October 1, 2018Hard meh.
Major conflict miraculously resolves after one mediocre conversation.
Major conflict miraculously resolves after one mediocre conversation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2019
3 1/2 stars. A very nice story about a mail order bride who travels from Chicago to Tombstone, Arizona to meet a man recommended by a friend (also a mail order bride) as a good potential husband for her.
Clara likes Hank and his sisters, but she’s not sure about his father, especially after he has the preacher show up and tries to convince them to marry during their first meeting. Fortunately, her husband-to-be is as appalled by his father’s tactics as she is, and says there won’t be a wedding until he and Clara are ready.
There is land adjacent to his father’s ranch hanging in the balance, since Hank must be married to inherit it, and there’s a deadline approaching, but still more than a month away.
Are Clara and Hank a good match? Will his father’s machinations help or hinder Hank’s courtship? Is there a happy ending in store for Hank and Clara?
Clara likes Hank and his sisters, but she’s not sure about his father, especially after he has the preacher show up and tries to convince them to marry during their first meeting. Fortunately, her husband-to-be is as appalled by his father’s tactics as she is, and says there won’t be a wedding until he and Clara are ready.
There is land adjacent to his father’s ranch hanging in the balance, since Hank must be married to inherit it, and there’s a deadline approaching, but still more than a month away.
Are Clara and Hank a good match? Will his father’s machinations help or hinder Hank’s courtship? Is there a happy ending in store for Hank and Clara?
September 25, 2018
.
This 'free' ebook definitely was a sweet and clean tale about a mail-order bride. Both parties agreed to become a partner in marriage.
I must say that the women in this series are tremendous role models. They were independent, strong, and respectful toward their families. Each worked together with their husbands as a team.
The men are hard working, loving, and handsome! Who wouldn't want to spend time with them?
The proofreader must have dozed through their responsibilities to this series since there were multiple grammar errors.
In this tale, you meet Hank and Clara, who are drawn together and face their individual struggles on the road to marital bliss.
A clean tale, able to stand on its own, and a surprise twist of an H.E.A.
This 'free' ebook definitely was a sweet and clean tale about a mail-order bride. Both parties agreed to become a partner in marriage.
I must say that the women in this series are tremendous role models. They were independent, strong, and respectful toward their families. Each worked together with their husbands as a team.
The men are hard working, loving, and handsome! Who wouldn't want to spend time with them?
The proofreader must have dozed through their responsibilities to this series since there were multiple grammar errors.
In this tale, you meet Hank and Clara, who are drawn together and face their individual struggles on the road to marital bliss.
A clean tale, able to stand on its own, and a surprise twist of an H.E.A.
December 30, 2015
Clara decided to go west when her friend writes to say she knows a man who needs a wife. Her future father in law tries to hurry the wedding but she refuses to be bullied. She and Hank decide to marry and then get to know one another.
December 16, 2020
What a Flat blip...
I kept waiting for the story to heat up, just reading waiting for the meat of the story ,around the corner .......then Blast !! epilogue!!Really !!
I mean what the.. This wasn't even an anti climax. Even the process towards the climax was absent.
Balderdash!
I kept waiting for the story to heat up, just reading waiting for the meat of the story ,around the corner .......then Blast !! epilogue!!Really !!
I mean what the.. This wasn't even an anti climax. Even the process towards the climax was absent.
Balderdash!
July 17, 2015
Great read!
Great book , can not wait till the 3rd book comes out I have loved the first 2 Cindy is a talented writer she brings the story to life...
Great book , can not wait till the 3rd book comes out I have loved the first 2 Cindy is a talented writer she brings the story to life...
April 16, 2016
3.5 stars
The main characters are certainly better than the previous book of this series.
The main characters are certainly better than the previous book of this series.
October 10, 2024
The Wrangler is the second installment in Cindy Nichol’s the Wild West Frontier Brides series. In it she chronicles the romantic journey of Clara Martin and Hank Archer. Clara is petitioned by her friends to come to Tombstone to be the mail-order bride for Hank. Hank and his family learn that in order to inherit his grandfather’s land he must have a wife. Beau Archer,, his manipulative father, keeps information from Hank and does everything he can to marry them. After losing his wife, Beau vows to close off his feelings to avoid the pain of sorrow and in so doing is slowly destroying his family. Steadfast to his belief that he knows best, Beau refuses to listen to Hank’s desire to stop being a wrangler and pusuit his passion of horse training. Clara is observant, contemplative, smart, and caring. Can she bring them all together and help Hank realize his dream? Will they find happiness? Does Beau see the error of his thinking? To find out, you must read thisbook.
