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Montana Mavericks: Historicals #1
The Gunslinger's Bride
Eight years ago, Brock Kincaid had tried to put Abby--and her brother's senseless death--out of his mind. After all, a man whose livelihood was tied to the six-shooters at his hips couldn't allow emotional memories to dull his senses. But seeing her again brought it all back: the passion, the hunger, the confusion. Nothing had changed, and yet, when he looked at her child--everything had changed. Abby needed a man to match her fire, and he would be that man. He would know his son. Now if he could just convince Abby to believe in him again...and in the future that was meant to be!
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 24, 2001
34 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Cheryl St. John
71 books552 followersCheryl is the author of more than fifty historical and contemporary romances. Her stories have earned numerous RITA nominations, Romantic Times awards and are published in over a dozen languages.
In describing her stories of second chances and redemption, readers and reviewers use words like, “emotional punch, hometown feel, core values, believable characters and real-life situations.”
With a 4.9 star rating on amazon, her bestselling non-fiction book, Writing With Emotion, Tension & Conflict by Writers Digest Books is available in print and digital.
In describing her stories of second chances and redemption, readers and reviewers use words like, “emotional punch, hometown feel, core values, believable characters and real-life situations.”
With a 4.9 star rating on amazon, her bestselling non-fiction book, Writing With Emotion, Tension & Conflict by Writers Digest Books is available in print and digital.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 5, 2016
Until 70% of the book, I thought: Oh I loved this book.
Brock Kinkaid (what a name, it's got handsome written all over it.) returned home, 8 years after the tragedy that drove him away. Youthful infatuation had led to a young boy's death. Brock left the tragedy and a girl with a broken heart, Abby, behind him. What he didn't know was that he also left behind a son, who grew up as someone else's child because Abby had to marry when she found out that she was pregnant and Brock was gong forever.
The chemistry between Brock and Abby really worked very well all the way until 70%. Then somehow it all collapsed. I have the impression that the writer didn't know what else to bring to the table and create more pull between Brock and Abby other than having them reconcile with each other. Their finally coming together should have been a lot more emotional to do the couple justice. They had such a good thing going. I was wondering the entire time why the book got only 3.6 stars average rating when it is such a great story. I read the last 30% and I knew why.
Admittedly I found it hard to comprehend how Brock arrived the conclusion that "he loved her". The revelation came and I wasn't ready for it. But the older Brock was just great. The writer didn't recount the past at all. So it was all a given that Brock left Abby without giving the decision a thought. The excuse is that they were young, which I suppose, is as good a reason as any.
I would still recommend this book though. It is very readable and has 2 great characters who had something special together. It is just I feel that their story didn't end. It was such an unsatisfying ending.
Brock Kinkaid (what a name, it's got handsome written all over it.) returned home, 8 years after the tragedy that drove him away. Youthful infatuation had led to a young boy's death. Brock left the tragedy and a girl with a broken heart, Abby, behind him. What he didn't know was that he also left behind a son, who grew up as someone else's child because Abby had to marry when she found out that she was pregnant and Brock was gong forever.
The chemistry between Brock and Abby really worked very well all the way until 70%. Then somehow it all collapsed. I have the impression that the writer didn't know what else to bring to the table and create more pull between Brock and Abby other than having them reconcile with each other. Their finally coming together should have been a lot more emotional to do the couple justice. They had such a good thing going. I was wondering the entire time why the book got only 3.6 stars average rating when it is such a great story. I read the last 30% and I knew why.
Admittedly I found it hard to comprehend how Brock arrived the conclusion that "he loved her". The revelation came and I wasn't ready for it. But the older Brock was just great. The writer didn't recount the past at all. So it was all a given that Brock left Abby without giving the decision a thought. The excuse is that they were young, which I suppose, is as good a reason as any.
I would still recommend this book though. It is very readable and has 2 great characters who had something special together. It is just I feel that their story didn't end. It was such an unsatisfying ending.
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March 13, 2017Let me preface by saying that I normally really like Cheryl St. John's books and I can't believe it - but I'm DNF'ing this one at Chapter Six. The first time I've ever DNF'ed one of her books.
I loathe the hero. He's a selfish, clueless ass. Rebelling in his younger days, he starts a clandestine "relationship" with the heroine, who has loved him for eons. Her younger brother discovers they've been meeting in secret and challenges the hero in the street - pulling his gun. Needless to say the hero lives to the tell the tale, and the heroine's baby brother is now worm food. Heroine hates hero, hero leaves town for 8 years working as a hired gun. Finally returns home to discover that the heroine has an 8-year-old kid (his son - and naturally don't you know the child speaks with a lisp that is written out phonetically in the text...ARGHHHH!).
The hero doesn't take responsibility for anything and basically asks the heroine why she married the elderly hardware store owner (seriously dude?! She was a single and pregnant - WHAT ELSE WAS SHE GOING TO DO?!?!?!?). He sneers at her new fiance' (a dandy, dontcha know) and basically gets combative with the heroine because she's so stubborn and yada yada yada.
YOU KILLED HER BROTHER, DIDN'T RETURN HER LOVE AND LEFT HER SINGLE AND PREGNANT IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY! What does this guy expect?
The heroine is marginally better. Marginally. Not much though. I get that she's bitter with the hero but by all accounts (there were MULTIPLE witnesses), the murder of her brother was self-defense. This seemed like her biggest gripe - not the whole "he didn't really love me, took advantage of my idiocy and left me knocked up in 19th century Montana." But whatever.
I just couldn't anymore. I hate him. I strongly dislike her. The fiance felt tacked on. The darn kid speaks with a lisp (Lord help us all). I'm out.
I loathe the hero. He's a selfish, clueless ass. Rebelling in his younger days, he starts a clandestine "relationship" with the heroine, who has loved him for eons. Her younger brother discovers they've been meeting in secret and challenges the hero in the street - pulling his gun. Needless to say the hero lives to the tell the tale, and the heroine's baby brother is now worm food. Heroine hates hero, hero leaves town for 8 years working as a hired gun. Finally returns home to discover that the heroine has an 8-year-old kid (his son - and naturally don't you know the child speaks with a lisp that is written out phonetically in the text...ARGHHHH!).
The hero doesn't take responsibility for anything and basically asks the heroine why she married the elderly hardware store owner (seriously dude?! She was a single and pregnant - WHAT ELSE WAS SHE GOING TO DO?!?!?!?). He sneers at her new fiance' (a dandy, dontcha know) and basically gets combative with the heroine because she's so stubborn and yada yada yada.
YOU KILLED HER BROTHER, DIDN'T RETURN HER LOVE AND LEFT HER SINGLE AND PREGNANT IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY! What does this guy expect?
The heroine is marginally better. Marginally. Not much though. I get that she's bitter with the hero but by all accounts (there were MULTIPLE witnesses), the murder of her brother was self-defense. This seemed like her biggest gripe - not the whole "he didn't really love me, took advantage of my idiocy and left me knocked up in 19th century Montana." But whatever.
I just couldn't anymore. I hate him. I strongly dislike her. The fiance felt tacked on. The darn kid speaks with a lisp (Lord help us all). I'm out.
February 27, 2025
Reminder to myself: don’t trust reviews if you have a hunch that a book is going to be good.
And don’t get me wrong, I know this probably wasn’t perfect. But there’s nothing like reading a book that is all you need to read at that moment.
I’ve loved almost all of Cheryl St John’s books so far, they are romances with a tiny itsy little bit of plot on the side, but they’re mostly about raw, imperfect and damaged characters who you want to end up together.
It gets frustrating at times because they take their time and make it painful buuut… so worth it.
(And pls, that kid 🥹)
And don’t get me wrong, I know this probably wasn’t perfect. But there’s nothing like reading a book that is all you need to read at that moment.
I’ve loved almost all of Cheryl St John’s books so far, they are romances with a tiny itsy little bit of plot on the side, but they’re mostly about raw, imperfect and damaged characters who you want to end up together.
It gets frustrating at times because they take their time and make it painful buuut… so worth it.
(And pls, that kid 🥹)
September 28, 2011
This was one of the story lines I'm not that fond of. They were lovers before and after he killed her brother he left town and never knew she was pregnant with his child. I just prefer reading about 2 people meeting and falling in love rather than reuniting. This just didn't hold my interest and I felt like the characters were not acting true to their times. I made it about half way through before I lost all interest.
June 4, 2015
I started this book because I loved the synopsis. I have always been a sucker for lost loves and surprise children. I am also a complete sucker for Cheryl St. John, these two elements had me diving in without a second thought.
"The only personal possessions he still owned were the pair of carved, ivory-handled .45 Peacemakers in the holsters strapped to his thighs, as much a living part of him as his arms or his legs. They’d saved his life more times than he could count, and leaving them behind would make him more vulnerable than he could afford to be and still live."
The story begins with a man named Brock Kincaide, seriously that name alone is completely swoon worthy, he is making his way home after a very long hiatus. I could tell from the beginning that he had left his home because of a tragedy and because of guilt. Now, he is returning home to face old ghosts and make amends for what he did. What he comes home to is a very surprised, angry and unforgiving Abby. He also comes home a father.
“Well, I thought our—relationship was quite romantic and forbidden and exciting. He was the most handsome young man—those sad blue eyes and that wavy hair—and he had this…this appeal. I can’t explain it.”
Abby and Brock were a boy and girl that sought solace in one another as teenagers now, of course both had different reasons for wanting the other. Abby wanted Brock for a long time and when her fantasy of being with him became a reality, she had high hopes and dreams of what they had, becoming more. Brock, on the other hand, sought Abby’s affections to numb the misery. He was still a boy, he couldn’t see past his teenage lust and didn’t see anything past the moment. When a night of passion turns in to tragedy, Brock runs and unknowingly leaves Abby alone to bear his child. I can only imagine, given the time period, the fear and confusion that Abby felt. I realized reading this why Abby holds such hurt towards Brock, but it is not only hurt she holds it’s resentment. She doesn’t resent her child but she resents her foolish naive behavior. Cheryl captured these emotions beautifully, she really gave light to the turmoil that Abby went through and why she has a much harder personality then most women.
When Brock comes home and discovers he has a son, he will stop at nothing to become the boy’s father. He will fight the fiery girl he once knew and make sure she knows, even if she doesn’t want him, he still wants his son. Brock was magnificent, he is by far my favorite male character from Cheryl. He has a quiet temperament that can eat up a room in it’s dominance. He doesn’t have to say anything to make a room know he is there and he has a heart that gives more then it takes. I loved how Cheryl wrote him, he dominated the pages and when him and Abby were in a room alone I could feel that chemistry making it’s presence known. Brock is a man that can’t take no for an answer, so when his affections for Abby come to the surface, he isn’t quite expecting a once pliant girl to be a stubborn woman. His fight was only just beginning, but Brock is used to a fight and this is one he definitely wants to win.
“Does your pulse beat faster when he stands this near?”
“Does the smell of your hair make him want to lean close and fill his lungs with you?”
“Does your breath come hard and fast when he touches you?”
This story grabbed me from the beginning and kept me until 3AM in the morning. I was in book hangover for a couple of days, even now thinking about it I want to re-read it. The thing that I love most about Cheryl’s writing is that there is so much depth to her stories. There is nothing simple about them. When I tell people about her books, I can never just simply tell them the description. I find myself describing how this story is about first impressions, missed opportunities, learning to forgive and learning to never settle. Abby and Brock’s relationship is full of those things but most of all, their relationship is surrounded by love, understanding and friendship. That, is a talented author.
"The only personal possessions he still owned were the pair of carved, ivory-handled .45 Peacemakers in the holsters strapped to his thighs, as much a living part of him as his arms or his legs. They’d saved his life more times than he could count, and leaving them behind would make him more vulnerable than he could afford to be and still live."
The story begins with a man named Brock Kincaide, seriously that name alone is completely swoon worthy, he is making his way home after a very long hiatus. I could tell from the beginning that he had left his home because of a tragedy and because of guilt. Now, he is returning home to face old ghosts and make amends for what he did. What he comes home to is a very surprised, angry and unforgiving Abby. He also comes home a father.
“Well, I thought our—relationship was quite romantic and forbidden and exciting. He was the most handsome young man—those sad blue eyes and that wavy hair—and he had this…this appeal. I can’t explain it.”
Abby and Brock were a boy and girl that sought solace in one another as teenagers now, of course both had different reasons for wanting the other. Abby wanted Brock for a long time and when her fantasy of being with him became a reality, she had high hopes and dreams of what they had, becoming more. Brock, on the other hand, sought Abby’s affections to numb the misery. He was still a boy, he couldn’t see past his teenage lust and didn’t see anything past the moment. When a night of passion turns in to tragedy, Brock runs and unknowingly leaves Abby alone to bear his child. I can only imagine, given the time period, the fear and confusion that Abby felt. I realized reading this why Abby holds such hurt towards Brock, but it is not only hurt she holds it’s resentment. She doesn’t resent her child but she resents her foolish naive behavior. Cheryl captured these emotions beautifully, she really gave light to the turmoil that Abby went through and why she has a much harder personality then most women.
