Can love bloom between a woman who was forced to sell herself and the man who bought her to get her ranch?
Previously titled Cowboys Don’t Buy Their Bride at Auction
Roxane Peterson is up for auction. Well, her and her ranch. She knew it would be too much to hope for that the man who bought her would be more interested in her than in the property, and money, that came with her. But she’s been … more interested in her than in the property, and money, that came with her. But she’s been down this road before – a marriage that isn’t perfect. Her only concern now is protecting her son and making sure she keeps her independence.
Boone Stryker is disillusioned and restless. Seeing a ranch, and a woman, up for auction challenges his soul and gives him a reason to live again. He risks everything he owns to win the ranch. But in order to win the lady’s heart, he could lose so much more.
Trigger Warning: This book contains sensitive content, not graphic, for anyone who has lost a child. It also contains a “fade to black” scene between an unmarried couple, necessary for the plot.
Reviews for The Cowboy’s Bargain Bride:
★★★★★ “Gussman writes the best heroes. Boone is just yummy. Roxanne is a bit prickly and stand-offish, but honestly, in order to claim her birthright she had to endure being sold at auction, so she had cause.” – Charlene
★★★★★ “This was a stirring emotional journey with love; heartache and learning their hearts and mind’s about each other. Truly enjoyed this story and characters.” – Judi
★★★★★ “Jessie Gussman never disappoints. Good character development and heartfelt story line. I look forward to reading more of her stories.” – Jo
★★★★★ “Talk about hitting the ground running! This book starts off with a bang and just keeps going! I had a difficult time putting it down. (1:30 am rolled around and I forced myself to stop, only to pick it up the next morning to finish!)” – Ballet in AK
★★★★★ “While this author does present Godly principals and even a scripture or three this doesn’t feel like a bible thumping book. This author writes a story that takes you on the trip right along with it like a spectator. You will laugh and in this case might even tear up a little as events unfold. It’s always fun to see what these cowboys will do next.” – Teri
Books in the Sweet Water Ranch series:
- The Cowboy’s Best Friend
- The Cowboy’s Secret Baby
- The Cowboy’s Beauty
- The Cowboy’s Best Friend’s Sister
- The Cowboy’s Convenient Marriage
- The Cowboy’s Fairy Tale
- The Cowboy’s Secret Romance
- The Cowboy’s Bargain Bride
- The Cowboy’s Enemy
- The Cowboy’s Mistletoe Christmas
- The Cowboy’s Marriage Mistake
more
I have enjoyed all of Jessie Gussman’s “Cowboys Don’t…” series and her latest Cowboys Don’t Buy Their Bride at Auction keeps me hooked waiting for the next one. Roxane and Boone may have had instant attraction, but their romance had a long hard road to maneuver. True to for, Jessie’s hero are upstanding men, dependable and caring. What I love most about this story was the patience and persistence Boone used to prove to Roxane that he was just as honorable and true as he claimed.
Boone and Roxie were great.
When I read the title I did a double-take and looked again at the cover and thought this is a modern piece right not a historical? How could someone put in a will that to inherit they must be sold into marriage at an auction that is one unique twist. I enjoyed the book it was so different Roxie and Boone made such a strange pair and they went through some problems and pain. Then ending was great and the very last a great set-up for the next book. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
I loved this story. Roxie was a little high class and Boone was a lot country. It was a mix that wouldn’t blend well. Poor Boone was such a gentleman when he thought he was saving her at the auction. This is another book that I could put down. Everything just kept going in the wrong direction making me sad, then it turned around only to fall backwards again. Differently another great book by Jessie.
Original plot line drew me in & kept me reading!
Roxane has spent her lifetime trying to control & build the life that she wants. She has finally come to the realization that that is not within her power. It seems that the harder she tries, the more things go wrong. “Maybe” she needs to give up control.
Yes, Boone made a choice that was contrary to the standards he had chosen to live his life by…but, I didn’t have to wade through explicit scenes in order to what happened. It was a choice with consequences & it changed the direction of both of their lives.
This book can be read as a stand alone…but you will enjoy it MUCH more if you know the backstory. If you have been following this series, then you won’t be disappointed!
There is depth in this book, and that is one of the reasons I am drawn to stories written by this author. I quickly get bored with just a romance, but when there is substance to it, I am hooked and remember the story long after I have finished.
I requested a review copy of this story, but it was so good that I bought it as soon as it was released.
What I enjoyed:
• The author caught my attention right from the beginning and drew me into the story with the opening line dance scene with Boone, Spencer, Roxie, and Abner.
• I liked the light-hearted banter between Roxie and Boone.
• Boone and Roxie were characters that you wanted to discover more about as you continued to read the story.
• The minor players in this story added depth to the storyline and were well developed, especially Spencer.
• The descriptions of locations and emotions were well done, easy to visualize, and to feel. I felt a part of the scenes.
• The section discussing premarital sex and the emotional guilt it sometimes leaves was tastefully and cleanly done. Sometimes in the heat of the moment, people make mistakes. That’s where forgiveness comes in.
• The pacing of the story was neither too slow nor too fast.
• The plot was not predictable.
• There was a smooth, coherent flow to this book.
• This story had a satisfying ending.
• This novel was a clean read.
• I did not find this western Christian romance preachy. Religion was just a natural part of the characters’ lives. No lectures.
I received an advance copy of this book. My review was voluntary and my opinions were my own. I enjoyed this book so much, that I will be reading more books by this author.
The highest bid does not always win the prize!
Boone Stryker was line dancing to classical music with his niece, Gina, at her father’s wedding when he noticed the young boy and his mother. The boy was uncomfortably dressed in a suit, but his slender, cultured mother had the look of a woman who would be more at home on 5th Avenue in New York than on a dance floor in North Dakota. While teaching her to line-dance he could not resist the urge to hold her slender hands in his large, rough ones wishing they were dancing to a song that would allow him to hold her close. He was in town to attend his brother’s wedding and an auction. With any luck, he would be the high bidder and win the Sweet Water Ranch and the unknown woman who came with it.
Roxie Peterson had never had a dance partner like the tall cowboy with the crisp blue shirt and deep blue eyes but it did not matter. She loved the Sweet Water Ranch and agreed to fulfill the terms of her eccentric uncle’s will to be able to raise her son on the ranch she loved and free her brother to marry the woman he loved. In two weeks, she would be auctioned off to the highest bidder and the ranch would be hers even if it meant marrying a man she had never met.
His mother had raised Boone to high standards, but the connection between him and his beautiful dance partner was undeniable. His grace and grin made Roxie’s heart float. She had never done this before but she was determined to have one last chance to act on her feelings before the auction. After an amazing hour together, Roxie left immediately without Boone ever learning her name, sure that they would never see each other again, but God had other plans.
This story has likable characters and all the elements that make for a good cowboy romance. I finished it in one sitting and enjoyed every minute of it.
Another sweet love story from Sweet Water Ranch. CAn Boone win Roxie’s trust after marrying her in an auction? He need for her to believe his interested in the ranch but mostly in marrying her and build a family together with her kid. Love will find its way to their hearts.
This one had me smiling and then crying.
Hurt and doubt were evident, but so were faith and love.
Each time I read one of Jessie Gussman’s books I think it’s my favorite until I read the next one. So this book is now my favorite of Jessie’s. She creates characters with a sense of duty and loyalty to family and friends. The characters in this story “feel”. They feel guilt, shame at violating a trust and failing to live up to the values instilled in them. Roxie feels the emotional trauma of her past. But together, they also feel love – love of family, faith, doing the right thing but most of all, love for each other. As a reader I could “feel” all the emotions brought out in this book. I became invested in Boone and Roxie’s inspirational story. I knew it would be a happily-ever-after but I couldn’t wait to find out how they would get to that point. I was not disappointed and can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
I received this copy free from the author and am under no obligation to leave a review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am freely sharing my opinion.
I loved reading Roxie and Boone’s story. I have read all of the books in this series and I love them all. This story is a bit different from the other stories. Of course there are difficulties in all stories and it depends on the author how they are settled. I loved the way Jessie wrote this story to settle Roxie and Boone’s issues. It is so tastefully done. Read it for yourself and see just how she does it.
As much as I enjoyed the other books in the series, this one is one of the best yet.
We are back in Sweet Water , and this time the story centers around Boone Stryker and Roxanne Rosthchild.
They meet at his brother’s wedding, and the attraction is immediate. But neither expected their paths would cross again.
SIngle mom Roxanne and her uncle’s ranch are up for auction. Boone has always wanted this ranch. When he finds out Roxie is the one up for bid, he wants to do all he can to get the ranch…and the girl.
The ride was not smooth. Neither sure what to expect of the other. Boone felt she was classier than her, but he wants her and the ranch , and will everything to succeed.
It was a sweet story of overcoming many obstacles, and finding love where least expected with someone seeming their opposite.
At times heartbreaking , it was also heartwarming. Will they find their HEA, or will a loss, the will and “a test” keep them from ever reaching it?
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
I’ve been reading through this wonderful series and have really enjoyed every book but this one is my favorite. It features two opposites who both behave in a way that is totally out of character and then wind up married. Their courtship comes after the nuptials. I loved Boone’s easygoing personality when he was introduced in an earlier installment of the series and I liked the feisty, somewhat prickly but fiercely loyal Roxane–but I never would have paired the two. In the providence of God and the wisdom of the author they were made for each other and it was such an unpredictable plot to watch how God (and Ms. Gussman) made a mess into an amazing marriage. I couldn’t put the book down and read it in one sitting. Don’t miss it! Highly recommend! I received a complimentary copy of this book; my review is voluntarily given and is my honest opinion.
Powerful!
Jessie’s writing totally blew me away with its raw emotion and intensity. What a powerful story! Definitely a must read. It’s full of edge-of-your-seat twists, which I haven’t expected!
“…his friend was obviously in love with his wife, and it wasn’t hard to see she loved him back just as fiercely.”
I received an ARC of this book for review. I was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions in this review are my own.
She’d been married to a player, a womanizer. It had ended badly. Now, in order to get her inheritance, she’d have to be married-at an auction, like cattle. She’d always done what she’d been told. She just wanted one last chance to do what she wanted before getting married. One last, wild moment. But she never thought of what the consequences might be. Neither of them did…
-‘“When you look at me like that, it makes me feel like it might not matter that I’m junior high and you’re way out of my league.”’-
These cowboys sure don’t do love easily! They really do have pretty complicated love lives. I have to say, I don’t know how Mrs. Gussman comes up with the ideas for her stories, but they sure are original! I love her books and I’m very curious to read Abner’s story after all the mystery surrounding his past.
I definitely recommend this book and all the books in the series. Readers should read them in order. Although she doesn’t give away too much about the other characters in the stories (theoretically they could be read out of order), it is best to read them chronologically.
A charmingly good read, romantic, honest and well written. The characters are, as always, strong and confident but with the vulnerability you love and expect from Jessie Gussman’s pen. I cannot wait to read Abner’s story next.