I was his new beginning. He was my last chance.I need a husband. Today. Now, if possible. I thought any man would do, but when my first choice is run out of town the day before we’re to be married, I’m forced to consider it when cowboy Gage Pennell proposes. I don’t know him. I’ve never met him before today. Up until a few hours ago, he was working for my nearest and dearest enemy, the same man … same man who wants to steal everything from me.
I’d rather die than let that happen. If my neighbor gets his way, I actually might. But Gage is more than just good looks and heart-stopping swagger… and I’m desperate.
But, am I this desperate?
I guess we’ll find out, because when my neighbor puts his most ruthless plan yet into action, I’m forced to fight back the only way I can. And in the Wild, Wild West, sometimes it’s the bride who takes the cowboy.
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What a sweet passionate love story I loved Millie and Gage. Gage is a down to earth type of man who knows how to keep his lady in hand and he proves that right at the beginning of the book. I love the humor and drama mix the author did a wonderful job. A great mix of characters and good and the bad with some very sexy moments it was a truly enjoyable read. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
I really enjoyed reading this book, it’s set in a small town, but one family has bog problems. The plot is interesting, the characters are all likable with the exception of one of them, but they are all well rounded and have dialogue fitting their character. The two main characters in the romance have chemistry, they both have choices to make that shall not only affect their life but the life of others around them. A great read! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Bride Takes a Cowboy is an unconventional Western romance and I really enjoyed reading it. The story literally starts with a bang as cannon fire rocks the town of Harmony within minutes of Gage, our hero, stepping out of the stagecoach. He has come West from Ohio to take a job as a trail boss for a large ranch in the area.
Gage gets his first glimpse of Millie Hackett when she hikes up her skirts and jumps over him while she runs for her wagon in the wedding dress she has been having fitted. It turns out that Millie lives on a ranch outside of town with her aunts and her grandfather, the Colonel, who believes that the Civil War is still going on. The Colonel fired his cannon at Harmony which he has identified as a Confederate camp.
Gage is taken to the ranch where his new job is and finds a different situation than he expects. The ranch is full of armed men and Hurley Ames, the man who hired him is a cold mean piece of work. Gage is heading out on a cattle drive in four days so his plan is to not make any waves and keep quiet until then. That plan changes when Gage witnesses a confrontation between Millie and Hurley Ames, after which he hears Ames planning to drive Millie and her family off their land because there is oil on it. Gage packs his saddlebags and heads to the Hackett ranch to warn them of the danger coming their way. His original plan was to get to town after delivering the warning but he is drawn into the Hackett family fight.
Millie and Gage marry to secure the ownership of the ranch for Millie and Gage telegraphs his brothers, who are U.S. Marshalls, for help. There are lots of action and turns on the path to the happy ever after, but ultimately there is a satisfying end. And the cannon is an important part of the story.
This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Smith and I really enjoyed it. I will be reading more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
5 Stars
I loved this book! And guess what? Another new author to love. If you’ve been reading my latest reviews, then you know I’ve been enjoying all new-to-me authors.
If I had one complaint with this book, it is that is ended too soon. I actually haven’t read a historical-western romance in ages. After I read the blurb for this one, I knew I wanted to read it. Do you know what really amazed me? For such a short story, the author packed it with everything you’d find in a full length novel. Her characters were truly developed well. I personally felt like I knew them, and connected to them. Not only the H/h but all the secondary characters as well. There was enough angst and drama to entertain me. In addition, the characters has wit and sass and I was smiling throughout like a goon. And of course there is an amazing HEA! I’ll say it agin, I really enjoyed this book. And I am excited to read more from this author.
The synopsis does a pretty good job of giving you insight to where this story is going so I will not add anything more because I would hate to spoil this fun book. I will add though that because Gage has two older brothers, I’ll be stalking this author to make sure I don’t miss any mentions of them having their own books. 😉
This is my honest and unbiased review. Thank you for taking the time to read it. 🙂
5 Stars
I loved this book! And guess what? Another new author to love. If you’ve been reading my latest reviews, then you know I’ve been enjoying all new-to-me authors.
If I had one complaint with this book, it is that is ended too soon. I actually haven’t read a historical-western romance in ages. After I read the blurb for this one, I knew I wanted to read it. Do you know what really amazed me? For such a short story, the author packed it with everything you’d find in a full length novel. Her characters were truly developed well. I personally felt like I knew them, and connected to them. Not only the H/h but all the secondary characters as well. There was enough angst and drama to entertain me. In addition, the characters has wit and sass and I was smiling throughout like a goon. And of course there is an amazing HEA! I’ll say it agin, I really enjoyed this book. And I am excited to read more from this author.
The synopsis does a pretty good job of giving you insight to where this story is going so I will not add anything more because I would hate to spoil this fun book. I will add though that because Gage has two older brothers, I’ll be stalking this author to make sure I don’t miss any mentions of them having their own books. 😉
This is my honest and unbiased review. Thank you for taking the time to read it. 🙂
The Bride Takes a Cowboy is a stand alone historical western romance. Millie is on a time crunch to get married to save her family land, but she’s up against a man who rules over the town. Gage is the new man in town, worked for her enemy, but couldn’t give up on Millie or her fight. Is it possible for Millie and Gage to win it all, or will they fight until the very end?
I loved this romance!! Millie and Gage were protective, loyal, sweet, passionate, and I loved their dynamic! There’s a lot that happens in this book, but my favorite was Millie, her family, and her fight. Millie is so courageous, feisty, and full of heart! Gage was perfect for her, because he was able to contain some of her crazy, but he still welcomed some of her fight – as long as she wasn’t disrespectful to him, that is! I loved their dynamic, I loved that he spanks her just about right away, and I loved that he just couldn’t leave her alone. The ending of this book made me giggle a little, but I loved it! This book is quick paced, full of drama and a budding relationship and I enjoyed every second I spent reading this book!
This was a very quick little story, with a surprising lot of stuff going on in it. I loved feisty, sassy Millie. She’s caught between a rock and a hard place with no easy answers and no good way out. Gage is an honorable man caught up in a dishonorable situation. This pair strike sparks off each other every time they’re together. It was so much fun to watch them banter. I enjoyed seeing their unconventional solution to the problem. And there are some secondary characters that I think could make interesting heroes for their own stories.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through Booksprout.
If anyone had told Gage that instead of getting the job he was in town for, instead he would be flat in the dirt taking cover from cannon fire and he would be marring the pretty women thar jumped over him. Well he would think they possibly would be balmy. But thats just what happened. He is a man with morals and despite hearing Millie talk like a trouper he couldnt help but take her side. But first a spanking is i n order.
Absolutely loved this book it is well worth reading and one has to do a chuckle on the occasion.
Fast moving novella
Maren Smith is one of my favorite author whether she’s writing contemporary or historical fiction her books are always solid reads. The Bride Takes a Cowboy falls in the historical western category.
Millie epitomizes what I think of when I think of the women who lived in the old west and Gage was a hero, a strong honest man who stood up for what he believed in. Together they make an extraordinary pair with serious chemistry that grows as they defeat the bad guys to start to build a life together.
I received an advance reader copy via Booksprout.
This was a lovely good triumphs over evil love story. Millie and Gage need each other and get married to save Millie’s farm from the mean neighbor. Her grandfather, the Colonel, suffers from dementia but adds humour to the story and it is because of his belief that the war is till in progress and he has a working cannon that they are able to beat Hurley. That and the fact Ben and several other of Hurley’s ranch hands have a conscience that Gage was able to bring to the fore.
A sweet love story with a truly happy ending.