About the Book:
Title: Kit McBride Gets a Wife
Author: Amy Barry
Series: Buck’s Creek #1
Page Length: 352
Publication Date: Aug. 23, 2022
Publisher: Berkley Books
Synopsis: The four McBride brothers have their worlds turned upside down when their precocious younger sister secretly places an advertisement for a mail-order bride.
Kit McBride knows that Buck’s Creek, Montana, is no place to find a wife. Between him and his three brothers–plus little Junebug–they manage all right on their own, thank you very much. But unbeknownst to Kit, his sister is sick to death of cleaning, cooking, and mending for her big brothers, so she places an ad in The Matrimonial News to get them hitched.
After Maddy Mooney emigrated from Ireland, she found employment with an eccentric but poor widow. When her mistress decides to answer an ad for a mail-order bride, Maddy is dragged along for the ride to Montana. But en route to the West, Maddy is suddenly abandoned and left to assume the widow’s name, position, and matrimonial prospects….
With no other recourse in the wilderness, Maddy must convince Kit not only is she who she says she is, but she’s the wife he never knew he needed.
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My Review:
Kit McBride Gets a Wife is a super cute historical romance and a fabulous start to Amy Barry’s Buck’s Creek series! Junebug McBride, a fourteen-year-old being raised by her four older brothers, is sick of handling all of the chores on her family’s homestead. So, she puts an ad in the paper for a mail-order bride for her older brother in the hopes that she will take over much of the cooking, cleaning, and mending. When Maddie’s employer answers Junebug’s ad, Maddie travels with her to Montana to meet Kit McBride. When Maddie is abandoned by her employer, Junebug convinces her to assume her employer’s identity.
Junebug is absolutely hysterical, and she definitely steals the show in many scenes! Equal parts wise and naïve, she’s cunning, impetuous, outspoken, and completely incorrigible. I just adore her! She’s such a spitfire, and some of her antics and conversations are laugh-out-loud funny. Oh my gosh, the ad she puts in the paper about Kit is the best!! I also love how, though she frustrates them, she has all of the men wrapped around her finger. It’s endearing and says a lot about how much her brothers and the other people in town love and appreciate her despite, or perhaps because of, her shenanigans.
The McBride family is the focus of the story, and they’re a fun group! I love their banter and teasing, their easy way with each other, and how much they have each other’s backs. They are a unit, and though they try to act tough, they are all such cinnamon rolls. This story focuses on Kit, and he’s a dreamboat! Quiet, strong, sensitive, and thoughtful, he’s also gorgeous and protective. He loves reading and collecting books, and he has some sneaky ways of getting Junebug to work on her reading, writing, and vocabulary. He’s a great brother, father figure, and friend, and I enjoyed watching him fall head-over-heels in love with Maddie.
Maddie is another wonderful and layered character. Her life has not been easy, and it only seems to be getting worse when she’s abandoned by her mistress in Montana. But Maddie is resilient, even when confronted with a frightening situation, an injury, new people and lands, and more. Her relationship with Junebug is delightful, and they quickly form a unique bond, which is super endearing. Of course, it’s no shock that my favorite relationship in the story is the romance between Maddie and Kit. Sa-woon!
I was surprised that Maddie and Kit’s love story didn’t really start until halfway through the book, but it was totally worth the wait. They have great chemistry, and their budding relationship includes a bunch of tropes I love, especially forced proximity, stuck in a snow storm, mistaken identity, and more. Kit is so taken by Maddy from their first meeting, and he is so awkward and tongue-tied around her, which is super cute.
This is such a fun story, and I can’t wait to continue the series. I’m eager to learn more about the other McBride brothers, as well as many of the other dynamic secondary characters introduced in the book. This is a great read for people who enjoy fun historical romances with layered characters, a sweet love story, and some wonderful messages about family, love, and more. Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The humor.
- The romance.
- Junebug!
Favorite Lines:
Kit was like a raincloud on a sunny day; he ruined all her fun.
I never did see the point of crying when you can pitch a fit instead. Swearing feels a hell of a lot more powerful than weeping does.
He looked like a pirate before he shaved; afterward, like…Maddy didn’t know, but whatever it was, it was glorious.
Glad you enjoyed this one! The sister was definitely a great addition.