Branded by the Cowboy

Havenstone: Mail Order Brides #2

by Violet Rae, Fern Fraser

He doesn’t think he deserves love. She’s about to prove him wrong.

Angus

When my mother died, she left behind more than memories—she left a clause that forced my brothers and me to marry or lose the family ranch.

I don’t have time for romance, and I sure as hell don’t believe in soulmates. So I hire a bride—quiet, capable, emotionally off-limits.

At least, that’s what I think.

Because I never expected Luna.

She’s fierce in ways I don’t know how to handle. Quiet, but not weak. Guarded, but impossible to ignore. She stirs up instincts I thought I’d buried for good.

The more I try to keep her at arm’s length, the more she proves she belongs.

And the longer she stays, the clearer it becomes—she’s not just here to save the ranch.

She might be here to save me.

Luna

I didn’t come to Clover Canyon looking for love. I came because I needed a place to land. A roof that wouldn’t disappear. A man who wouldn’t want more than I could give.

But Angus Sutton is more than a gruff cowboy with a scarred face and a storm behind his eyes.

He’s loyal. Fierce.

And every time he looks at me, I see something deeper. Something darker.

Something I’m not sure I should want—but do.

I came here to build a new life.

But if I’m not careful, I won’t just fall—I’ll fall for the one man who doesn’t think he deserves to be loved.

This story is part of the Havenstone series and can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Genres: Contemporary

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 12, 2025

About the author

Mom. Author. Chocoholic.

I am the author of steamy contemporary and paranormal romances.

Thank you for checking out my Author page. You can find me on most social media platforms.

Reviews

[Mora · Rating 3 out of 5]

The H’s mom passed away and leaving behind a legal stipulation in her will that forced her sons to marry so the H needed a wife to keep his ranch. He decided to choose a bride through a matchmaker and that’s how he met the h. Both of them weren't interested in anything romantic! It was just a work for the H to keep his land while the h just wanted a place to stay.

(This has insta-attraction/love, everything happened too quickly and it lacked some of the depth)… For two people who weren’t expecting anything romantic they clicked pretty fast but they were sweet together.

There’s still some stuff that didn’t get solved, so maybe they’ll be handled in the next book!

Overall it’s a fine read for a short story.
______

Safety:

— H (33) / h (25)
— Arranged marriage
— Small town
— Insta-attraction/love
— Scarred, grumpy H
— Ex-military H
— PTSD (the H)
— Abandonment issues (the h)
— Virgin h
— Experienced H but not a manwhore
— The H has been celibate for years (no exact number of how long)

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been intimate with a woman—years, not since before I was injured in Kandahar. And even then, my liaisons were few and far between. I’m no virgin, but I’m no lothario either. Besides, the scars riddling my body would be enough to scare off most women, even if the trauma from my time in Afghanistan didn’t.”

— No ow/om/cheating 👏🏻
— No separation
— Push from the H
— HEA

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

"All I know is I'd walk through fire to keep her safe--this woman who's barely been in my life a week. A woman who's already under my skin so deep, I'm not sure I'd survive pulling her out."~Angus

"I feel him everywhere. In every breath. Every heartbeat. I swear I taste every heartbreak he's ever swallowed, every hurt he's never spoken. He needs a woman who shows up. Who stays when things get cold and quiet and hard. And that woman is me."~Luna

💍Wanted. Chosen. Seen.💍

Oooh weeee!! Now that's what I call a story.🎆🎆🎆 I read this book in a flash. I started reading and I instantly got transported to Havenridge Ranch and got wrapped up in the Sutton family saga. It was soo good!!! This isn't a long story, it flowed easily, and I was super interested till the very end. And then I wanted more.😆 It's contemporary with a mail order bride meet your cowboy situation. Who doesn't love a hot Cowboy?!🤠🥰🥰 And Angus Sutton, 33, former Navy SEAL, has to deal with a selective clause his dear Mama left in her will. Lose the entire ranch, the VA center, everything, if he doesn't get married in 6 months.🫢 This also went for his older brother Henry, that was Book 1 (no worries he's married) and also for flirty jokester little brother Tom. That's for later. Will it be easy? Well. Yes. And no. Angus bears the weight of his military tours, the PTSD, battle scars on his body, and he wasn't going to let his family down. Havenridge Ranch was the top priority. He'd do anything. He's a quiet man. But still waters run deep. Also, he's grumpy. He's a tall order.🫡 And how could I not love him!😄😄😄

Luna Malone. That girl has also been through it. She's a former foster kid. But she knows how to work hard, keep her head down, as she tries to find her place in the world. Luna wants to belong somewhere. Belong to a family. Be accepted. Seen. Embraced for who she is. Which we all want. Luna may be 25, but life, people have broken her heart. This opportunity might lead to a place called home. Luna's super sweet and very supportive. I loved her too. She's relatable. Someone you can have as a friend.🌸🌸

Now when these two were matched it was very obvious the attraction they held.😏😚😚 What is it about the quiet ones that have a huge storm brewing underneath waiting to errupt?!🌪️🤣🤣🤣 Watch out now!! Stand back! There's also other sinister things happening at the ranch too. Sabotage!! I think that will carry into the next book. This family stuck together. Angus and Luna will face challenges as they pull towards each other. There's spice.🥵🔥🥵🔥 Naughty talk from Angus. See. It's the quiet ones.🌶️😭😭 This was written very well. World building. Check. Likable characters. Check. Farm animals along with cats and dogs. Check. And check. A sweet wedding. You know it. Funny times. Definitely. And a love of a lifetime. What do you think?😉 George Lucas the mechanic. She's a secret Jedi.😉 Beckett aka Shadow. Yeah I need a story on these two ASAP. And I can't wait for Tom's own love story. But this book here, I recommend. Great job team. Read it. Get lost with it. And yes to that book cover.🥳🥳 Happy reading.*•>§<•*❤️❤️❤️

🧑🏻‍✈️🏩💁🏼‍♀️Thank you to Ms Rae and Ms Fraser for an early book. The opinions shared here are my own. Get your book today.💁🏼‍♀️🏩🧑🏻‍✈️

[Aspen G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Branded by the Cowboy is sweet heat, scorching connection, and deep emotion with a nefarious subplot and fun and fascinating supporting characters. Angus is a broody and often silent man, hardworking and loyal, and beautifully broken. Luna carries her own scars, hopes, and dreams, searching for stability and a place of her own. I loved watching their relationship grow and their feelings come forward as they get to know each other. Angus’ family is down to earth and such good people, and it was lovely to see Shay and Henry’s developed relationship. While this is the second book in the series, it could be read as a stand alone. The drama and unfolding action threaded through this love story adds elements of mystery, intrigue, and danger. I can’t wait to see where these two amazing authors take us next!

[Kayla Lietzau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED it!!! Angus and Luna are true soulmates!!!
Both having some serious scars from their past, inside and outside, watching them heal each other had me swooning and feeling all the feels!!!! The chemistry between them was electric! The spice and smexy times was HOT AF🥵🔥
The suspense had me on the edge of my seat holding my breath!!! The mystery is driving me crazy! I can’t wait for the next book already!!! Highly highly recommend this wonderful book!!

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read - a wounded hero, a girl raised in the system comes together to fulfill a clause in his mother’s will. A beautiful story as they come together while fighting the past and a threat from someone in the present.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angus and Luna's story was beautifully emotional, and it gave me a very serious case of The Feels. I thought these two made a perfect pairing. Steam, humor, sweetness, cuteness, poignancy, drama, emotions and a whole lot of heart make an irresistible blend that has you happily getting your read on and leaves you swooning.

[TTP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast read, cute.
- Marriage of convenience
- Cowboy

He needs to marry to get to keep the ranch, h needs safety after never belonging anywhere, so both sign up with a women who set people up, where they are both honest about the purpose of the marriage. Both fall hard and fast.


No drama, some with someone trying to ruin their ranch, but nothing major.

Safety
- h virgin
- H celibate for years since he got hurt in the army, and before that it was few and far between
- Safe for me, no omd or owd, only each other

Curious about the next book, but needs safety because this boy is a charmer and a flirt.

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

He needed a wife for the ranch. He never expected to want her forever.

Angus never plans to marry. Not for love, and definitely not because of a clause in his mother’s will. But losing the family ranch isn’t an option. The land shelters veterans who need a second chance, and Angus will do whatever it takes to protect it, even if that means hiring a stranger to become his wife. Luna arrives with a duffel bag and a lifetime of surviving alone. She tells herself the arrangement is practical and temporary, until the gruff cowboy with haunted eyes begins to look at her like she belongs there.

Life on the ranch becomes long days and quiet routines. Luna proves she’s stronger than Angus expected, steady in the face of hardship. The more time they spend working side by side, the harder it becomes to pretend their marriage is only a contract. Beneath Angus’s silence is a man scarred by war who believes he doesn’t deserve happiness, and Luna may be the one person stubborn enough to prove him wrong. ‍

When trouble threatens the ranch, the distance between them finally breaks. Angus must face how much Luna means to him, and Luna realizes the life she’s building beside him isn’t something she wants to lose. What began as necessity slowly becomes something real and fiercely chosen.

Luna begins guarded after a life that taught her not to rely on anyone. Angus starts closed off and convinced he’s better off alone. But working and fighting for the same future changes them both, turning a simple arrangement into a passionate partnership built on trust and loyalty.

An ultra-steamy small town cowboy romance where a marriage of convenience draws two guarded people into the same life and slowly becomes something real. It explores healing after trauma, belonging, trust, and chosen family as they learn to lower their defenses and build a home worth fighting for.

The Elevator Pitch: A battle scarred rancher agrees to a practical marriage to save his family land, never expecting the quiet woman he brings home to challenge every wall he built after war. As they work side by side on a ranch that shelters wounded veterans, obligation slowly turns into something raw, intimate, and fiercely protective. What begins as survival becomes a fight for belonging, and two guarded hearts discover that home might be something they build together.

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥 Ultra-Steamy / Erotic Romance

[Ms. Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matriarch Ruth Sutton died and her will dictated that her oldest son Henry had to get married within 12 months of her death to inherit Havenridge Ranch or it was to be turned into a clown school. Henry is happily married to Shay and they are going to have a baby. Now, they found out there is a sneaky subclause in Ruth’s will. Her other two sons, Angus and Tom must get married within the next six months to keep Havenridge Ranch. Angus goes to the website Marlie’s Angels. Marlie is known to find mail order brides for men and is very discreet about it. Angus fills in her meticulous forms and waits. He does not want anything but a contract marriage to save the ranch. Angus is worried that no woman would want to take a chance on him. His body is riddled with scars from his time as a Navy SEAL in Afghanistan. He does not sleep well and has not been intimate with a woman since he came home.

Luna Monroe is twenty-five and was a foster care child. She likes animals and just wants long-term security. She is not afraid of hard work and has spent her life trying to fit in. She takes the bus to Clover Canyon Montana for the marriage contract to Angus Sutton who is thirty-three. During the over four- hour ride, Luna just hopes this might be her forever home and is okay if there is not romance involved. However, she can’t help but think Angus is attractive when he picks her up at the bus station.

Meanwhile, someone is messing with both Ben Sutton’s ranch and his brother Jacob’s ranch. Ben and Jacob do not talk to each other but the cousins do. There have been mysterious things going on at both ranches and the boys are going to try to figure out who is causing the trouble. Shay mentions it to Luna so that she is aware and will be on the lookout for anything weird.

Both Angus and Luna have experienced trauma in their lives. Angus from his time in Afghanistan and then losing his mother. Luna has spent her entire life having to be strong when she was in the foster care system and then even more so once she aged out of the system. I was rooting for the two of them to at least find companionship with each other.

[Brandi Jackola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through a sucker-punch of a sub-clause in his late mother’s will, Angus must marry within six months, or Havenridge, the ranch that he and his family run, will be sold off in parcels. His brother Tom is facing the same situation, but Tom is annoyingly unaffected by needing to find a bride.

Angus is also a veteran, one who’d been gravely injured in an attack and wasn’t likely to live. But somehow, he pulled through, and though he’s always been a quiet man, this “new” Angus is downright grumpy. He turns to Marlie’s Angels, an establishment which matches cowboys with compatible wives. Angus doesn’t want love or affection, he just wants to save the ranch, as well as their animals and the veterans’ program that they run.

Enter Luna, a former foster child who aged out of the system, whose complete belongings fit into one bag. She doesn’t want love or affection either, just wants something that lasts, that won’t be yanked out from under her.

You can probably guess that the moment these two meet, all their wants get blown away.

The chemistry between Angus and Luna is immediately sizzling, even though neither of them are immediately confessing that they want more. It’s going to take some time for them to learn each other and understand that though they wanted something simple, love has other plans.

Add in a continuing plot about someone trying to sabotage the ranch, and you’ve got quite the story here.

I’m a fan of both of the authors, so it was expected that I’d enjoy this book, and I wasn’t let down. The grunting, grumpy cowboy is more endearing than he thinks, and Luna’s quiet acceptance of him is exactly what he didn’t know he needed. This book made me laugh, made me cry a little, and makes me want the next book RIGHT NOW, since the mystery of the sabotage hasn’t been solved yet.

Keep in mind that this book is spicy, which doesn’t deter me in the slightest. I read all kinds of romance, but I really do enjoy the spicy the most, with closed door romance coming second. So throw open that door and jump into the fire. (Not literally, of course.)

[Elisa Llewellyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two broken and bruised hearts find love

Angus and Luna find themselves seeking a marriage of convenience with one another, initially for differing reasons: Angus wants to save his ranch, while Luna just wants a place to belong after a lifetime in the foster care system. The two arrived to their weddings already full of scars and baggage but they manage to take the rapid slide into love, appreciation, and desire because they recognized each other for who they were: survivors.

This book was very well-written overall. The authors used so much excellent descriptive language and dark humor that you couldn't help feeling like you smelled the dust and hay on the ranch, and you don't stand a chance against falling in love with the characters by the end of the book. This was a very quick read and I did find myself hoping for more progress on the mystery. I will say I don't get why a former SEAL let events happen around them and didn't immediaetly start doing his security thing, but I suppose if someone was recovering from the trauma of war they probably don't jump to doing things that would bring up bad memories. It's clear the mystery will be resolved in the next (few) books. Four stars.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It starts as a contract, but becomes forever

Two damaged people, one broken and one lost, they not only find home but they find a fierce love that claims, protects and comforts.
Family may be messy, loud and chaotic but it is genuine and it is there for the good and the bad, the easy and the hard. But love, love is different, at times it's big, wild and feral, possessing and greedy like a beast on a rampage. Other times it is quieter, not loud or showy, but gentle, thoughtful, it's a look, a touch, a smile... it's everything, because in Montana, they don't do small, everything they do is big and all in.
Angus may be a man of few words, those he does say are important, but his actions speak more, they speak the words he cannot. Surprisingly, the one place he never struggles with words is in their bed, he suddenly has many, many dirty, filthy and needy words that leave Luna writhing and gasping and your kindle sizzling!
I read this on Kindle Unlimited, a lovely series that has a little of everything. Tom's book is next, so hold tight and prepare for the crazy!

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tender, slow-burn romance with just the right amount of spice. Angus and Luna are both stubborn, strong, and so easy to root for. Their love unfolds quietly but deeply. Like SO deeply. From a charged first kiss to a swoony barn scene, all the way to a simple by emotional wedding.

Angus, haunted by his past and unsure he deserves the life he's building, finds his match in Luna... an orphan who's always feared she was unlovable and longed for a place to belong. The way they see and choose either? Gut-wrenchingly good! And the ring inscription?! "Wanted. Chosen. Seen." wasn't just swoony, it was perfectly tailored to Luna's heart.

I laughed (The snack-name goats?! i.e. Cheese Puff I mean, come on! Lol.), I swooned, I teared up. A lovely, emotional read with a soft landing. Definitely a 5-star romance I'd return to!

I received a free advanced copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Knight Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant story with a heart as two brothers learn they must marry within six months or the family ranch would be broken down into plots and sold, so they decided to request mail order brides through a matchmaker. Angus sent for his first, and he wanted a woman that would be a partner not expecting any romance. He did not talk much. She could have her own room. The matchmaker found him Luna rather quickly. She had grown up in the foster care system, and she was looking for a permanent home with someone to hopefully want, choose, and see her. Also, there was mysterious happenings taking place on the ranch and other ranches nearby that were left in a cliffhanger along with the other brother's mail order bride.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Birgit Offenhammer Geb Beckmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Auch Angus muss heiraten, auch hier steht die Ranch auf dem Spiel, was sie seine Mutter dabei nur gedacht hat, das ihre Söhne heiraten müssen, sonst verlieren sie alles? Ich denke sie will ihre Söhne nur in den besten Händen wissen, auch wenn sie selber nicht an die Liebe oder Romantik glauben.

Ja, da haben sie sicher die Rechnung ohne die Damen gemacht die sie für sich "anheuern" nur um das Erbe nicht zu verlieren.

Luna, so denkt Angus wäre die perfekte Frau dafür, ruhig, zurückhaltend und doch auf ihre eigene Weise stark. Eine Frau die den Eindruck vermittelt genau auf diese Ranch zu gehören.

Auch wenn Luna sich wünscht endlich anzukommen und ein Dach über dem Kopf zu haben, weis sie nicht, wie sie mit Angus umgehen soll. Sie sieht etwas in ihm, was sie eigentlich warnen tut und doch will sie mehr.

Eine ganz klare Kauf-Leseempfehlung.

5 / 5 Sterne

[Carmela Dimattia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A marriage of convenience turns into so much more in this book and it had lots of suspense and steamy moments. Angus is a former seal who has been through hell and when his mother dies and leaves a stipulation in her will that her sons are to marry to keep their ranch Angus sets off to find a male order bride and this is where he meets Luna, the woman who will help him in his quest. These two are both broken in their own way and although Angus is very closed off, Luna helps him open up and together they help each other heal from their pasts. I loved the story and the characters, including Tom who is the hilarious brother. I can’t wait for the next book so we can discover who is creating havoc on their ranch .

[Karen J Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Branded by the Cowboy

Angus couldn't believe his mother was meddling in his life from the grave. If he hadn't loved her and the ranch so much, he wouldn't even consider following through on the stipulation she added to her will before she passed. Get married or loose the ranch. He was a battle scarred wounded warrior that didn't think he deserved or needed a wife. Then he met his mail order bride, Luna. She was an abandoned, foster kid that was afraid she'd never find a forever home. Luna is scared to become attached to anyone or any place. Then she meets Angus and she thinks "home". Can these two wounded, lonely souls discover in each other what they've always needed but were reluctant to hope for? .

[Rebecca A. Bamford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luna and Angus

This was a very good story about two broken people who came together and found in each other a place where they both belonged. The mail order bride storyline is very good way to set up two people coming together as if it’s fate. Angus came back from the war, damaged and scarred and never talked about it. He closed up. Luna was abandoned as a baby and went from foster home to foster home until she decided that she wanted something that was just for her. A place where she belonged. These two pull out of each other, what the other one needs. It was a beautiful story that I thoroughly enjoyed and can’t wait to read the next one.

[Sabrina Flachsmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a touching romance about two people who don’t believe they deserve love—until they find it in each other. Angus is a gruff cowboy forced to marry or lose his family ranch. He marries Luna, a quiet woman with her own painful past. Neither of them is looking for love, but something deeper grows between them. The story is emotional and slow-burning. Luna is strong in a quiet way, and Angus slowly opens up to her. Their bond feels real and earned. This book is about healing, trust, and learning to accept love. It’s simple, heartfelt, and I was rooting for them both.

[Suzanne Houser · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in Violet Rae & Fern Fraser's collaborative Havenstone: Mail Order Brides series is Branded by the Cowboy, Angus' story. Forced to find a bride to meet the stipulation in his mother's will to keep the family ranch, Angus turns to a matchmaker - and is unprepared for the beautiful Luna. Their journey is not free of drama, but is full of steam and swoon-worthy emotion. A fabulously entertaining love story that's another must-read from two of my favourite romance writers.

I received a free ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Andi Downs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read the first in this series but did enjoy this. It took me back to my early kindle days and the mases of paranormal books I grabbed. :D In this book we have Angus and Luna. Angus is in the position where he and his brothers require wives in order to inherit. Given he's not fussed on the idea, he 'hires' one. That's Luna though she also wants a different life, wanting a change from her past, so in effect, their arrangement works... up until it changes. A great read and look forward to more. :D

[Aliama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luna and Angus have a hot connection from the start. He’s quiet and broody and doesn’t believe he’s good enough because of his physical and emotional scars. Luna has bounced around all her life just looking for someone to want her. She’s quiet and shy but underneath there’s a strength that has kept her going. Angus is the home and love she’s always looked for and his family is loud and messy just like a family should be. These two are perfect for each other. Can’t wait for Tom’s story in book 3. I received an ARC copy of this book.

[Chandra Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luna is looking for somewhere she can land perminantly. As a former foster system kid, she just wants a home to call her own.
Angus needs a wife to fulfill a clause in his mothers will. When Luna arrives, his reaction to her takes him by sirprise. She's a quiet strength he needs while he battles his darkness. Together they heal each other in the most perfect of ways.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melissa B · Rating 3 out of 5]

-Contract marriage
-Small town
-Cowboy
-HEA

He needs to comply with his mother's wishes. She wants a place to belong. Neither one of them wants or expects love to come out of this.

An instant-love romance, that's adorable, a bit of a slow-burn that can easily be read in one sitting.

I was given a free copy of this book and I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kyareth14 · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Sutton brothers are forced to marry in order to keep their ranch. Angus is a former Seal who did not plan to marry, but for matters of his mother’s will had to require a mail order bride, what he did not expect is that Luna, a girl full of light that illuminated her darkness and that from the first moment the two were attracted and what was only an agreement soon turned into something very real with strong feelings between them. This is a very good story that has a happy ending.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I like how Luna and Angus fell in love and helped each other heal from their pasts. However someone is causing trouble on their ranch and Luna is almost killed. I'm glad Angus called in Beckett who I hope finds the culprit.

[JaneH · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional journey to their HEA

Angus and Luna are PERFECT. What starts out as a mail order relationship and marriage becomes a story of past pain both have experienced becoming a supportive and loving one. You may tear up, you may giggle at the names given to the goats and you really should swoon. I loved this couples journey to happiness.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has all the "feels". Two lost souls matched through a service. On paper they shouldn't work but they just do (good thing the service saw it when they marched! Lol)! He needs to marry because of his moms will. She is looking fir a forever home and figures waiting for loveistoo iffy. They complete each other in and out ofthe bedroom ;) heat level: 🥵

[Suze82 · Rating 5 out of 5]

deserving
I loved Luna and Angus from the first page, life has left its traces on their souls but they are such wonderful characters, nobody deserves love and a HEA more than those two do - if only they believed it themselves. I loved the loyalty, the caring and the small town vibes they balanced the tougher parts like PTSD and betrayal perferctly.

[TELA666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Angus & Luna
Book 2 in this series and the shenanigans at the ranch continue whilst we see Angus fulfil his will stipulation. For a one sitting read this packed a lot of depth both for the family as a whole and Angus & Luna both together and individually. For a quiet man his dirty talk shouted from the rooftops.