Lydia Granger thought she left a life of struggle and poverty behind. As a mail-order bride on her way to Oregon City, a secure future is assured. But when the wagon train arrives in Oregon City, she discovers her fiancé is dead and her dream of a safe future is shattered. Moments after her dream is stolen from her, a gift arrives. Her wealthyfiancé left her everything he had. Life for Lydia … should beeasy, but the truth is much darker and more terrifying than she could imagine, for herfiancé’s death was no accident, and the man who took his life wants everything, all the dead man’s riches.
Detective Max Caldwell lost his wife to a brutal killer, a man who will stop at nothing to take what he wants from the world. He killed in Chicago. He killed in Oregon. It’s only a matter of time before he strikes again. Max seeks not only justice, but vengeance for his wife’s death and has no qualms about asking the innocent Lydia to help him hunt for herfiancé’s murderer. Because Lydia, and her inheritance, are the bait Max will use to lure evil into the light. Too late he realizes Lydia, with her soft heart, beautiful smile, and collection of rescued animals is not only powerful enough to take down a killer, but she just might melt the ice around his heart.
more
A great book to read if you love reading about the Oregon Trail and mail order brides. One of my favorite authors who has this genre down and knows how to make a book come alive. Can’t wait until the next book comes out.
Loved it
This is an intriguing story with danger and suspense. It had wonderful characters and a suspenseful storyline. I can’t wait to read the next book in this wonderful series.
My kind of book. One you can sit down and curl up with. She comes out as a mail order bride only to find her fiance murdered. He left her everthing however. But the sheriff needs her to help find the killer. What a mess to arrive in. Things get bumpy from there. I was given a review copy and voluntarily review it.
I loved the main character and all her animals.
Great series–read in order!
Quick read. Characters were not very believable and story was shallow.
Great caraters
Enchanting Heroine and Crush Worthy Hero!
Very original mail order bride story full of unusual pets, murder and mayhem, laughter, romance, and never a dull moment.
Lydias love of animals and her strange pets adds alot to the story! Love how they were used in the story.
Book two in the Brides of the Oregon Trail series. A well written story that kept me turning pages, the story flows smoothly from page to page. Lydia Granger came to Oregon City only to find the man she has come to marry is dead. Walter left everything he owned to Lydia she is now wealthy, but Walter’s dead was not natural he was murder by a very nasty man. Detective Max Caldwell is on the trail of the man that murdered his wife it is the same man that murdered Walter. I liked reading how these two come together. I received a copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing.
Lycia came on a wagon train to Oregon City as a bride to
Walter, she had waited two days for him to come to the wagon and get her, but he never came. Lydia decided to walk into town and see the Sheriff and find out where Walter lived, maybe he was ill. The sheriff was very sorry to inform her but Walter passed away. Discussion, discussion, discussion. Walter left everything to her.
The sheriff took Lydia to her new home and Lydia went back to the wagon train and informed her sister and brother in law what had happened they drove the wagon to her new home. This is the very BASIC beginning of a very enjoyable suspenseful romantic thriller mystery…I absolutely could not put it down. I loved the characters and the plot with all the twists. Very intriguing story. I loved it. I was given this arc and I voluntarily leave this review.
I received a free advance review copy of this book and am voluntarily providing my honest review.”
Lydia is the second book in Cynthia Woolf’s new series, Brides of the Oregon Trail. If you have read the first book, Hannah, then you have already met Lydia; Lydia is Hannah’s younger sister. In that book, the two sisters travelled across the country, together and alone, to meet Lydia’s future husband, Walter Mosley, in Oregon.
Although Lydia is younger than the sister, she is very aware that they could not afford to eat, and rent an apartment, on their salary. Therefore, she chose to become a mail order bride without informing her sister. Unfortunately, Lydia arrives in Oregon, only to find out that Walter had died. He has willed his house and his wealth to Lydia.
Both of those situations demonstrate how, unusually, independent Lydia is. Another interesting fact about Lydia is that she loves animals, especially those that are lonely and injured. Her “pets” include a wolf, a mountain lion and a three-legged cat.
The other main character is Max Caldwell. He is a detective with a Detective Agency in Chicago. He claims he is looking for a man who was hired as the bank president by Walter. However, he has been using his position as a cover for constantly stealing money from Walter. What Max doesn’t say is that this man had also killed Max’s wife.
Max plans to use Lydia to force Walter out in the open so that Max and other lawmen can capture him. Lydia and Max put themselves in many dangerous situations in order to capture this man. There are many exciting twist and turns as Lydia and Max try to arrest the villain as he attempts to kill Lydia so he can take all of her money.
I greatly enjoy this new series because so few authors have created stories that take place along the Oregon Trail and/or in Oregon. Plus, I admire Lydia for her determination to make it on her own in this new land and for her willingness to speak up for herself no matter who she is talking to. And, of course, I thoroughly enjoy watching Lydia and Max fall in love with each other.
Awesome western mail order bride romance. The characters and the storyline were developed so readers could easily follow along. Max was chasing a murderer and Lydia was planning to be a mail order bride but both their destinies changed. Ms. Woolf draws you into the story so you can’t wait to finish. I received a complementary copy of this book and chose to write a review. I look forward to reading future books by this author.
Lydia
Brides of the Oregan Trail
Book 2
by Cynthia Woolf
This is Lydia Granger story we first met her in book 1 with her strays which were growing at a rapid pace. She comes to Oregon City as a mail-order-bride and she’s shocked when the town sheriff informs her her groom is dead and that she is the sole beneficiary to his very vast fortune! But she soon finds out that her fiancé has been murdered so when detective Max Caldwell asks for her help she’s more than willing to help, but Max is on a vengeance mission. Will his need for revenge jeopardize the woman he’s been slowly falling in love with?
This was an amazing story full of intrigue and mystery. Cynthia Woolf is an amazing descriptive writer, her vivid portrayal of life on the Oregan trail. I highly recommend this and all her books theyre worth the read!
I recieved a complimentary copy from the author. This is my honest unbiased opinion.
I love series and I love books by Cynthia Woolf. Put those together and you find yourself reading Lydia. We were introduced to Lydia in the previous book, Hannah. I can only imagine what Lydia was feeling when she arrives with the wagon train after months of travelling and her groom not coming to meet her. Lydia was in for a few surprises, some good, some not so good and some bad. This is a well written story with interesting characters. I look forward to what I hope will be more Brides of the Oregon Trail.
Cynthia Woolf’s definitely an amazing storyteller and I’m loving this series! She’s created the most interesting characters and animals in this book that I absolutely loved! Lydia and Max’s story and chemistry along with this fantastic plot sets the scene for an amazing book that you won’t be able to put down! It’s so well written with such creative realism and with such passion it really pulls this awesome story together brilliantly! I just absolutely loved this story and can’t wait to find out who Brides of the Oregon Trail Book 3 will be about!
In this second book of the series, Lydia and her menagerie find their new home. Only, it isn’t at all what she expected. Lydia thought that Walter was a moderately wealthy man – in other words, that he had enough and bit to spare. She had no idea that with his wealth he was able to undergird and support a whole town. However, her fiancé is dead and has unexpectedly made Lydia his sole beneficiary. One thing is certain, there is more than enough space in her new home for everyone she loves, including her fury babies. When Max comes looking for her help, Lydia has the right mix of common sense and adventure to grab the opportunity of assisting him. She just doesn’t expect to come into the line of fire. I enjoyed this pioneer romance, the mix of characters and Lydia’s quirky habit of collecting sick, wounded and abandoned animals. Visitors to her new home are taken aback at being greeted at the door by a wolf, not to mention a three-legged cat and a mountain lion. Whilst this romance has some suspense and a mystery to solve, it is also an enjoyable reflection of life in the newly settled Oregon City. Although this book is part of a series, and it is useful to have read Hannah and Joe’s story first, it is nevertheless a standalone and comes to a happy and fulfilling close. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
The journey to Oregon City ended with Lydia’s sister married and now she is ready for her chance. But when she arrives, she finds out her soon to be husband Walter has died! What in the world happened? Even more surprising is he left her all he owned and now she can be independent! Can you imagine?
Of course nothing is ever that easy and in steps Max Caldwell, a detective from Chicago tracking down a killer that murdered his wife and is now in Oregon. He thinks this man also killed Walter and he enlist’s Lydia’s help.
A story or loss, greed and new beginnings that will keep you turning the pages as fast as you can. Lydia is such a wonderful person with her sweet and generous nature. She seems to collect animals that need a home and creates a legacy of helping others as Walter did.
But will Lydia be in the killer’s sights because of her money? Will Max be able to keep her safe and stay once the case is over?
Loved this story and cannot wait for the next!!
Lydia is different. She is beautiful and has a great love of animals. All the way to Oregon, she collected animals. An owl, a mountain lion, a wolf and a three legged cat. Now that she is in Oregon, people are bringing animals to her. Max needs Lydia’s help with catching a killer. It would put her in danger, but he needs to get this man. The man has stolen some uncut diamonds, killed two men (one of them was Lydia’s fiancée) and has taken the identity of the bank president. The man will stop at nothing in order to get ahold of all the money that Lydia’s fiancée left for her. Will Max be able to keep her safe? Will Lydia get to keep Max?
After reading the first book in this series, Hannah, I wanted to know about her sister Lydia.
This book answered perfectly to it.
Lydia was the sister who took matter in hands and decided to test her luck by becoming a mail order bride, why they embarked in this six months long journey, during which Hannah found her husband. Now it is time for Lydia to meet hers, except he never showed up. As it was impossible as he was deceased.
But still even without a groom, luck was on Lydia’s side, her generous betrothed left her all his wealth, and what a fortune it is. Until she learns she might the next victim of the man who murdered her fiancé.
Why she agrees to help the detective sent to investigate the case.
Max Caldwell wants to put a stop to the run of the murderer of Lydia’s fiancé but also his late wife. Why he wants to use her as bait. He knows it is dangerous but can’t stop now he is so close to the end of his track.
Their story was lovely, with no angst, an other shotgun wedding for the second Granger’s sister and plenty of sweet unusual pets surrounding them. It was nice too to see again Hannah and Joe and to see their own love getting stronger with time.
I do wonder if there will be a third book and with whom?
I loved the doc in this series.