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The McBrides of Montana #2
Marrying Off Morgan McBride
The McBride brothers are in for a matrimonial surprise when an enterprising woman answers their little sister's mail order bride advertisement in this laugh-out-loud historical romance.
As the oldest of the McBride siblings, Morgan had to be protector and shepherd since Ma died and Pa ran off. It hasn't always been easy, especially when his heart longs to roam on the trail. But now that his brother Kit is married and settled, the time is right for Morgan to leave Buck's Creek. Little does he know that his hellcat of a little sister Junebug is dead set on keeping him at home and getting more help around the house - all with one honest advertisement in The Matrimonial News.
Epiphany Hopgood has always had a gift for doing the exact wrong thing. She's too tall, too loud, too opinionated, and too contrary for her family and community. Staring down the barrel of spinsterhood, she and her grandmother answer a seemingly straightforward ad for a bride.
But when Pip shows up to Buck's Creek, she finds that Morgan McBride is not the husband she expected. In fact, he doesn't even want to be a husband. But maybe there's a way to make everyone happy out on the Montana frontier...
As the oldest of the McBride siblings, Morgan had to be protector and shepherd since Ma died and Pa ran off. It hasn't always been easy, especially when his heart longs to roam on the trail. But now that his brother Kit is married and settled, the time is right for Morgan to leave Buck's Creek. Little does he know that his hellcat of a little sister Junebug is dead set on keeping him at home and getting more help around the house - all with one honest advertisement in The Matrimonial News.
Epiphany Hopgood has always had a gift for doing the exact wrong thing. She's too tall, too loud, too opinionated, and too contrary for her family and community. Staring down the barrel of spinsterhood, she and her grandmother answer a seemingly straightforward ad for a bride.
But when Pip shows up to Buck's Creek, she finds that Morgan McBride is not the husband she expected. In fact, he doesn't even want to be a husband. But maybe there's a way to make everyone happy out on the Montana frontier...
316 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 2023
57 people are currently reading
7317 people want to read
About the author
Amy Barry
3 books331 followersWhen not galloping through the Wild West, Amy is not-so-mild-mannered academic Dr Amy Matthews.
Amy is Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Flinders University and also writes fiction and non-fiction under the name Amy T. Matthews and Tess LeSue. She clearly has too much time on her hands.
Amy is Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Flinders University and also writes fiction and non-fiction under the name Amy T. Matthews and Tess LeSue. She clearly has too much time on her hands.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 464 reviews
May 27, 2023
Marrying Off Morgan McBride
by Amy Barry is a historical romance that combines romance and humor in a historical western setting. It’s 1887 in Buck’s Creek, Montana where Junebug lives with her four older brothers: Morgan, Kit, Beau, and Jonah as well as Kit’s wife. The four brothers believe everything is fine, but Junebug is tired of cleaning, cooking, mending, and the animals. She decides she needs help and that help should be a wife for one of the brothers. In this sequel, the focus is on Morgan McBride, the oldest of the siblings. He’s been taking care of the family since their mother died and father left. He longs to roam the trail again. Epiphany Hopgood seems to be looking at spinsterhood when she answers an ad for a mail-order bride. However, when she and her grandmother show up on Buck’s Creek, she finds Morgan isn’t what she expected. In fact, he doesn’t even want to be a husband.
The characterization was terrific in this novel. The McBride family, Epiphany, and Granny Colfax come alive on the pages, as do a few of the tertiary characters. Often their natures are shown using action versus purely through explanatory descriptions. Morgan and Epiphany are dynamic characters responding to the events as they unfolded. Both experienced changes in their outlooks. However, Junebug was the highlight character of the book for me. She’s fifteen and has been raised by her brothers with little exposure to other women.
While the plot is straightforward, the book is full of laugh-out-loud humor as well as some somber and emotional moments with characters. I moved effortlessly through the story as hidden emotions and feelings are revealed. Both Morgan and Epiphany come to terms with things that have been kept quiet. The world-building was great and the author captured the cultural lifestyles and portrayed them well.
While I didn’t learn anything new from a historical point, this story had some profound themes imbedded in it that added to its depths. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and spending time with the McBride family again.
Overall, this was an entertaining, heartwarming, and funny novel. It has a great setting and extraordinary characters. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Berkley Publishing Group and Amy Barry provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 30, 2023.
The characterization was terrific in this novel. The McBride family, Epiphany, and Granny Colfax come alive on the pages, as do a few of the tertiary characters. Often their natures are shown using action versus purely through explanatory descriptions. Morgan and Epiphany are dynamic characters responding to the events as they unfolded. Both experienced changes in their outlooks. However, Junebug was the highlight character of the book for me. She’s fifteen and has been raised by her brothers with little exposure to other women.
While the plot is straightforward, the book is full of laugh-out-loud humor as well as some somber and emotional moments with characters. I moved effortlessly through the story as hidden emotions and feelings are revealed. Both Morgan and Epiphany come to terms with things that have been kept quiet. The world-building was great and the author captured the cultural lifestyles and portrayed them well.
While I didn’t learn anything new from a historical point, this story had some profound themes imbedded in it that added to its depths. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and spending time with the McBride family again.
Overall, this was an entertaining, heartwarming, and funny novel. It has a great setting and extraordinary characters. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Berkley Publishing Group and Amy Barry provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 30, 2023.
October 26, 2023
✨I’d love to Buck your Creek✨
TLDR:
I really enjoyed this, but I did suffer from the overwhelming urge to compare Morgan to Kit. The last 10% of the book was absolutely adorable and my favorite part of Pip and Morgan’s love story. There was about a steamy scene and a half which was a TOTAL surprise if you’ve read book one. In book 3, I’d love to see a little bit quicker of a pace and more focus on the main couple.
I liked the overall plot, so this was fun reading in general, but the romance played second fiddle to Junebug’s growth as a character. I suppose this happened in book one too, but I was so charmed by Kit, whereas Morgan needed a little honey as a chaser to sweeten the pot. Pip was the superstar of book two. I really loved how she never fought for what she knew she deserved.
The writing style is so fun and the vocabulary is so unique to the locals of Buck’s Creek. Amy Barry has created a really compelling foundation and I can’t wait to see what she builds this series into.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️*/5
*One full explicit sex scene and one frisky creek expedition. I loved Kit’s book that contained ZERO sexy times and don’t need sex to love a book, but YEEHAW I love seeing the word cock.
_______
More thoughts:
Morgan was SO stubborn and frankly the way he left??? Multiple times??? I was rather annoyed with him for a lot of this book. I understood why he was the way he was and why he wanted to get out, but woof. His past was definitely traumatic and darker than the impression I got of it in Kit’s book.
I did love how he came through in the end and how he finally sat down with his emotions. I would’ve maybe liked Pip to give him one more verbal lashing because he deserved it and I don’t think he quite reckoned enough with how much she was dragged through the mud during this book. A lot of times by him. He talked over people a lot and, by the end, he’d only just learned to listen.
And since Morgan took forever to finally realize what he actually wanted out of life, the pace felt a lot slower than book one. In both books, it took a while for the couples to meet and even spend time together because a lot of the narrative was from Junebug’s POV. It worked for me in book one because Kit was just never opposed to getting married and his pining was so visceral. It was quite clear that they belonged together.
In book two, Morgan and Pip needed a lot more space than they were ultimately given on the page to work out their differences. They ended up in this Miles City for a good chunk of the book and it derailed the plot a bit for me. One they were both in that city, it still took forever for them to meet again.
I just wanted more moments of them in love. The epilogue was about Beau, so we didn’t even get to see them living happily there. My favorite part of the book was the last 10% and I’d have loved for that to extend for a good 10% more. That 10% Morgan was way better than the other 90% we got. And really he wasn’t a baaad character I just wasn’t emotionally attached until the end of the book.
I received a copy from the publisher and an ALC from PRHaudio. All opinions are honest and my own.
TLDR:
I really enjoyed this, but I did suffer from the overwhelming urge to compare Morgan to Kit. The last 10% of the book was absolutely adorable and my favorite part of Pip and Morgan’s love story. There was about a steamy scene and a half which was a TOTAL surprise if you’ve read book one. In book 3, I’d love to see a little bit quicker of a pace and more focus on the main couple.
I liked the overall plot, so this was fun reading in general, but the romance played second fiddle to Junebug’s growth as a character. I suppose this happened in book one too, but I was so charmed by Kit, whereas Morgan needed a little honey as a chaser to sweeten the pot. Pip was the superstar of book two. I really loved how she never fought for what she knew she deserved.
The writing style is so fun and the vocabulary is so unique to the locals of Buck’s Creek. Amy Barry has created a really compelling foundation and I can’t wait to see what she builds this series into.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️*/5
*One full explicit sex scene and one frisky creek expedition. I loved Kit’s book that contained ZERO sexy times and don’t need sex to love a book, but YEEHAW I love seeing the word cock.
_______
More thoughts:
Morgan was SO stubborn and frankly the way he left??? Multiple times??? I was rather annoyed with him for a lot of this book. I understood why he was the way he was and why he wanted to get out, but woof. His past was definitely traumatic and darker than the impression I got of it in Kit’s book.
I did love how he came through in the end and how he finally sat down with his emotions. I would’ve maybe liked Pip to give him one more verbal lashing because he deserved it and I don’t think he quite reckoned enough with how much she was dragged through the mud during this book. A lot of times by him. He talked over people a lot and, by the end, he’d only just learned to listen.
And since Morgan took forever to finally realize what he actually wanted out of life, the pace felt a lot slower than book one. In both books, it took a while for the couples to meet and even spend time together because a lot of the narrative was from Junebug’s POV. It worked for me in book one because Kit was just never opposed to getting married and his pining was so visceral. It was quite clear that they belonged together.
In book two, Morgan and Pip needed a lot more space than they were ultimately given on the page to work out their differences. They ended up in this Miles City for a good chunk of the book and it derailed the plot a bit for me. One they were both in that city, it still took forever for them to meet again.
I just wanted more moments of them in love. The epilogue was about Beau, so we didn’t even get to see them living happily there. My favorite part of the book was the last 10% and I’d have loved for that to extend for a good 10% more. That 10% Morgan was way better than the other 90% we got. And really he wasn’t a baaad character I just wasn’t emotionally attached until the end of the book.
I received a copy from the publisher and an ALC from PRHaudio. All opinions are honest and my own.
July 18, 2023
4 stars!
Morgan McBride is the oldest of all his siblings and returned home to take care of them when his parents couldn't. But now, Morgan is getting restless and wants to leave Buck's Creek. That's when his sister Junebug hatches a plan to get him to stay and orders him a bride from The Matrimonial News. Pip shows up in Buck's Creek expecting to get married, but is shocked to fine out her betrothed has no clue she was coming.
I adored this historical western romance by Amy Barry. I went in somewhat blind, and even though I hadn't read the first book I was able to follow along easily and enjoy the characters. The strongest part of this book for me was the secondary characters and the character growth of Pip. I love that we got a tall curvy heroine whose beauty was overlooked until she was able to blossom into her better self. Junebug and Grandma were an absolute hoot and their antics had me smiling while listening to this book. The weakest part for me (and why it's not five stars) was Morgan and his romance with Pip. The man never really made the effort to get to know her until the end and I had trouble believing they would be happy together in the long run.
Morgan McBride is the oldest of all his siblings and returned home to take care of them when his parents couldn't. But now, Morgan is getting restless and wants to leave Buck's Creek. That's when his sister Junebug hatches a plan to get him to stay and orders him a bride from The Matrimonial News. Pip shows up in Buck's Creek expecting to get married, but is shocked to fine out her betrothed has no clue she was coming.
I adored this historical western romance by Amy Barry. I went in somewhat blind, and even though I hadn't read the first book I was able to follow along easily and enjoy the characters. The strongest part of this book for me was the secondary characters and the character growth of Pip. I love that we got a tall curvy heroine whose beauty was overlooked until she was able to blossom into her better self. Junebug and Grandma were an absolute hoot and their antics had me smiling while listening to this book. The weakest part for me (and why it's not five stars) was Morgan and his romance with Pip. The man never really made the effort to get to know her until the end and I had trouble believing they would be happy together in the long run.
May 7, 2023
Ok lets talk.
No one likes rating books low more than I do so let me give a little insight as to why I have this low.
I absolutely adored Kit McBride last year! I had it in my top faves of 2022 stack and Morgans story has been at the top of my must reads in 2023.
I knew because I follow the author that this would be more "spicy". I wondered what that meant since Kit was a sexier but sweet closed door intimacy level. This however was just way more than I anticipated. For me it wasn't just the open door scene...which was a stark contrast from the first book but the tone of the book was just overall very lusty in general.
I was sad because we essentially get two characters, with great back stories and a lot of potential. However in the short time that our characters interact we get a quick exchange of words, lots of breast ooggling, and little substance to get to know one another. Theres a quick more hot and heavy kissing scene early on based off attraction and then the rest of the book the characters long for each other based off that physical intimacy but don't know the person behind it. This kissing scene is mentioned SO many times..only emphasizing that these characters long for what they can physically get from one another.
I really don't care that the author went open door, however....as a slow burn reader there was absolutely no build. No emotional connection between the characters and I felt like even by the TWO days of interaction...I was curious how a marriage would last between these two strangers.
I'm ok with a little physical. BUT when the physical becomes the ONLY driving force in a couples relationship progression...it really made the book lose its heart and the potential for it to be really great. The only thing Morgan seemed to be interested was unbuttoning that dress.
There were a few sweet moments here and there, but overall the experience for me was night and day from the first...and i'm curious if this is the direction this authors future books will be headed in.
Not for me.
No one likes rating books low more than I do so let me give a little insight as to why I have this low.
I absolutely adored Kit McBride last year! I had it in my top faves of 2022 stack and Morgans story has been at the top of my must reads in 2023.
I knew because I follow the author that this would be more "spicy". I wondered what that meant since Kit was a sexier but sweet closed door intimacy level. This however was just way more than I anticipated. For me it wasn't just the open door scene...which was a stark contrast from the first book but the tone of the book was just overall very lusty in general.
I was sad because we essentially get two characters, with great back stories and a lot of potential. However in the short time that our characters interact we get a quick exchange of words, lots of breast ooggling, and little substance to get to know one another. Theres a quick more hot and heavy kissing scene early on based off attraction and then the rest of the book the characters long for each other based off that physical intimacy but don't know the person behind it. This kissing scene is mentioned SO many times..only emphasizing that these characters long for what they can physically get from one another.
I really don't care that the author went open door, however....as a slow burn reader there was absolutely no build. No emotional connection between the characters and I felt like even by the TWO days of interaction...I was curious how a marriage would last between these two strangers.
I'm ok with a little physical. BUT when the physical becomes the ONLY driving force in a couples relationship progression...it really made the book lose its heart and the potential for it to be really great. The only thing Morgan seemed to be interested was unbuttoning that dress.
There were a few sweet moments here and there, but overall the experience for me was night and day from the first...and i'm curious if this is the direction this authors future books will be headed in.
Not for me.
June 4, 2023
4.5 Stars
Morgan stepped in and raised his younger brothers and sister when his mother died and his father took off, but he’s longed to be out on the range herded cattle and exploring the land. Now that Junebug is older and his brother Kit has married and they’re living up at Buck’s Creek, Morgan thinks he’s finally free to go roaming again. However, Junebug, Morgan’s younger sister, has other ideas. Her advertising for a mail-order bride for her other brother Kit was a success, eventually… and Junebug doesn’t want Morgan running off, so she decides to put in another advertisement for Morgan. She’ll keep her brother and this time make sure she has a good cook and helper while she’s at it.
Epiphany Hopgood, “Pip” has endured her parent’s humiliating efforts at matchmaking only to be rejected leaving her to feel too tall and plain. So Pip answers an ad in The Matrimonial News seeking a bride able to cook and put up with a lot, only to find out the proposed husband, Morgan, didn’t order up any bride.
Loved Junebug in the first book, and she was a hoot as usual, cooking up all kinds of schemes to make things go right for her “blockheaded” brothers! Underneath all of it is love, but Junebug was something else, and it was hilarious! I laughed out loud so many times!
Morgan and Pip’s stories were each moving and emotional, Morgan feeling like he didn’t do enough for his mother in time, and Pip struggled with self-esteem after the way she was treated. Both had to come to terms with their insecurities. I loved how Junebug helped each of them in that regard. Her letter to her brother was so touching and she helped Pip see through to the truth of her worth.
The romance was so lovely! They were at odds of course, because Morgan was utterly ticked, and wasn’t looking to marry or stay at Buck’s Creek, and Pip wanted Morgan to honor the advertisement she answered in good faith. I loved how it all played out! So sweet, lusty, and perfect!
I can’t wait for Beau’s story next!
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley Books in exchange for an honest review.
Morgan stepped in and raised his younger brothers and sister when his mother died and his father took off, but he’s longed to be out on the range herded cattle and exploring the land. Now that Junebug is older and his brother Kit has married and they’re living up at Buck’s Creek, Morgan thinks he’s finally free to go roaming again. However, Junebug, Morgan’s younger sister, has other ideas. Her advertising for a mail-order bride for her other brother Kit was a success, eventually… and Junebug doesn’t want Morgan running off, so she decides to put in another advertisement for Morgan. She’ll keep her brother and this time make sure she has a good cook and helper while she’s at it.
Epiphany Hopgood, “Pip” has endured her parent’s humiliating efforts at matchmaking only to be rejected leaving her to feel too tall and plain. So Pip answers an ad in The Matrimonial News seeking a bride able to cook and put up with a lot, only to find out the proposed husband, Morgan, didn’t order up any bride.
Loved Junebug in the first book, and she was a hoot as usual, cooking up all kinds of schemes to make things go right for her “blockheaded” brothers! Underneath all of it is love, but Junebug was something else, and it was hilarious! I laughed out loud so many times!
Morgan and Pip’s stories were each moving and emotional, Morgan feeling like he didn’t do enough for his mother in time, and Pip struggled with self-esteem after the way she was treated. Both had to come to terms with their insecurities. I loved how Junebug helped each of them in that regard. Her letter to her brother was so touching and she helped Pip see through to the truth of her worth.
The romance was so lovely! They were at odds of course, because Morgan was utterly ticked, and wasn’t looking to marry or stay at Buck’s Creek, and Pip wanted Morgan to honor the advertisement she answered in good faith. I loved how it all played out! So sweet, lusty, and perfect!
I can’t wait for Beau’s story next!
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley Books in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2023
I LOVE THIS SERIES, I LOVE AMY BARRY, I LOVE THIS WORLD YEE HAW 🤠 perfection, this was so funny, charming & that touch of spice?!?! I see you Amy 👀🫠
I NEED other books to be announced in this series ASAP, please?!?!?! I AM OBSESSED
I NEED other books to be announced in this series ASAP, please?!?!?! I AM OBSESSED
July 21, 2023
this one worked much better for me than the first!
September 27, 2023
For a palate cleanser, a romance I was waiting for (though not enough to autobuy at release price, nope) because I had thought the first book cute, cozy and well written. This second volume did not work out for me after all, despite being more of the same of what I had liked in the first book. Worked once, but not twice. Or was different enough, it did not click.
This romance series is based on a premise: in 19th century Montana a busybody gumptious little sister arranges for mail order brides for her unaware brothers. It kind of worked with the first book, but it is getting repetitive and contrived fast. I am not sure it will work (for me, specifically, obviously) in any more books, so I am just quitting the series here. I spent most of this book hoping it was a genre-challenging book and that Morgan McBride would just ride off ALONE, free of all those women gaslighting him,
The writing is, IMO, great, funny, well paced, descriptive. It feels like there is a lot of research also, though not in your face, just underlying the worldbuilding. I think every scene and every page is good, makes sense, but the bigger picture of the relationship was just off putting to me, it comes together all at odd angles and unnatural seeming. That poor man is being gaslit by his sister, by his prospective bride and he is going to like it and marry his mail order bride and be all happy HEA, because the author makes it so. Pip has a number of body image hangups (trigger warning, I guess) which are tedious to read about but then are absolutely fixed because she is objectively very hot, she is just not aware of it. Duh. Junebug is absolutely tiresome, and not much authorial criticism of her at all - you, reader, better like her, because you are going to get lots of her doing selfish, manipulative things because she is needy and lazy and isn't that cute?
I am quitting the series here, and you can hold me to that if you see me tempted by any other offering, but like I said, I do like the writing very much and I am interested in reading more from the author, in another genre, or maybe more sarcastic, less genre-bound contemporary romance. It was the romance genre tropes being shoved in here which really did not work for me.
I heard the audiobook, read by Eva Kaminsky, and the narrator was absolutely fantastic, all the stars to Ms Kaminsky. The diversity of voices, the age, personality of them, fantastic. (I went looking for more audiobooks narrated by her, but nothing really struck my fancy, but I am noting down her name for sure).
This romance series is based on a premise: in 19th century Montana a busybody gumptious little sister arranges for mail order brides for her unaware brothers. It kind of worked with the first book, but it is getting repetitive and contrived fast. I am not sure it will work (for me, specifically, obviously) in any more books, so I am just quitting the series here. I spent most of this book hoping it was a genre-challenging book and that Morgan McBride would just ride off ALONE, free of all those women gaslighting him,
The writing is, IMO, great, funny, well paced, descriptive. It feels like there is a lot of research also, though not in your face, just underlying the worldbuilding. I think every scene and every page is good, makes sense, but the bigger picture of the relationship was just off putting to me, it comes together all at odd angles and unnatural seeming. That poor man is being gaslit by his sister, by his prospective bride and he is going to like it and marry his mail order bride and be all happy HEA, because the author makes it so. Pip has a number of body image hangups (trigger warning, I guess) which are tedious to read about but then are absolutely fixed because she is objectively very hot, she is just not aware of it. Duh. Junebug is absolutely tiresome, and not much authorial criticism of her at all - you, reader, better like her, because you are going to get lots of her doing selfish, manipulative things because she is needy and lazy and isn't that cute?
I am quitting the series here, and you can hold me to that if you see me tempted by any other offering, but like I said, I do like the writing very much and I am interested in reading more from the author, in another genre, or maybe more sarcastic, less genre-bound contemporary romance. It was the romance genre tropes being shoved in here which really did not work for me.
I heard the audiobook, read by Eva Kaminsky, and the narrator was absolutely fantastic, all the stars to Ms Kaminsky. The diversity of voices, the age, personality of them, fantastic. (I went looking for more audiobooks narrated by her, but nothing really struck my fancy, but I am noting down her name for sure).
June 14, 2023
So, I generally liked the first book in this series, while not being overly impressed with it (romance needed more development... too much com, not enough rom, so to speak). I ended up reading this one very quickly because it was the easiest thing I could get through on a tough travel day, and I don't quite know how to rate it because it ultimately made me mad, despite in some ways being an improvement on the first book. (This one wasn't closed door, for example!)
Anyway, it boils down to two points:
(1) Junebug did far too much meddling in people's lives in a way that was not cute or funny. And quite frankly, too much of the book was spent focused on her just wanting someone who can cook for her rather than actually wanting to find a reason for Morgan to stay. That feels like an editing issue, rather than an intentional character issue. But it was a serious editing issue because it felt like a character issue to me as I was reading.
And (2) it really felt like Pip had to do all of the work here in the relationship, to the extent the relationship was based on feelings and not just lust. There were the beginnings of feelings here, sure, but this happened SO fast that it didn't quite feel like enough. In any event, this did not feel like a balanced relationship because really ALL of it felt like Pip. Morgan was just the fortunate person there who happened to benefit from it. Really did not like that given how little Pip was valued by her own family. I really just wanted more for her. I think there was an interesting story to be told here between these two people who have felt alone and burdened in their own way. This just wasn't it.
Anyway. Just a poorly constructed story. I want so much to like this series, and yet.
Anyway, it boils down to two points:
(1) Junebug did far too much meddling in people's lives in a way that was not cute or funny. And quite frankly, too much of the book was spent focused on her just wanting someone who can cook for her rather than actually wanting to find a reason for Morgan to stay. That feels like an editing issue, rather than an intentional character issue. But it was a serious editing issue because it felt like a character issue to me as I was reading.
And (2) it really felt like Pip had to do all of the work here in the relationship, to the extent the relationship was based on feelings and not just lust. There were the beginnings of feelings here, sure, but this happened SO fast that it didn't quite feel like enough. In any event, this did not feel like a balanced relationship because really ALL of it felt like Pip. Morgan was just the fortunate person there who happened to benefit from it. Really did not like that given how little Pip was valued by her own family. I really just wanted more for her. I think there was an interesting story to be told here between these two people who have felt alone and burdened in their own way. This just wasn't it.
Anyway. Just a poorly constructed story. I want so much to like this series, and yet.
November 9, 2023
4.5 stars I just didn’t want it to end.
June 28, 2023
These books are so close to tipping into "great" territory for me. The characters are colorful and funny, the writing is enjoyable, and even the speech feels right to me. I grew up in the very rural West, and I remarked to my partner that many parts felt like I was actually listening to family members speak. I also enjoyed the higher spice level in this book. :)
Unfortunately, I had similar problems with this book as I had with book 1 of the series. We spend so much time laying the groundwork and chasing around the individual characters that Pip and Morgan (the MCs) don't actually spend much time at all together on the page. As a result, their relationship feels entirely lust-driven and the emotional payoff is lacking. By the time they got their HEA, I didn't understand how they could be in love with each other. I think they'd maybe had three on-page conversations?
Alas. So close, but not quite there for me.
Unfortunately, I had similar problems with this book as I had with book 1 of the series. We spend so much time laying the groundwork and chasing around the individual characters that Pip and Morgan (the MCs) don't actually spend much time at all together on the page. As a result, their relationship feels entirely lust-driven and the emotional payoff is lacking. By the time they got their HEA, I didn't understand how they could be in love with each other. I think they'd maybe had three on-page conversations?
Alas. So close, but not quite there for me.
May 31, 2023
I don't leave a lot of negative reviews, but just in case someone like me was expecting a sweet, clean love story like the first book in this series, this is NOT it. Lust-driven romance and very explicit spicy scenes. Also a lot more swearing than I remembered in Kit's book. Disappointed.
May 17, 2023
easy five stars
i LOVED kit mcbride, but somehow this book was even better. witty, vivid, and so much fun—a masterpiece of historical western romance!!!
i LOVED kit mcbride, but somehow this book was even better. witty, vivid, and so much fun—a masterpiece of historical western romance!!!
December 28, 2023
This grabbed my eye from the New Reads section at the library. I had an internal war with myself about whether to check it out or put it back as I had plenty of other romances to read. I decided to keep it, and I started reading it on the flight to New Orleans.
Too many of the one-star reviews were from clean readers who were disappointed that this book was a little sexy. There was only one main sex scene, and it was at the very end of the book. I didn't think this book was spicy at all, lol.
I liked the writing style and the colorful cast of characters, but most of the romance's development happened at the very end of the book. Morgan just decided he was in love with her after running away for so long. The hero & heroine didn't have enough on-page time together for the romance to be fully satisfying.
I'm surprised this was even published by Penguin Random House because I thought traditional publishers only publish contemporary romance these days. This was a Western historical romance.
It was funny that the conflict was that Epiphany, Pip, shows up as a mail-order bride, but Morgan doesn't want a bride. So literally everyone in the book is trying to get Morgan to marry her, and Morgan wants to leave Buck's Creek and be a cowboy. Thus, the title is very fitting.
Even though this wasn't a great read for me (at one point in the middle I thought about DNF-ing), I still would like to read Beau's book out of curiosity and because the world/family was fun.
Too many of the one-star reviews were from clean readers who were disappointed that this book was a little sexy. There was only one main sex scene, and it was at the very end of the book. I didn't think this book was spicy at all, lol.
I liked the writing style and the colorful cast of characters, but most of the romance's development happened at the very end of the book. Morgan just decided he was in love with her after running away for so long. The hero & heroine didn't have enough on-page time together for the romance to be fully satisfying.
I'm surprised this was even published by Penguin Random House because I thought traditional publishers only publish contemporary romance these days. This was a Western historical romance.
It was funny that the conflict was that Epiphany, Pip, shows up as a mail-order bride, but Morgan doesn't want a bride. So literally everyone in the book is trying to get Morgan to marry her, and Morgan wants to leave Buck's Creek and be a cowboy. Thus, the title is very fitting.
Even though this wasn't a great read for me (at one point in the middle I thought about DNF-ing), I still would like to read Beau's book out of curiosity and because the world/family was fun.
July 3, 2025
June Bug and the McBrides are back in this second hilarious mail order bride historical romance set in the remote Montana wilderness.
June Bug is one of the best young protagonists! I love these books so much as she secretly schemes to arrange brides for each of her brothers. In this book she's looking for someone who will put up with her grumpy eldest brother who yearns to leave the home for adventure after being tied down looking after everyone else.
Red-headed, Nebraska spinster, Epiphany "Pip," along with her spunky grandmother are the ones who answer June Bug's ad, not realizing that Morgan has no interest in getting married. Despite his protests, Morgan can't help falling for Pip but decides to leave anyways. Naturally June Bug doesn't let him get away and arranges for Pip, granny and herself to chase after him.
Lots of adventures follow in this slow burn, romantically charged Western that is sure to have you laughing out loud and swooning when Morgan and Pip finally give in to their mutual attraction. Many thanks to NetGalley and @prhaudio for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review! I cannot wait for the next book in this series!!!
June Bug is one of the best young protagonists! I love these books so much as she secretly schemes to arrange brides for each of her brothers. In this book she's looking for someone who will put up with her grumpy eldest brother who yearns to leave the home for adventure after being tied down looking after everyone else.
Red-headed, Nebraska spinster, Epiphany "Pip," along with her spunky grandmother are the ones who answer June Bug's ad, not realizing that Morgan has no interest in getting married. Despite his protests, Morgan can't help falling for Pip but decides to leave anyways. Naturally June Bug doesn't let him get away and arranges for Pip, granny and herself to chase after him.
Lots of adventures follow in this slow burn, romantically charged Western that is sure to have you laughing out loud and swooning when Morgan and Pip finally give in to their mutual attraction. Many thanks to NetGalley and @prhaudio for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review! I cannot wait for the next book in this series!!!
June 1, 2023
3.25 stars
I was utterly charmed by Kit’s story. This one had so much potential but needed some more chapters to build the storyline between the main characters. Similar ingredients as the first story but with minimal interactions, it was a hard sell for their chemistry.
As always, Junebug was a delight. I enjoyed Pip’s character and also enjoyed Morgan’s. I thought Morgan and his revelations were particularly well written. Lots of great pieces here-just a few missing to bring it all together.
I was utterly charmed by Kit’s story. This one had so much potential but needed some more chapters to build the storyline between the main characters. Similar ingredients as the first story but with minimal interactions, it was a hard sell for their chemistry.
As always, Junebug was a delight. I enjoyed Pip’s character and also enjoyed Morgan’s. I thought Morgan and his revelations were particularly well written. Lots of great pieces here-just a few missing to bring it all together.
September 12, 2023
I’m genuinely obsessed with this series and this one literally had me sobbing at the end of it. I will rant about how anybody who even remotely sometimes likes romance needs to read this because it’s so much more than just a romance ton of 10.
May 24, 2024
amy barry doesn’t miss!!! these are so DELIGHTFUL!! funny and heartwarming and downright ridiculous. this one packed much more of an emotional punch seeing morgan and junebugs relationship… good GRIEF it was like a fist around my heart…
“He’d been carrying his brothers and Junebug for so long that the thought of putting them down made his arms feel empty.”
morgan 🫶🏻 pip 🫶🏻 this book 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
“He’d been carrying his brothers and Junebug for so long that the thought of putting them down made his arms feel empty.”
morgan 🫶🏻 pip 🫶🏻 this book 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
December 7, 2023
Didn't like as much as the first one.
September 12, 2023
top ten most annoying characters:
1. Junebug
2-10. need not apply
1. Junebug
2-10. need not apply
July 1, 2025
These books are a pure delight to read! Such a breath of fresh air! Morgan's story certainly sizzles...but it's the comedy of Junebug that keeps me rolling on the floor with laughter. Waiting for the next one!!
April 8, 2023
I knew this book was the second in the series, and despite not having read the first book, I was okay diving into this story. I knew lots of people who had read the first one and wanted to read this book, and these people read “clean romance” so I didn’t think much of it. And while I did love the book, plot, and characters, it did include quite a few innuendos, graphic descriptions, and an open door scene (which can be skipped).
This makes it hard for me to leave a review because everything but these parts made this a five-star read, I really loved this story so much. But these scenes, mostly at the end of the book, took away from the story. I know many readers won’t mind that aspect and it doesn’t take away from their reading experience, but for me it did.
As for my feelings about all the great parts of this story? I loved the McBride siblings and each of their personalities, especially Junebug. Pip and her granny were so fun and I loved their interactions and spunk. Morgan was a perfect grumpy, swoony hero. And all the beautiful descriptions put me right in Buck’s Creek and surrounded by all that Montana beauty.
So while I did enjoy this book, I probably won’t read the others in the series because I won’t be sure how clean they’ll be.
I received an ARC from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This makes it hard for me to leave a review because everything but these parts made this a five-star read, I really loved this story so much. But these scenes, mostly at the end of the book, took away from the story. I know many readers won’t mind that aspect and it doesn’t take away from their reading experience, but for me it did.
As for my feelings about all the great parts of this story? I loved the McBride siblings and each of their personalities, especially Junebug. Pip and her granny were so fun and I loved their interactions and spunk. Morgan was a perfect grumpy, swoony hero. And all the beautiful descriptions put me right in Buck’s Creek and surrounded by all that Montana beauty.
So while I did enjoy this book, I probably won’t read the others in the series because I won’t be sure how clean they’ll be.
I received an ARC from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read
January 10, 2024✨western historical
✨grumpy hero
✨mail order bride
✨baking
✨plus size rep
Epiphany Hopgood is a woman who wants to be married. She lives in a small town in Nebraska, where no man has vied for her heart. She ends up across an ad for a mail-order bride in the paper and decides to take a chance. She travels to Montana to marry a man she's been writing to based on his ad. Little does she know that the man Morgan isn't the person she's been writing to. His little sister Junebug is the one behind it all!
This was such a fun read! I loved Epiphany as a character, she was super relatable. If you want to get into historical romances, I recommend starting with the books in this series!
✨grumpy hero
✨mail order bride
✨baking
✨plus size rep
Epiphany Hopgood is a woman who wants to be married. She lives in a small town in Nebraska, where no man has vied for her heart. She ends up across an ad for a mail-order bride in the paper and decides to take a chance. She travels to Montana to marry a man she's been writing to based on his ad. Little does she know that the man Morgan isn't the person she's been writing to. His little sister Junebug is the one behind it all!
This was such a fun read! I loved Epiphany as a character, she was super relatable. If you want to get into historical romances, I recommend starting with the books in this series!
April 8, 2024
This one was an interesting one. It's a historical western, and now I want to go back and read the first one. Morgan McBride was burdened by responsibility younger than he wanted, but stayed home rather than on the trail like he had been.
Pip is someone who doesn't see her worth. She has had a string of narrow minded people who made her feel small despite her tall, curvy figure.
These two were the perfect storm of needing each other, and wanting each other. They have a combative kind of chemistry, because they are both stubborn.
The writing was amazing, and I absolutely enjoyed myself here.
Pip is someone who doesn't see her worth. She has had a string of narrow minded people who made her feel small despite her tall, curvy figure.
These two were the perfect storm of needing each other, and wanting each other. They have a combative kind of chemistry, because they are both stubborn.
The writing was amazing, and I absolutely enjoyed myself here.
June 6, 2023
I'm finished and pissed off I spent this much money on a shit book.
August 29, 2024
Better than the first. Pacing issues resolved.
June 7, 2023
Set in Buck’s Creek, Montana in the 1880s, Marrying Off Morgan McBride is the second installment in Amy Barry’s The McBrides of Montana series, a historical romance series that focuses on the four McBride brothers finding love. There’s just one catch to that – none of the brothers are actively looking for wives. Junebug, their 14-year old sister, has decided she’s tired of being the one to do all of the cooking and cleaning and so she gets the idea that if she secretly sends out advertisements for mail order brides, then maybe she’ll get lucky and her brothers will get married and then she’ll have some help around the house!
This series is such a good time! It might be a historical romance, but Junebug is definitely the star of the show and it is hilarious to watch her pull the strings and orchestrate everything that happens between her brothers and their potential love interests. Junebug’s shenanigans had me chuckling all the way through the first two books in the series. I especially love how she writes these advertisements making her brothers sound like the absolute worst, that way any prospective wife will be pleasantly surprised when she actually comes to Buck’s Creek to meet them.
In this second book in the series, Junebug sets her sights on marrying off her gruff, oldest brother, Morgan. Junebug adores Morgan because since their mom died and their dad ran off years ago, Morgan has been like a father to Junebug. Junebug knows that Morgan is dying to hit the trail and get back to his life as a cowboy and is hoping to secretly find him a wife so that he won’t leave her. And it wouldn’t hurt if this wife happened to be a good cook and an even better baker of pies, haha.
I really enjoyed all the characters in this book. It was fun to see all of the quirky townsfolk again, and I especially love Pip, the woman who answers Junebug’s ad. All her life Pip has been led to believe that she’s not pretty enough or feminine enough to land a husband and had just about given up hope until she saw Junebug’s ad and its cooking requirements. Pip may not be a lot of things, but she is a fabulous cook so this gives her the confidence to head to Buck’s Creek and a new life. I loved watching Pip strike out on her own in search of happiness rather than just let herself be confined to spinsterhood and taking care of her parents who clearly don’t appreciate her. Pip’s chaperone on this trip, Granny Colfax, is also a hoot who could give Junebug a run for her money in the shenanigans department.
There’s obviously a romance as well, and it’s a slow burn one. I really enjoyed watching Pip and Morgan get to know one another. Morgan is pretty determined to send her away so as to discourage Junebug from continuing with her matchmaking antics, but he has to admit that Pip gets under his skin from the moment he laid eyes on her. I liked how Pip was able to get past Morgan’s gruff exterior to reveal the big hearted man beneath. She gets him to open up about emotions he has kept bottled up for years so as not to worry his siblings, namely the guilt and sense of failure he feels regarding his mother’s death.
If you enjoy historical romance with a hefty side of laugh out loud humor, be sure to check out this series. You won’t be disappointed.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
This series is such a good time! It might be a historical romance, but Junebug is definitely the star of the show and it is hilarious to watch her pull the strings and orchestrate everything that happens between her brothers and their potential love interests. Junebug’s shenanigans had me chuckling all the way through the first two books in the series. I especially love how she writes these advertisements making her brothers sound like the absolute worst, that way any prospective wife will be pleasantly surprised when she actually comes to Buck’s Creek to meet them.
In this second book in the series, Junebug sets her sights on marrying off her gruff, oldest brother, Morgan. Junebug adores Morgan because since their mom died and their dad ran off years ago, Morgan has been like a father to Junebug. Junebug knows that Morgan is dying to hit the trail and get back to his life as a cowboy and is hoping to secretly find him a wife so that he won’t leave her. And it wouldn’t hurt if this wife happened to be a good cook and an even better baker of pies, haha.
I really enjoyed all the characters in this book. It was fun to see all of the quirky townsfolk again, and I especially love Pip, the woman who answers Junebug’s ad. All her life Pip has been led to believe that she’s not pretty enough or feminine enough to land a husband and had just about given up hope until she saw Junebug’s ad and its cooking requirements. Pip may not be a lot of things, but she is a fabulous cook so this gives her the confidence to head to Buck’s Creek and a new life. I loved watching Pip strike out on her own in search of happiness rather than just let herself be confined to spinsterhood and taking care of her parents who clearly don’t appreciate her. Pip’s chaperone on this trip, Granny Colfax, is also a hoot who could give Junebug a run for her money in the shenanigans department.
There’s obviously a romance as well, and it’s a slow burn one. I really enjoyed watching Pip and Morgan get to know one another. Morgan is pretty determined to send her away so as to discourage Junebug from continuing with her matchmaking antics, but he has to admit that Pip gets under his skin from the moment he laid eyes on her. I liked how Pip was able to get past Morgan’s gruff exterior to reveal the big hearted man beneath. She gets him to open up about emotions he has kept bottled up for years so as not to worry his siblings, namely the guilt and sense of failure he feels regarding his mother’s death.
If you enjoy historical romance with a hefty side of laugh out loud humor, be sure to check out this series. You won’t be disappointed.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2023
Morgan McBride had to give up his life as a cowboy in Texas when he returned to the family homestead in Montana only to find his deadbeat father gone and his mother near death. Since then, he’s been occupied with making sure his younger brothers and sisters made it through childhood. Now that they’re grown and starting to settle down, though, he’s eager to return to the life he left behind. His sister Junebug has different plans - and her plan is named Ephiphany Hopgood, the mail-order bride she procured for her cranky but beloved older brother. Both Morgan and Pip are determined to forge their own paths in life: can the two of them find a way forward together?
I think this series is so fun. All the characters feel very funny and real, and after the last book I was very excited to see grumpy Morgan get married off. Between the first installment and this one, the pacing has absolutely improved, and we thankfully get to see the couple on page together more. But I still feel like this series could be improved by more proximity between the couple and maybe a little less Junebug. I’m really excited for it to continue, and I can’t wait to see who Beau ends up with!
Thank you Berkley and Edelweiss for the ARC.
I think this series is so fun. All the characters feel very funny and real, and after the last book I was very excited to see grumpy Morgan get married off. Between the first installment and this one, the pacing has absolutely improved, and we thankfully get to see the couple on page together more. But I still feel like this series could be improved by more proximity between the couple and maybe a little less Junebug. I’m really excited for it to continue, and I can’t wait to see who Beau ends up with!
Thank you Berkley and Edelweiss for the ARC.
June 5, 2023
Not as good as Kit overall but Morgan IS my favorite McBride and he had a lot to figure out
December 4, 2023
Yeehaw! I’m a big fan of the McBride series, frankly. Barry writes super fun characters and intensely beautiful settings that are bound to leave you laughing and wistful for the rural fields of Montana — so obviously, I was more than ready to return to Buck’s Creek for round 2 with Morgan.
Alas, unavoidably, I ended up comparing a lot of this book with Kit from Book 1, who I absolutely was and still am in love with. Junebug was stronger in her antics this time compared to before (which I irritated me a bit in the beginning but I warmed up to), and we get to see a lot more of her relationship with Morgan, which I liked. Unlike Maddy, Pip is a little more assertive, and Granny was SUCH a fun sidekick to help validate Pip’s body insecurity and get the ball rolling.
However, I feel strange about the romance here. One thing that’s great about Kit’s romance is while it is a slow burn and lacks steam, it feels genuine, real, and reciprocated on both sides. Pip and Morgan feel like they’re both in it for their own pride rather than actual appreciation for each other, and while I can believe Pip’s fondness for Morgan as time passes (aka 2 days?), Morgan’s lust is juvenile and underdeveloped. He only talks about her figure and how he can’t stop thinking about her figure or how he keeps dreaming of her… figure. I love Morgan, don’t get me wrong. The pressure he faced as the caretaker of his family and his guilt over chasing his freedom felt well-fleshed. But romantically? Yikes.
But bonus points for actual spice. Love a good cowboy who knows how to ride.
Alas, unavoidably, I ended up comparing a lot of this book with Kit from Book 1, who I absolutely was and still am in love with. Junebug was stronger in her antics this time compared to before (which I irritated me a bit in the beginning but I warmed up to), and we get to see a lot more of her relationship with Morgan, which I liked. Unlike Maddy, Pip is a little more assertive, and Granny was SUCH a fun sidekick to help validate Pip’s body insecurity and get the ball rolling.
However, I feel strange about the romance here. One thing that’s great about Kit’s romance is while it is a slow burn and lacks steam, it feels genuine, real, and reciprocated on both sides. Pip and Morgan feel like they’re both in it for their own pride rather than actual appreciation for each other, and while I can believe Pip’s fondness for Morgan as time passes (aka 2 days?), Morgan’s lust is juvenile and underdeveloped. He only talks about her figure and how he can’t stop thinking about her figure or how he keeps dreaming of her… figure. I love Morgan, don’t get me wrong. The pressure he faced as the caretaker of his family and his guilt over chasing his freedom felt well-fleshed. But romantically? Yikes.
But bonus points for actual spice. Love a good cowboy who knows how to ride.
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