The Lawman Meets His MatchSuccessful Seattle matchmaker Beth Wallin has her most challenging assignment yet–find Deputy Hart McCormick a bride. Beth’s still smarting after the handsome lawman spurned her affections a year ago. But if she finds Hart a wife, Beth will gain favor with the city’s most influential women…and perhaps free her own heart, as well.Marriage is the last thing on the … last thing on the deputy’s mind. After tragically losing his sweetheart, he vowed never to love again. But as sweet, spunky Beth introduces him to potential fiancees, Hart finally feels a spark…for her The stubborn bachelor will be Beth’s first matchmaking miss, unless they can both admit that she just might be his perfect match.
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I was happy to finally read Beth’s story! In the other books in the series there are little teasers that something happened between her and the deputy, and we finally learn what that was. As the only girl amid several brothers, Beth is the heart of the Wallin family, and has been sweet to her new sisters-in-law in the previous books. She really comes into her own in this story, and with her pursuit of a bride for Hart bringing her to town, she realizes how much she enjoys living there and having a little break from her brothers. The pace is slow but steady as she tries one tactic then another to get Hart interested in courtship, but even though he humors her attempts, his fears prevent him from moving forward. It was sweet to see them grow comfortable in each other’s presence and harbor secret feelings they think are unrequited. The case Hart is trying to solve of newcomers being attacked by a gang brings some action and an element of mystery to the plot, especially when Beth insists on getting involved. There is also a subplot with Scout, the friend of one of the Wallin brothers, who returns to town wealthy from the gold fields and falling prey to the fortune-hunting of the local seamstress. I hope that one of the final books in this series will include Scout finding love. All the books in the Frontier Bachelors series can be read as stand-alones and in any order.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
When it comes to matchmaking, Beth Wallin is the most determined woman to find brides for all the eligible bachelors in Seattle. After all, she had much success with matching her brothers! She’s tenacious with one goal in mind, a happily-ever-after for every lonely heart. But there’s one just as stubborn and determined to stay single; Deputy Hart McCormick! He’s one hard nut to crack with his unwillingness to bend to Beth’s will. Having rejected her affection a year ago, he’s even more immune to her charms. So when Beth sets out to find the perfect bride for the Deputy, will he be able to deter her or will their stubborn hearts warm towards each other? Perhaps God has already done the matchmaking!
“He’d captured bandits, stopped vandals, and settled disputes with hostile natives. Who would have thought the one thing to terrify him was the thought of loving a pretty woman named Beth Wallin?”
I loved following along the Wallin family in Regina’s books. Getting to know Beth over the course of this series has been a lot of fun. She’s almost got her head in the clouds when it comes to her idea of happily-ever-after. Her ideals for romance, while sweet & charming, don’t always turn out like the poetry books she reads! But that doesn’t stop her from trying. I like her character; determined, stubborn, idealistic, with a heart of romance beating beneath her exterior. Hart, on the other hand, has seen the other side of life. Catching criminals, chasing gang members, and jailing law breakers is his job so he’s a bit more hardened. Love a brooding hero because there’s so much to redeem about them in the pages of a story! His rough past has lead him to the life of crime-fighting instead of crime-doing. And tragedy has held his heart captive behind a wall that’s impenetrable. I knew from a previous book that there was something between Beth & Hart, and seeing it played out in front of my eyes was a lot of fun. Fighting against their attraction to each other just made the ending the more sweeter! Even I fell in love with Hart the more I got to know him, but then again, brooding heroes are some of my favorite! I would recommend reading the whole series so you get to know each character and follow along with the Wallin family. Though each one can stand alone just fine as Regina gives enough backstory in every book. It’s one thing I love about series books, getting to be a part of a family and watching it grow. I have a couple of books to catch up on & after reading this, they are the next ones on my list! Regina is one author who knows how to pull you in and keep you until the end. I always look forward to whatever she writes!
Frontier Matchmaker Bride by Regina Scott
Frontier Bachelors Series Book Eight
Beth Wallin is the youngest of six, and the only girl, and even though she’s been playing matchmaker for her brothers—she’s single. Ever since she first laid eyes on the deputy as a young girl, she had her first crush…and thought he was the only man for her. On the other hand—he didn’t return her feelings. Now, to join a local ladies society in Seattle, her first assignment to prove herself is to find that very same deputy…a wife.
Deputy Sheriff Hart McCormick wants nothing to do with love. Beth may be a beauty, sweet, kind, and all things wonderful, but his past is enough to keep Hart single. He just has to find a way to stop the pushy beauty from trying to complete her mission.
This book was fantastic—as was this whole series—but it was sad to say goodbye. I wasn’t ready to leave Wallin Landing behind. Plus, Love Inspired is ending their Historical line…so this is also the last historical from Regina Scott. Thankfully she self-publishes so I can continue reading her books.
**Received book from the author for an honest review
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2012/10/regina-scott-book-list.html
Yet another fun historical romance by Regina Scott! I’ve only read Would-be Wilderness Wife (book 2) from the Frontier Bachelors series but this eighth book in the series read like a stand-alone. There also was enough background provided throughout this book to give the reader some insight into each of the seven couples’ relationships from previous books. I also enjoyed the reference to another character from Regina Scott’s Regency series that I loved. The book is well-written with a nicely paced plot, surprising twists and turns in the plot, a bit of suspense, and wonderful and lovable characters. Anyone who enjoys a good historical romance set in the West during 1870s will thoroughly enjoy this book.
Beth is the youngest of six siblings and the only girl in her family. She’s successfully matched all of her older brothers with their wives and now is asked to match Seattle’s deputy sheriff with a woman. Beth is creative, resourceful, spunky, energetic, full of optimism, and tender-hearted. Hart is the deputy sheriff who is honor-bound, loyal, tough, and hard-working but also hiding/running away from his tainted past and mistakes. A little intrigue of increase in crime by the docks keeps Hart busy as Beth keeps busy at trying to matchmake Hart with the eligible ladies in Seattle. The secondary characters that include Beth’s five older brothers and their wives, the Literary Society ladies and their husbands, and other business owners make up a thriving town with endless possibilities.
I’m sad that Love Inspired Historical line of books will soon be discontinued since I’ve enjoyed so many of its books, especially Regina Scott’s.
I was given a copy of this book by the author. I was not required to write a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.