Helpful Score: 5
I loved this book. Think Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Well the concept is the same. Two brothers need a wife to take care of them.
Paula P. (nmreader) reviewed Short Straw Bride (Harlequin Historical, No 339) on + 57 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
Story about two Western brothers who need someone to take care of them. They come up with the idea of drawing straws to see who has to get married. Of course "the loser" ends up falling in love with his wife. Cute story, a little different.
Teresa H. (thammer99) -
Helpful Score: 4
This was a great book. Well written and fun to read. Two brothers decided one needs to get married and the loser chooses someone he feels will meet his cooking/cleaning/child bearing needs. But he later realizes that marriage is more difficult because his wife actually has an opinion.
Robin M. (robinmy) -
Helpful Score: 3
The McClain brothers decide one of them must marry so their wife can take care of the cooking and cleaning. When Luke draws the short straw, he goes into town looking for a wife. He decides Eleanor would make a nice docile wife and asks her to marry him. Wow, is he in for a surprise!
Helpful Score: 2
The McLain brothers were fed up and tired-tired of the hunger in thier cowboy-sized stomachs, tired of dingy curtains and dirty dishes.Tired of worring about who to leave the ranch to when they were gone. Luke could imagine the perfect wife-biddable,tidy and willing-and when he saw Eleanor Williams in church one Sunday, he thought she'd do just fine. But little did he know that the practical Eleanor had A MIND OF HER OWN-and other ideas about marriage.
Tammy M. (bratley1) reviewed Short Straw Bride (Harlequin Historical, No 339) on + 273 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Nice story funny and sweet
Vikki P. (vikki322) reviewed Short Straw Bride (Harlequin Historical, No 339) on + 145 more book reviews
Daniel and Luke McLain decided that one of them just had to marry - they were fed up with cooking for themselves, their house was filthy, and if something happened to both of them they had no heirs to whom they could leave their ranch. The only problem was, neither of them wanted to be married! To decide who had to pick a wife, the brothers drew straws - and Luke McLain drew the short straw.
Luke McLain didn't demand too much in a wife. He just wanted someone who was somewhat pretty, had a calm demeanor, wasn't afraid of hard work, would do what he said, and could give him the sons he wanted. The tall, rugged cowboy thought that it couldn't be TOO hard to find a woman with those qualities. Nevermind that the preacher in town told him that you couldn't look for a wife the way one would look for a horse - Luke thought he didn't need a love match, even though his parents had had one. So when he met shy, sweet Eleanor Williams, he thought he had found the perfect candidate for the new Mrs. Luke McLain.
Eleanor was fast reaching the age of spinsterhood, as her cruel younger cousin reminded her. Eleanor secretly dreamed of a love match, but she knew that she had to be practical about marriage. Practical, however, was the last thing on her mind when she caught sight of the handsome McLains, especially Luke. She was certain that he would never show any interest in her, though...until he proposed a marriage of convenience!
Luke McLain didn't demand too much in a wife. He just wanted someone who was somewhat pretty, had a calm demeanor, wasn't afraid of hard work, would do what he said, and could give him the sons he wanted. The tall, rugged cowboy thought that it couldn't be TOO hard to find a woman with those qualities. Nevermind that the preacher in town told him that you couldn't look for a wife the way one would look for a horse - Luke thought he didn't need a love match, even though his parents had had one. So when he met shy, sweet Eleanor Williams, he thought he had found the perfect candidate for the new Mrs. Luke McLain.
Eleanor was fast reaching the age of spinsterhood, as her cruel younger cousin reminded her. Eleanor secretly dreamed of a love match, but she knew that she had to be practical about marriage. Practical, however, was the last thing on her mind when she caught sight of the handsome McLains, especially Luke. She was certain that he would never show any interest in her, though...until he proposed a marriage of convenience!
Loretta H. (jacksgirl) -
One of my favorite books, In a nut shell two brothers decide one of them should get married. So they draw straws to see which one has to bite the bullet and get a wife. A very good story. One of the few books myself and my daughters agree on. we all loved it.
Susan S. (MoonLily) - , reviewed Short Straw Bride (Harlequin Historical, No 339) on + 72 more book reviews
This is a western romance. You will see shades of Cinderella. This is a fun story. I agree with another reviewer that the romance build could have been a bit better. However, it is still a good read.
Regina (virgosun) reviewed Short Straw Bride (Harlequin Historical, No 339) on + 888 more book reviews
Sweet but unexceptional historical western about a marriage of convenience. I wish that the falling in love process between Luke and Eleanor was better portrayed. Really rather tame in the love department.
Cute story
If you are looking for a light-hearted story with lots of humor, this is it. The MacLain brothers are tired of living in squalor with terrible food. Their ranch is successful but they have been unsuccessful in finding a housekeeper who would keep them clean and fed. Difficult times call for extreme measures. The guys draw straws to determine which will bite the bullet and marry. The elder brother, Luke, loses the draw and starts looking around for a likely marriage partner. They cause a near-circus at church the next Sunday. Both men are attractive and successful.
Luke's eye falls on the non-descript niece of one of the town's bankers. When he gets an invitation to the William's house, he finds that Eleanor is a modern-day Cinder-girl, the workhorse of the house - a disliked niece, who was tolerated by the parents and their favored daughter. When Luke finds out Eleanor is unappreciated and a hard worker, he is prompted to ask for her hand (in marriage) in two weeks. Luke thinks he's got a quiet, biddable woman. She is thankful to escape the William's household.
However, trouble is coming. The MacLains and the other cowboys eat like pigs. When Eleanor overhears that she was chosen by a short straw, she blows a fuse. The rest of the book is about how Luke and Eleanor resolve their differences. It takes a bit too long to resolve but the chuckles along the way made up for much of the excess. The pages fly by as the reader enjoys the humor and pathos.
READING PROGRESS
Luke's eye falls on the non-descript niece of one of the town's bankers. When he gets an invitation to the William's house, he finds that Eleanor is a modern-day Cinder-girl, the workhorse of the house - a disliked niece, who was tolerated by the parents and their favored daughter. When Luke finds out Eleanor is unappreciated and a hard worker, he is prompted to ask for her hand (in marriage) in two weeks. Luke thinks he's got a quiet, biddable woman. She is thankful to escape the William's household.
However, trouble is coming. The MacLains and the other cowboys eat like pigs. When Eleanor overhears that she was chosen by a short straw, she blows a fuse. The rest of the book is about how Luke and Eleanor resolve their differences. It takes a bit too long to resolve but the chuckles along the way made up for much of the excess. The pages fly by as the reader enjoys the humor and pathos.
READING PROGRESS
Kathy W. (mommadukes) - reviewed Short Straw Bride (Harlequin Historical, No 339) on + 25 more book reviews
i enjoyed this .it was a comedy of sorts.
Sherri H. (mamadoodle) -
Very sweet western romance
Very cute story!! The main character lives in her aunt and uncle's home, miserable as she watches her greedy and coniving cousin try to steal the attention of every man. Then two brothers decide one must find a wife, they must choose between the two cousins. The chosen wife must deal with a husband she barely knows and the employees he expects her to feed.
Janine A. (Janine) reviewed Short Straw Bride (Harlequin Historical, No 339) on + 252 more book reviews
The McLain brothers are fed up. They're tired of the hunger in their cowboy-sized stomachs, the dingy curtains and dirty dishes, and most of all, the worry of whom to leave the ranch to when they die. Luke imagines the perfect wife as biddable, tidy, and willing. When he sees Eleanor Williams in church one Sunday, he thinks she'll do just fine. But little does he know that the practical Eleanor has a mind of her own--and other ideas about marriage!
he thought he was getting a docile wife, he got a hellcat.
Faye H. (quilter39) reviewed Short Straw Bride (Harlequin Historical, No 339) on + 63 more book reviews
The McLain brothers were fed up and tired--tired of the hunger in their cowboy-sized stomachs, tired of dingy curtains and dirty dishes. Tired of worrying about who to leave the ranch to when they were gone. Luke could imagine the perfect wife--biddable, tidy and willing --and when he saw Eleanor Williams in church one Sunday, he thought she'd do just fine. Little did he know that the practical Eleanor had her own--and other ideas about marriage.
Jeanne (junefriday) -
Light story, pretty predictable
Ani (goddessani) -
A really sweet story about two special people. Historical.
former library book, but in good shape- a fun read
