How to Find a Wife in the Wild West–even if it was mostly tame.

I have a new series being released over the next few months: Montana Mail-Order Brides.

In the west there were lots of men but few women and most of the latter were married. Men in all walks of life wanted to build homes in the new land, but without a wife, their homes were lonely bachelor shacks. Some of these men wrote back home to friends and family seeking a young woman willing to move west and marry them. Those without friends and family to appeal to, advertised in eastern newspapers and would begin correspondence with a suitable candidate.

Women answering these ads weren’t finding spouses at home or were wanting to leave home for some reason such as strict parents, a scandal or simply wanting adventure.

Many of these marriages went well especially if each party had been honest in how they presented themselves. But of course, there were others that went badly.

Enterprising individuals or those with a concern for proper representation of each party became involved in arranging these marriages. At least one organization arranged to bring prospective wives via ship to California. Unfortunately, these plans often went awry.

In my upcoming series, you will meet the four Shannon brothers on their ranch in western Montana plus men who worked with them. You will laugh and cry at the situations these men found themselves in when the woman they brought west to marry didn’t turn out quite the way they expected.

You can begin the series with Montana Mail-Order Bride Mommy which release Jan. 4, 2023 and is available for preorder now.