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Bridegroom Brothers #2

The Horseman's Frontier Family

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Gideon Thornton is angry that he is being forced to share an Oklahoma Land Rush claim with Evelyn Montgomery until a judge can rule on the matter, but his realization that Evelyn and her young son need help living on the frontier may change his mind.

348 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

21 people are currently reading
430 people want to read

About the author

Karen Kirst

77 books254 followers
Karen Kirst was born and raised in East Tennessee near the Great Smoky Mountains. A lifelong lover of books, it wasn't until after college that she had the grand idea to write one herself. The pursuit of her dream would take longer than she first anticipated...years, in fact. In the fall of 2010, she got the happy news that Harlequin Love Inspired Historical wanted to publish her manuscript-a true blessing from God. Now she divides her time between being a wife, homeschooling mom, and romance writer. She enjoys reading, hosting tea parties and spending time with friends.

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5 stars
67 (46%)
4 stars
54 (37%)
3 stars
17 (11%)
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3 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for Brittany .
2,886 reviews208 followers
May 10, 2014
I love books that have lots of romantic tension in them, especially when that tension is ricocheting back and forth between two people who should not be attracted to each other for some reason. That is definitely the situation in this book. The Horseman’s Frontier Family is part of a continuity series, which means that different authors are writing the various books in the series, but they are all connected stories. This is the second book in the series, however, I had no problem jumping right in and reading this book without having read the first one. The story is strong in its own right.

This is the first book that I have read by Karen Kirst and it will not be the last. I really enjoyed her writing style. The Horseman’s Frontier Family was easy to read and the story flowed very smoothly. As I mentioned above, there is a lot of tension in the book. The premise is that two people are vying over the same stretch of land during the Oklahoma land rush. That would make for a tense situation no matter what. But this book ratchets up that tension by pitting a man and a woman against each other, both from families involved in a long-standing feud. Gideon, a widower, just wants to settle his land and stay separate from others. Evelyn, a widow with a child, believes that the land is hers, claimed by her late husband.

Something that I really enjoyed about this book is that I was able to be frustrated and angry about the situation without disliking either main character. Both Gideon and Evelyn were nice people. Did they sometimes say or do things in anger that they regretted later? Yes. They were very real and human characters. Both had huge hurts in their backgrounds and the more they got to know each other, the more things they discovered that they had in common, and the more attraction they felt for each other. This is just such a good book! I highly recommend it to fans of historical Christian romance and I plan to read the rest of the series, as well. (5 stars)

I was blessed to win this book in a drawing and was not required to write a review, I but happily do so.

You can read this review on my blog at:
http://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.co...
Profile Image for Wendy.
525 reviews23 followers
May 22, 2014
BACK OF THE BOOK BLURB
Everything Gideon Thornton has worked for is in jeopardy, all because of one stubborn woman. Evelyn Montgomery insists that Gideon's new claim from the Oklahoma Land Rush legally belongs to her. Both refuse to budge--even when the law says that until their dispute is settled, they must share the land.

Their family feud has taught Evelyn that Thorntons can't be trusted. Yet day by day Gideon's thoughtfulness to Evelyn, and especially to her young son, shows the real truth. A truth that may mean the end of her claim. . .and the start of a future big enough to encompass both their dreams


MY REVIEW
I really enjoy Karen's writing and she did not fail me in this book. I was a great continuation of the series and I'm looking forward to reading the next one that comes out in June. Karen shows how you can't always believe something you were told most of your life and you have to be able to accept the truth when it is right there in front of you. Even when it means your family will turn against you, disown you, you can be strong enough to do what is right. Great book!
Profile Image for Victoria Bylin.
Author 48 books494 followers
June 14, 2014
This is the perfect follow-up to Book #1 in the Bridegroom Brother's continuity, a trio of books for Love Inspired Historical. Gideon (one of my favorite names for a hero) and Evelyn are well matched. He's coping with grief for the daughter he lost as well as complex feelings for his deceased wife. Evelyn has a traumatized son who needs a father and some bad memories of her own. There's plenty of romance here!

This is the middle book in the continuity, so we catch up with the characters in Book #1. That's the fun of a continuity, but this story easily stands alone. It's pure pleasure to watch these characters fall in love and grow in their faith. Recommended for all fans of westerns, Love Inspired Historical, and Christian fiction.
2,287 reviews7 followers
April 2, 2021
I picked up this book from the local Y's book exchange shelf with the idea that I'd probably pass it on to a friend whose mother likes these for evening reading after I'd read it. This book is book 2 in the sub-series and I did not read the first book. I would say it is not necessary to read book 1 to read this book, but if you had read book 1, you might better understand the characters.

I have to admit that the Love Inspired Historical line was not my favorite of the Love Inspired line, though I will say that the titles in the historical line do seem to delve a bit more into the Christian faith than the ones set in contemporary times, and I do like that.

When I read the first chapter I did not have high hopes for this book. Be assured, it gets better.

WARNING: SPOILERS MAY FOLLOW. READ ON AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION

The Thornton family apparently went north during the Civil War and escaped some of the repercussions that the Montgomery Family faced. As a result the parents of the two families passed their animosity about the other family on to their children--what this book deems a feud.

Both the main characters married their late spouses for the wrong reasons and ended up in marriages that made them now doubt their suitability to be a spouse to anyone.

I see another reviewer mentioned that she felt sorry for anyone who'd marry any of the Montgomery brothers. I'm inclined to agree--though I'm hoping that the events in this book start at least one of them rethinking their position(s).

Profile Image for Lyssa.
860 reviews25 followers
May 7, 2021
I did not like Evelyn. She is rude and aggressive and makes no sense. Gideon is patient, reasonable, generous and kind. She responds with accusations, turning every interaction into a fight. Then privately stews about how her hurt her feelings. It's absolutely ridiculous. This continues for 80% of the book, no joke. Super frustrating.

And the premise for the story didn't even make sense. You had to defend your claim to keep the land you staked in the landrush. If her husband Drake died shortly after putting in his stake, then he wasn't able to defend/keep it. So naturally it would go to Gideon...
Profile Image for Mark.
2,503 reviews52 followers
February 27, 2024
This is the first historical novel I have read by this author, only having read her contemporary suspense novels......and I really liked it. The book is filled with interesting and likable characters.......and some not so likable. The interactions between Gideon and Evelyn were entertaining and sometimes humorous, and the relationship between Gideon and Walt was touching and awesome.

Both Evelyn and Gideon had suffered loss, and both had had less than ideal spouses. I enjoyed the journey they took to become a family with little Walt.
Profile Image for Val.
1,385 reviews7 followers
June 4, 2020
It was Great! I cheered for Gideon and Evelyn from the start and I teared up a few times when I didn't think it was going to happen. The brothers were jerks and I honestly pity any woman they marry.
Profile Image for Paula-O.
558 reviews
September 5, 2014
Series Bridegroom Brothers book#2 "The Horseman's Frontier Family by Karen Kirst

Land grants and men putting down their stake and homesteading and improving it to make it their own, sounds good huh..but-Gideon Thornton may just lose his as Evelyn Montgomery and her brothers come to town and put in the claim is theirs as her husband had put his stake and died shortly afterwards making the claim hers now...a court must decide who it belongs to.
Evelyn has a small son and they move onto the land in a tent to await the decision.
Another problem with this case is that the Thorntons and Evelyn's brothers have a long-standing feud and they are not happy at all with this arrangement.
Evelyn has been told her whole life how bad the Thorntons are and now she must make her own decisions as she sees how the man is around her son and how he treats her even though he knows she might take his land that he has worked hard to get started.
Come read a wonderful story and learn how you might think you know everything about someone and turns out you don't at all. I enjoyed reading this LIH and know you will too if you like cowboys and damsels in distress....
Profile Image for June.
1,542 reviews17 followers
April 20, 2014
A great second book in the Bridegroom Brothers continuity series. Love Karen Kirst's writing!

Gideon refuses to fall in love again. Losing his wife and daughter to an influenza epidemic caused him to lose his faith in God. Needing a new start, he and his two brothers joined in the Oklahoma land rush. He found the perfect spot only to find his claim questioned a week or so later. They checked the stake, and sure enough, it belonged to Drake Montgomery, who died after being thrown from his horse. But Drakes widow and son show up with a soldier and her brothers to let her claim be known.

Gideon and Evelyn are forced to share the land until a judge decides who really gets to keep the land. Evelyn's young son stopped talking when her husband died, but Walt touches Gideon's heart. It's painful for Gideon to be around the young boy who is about the same age his daughter would have been. But after a while it hurts more not to be around Walt.

Very enjoyable story.
Profile Image for Linda R.
489 reviews
October 10, 2024
Gideon Thornton and Evelyn Montgomery had spouses they could not please before their untimely losses. Both have no desire to marry again. They have vowed to lead independent lives until forced to share the same land.

Karen Kirst's The Horseman's Frontier Family, a historical Love Inspired romance, is a sweet and emotional story set during the period of the Oklahoma Land Rush. I liked Gideon and Evelyn and the bond between the Thornton brothers. The author's message of faith was a welcome addition.

I purchased a paperback copy of this book.
Profile Image for Sianne Morrison.
158 reviews3 followers
April 24, 2014
I really like this one. It was light and fresh, with a smattering of a Christianity theme, however this did not detract from the story at all. Very well written with a great story line. Fresh ideas and a couple of twists. I will be looking out for the other ones in the series. Enjoyed this one.

A couple of typos - "due" instead of "do", page 49 line 10, page 133 line 24.

A Goodreads giveaway.
Profile Image for C. Michael.
211 reviews5 followers
September 8, 2014
About as good as it gets for this type of fiction... historical, Christian, series romance, and the middle book of a three-book series with the three parts written by three different authors. All that said, it was an enjoyable read with a satisfying (if predictable) conclusion.
Profile Image for Janis Kay.
484 reviews29 followers
Read
July 31, 2016
I will be honest and say that it took me a long time to get into this book due to the serious negativity in the beginning, but I finally got through it and really enjoyed the story of this ad-lib family lol. Evelyn and Gideon are adorable together and Walt was the icing on the cake:)
Profile Image for Shawn.
3,166 reviews
September 4, 2016
I'm enjoying this series. Liked Gideon and Evelyn's story. Looking forward to the next book to hear Clint's story.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews

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