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In Need of a Good Wife Audiobook
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(3.05) - 321 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
A sweeping historical audio of 19th century America about a group of unforgettable women who seek to remake their destinies. After Clara Bixby is abandoned by her husband and fired from her job in a New York City tavern, she has nowhere to turn. Though the Civil War has ended, life remains uncertain, especially for single women. But when she reads about Destination, Nebraska--a town populated entirely by bachelors--Clara sees a golden business opportunity. She contacts the mayor with a solution: she will match single women in New York City with homesteading bachelors and bring the brides by rail across the wild frontier. This group of women--who range from an upper-class war widow to a Bavarian immigrant--embark with Clara on an epic journey across America in search of security, a new life, and the possibility of love.
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"In Need of a Good Wife is the story of three women that unfolds beautifully, smoothly and eloquently. The three women find themselves in circumstances they could never have imagined making decisions equally difficult to fathom. Set in the 1800s from New York City to Nebraska, McNess sets a sweeping backdrop of the culture, physical difficulties and grand beauty of the times. The story is told through the three main characters, which lends a richness and diverse viewpoint of life. It was a difficult book to put down."
— Lisa (5 out of 5 stars)
In Need of a Good Wife Listener Reviews
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" It's a 3.5. The setting of this novel in a rough town of Nebraska was really interesting. It's crazy that "mail-order" brides really happened. It's fascinating to read how some marriages worked and yet others crumbled. It was fiction, but there was a lot truth to these characters. "
— Becky, 2/14/2014 -
" Kelly O'Connor McNees drew me in with her skillful storytelling and fully-fledged characters, plus, her descriptions of New York and the American West (post-Civil War) were excellent. Carla Bixby and all the women who (bravely and blindly) dared to embark on a life-altering journey kept me captivated from beginning to end. "
— Beth, 2/12/2014 -
" Three and a half stars. Overall good story but I would have liked more depth into each characters outcome. "
— Laurice, 1/1/2014 -
" Just fantastic! "
— Chelsea, 12/31/2013 -
" It was interesting and kept me reading but I was unsatisfied at the end. I guess I was hoping for more history. It was too "packaged" and predictable at the end. "
— Debbie, 12/27/2013 -
" Great book about a time period I have not read much about. I was afraid at the beginning that I would not like any of the characters, but almost all of them quickly grew on me. Can't wait until McNees has another book out! "
— Laura, 12/12/2013 -
" Entertaining, readable historical fiction (but more than a little predictable & not all that memorable) "
— Sarah, 12/7/2013 -
" Great tale of the migration to the wild west. Cool historical references to early Manhattan. "
— Leslie, 12/4/2013 -
" This is not great literature by any means but since I knew that going in, I wasn't disappointed. Nothing life changing or unique but enjoyable so it served its purpose for the time being. "
— Psalm, 12/3/2013 -
" Beautifully written and rich in detail. In Need of A Good Wife drew me in and kept me reading into the wee hours of the night. "
— Lori, 11/29/2013 -
" Pretty good although it is not really my kind of book. Book club continues to get me to read things I wouldn't otherwise choose and that is a great thing. "
— Vicky, 9/22/2013 -
" In Need of a Good Wife has heartbreak, hope and ambition. The story focuses on three particular women with different upbringings and fates. I found the book was written flawlessly. "
— Ilona, 8/20/2013 -
" Review to come. Very surprised by this one! "
— Amanda, 8/14/2013 -
" Predictable. A book I would recommend to people who want a comfort, 'non-thinking' historical read. I finished it and it fit the mood I was in when I read it. "
— Alissa, 8/14/2013 -
" This was a very enjoyable read. Fascinating story and characters. I couldn't believe how quickly I read through this book. "
— Jen, 5/23/2013 -
" The three main characters all have dimension. The story is intriguing. The ending is satisfying without being predictable. "
— Eden, 2/20/2013 -
" Just fair. The character plots resolved very quickly after a ling build up. "
— Janice, 2/19/2013 -
" 3.5 stars. An interesting story. Jerked a few tears out of me here and there. "
— Dianna, 2/4/2013 -
" A good story but a little too much reference to God for my taste otherwise it would have been a 5. Really liked the characters and would love to see a sequel about Clara and the rest of the women in Destination Nebraska. "
— Terry, 1/30/2013 -
" Fast easy reading--couldn't put it down. "
— Shirley, 11/21/2012
About Kelly O’Connor McNees
Kelly O’Connor McNees is the author of two novels, The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott and In Need of a Good Wife. Born and raised in Michigan, she received her first rejection letter in tenth grade, from the fiction editor at Seventeen, and has been writing her way back ever since. In the meantime, she has worked as a teacher and editor, and lives with her husband and daughter in Chicago.
About Kirsten Potter
Kirsten Potter has won several awards, including more than a dozen AudioFile Earphones Awards and been a three-time finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. Her work has been recognized by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts and by AudioFile magazine, among many others. She graduated with highest honors from Boston University and has performed on stage and in film and television, including roles on Medium, Bones, and Judging Amy.