Victoria: Bride of Kansas

American Mail-Order Brides Series, Book 34

By: E.E. Burke

Narrated by: Liisa Ivary

Victoria Lowell grew up in the privileged world of the Boston Brahmins. She had everything she could want...except love. After being jilted, the society miss travels a thousand miles to marry a man she's never met whose romantic letters won her heart. To her surprise, and dismay, the groom who meets her at the train station exhibits little interest in romance.

David O'Brien, a divorced shopkeeper of Irish descent, wants nothing to do with matters of the heart. But his young daughter needs a mother and his meddling sister believes she's done him a favor by corresponding with a mail-order bride. Impressed by Victoria, he holds off on revealing the true author of the letters she received and sets a date for their marriage. Love isn't part of the bargain, as far as he's concerned. But love is what Victoria has come this far to find.

When the truth finally comes out, it will take more than a miracle to deliver a happily-ever-after.

©2015 E.E. Burke (P)2016 E.E. Burke

wonderful

Where does Victoria: Bride of Kansas rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I will listen to this book many more times

What other book might you compare Victoria: Bride of Kansas to and why?

Roberta Bride of Wisconsin because they both had to deal with stubborn men and step children

Which character – as performed by Liisa Ivary – was your favorite?

Victoria she made her come to life

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes I did tear up a few times

WONDERFUL WONDERFUL!!!

What did you love best about Victoria: Bride of Kansas?

That both of main characters found such a sweet true after both had been hurt so badly before.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Of course Victoria. I love how she didn't care anything about the wealth and privilege she left behind. Also loved how she wanted to help others by giving anything of value she had to others to help them. Especially how she gave Fannie the doll so unselfishly that was a beloved treasure of hers from her late Mother.

Which character – as performed by Liisa Ivary – was your favorite?

I liked how she preformed sweet little Fannie.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed and cried this definitely a sweet wonderful endearing story.

Any additional comments?

A first for me by EE Burke but definitely not my last!! I also will be purchasing a printed copy for my keeper bookshelf

What a lovely Christmas story.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to my first audio book. I am so glad I choose Victoria: Bride of Kansas. The writting by E.E Bruke was delightful as all her stories are. I found this story sweet, i enjoyed how Victoria interaction with her step daughter. It brought tears to my eyes. I only wish the story was longer... but, that's how I feel with every well written story.


I must admit I did not think I would be able to get into a audio book but the narration by Liisa Ivary drew me into the story so quickly I forgot right away that I was listening to a book and not reading it for myself! I was drawn to her different vocalizations of each character. I was able to quickly fold laundry towards the end of the story without even being aware of doing something that causes my body so much pain. So I sincerely thank both E.E. Burke and Liisa Ivary for distracting my mind so my disabled body could push threw something that causes great pain for me!

A wonderful read of two people who lost love comin

This was a sweet read of two people who lost out on love both looking for something they never had. Victoria who was jilted weeks before her wedding is trying to outrun the embarrassment along with marrying a man her father picked out for her. David's wife left him with a small child and his sister is about to leave him as well to start a new career. He doesn't want a wife but his sister sees things differently. It is a tangled mess on the day his sister tells him he has but hours to learn about his new bride and to pick her up. He finds his self in a mess planning on sending her packing until he meets her. Things start getting interesting as he tries to hide he wasn't the one writing to her. This author will keep you smiling throughout this wonderful read as she breaks your heart with the story of Fannie. Such a wonderful delightful little girl with so much sorrow and pain.

Victoria stole my heart from the start with her caring loving ways. She pulls Fannie out of her shell and gets her to communicate almost from the start. David is a little bullhead but Victoria has was to bring out the best in him making him start to believe he could have a life with her. She is taken back to find he is different than his letters shows him to be. It doesn't take him long to take her heart as she falls in love with the family who is broken.

David might be a little on the cold side but he hasn't any trouble showing the love he has for his family. He is a broken man who is afraid to love again. He doesn't feel he needs a wife but does admit his daughter could use a mother. Is it worth it to only find another woman will walk away from them? He must overcome some major issues before he can truly open his heart and soul to start over and bring happiness to his family.

