Unexpected Cowgirl Bride

Frontier Brides #4

by Regina Scott

What’s a cowgirl to do when a tenderfoot tries to court her?

Jane Willets can outride and outshoot pretty much every man within miles. She can also look them in the eye and speak her mind. That’s made it hard to attract a beau, even in Washington Territory, where the men outnumber the women eight to one! So when fancy-talking Alex Wentworth shows up claiming to admire her, Jane’s happy to put him to work on the family ranch instead.

Born among the Boston elite, Alex came west with his widowed mother in hopes of recouping the flagging family fortunes. One look at Jane Willets, and he knew she’d be the perfect bride to stand beside him on the frontier. If pretending to be a cowboy for a few weeks will win him her hand, he’s willing to build a few callouses.

Alex’s mother isn’t so sure Jane is worthy of her son, and Jane’s brothers aren’t too sure about Alex. When the truth about his circumstances comes to light, can Jane and Alex find their way to the true love match they both yearn for?

If you like warm, witty historical romances, then you’ll love this feel-good story set in the Pacific Northwest by an award-winning, bestselling author.

“I LOVE to read Regina Scott’s books. They always feel comfortable. I honestly don’t know how else to convey how ‘at home’ I feel when reading what she’s written.” Hott Book Reviews

Frontier Brides, taming the West one cowboy at a time.

Genres: Romance

190 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 7, 2026

About the author

Regina Scott started writing novels in the third grade. Thankfully for literature as we know it, she didn’t actually sell her first novel until she had learned a bit more about writing. Since her first Regency romance was published in 1998, her stories have traveled the globe, with translations in many languages including Dutch, German, Italian, and Portuguese. She is now the author of more than 50 works of warm, witty historical romance.

She and her husband of 30 years reside in Washington State on the way to Mt. Rainier. Regina Scott has driven four in hand, learned to fence, sailed on a tall ship, and dressed as a Regency dandy, all in the name of research, of course. Sign up for her free alert service to hear when the next book will be out or on sale at https://subscribe.reginascott.com/. You can find her online blogging at www.nineteenteen.com. Learn more about her at www.reginascott.com and connect with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorreginascott .

Reviews

[Brittany]

What a fun love story! Jane Willets may have been overwhelmingly capable at everything that any man in the area could do, yet she was constantly overlooked and underappreciated by most people in the community. Her family loved her and admired all she did, however, it was really fun to see a man move into the area and immediately recognize that Jane was much more admirable than any woman he’d ever been around. And what made it even more fun was that it took Jane a long time to realize that Alex had his heart set on her.

I appreciated how determined Alex was to win Jane’s heart. Even when there were some snags and misunderstandings along the way, Alex remained very clearly focused on making sure Jane knew that he had no interest in any other woman. I’m looking forward to reading more books connected with the Willets family in the future.

(4.5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[Nancy]

I love each addition to this wonderful western romance series. With so many children in the Willets family this is book four and I cannot wait for the rest of the series. Jane Willets should have her pick of a husband with a ratio of one woman to every eight men. Yet the local men don't seem to appreciate her. She can outride and outshoot most of them and she has a good mind and not afraid to speak it. She is also is very tall for a woman. So she is always overlooked and she believes she may never marry.

Alex Wentworth has moved to the Washington Territory for a fresh start after the death of his father. The truth of their finances after his death was that he had made poor investments and most of everything they owned had to be sold. Most of their friends in Boston had stopped contacting them after they lost all of their wealth. The father of his fiance asked him to break off the engagement. A logging business was the only thing that Alex didn't sell and he was hoping as it prospered that he could start additional business to support his widowed mother. He is actually enjoying the differences between Boston and the rough west. So when he sees a woman on horseback save a runaway wagon he knew she would make him the perfect bride. Now he just needs to find out who she is so that he can propose marriage.

Jane's mother plays matchmaker again when Alex comes to call on her. Jane has no idea why he has shown up at their ranch and thinks he is looking for a job. The mom plays along with that and encourages Alex to stay for the month working on the ranch so Jane can get to know him. Alex will use that time to convince Jane that he is really interested in her and that he accepts her as the remarkable woman that she is.

Jane will need to realize the opinions of the other men around her have not been accurate. When Alex's mother and former fiance show up, she will have to decide if she believes Alex really has chosen her and that she accepts him.

Since this series has overlapping characters and situations it really is best to read them in order.

I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest unbiased review.

[Linda Smith]

This is a story for all us women who do not (or did not) fit the cultural stereotype of a marriageable young lady. Jane Willets is the oldest daughter of the Willets family of Hawks Prairie, Washington Territory. The family raises cattle on the plateau above Puget City. The four older brothers, Jesse, Jack, Jeremy ,and Jacob have married ( their stories were in earlier books). Jane is a little older than many unmarried ladies. She is taller, an excellent horsewoman who wears trousers, packs a gun, and can accomplish any task needed at the ranch. Most men in the area have indicated that they do not believe she is wife material even though it is said that men outnumber women 8 to 1 in Washington Territory.

Along comes Alex Wentworth, a descendant of the Boston elite, who has come to Puget Sound to restore his family’s fortune through ownership of a local sawmill still remaining after his father’s financial collapse. He has come with his widowed mother to Olympia on Puget Sound . While in Puget City, Alex sees Jane stop a runaway wagon. Alex thinks Jane is amazing. His mother does not approve of Jane Willets and can’t understand what Alex sees in her. The focus of the story is how Alex convinces Jane that she truly is a beautiful woman and exactly the kind of woman he wants as his wife.

I am a lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest. This well-researched story is a peek into life on the Washington frontier. The women who succeed here had to be able to create a home in the wilderness where there is no shopping street or servants to cook and clean. Those who couldn’t succeed either left, went crazy, or died. Alex had the right idea of the strong woman he needed to help him fulfill his dream. I highly recommend this book. I read this story as an ARC reader.

[Cris Hoxie]

Regina Scott did an awesome job with this book. I absolutely loved it!

We are back with the Willets family, and it felt like getting reacquainted with old friends. This time, it’s Jane’s turn, but is she really the marrying type? She wears pants under her dress, just in case. She carries a gun, which certainly isn’t typical for a woman in the Washington Territory. She can also rope just as well, if not better, than the men in her family. Jane is definitely not your typical woman of the time!

Then along comes Alex, who is from Boston and has faced plenty of hardship since his father passed away. When he sees Jane in Puget City, she intrigues him so much that he wants to get to know her better. He takes a job on her family’s ranch mainly because it gives him a reason to be near her, but he ends up getting much more than he expected.

Will Jane and Alex develop feelings for one another? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

I was surprised by the ending, which says a lot because I can usually figure things out before they happen. It was a nice change for me to be caught off guard!

I definitely recommend this book. It was a fun read and one that was hard to put down. Regina Scott has once again given us a wonderful story with memorable characters, romance, and plenty to keep you turning the pages.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC from the author.

Unexpected Cowgirl Bride, the 4th book in the Frontier Brides series, became available September 7, 2026.

[Bethany Swafford]

Sharp-shooting Jane Willets is perfectly capable of handling a ranch, but that capability has turned away all suitors in the past. When Alex Wentworth arrives hoping to restore his family’s fortunes, he decides Jane is the life partner he’s been looking for and sets out to win her heart by proving he can work as hard as she does. The pair must overcome their differences and the truth about his circumstances to discover whether their unlikely courtship can lead to true love.

This was a fun and clean read. Jane is a competent woman who knows her own worth. Alex is a young man looking to prove himself in a world completely different from the one he left. I liked how willing Alex was to do whatever task that was put to him and how he wasn’t afraid of pursuing Jane.

My one criticism would be that Alex’s attraction borders on infatuation at the start. He has one glimpse of Jane and immediately decides she’s the woman for him. This was a bit too close to insta-love but I did like that the couple then took time to get to know each other.

Readers who enjoy clean, western reads will definitely enjoy this one. I received an advance reader copy from the author and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Margaret Price]

Regina Scott’s fourth book of her sweet and clean Frontier Brides series features Jane, the eldest Willets’ daughter. Highly skilled in frontier ranch life, Jane is less skilled in what society expects of a ‘respectable’ young lady. Despite the major gender imbalance on the frontier, men find Jane’s skills, intelligence and straight talking intimidating and other women resent that Jane gets to do what is forbidden to most women by the societal standards of the 1870s in America.
Enter Alexander Wentworth, seeking to start a new life in Washington Territory after his father lost the family fortune, businesses and home back East. Alex recognises that for him to succeed, he will need a brave new wife by his side in this brave new world, not some pampered Boston ‘porcelain doll’. Alex works hard to overcome Jane’s self-doubt and themes of faith, hope, love and what makes a true family feature strongly. I really enjoyed the journey of discovery as Jane and Alex get to know and trust each other and get their HEA.
I received an ARC of this book by the author and all the opinions expressed in this review are my own and freely given.

[Margaret Nelson]

This is the fourth book in Scott’s Frontier Brides series. You don’t have to have already read the previous books in the series, but it does introduce you to the Willets family and the area around their family ranch in Washington Territory.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Jane is not a simpering, useless society girl, but ready to brand family cattle, go on a trail drive to get said cattle to market, shoot a cougar, and keep her brothers on their toes. Alex has had his fill of society girls, but is immediately attracted to a woman who can be a real partner on the frontier.

Scott write good humorous scenes as well as romantic ones, and I had a hard time putting the book down to go to bed!

[RML]

This was my favorite Willets’ family story so far. Jane had been a favorite side character in her older brothers’ love stories, so I was hoping to get to her soon. Her love story delivered on my hopes for her. For her brothers’ stories, it felt to me like the love at first sight happily ever after came to them very easily. This one was different since Jane didn’t fall in love immediately. The story felt more joyful in the end as the happily ever after had to be earned through more effort on Alex’s part. I was glad Jane didn’t just fall into his arms at the first attention he gave her. She stood tall and proud in herself as I had expected and hoped based on who she was in the prior books! I’m looking forward to more time with the fun, loving Willets family in future stories!

[Luci Jamison]

Four and a half stars for the next Willett family member’s story in The Frontier Bride series.
The author does a magnificent job of creating lifelike characters within the frontier west of Washington territory.
The family is very loving and supportive which creates a feel good read.
I loved how the hero is the one who falls first and the story flows from there.
The theme of hope, faith and being true to self regardless of what others think gives an uplifting feeling throughout the book.
I recommend this author, book and series wholeheartedly.
I received an ARC copy of the book and all opinions are my own.

[Ivonne]

I’ve read many of author Scott’s Regency novels but this time I thought to give a try to her westerns. And let me tell you something, it did not disappoint me. I love, love, love her writing style, all the metaphors made me smiled more than I care to admit. This is an adorable heartfelt story where you’ll fall in love with Jane and Alex right away. A perfect feel-good story that made me forget the dog days of summer 🥵

This is the fourth book in the Frontier Brides series but reading it as a stand alone, like I did, will not make you feel like you’re missing out from its storyline.

I loved Jane! She’s a remarkable young lady with her quick thinking, her ranch skills and her beauty, none like her. A heroine you’ll love from the very beginning of the story 😉

And Wentworth? A tenderfoot wannabe cowboy, lol. What’s not to like about him? Besides I love him more because, well, that’s my feline’s name! 😄

“I’m too tall.” 😄 Loved the part when Jane’s trying to discourage Alex on why she’s not the right girl for him.

I always love a hero that supports his heroine no matter what and even if she’s better than him in most things done in the frontier.
Look at how he talks to her…
”There’s nothing wrong with speaking your mind when you have a mind as fine as yours.”
”Whatever you want, whatever you need, I am yours to command.”

The Willets family is one family I’d love to befriend in real life. I loved Mrs. Willets, she was a fine example of a true lady for society and her own family as well. Her wit and wisdom had no match. And I loved how she stood for her family and Jane. All the rest of the characters in the story are exceptional characters you’ll love, the entire Willets family are so supportive of each other. Lovely to see this even if it’s in a fictional story 😉

And if you like historical romances with all the great attributes previously mentioned then you’ll enjoyed this one.

- I received an arc copy of this book as being part of its review team but a positive review was never required. All opinions are completely my own. -

[Melody Tregear]

Lovely story.

I really liked Alex and Jane's story. They are both very likeable characters. She is a confident, capable young woman who doesn't really believe a man will accept her for herself. Alex had a likeable, spunky personality and was not afraid to stand up to his mother or to say no to what he knew was not right for him. None of the conflict scenes carried too much angst and were all quickly and easily resolved. Mrs Wentworth's turnaround towards Jane seemed very sudden and the ending was rather abrupt. I still turned the page expecting story...and there was none. No indication it had ended. Overall, a light, enjoyable read with a HEA and a hint at the next story.

[Amanda]

Each time I open the cover of one of Regina Scott’s Frontier Brides stories, I know I’m in for a treat. Engaging characters, swoon-worthy romances, vivid descriptions of the Pacific Northwest – she blends all those into stories that keep me turning the pages and then sighing when I reach the end, because I wanted the story to go on and on and on. Each one of the Frontier Brides books has been a delight, but Unexpected Cowgirl Bride has surpassed the previous ones. This is one of the best romances I’ve read this year, one that will linger in my heart for a long time.

[April Wilson]

Just be you…

Jane was such a sweet and sensible young woman. She has so much to offer the right man, and Alex is determined to show her he is the right one. They are so good together, balancing each other’s personalities, helping the other to grow.

I enjoyed their story. It was a gentle and tender romance of how a young man earned the trust and love of the woman of his dreams.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and these are my voluntary and honest opinions. I was not required to leave a positive review.

[Trish]

Another heartwarming, sweet and clean western romance from Regina Scott. Jane Willets is my favorite heroine in her "Frontier Bride" series; she’s relatable, intelligent, and hard working. I loved the Meet-Cute! Alex is a great hero; he’s kind, intelligent, and a man who knows what he wants and is willing to work hard and to learn in order to succeed. Regina Scott’s romances are always entertaining, witty, and soothing to read. I received an ARC of this eBook directly from BookFunnel and the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Anna]

This is another sweet story about the Willets family as Jane, the tomboy of the family, finally encounters a man who isn't intimidated by her cowgirl skills. Jane isn't like anyone Alex has ever known, and he is instantly smitten, willing to step outside his comfort zone by becoming a ranch hand on the Jumping J in order to get to know Jane. Jane can't believe someone is actually interested in her. As they navigate the different ways of life and learning to trust one another with the full truth, they eventually find their way to love.

[Aud]

“Unexpected Cowgirl Bride: A Sweet, Clean Western Romance” (Frontier Brides, Book 4) by Regina Scott
Loved this story !!
A different kind of wallflower, sort of… She is just a tad too much for the likes of the men she has met. Until… that is the story that will keep you twixt its covers. Where you may have a giggle or two and possibly shed a tear, maybe two? Life has so many many important feelings and hurts and joys.. live some vicariously in this story. Happy Reading ! !

[Veronique]

I loved this book! A warm follow-up featuring Jane, the eldest daughter of the Willets family from the Jumping J Ranch. Skilled in many traditionally “manly” skills, such as cattle herding and roping, she never expected to find herself falling in love—until Alex came along.

A great exploration of two very different worlds and how to navigate and reconcile both.

I received an advance copy and voluntarily wrote this review.

[Maria Thomas]

This is a sweet love at first sight story. Alex is so smitten that he signs on as a ranch hand just to spend time with her to find out if she is really the kind of woman he wants to marry. And honestly, she is perfect for him. It was fun to watch their love bloom. I love the Willets family. I've found them delightful in every book in this series. I hope it continues to give every member their love story.

[Kathy]

Jane Willet has been a favorite of mine throughout this series thus far. I'm so happy she finally got her own story. Alex is an unlikely suitor given the circumstances of his arrival in Puget Sound. Their romance is filled with humor, a little suspense and lots of emotion and of course the large Willets family and their Jumping J ranch. Wonderful!

[Susie]

The Unexpected Cowgirl Bride by Regina Scott is a great love story. Jane comes from a faith loving family. Jane is a strong independent woman who speaks her mind. When Alex, a new man in town first sees Jane he knows it’s love at first sight. I can’t wait to read the next book about Jane’s sister Jenny (Who by the way has a crush on Alex.), in the Frontier Series.

[Rochelle]

Frontier romance with great characters! I’m enjoying this series that focuses on a different member of the Willets family. Jane, who has nearly given up hope that someone will see her unique value, finally gets her love story. Alex is quickly smitten with Jane and spends the whole of the book trying to convince her. Alex must learn cattle ranching, roping, herding, and surviving in order to win his bride. There are some humorous scenes and clever conversations. Delightful story!

I received an early copy of this story. A positive review was not required.