The Hand-Me-Down Bride: When Arabella finds out that her fiancé has married another will she find happiness with Stewart? A predictable love story. Charles is a total jerk. Sally deserves better.

The Bride Wore Britches: it had a nice "The Gift of the Magi" near the end.

Something Borrowed, Something True: actually a very cute funny story. ( )

Received this from a Goodreads giveaway from author Lisa Plumley.

I hadn't read anything from these authors yet, so had no idea what kind of stories or talent to expect. This was very uneven; even more so than many of the short story collections I had recently read.

I'll start with the last story (as the author who wrote it sent me the book!). This one was very enjoyable. She notes that the story is set within a wider universe she had created and I was intrigued and amused enought to want to pick up one of the longer tales. Although this was a short story, the characters were fun and believable it was well written.

Now to the other two stories which, sadly, weren't nearly as good. The first story in the collection, from Elizabeth Lane, was simply a writing exercise. As though somebody gave her the premise, said "write this into a story" and that's just what she did. Nothing interesting, different, or even that great about the first one. It honestly seemed like it was written as a half-hearted effort for a short story writing class.

The second story had great potential. Kate Welsh had the beginnings of something interesting, but I got the impression that she was writing a longer book but lost interest or wrote herself into a corner or something and when an editor came looking for a short story she chopped up her longer book and sent this in. It felt very incomplete. A mystery that isn't solved, bag guys that aren't dealt with, and a relationship issue that is much too easily resolved. ( )

The spirit of the Old West is alive and kicking in a historical western romance anthology featuring three touching and entertaining stories from a trio of terrific authors! "Weddings Under a Western Sky" begins with "The Hand-Me-Down Bride" by author Elizabeth Lane. When Arabella Spencer traveled West for her wedding, she expected to have her stagecoach met by her longtime fiance, Charles Middleton. Instead of her sweetheart, she is grudgingly collected by Charles' gruff neighbor, Stewart McIntyre. The trip to Charles' home is unpleasant and eventful, but the biggest surprise awaits when Arabella is unceremoniously dumped at the doorstep. Charles answers the door along with his very pregnant, young new wife! Even more humiliating is the news that Charles' wife is Stewart's sister! Arabella's world is rocked to the very foundation, and she must decide what to do with the rest of her life. A fiery, mutual attraction grows between Stewart and Arabella, but are their differences too great to allow a lasting relationship? As they spend more time together, they discover that each has unexpected and intriguing depths of character. Could it be that those very differences make all the difference as two opposites truly attract? Author Kate Welsh offers "The Bride Who Wore Britches", in which Rhiannon Oliver, who has spent most of her life dressed as boy, longs to give in to her feminine tendencies. Rhia knows just the man she wants to bring out her womanly side--her best friend's older brother Dylan Varga. Since Dylan looks at Rhia like she's a tomboy, and he calls her "Rowdy", she very much wants him to be aware that she is a female. When she dons a beautiful blue dress and becomes the belle of the ball at a local dance, Dylan sees Rhia in a whole new light. However, a ruthless attack on Rhia's homeplace creates circumstances which force them into marriage. Passion flares before hearts can catch up, and the relationship faces many unexpected turns in the trail to true happiness. Rhia and Dylan both have some growing up to do in order to allow their marriage to grow to full bloom. In "Something Borrowed, Something True", author Lisa Plumley proves that where hearts are concerned, the best made plans often go awry. Everett Bannon's well-meaning ranch hands order their boss a "mail-order" bride. Everett just hasn't been the same since he was jilted by his first fiance, and his loyal employees want their boss to be happy. However, Everett plans to send his intended bride back where she came from. His attentions are soon forgotten after he gets one look at the lovely Miss Nellie Trent. After a while, Everett begins to court Nellie, trying to be the man she thinks he wants, not knowing that she is smitten with him just as he really is. Nellie has an agenda of her own. She is actually an undercover reporter bent on exposing mail-order bride operations as fraudulent criminal groups who prey on lonely hearts. A comedy of errors ensues, with Nellie and Everett both acting outside their true character to impress each other. Will coming clean with one another wash away any hope of a real romance, or will the wise and wily ranch hands have known what was best all along? "Weddings Under a Western Sky" is a delicious treat for fans of historical western romance--just like me!

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