Victoria, Bride of Kansas is part of the 50-book series, American Mail-order Brides where you can read about 50 brides who travel hundreds of miles in hopes of finding the man of their dreams, some getting out of a tight situation. Each author brings you a compelling sweet clean read that will make you want to read the next in the series. Once you read Victoria be sure and pick up Santa's Mail-Order Bride by Ms. Burke's which tells the story of David's sister Maggie and catch up on how David and Victoria are doing.

This author gives you such wonderful characters from the daring Fannie who hasn't spoken since her mother left to Maggie David's sister. Both are wonderful loving people who take over your heart making you wish you could have truly met them. These characters become real to you as you wish you could travel back in time to this small town so you can find out what life was like back then.


The narrator did an outstanding job. I loved her character voices, I always knew who was talking and what they were feeling. There are no background noise, no repeating of words, and no volume changes. Her normal voice is very pleasant, I could listen to it all day. She really brought the story to life giving true emotions make you feel what each character is going through. It was truly a lovely listen.

This was a wonderfully well written story that will touch your heart. So much pain and sorrow to overcome. Adults learning to trust again along with a small child who must learn to trust that people will stand beside her caring and loving her. It was a pleasure watching this family overcome their issues to find their HAE. I know when I pick up one of E.E. Burke's book she will bring me a compelling story of long ago with outstanding romance that is a refreshing read that will bring a smile to my face and my soul. This is one author I highly recommend you try I am sure you will come to love her writing style as much as I do.

Heartwarming!

Where does Victoria: Bride of Kansas rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Victoria and David's story is a heartwarming mail order bride historical romance that I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend to other fans of this genre. E.E. Burke brings the past alive with a delightful Christmas story that will touch your heart and will bring together three lonely people who are longing for what we all want most. To love and be loved.

What did you like best about this story?

I was delighted by the tender relationship between Victoria and Fanny, a six year old child who hasn't spoken one word since her mother ran away and abandoned her and her father two years ago. Victoria is very patient with Fanny and child and father are healed by her gentle spirit.

What about Liisa Ivary’s performance did you like?

I thought Liisa did an amazing job portraying all of the characters in the story while she interpreted their emotional vulnerabilities with the different inflections of her voice. It was easy to follow the story and I found myself focusing on every descriptive word she spoke. As a reader I tend to miss some of the small details in my haste to follow the story and listening to the spoken word allowed me to enjoy every single syllable.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes! I listened during a four hour car ride and it was entertaining and relaxing at the same time. I can't think of a better way to travel.

Any additional comments?

I'm so happy that I discovered how enjoyable audio books can be and I think everyone should try them.

Feels like home

I was thrilled to see this book is set in Ft Scott, Kansas! My mom, grandparents, uncles, and many cousins grew up here. I wish they'd talked a little about this quaint little town, but the stores in this book made me smile, remembering how many times I walked down Main Street to the shops. The narrator did a good job telling this story. This was a sweet book.

Love can overcome secrets

I loved this book of longing, misunderstanding, dashed dreams, secrets, hope, love and forgiveness. It was a book of strong emotion and characters! E.E. has done it again!

Victoria is running from her life circumstances. David is running from his past. Both are longing for a new life of love and opportunities. Throw in a meddling, yet well-meaning sister and a daughter who will not speak and you have a wonderful story full of emotion, conflict, and longing for acceptance and love!

Tender, Loving Story!

once again I must give credit to the narrator of this audio book. Liisa Lvary did a wonderful job reading the story to me. Liisa was very expressive in using different voices for each character in the story.

Victoria was such a brave young woman to travel over one thousand miles to marry a man she only knew through letters.

David was in shock to find out his sister Maggie sent for a mail order bride for him, how did that work out? What would his daughter, Frannie think of This?

David and Victoria talked about handfasting, what was it? Could they learn to love one another?

My recommendation is that you need to get the book and read it for yourself or get the audio book and let Liisa read it to you. I'm quite sure you will enjoy this book as much as I have.