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Desperate Diana
Wronged heroine. Duped rancher.
Diana, desperate, pregnant, and alone in a strange town after her husband’s death, is ripe for exploitation.
Libby pretends to befriend her then steals all her money. If that isn’t bad enough, she cuts off Diana’s hair and sells it to a wig shop.
Bevan waits in vain for his mail-order bride to turn up, after he has sent her the money for the train fare.
While searching for Libby, Diana meets up with Bevan and his mother Eve. By coincidence Eve used to be her schoolteacher.
Eve decides to try her hand at matchmaking. Will Bevan let his mother talk him into marriage with Diana?
Can Diana forget all the treachery and hurt by marrying Bevan?
A meddling woman and fate combined might just be able to bring this couple together in the bonds of Holy matrimony.
Diana, desperate, pregnant, and alone in a strange town after her husband’s death, is ripe for exploitation.
Libby pretends to befriend her then steals all her money. If that isn’t bad enough, she cuts off Diana’s hair and sells it to a wig shop.
Bevan waits in vain for his mail-order bride to turn up, after he has sent her the money for the train fare.
While searching for Libby, Diana meets up with Bevan and his mother Eve. By coincidence Eve used to be her schoolteacher.
Eve decides to try her hand at matchmaking. Will Bevan let his mother talk him into marriage with Diana?
Can Diana forget all the treachery and hurt by marrying Bevan?
A meddling woman and fate combined might just be able to bring this couple together in the bonds of Holy matrimony.
125 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2026
About the author
Margaret Tanner
227 books88 followersMargaret Tanner is an award winning, best selling author.
As well as writing historical novels set in frontier Australia she has discovered a love for writing Western Romance.
Her novella, Edwina of Connecticut is one of the 50 novels in the American Mail Order Bride series. Christmas Cowboy is in the Western Christmas Anthology, Silver Belles And Stetsons.
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She has had numerous short stories published over the years, but writing Historical romance novels is her passion.
Her favourite historical period is the 1st World War. Not only has she painstakingly researched this era, but was fortunate enough to make a poignant pilgrimage to the battlefields of Gallipoli (in Turkey), France and Belgium.
She is married with three grown up sons, and two gorgeous grand-daughters. Margaret lives in Australia. She has recently retired from work, and hopes to concentrate on her writing.
As well as writing historical novels set in frontier Australia she has discovered a love for writing Western Romance.
Her novella, Edwina of Connecticut is one of the 50 novels in the American Mail Order Bride series. Christmas Cowboy is in the Western Christmas Anthology, Silver Belles And Stetsons.
.
She has had numerous short stories published over the years, but writing Historical romance novels is her passion.
Her favourite historical period is the 1st World War. Not only has she painstakingly researched this era, but was fortunate enough to make a poignant pilgrimage to the battlefields of Gallipoli (in Turkey), France and Belgium.
She is married with three grown up sons, and two gorgeous grand-daughters. Margaret lives in Australia. She has recently retired from work, and hopes to concentrate on her writing.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 5, 2026
HARDSHIP TO HAPPINESS
The story is a clean, historical western where life and death change the future. The story begins in 1880 in Finley, California, a town several miles from San Francisco. Wyatt Jackson has died, and his young wife, Diana, learns that he didn’t own the place or his business. She is given a week to leave. She has so little, but has the foresight to get a letter of reference from her pastor. With little to no work for a woman, she will take a train to San Francisco and hope to find a place to live and a job. While she finds a rooming house to stay, it doesn’t include food, and even a job doesn’t pay well—but it is a start.
“She was in a diabolical position now—a widow who was expecting a baby and with no one to help her.”
Bevan Kennedy, a rancher near Virginia City, Nevada, has agreed to send for a mail-order bride. He has been in correspondence with a woman from San Francisco, but once again, she isn’t on the train. The money he sent her could have bought a new bull for his ranch, but it looks like he has been hoodwinked.
Diana gets a job working at a used bookstore and meets Libby during lunch. They become friends and have breakfast at the same café and then walk to work. Libby warns her about how many young women have been employed at the bookstore, and to be cautious, she also tries to convince Diana to come stay where she boards, because it is cheaper. When the world comes crashing down on Diana, she must take matters into her own hands, since Libby told her about a rancher she was to marry having a brother looking for a wife, she heads to Nevada—what else does she have to lose?
The story was a suspenseful page-turning tale with the good, the bad, and the evil of people. My heart hurts for Diana, losing her family, marrying a man who was trying to recreate a life with his deceased first wife, and leaving her without anything. Diana is trusting, and that trust is defiled by someone who used her. What a surprise to Bevan when a crazy woman shows up claiming she is his bride—but it isn’t who he is expecting. The more he hears, the more he knows he was scammed too. But what will become of Bevan and Diana? A marriage of convenience or one that grows into love?
The story is a clean, historical western where life and death change the future. The story begins in 1880 in Finley, California, a town several miles from San Francisco. Wyatt Jackson has died, and his young wife, Diana, learns that he didn’t own the place or his business. She is given a week to leave. She has so little, but has the foresight to get a letter of reference from her pastor. With little to no work for a woman, she will take a train to San Francisco and hope to find a place to live and a job. While she finds a rooming house to stay, it doesn’t include food, and even a job doesn’t pay well—but it is a start.
“She was in a diabolical position now—a widow who was expecting a baby and with no one to help her.”
Bevan Kennedy, a rancher near Virginia City, Nevada, has agreed to send for a mail-order bride. He has been in correspondence with a woman from San Francisco, but once again, she isn’t on the train. The money he sent her could have bought a new bull for his ranch, but it looks like he has been hoodwinked.
Diana gets a job working at a used bookstore and meets Libby during lunch. They become friends and have breakfast at the same café and then walk to work. Libby warns her about how many young women have been employed at the bookstore, and to be cautious, she also tries to convince Diana to come stay where she boards, because it is cheaper. When the world comes crashing down on Diana, she must take matters into her own hands, since Libby told her about a rancher she was to marry having a brother looking for a wife, she heads to Nevada—what else does she have to lose?
The story was a suspenseful page-turning tale with the good, the bad, and the evil of people. My heart hurts for Diana, losing her family, marrying a man who was trying to recreate a life with his deceased first wife, and leaving her without anything. Diana is trusting, and that trust is defiled by someone who used her. What a surprise to Bevan when a crazy woman shows up claiming she is his bride—but it isn’t who he is expecting. The more he hears, the more he knows he was scammed too. But what will become of Bevan and Diana? A marriage of convenience or one that grows into love?
February 3, 2026
Diana thought she was desperate...
...but then things get worse.
Diana didn't think things could get any worse, but then they go from bad, to worse, to desperate before she is dealt a final blow that makes life dangerous too.
She may be a little gullible but Diana wants to see the best in people, she judges them by her own standards and that is what causes her downfall....because some people have no standards and are greedy and downright depraved. Thankfully a surprise from her past offers Diana an option, possibilities and most of all hope! A heartbreaking tale, but we do get a HEA.... eventually.
A lovely read on Kindle Unlimited.
...but then things get worse.
Diana didn't think things could get any worse, but then they go from bad, to worse, to desperate before she is dealt a final blow that makes life dangerous too.
She may be a little gullible but Diana wants to see the best in people, she judges them by her own standards and that is what causes her downfall....because some people have no standards and are greedy and downright depraved. Thankfully a surprise from her past offers Diana an option, possibilities and most of all hope! A heartbreaking tale, but we do get a HEA.... eventually.
A lovely read on Kindle Unlimited.
February 4, 2026
Desperate Diana (Pregnant Western Widows Book 4) (Pregnant Western Widows)
I liked that this story pulls you in from the first page. Diana is a desperate young widow you has been decieved by a person she trusted. Bevan is a rancher who has been decieved by the same woman as Diana was. How they meet and turn to each other is a story that will keep you turning pages to find out how the story ends. Margaret Tanner always delivers a great story.
I liked that this story pulls you in from the first page. Diana is a desperate young widow you has been decieved by a person she trusted. Bevan is a rancher who has been decieved by the same woman as Diana was. How they meet and turn to each other is a story that will keep you turning pages to find out how the story ends. Margaret Tanner always delivers a great story.
March 6, 2026
Bevan and Diana
This historical western by Margaret Tanner is a gripping tale of love, loss, and deception. Diana, a young widow, is left with nothing after her husband's death and must navigate a harsh world to survive. Bevan, a rancher, has been deceived by the same woman who wronged Diana, and together they must find a way to heal and move forward. With its themes of resilience and hope, this story is a must-read for fans of historical fiction.
This historical western by Margaret Tanner is a gripping tale of love, loss, and deception. Diana, a young widow, is left with nothing after her husband's death and must navigate a harsh world to survive. Bevan, a rancher, has been deceived by the same woman who wronged Diana, and together they must find a way to heal and move forward. With its themes of resilience and hope, this story is a must-read for fans of historical fiction.
May 14, 2026
Tough Life
The book, Desperate Diana, will definitely touch your heart. Diana loses her husband, now she is losing her home. Being pregnant, what will happen to her now. She decides to start over in San Francisco, but that is not working out either. All Diana wants is to be able to take care of herself, so her baby will be born healthy. Hopefully, after finding Bevan, she will, but right now, if it wasn’t for bad luck, she wouldn’t have any luck.
The book, Desperate Diana, will definitely touch your heart. Diana loses her husband, now she is losing her home. Being pregnant, what will happen to her now. She decides to start over in San Francisco, but that is not working out either. All Diana wants is to be able to take care of herself, so her baby will be born healthy. Hopefully, after finding Bevan, she will, but right now, if it wasn’t for bad luck, she wouldn’t have any luck.
February 6, 2026
Pregnant Western Widows book 4
Once again Margaret Tanner has written a wonderful book and series. It is terrible how women were treated, but when other women were treating their friends so terribly it is heart breaking, but to cut a womans hair off to sell it was beyond terrible. I am so happy that Diana met Bevan and his Mother. Good Story.
Looking forward to book 5.
Once again Margaret Tanner has written a wonderful book and series. It is terrible how women were treated, but when other women were treating their friends so terribly it is heart breaking, but to cut a womans hair off to sell it was beyond terrible. I am so happy that Diana met Bevan and his Mother. Good Story.
Looking forward to book 5.
March 6, 2026
Diana
She was beaten dow by life but never gave up hope. She only knew a name and beig desperate foud him and asked for help. The dream that had been out of reach took on a new beginning.
She was beaten dow by life but never gave up hope. She only knew a name and beig desperate foud him and asked for help. The dream that had been out of reach took on a new beginning.
May 17, 2026
Desperate Diana ( Pregnant Western Widows book 4)
I'm enjoying this wonderful series of Pregnant Western Widows and reading how they find their way to a future filled with kindness, and a forever love. This is book 4 in this series and I enjoyed this sweet story of Diana's and Bevan's which lead to an HEA for both. JudyE
I'm enjoying this wonderful series of Pregnant Western Widows and reading how they find their way to a future filled with kindness, and a forever love. This is book 4 in this series and I enjoyed this sweet story of Diana's and Bevan's which lead to an HEA for both. JudyE
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews