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Willow Grove, Texas #1
McKinnon's Bride
Christian Historical Romance
Willow Grove, Texas Series -- Book 1
Willow Grove, Texas, 1883
He’d always scoffed at love at first sight...
But the day Cade McKinnon walked into his kitchen and found Jessie Monroe cooking supper, he became a believer. Jessie made him long to turn his ranch house into a true home. But could a woman who prized honesty above all forgive being lied to—even for her own good?
After surviving a nightmare of a marriage, Jessie Monroe was hard-pressed to believe any man’s promises. Until she met Cade McKinnon, the man who made her dream of a better life. She was attracted to him, true enough, but could she trust him...and her yearning heart?
NOTE: Other books in this series are:
TWICE BLESSED -- Book 2, Steeple Hill Books
STANDING TALL -- Book 3
Willow Grove, Texas Series -- Book 1
Willow Grove, Texas, 1883
He’d always scoffed at love at first sight...
But the day Cade McKinnon walked into his kitchen and found Jessie Monroe cooking supper, he became a believer. Jessie made him long to turn his ranch house into a true home. But could a woman who prized honesty above all forgive being lied to—even for her own good?
After surviving a nightmare of a marriage, Jessie Monroe was hard-pressed to believe any man’s promises. Until she met Cade McKinnon, the man who made her dream of a better life. She was attracted to him, true enough, but could she trust him...and her yearning heart?
NOTE: Other books in this series are:
TWICE BLESSED -- Book 2, Steeple Hill Books
STANDING TALL -- Book 3
244 pages, ebook
First published April 1, 2003
251 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 19, 2021
(Spoiler alert) I enjoyed this story until the final chapter, and then I hit a brick wall. I was so disappointed at the ending. I understand that nowhere does the author call this a “clean” romance. But it is advertised as intentionally rewritten for the Christian market. However, the book ends with a sex scene. While not explicit, it is much too detailed for what I would consider a safe-to-read Christian romance.
For the sake of readers who do not want to read sex scenes in romance novels (even if the couple is married, and even if the scene stops short of graphic but is still too detailed), I really feel that the author and publisher have an obligation to be clear when using terms like “rewritten for the Christian market.” This is such a pivotal and sensitive issue that the author needs to over-communicate to avoid upsetting readers.
I also feel it is a disservice to the readers when they have invested their time and heart through the entire book, only to be hit with an unexpected sex scene at the end. The author is free to write any kind of book. But I feel that the readers deserve better communication and clarity up front, so they know what they’re getting into. I’m writing this review in the hopes that other readers like me will be forewarned.
I am sad to have to give a review like this. Up until the last chapter, I was thinking, wow, what great writing, characters, dialogue and storytelling. Granted, there were some anachronisms in the dialogue - in some places, the characters used modern colloquial expressions. While those did catch my attention and were a hiccup in the story, they didn’t stop my enjoyment of the story, and I just jumped back in. There was also a courthouse scene that made me pause and wonder how realistic it was and if it had missed a step. But again, I was so engrossed in the story that I just accepted it and kept going.
The relationships, the plot twists were so well developed and richly layered. I kept enjoying the story more and more and kept eagerly turning the pages. I really enjoyed this book right up till that unfortunate (and unnecessary) last chapter. There was actually no reason the ending needed to be drawn out that way. It could have ended beautifully before that chapter, and I would have ended this experience with a genuine cheer for a well written and well plotted story with characters I loved spending time with.
For the sake of readers who do not want to read sex scenes in romance novels (even if the couple is married, and even if the scene stops short of graphic but is still too detailed), I really feel that the author and publisher have an obligation to be clear when using terms like “rewritten for the Christian market.” This is such a pivotal and sensitive issue that the author needs to over-communicate to avoid upsetting readers.
I also feel it is a disservice to the readers when they have invested their time and heart through the entire book, only to be hit with an unexpected sex scene at the end. The author is free to write any kind of book. But I feel that the readers deserve better communication and clarity up front, so they know what they’re getting into. I’m writing this review in the hopes that other readers like me will be forewarned.
I am sad to have to give a review like this. Up until the last chapter, I was thinking, wow, what great writing, characters, dialogue and storytelling. Granted, there were some anachronisms in the dialogue - in some places, the characters used modern colloquial expressions. While those did catch my attention and were a hiccup in the story, they didn’t stop my enjoyment of the story, and I just jumped back in. There was also a courthouse scene that made me pause and wonder how realistic it was and if it had missed a step. But again, I was so engrossed in the story that I just accepted it and kept going.
The relationships, the plot twists were so well developed and richly layered. I kept enjoying the story more and more and kept eagerly turning the pages. I really enjoyed this book right up till that unfortunate (and unnecessary) last chapter. There was actually no reason the ending needed to be drawn out that way. It could have ended beautifully before that chapter, and I would have ended this experience with a genuine cheer for a well written and well plotted story with characters I loved spending time with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2024
4.5 stars
It has been a long time since I read a closed-door historical romance. After reading some spicy books, reading McKinnon's Bride is a palette cleanser. Yes, a book first published in 2003, but the setting of 1880s Texas with cowboys, ranchers, and outlaws was a good choice.
Readers who adore slow-burning, emotional historical romances that explore the complexities of trust, forgiveness, and the power of love to heal deep wounds, with a strong focus on character development and a poignant portrayal of the human experience, would love this book. The McKinnon's Bride has romance, suspense, and wild, wild west.
Jessie is a strong woman who traveled alone with her children for a better life. Cade is a good man who knows how to deal with every situation he gets into. Brad & Ellie endured a lot at a young age, but they found a family in their new home with their mother's and the people's guidance. There are so many wonderful secondary characters that I need to read their story.
It has been a long time since I read a closed-door historical romance. After reading some spicy books, reading McKinnon's Bride is a palette cleanser. Yes, a book first published in 2003, but the setting of 1880s Texas with cowboys, ranchers, and outlaws was a good choice.
Readers who adore slow-burning, emotional historical romances that explore the complexities of trust, forgiveness, and the power of love to heal deep wounds, with a strong focus on character development and a poignant portrayal of the human experience, would love this book. The McKinnon's Bride has romance, suspense, and wild, wild west.
Jessie is a strong woman who traveled alone with her children for a better life. Cade is a good man who knows how to deal with every situation he gets into. Brad & Ellie endured a lot at a young age, but they found a family in their new home with their mother's and the people's guidance. There are so many wonderful secondary characters that I need to read their story.
July 26, 2022
Cade, Jessie, Brad and Elli
This is a sweet loving story about two people needing to be loved unconditionally and how they found their way there. Cade is a young strong willed, handsome man and a newly widowed woman and her two youn children. Jessie was a young widow that had bred mistreated, used and abused by her husband. He drank and chased other women and verbally and sometimes physically abused her and their two children. He was shot by the mayor after finding him in the arms of his wife. She was shunned and forced to leave town. She take their old horse and wagon and on the wings of a prayer leaves to find her brother in another town. When she and the children arrive at the ranch where her brother works she discovers he has disappeared. Cade McKinnon, the ranch owner is smitten instantly. You will enjoy discovering how they find their happily ever after even through the Seattle rustling.attempted murder and kidnapping disrupts things for a time.
This is a sweet loving story about two people needing to be loved unconditionally and how they found their way there. Cade is a young strong willed, handsome man and a newly widowed woman and her two youn children. Jessie was a young widow that had bred mistreated, used and abused by her husband. He drank and chased other women and verbally and sometimes physically abused her and their two children. He was shot by the mayor after finding him in the arms of his wife. She was shunned and forced to leave town. She take their old horse and wagon and on the wings of a prayer leaves to find her brother in another town. When she and the children arrive at the ranch where her brother works she discovers he has disappeared. Cade McKinnon, the ranch owner is smitten instantly. You will enjoy discovering how they find their happily ever after even through the Seattle rustling.attempted murder and kidnapping disrupts things for a time.
June 12, 2025
This book needs a proofreader to change things like "the soul of her shoe" to sole. There are verb tenses that don't match, etc.
Although it has no explicit sex, there are descriptions that border on it. They add nothing to a Christian novel. The parts that do mention God seem to be thrown in randomly so that the author could add Christian to the descriptors.
The plot was really good, and it flowed well.
Although it has no explicit sex, there are descriptions that border on it. They add nothing to a Christian novel. The parts that do mention God seem to be thrown in randomly so that the author could add Christian to the descriptors.
The plot was really good, and it flowed well.
March 22, 2021
A New Husband
Jessie set off across Texas looking for her brother after her husband died leaving her with 2 young children. What she found included her brother, a whole ranch full of friendly hands and the love of a lifetime.
Jessie set off across Texas looking for her brother after her husband died leaving her with 2 young children. What she found included her brother, a whole ranch full of friendly hands and the love of a lifetime.
April 21, 2022
Exciting
What a great author Sharon Gillenwater is. I have so enjoyed her books. The last few have dealt with from feeling but it was done in a Christian way. I am glad she does write about the real world. Through faith we will survive.
What a great author Sharon Gillenwater is. I have so enjoyed her books. The last few have dealt with from feeling but it was done in a Christian way. I am glad she does write about the real world. Through faith we will survive.
March 11, 2026
Riveting
This is a wonderful and believable family story.The characters are realistic and unforgettable and the story is interesting and moves right along.I'm happy to recommend it to anyone who likes a good story.
This is a wonderful and believable family story.The characters are realistic and unforgettable and the story is interesting and moves right along.I'm happy to recommend it to anyone who likes a good story.
March 27, 2018
Good beach read.
December 1, 2019
Great book
February 8, 2023
A sweet historical Christian romance with some suspense as well. I enjoyed the characters and the story.
July 22, 2023
Love!y read
I really loved the story and look forward to reading the rest of this series. The reason for the low rating is because of poor editing.
I really loved the story and look forward to reading the rest of this series. The reason for the low rating is because of poor editing.
September 24, 2025
A good, engaging, story with solid Christian values. Characters are good people in a faith based community. Could a woman and 2 children have made it across Texas alone at the time? Unlikely, but you want to believe they did. People used to do hard things. This is well thought out, and well told. Entertaining story.
September 27, 2016
Ok
I don't know why this story didn't work for me. I don't think it seemed ionsistent with the time period. And they were already in love by the second day, which is all the more unbelievable in a woman from an abusive relationship. But it was clean. And I did finish it. But I won't read any more in the series.
I don't know why this story didn't work for me. I don't think it seemed ionsistent with the time period. And they were already in love by the second day, which is all the more unbelievable in a woman from an abusive relationship. But it was clean. And I did finish it. But I won't read any more in the series.
November 8, 2010
Such a sweet story...easily one of my favorite historical romances. Loved it!!!
August 19, 2016
Finding trust and love
The story does an excellent job showing how a man and a woman can learn how to trust each other.
The story does an excellent job showing how a man and a woman can learn how to trust each other.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews