Matthew

Circle Eight #1

by Emma Lang

It is a vast spread in the eastern wilds of the newly independent Republic of Texas, the ranch their parents fought for. . .and died for. To the eight Graham siblings, no matter how much hard work or hard love it takes, life is unthinkable without. . .

In the wake of his parents' murder, Matthew Graham must take the reins at the Circle Eight. He also needs to find a wife in just thirty days, or risk losing it all. Plain but practical, Hannah Foley seems the perfect bride for him. . .until after the wedding night. Their marriage may make all the sense in the world, but neither one anticipates the jealousies that will result, the treacherous danger they're walking into, or the wildfire of attraction that will sweep over them, changing their lives forever. . .

Praise for Emma Lang and her novels:

"A sweet and sensual Western in which the heroine discovers her inner strength with the help of a delightfully sexy hero." --Angela Knight, New York Times bestselling author

"With a fresh voice and engaging characters, Emma Lang's Restless Heart kept me reading late into the night." --Tina Leonard, bestselling author

Genres: Westerns, Historical Romance, Historical, Romance, Western Romance, Marriage Of Convenience, Erotica

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Emma Lang is the pseudonym of author Beth Williamson. She is an award-winning, bestselling author of both historical and erotic romances.

Born and raised in New York, she holds a B.F.A. in writing from New York University. She lives just outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, with her husband and two sons.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for something different when I decided to check out this historical romance written with a Western feel to it. The story takes place on the Circle Eight ranch where the Graham family live. Unfortunately, this family has been through much grief in the last little bit. Their parents were murdered, and their youngest brother was kidnapped...none of the siblings know why this has happened, nor do they have any clue on the where abouts of their kid brother.

Matthew Graham is the oldest of the 8 siblings and he has been notified that he will lose the ranch unless he is married. When is confronted with this news, he panicks and tells the man that he indeed is already married and his wife's name is: Hannah! His brothers that are with him immediately freak out when they leave, because they know Matt is lying through his teeth!! Never fear though...fate has something in store for these interesting Grahams...Her name is Hannah Foley, and lets just say that the story begins there...

I was pleasantly surprised with Emma Lang's writing, and with her story that she created. I loved how Matt and Hannah started off as strangers, and slowly they developed a bond through many trials that they lived through. Hannah was a very strong heroine, and she had her work cut out for her with trying to be accepted by the family..She sure was determined to make them see that she was in for the long haul, and she was very loyal to her new family.

This story is full of adventure, family, love, and even some hot sex scenes. The sex isn't over the top erotica, it is light yet it will give you butterflies as your reading it!!! I will most certainly be continuing with this gem of a series, and I am just so glad I gave it a chance!!!

[Aղցela W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler Ahead This was a pretty good book. Matthew Graham and his siblings come home from an outing in town to find their parents murdered and their youngest brother, Benjamin missing. All the hopes that their parents had for expanding the Graham family's holdings may be dashed with this awful event. Matthew, the eldest at 25 finds himself in the precarious position as head of the family, and he wants to continue what his parents had set out to do. Matthew travels to Houston to claim a land grant which will expand the acreage on the Graham holding only to find out from the land office that in order to claim said land, Matthew must have a wife, but Matthew is unmarried. The land officer gives him 30 days to bring his wife back to the office. Hannah Foley, a plain looking 23 year old who lives in town. Hannah has been helping her grandmother run the local boarding house for years now and hasn't had many prospects in the man department, that is until Matthew Graham literally bumps into her at the local store. When Matthew finds out her name is Hannah he can't believe his luck. This was a really good book and it was nice to see Hannah get involved with the Graham kids and help fill the void left by there parents. Matthew and Hannah go through some good times and bad as the get to know each other. This was my first time reading this authors work. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Juliana Philippa · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF'd at 30%
I was very excited to start this series. I've read one other book by Emma Lang, Ruthless Heart (my review), in 2011 and really loved it, giving it 5 stars. I've been meaning to read more by her for awhile, and I have bought several of this series ... and am hoping they're not all like this one. The others, thankfully, were on sale when I purchased them in eBook form, but this one wasn't and I paid a ridiculous $8.99 for it (thankfully Amazon let me return it for a refund since I didn't get very far).

There was nothing horribly wrong with it, but rather almost everything was just not enough. The characters were flat and somewhat caricature-ish; although the premise justified a quick marriage after barely knowing one another, nothing else about it was realistic in terms of them feeling so strongly for each other over nothing and after so little time; I didn't find any of the characters super likable and so didn't really care that much what happened to them. The book structure also really annoyed me, in that when a scene changed, there was no spacing or line break or anything to indicate it was a new scene; made for a very weird read with these abrupt shifts.

Overall, do not recommend. Fingers crossed the other books I purchased in the series are better ...

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty-five year old Matthew Graham's life has just been turned upside down. After the murder of his parents and the kidnapping of his baby brother Benji, he is left to take care of his six brothers and sisters as well as the Circle Eight the family ranch in the Republic of Texas. Before his parents were murdered his father had intended to claim four thousand more acres that the Republic of Texas was offering. When Matthew decides to go ahead with his father's plans he learns that he needs a wife so Matthew tells the land agent that he already has a wife named Hannah, but the lie backfires when the agent gives Matthew thirty days to bring Hannah in to sign the papers.It seems as if fate has intervened when Matthew runs into Hannah Foley, a twenty-three year old girl who often dreams of a husband but because of her looks and size believes she will never find one. So when Matthew proposes she gladly accepts. Will their marriage of convenience eventually turn into something more, and how will Hannah fit in with the Graham clan?

Once I started reading this book I just couldn't put it down. The author had a way of pulling me back in time, making me feel as if the story was unfolding right before my eyes. She easily brought the characters to life. Who wouldn't marry a man like Matthew, a handsome young man who was taking care of his family. The sexual attraction between him and Hannah was electric, and as they slowly got to know each other love started to bloom. Matt was determined to maintain control over his feelings because he was afraid it would make him appear weak. Little did he realize he was already falling head over boot spurs for Hannah! I thought Hannah was just what the Graham family needed especially after the death of their parents and the worry over their missing sibling, although the oldest sister Olivia really gave Hannah a rough time.I loved that Hannah wasn't described as beautiful, or dainty instead she was sturdy and strong, and in the beginning Matt didn't really think she was pretty but over time he saw Hannah's beauty.The author also throws in a nice little mystery of who killed Matthew's parents and what happened to Benji.

The ending was a twist that I didn't see coming, and since the author leaves a few questions unanswered I can only hope that she is going to give us a sequel. If you enjoy reading historical romance with real characters and a nice mystery then your certainly going to enjoy this one. I would warn that there are some sexual situations written into the story, but overall they were very well done. I for one enjoyed this book so much that I intend to check out Ms. Lang's other works! On a scale of one to five I would give this book a six because it was just that good!

Book reviewed for Readersfavorite.com

[Romancing the Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted on Romancing the Book's blog
Reviewed by~Ive
Review Copy Provided by~the Publisher

I fell in love with Matthew in chapter one, the way he stepped up and took control of the family after the tragic murder of his parents and kidnapping of his youngest brother. I also enjoyed the fact that the author showed his vulnerability and let the readers see that even the toughest man can be brought down to his knees. Hannah is just as lively and just as vulnerable but with a quick wit that will makes you want to reach into the book and give her a high five lol. Put these two together and the story burst thru the pages with passion and understanding.

This is the first book I have read from Emma Lang and I will assure you it won’t be the last. I could not put this book down, every page I read I had to keep turning to the next to see what happens next. The author captures you from the first page and the awesomeness just continues from there. The chemistry Matthew and Hannah have comes thru perfectly without it feeling forced which seemed like it would be a difficult task since they literally know each other for a few days before they get married…but it all worked marvelously. I loved each turn and twist Mrs. Lang wrote in this story and the good part it didn’t leave you hanging at the end, some series tend to leave you on a sour note turning the page saying to yourself “Is that it?” but not this one. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Mother Moses....this rough around the edges cowboy is hot as hell. I really liked his character. A lot.



I cannot get enough of these men. Great start to a fantastic series!

[MandaLee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice read for me. I loved Hannah! The girls in this series are strong and that has me happy to continue the series.
And of course the hot cowboys are great too;)

[Susan (susayq ~) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

There were some spots where I rolled my eyes because Hannah and Matt acted more like they were 14 or 15 rather than 20 and 25. Once I got over that, it was a pretty good story. Matt's horrible sister redeemed herself and I'm actually looking forward to her book :)

[Maida (Medley of Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING: 3 Hearts!

[Shirley Wine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this one up for free

This is a terrific read, I enjoyed it so much that I purchased the rest of the Circle 8 books. Historical is not my favorite genre, but these books are utterly charming. Witty with a lot of laugh out loud moments. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 stars.


The Graham family has gone through a terrible tragedy. Their parents were murdered and their youngest brother is missing as a result of the same attack. Now Matthew, the oldest, has taken on the responsibility of raising his siblings and becoming the head of the family.

Thus begins the Graham sibling's saga. For Matthew, one of the ways he can honor his parents is to continue on with their wishes – including expanding their farm by taking advantage of a land claim. He travels to Houston to sign the papers and finds out that the land grant is for a family, and he has to have a wife. Flustered, he blurts out that his wife's name is Hannah. The land grant office gives him 30 days to bring her back in to sign the paperwork. Now Matthew must find a wife named Hannah, and do it quickly.

By simple chance, he runs into Hannah Foley in the local mercantile. Literally. When he finds out her name is Hannah, he is dumbfounded. Strangely intrigued. And determined to marry her.

When Matt proposes to Hannah, she knows it's likely the best offer she'll get. She's not a beauty, and has no other offers. But she wants to marry and longs for a family. So she accepts.

I really liked both Hannah and Matt. Like any 25 year old, Matt pulls some bonehead moves. He has in his head how a marriage is supposed to work in 1839. The man makes the decisions, and that is that. Oh, how I loved the conflict that produced. Because Hannah is no wilting flower. She is used to living her life without relying on a man to make decisions for her. I loved that she curses up a storm. That she feels responsible for her grandmother. That she takes on all of Matthew's siblings as her own. Having a big family is what she's always wanted.

I liked the sense of family that pervades the entire book, both Matt's and Hannah's. This family argues, teases, laughs, fights, and loves deeply. And somehow, Hannah becomes as integral to the Graham siblings as they are to each other. Hannah's relationship with her grandmother warmed my heart. Her grandmother is quite a character, and totally calls it like she sees it. She helps Hannah work through many of her issues with common sense and understated love.

The romance between Hannah and Matthew grows slowly, and especially given the times, completely works. Matthew comes to completely appreciate and love Hannah, and she also loves him. They come to rely on each other and really like each other, which only reinforces the very hot attraction between them. That mutual respect and genuine liking of one another made the slow fall into love more complete and lovely.

The one thing that hit me as I was reading that threw me and made me really sad, was the realization that the Graham sibling's children would likely be drawn into the Civil War. The novel takes place in 1839, and Matt is the oldest. So once the youngest has children and they are young adults, they will likely be fighting for the rebel army. I don't want any of them to die!!! Yes, I know I'm crazy, but still.

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Emma Lang (and her alter ego Beth Williamson). I love that she writes American western historicals. One of my favorite genres. Her historicals always feel authentic, have strong characters who can have tremendous flaws and who make you root for them to be happy.

Anyhoo… this is a wonderful start to a new series, The Circle Eight. It releases on January 31. I can't wait to find out what happens next in the continuing story arc to discover what actually happened to the Graham's parents and youngest brother. The oldest sister, Olivia gets her story next, with the mysterious Texas Ranger Brody Armstrong as her hero. Mmmmm.

If you are a fan of Emma Lang's previous books, or of Beth Williamson's western historicals, you won't want to miss this first book in a new series. I loved it. Order it now.

[Virginia Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

When his parents are murdered and his youngest brother is kidnapped, Matthew Graham, the hero of "Matthew" by Emma Lang, becomes responsible for his remaining six brothers and sisters. At the age of twenty five, he is the oldest, and he becomes a "patriarch" and must care for his family and see to the running of their ranch. The Graham siblings fuss and fight like most families do, but they all agree that Matt must apply for the land grant that their father had coveted in order to increase their land holdings and secure their futures. When Matt goes to apply for the grant, he is stunned to learn that the grant is for married couples with children. He has the children, and he makes up a wife named "Hannah", which gives him thirty days to come back with his wife to sign the paperwork. Grieving for his parents, and determined to find out what happened to his baby brother, Matt must now also contemplate becoming a married man. He just has to find a bride named "Hannah"! Fate takes a hand, and in a chance meeting at the local mercantile, Matt meets a woman to whom he feels an immediate spark of attraction. After she leaves the store, he learns that her name is Hannah Foley, and he knows he must follow her and also follow his inner voice. Hannah is equally shaken by her encounter with Matt, and then she is shocked when he immediately shows up at the boarding house she runs with her grandmother. Without wasting words or time, Matt explains his situation to Hannah and proposes marriage. Hannah is tall, curvy, "plain and practical", and she never dreamed that a gorgeous cowboy would ask for her hand in marriage. She agrees to his plan, and they marry and take her grandmother along with them back to the ranch. Hannah's welcome is a mixed bag of reactions, with Matt's oldest sister, Olivia, expressing open hostility. Finding hidden strengths that she never suspected in herself, Hannah determines to fit in with her new family. Her husband is at turns kind and gruff, often leaving her hurt and confused. The passion between them is the one clear thing in their marriage. Matt comes to admire his wife more and more, and he also begins to see her as a lovely woman. He is afraid to give her his heart because he does not want to lose control over his life. The evil that killed his parents and stole his brother returns to threaten the Grahams, and an attack on Hannah frightens Matt into considering how he really feels about his wife. Texas Ranger Brody Armstrong advises Matt that other ranches were violated in the same manner, with more deaths and kidnappings that are under investigation. Matt and Hannah must find a way to protect their family and nurture their young marriage. Both characters have some growing up to do, and some important self-realizations to discover. Emma Lang has written an involving historical western romance featuring men and women who are rough around the edges, as vivid and exciting as the land and the times. This is a love story with heart and grit, and I look forward to the next book in the series, "Brody", which will feature Matt's sister Olivia and Texas Ranger Brody Armstrong. Olivia is a strong-willed character, and Brody is restless and quietly elusive. Their story is bound to be another great "sparks fly" romance from talented storyteller Emma Lang!

Review Copy Gratis Kensington Books

[Francesca the Fierce (Under the Covers Book Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was posted at Under the Covers

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I started reading Matthew, but I sure wasn't expecting Matthew to be such a perfect man, who could make me fall in love with him almost instantly!

After his parents are murdered in their own home and their little baby brother is kidnapped, Matthew is now the head of the family and has to look out for the best interest of the rest of his siblings (which are many!). He can get land from the government to expand their ranch and with that, they would have a successful operation. But there's a catch. That land is only available to families, and although his siblings count as kids, he needs a wife. He happens to blurt out that he is already married to a woman named Hannah. Now he has 30 days to find a single woman named Hannah and marry her or he will loose the land.

I think I loved everything about Matthew and Hannah getting together. His attraction to Hannah was there even before knowing her name, and even while she wasn't looking her best. He didn't try to lie to her and woe her, he was honest from the start. Even though their marriage started off on strange circumstances, he always respected her and gave her the love and attention that he would've a wife he married for love.

Now going back to Matthew being the perfect man... Of course there are the few points I just mentioned above, and on top of that he has integrity, he truly loves his family and would do anything for them. But when he loves a woman, he does do everything for her. He loves deeply, even when he's fighting his feelings. And then there's Hannah who has grown up taking care of her grandmother and working to support them both most of her life. She hasn't left the adversities she had to face change who she was as a person, they only made her stronger but not bitter. She's one tough cookie.

There's a bit of suspense in this book as well, since someone did kill his parents and obviously doesn't want them getting that land and now Hannah is in the middle of it.

If you love cowboys, and a very well written story that will suck you right in, then you have to check this out! I honestly can't wait to read the next installment!

[Kimberly Rocha~ Book Obsessed Chicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew Graham and his siblings come home from an outing in town to find their parents murdered and their youngest brother, Benjamin missing. All the hopes that their parents had for expanding the Graham family's holdings may be dashed with this awful event. Matthew, the eldest at 25 finds himself in the precarious position as head of the family, and he wants to continue what his parents had set out to do.

Matthew travels to Houston to claim a land grant which will expand the acreage on the Graham holding only to find out from the land office that in order to claim said land, Matthew must have a wife, but Matthew is unmarried. What shall he do? When the land officer asks if he is married, he lies and even gives his imaginary wife's name, Hannah. Oh this keeps getting better and better! The land officer gives Matthew a period of thirty days in order to bring Hannah the imaginary wife back to the land office to sign the papers necessary to make the land Graham land. Now Matthew is in quite a bind.

Enter Hannah Foley, a plain looking 23 year old who lives in town. Hannah has been helping her grandmother run the local boarding house for years now and hasn't had many prospects in the man department, that is until Matthew Graham literally bumps into her at the local store.One touch has each of them discombobulated. When Matthew finds out her name is Hannah he can't believe his luck, and so the real trials begin.

Not only do Matthew and Hannah have the trials and tribulations of their quick nuptials, but they also come face to face with possibly unraveling the mystery of the Graham parents

What an awesome way to begin a series! I thoroughly enjoyed Matthew and the Graham clan. Matthew and Hannah have their work cut out for them trying to bring their family together without having to have others against them. Taking two virtual strangers and seeing their relationship progress is my favorite part of this. Emma Lang aka: Beth Williamson is a fabulous writer who gives you just enough to keep you coming back for more. You really feel for the characters... from the hero and heroine all the way to the snotty sister Olivia who is most unwelcoming to Hannah when she arrives. I am truly looking forward to more Circle 8 books and I plead with you Beth.... hurry up and give me more!!!

[Jen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's only been a few weeks since someone killed Matthew Graham's parents and kidnapped his youngest brother. But now he is the head of the family, doing his best to run the family ranch and raise his brood of brothers and sisters. One of the tasks that has fallen to him is a trip to Houston to claim some extra acreage his father was planning to use to expand their property. But when he arrives, Matthew is stunned to find that he must be married to get the land for his family. In a moment of weakness, he lies --claiming to be married to a woman named Hannah. Only, the officials give him 30 days to produce that wife or the deal is done.

It's pure luck that allows Matthew to run into Hannah Foley at the market. He feels an attraction to her, but he honestly lays out his situation to her and asks her to wed. Fearing it's her only chance for a husband, Hannah accepts his offer and they are married within the week.

It's really kind of nice watching Hannah come into the fold of the Graham family. She helps fill some of the hole left by their parents' death and they give her the family she always dreamed of as an orphan. Of course, Matt and Hannah's marriage of convenience becomes more over time. The sexual connection happens right away, but real feelings begin to surface as they get to know one another better.

There were times I got frustrated with both characters. Hannah takes a lot of crap before she stands up for herself. And Matt... if I had to read his internal monologue about establishing dominance one more time, I may have found a way to jump into the book and kick his shins. But the sex was good and both characters managed to do alot of growing over the course of the book.

There was a good mystery surrounding who killed the Graham parents and some shady dealings with the land entitlement. I liked villain reveal and the circumstances in which our couple eventually prevailed. I was surprised that the author opted to leave a few threads open... not everything was wrapped up into a neat little package. But this leaves her some elements to incorporate should she follow up with a story on Matt's sister and the mysterious inspector. Almost 4 stars.*ARC provided by author for review

[Kathleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Read" is misleading here, because I didn't finish the book. I tried, but eventually the shallow point of view and retreading of the same internal angst by both hero and heroine became too irritating. The author's skill at portraying a character's internal turmoil on the first pass left me feeling bludgeoned with the obvious every time Matthew or Hannah restated their core issues in lengthy internalizations.

In addition, one or the other seemed forever to be feeling or seeing or smelling or knowing something instead of demonstrating their emotions, experiences and thoughts. The unfortunate result: The reader is left watching through a window instead of participating in the characters' journey.

Despite all that, Ms. Lang once again drew an uncommon heroine. The hero, too, sucked readers right in. The family dynamics showed promise, as did the plot (although the promised external threat to the ranch had yet to materialize by the time I left the story about a quarter of the way through). I remain curious about how Hannah and Matthew worked through their conflicts and overcame whatever threat faced them and their extended family, but not curious enough to endure what increasingly read like an extended synopsis instead of an immersive adventure.

[Tiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Lang's historical western romance is sad in the ways of children loosing their parents and a sibling. Matthew Graham is trying to go on after the deaths of his parents and loss of a younger brother. He goes to fulfill his dad's wishes of gaining more land, but doesn't know until he gets to the land office that he needs a wife. So he invents one.
Little does he know, there is a woman in town who has the name he needs. He offers to marry her and tells her why. But as time goes on and Hannah lives on the Graham ranch, things heat up. Hannah does marry Matthew and they consumate their marriage. The bedroom is a hot place and with time, love grows.
They are looking for the person's responsible for the murders of their parents and other in the area and Hannah tries to help but puts herself in danger along with other family members.
This is the first in a series of books. Emma did an awesome job incorporating everyone in, so that the other books are a continuation of the last.
I'm looking forward to reading them all.

[Jeni · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read almost half of this book, and finally just gave up. In my opinion, this story has serious issues.

There are quite a few editing errors, including missed words, extra words, etc.

The book is set in the 1830's, but there is very little historical context. Actually, there is very little setting or description of characters at all, besides a few very basic details. Also, the curses spoken by the heroine at the beginning of the book, and some of the language during the love scenes does not seem very historically accurate for this time period either.

The book just feels flat, and at times crude.

This is the first book I have tried by this author, and it was very disappointing, especially as it is the first in a series of eight. I wonder if the other seven have more depth and are better written?

I am questioning how this book could have had so many stars? Also, the author has quite a few books out that are pretty highly rated, is this one just not a good example of her work?

I will not be trying anymore. One was enough.

[Helyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://smexybooks.com/2012/03/review-...

Matthew Graham is the eldest of eight children. The world as he knows it is met with unexpected tragedy when his parents are murdered and his youngest sibling, Benjamin, is kidnapped and also presumed dead. He has no choice but to take over as head of the family and raise his younger brothers and sisters. He does it without question and he’s doing the best he can. When he learns that his father had started the process of gaining additional land due to a Texas land grant, he heads to Houston to finalize the process. It is there he learns that he must be married in order to redeem the grant. The thought of losing all that land due to him not having a wife is enough to have him lying to the Houston official and claiming that he is, in fact, married, and that his wife’s name is Hannah. The catch, though, is that he must produce said wife within 30 days as she too must sign the documents in order to transfer the land into the Graham name.

Hannah Foley lives with her grandmother and manages a boarding house in town. She’s lived with her grandmother since her mother died when she was 12. She’s had to take on more of the day to day responsibilities as her grandmother ages and can do less to help her out. She often day dreams of a man who’ll fall deeply in love with her and take her away from the drudgery of cooking and cleaning. But Hannah is realistic. She knows that she’s not that attractive; not tall enough, plumper than she should be with curly mud-colored hair that she can barely tame into a braid. She’s accepted that fact and that’s that.

So, when she and Matthew literally run into each other at the market one day she could never have known exactly how much her life was going to change simply because her name was Hannah.

As I read through this story the words “lovely” and “sweet” kept rolling through my head. And it is truly a lovely romantic story about two people who may never have met if not for the fact one needed a wife and the other happened to be named Hannah. When Matthew and Hannah run into each other at the market, Hannah is completely taken by Matthew. He’s gorgeous and everything she’s ever day dreamed about while doing her daily work at the boarding house. And though he attempts to talk to her, she is quick to run away and get out of the store. When the store owner mentions her name to Matthew, he can’t believe his luck and knows that he must find her and tell her of his plight.

I loved that when Matthew approaches Hannah he is completely honest and forthright with her. He didn’t try to use his looks to pretend love at first sight or seduce her. He tells her the facts and asks her to marry him to help him secure the land his family deserves. She accepts knowing full well this is a marriage of convenience and with no prospects in her future, she’s really got nothing to lose. In spite of the odd arrangement however, Matthew is kind of smitten by Hannah and thrilled that he actually likes this woman that will move in with him and his family.

Of course nothing goes as smoothly as planned. Matthew learns that one of his neighbors had been buying up bits and pieces of land in and around his and other rancher’s properties. When a Ranger comes to Matthew’s ranch to investigate the validity of his marriage to Hannah, he leans that there have been other murders in surrounding areas similar to his parent’s murder and in many cases young children were taken as well. It sets up the plots major conflict, while also setting up possible future stories.

Through this, we watch Hannah and Matthew grow closer and fall in love. But before we get there, we watch both of them struggle to be what they think the other wants. Matthew thinks that he has to keep Hannah in line and wants her to be the quiet respectful “do what I say” wife. But Hanna is a tough as nails heroine and she is not going to just toe the line and do what Matthew says. I loved her. She’s got a potty mouth, which was actually quite refreshing as she did not let Matthew dictate to her at all; something I imagine men did quite a lot of in 1836. When she accepted his proposal, she accepted all that came with it and when she realizes she was falling in love with her husband she wasn’t quite sure that was a good thing. She certainly does not expect him to fall in love with her and that is why it was even more beautiful when he realizes that he actually does.

I was very surprised by this story. I don’t generally read historicals and I think this one worked for me because it reads like a contemporary, while set in 1836 Texas. I like to classify this type of romance read as a “feel good” romance because that is exactly how I felt while I read it. Hannah is fun and strong and she takes on her new family proudly and with a lot of love in her heart. She is just what they need to fill the void left by the death of Matthew’s parents. She helps the family heal without them realizing that she’s just want they needed. Especially for Matthew who luckily realizes it before it’s too late. I am also a sucker for a story where the plain Jane gets the hottie! I also love a series that centers around a family and there are enough hints towards the end to make me look forward to book two.

[Heather M Jones-Lancto · Rating 1 out of 5]

The storyline has potential but the book was poorly written. The author bounces between character perspectives with any breaks. Places in the book that should transition appear as one paragraph right after the other. The sex sciences were uncomfortably written with words like: shaft and nub. I will not read any more works by this author. I would not recommend the book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

These plots are good, but the execution sucks. I can’t believe these actually made it past an editor. Name confusion, dropped words, and some flat out word misuse throughout the whole series. Plus we swing straight from ‘thats loco!’ To ‘c0ck and pu$$y’? And these completely innocent women are thinking it? No. I didn’t buy the characters at all. Huge disappointment.

[Jdtolbert2003yahoo.com · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a historical romance set in Texas. The story itself was decent. I liked the characters. I guess that what through me was that most of the books that I read like this are pretty prim and proper. The cussing didn't bother me but the explicit sex scenes where not what I was expecting and not what I wanted when I read this story.

[Penelope · Rating 3 out of 5]

lust to love of dummy matthew who apparently after having an idyllic childhood with parents that loved and respected each other was like bump THAT my woman needs to know i'm in charge! (???) dummy.

hannah had almost no real personality besides sassy and hard working.

[Angi Everett]

I wish I had read this before downloading the whole series. I'm so bored by the writing style

“ There is no one in this county who would marry you. You’re ornery, a liar, and bad company.” This was stated AFTER they commented that he never lies lol

[Nanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the characters and story but it could additional development

[Joan Mcphillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love any kind of marriage book - so this was right up my alley. Not sure I will read the other books in the series but this one was worth the read

[Cherie Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for the next one.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

a little bit cheesy but cute

[Angela]

0

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5🌟