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A Bride for McCain
Ross has his pride…
Ross McCain is determined to bring a schoolteacher to town, even if he has to carry her all the way out West. But he's not anticipated Miss Grimes being so hard to live with—or that he'd wind up proposing to her just to keep her from leaving!
Jessica has a secret…
Forced to flee Sacramento, posing as a schoolteacher, Jessica Tierney is out of her depth. She knows nothing of country living, let alone children! And now rancher Ross McCain is insisting that they marry. But how can she let their marriage be based on a lie—especially when she discovers she's falling in love with him?
Ross McCain is determined to bring a schoolteacher to town, even if he has to carry her all the way out West. But he's not anticipated Miss Grimes being so hard to live with—or that he'd wind up proposing to her just to keep her from leaving!
Jessica has a secret…
Forced to flee Sacramento, posing as a schoolteacher, Jessica Tierney is out of her depth. She knows nothing of country living, let alone children! And now rancher Ross McCain is insisting that they marry. But how can she let their marriage be based on a lie—especially when she discovers she's falling in love with him?
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2000
13 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Mary Burton
69 books4,257 followersMary Burton, whose latest novel is THE LIES I TOLD, loves writing suspense, getting to know her characters, keeping up with law enforcement and forensic procedure, morning walks, baking, and tiny dachshunds. She also enjoys hunting down serial killers, which she does in her New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels. Library Journal has compared her work to that of Lisa Jackson and Lisa Gardner, and Fresh Fiction likened her writing to that of James Patterson.
Mary is routinely featured among the top ten writers in Amazon’s Author Rankings for romantic suspense, thriller and mystery. Upon publication, her novels, including NEVER LOOK BACK and BURN YOU TWICE, consistently rank high on the Kindle eBooks Store Bestseller List. Her novels CUT AND RUN and YOU'RE NOT SAFE were nominated for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for Romantic Suspense.
A Richmond native, Mary is the author of forty-five published novels and five novellas as Mary Burton and as Mary Ellen Taylor.
A member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., and Romance Writers of America, Mary is known for creating multiple suspense stories connected by characters and/or place.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 16, 2018
I was in the mood for a historical western romance after watching the new season of Anne with an E. This was ok. Good but I wish some thing were better.
What I liked:
1. Jessica and McCain are both lowkey funny. Not laugh out loud funny, aimed at readers, but they were sacrastic and found humor in their lives. Their arguments were cute because they do not take themselves seriously.
2. They are also well matched. Jessica is penniless, but had a rich father and was bred to be a rich man's wife. She's beautiful and snobby, but with a warm heart and the ability to open her mind. McCain is a self made millionaire who owns the whole town. Despite being employed by him, I did not get the sense that Jessica was below him. It wasn't a Cinderella story where the man has all the social power. And neither of them tried to change each other.
3. The townspeople were realisitic and the crazyness of the old west was realistic.
What I didn't like:
1. The drama at the end. Obviously the secret past plot will have drama. But at 80% it turned into "we could have avoided this with one conversation" drama. Not fun to read about.
2. Romance heavy, but the world building was super light. She's a school teacher but we see her teach like 1 class 60% of the way in. She's living in the harsh west but the only hardship she has is ugly dresses and not being able to work a stove. It could have been a much better book if other aspects were more developed.
What I liked:
1. Jessica and McCain are both lowkey funny. Not laugh out loud funny, aimed at readers, but they were sacrastic and found humor in their lives. Their arguments were cute because they do not take themselves seriously.
2. They are also well matched. Jessica is penniless, but had a rich father and was bred to be a rich man's wife. She's beautiful and snobby, but with a warm heart and the ability to open her mind. McCain is a self made millionaire who owns the whole town. Despite being employed by him, I did not get the sense that Jessica was below him. It wasn't a Cinderella story where the man has all the social power. And neither of them tried to change each other.
3. The townspeople were realisitic and the crazyness of the old west was realistic.
What I didn't like:
1. The drama at the end. Obviously the secret past plot will have drama. But at 80% it turned into "we could have avoided this with one conversation" drama. Not fun to read about.
2. Romance heavy, but the world building was super light. She's a school teacher but we see her teach like 1 class 60% of the way in. She's living in the harsh west but the only hardship she has is ugly dresses and not being able to work a stove. It could have been a much better book if other aspects were more developed.
March 13, 2024
Lo poco que he leído de esta autora me ha gustado, no solo por su estilo, también por la forma en que los personajes y sus situaciones cotidianas te meten de lleno en la época y la historia, que siempre me transmite y empatizo con ellos.
En esta ocasión todo comienza con una huida desesperada y una mentira que cada vez se hace más grande, al principio por miedo y después porque ya no sabe cómo salir de ella sin hacer daño a la gente con la que se ha encariñado.
Jessica, con quien empieza la mentira, me ha gustado mucho. Tiene momentos en que sus pensamientos y actitudes me han hecho sonreír, por su sarcasmo y a veces su descaro. Pero también su buen corazón y empeño en demostrar que vale para mucho más que ser un bonito adorno.
Ross es un hombre hecho a sí mismo, dueño del pueblo y que tiene un gran sentido de la responsabilidad. Su determinación en que los niños aprendan y así puedan prosperar me ha parecido muy bonito, además de pensar siempre en el bienestar de todos los vecinos.
Cuando se conocen, la atracción es inmediata pero mantienen las distancias, cada uno por sus motivos, pero después todo se desborda y aparecen los sentimientos. Su relación tiene de todo. Momentos bonitos, enfrentamientos dialécticos que me han hecho reír, ternura y cuando todo sale a la luz me ha gustado mucho la actitud de ella y también la de él, que me ha sorprendido gratamente ya que teniendo todo a favor para actuar de una forma más dura, ha demostrado su buen corazón. Ross y Jessica me han conquistado y los secundarios son un acompañamiento perfecto que dan vida a la historia sin eclipsar a la pareja ni a la trama principal.
Una novela con la que he disfrutado y que tengo que recomendar 💞.
En esta ocasión todo comienza con una huida desesperada y una mentira que cada vez se hace más grande, al principio por miedo y después porque ya no sabe cómo salir de ella sin hacer daño a la gente con la que se ha encariñado.
Jessica, con quien empieza la mentira, me ha gustado mucho. Tiene momentos en que sus pensamientos y actitudes me han hecho sonreír, por su sarcasmo y a veces su descaro. Pero también su buen corazón y empeño en demostrar que vale para mucho más que ser un bonito adorno.
Ross es un hombre hecho a sí mismo, dueño del pueblo y que tiene un gran sentido de la responsabilidad. Su determinación en que los niños aprendan y así puedan prosperar me ha parecido muy bonito, además de pensar siempre en el bienestar de todos los vecinos.
Cuando se conocen, la atracción es inmediata pero mantienen las distancias, cada uno por sus motivos, pero después todo se desborda y aparecen los sentimientos. Su relación tiene de todo. Momentos bonitos, enfrentamientos dialécticos que me han hecho reír, ternura y cuando todo sale a la luz me ha gustado mucho la actitud de ella y también la de él, que me ha sorprendido gratamente ya que teniendo todo a favor para actuar de una forma más dura, ha demostrado su buen corazón. Ross y Jessica me han conquistado y los secundarios son un acompañamiento perfecto que dan vida a la historia sin eclipsar a la pareja ni a la trama principal.
Una novela con la que he disfrutado y que tengo que recomendar 💞.
October 9, 2011
It is 1876 and Jessica Tierney is in trouble and on the run. It starts as a misunderstanding when she arrives in Cheyenne, Wyoming but soon envelopes her life and changes her ways.
Ross McCain is a rancher who wants the community he lives in to move forward. He thinks Jessica is a teacher that he contracted with but has never met until she arrives in his town. Unfortunately, this is a misunderstanding on his part and Jessica takes advantage of the situation.
Ross is remote because of a painful past relationship but he slowly softens when he continually confronts the spirited Jessica. The underlying deception adds a cautious element to their relationship. There is a marriage of convenience between the two strong characters and it evolves into a story of love and forgiveness.
A BRIDE FOR MCCAIN is a Harlequin with a plot that has been done before but I still enjoyed the story. I didn't spend all night trying to finish the book but the fictitious tale moved along reasonably well. If you like this type of romance, other works you may want to try are Jill Limber's MONTANA MORNING (****) or Judith French's THE TAMING OF SHAW MACCADE (***).
Ross McCain is a rancher who wants the community he lives in to move forward. He thinks Jessica is a teacher that he contracted with but has never met until she arrives in his town. Unfortunately, this is a misunderstanding on his part and Jessica takes advantage of the situation.
Ross is remote because of a painful past relationship but he slowly softens when he continually confronts the spirited Jessica. The underlying deception adds a cautious element to their relationship. There is a marriage of convenience between the two strong characters and it evolves into a story of love and forgiveness.
A BRIDE FOR MCCAIN is a Harlequin with a plot that has been done before but I still enjoyed the story. I didn't spend all night trying to finish the book but the fictitious tale moved along reasonably well. If you like this type of romance, other works you may want to try are Jill Limber's MONTANA MORNING (****) or Judith French's THE TAMING OF SHAW MACCADE (***).
April 5, 2018
Desperate to flee a forced marriage to a fortune hunter, Jessica Tierney poses as a schoolteacher and takes another woman's place on a train from Sacramento to Colorado. She soon finds that although she can read and write she is sorely missing any other attributes needed to be a country teacher. Ross McCain has brought 2 previous teachers to Prosperity, CO, only to have them marry in 2 weeks and go off with their new husbands. This time he makes her sign a 2 year contract and puts her up in his home, hoping to keep the men at bay. As Emma (Jessica) begins to fit in and learn frontier life, she starts falling for Ross, a black and white proponent of truth. What will happen when her past catches up with her. Interesting story but pretty predictable.
April 22, 2016
Si hubiese leído esta historia hace un par de años le hubiese dado 4 stars, pero a día de hoy soy un poco más exigente con mis romances…
Sigo sin entender como en la descripción del libro ponen algo que después no coincide con la realidad, parecerá una tontería, pero no es lo mismo “terminar teniendo que proponer matrimonio a ella para que no se vaya” tal y como se dice en la descripción, que , no es lo mismo…
A parte de esta pequeña minucia, que tampoco tiene más importancia, está el problema del engaño, pero esa es la base del romance así que parecería hipócrita quejarse de eso, sólo me voy a quejar de que la mentira . Lo bueno es que después de esto la historia se vuelve de lo más entretenida y se “auto redime”.
Bueno, para ser sincera también me ha resultado un poquito empalagosa la relación del hijo de McCain con Jessica.
Pero, a pesar de todas estas minucias, me ha gustado. Yo creo que lo que me ha pasado es que me ha dejado un buen sabor de boca (ese epílogo es digno de un coma glucoso!) y me ha hecho olvidar las 2 ocasiones en las que hubiese tirado la toalla.
En resumen, no vas a encontrar nada original, hay un poquito de melodrama y de empalagoseo pero al final funciona.
Ni bien ni mal sino todo lo contrario.
;)
If I would had read this story a couple of years ago I would have given it 4 stars, but today I am a little bit pickier about my romances...
I still do not understand how the blurb says something that then does not match the story, it may seems a trifle, but it isn't the same "he´d wind up having to propose marriage to her[...]" as it says in the blurb, than , it isn't the same ...
Aside from this small trifle, which it´s not big deal, there is the problem of The Deception, but this is the romance´s foundation, so it would seem hypocritical to complain about it, so I'll just complain about . The good news is that after that, the story becomes more entertaining and it redeems itself.
Well, to be honest, the relationship between Jessica and McCain´s son also has been a bit cloying.
But, despite all these minutiae, I liked it. I believe that what has happened to me is that the story has left me with a good aftertaste and has made me forget the 2 occasions in which I would have throw in the towel.
In short, you won't find anything original there, there's a bit of melodrama and an oversweetness but ultimately it works.
Sigo sin entender como en la descripción del libro ponen algo que después no coincide con la realidad, parecerá una tontería, pero no es lo mismo “terminar teniendo que proponer matrimonio a ella para que no se vaya” tal y como se dice en la descripción, que , no es lo mismo…
A parte de esta pequeña minucia, que tampoco tiene más importancia, está el problema del engaño, pero esa es la base del romance así que parecería hipócrita quejarse de eso, sólo me voy a quejar de que la mentira . Lo bueno es que después de esto la historia se vuelve de lo más entretenida y se “auto redime”.
Bueno, para ser sincera también me ha resultado un poquito empalagosa la relación del hijo de McCain con Jessica.
Pero, a pesar de todas estas minucias, me ha gustado. Yo creo que lo que me ha pasado es que me ha dejado un buen sabor de boca (ese epílogo es digno de un coma glucoso!) y me ha hecho olvidar las 2 ocasiones en las que hubiese tirado la toalla.
En resumen, no vas a encontrar nada original, hay un poquito de melodrama y de empalagoseo pero al final funciona.
Ni bien ni mal sino todo lo contrario.
;)
If I would had read this story a couple of years ago I would have given it 4 stars, but today I am a little bit pickier about my romances...
I still do not understand how the blurb says something that then does not match the story, it may seems a trifle, but it isn't the same "he´d wind up having to propose marriage to her[...]" as it says in the blurb, than , it isn't the same ...
Aside from this small trifle, which it´s not big deal, there is the problem of The Deception, but this is the romance´s foundation, so it would seem hypocritical to complain about it, so I'll just complain about . The good news is that after that, the story becomes more entertaining and it redeems itself.
Well, to be honest, the relationship between Jessica and McCain´s son also has been a bit cloying.
But, despite all these minutiae, I liked it. I believe that what has happened to me is that the story has left me with a good aftertaste and has made me forget the 2 occasions in which I would have throw in the towel.
In short, you won't find anything original there, there's a bit of melodrama and an oversweetness but ultimately it works.
December 17, 2010
Review Date: 1/20/2009
"I cherished also totally did enjoyed A Bride For McCain this is a Historical sweet,sweet Love Story. It touches on the emotions.It gives hope & speaks volumes of Happy Ever afters in the mist of confusement, misunderstandings,trust,life renewal but above all the main focus stands out clear True love is a wonderful thing between a man & woman. A Lovestory that's quickly likable NOT TO BE MISSUNDERSTOOD A BRIDE FOR MCCAIN is A must read.Bravoooooo to Ms. Mary Burton."
"I cherished also totally did enjoyed A Bride For McCain this is a Historical sweet,sweet Love Story. It touches on the emotions.It gives hope & speaks volumes of Happy Ever afters in the mist of confusement, misunderstandings,trust,life renewal but above all the main focus stands out clear True love is a wonderful thing between a man & woman. A Lovestory that's quickly likable NOT TO BE MISSUNDERSTOOD A BRIDE FOR MCCAIN is A must read.Bravoooooo to Ms. Mary Burton."
October 2, 2023
**3.5**
I’m back on a marriage of convenience kick and I really enjoyed this. I didn’t love the main plot point but they couple had a great connection and I loved the moments with his son. Wholesome read.
- marriage of convenience
I’m back on a marriage of convenience kick and I really enjoyed this. I didn’t love the main plot point but they couple had a great connection and I loved the moments with his son. Wholesome read.
- marriage of convenience
March 4, 2021
3.5 ⭐
November 6, 2024
Good...
...quick romance read. Jessica takes the place of the newly hired school teacher to escape a bad situation. Little does she know how that step will change her entire life.
...quick romance read. Jessica takes the place of the newly hired school teacher to escape a bad situation. Little does she know how that step will change her entire life.
December 11, 2025
If the main conflict could have been avoided by a single conversation the book is a failure.
June 14, 2019
The story begins in 1876 Sacramento and moves to Prosperity, Colorado. Jessica Tierney’s father has died and the will gives Jessica one chance to inherit his millions – marry her father’s business partner within 30 days. Otherwise, the money goes to the orphanage where Jessica’s father grew up. The idea is odious to Jessica and she flees Sacramento.
Rushing to the train station, she learns that the train is waiting for a schoolteacher for Prosperity, Colorado. Since the next train won’t leave until the next morning, Jessica announces that she is the teacher. She decides that she can explain her predicament to Mr. Ross McCain as soon as she meets him (9 days in the future).
Because Ross has lost the last two teachers because they were attractive – they moved to town, met an agreeable man and married within a few days or weeks. Thus, Ross ordered the next teacher to be unattractive; unfortunately for him, Jessica is beautiful. As soon as he sees Jessica, he starts talking about broken contracts and jail time. Jessica is terrified and does not tell him the story; she signs to stay 2 years as a teacher.
However, Jessica is not a teacher. She prepares her lessons and starts school. Before long, Ross realizes he must marry her to keep her safe from other men (what a noble guy). But this ‘princess of Prosperity’ likes the people and soon becomes part of the community.
But trouble is brewing; this is a cute and quick story of how Jessica gets herself out a real mess. Although this plotline has been used before, the author weaves a pleasant story. This is Mary Burton’s first published historical romance.
Rushing to the train station, she learns that the train is waiting for a schoolteacher for Prosperity, Colorado. Since the next train won’t leave until the next morning, Jessica announces that she is the teacher. She decides that she can explain her predicament to Mr. Ross McCain as soon as she meets him (9 days in the future).
Because Ross has lost the last two teachers because they were attractive – they moved to town, met an agreeable man and married within a few days or weeks. Thus, Ross ordered the next teacher to be unattractive; unfortunately for him, Jessica is beautiful. As soon as he sees Jessica, he starts talking about broken contracts and jail time. Jessica is terrified and does not tell him the story; she signs to stay 2 years as a teacher.
However, Jessica is not a teacher. She prepares her lessons and starts school. Before long, Ross realizes he must marry her to keep her safe from other men (what a noble guy). But this ‘princess of Prosperity’ likes the people and soon becomes part of the community.
But trouble is brewing; this is a cute and quick story of how Jessica gets herself out a real mess. Although this plotline has been used before, the author weaves a pleasant story. This is Mary Burton’s first published historical romance.
December 16, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. It was sweet without being nauseating and the characters were well developed with true human characteristics. Attempting to outruse her tormenter "Emma" escapes to wild Wyoming posing as a school teacher. She's trained to be a society wife with no other useful skills for someone hoping to make a living in the territory. In a cacophony of trials and errors she wins the heart and the citizens of Prosperity while she falls in love with the town's founder. Then disaster strikes. A story of courage, values, self discovery, friendship, forgiveness and love all wrapped up in this old west package. A good read.
September 16, 2017
This book was ok not really anything special as with all books I've read you look for one with something special to bring it to a wow moment but it was just like any other book so it didn't really surprise me much.
July 1, 2021
Delightful.
This is a lovely romantic read. Unexpectedly holding one's attention until the final page. I usually read detective books and this made a delightful change, and one I am eager to follow up on.
This is a lovely romantic read. Unexpectedly holding one's attention until the final page. I usually read detective books and this made a delightful change, and one I am eager to follow up on.
March 1, 2014
good but light for killing your spare time
August 3, 2015
Really enjoyed the ruggedness of this early American years. I was totally entertained.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews