REVIEW: In Want of a Wife by Jo Goodman

In Want of a Wife by Jo Goodman: I haven’t read a historical Western romance for quite sometime, so Jo Goodman’s In Want of A Wife was a refreshing change. I haven’t read a book from Jo Goodman before, and I was impressed by the quality of the story!

Jane Middlebourne is a mail-order bride, fleeing from a loveless family situation. She is pretty and delicate looking, and when her groom-to-be meets her at the Bitter Springs, Wyoming train station he’s unsure of her…Jane’s unkindly cousin changed her picture and he was expecting a much sturdier girl. Morgan Longstreet is a rancher with a shady past but big dreams for the future, and he needs a wife who is helpmeet as well as a hardworking ranch helper. Jane convinces Morgan that she can handle the work, that she hasn’t been raised as a pampered Easterner. She’s an excellent cook, can work a cranky wood-burning stove, wins over the ranch hands, and gradually wins over Morgan also. Since they do not know each other, they start off sleeping in separate bedrooms, but after Morgan is injured by a mustang he is breaking, they slowly get comfortable with each other and share a bed. Because Morgan is one of those taciturn Westerners, he’s not much for words, but those few words are very meaningful.

Curling his fingers around her wrist, he drew her hand to his mouth. He kissed the heart of her palm. He heard her take a sweet sip of air.
She asked, “Shall we go to bed, Mr. Longstreet?”
Morgan folded her hand in both of his and lowered it to his lap. “I think we should, Mrs. Longstreet. I really think we should.”
Jane’s eyes widened ever so slightly. “That’s your biology.” she said.

Jane has come out West with a few secrets, but not as many as Morgan, and not any secrets that could result in everyone being killed. Unlike Morgan, who had a very difficult childhood, a dreadful adolescence and a not so great young adulthood. Quite frankly, it’s amazing he’s as well adjusted as he appears to be. Much of that is due to the care he received at the hands of Ida Mae Sterling, the owner of the local hotel, and her late husband. An important side character, Ida Sterling helps everything along by helping provide motivation and color.

I liked that the characters were all well rounded individuals and that they remained consistent throughout. Jane is hardworking, steadfast, loyal and modest, but with a temper and a snappy tongue; she never lets anyone take advantage of her. Morgan is brave, protective, and very much how I would expect a 1890’s rancher would act like: he holds his emotions inside, but means what he says when gets around to saying things. The romance between the two of them seems real and uncontrived; they start out as emotionally scarred near strangers who through time and work grow to love each other. When they finally do sleep together it’s properly steamy, but full of bits of Victorian modesty that one can imagine actually existed; Morgan goes to bed in his union suit, and she is wearing her shift. Simple details like that can bring a great deal of realism to a scene.

The four ranch hands are great background characters, who add to the story and, in a way, soften up Morgan’s rough edges, despite being rough and tough characters themselves. There are “bad guys,” and as one would expect from a Western, they are very bad, properly menacing and well written. The town of Bitter Springs, the townsfolk, the sheriff and his wife all add to the overall authentic atmosphere. The best background characters however are the two preteen brothers, Finn and Rabbit, who are woven throughout as gofers and comic relief. The dialogue is excellent and clever, and I enjoyed Jo Goodman’s use of period language such as “biscuit shooters” for wait staff. Little word gems like that are scattered throughout and I found them highly enjoyable.

I recommend this book. Not only is it a great read, but it’s a nice change for historical romance readers, where the overwhelming majority of recent releases are based in England or Europe.

Book Info:

Published May 6th 2014 by Berkley

She has nowhere left to turn…

Jane Middlebourne needs a way out. In 1891, life in New York is unforgiving for a young woman with no prospects, especially when her family wants nothing to do with her. So when Jane discovers an ad for a mail-order bride needed in Bitter Springs, Wyoming, she responds with a hopeful heart.

He has everything to lose…

Rancher Morgan Longstreet is in want of a wife who will be his partner at Morning Star, someone who will work beside him and stand by him. His first impression of the fair and fragile Jane is that she is not that woman. But when she sets out to prove him wrong, the secrets he cannot share put into jeopardy every happiness they hope to find….