This was an enjoyable and quick read. I enjoy Ms. Nichols’ writing style. I appreciated how she develops this character-driven romantic plot. Ms. Nichols’ use of literary devices such as dialog, dual POV, and descriptive language pulls her readers into their story.
This was an enjoyable and quick read. I enjoy Ms. Nichols’ writing style. I appreciated how she develops this character-driven romantic plot. Ms. Nichols’ use of literary devices such as dialog, dual POV, and descriptive language pulls her readers into their story.
June 11, 2021
Light summer reading
Definitely a beach or poolside read. An okay plot, with okay characters. Everything solved and wrapped up with a pretty little bow at the end, with a setup for the third book of the series.
There’s not a lot of character development, and some may think character development isn’t possible in a romance of less than 300 pages. I disagree.
Beau Archer comes off as incredibly creepy and pervy at the beginning, and that really turned me off. I was glad to see him become a nice old man at the end.
What I really enjoyed about this book is that Clara stood her ground and had faith in her decisions. I also liked the lack of “bodice ripper” content. I’d have no problem letting my 14 year old daughter (if I had one) reading this.
It’s not a five star in my book, but I’d read more from Caldwell if I had the chance.
Definitely a beach or poolside read. An okay plot, with okay characters. Everything solved and wrapped up with a pretty little bow at the end, with a setup for the third book of the series.
There’s not a lot of character development, and some may think character development isn’t possible in a romance of less than 300 pages. I disagree.
Beau Archer comes off as incredibly creepy and pervy at the beginning, and that really turned me off. I was glad to see him become a nice old man at the end.
What I really enjoyed about this book is that Clara stood her ground and had faith in her decisions. I also liked the lack of “bodice ripper” content. I’d have no problem letting my 14 year old daughter (if I had one) reading this.
It’s not a five star in my book, but I’d read more from Caldwell if I had the chance.
June 11, 2021
Definitely a beach or poolside read. An okay plot, with okay characters. Everything solved and wrapped up with a pretty little bow at the end, with a setup for the third book of the series.
There’s not a lot of character development, and some may think character development isn’t possible in a romance of less than 300 pages. I disagree.
Beau Archer comes off as incredibly creepy and pervy at the beginning, and that really turned me off. I was glad to see him become a nice old man at the end.
What I really enjoyed about this book is that Clara stood her ground and had faith in her decisions. I also liked the lack of “bodice ripper” content. I’d have no problem letting my 14 year old daughter (if I had one) reading this.
It’s not a five star in my book, but I’d read more from Caldwell if I had the chance.
There’s not a lot of character development, and some may think character development isn’t possible in a romance of less than 300 pages. I disagree.
Beau Archer comes off as incredibly creepy and pervy at the beginning, and that really turned me off. I was glad to see him become a nice old man at the end.
What I really enjoyed about this book is that Clara stood her ground and had faith in her decisions. I also liked the lack of “bodice ripper” content. I’d have no problem letting my 14 year old daughter (if I had one) reading this.
It’s not a five star in my book, but I’d read more from Caldwell if I had the chance.
January 11, 2019
Lazy Author
I did not finish this book. I detest an author who is too lazy to do research and write thoughtfully. This author exemplifies both of these flaws. Tombstone is in southern Arizona. A moderately intelligent person either knows that what grows in Chicago will not necessarily grow in southern Arizona--or else does not include info on the local flora. Caldwell gets it stupidly wrong. Red cardinals reached Arizona only about 100 years after this book. And to comment on Clara's anazement at seeing an adobe house, after she had traveled by slow trains and stagecoaches, showed an amazing lack of thought. I have enough books to read I do not need to waste time with this. And cattle drives ended when trains became common.
I did not finish this book. I detest an author who is too lazy to do research and write thoughtfully. This author exemplifies both of these flaws. Tombstone is in southern Arizona. A moderately intelligent person either knows that what grows in Chicago will not necessarily grow in southern Arizona--or else does not include info on the local flora. Caldwell gets it stupidly wrong. Red cardinals reached Arizona only about 100 years after this book. And to comment on Clara's anazement at seeing an adobe house, after she had traveled by slow trains and stagecoaches, showed an amazing lack of thought. I have enough books to read I do not need to waste time with this. And cattle drives ended when trains became common.
August 30, 2020
Cattle to market?
This was a very good book written by Cindy Caldwell and I enjoyed reading it. A young mail order, best friends, a young rancher, a land inheritance, needing a wife, meeting an old friend, meeting her husband to be, talking, meeting her father-in-law to be, a very controlling father, meeting his sisters, celebration, a setup wedding?, very upset, need more time, training horses, a cattle drive, being a wrangler, a wedding, advertising about training horses, starting to have feelings, will he take the cattle to market? Will the fathers opinion change? Will there be a happy ever after? I would recommend this book to everyone. I enjoyed reading the book. Buy the book and enjoy reading.
This was a very good book written by Cindy Caldwell and I enjoyed reading it. A young mail order, best friends, a young rancher, a land inheritance, needing a wife, meeting an old friend, meeting her husband to be, talking, meeting her father-in-law to be, a very controlling father, meeting his sisters, celebration, a setup wedding?, very upset, need more time, training horses, a cattle drive, being a wrangler, a wedding, advertising about training horses, starting to have feelings, will he take the cattle to market? Will the fathers opinion change? Will there be a happy ever after? I would recommend this book to everyone. I enjoyed reading the book. Buy the book and enjoy reading.
August 15, 2017
Along similar lines, this one annoyed me where the first book in the series did. Clara was made into this interesting character who seemed to have a natural way with animals, but once she was in her mail order marriage, she never used those traits. At the same time, her new husband, Hank, seemed to take no notice of her skills and didn’t trust her to do what was right in their relationship. They were small inconsistencies that didn’t completely pull me away from the story, but I felt like they were things that would have made the story better if they’d been built upon more or come into play more often.
October 12, 2017
The story and writing were good, though repetitive at times. There definitely needed to be another proofread or two; there were several misspellings, missing quotation marks, missing words, etc. There were also times when I thought I was reading from Hank’s perspective, and then it would suddenly change to Clara’s, which was jarring. The points of view needed to be more consistent. I did enjoy reading about Clara and Hank, though I wish their developing feelings for one another had been addressed and explored more fully. Overall, I was happy to be back at Archer Ranch, but definitely feel that some of the later stories in the series are much better.
September 25, 2018
Great Clean Western Mail Order Bride Romance!!!
This is the second book that I have read from this series and it is just as enjoyable! The characters are well developed and believable. The situation is realistic and deals with the challenges of marrying into a family that is grieving a great loss and not learning to live again to recover the meaning and joys of life.
The friendship between the heroine and her two best friends is touching and makes the situation with being a Mail Order bride understandable and relatable. The way the new romance develops is captivating.
If you like Western Romantic tales, then you must read this book!!!
This is the second book that I have read from this series and it is just as enjoyable! The characters are well developed and believable. The situation is realistic and deals with the challenges of marrying into a family that is grieving a great loss and not learning to live again to recover the meaning and joys of life.
The friendship between the heroine and her two best friends is touching and makes the situation with being a Mail Order bride understandable and relatable. The way the new romance develops is captivating.
If you like Western Romantic tales, then you must read this book!!!
October 3, 2024
This is Clara and Hank's story. Clara travels west on the recommendation of her friends to help out a wrangler who must marry. Hank is required to find a wife to inherit some land.
Sweet and endearing. Clara is asked by her best friend to come to Tombstone to be the bride of a dear friend of her and her husband. When she arrives she finds a grieving family. The family at the Archer ranch are still grieving over the loss of their Mother. Can Clara make a difference and bring life and happiness back to this family?
Sweet and endearing. Clara is asked by her best friend to come to Tombstone to be the bride of a dear friend of her and her husband. When she arrives she finds a grieving family. The family at the Archer ranch are still grieving over the loss of their Mother. Can Clara make a difference and bring life and happiness back to this family?
September 27, 2018
Love in the West!
Much more exciting and more development of the characters then the first book. A sweet Western romance. Clara and Hank are more fleshed out then Sadie and Tripp were. Their obstacles included family and the denial surrounding the death of a loved one and the workings of a ranch. Between a
Clara and Hank they come up away business proposition that brings the web family together and heals their sorrows.
Much more exciting and more development of the characters then the first book. A sweet Western romance. Clara and Hank are more fleshed out then Sadie and Tripp were. Their obstacles included family and the denial surrounding the death of a loved one and the workings of a ranch. Between a
Clara and Hank they come up away business proposition that brings the web family together and heals their sorrows.
October 14, 2018
Another 5 star from BookBub
Clara followed her instincts to leave Chicago as a mail order bride and move to Arizona. And again to accept her future father-in-law 's strange behavior when he rushed the wedding It seemed so natural for her and Hank to fall in love especially after she helped Hank to have Hanks Happy Horses as a lucrative business instead of being trail boss for his father.
Clara followed her instincts to leave Chicago as a mail order bride and move to Arizona. And again to accept her future father-in-law 's strange behavior when he rushed the wedding It seemed so natural for her and Hank to fall in love especially after she helped Hank to have Hanks Happy Horses as a lucrative business instead of being trail boss for his father.
May 4, 2021
Go South, young lady
Clara is surprised to learn the her brother and sister-in-law are moving from Chicago, where they've shared their home, to New York City, where is bank is transferring him. Not wanting the NYC lifestyle, Clara chooses to head to Tombstone, Arizona, to take the chance of starting a new life. Her best friends are there and both are anxious for her to join them and their husbands, they even have a husband for her! Pretty accommodating, huh?
Clara is surprised to learn the her brother and sister-in-law are moving from Chicago, where they've shared their home, to New York City, where is bank is transferring him. Not wanting the NYC lifestyle, Clara chooses to head to Tombstone, Arizona, to take the chance of starting a new life. Her best friends are there and both are anxious for her to join them and their husbands, they even have a husband for her! Pretty accommodating, huh?
June 6, 2021
Cute, sweet, HEA
Clara lives with her brother and sister-in-law in Chicago. When they have to move for his work, Clara decides to follow a friend’s example and become a mail order bride. Her new husband’s father is an autocrat, trying to control everything and everyone since his wife died. Clara quickly joins the family, stands up to her father in law, and everything works out beautifully.
Clara lives with her brother and sister-in-law in Chicago. When they have to move for his work, Clara decides to follow a friend’s example and become a mail order bride. Her new husband’s father is an autocrat, trying to control everything and everyone since his wife died. Clara quickly joins the family, stands up to her father in law, and everything works out beautifully.
November 11, 2018
I usually enjoy Cindy Caldwell as a nice light read. I did not like this story as the characters were flat and I struggled to get to the end of the story as I was not intrigued at all by the plot line and the simple characters. Would not recommend this book to others, instead I would direct people to Cindy's other works which are far better than this story.
November 11, 2018
I KNEW I READ THAT FIRST ONE.
Shucks. Yes! Okay.
If you’re like me, and forgot you read the first one when it came out, and then downloaded this thinking it’s a stand-alone. It’s not, go back and read book one. Ahhaha.
I enjoyed this a lot. Perfect story? Nahhh—but this author can write well, and it was a beautiful story!
Shucks. Yes! Okay.
If you’re like me, and forgot you read the first one when it came out, and then downloaded this thinking it’s a stand-alone. It’s not, go back and read book one. Ahhaha.
I enjoyed this a lot. Perfect story? Nahhh—but this author can write well, and it was a beautiful story!
January 22, 2020
Clara Martin and Hank Archer are well matched, and I enjoyed the story. However, it is polluted with split infinitives, a pet peeve for me. I also wondered about it only taking her three days by train from Chicago to Arizona. I did not clarify if this was possible, but it seemed a bit from historical accuracy.
May 4, 2017
This is one of the best MO books I have read in a while. It is NOT like an ordinary MO story...It is a breath of sunshine. It is full of surpise and intrigue! Don't pass it up. You will definitely be sorry if you did....as others tell you about it. So go grab it now while you have the chance.
October 28, 2017
Excellently brought to life.
A very good story that is brought to life as you read it. You feel the emotions as the story unfolds. Grief is hard to understand when there are so many ways to express it.Clara was actually an angel for Hank and his family.
A very good story that is brought to life as you read it. You feel the emotions as the story unfolds. Grief is hard to understand when there are so many ways to express it.Clara was actually an angel for Hank and his family.
November 21, 2017
The Wrangler's Mail Order Bride by Cindy Caldwell is book 2 of the stand alone series Wild West Frontier. This a wonderful clean story that a family learns to heal and over come their grief and move forward. Very enjoyable. Mr free opinion. Thanks
February 28, 2018
Clara goes as a mail order bride for Hank in order for Hank to receive property left to him by his maternal grandfather. Clara comes in and things begin to change....for the better.
Good story well written and fast paced.
On to #3.
Good story well written and fast paced.
On to #3.
September 20, 2018
Her Brother decide to move East and she decided to move west
She became a mail order bride to a friend of hers that had already moved west. His family was still grieving the death of his mother.She helped them learn that life goes on.
She became a mail order bride to a friend of hers that had already moved west. His family was still grieving the death of his mother.She helped them learn that life goes on.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews