Mother for His Children Single father Shane McCoy has his hands full trying to run a ranch while raising two-year-old twins. His children clearly need a mother’s guiding hand. An encounter with a lovely stranger on a train platform offers an unconventional answer to his predicament when she suggests a marriage of convenience. Tessa Spencer needs a fresh start far from her con man father’s … fresh start far from her con man father’s schemes. His latest scrape has made her the target of a vengeful outlaw. Shane’s isolated ranch provides refuge, and his children easily win Tessa’s affections. But as her checkered past resurfaces, only honesty and trust will make this family Christmas the first of many…
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“What did a woman have to do to get a marriage proposal around here?”
The Rancher’s Christmas Proposal by Sherri Shackelford tells a heartwarming tale of two broken people who enter a marriage of convenience. Both had pasts that left them damaged, and their journey to healing included a band of outlaws and mischievous twins.
While it’s from the Love Inspired Historical line of inspirational romances, I’d consider this more inspirational-lite. There was not a large emphasis on religion, and it was mostly that the characters wanted to live a respectable life. Tessa, especially, had a deep desire to atone for her past.
The characters were imperfect, but that only made them more relatable and easier to connect with. Slow burn relationship, Christmas, and unexpected excitement? Yes, please.
An Endearing and Witty 5 STARS!
What happens when a lovely woman escaping her past crosses paths with a handsome, but thoroughly rumpled single dad of twins? A marriage of convenience, of course.
Tessa is leaving Wichita after her dad’s shady dealings have come to haunt her. Shane is a widower looking for someone to help care for his children while he manages his large ranch and employees. A marriage, in name only, provides protection and a home that Tessa longs for after a nomadic life with her father, while (for Shane) it keeps his children at home where he can be a part of their daily lives. After being unable to make a happy life for his first wife, Shane is careful not to make the same mistakes with Tessa and works to honor his “contract,” keeping her at arm’s length and not allowing love into the equation. Meanwhile, Tessa quickly falls in love with the children and works to make a home and real marriage with Shane.
I fell in love with this story after the first couple of chapters. Shane was the perfect hero – strong, but gentle and caring. Tessa was strong and determined, but also sweet and disarming. Both were equally clueless to courting and marriage which created some humorous moments. I venture to almost call this a romantic comedy since the story had me giggling and laughing out loud numerous times throughout. Tessa, especially made me smile and laugh. Her banter was funny, as well as her inner dialogue. The children, Owen and Alice, were written perfectly. Sherri Shackelford definitely has much experience with children, because the two toddler’s antics were spot on. I could also relate to Tessa’s management of the twosome and how long and difficult it is to get two toddlers dressed for the weather as well as yourself and out the door. There are many supporting characters in this story (the townspeople, the relatives, Shane’s devoted rag-tag crew of employees, and Dead-Eye’s band of outlaws) and every single one is pertinent while adding depth to the overall story.
I could go on, because I loved this story that much. On the whole, The Rancher’s Christmas Proposal was a funny and moving romance with many swoon-worthy moments. I found myself melting into a puddle of goo during the subtle intimate moments shared between Shane and Tessa and longed for them be honest with their feelings in order to get over any hang-ups. If I were wearing a cowboy hat, I would have thrown it into the air and yelled my own “Yahoo” when they finally got their happily ever after!
Side-note – If you’re a stickler about when you read “holiday” stories, Christmas is merely mentioned as a marriage goal rather than a story focal point. Christmas is more front and center in the epilogue.