When Brock comes home and discovers he has a son, he will stop at nothing to become the boy’s father. He will fight the fiery girl he once knew and make sure she knows, even if she doesn’t want him, he still wants his son. Brock was magnificent, he is by far my favorite male character from Cheryl. He has a quiet temperament that can eat up a room in it’s dominance. He doesn’t have to say anything to make a room know he is there and he has a heart that gives more then it takes. I loved how Cheryl wrote him, he dominated the pages and when him and Abby were in a room alone I could feel that chemistry making it’s presence known. Brock is a man that can’t take no for an answer, so when his affections for Abby come to the surface, he isn’t quite expecting a once pliant girl to be a stubborn woman. His fight was only just beginning, but Brock is used to a fight and this is one he definitely wants to win.
“Does your pulse beat faster when he stands this near?”
“Does the smell of your hair make him want to lean close and fill his lungs with you?”
“Does your breath come hard and fast when he touches you?”
This story grabbed me from the beginning and kept me until 3AM in the morning. I was in book hangover for a couple of days, even now thinking about it I want to re-read it. The thing that I love most about Cheryl’s writing is that there is so much depth to her stories. There is nothing simple about them. When I tell people about her books, I can never just simply tell them the description. I find myself describing how this story is about first impressions, missed opportunities, learning to forgive and learning to never settle. Abby and Brock’s relationship is full of those things but most of all, their relationship is surrounded by love, understanding and friendship. That, is a talented author.
August 12, 2015
Brock Kincaid was coming back to his Montana home. He was the youngest of three brothers. He had been gone eight years and had made his living as a hired gun. Brock left when things were confusing in his family. He had been seeing a young innocent infatuated girl secretly down by the river but her hot headed little brother found out and drew a gun on Brock. Brock was faster and killed him. He was just a young kid. Now Brock's life was really messed up. Leaving seemed to be the only way out.
Now he was home. He had circled around in secret to be sure his past would not follow him home. Brock kept his arrival secret because he was not sure his brothers would want to see him or how people would react to his return.
Outside the hardware store be saw two young boys playing. Both were Kincaid children, he could tell by their features. The oldest must be his brother's boy Zeke and he guessed his brother had a second child. Abby, the girl he used to see came out to get the boys but the youngest boy appeared to be her son? Looking at the child who was a mirror image of himself and doing the math in his head, Brock realized he had a son that he never knew about.
Abby was a widow who had married the much older owner of the hardware store who had now died. Jonathan believed that old Jeb was his father. Brock was angry. He had missed the first seven years of his son's life.
Abby was filled with hatred for Brock. She hated guns and the men. Who wore them. She was unable to get over her brother's death. Her son was adorable but he was growing up and she wanted to protect him from the reality of life. No guns, no dime novels, no killing, and was teaching Jonathan about an unrealistic world.
This is one of the best books I have ever read. To understand the book you must read it all. Brock's love for them is touching.
Now he was home. He had circled around in secret to be sure his past would not follow him home. Brock kept his arrival secret because he was not sure his brothers would want to see him or how people would react to his return.
Outside the hardware store be saw two young boys playing. Both were Kincaid children, he could tell by their features. The oldest must be his brother's boy Zeke and he guessed his brother had a second child. Abby, the girl he used to see came out to get the boys but the youngest boy appeared to be her son? Looking at the child who was a mirror image of himself and doing the math in his head, Brock realized he had a son that he never knew about.
Abby was a widow who had married the much older owner of the hardware store who had now died. Jonathan believed that old Jeb was his father. Brock was angry. He had missed the first seven years of his son's life.
Abby was filled with hatred for Brock. She hated guns and the men. Who wore them. She was unable to get over her brother's death. Her son was adorable but he was growing up and she wanted to protect him from the reality of life. No guns, no dime novels, no killing, and was teaching Jonathan about an unrealistic world.
This is one of the best books I have ever read. To understand the book you must read it all. Brock's love for them is touching.
July 9, 2011
A very good second chance at love story. I will read more Cheryl St. John.
So far the Montana Mavericks books that I've read have been good. I'm very pleased to have found this batch of books. There are tons of them, from historical all the way up to contemporary.
So far the Montana Mavericks books that I've read have been good. I'm very pleased to have found this batch of books. There are tons of them, from historical all the way up to contemporary.
October 28, 2010
What a wonderful story of love and hope!
April 15, 2025
Only discovered Cheryl St. John in the last year. Her books are a little old school (like me) and don’t get a lot of reviews. so… I’m leaving my nickels worth here. I’ve loved every story I’ve read by her and this one is no exception. Her characters have some flaws but they will wrap around your heart and pull on all your emotions. This book was no exception. The Hero is the quintessential quiet, brooding, type A Hero with a soft middle and heart of gold, also stubborn and a little angry. The heroine is smart, independent and incredibly foolish not to recognize the cowboy and all the love he has to offer.
Of course it would be a very short book if they figured everything out in the first chapter - so just go along and enjoy the ride!
Of course it would be a very short book if they figured everything out in the first chapter - so just go along and enjoy the ride!
October 20, 2018
Brock Kincaid has returned home to Whitehorn, Montana. He hoped it was to his brothers and friend that would be glad he was home. Then there was Abby Watson, the main reason he left after he shot her brother all those years ago. She had loved him back then, now no. This had a lot of emotional baggage to deal with all through the story for both Brock and Abby. I enjoyed this book so much read it in 24 hours it was so good. It took your mind and imagination to Whitehorn, Montana.
November 11, 2020
DNF. I like Cheryl St. John's books, but this was not one of her best. The kid was super annoying, with an irritating lisp, and the emotions were SO! DRAMATIC!
November 25, 2021
It was okay.
December 5, 2023
Fabulous story. I really enjoyed it.
March 12, 2024
Good Read
An enjoyable historical as well as second-chance romance: Good plot. Characters to care about. Racism handled well. Small town dynamics. Family loyalty.
An enjoyable historical as well as second-chance romance: Good plot. Characters to care about. Racism handled well. Small town dynamics. Family loyalty.
May 22, 2024
*chefs kiss*
August 7, 2024
*audiobook courtesy of Harlequin podcast (season 2)
Story tied up and ended abruptly. Could have been extended easily if the shooting at the dance had been from Brock’s past as a gunslinger.
Story tied up and ended abruptly. Could have been extended easily if the shooting at the dance had been from Brock’s past as a gunslinger.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2022
I enjoyed this book a lot and thought it was well written and had a lot of angst and star crossed love to keep my interest. Brock and Abby had been lovers in their youth, but when Abby’s brother found out he called Brock out. Unfortunately Brock killed him and in her grief Abby drove Brock away. When Abby found herself pregnant, her father married her off to one of his friends, an older but kind man who claimed her child as his own. Years later, Abby’s husband had died and Brock, who had spent the years as a hired gun, returned home to be with his family. As soon as Brock sees Abby’s son, he recognizes he could be the child’s father. But unfortunately Abby still resents Brock for killing her brother and running away. Plus she has become engaged to another man with plans to marry in a few months.
September 12, 2012
The story line was good. Brock returns to town after being gone eight years only to find all kinds of changes. His brother that was gone has returned while his other brother lost a wife and remarried. His old girl friend married, became a widow and is about to re-marry. And oh yeah, he's a father.
I like the way the author helped him put his old life to rest so that he could get on with being a father which was really important to him. The story was a little more sensual than I usually read, but to be expected of the line it was published in. Over all, it was a good book. I've liked all of Cheryl St. Johns books I've read.
I like the way the author helped him put his old life to rest so that he could get on with being a father which was really important to him. The story was a little more sensual than I usually read, but to be expected of the line it was published in. Over all, it was a good book. I've liked all of Cheryl St. Johns books I've read.
June 16, 2016
Enjoyable
Brock and Abby were enjoyable to read. I liked the basis of the storyline however, Jonathon's lisped parts threw my reading off, Abby's reasoning to take Brock back and how it went down was predictable, and the epilogue was pointless - at least to this reader.
Brock and Abby were enjoyable to read. I liked the basis of the storyline however, Jonathon's lisped parts threw my reading off, Abby's reasoning to take Brock back and how it went down was predictable, and the epilogue was pointless - at least to this reader.
May 24, 2012
A bit boring, not my fave by this author
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September 8, 2013I tried but I could not finish this book.
June 18, 2014
An excellent read. Very hard to put down.Enjoyed it very much.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews