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The Rancher's Temptation: Whispering Canyon's Unexpected Family—A Contemporary Romance
He’s everything she’s always longed for
And everything she’s not allowed to have
When circumstances give Tess Barrett a shot at a fling with the star of all her high school dreams, she takes a leap…right into rancher Holt Chandler’s muscular arms. He’s way out of her league, but there’s no harm in just one night with the wealthy cowboy…right? Until a positive pregnancy test changes everything—for both of them.
Holt is determined to be a husband before a daddy, but Tess is not interested in a loveless marriage of convenience. Except Holt realizes that his feelings for the mother of his child are anything but convenient. And he’s got to show Tess that he’s not just interested in doing the right thing—he wants to build a future and a family with the woman who has lassoed his heart…
From Harlequin Special Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.
The Cowboys of Whispering Canyon
Book 1: The Rancher's Temptation
And everything she’s not allowed to have
When circumstances give Tess Barrett a shot at a fling with the star of all her high school dreams, she takes a leap…right into rancher Holt Chandler’s muscular arms. He’s way out of her league, but there’s no harm in just one night with the wealthy cowboy…right? Until a positive pregnancy test changes everything—for both of them.
Holt is determined to be a husband before a daddy, but Tess is not interested in a loveless marriage of convenience. Except Holt realizes that his feelings for the mother of his child are anything but convenient. And he’s got to show Tess that he’s not just interested in doing the right thing—he wants to build a future and a family with the woman who has lassoed his heart…
From Harlequin Special Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.
The Cowboys of Whispering Canyon
Book 1: The Rancher's Temptation
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2025
6 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Harlen
433 books83 followersBrenda’s first love was reading.
According to her mother, she fell in love with books even before she could read and was always content when she had a book in her hands. It didn’t surprise anyone when she decided that she wanted to be a writer, but she was encouraged to pursue “a real job” first.
So she did—she became a lawyer. Two years of practicing law taught her a lot about the world—and reinforced her determination to become a writer. Because in fiction, she could promise a happy ending!
Thankfully, she had already met and married a wonderful man to inspire her fictional heroes. And when she was on maternity leave after the birth of their first son, he encouraged her to take a romance writing course at the local community college. It was while enrolled in this class that she completed her first (still unpublished) manuscript.
Three more manuscripts and another baby followed. And then, in June 2002, she finally got the call from Susan Litman—an editorial assistant and contest judge—offering to buy the manuscript she’d submitted to RWA’s Golden Heart® contest as “From This Moment.” This story was re-titled McIver’s Mission and released by Silhouette Intimate Moments in May 2003.
According to her mother, she fell in love with books even before she could read and was always content when she had a book in her hands. It didn’t surprise anyone when she decided that she wanted to be a writer, but she was encouraged to pursue “a real job” first.
So she did—she became a lawyer. Two years of practicing law taught her a lot about the world—and reinforced her determination to become a writer. Because in fiction, she could promise a happy ending!
Thankfully, she had already met and married a wonderful man to inspire her fictional heroes. And when she was on maternity leave after the birth of their first son, he encouraged her to take a romance writing course at the local community college. It was while enrolled in this class that she completed her first (still unpublished) manuscript.
Three more manuscripts and another baby followed. And then, in June 2002, she finally got the call from Susan Litman—an editorial assistant and contest judge—offering to buy the manuscript she’d submitted to RWA’s Golden Heart® contest as “From This Moment.” This story was re-titled McIver’s Mission and released by Silhouette Intimate Moments in May 2003.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 12, 2025
First in the Cowboys of Whispering Canyon series, in which physical therapist Tess Barrett ends up helping rancher Holt Chandler's grandfather after he is injured from a shot that didn't kill him but did knock him off his horse. Holt has a crush on Tess after seeing her with his grandfather, something she doesn't know, even though she's also had a crush on him since high school.
When a one-night fling that they both indulge in results in a pregnancy neither was expecting, the question then becomes, can Holt convince Tess to marry him and thus protect their child from the rumors and inuendos that have followed Tess all her life, as a result of the actions of her grandmother more than 60 years earlier? She's protective of her independence, but will that be enough to save her when she's kidnapped by the very person she now suspects was the shooter of Holt's grandpa?
Terrific characters, a great start to a promising new series. Can't wait for the next installment.
When a one-night fling that they both indulge in results in a pregnancy neither was expecting, the question then becomes, can Holt convince Tess to marry him and thus protect their child from the rumors and inuendos that have followed Tess all her life, as a result of the actions of her grandmother more than 60 years earlier? She's protective of her independence, but will that be enough to save her when she's kidnapped by the very person she now suspects was the shooter of Holt's grandpa?
Terrific characters, a great start to a promising new series. Can't wait for the next installment.
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June 1, 2025Western Romance, Small Town & Rural Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
The Cowboys of Whispering Canyon (Book #1)
Miniseries
The Cowboys of Whispering Canyon (Book #1)
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews