"What happens when a woman who answers a mail-order bride notice, arrives in Colorado to discover it was all a lie?"
Rosie Stanton climbed on a
west-bound train to answer his ad for a wife and mother, everything she
wants to be. But Tom Harris lied. He doesn’t want a wife, merely a
mother for his two abandoned children and a cook and cleaner for his
ranch.
Betrayed once, he’s vowed
never to let another woman into his heart. Sexy Rosie upsets all his
plans and threatens to invade his scarred heart. How will he maintain
his vow to keep his hands off her as she charms his children, his cow
hands, his life?
An Excerpt
Rosemary Stanton stood on the train platform
sweating and waiting. Sweating because it was an especially hot day in
late June. Waiting for her husband. A husband she wouldn’t recognize
if he were standing right next to her.
She’d been desperate when she answered the
advertisement for a mail order bride. Wanted: Single woman to cook,
clean, and care for children on a cattle ranch in southwestern
Colorado. Will marry upon arrival.
Well, she was twenty-six with no prospects. Her
brother just got married and his new wife, Beatrice, didn’t want Rosie
around. She could answer this advertisement or become a governess.
Help someone else’s children grow up into adults. Live in someone
else’s house. For the rest of her life, she’d have nothing she could
call her own.
Rosie wanted a home. She wanted a husband and
children. All the things she’d never have if she stayed in
Philadelphia. When she’d seen the ad in the morning paper, she’d nearly
shouted with glee. However, she managed to restrain herself until she
got to her room before she yelled with joy. The advertisement was
tailor-made for her needs. It got her away from Beatrice and got her
her own home all in one fell swoop.
Her brother, Robert, though was not happy with the
idea of his baby sister traveling across the country to marry a
stranger. He grudgingly agreed to give her her dowry to take with her.
Five thousand dollars. She’d take the draft to the bank as soon as she
arrived in Creede, Colorado, and married Mr. Thomas Harris. Cattle
rancher. It was her “in case it doesn’t work out” money. Though she
supposed it would belong to her husband once she married. Perhaps she
just wouldn’t tell him about it. Her conscience spoke up. That’s no
way to start a marriage. With lies and secrets. Oh, all right. She’d
tell him and have him take her to the bank. But not until after she’d
taken his measure. If he was a cruel man, she would leave and she sure
as heck wouldn’t tell him about her money.
Even with the dowry, there’d been few prospects
for Rosie back in Philadelphia. She wasn’t pretty in the conventional
sense. She thought her face with its big brown eyes and full lips was
pleasing enough, but men apparently hadn’t. Her one beau had said her
eyes were the color of warm brandy. That was before he left her to
marry another more suitable woman. More suitable, hah! Richer was more
like it.
Paul had expensive tastes and married a
rabbit-faced girl, heir to a substantial fortune to which he’d have
access. Well, good luck and good riddance.
Rosie did have one feature she’d been told was
extraordinary. Her hair. It was waist length, wavy and a clear, golden
blonde. Right now, standing on the train platform in Creede it was
bound up in a loose bun on top of her head under her hat. It, like the
rest of her, was covered in dust and soot from the train. She’d
discovered on the second day that she could minimize the grime by
sitting in the front of the car with the window closed. But sooner or
later the heat and mugginess of the car would force her to open the
window. The air came rushing in, cooling her, but bringing with it the
dirt and ash from the train’s boilers.
On the long trip, she’d told herself again and again she’d made the right decision. This was her future.
The Giveaway
The author is giving away a copy of "Tame a Wild Bride" and a $5 Starbucks Gift Card at each tour stop! Comment for a chance to win!
A Reader's Opinion
What happens when a woman who answers a mail-order bride notice, arrives in Colorado to discover it was all a lie? Cynthia Woolf has her own unique writing style. Simple and straight-forward, you always know what the characters are thinking and the direction they're going. Rosie knows exactly what she wants, but when she finds out she may never have it, she becomes a bit perturbed with Tom, but is true to her word and vows to stay with him.
Tom wasn't very likeable at first. I wanted to hit him upside the head for his gruff ways, but he had his reasons and the reader will soon find those out. Rosie is tough, strong, and ready to work hard, and Tom soon realizes that he got the better of end of the arrangement and does what he has to do in order to make up for his initial handling of the situation.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy a simple and fun western romance story.
Content Note: The graphic scenes were a little too graphic for me, but I think it's somewhat the norm for a lot of romance books these days. There is also some language.
Sept 10 - Black Lion Tour Blog/introduction
Sept 12 - Caroline Clemmons Blog/interview
Sept 14 - MK McClintock Blog/review and spotlight
Sept 17 - Makayla's Book Review/review and author spotlight
Sept 18 - Bunny's Reviews/review
Sept 20 - Books, Books, the Magical Fruit/interview
Sept 24 - Reviews by Molly/review
Sept 26 - The Bookish Dame/review and guest post
Sept 27 - Nothing Better than a Book/review
Sept 28 - Cait Lavender, Cowgirl Writer/review
Sept 29 - Black Lion Tour Blog/wrap-up
MK, than you so much for having me on your blog today. I'm very glad that you liked the book. I hope your readers do as well.
ReplyDeleteReaders don't forget, that I'm giving away a $5 Starbucks card and a copy of the book. All you have to do to get an entry to the drawing is to leave me a comment.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Ah, I love a good mail order bride story, and this sounds great!
ReplyDeleteThanks Norah. I hope you like it.
ReplyDeleteNice post. I write dark paranormal, no language, but bad things happen. I like a little "real" in my fantasy. Life can be hard for characters.Cindy has a way of melding the two to make a believable and entertaining read. Way to go Cindy.
ReplyDeleteI think you have a winner!
It's wonderful to have you at the blog again Cynthia and thank you for the chance to read your book. Do you have more books planned for your 'Tame' series?
ReplyDeleteI love western romance and this book sounds interesting :)
ReplyDeleteeli_y83@yahoo.com
Hi SAndy, thanks for the Kudos. I try to make my books entertaining. I'm not trying to write the next great American novel. I just want my readers to find a few hours of enjoyment.
ReplyDeleteMK - Thanks again for having me. I'm very glad that you liked the book and yes I do have more books planned in the Tame series. Book 4 will be Sheriff Dan Baker's story.
Eli, I'm glad you like western romance. It's one of my favorites, too. :-)
This sounds wonderful, having grown up out West I love these tales. Carin
ReplyDeletemawmom at gmail dot com
Glad to hear you like westerns, Carin. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteI love the reader reaction to Tom! LOL! Hit him upside the head! I have a character in my books that people react the same way about! :0)
ReplyDeleteJesse
I agree with you Jesse. I love the reaction, it's exactly the one I wanted. :-)
ReplyDeleteGlad you could stop by.
I love a good old western romance. This one is right up my alley.
ReplyDeleteWhee, on my TBB list.
Good luck on the sales.
Thanks Lorrie. I hope you like it.
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy,
ReplyDeleteI love the premise of your story, it's always intrigued me, the concept of mail order brides, and how desperate one must have been to do this. Desperate for any number of reasons. Can't wait to read it.
Hugs
LA
Hi LA. So glad you stopped by. I hope you like the story. I did have lots of fun writing it.
ReplyDeleteGetting away from Philadelphia seems like a good idea.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read. Love arranged/mail order marriage stories.
ReplyDeletedebi01760@hotmail.com
Peaches and Debi, so glad you could stop by. Hope you like the story.
ReplyDeleteSounds fun. I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDelete