Abigail Bowen lost everything in a tragic fire. Mason Stillwell is about to lose his livelihood. What happens when a clueless matchmaker pairs these hard to please people together?Abigail’s whole world is destroyed when her parents die in a tragic house fire. All the remained was her fragile relationship with her younger sister. To keep her safe, Abigail travels out West to marry a man set up by … set up by a matchmaker, but when they arrive to find out she’s dead and her clueless nephew has taken over, Abigail situation gets a whole lot worse.
Mason Stillwell doesn’t have time to coddle a woman seeking love. He needs a wife capable of managing his bar’s bookkeeping, the one job he can’t do. What he doesn’t expect is for his potential match to be like oil to his water, but with no other option, he realizes he needs to find a way to make it work.
Can these two opposites find happiness through an unlikely match? Will they both be able to reconcile their pasts? And will they find a way to do it before Mason losses his bar and both their futures?
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THAT WAS THE BEST THING I EVER DID
“Each story in the Bride Herder series can read as a stand-alone. Take one failed rancher turned matchmaker and ten unexpected women looking to become brides. Put them all together in a house in Bent, Colorado. What could possibly go wrong?”
“Chance Redburn lost his ranch and his only living relative, his Aunt Viola, in the same week. Now he has no choice but to try and make a go of his inheritance; Viola’s matchmaking service. He arrives in town to a shipment of brides to match and no idea how to do so. To make matters worse, his aunt kept no records of who her clients were. The only thing he finds is a stack of letters that informs Chance that one of the women expects to be matched to him! Only he never asked Aunt Viola for a bride.”
Book nine in the series is the story of Abigail Bowen, and bar owner, Mason Stillman. “Can these two opposites find happiness through an unlikely match?”
Abigail Bowen is shocked to learn what her younger sister Alice, has done—this time. She signed them up with a matchmaker in Colorado to be mail-ordered brides. “How did this happen?” Abigail was ready to accept a position as a governess with a family in Baltimore, but now she is obligated to follow Alice and see her safely married—then she must decide her own future.
Mason Stillman still can’t believe he let Viola talk him into signing up for a mail-order bride. Will her nephew, Chance, know that he had agreed—and if so, can he back out? But what happens when Mason and Abigail meet? Will these two like each other, or will they decide to call it off?
“He didn’t even want her, or did he? He had come there with the firm intent to purge Abigail Bowen from his life, and it seemed he had managed the task spectacularly.”
The plot will have Abigail and Mason meeting, but it comes with issues between them. Two unlikely and opposite people will find out that they are attracted to each other. And they each seem to have an uncanny aptitude for ruffling the other one—without really trying. But what if they decide to at least give it a fair chance? What will they learn about each other? Will they be able to put heartache from the past aside and give each other a chance at happiness?
“It means you need to find a way to make it work with the man I matched you with,” Mr. Redburn explained. “He is your only choice.”
The story is a clean western historical tale that brings two people together and full of challenges. Abigail recognizes issues that she believes with patience and understanding that she can help Mason in his personal life and with his business. When trouble comes their way, they learn that together they are stronger when challenged. Seeing things in a different light, not making judgment, and looking towards the future is the key to success.
“Just remember, the things that challenge us—make us stronger.”
“It’s the best $50 I will ever spend. Abigail is worth so much more than that. I’d give up everything I have to be married to her.”
I enjoyed this story because it is delightful & funny at times. Abigail is a strong-willed woman, spunky & determined. Mason is a man who needs a bookkeeper but doesn’t want one in the form of a woman. How they work things out is interesting. A book that doesn’t take much time to read & enjoy.
Loved the heroine in this story! Highly recommend all the books by this author. Love both her sweet historicals and her sweet contemporary stories.
” Herd to Please” by Jenna Brandt is a tale of Abigail Bowen and Mason Stillwell…a distinct case of two individuals…total opposites…determined NOT to want the very thing a matchmaker sets them up to discover….and once discovered …ultimately & totally desired. Yet another triumphal romantic read from the pen of Ms. Brandt.
Much enjoyed and Highly Recommended. I voluntarily rev
This is the first book I have read of the Bride Herder series and it did not disappoint. Jenna Brandt is an amazing author who brings her characters to life and makes them feel real to each reader. I did not want this book to end and I highly recommend it. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
Herd to Please – extremely different title, but it really does fit the book! Loved it . . . romance even when life is difficult!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.
Sparks fly when these two characters meet! Can they find some common ground for a happily ever after? Really enjoyed this story. Highly recommend!
AWESOME BOOK AND AUTHOR AND SERIES
A delightful well written short arranged marriage western historical romance story. This engaging storyline has opposites attracting is an arranged marriage story. There is drama, revealing of the past, intrigue, danger, uncertainty, and surprising mishaps in this really sweet smooth flowing quick story. The characters are likeable and interesting. I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC.
This was a fun, pretty quick read. (Considering I don’t read very fast.) it was clean and inspirational and enjoyable.
This is another good addition to this series and different being the hero owns a bar and not a more reputable business. It’s only a bar not a saloon.
Our heroine doesn’t like that idea, if fact, she would rather read and not court anyone. But this was her match and she’s been asked to at least try to get along. The hero, while not wanting a wife as much as book keeper to help his business.
This is oil and water that the matchmakers want to mix together.
But can it and can the widows who chaperone the couples not get faint or throw a fit every time they find the heroine in the bar.
I highly recommend this story as the whole series. It’s a really fun series and I think if you haven’t already read any of it you should. You should start with the first book but you can read each as a stand alone but they are all related so start with the first one.
I love picking up a Jenna Brandt book. I know I will get an interesting story line and characters. Getting married to have a bookkeeper seems a little extreme but it worked. Abigail and Mason are an unlikely match but fortunately it works. This is a good addition to the series.
A wonderful, heartwarming story by Ms. Brandt. This was a quick read and it was very sweet. I love how invested you become in the characters. I can’t imagine going cross-country to be a mail-order bride! You really feel for the women who have lost everything and have to start over in a strange new place. Kudos to Ms. Brandt for a really good book.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
What a truly delightful story! When I read the first book in this series, I loved the entire concept of a nephew having to step in and take over his aunt’s mail order bride business! Well he seems to be managing well as this one finds sisters Abigail and Alice going out west to find their grooms.
But her match is Mason, who owns the local bar and just needs someone to keep the books. These too butt heads but can they find a middle ground and be happy?
Jenna Brandt writes her usual wonderful story that has humor, angst and a chance at a love when least expected!! Don’t miss this one or any by this author!
Herd to Please was a fun book to read. Abigail and Mason are so opposed to matrimony and each other that it makes for some great dialog! This is a short book – just 110 pages, but I really enjoyed it. If you like clean, mail-order bride romances, you should read this book.
When a train load of brides arrive they expect to meet the matchmaker who set all these matches up. But the matchmaker has died and her rough cattleman brother is in charge. So he doesn’t know which bride was to go with which groom. And the brides weren’t too excited about being matched up like cattle for breeding. Lots of fun and excitement and reluctant brides and grooms but of course love wins out. Really enjoyed this book. I received a free copy of this book and offer my review just as freely. You’ll enjoy this read.
A wonderful story. It grabbed me from the first page and kept me on the edge of my seat. There is never a dull moment, there are twists and turns. This Author has done a fantastic job at the world building and bringing out the characters. I definitely recommend.
Shauna Joesten
I enjoyed reading this book. The main characters were both stubborn and it took them a little time to see that they were exactly what they needed. The supporting characters were equally interesting people that we will revisit in future books and I can not wait.
If you have never read one of Jenna Brandt’s books. You are missing out. I have read several – and they are all so unique. She is an amazing author. This is book 9 in the Bride Herder series. I have not read the other books in this series – but I had no problem following along. This author writes sweet easy reads. She gives great backgroud info on all of her characters. Abigail is such a likeable character. She is a determined young woman. She made me laugh several times in this book. Wonderful story
I recevied a copy of this book through the author — all thoughts are my own.
Opposites do attract.
I always look forward to reading a work by Jenna Brandt her historical are always written so well and with so much heart. In this one Abigail and Alice head out west as mail-order brides not that had been Abigail’s plan. Mason the man Abigail is going to pair with is not sure why he agreed to sign up for a bride and him and she does not see to see. I loved this book there is humor and drama together is a beautiful mix. This is a book that you will re-read over and over again. If you like western historical this is a must-read. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.