Outlaw's Bride

by Maureen McKade

Mattie St. Clair knows that Clint Beaudry is a dangerous man the moment she sets eyes on him. Though she refuses the tall, dark, devastatingly handsome gunman a room in her boardinghouse, Mattie cannot turn him away a second time when he is carried to her door critically wounded. It's best if she just lets this troublesome stranger mend and move on- considering the unwanted feelings of desire he stirs up within her whenever he turns his deep, dangerous gaze her way. This beautiful, strong-willed widow does something special to the hardened ex-marshal with her tender, healing touch -- tempting Clint to reconsider his vow never to let another woman into his perilous life. Despite her stubborn independence, Mattie's barely restrained passion tells him that she's been too long without a good man at her side. And since she and her young son both are in desperate need of a hero, what choice does Clint have -- except to become one?

Genres: Historical Romance, Westerns, Romance, Historical, Western Romance

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Maureen McKade has been making up stories since the moment she learned to read, write and string sentences together. Her first book, "Winter Hearts", published in 1997 was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America's (RWA) Golden Heart contest, then a finalist in RWA's RITA for best first book. Since then, she's written thirteen more books and a short story for an anthology.

She taught middle school science for three years then held a variety of jobs--bookstore clerk, administrative assistant, customer service manager, department manager, and pharmacy technician--until she settling on writing. (Or, more aptly, until writing settled on her.)

Maureen and her husband, a retired Air Force officer, now live on 40 nature-filled acres in southwestern North Dakota with their two French Brittany Spaniels and three cats. Her eclectic list of leisure pursuits include long walks with hubby and their two dogs, reading, wildlife watching, golfing, bird hunting, and puttering around in the kitchen.

Reviews

[Zoe · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is alright, but isn't remarkable either. It has a common story line in historical western romance: a man was on a man hunt for the person who murdered his wife. He was not home to protect said wife so he blamed himself. Then he met this widow with a son, who just happened to hate someone like him but of course they had an attraction that was too strong to be denied. Throw in a few secondary characters and another man who was just everything the heroine believed a good man should be. Alas, she didn't know what she really wanted so then we had to watch this I love you but I promised to marry him comedy taking place.

I finished the book in less than 90 minutes because there isn't much to spend time on. It is an easy read which will be forgotten tomorrow. But I did manage to finish the book. That also says something positive about it.

[ann_zack_cee_am_ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really liking the story up until he mentioned that he had been sleeping with saloon women while on the hunt for his wife’s rapist and killer. Like I understand men have needs and all, but who in the right mind would think of sleeping with other women just after the death of your wife? This information dampened my spirit a bit but I kept on reading anyway. I love the slowburn romance, some flirtings here and there, the cheeky banters. I really love the sexual tension between MCs although they never really slept with one another until the last quarter of the story. But I also hate it when authors throw a wrench into the story like I-need-to-get-her-out-of-my-mind-by-finding-other-willing-woman-to-ease-my-sexual-appetite. Like are you really lacking that self virtue and control for you to think of propositioning other woman just because the woman you really want have not slept with you yet?! Like damn, how fragile this man can be without sex! Give me a man who can’t stand a minute of not thinking about her. Give me a man who gets disgusted at slightest touch of another woman.

And ohhh damn it why they have to take so long and so stubborn to profess their love for one another, like you’ve slept with one another and they weren’t shy enough about it so what’s stopping them to say I love you to one another?! *facepalms*

[Stormy · Rating 1 out of 5]

A bitchy heroine is not what I am looking for in my Western romances, that's for sure.

The first few seconds of her speaking to the hero when they first met, I immediately thought, "wow, that was bitchy!" Especially since she was afraid of him as he looked liked a hired gun, she sure tested her luck by being an outright bitch. It's one thing to be firm and say NO to someone wanting to be a boarder in her boardinghouse, and it's another to be outright hostile. I was hoping it would get better, but it definitely did not (for me, at least).

The good moments were extremely soap opera'ish corny and the bad parts were the heroine opening her mouth.

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have been a 4 or 5 star book for me except the last 30 pages. The author included a bunch of tropes at that point that I don't particularly like.

Tropes
unexpected baby
single parent
sick bed
western
found family

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters of Maggie and Clint had depth and complexity; they were also believable for the reader. Each had personal hang-ups (Mattie did not want to love a gunfighter/lawman again; Clint was riddled with guilt about not being there when his wife was killed.

To tell why I thought the story was a 4 star, I will have to give a XXXX SPOILER ALERT XXXXXX. I thought after her previous experience with Jason, Maggie would not have gotten involved with Clint enough so that she could be pregnant and unwed. Because of Maggie's constancy and levelheadedness, I thought she would have avoided that problem.

Overall, this was an interesting study of promises made and promises kept.

[Mary23nm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not my first McKade book, and I have enjoyed the others I have read. That being said, reading the first half of this book was like watching paint dry. The hero: I lust after you, but I can't have you because I have to avenge my wife's death. Heroine: I lust after you, but you are a gunslinger(but he isn't) and I can't have that. Blah, blah blah. Somewhere after the first half, the hero and heroine finally got busy and things picked up a little. Nice bit of action/conflict and resolution towards the end. 2.5/5 stars

[Julie Lence · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable read. The passion, attraction and love between Clint and Mattie could be felt through the entire book.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book! Everything I want in historical western -- hurt/comfort, a hot cowboy and a woman who doesn't take any crap. Maureen McKade ROCKS!

[Christine Sottolano-stefanko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Maureen McKade's historical romances. I only hope she has more to come. I've read everyone so far!!

[Sanderella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I've read a lot of books by this author and have liked them. :)