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Baker City Brides #2

Thimbles and Thistles

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Stubborn, mule-headed, independent woman!
She'd take that as a compliment...

Maggie Dalton has no need for a man in her life. Widowed more than ten years, she’s built a successful business and managed quite well on her own in the bustling town of Baker City, Oregon. Aggravated by her inability to block thoughts of the handsome lumber mill owner from her mind, she renews her determination to resist his attempts at friendship.

Full of Scottish charm and mischief, Ian MacGregor could claim any available woman in Baker City as his own, except the enchanting dress shop owner who continues to ignore him. Not one to give up on what he wants, Ian vows to win Maggie’s heart or leave the town he’s come to love.

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 9, 2015

1914 people are currently reading
432 people want to read

About the author

Shanna Hatfield

163 books1,318 followers
A hopeless romantic with a bit of sarcasm thrown in for good measure, Shanna Hatfield is a best-selling author of clean romantic fiction written with a healthy dose of humor.

In addition to blogging and eating too much chocolate, she is completely smitten with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

She is a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, and Romance Writers of America.

To learn more about Shanna or the books she writes, visit her blog http://shannahatfield.com
or find out news at her facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/shanna.hatfield

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5 stars
990 (58%)
4 stars
461 (27%)
3 stars
193 (11%)
2 stars
38 (2%)
1 star
8 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
Profile Image for Glenda Kinard.
223 reviews5 followers
September 15, 2018
Once again Shanna Hatfield had me mesmerized with another one of her books Thimbles and Thistles was such a delightful read I loved the banter between Ian and Maggie. I especially loved Maggie’s spunkiness and strong will. Ian and his Scottish roguishness and humor made for a delightful read. I never fail to finish a Shanna Hatfield that I don’t get warm wonderful sweet feeling in my soul. Shanna Hatfield books always touch my heart.
Profile Image for Diane.
981 reviews14 followers
June 2, 2024
Historical Romance set in eastern Oregon in the late 19th century.
Profile Image for Jeffrey.
379 reviews26 followers
June 25, 2015
It has been a decade since child bride Maggie Dalton was widowed in turn-of-the-century Baker City Oregon. Lovely, intelligent, and ambitious, she has established a successful dress shop and steadfastly refuses all suitors to her hand. One gentleman in particular, Ian McGregor, has been totally smitten with the beautiful widow and does not give up easily. A Scotsman through and through, he owns the town's thriving lumber business and continues to annoy and irritate Maggie with his attentions. Any young woman who met him would love to become the bride of this husky, handsome, and most eligible bachelor but he has only eyes for Maggie.

Secretly, Maggie cannot deny his charm, rugged good looks and playful banter. However, she stubbornly resists Ian's attempt to woo her because of her irrational fear of losing still another husband. All of her many friends play matchmaker to no avail.

Lifelong friend Sheriff Tully would marry her in a heartbeat if she would consent and this causes confused feelings of jealousy in the big Scotsman. How on earth will poor Ian win her stubborn but broken heart?

Woven throughout this second installment of the author's Baker City Brides collection are dear friends Thane and Jenna along with their adopted children Jack and Lily from the first installment: Crumpets and Cow Pies.

One of the most delightful and attractive features of the author's many collections is the fact that even though they feature lovable characters from previous stories the books are all definitely stand-alone and can either be read individually or as a series. However, after reading just one of them I found them so utterly charming and delightful that I could hardly wait to venture on to the next one in the series.

As is the author's sweet and wholesome style there is an abundance of humor, historical detail, danger and a full load of heart-throbbing romance. This reader can hardly wait for the next in the Baker City Brides series as I can predict a romance for the good Sheriff Tully in the next installment.
Profile Image for Connie.
383 reviews17 followers
May 4, 2020
Maggie Dalton has been a widow for 10 years and runs a successful dressmaker’s shop in Baker City, Oregon. As the reader enters the story, Ian MacGregor has been living in Baker City for 2 years running a lumber mill. Maggie is rather rude and dismissive of Ian as the novel starts out, and the reader becomes quickly aware that this is because she is annoyed at her physical attraction to him.

Shanna Hatfield is a romance author whose stories focus on the physical aspects of a budding relationship without her characters fully acting on those feelings until marriage, and this one is no exception. So clean, but not squeaky clean. If that sounds like your cuppa, then you’d probably enjoy this one. It is well written and the characters are well drawn.

Maggie is frequently a frustrating character. She is a nearly 30-year-old widow but often acts like a juvenile. Ian manages to walk around shirtless more often than not. And the whole “I have to be true to my 10-years dead husband” line dragged on quite a bit. Otherwise, it’s a decent, fluffy story.
2.5 stars
Profile Image for Shash.
473 reviews
March 14, 2017
Shanna Hatfield's books are so fun to read! I love the humor and the fun. Along with that comes great, swoon worthy romance! Ahhh! I loved Maggie and Ian! They had great personalities that made for some very fun interactions. I'm glad we got to see Thane, Jemma and Tully again, as well. The books in the series stand alone, but I love having the characters interact across the series. I'm excited to see Maggie and Ian again in book 3!
Profile Image for Jerri.
94 reviews2 followers
July 1, 2018
Ian and Maggie's Story

Two hardheaded, mismatched in love people journey through acceptance of the the draw to each other that will not be denied. It takes some pushing and shoving by those that care about them to get them there. This ride is full of opportunity missed and finally there is ... Read Shanna's fun and heartfelt story to tug at your heart.
Profile Image for OhWell.
855 reviews
dnf
August 7, 2020
I abandoned it around the 8% mark. Maggie's unwarranted rudeness towards Ian got on my nerves.
3 reviews
August 26, 2020
Cozy Story

If you like a good story, no sex, no violence, then you will like Shanna Hatfield books.I love the way she writes. I can picture the story in my mind.
Profile Image for Julia David.
2,495 reviews25 followers
March 17, 2015
Ian is a great guy. Maggie would really like not being alone, but she didn't want to take the risk of losing another husband. Ian is very persistent and is trying to change her mind. Maggie loves Tully as a brother, but lately he has been acting as though she belonged to him. He should know better. Can Ian let her go to another man? A man he admires and respects? If Tully does marry Maggie, he will have to leave town. There is no way he can go every day seeing them together. But, maybe he can change her mind before it is too late.
1,066 reviews9 followers
April 29, 2020
Cute romance.set in the old west

The young wwoman married at a very early age. She was an only child, growing up next door to a family of boys, tahging along as a little sister starting at the age of 13. Sje developed feelongs for the youngest boy, who was 2 years older than her. Sje hadn't been sure at first, but he had reciprocated his feelings. Two years after her family had moved next door to the boys, the girl was orphaned. Her young beau had convinced his parents they were mature enough to marry at 15 and 17 respecitvely. They moved and her husband took a job at the local mine. The girl's mother was an excellent seamstress who had passed on her skills to her daughter. When her husband was killed in a mining accident just 4 years into their marirage, she had been able to set up shop as a dressmaker, occasionally making sjirts or suits for men & boys whose wives/mothers took their men's measirements for them, but by far, the bulk of her sales was to women. When she'd moved with jer husband, they'd made firm friends with 2 bachelors, one a mine owner & livestosk breeder, the other a sheriff. The 2 men had helped her get over the loss of her husband and setting up her business. It has now been 10 years, but she still mourns her husband and has resisted all efforts to marry her off. In the interim, the mine owner ends up hav8ng to gonto England when his brother dies, to help settle his estate. He brings back, as a wife in a marriage of convenience at the time, a woman and her 2 children. Ot jas grown into a love match, & he is building a house for them.
The local lumberyard owner has his eyes on the pretty widow, but she doesn't seem interested. His mother was raised in Boston society, and she married a penniless Scottosh emigre in a love match. His father agrees to live with her parents and manage his father-in-law's lumber mill. He teaches his son the business. When the young man moves west, he buys a swamill with money saved and soon has a prosperous business.
The widow is concerned about betraying the memory of her sweet, yiunf husbannd if she remarries. There is no other woman for him, though a newcomer to town sets her cap for him.
They are both stubborn, passionate about kife in general, opinionated, and desirous of doing the right thing despite any consequences. Amid misunderstandings, bank robberies, kidnapping, clinging females, and more, can these 2 face up to theor feelings amd move on to a new life together?
This book nos a sweet romance, and while it mentions people experiencong physical passion, it also holds true to the ethic that existed in America before the 1960s, that true love involved controllomg your passion until you were married.
Profile Image for Ann-Maree.
1,105 reviews10 followers
August 14, 2018
My very first visit to Baker City was Lightning and Lawmen (Book 5) where I just fell in love with this town and the characters that live there. I do not always start a series at book one and this is one of those times when the title and cover grabbed my attention while roaming through my kindle a day or two ago. As I find with most of Shanna Hatfield's book they leave you with a real feel good feeling at the end and has you wanted to read another one to learn more about the town and town folk.

I love Maggie Dalton’s character as she is a strong and independent woman that has made a life for herself since the death of her husband. She sees no need for a man in her life as she has the friendship of her best friends in Baker City and her striving business as a dressmaker. But of late she has found it harder to ignore the comments and attempts of friendship by a particular Scottish lumber mill owner.

Ian MacGregor has been taken with the widow Mistress Dalton since in stepped into town to take over the lumber mill he brought without seeing the business first. Knowing her past he has vowed to wait to win her over and give her time to see him as something more than a possible friend.

Can two headstrong personalities find an equal footing together to find a life full of love and happiness?
Or will one standby there words and promises?

If you love sweet, funny, tender romance, read all the Baker City Brides books!
* Tad's Treasure (Prequel to the series) - Tad Palmer makes a promise to his dying friend to watch over the man’s wife and child. Will his heart withstand the vow when he falls in love with the widow and her son?
* Crumpets and Cowpies (Book 1) - Rancher Thane Jordan is about it meets his match in the lovely Lady Jemma Bryan.
* Thimbles and Thistles (Book 2) - Maggie Dalton doesn't need a man, especially not one as handsome as charming as Ian MacGregor.
* Corsets and Cuffs (Book 3) - Sheriff Tully Barrett meets his match when a pampered woman comes to town, catching his eye and capturing his heart.
* Bobbins and Boots (Book 4) - Carefree cowboy Ben Amick ventures into town to purchase supplies, and returns home married to another man’s mail-order bride.
* Lightning and Lawmen (Book 5) - Will her fears, his doubts, or his best friend keep Dugan Durfey from the woman he loves?
2 reviews
August 14, 2025
Fair warning, you might get frustrated by the FMC because I know I did.

Profile Image for Tammy Moldovan.
1,973 reviews27 followers
July 28, 2021
A sweet swoony second chance at love romance

I just love a strong, sweet, fun loving man and add in a Scottish brogue - swoon. This book goes even further - rather than using a damsel in distress, it combines that scrumptious man with a self-rescuing woman who is fully capable of taking care of herself. This is a sweet swoony love story set in 1890, the slow but relentless pursuit of a widow determined to avoid love and the potential heart ache. Ian owns the lumber mill in Baker City. He has lived there for two years and for him it was love the first time he saw Maggie. Maggie owns the dress shop in town. She was widowed 10 years before and has been supporting herself ever since. While she believes Ian is attractive, she is determined not to like him. I enjoyed watching Ian and Maggie’s personalities blossom together while they made their inevitable journey to their HEA. There was growth for both characters in this beautifully paced story. I will definitely keep reading this series.
3,931 reviews21 followers
May 6, 2024
This is the second book in a six-novel series by Shanna Hatfield. Based on this one, I believe each is a standalone book. Maggie Dalton married at fifteen and was a widow by nineteen. However, she and her husband were devoted to each other, and Maggie now wants no more heartache. She's been a widow for about ten years.

Maggie has a successful small seamstress business and two close friends:  Thane Jordan (a rancher) and Tully, the sheriff. Each knew her and her husband, Daniel. Thane has recently married. Tully would marry Maggie, though he is not in love with her.

The lumberyard owner has been interested in Maggie since he arrived in town two years ago. However, she keeps him at arm's length. However, Ian is a very persistent man.

This is a well-paced story that keeps the reader's attention. Overall score = 4.5 stars.

Baker City Brides – Total of 6  
1. Crumpets and Cowpies (2015)
**   2. Thimbles and Thistles (2015)  
3. Corsets and Cuffs (2016)  
4. Bobbins and Boots (2017)
Profile Image for Annie.
372 reviews
June 2, 2017
Once again, Shanna did a wonderful job bringing these personalities to life.

I really disliked both Maggie and Tully because they had no problem playing games and manipulating others. Maggie also rubbed me the wrong way because she didn't take her personal safety seriously. Independent and capable women don't need to be reckless and selfish.
Although she had one scary encounter, it didn't teach her to be careful. She didn't even bother informing her friend, the Sheriff, of the incident so he could warn the rest of the women in town. She also ignored the warnings from Tully when he told her about the robbery and her lack of common sense put herself in danger once again.

Ian, I absolutely loved. He and Jack and Lily made the story worth reading. Jack and Lily were just as lovely as in the first book. I would love to read a book filled with the stories that Lily dreams up.
It would be priceless.
709 reviews14 followers
August 5, 2022
The 1800s were really a wild time. I can imagine that a person like Maggie would be a rarity but would be welcomed to a small mining town. She could do something that so many women would find a luxury because they normally had to make their own clothes. She was so good at sewing that she could have gone to a big city in the East and make a fortune or name for herself.

We met Maggie in the story about Thane and Jemma. I was interested to see what her story would be and who she would end up wedding. Maggie is one strong woman and I can see that only strong women would have been able to survive in the west in the 1800s.

Ian is one interesting character and he was so much fun to get to know. I love how he branded everything with a thistle and never forgot his Scottish roots.

Now the funniest part was what Tully and Thane were up too. They truly added a lot of humor to the story. But you just have to love the ending.
Profile Image for Gloria.
1,128 reviews106 followers
May 28, 2023
A handsome, well-adjusted kinda bland guy gets interested in a frozen-in-mourning widow who acts like a 13-year-old spoiled brat most of the time. She finds him “annoying and irritating”…for no reason. She’s rude to him…for no reason. She invites him and another man to dinner and flirts outrageously…to “teach them a lesson.” What lesson is that? The world will never know. She flies into a jealous rage over this man she doesn’t want. She is told it’s dangerous to ride out by herself. Naturally, she does exactly that and gets ambushed by bad guys and has to be rescued. This silliness goes on and on and on.

There are limited moments of charm here so this book is not offensively bad. But it’s not good.

And “annoying” and “irritating” mean the exact same thing.
Profile Image for Gail.
847 reviews4 followers
March 23, 2020
I like spunky females. What a story- married at such a young age? Wow- I got to hand it to Daniel for being willing to take care of her and treat her so well. I admire what she did to create a business and to be able to sew things so well. She took care of herself with two men who wanted to care for her but were more like brothers until Ian comes along. Her dedication to her deceased husband starts to crumble when she starts having feelings for the man. Delightful characters and fun story line.
759 reviews7 followers
December 26, 2024
What a great addition to the Baker City Brides series! This Author has a way of weaving old and new characters together to bring joy to a story.
Maggie is as stubborn as they come. But has she met her match in Ian? It would seem so. They start off really antagonizing each other but things tend to grow towards each other when they start to really listen and not react first!
Will Maggie allow another man into her life after tragically losing her first husband when she was so young. She vowed not to lose another person she loves, but can Ian change her mind? Time will tell!
Profile Image for HR-ML.
1,270 reviews54 followers
July 4, 2018
The setting was 1891 Oregon. I liked book #1 better.

This featured Ian, charming lumberyard owner & Maggie
dress-shop owner. Maggie came across as prickly and
grouchy & lost charm between bk #1 & bk #2 & made clear
to all she'd never wed again. Maggie pit Ian and her friend
Tully (the sheriff) against each other for her attn: just
childish on her part.

Maggie had been widowed x 10 yrs: why was she so angry
and defensive? Why did Ian have an inconsistent Scottish
brogue?
700 reviews7 followers
March 28, 2020
Another winner

The second book in this series has all the main characters from book one. Dresdner Maggie, friend of Thane and Tully is a widow of ten years standing and determined never to marry again. Ian McGregor, owner of the lumber yard has other ideas.
Another great character added to the series, Ian has been given a self assured, slightly cocky type character with wit and plenty of charm. Another good read from this author. I can't wait now to read Tully's story.
7,755 reviews49 followers
April 5, 2020
A delightful comedy, she is feisty and one determined young widow. Wanting to riding Loco, waiting till the owner, the sheriff has left for the day and soon gets thrown off. Now walking, a wagon comes by and it is the Scottish lumber mill owner.. His hair a little longer than proper and his Scottish words, always unsettles her. He had seen the horse flying by him, so he knew what happen. Attraction is there and she does protest. Cute story with love and laughter.
399 reviews2 followers
May 8, 2023
A lumber broker falls in love with the local dressmaker.

Enjoyed being back in Baker City again. Ian and Maggie story was sweet. Maggie didn't want to get married again. But Ian broke down all of her defenses. It was love at first sight for him. Both Thane and Tully approved of him. Even Jemma and the kids loved Ian. Looking forward to Tully story. Hoping Thane and Jemma have kids born to their union also for Maggie and Ian too.
1,337 reviews3 followers
May 6, 2024
Baker City Brides book 3

Maggie is a widow ten years, but she is reluctant to look for Companionship let alone Love. Her best friends Thane and Tully are like brothers to her. But, the big handsome scottish man, Ian is hard to ignore. And Ian has been infatuated with Maggie for 2 years. This story is action filled with lots of laughter. I Really enjoy these characters and Shanna Hatfields writing. Cant wait to read book 3 with Tully.
591 reviews
June 7, 2024
Honest True Love is Never Fast nor Easy

Maggie was so deeply in love with her husband Daniel, she could never think of or fancy another. When he was killed in a collapsed mine, a good part of her died also. The only one to ever spark an interest to her heart was when Ian came to town two years earlier. Finally his love won her over. Her heart began to feel opened little by little until she couldn't get but love Ian.excellent book and definate worth the five stars.
Profile Image for Vickie Raynor.
1,171 reviews17 followers
June 11, 2024
The electricity between Ian and Maggie was off the charts. I was rooting for them both and my Goodness, little Lily was priceless. I have loved each book in this series, and I have read them all out of order and still enjoyed them as if I didn’t. The magic that this author spins on each of her books is never ending. All are clean romances, and she makes them all the better because of it. I’m never disappointed.
Profile Image for Nancy.
391 reviews
August 28, 2017
Another of Shanna Hatfield's books that draws you in and won't let you go. I loved this book and found myself giggling throughout the book and it had a great story-line. I love how Shanna threw in the word cavedweller (she affectionately calls her husband Captain Cavedweller) into the book. This is a book I would highly recommend.
Profile Image for AmyJo.
111 reviews
October 24, 2017
I like these books, They are clean and have good descriptions. They are a great escape and a fun read whilst on vacation. My only critique is that they are exactly the same format. If you read them back to back then they lose their appeal as you know exactly whats going to happen next. I do like that they are a clean fun read however.
349 reviews1 follower
June 30, 2018
I read 12%

at which point I stopped Spoiler Alert because the heroine has invited two men to dinner who are interested in her and starts playing one against the other. I lost all respect for her and had no interest in discovering the consequences of her manipulative and ill-advised behavior.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews

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