The Cowboy's Bride Collection

by Susan Page Davis

Ride onto the open range alongside cowboys and cowgirls who embrace the adventures of living in the Old West from Kansas to New Mexico, Colorado to Texas. Whether rounding up cattle or mustangs, training horses, fending off outlaws, weathering storms, competing in rodeos, or surviving drought these cowboys work hard each day. But when hardheaded men have their weaknesses exposed by well-meaning women will they stampede away or will a lasting love develop? Find out in this exciting collection of nine historical romances.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Westerns, Historical, Fiction

549 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2016

About the author

FROM AUTHOR'S WEBSITE: I'm a native of central Maine, and grew up on a small farm with a wonderful mom and dad, three sisters and a brother. Most of my books take place in small towns, many of them in Maine.

My husband, Jim, and I moved to his birth state, Oregon, for a while after we were married, but decided to move back to Maine and be near my family. It allowed our six children to grow up feeling close to their cousins and grandparents, and some of Jim's family have even moved to Maine!

Our children are all home-schooled. When Jim retired from his vocation as an editor at a daily newspaper, we moved from Maine to Kentucky.

I've always loved reading, history, and horses. These things come together in several of my historical books.
Another longtime hobby of mine is genealogy, which has led me down many fascinating paths. I'm proud to be a DAR member! Some of Jim's and my quirkier ancestors have inspired fictional characters.

For many years I worked for the Central Maine Morning Sentinel as a freelancer. This experience was a great help in developing fictional characters and writing realistic scenes. I also published nonfiction articles in several magazines and had several short stories appear in Woman's World, Grit, and Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.

Reviews

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent collection of novellas by nine talented authors! I rated the book 4 stars overall but there are some novellas in the mix that merit a 5 star rating - I will indicate those as I go briefly through each one.

THE COWBOY POET by Susan Page Davis: The Cowboy Poet is a really cute story with a shy cowboy and a sweet girl and a nice dose of humor. I especially enjoyed the ribbing from the other ranch hands (sorry Bat!), though I wouldn’t have wanted to be the target of it. Some of the poems cracked me up, as did the individual authors’ analysis of their own work as they wrote. And Woolly the dog was basically the star of the show!

FOR A SONG by Susanne Dietze: I LOVED this story!! The humor, the romance (whew – I needed a fan a time or two), the faith nudges. All of it was so well-written and engaging! Aunt Martha both delighted me and touched my heart, reminding me of my precious grandmothers. I wanted to just hug her, though I’m sure had I tried I would have promptly received a lecture on my lack of propriety. The chemistry between Lily and Jackson was immediate but the romance built naturally, despite the limited space of a novella. A couple of subplots further deepened the poignancy of For A Song. (5 stars!)

CRAZY ABOUT CAIT by Nancy J. Farrier: There’s a lot of emotion and action packed into this little story! Lots of buried feelings and some not-so-buried ones. A heroine who has given her heart to her horses, and a hero who lost his heart long ago to the heroine. Crazy about Cait has a very sweet side as well, particularly surrounding Jonas’ relationship with God and his discussions with Cait on the subject.

LOVE'S SWEET STORM by Miralee Ferrell: Two things I love: snow and stories about a couple who is stranded in snow. I don’t know why this trope attracts me so much, but I do find it quite romantical in fiction. Love’s Sweet Storm by Miralee Ferrell does not disappoint. I loved Grant’s character, though I did want to shake him a time or two, but he was so honorable and good. And Addie – fierce and strong and yet she still needed a hero. Added to the mix is the angst of falling for each other, knowing that a relationship is impossible. Ahhhh THE FEELS!

THE REFORMED COWBOY by Darlene Franklin: Darlene Franklin has written a fun story about a young woman who sets out to teach a bunch of rough cowboys how to be gentleman – but finds she may be the one to learn a few lessons instead. I enjoyed the glimpses into the etiquette of the day, as well as the timely reminders to look past the exterior to the heart of a person. There were a couple of other romances brewing in the background as well and I would love to see those as stories of their own someday!

A TEXAN'S SURPRISE by Vickie McDonough: This is another of my favorite stories in the bunch! The little girls are just all kinds of adorable, especially Abby’s fascination with Trey. Oh be still my heart! Plenty of opportunities for cute humor creep in as Trey agrees to teach Sadie how to be a rancher’s wife, and I just have to say that I’m glad I live firmly in suburbia. Even though my neighbors have a rooster that terrifies me. So, in that aspect, I could totally relate to Sadie. At least a little. And also, this story made me extremely hungry for pie. ;) But in all seriousness, the story flows with a great pace and endearing characters that will work their way into your heart. (5 stars!)

THE WRANGLER'S WOMAN by Davalynn Spencer: First of all, Corra is my girl. She collects book boyfriends, too. Though her sister calls them her “paper beaus”…. I like that term. I may start using it. :) In The Wrangler’s Woman, Davalynn Spencer paints a sweet picture of Corra’s influence on the Hanacker family. It isn’t limited to just Jessica, and the effect of her presence in their lives is heartwarming. The romance adds to the story, but for me the highlight was the change in the family after Corra had been there for a couple of months.

COWBOY COMPETITION by Becca Whitham: I love Becca Whitham’s stories. The way her characters light up a page. The emotion she can convey in a few words. Her sense of humor. Her natural expressions of faith. I have enjoyed every one of her novellas that I’ve read so far, and Cowboy Competition is no exception. My particularly favorite scene in this case is when the story’s villain-type character gets his comeuppance – I thought that Nia in that scene was cute and sassy and fierce and I loved it!! This is a beautiful story of restoration and grace….and of course romance!

THE COWGIRL'S LASSO by Jaime Jo Wright: Oh y’all! This is such a cute story! The chemistry between Jonah and CJ (Celia Jo) sizzles as they walk that fine line between hate and love. The end result? Passion. I broke out my fan early on when, in the heat of an argument, Jonah dots CJ’s freckles with his finger… and there’s another line from toward the end that I really really want to quote but it would sorta be a spoiler so I’ll restrain myself. (But… seriously. I flailed. And swooned.) Jaime Jo Wright’s writing voice makes me smile, and the bits of humor she threaded through The Cowgirl’s Lasso made that smile even wider. From the dime novels to the spider attack – even the nod to pal Erica Vetsch’s The Legend of Obadiah Walker – you will find plenty of reasons to smile too! And Charlie – oh that man. Sweet and crusty and the epitome of cowboy – not to mention the source of THE FEELS in the story. This debut offering by Jaime Jo Wright is definitely a winner! (5 stars!)

(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cowboy's Bride Collection: 9 Historical Romances Form an Old West Ranches (Barbour Bride Collection) by Susan Page Davis, Vickie McDonough, Nancy J. Farrier, Miralee Ferrell, Darlene Franklin, Davalynn Spencer, Becca Whitham, Jamie Jo Wright and Susanne Dietze

1- The Cowboy Poet by Susan Page Davis
June 1880...near Beaumont, Texas
Rilla Lane leaves finishing school and returns home to the family ranch to help her ill mother. She continues to write poetry and hopes to be published one day. Then there is that handsome ranch hand, Bat Wilson, who has worked his way into her poetry—and possibly her heart? Bat Wilson is fairly new to the ranch, is a hard worker and finds a discarded poem Rilla wrote that has filled his head—and his heart. Will poetry bring love to Rilla and Bat?
This is a cute story and I loved the interaction between Rilla and Bat.

2- For a Song by Susanne Dietze
April 1858...Boston, Massachusetts
Jackson Bridge's great-aunt—Mrs. Martha Phipps—misread his letter to her, due to poor penmanship, causing some very unexpected visitors when she arrives in his hometown in South Texas. Sisters Lilly and Delia Kimball and Martha arrive by stagecoach in Wildrye, Texas with the expectation of Lilly and Delia singing at one of the establishments in town. They all are in for a big surprise. This is a funny, heartwarming story with misunderstandings, romance and learning to trust God in all things. I loved the adorable little girl, Georgia—or Georgie as she likes to be called.

3- Crazy about Cait by Nancy J. Farrier
Cait Sullivan is one of the best horse trainers in the area, how then could her father hire that Jonas Hall to help train horses for the cavalry. Cait hasn't forgiven Jonas for the past and they certainly do not train horses the same. Jonas is a changed man and hopes Cait will see that and finally forgive him. This is a wonderful story with great characters who learn to forgive and work together, lots of humor, faith and romance.

4- Love's Sweet Storm by Miralee Ferrell
January 1888...Southern Border Colorado
Addie Patrick is on the way to her new home and life when the wagon wrecks, tragedy and blizzard put her in a dangerous situation. She must find shelter and soon. Grant Hollister is caught out in the blizzard and is in a bad way. He finally stumbles into the line-shack only to discover a woman there and blacks out. Tragedy, heartache, forgiveness, choices to do what is right or follow their hearts, romance and faith making Love's Sweet Storm a heartwarming story.

5- The Reformed Cowboy by Darlene Franklin
1881...Wichita, Kansas
Former Bostonian Millie Cain wants to bring some much needed culture to the cowboys in her town. She is excited and a bit nervous about finally meeting the man she has been corresponding with for the past year. One of the cowboys in her class—teaching cowboys to be gentlemen—has caught her interest, but what of Wes? Wes Harper is excited to finally meet Millie but he over hears her say something that causes him to second guess his plans. This is a cute, humorous story, some jumping to conclusions and misunderstandings, romance and faith with colorful characters.

6- A Texan's Surprise by Vickie McDonough
1878...Sherman, Texas
Rancher Trey Carpenter is meeting the train in town, his very talkative mama is coming for a visit. However, when she steps off the train she is not alone, she has brought a young woman and her very young daughters with her. What is she thinking? Widowed Sadie Hunter and her two daughters—Abby and Martha—agree to accompany Ella to her son's ranch. But she had no idea how that visit would forever impact her and her daughters lives. Will Ella's matchmaking bring Trey and Sadie together? This is a fun story. I enjoyed the two little girls and Trey and Sadie's story.

7-The Wrangler's Woman by Davalynn Spencer
1881...Ford Junction, Colorado...
Corra Jameson is happy helping her sister, Letty Baxter, at her boarding-room house—the Baxter's Boardinghouse—and taking care of her 8-year-old niece. In her spare time she likes to “get lost” within the covers of her books, dreaming of her own “happy ever after”. Will she find the man of her dreams, a family of her own or be forever caught up in a story-book-world? Widower Josiah Hanacker—along with his two hands, Jess and Joe—drives his heard of cattle right through the middle of town, passing by the boarding-room house and catches Corra's eye—a real cowboy! His two hands are actually his young children—12-year-old son, Joe and 11-year-old daughter Jess—were a huge help on the cattle drive. But Jess is more “tom-boy” than girl and that is worrisome, especially for his deceased wife's sister—who is threatening to take his daughter to live with her. He can't allow that, but what can he do? After praying, asking God for guidance, he comes up with a plan, now if only Corra will agree. This is a heartwarming story that had me laughing at times and wondering how the characters would overcome their obstacles—namely a certain sister-in-law at other times. Loved how faith is woven throughout the story-line, strong family ties and devotion are so much of the characters lives, making this a wonderful story.

8- Cowboy Competition by Becca Whitham
1848...Northern Texas...
Nia Lindley works her family's ranch—the Double L Cattle Ranch—as any of the ranch hands but struggles with balancing being a lady and a cowboy. Now her father may sell the ranch if they can't find a foreman with character. Cowboy Toby Lane feels like he is “cursed” from the past—his father's past and can never break that curse. He finds an ad for a foreman's position at the Double L Cattle Ranch based the outcome of a competition—based on character, would be given the position. Does he dare go back there and compete, will his father's past curse him yet again or does God have other plans for his life? There is a lot of character growth in this story—Nia certainly grew into a strong, godly woman and Toby learned some hard lessons in his life which mold him into a godly man of character. Forgiveness, second chances, faith and love make this a heartwarming story.

9- The Cowgirl's Lasso by Jaime Jo Wright
1895...Desert Pony Ranch, New Mexico...
London born Jonah Sparks is at odds with his new foreman as to how to run the ranch—his ranch. How could his old mentor, Charlie, send him a woman foreman? CJ—Celia Jo Matheson has to prove to her new boss she is a good foreman. If only he would stop interfering in each of her decisions and orders to the men. She is not afraid of hard work or anything—well, there is one thing she fears greatly. Can Jonah and CJ come to terms and find a working relationship that will benefit the ranch or will they forever be at odds? I love CJ's spunk and determination and the sparks that flew between her and Jonah. Charlie captured my heart and his matchmaking schemes. A heartwarming story with characters that will captivate the reader, some humorous situations, battle of wills between Jonah and CJ, faith and love.

~I received an e-book copy of this book from Miralee Ferrell via Netgalley for my review, this is my honest review~

[Gail Hollingsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read with nine novellas by nine different authors. Some authors were new to me, some familiar and some were new authors as well. Every story was unique but always included the rugged cowboy, women that were both tough and soft, and sweet romances that were passionate but clean. I could feel the heat, the cold, the dust, and the danger that was apart of these stories.
Some elements you will find in these stories: strong women that work like men, men fighting nature's elements, widower's and widows in need of help, Cowboys that write poetry, ladies that travel to sing and entertain but find something different, a mail order bride that gets caught in a storm and fails to reach her destination in a timely manner, a lady trying to instill manners and etiquette in a bunch of cattlemen, rodeo type competition to name a new ranch foreman that includes not only ability and brawn but character as well, and an English born ranch owner who finds himself butting heads with a female foreman that he was duped into hiring.
If you enjoy late 1800s type westerns, realistically portrayed and full of adventure and romance you will certainly enjoy these novellas.
I was given this ebook from a Net Galley for my honest opinion, which I have given. I received no monetary compensation.

[Debora Wilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of short historical romances.

These great novellas are all set in the time period from 1839-1895. The authors that were brought together to write each of these stories is fantastic. Each writing style is just different enough that you can easily tell they were written by different people. I thoroughly enjoyed the accuracy to the time period for each story. There is quite a variety of characters throughout these stories that kept me interested in reading them.

Love’s Sweet Storm by Miralee Ferrell
I think that the thing I liked the most about this story is that it was a great reminder of the need to speak honestly about our feelings. We shouldn’t just go along with what others have planned for us.

The Cowboy Poet by Susan Page Davis
The thing that really caught my attention in this story was how teasing affects people, even adults.

I really like the fact that with these short stories it is easy to take just a little time each day and finish a whole story in just a couple of days. They are brief escapes from our everyday lives.

I received a free eBook copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review is on The Cowgirl's Lasso I will update as I read the other novellas

I fell in love with CJ, Jonah and Charlie from the moment they were mentioned. The writing was descriptive.. from the freckles on CJ's face to the weathered look of Charlie and the sunrise of New Mexico, I could picture everything vividly clear. This writer knows how to make the reader laugh while rooting for everything to fall into place. I found myself smiling as I was reading the thoughts in Cj's head and I swooned over Jonah right along with her. For a novella, it was just the right speed. The story was wrapped up nicely and didn't seem rushed. Wonderful debut for Jaime Jo Wright! I cant wait to read more from her!

[Katie (kt_readz)]

So, Jaime Jo Wright CAN write romance. Well, I'll be! ❤️

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Cowboy’s Bride Collection by Susan Page Davis, Vickie McDonough, Nancy J. Farrier, Miralee Ferrell, Darlene Franklin, Davalynn Spencer, Becca Whitham, Jamie Jo Wright, Susanne Dietze we ride onto the open range alongside cowboys and cowgirls who embrace the adventures of living in the Old West from Kansas to New Mexico, Colorado to Texas. Whether rounding up cattle or mustangs, training horses, fending off outlaws, weather storms, competing in rodeos, or surviving drought these cowboys work hard each day. But when hardheaded men have their weaknesses exposed by well-meaning women will they stampede away or will a lasting love develop? Find out in this exciting collection of nine historical romances.

I recommend this collection for teenagers and older.

As we personally know one of the authors of the novellas I was excited to get this book for my birthday. It was a great fun read and full of romance.

The Cowboy Poet by Susan Page Davis: A cute story, a cute couple and a little bit of humor. I loved the cute little poems in this book. They made me laugh every time.

For a Song by Susanne Dietze: I really liked this one. It was a very funny romance.

Crazy about Cait by Nancy J. Farrier: I loved the emotion in this one and the feelings they had to overcome to finally find each other and God as well. I enjoyed the discussions about faith in this one.

Love’s Sweet Storm by Miralee Ferrell: This book made me cold. I have been having a hard time transitioning from Mexico to Wisconsin and well this one was about a couple stranded in snow. Nothing sounds more miserable to me. I wanted to shake the characters several times. I would say this was a good story because of the frustration I felt at times for them.

The Reformed Cowboy by Darlene Franklin: This one is about a proper woman trying to teach rough cowboys how to be gentleman. I couldn’t help but imagining the characters to look like a couple I know from church and that I love dearly. I loved hearing the etiquette in this one. I often feel I was born in the wrong era and desire those etiquette’s today.

A Texan’s Surprise by Vickie McDonough: The little girls in this book are just adorable and I fell instantly in love with them. Again this was a humorous romance. A cowboy trying to teach a city girl how to be a rancher wife. I have a feeling that I would have responded in the ways she did.

The Wrangler’s Woman by Davalynn Spencer: I don’t remember a lot about this one. I didn’t enjoy it as much as the others I guess.

Cowboy Competition by Becca Whitham: Again another one I didn’t enjoy as much I think by this time I was just anxious to get to the next one.

The Cowgirl’s Lasso by Jaime Wright: The love hate relationship in this one made me laugh out loud. The humor in this one made me smile many times. A great read.

I rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

[Trixi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you enjoy historical fiction? Here’s a collection of 9 novellas that will whet your appetite for all things western! You have strong heros, land to tame, families to fight for, God to honor, and a little loved tossed in the mix. You might have to dust yourself off, put your Stetson hat on and ride the trail with these men & women who made up the wild west!
While I enjoyed each story equally, I’ll point out two I especially loved.

Crazy about Cait by Nancy Farrier

Cait’s a strong woman who isn’t afraid of a little work. She has a fiery temper just like the color of her hair. She’ll do what it takes to help her Pa save the ranch they own while trying to stay afloat of a terrible drought that befalls the land. She’s training horses to sell to the Calvary, and resents the fact that her Pa hired Jonas to come help her. The one man she never wanted to see again since he broke her sisters heart! Can these two learn to work together to save her Pa’s livelihood or will Cait’s resentment forever keep her in the past? Can Jonas prove he’s a changed man and win her heart? Humor & mayhem abound in this story of hard work, overcoming disaster, forgiveness, and a love for both the land and each other.

The Wrangler’s Woman by Davalynn Spencer

Corra’s idea of romance is in the the pages of her novels. She helps both her sister run a boarding-room house and takes care of her niece. She dreams of a someday family and a cowboy who’ll sweep her off her feet.
Josiah is a hard-working rancher trying to make a living off the land. He lost his wife two years ago, and with the help of his father, raising his two children the best he can. When his wife's sister writes threatening to take his daughter to live with her, he needs to come up with a plan quick! He asks for wisdom from God and the perfect solution comes to mind, but only if Corra agrees! I love the dashes of humor sprinkled throughout this story and how two people come together to help each other overcome obstacles! The faith theme is refreshing to read and how each character grows in it. A wonderful story of love and family ties!

**I was provided with a complimentary digital copy of this book by NetGalley for my honest review, which I have given here. Thank you for a truly wonderful set of novellas to read!**

[Janice Sisemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cowboys bride collection

This a good box set, some of the stories are really good. I received this from netgalley for a honest reviewed. A good way to read new authors and great to be able read some from authors I have read before.

1. The Cowboy Poet by Susan Page Davis

Rilla writes poets and submits to be publish. Bat that works the family's ranch decided to give it a try after seeing her work. Rilla had to come home to take care of her mom. But she still wants write. This is a very enjoyable story.

2. For a Song by Susanne Dietze

A very cute story, a misunderstanding of what Jackson wanted. Mrs. Phipps thinks he wants two girl singers but he really wanted was singing birds for his daughter. Loved Georgie, the little girl.

3. Crazy about Cait by Nancy J. Farrier

Jonas is hired by Cait dad to help train the horses, she is not happy about it since has a history with her sister. This story in this set was hard to put, well written.

4. Love's sweet storm by Miralee Ferrell

Addie is a mail order bride, but things don't always work out like planned. Another very enjoyable story in this box set. Loved the story of Addie and Grant.

5. The reformed cowboy by Darlene Franklin

Millie gives a etiquette class to the Cowboys. Wes pretends to be someone else bur will Millie figure it out.

6. A Texan's surprise by Vickie McDonough

Trey's mother comes to visit but brings a visitor with her. A big surprise. I really enjoyed Sadie and her children, they were so cute. The characters were so real.

7. The wrangler's women by Davalynn Spencer

Josiah asked Corrie come help with his son and daughter for his aunt will not have any reason to take them away. Jesse, his daughter is a tomboy and needs to learn girl things. I loved all the characters but I think Jesse was my favorite. Love how love develops between all the family members. Very good.

8. Cowboy competition by Becca Whitham

This one started out good with the little girl but was disappointed when that was the only time she appeared in the story. It did have some good parts in it though. Loved how strong the character of Nia was.

9. The Cowgirl's Lasso by Jaime Jo Wright

CJ tries to be boss but has a lot of conflict, they think she is not afraid of anything but finds out she is of one thing. CJ is a fighter in spirit.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cowboys and women from the West and South all come together in these stories of romance on the ranch. The stories all tie together with the theme, but are otherwise stand alone novellas that showcase the author's writing. These romantic stories of ranch life and love are clean and have Christian elements of faith and trust woven throughout the plots.

I really enjoyed this book. I was a little intimidated by the number of novellas in one book, but I flew through them. Each story was a good representation of the title and I loved the Christian aspect. This is a great book to pick up if you only have a short time to read as each story is separate. It also introduced me to some previously unknown authors that I plan to check out. I would definitely recommend this as a entertaining Christian romance.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Bonnie]

I so enjoyed this book. It had 9 separate romance stories of the old west and each delved with the love of God and following their Faith. Each author brought her own delightful story. I really was sad when the book was done. I highly recommend this book for the sheer enjoyment of it!

[Rochelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love's Sweet Storm by Miralee Ferrell 2.5 stars

This story would have been MUCH better as a full length book! The pacing and character building was rushed, and I was left unsatisfied. A nice little snippet but potential lost.

The Wrangler's Woman by Davalynn Spencer 3 stars

The pacing was a little better in this story, short and sweet. Nothing mind blowing.

The majority of the stories didn't peak my interest at the moment, so maybe I'll check it out again in the future.

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cowboy's Bride Collection: 9 Historical Romances Form on Old West Ranches

Book Review: I received a free copy in return for a fair review.

The Cowboy Poet by Susan Page Davis

This was a cute read about the Rancher’s daughter who fancies poetry and a ranch hand who fancies her! This sweet read took only about 2 hours to read, but was filled with shy romance, a handful of danger, and a furry little dog named Wooly who will steal your heart as he steals the show! Susan is a wonderful author who always leaves me wanting to read more of her books! This was no exception! If you enjoy this author as much as I do, make sure to check out her Ladies’ Shooting Club and Prairie Dreams series, which I also recommend!

For A Song by Susanne Dietze

What happens when a deaf Aunt in Massachusetts tries to decipher a letter with misspellings and poor penmanship and then tries to barter for the “special request” to bring to her new home in Texas? She gets a couple of musical young ladies instead of the asked for singing birds to travel out West. These unexpected ladies find themselves unwanted and far from home. What happens next in this fun tale of confusion is an example of God’s handiwork and sense of humor! Susanne is a new author for me, but if this delightful read is a true portrayal of her work, I’m hooked! Bring ’em on!

Crazy for Cait by Nancy J. Farrier

A wonderful Cowboy tale of love and hate! Cait once declined Jonas’ love because he was going to marry her sister, and then broke her heart. But was that the truth or just Cait’s understanding of the situation. When forced to work side by side will Cait let down her guard and answer true to her heart? Can she trust God again after all the loss and heartache in her life? This book kept me on the edge of my seat! What a beautiful ending! Nancy is another new author for me; I can’t wait to read more of her books!

Loves Sweet Storm by Miralee Ferrell

Addie travels long distance to marry an older shopkeeper as a mail order bride, but a wagon wreck and a couple of snow storms keep her from her betrothed and in the company of a delightful rancher. She’s smitten with Grant, but what will she jeopardize to keep her promise to a man she has yet to meet? This book will keep you on your toes and you’ll love the happy ending! I enjoyed this book tremendously just as much as I enjoyed Miralee’s Love Blossoms in Oregon Series.

The Reformed Cowboy by Darlene Franklin

This book had me hooked immediately! So different from any western tales I’ve read! A Boston girl writes to her friend’s cousin who just happens to be a rough and tumble cowboy. Millie has moved to Kansas before the year of writing but still holds to her citified etiquette and begins a school for men to learn how to be gentlemen. Wes shows up just in time and the sparks begin! Every time I had to put this book down, I ended up thinking about the last scene and trying to figure out what Darlene would do with the characters! This was such a delightful and entertaining read! I’ve only read a couple of Darlene’s books but this is the best one yet! I highly recommend this book and the entire collection!

A Texan’s Surprise by Vickie McDonough

Trey had never suspected what his visiting Mother would bring with her! Surprise! A readymade family comes to join him on his quite ranch! Will he take the golden opportunity laid out in front of him or will he pawn her off to one of his neighbors so he can stick to his plan? Check out Vickie’s romantic tale to find out! I’ve enjoyed several of Vickie’s other great books including the Texas Boardinghouse Brides Series!

The Wrangler’s Woman by Davalynn Spencer

An instant connection brings the hero and heroine together in this sweet romance! Josiah a widower with two teenagers may lose his girl to the custody of her Aunt if he can’t refine her from her ranch hand tendencies. Corra comes to the rescue as a temporary live in cook and tutor and makes the house a home again! Will Corra succeed in time for Beatrice’s arrival from the East Coast and all its refinement? This is a beautiful story with a wonderful depth to it! Davalynn is a new author for me and this book sets the stage for my love for her books! I can’t wait to read her next one!

Cowboy Competition by Becca Whitham

What a beautiful story of God’s grace and the love of a good man! A cowboy has high hopes for his future but his father’s past is haunting him! Can he receive God’s mercy or does he need to pay for his father’s sins? This tale was told with wonderful imagery and I could almost taste and smell the ranch! I’ve only been to one rodeo myself, but I could picture it all! This book won my heart! Becca is also a new author for me, and a military wife to boot! Thank you Becca for your and your family’s sacrifices for our Country! ~MA1(SW) USN Retired and wife to HTC(SW/AW) USN!

The Cowgirl’s Lasso by Jaime Jo Wright

A wonderful way to end this anthology! I understand this is Jamie’s first book! A great way to enter this world of writing as well! CJ is a woman torn between her love of pink and frills as much as her need for horseflesh and leather! She’s a lady foreman in an all male ranch world! Can her English boss appreciate her for all her attributes? Or does his perception of where woman belong in society ruin his chances for a successful ranch and life? Beautifully told, this tale will have you dancing in your boots! I can’t wait for your next book Jaime!

[ChelC]

Cowboy Poet by Susan Page Davis: ✮✮✮✮
For a Song by Susanne Dietze:
Crazy about Cait by Nancy J. Farrier:
Love's Sweet Storm by Miralee Ferrell:
Reformed Cowboy by Darlene Franklin:
Texan's Surprise by Vickie McDonough:
Wrangler's Woman by Davalynn Spencer:
Cowboy Competition by Becca Whitham:
Cowgirl's Lasso by Jaime Jo Wright:

[Vicky Sluiter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good historical cowboy fiction. Of course all the stories are novellas so they're a quick read and don't go into a lot of detail. I enjoyed most of them, although there were 2 that I didn't finish. But if you're looking for a relaxing read this works well.

[Heidi Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic Historical Christian Cowboy Fiction Collection. Each Novella's story was believable and the characters were heartwarming. I was able to read a copy of this book via Readera, but it did not in any way affect my review. All opinions are my own.

[Terry Yaceyko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great collection of short stories.
My favories were:
Love's Sweet Storm by Miralee Ferrell
Wrangler's Woman by Davalynn Spencer
Cowboy Competition by Becca Whitham

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 7th stories were my favorites and I really enjoyed them. I enjoyed the characters and storylines.
The 3rd, 5th, and 8th stories were good, but not as great as the ones listed above in my opinion.
The 9th story just wasn’t one that I particularly enjoyed. I found myself annoyed with the characters.

[Angela Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just wanted to read the short story by Vannetta Chapman but I ended up reading several others. They were all good, but VC's was my favorite!

[Christy]

I received this ebook for reviewing purposes from the publisher and NetGalley. For my honest opinion.
The Cowboys Bride Collection is 9 novellas about. Falling in love. It has Faith, Love, Adventure, and Family. I loved reading the stories. Some made me laugh and some made me cry. Some I was wondering if there was more to the story like series connected to it.
1. The Cowboy's Poet Susan Page Davis
June 1880 Texas. Rilla was away back east in school. She came home to her care for her mom. Bat is a cowboy on Rilla's family ranch He seems taken with Rilla. Rilla's pa seem grumpy towards the workers. Rilla enters a contest for poetry and Bat finds a poem she'd written. He tried to write some himself. Rillas father needs to be more appreciative and lenient. This story was a sweet Romance. You come to appreciate the small things and understanding. I loved the characters. It had Romance and Robbers.
2. For a Song Susanne Dietze
The story starts out with Jackson aunt inquiring about some girls. Who would song in Jackson's saloon. Along come sisters Delia and Lily. Jackson arrives to meet stagecoach. His aunt tells him about the girls for the saloon. He is confused he wanted to canaries not 2 girls to sing for his salon. Lily and her sister have no where to go or do in town. So Jackson takes him to his ranch. The stagecoach want come back around for 2 weeks. Jackson is a widow with a 4 year old. This novella is funny. I would just here and read and start laughing. My family would look at me funny.
3.Crazy about Cait by Nancy J. Farmer
Cait is a horse trainer a real girl she break horses. Jonas is hired to help break the horses. Since the buyer didn't want to buy horses that were broke by a girl. Cait has some hard feelings towards Jonas. Since he hurt her sister. This was a sweet novella about love and forgiveness. I liked Jonas from the start.
4.Loves Sweet Storm Miralee Ferrell
Colorado 1888. Addie is basically a mail order bride. Sent to marry Sam. After a wagon accident and the driver wound up dead.Addie gets hurt and finds her way o a cabin. Grant is stranded in the snow storm. He is overcome with fever, so Addie takes care of him. They eventually make it to Grants ranch. He discovers that she is betrothed. What will happen when Grant and Addie's are stuck because of a storm for 3 weeks? What will Sam think when he finally meets Addie?
5.The Reformed Cowboy by Darlene Franklin
Kansas 1881 Millie has been writing Wes for a year. Wes is a cowboy which Millie despises she thanks they are gross and stinks. Wes signs up for a class to act like the proper gentleman. Millie is the teacher. Could Wesley from the class be Wes from her letters? They finally meet face to face is Wes what Mille wanted? Can she grow to love a cowboy on a ranch?
6. Texas Suprise by Vickie McDonough
Texas 1878. Trey his own his way to pick up his ma from the train. He didn't expect to get his ma and a woman with 2 small children. He likes the peace and quiet. Now he has to deal with 4 females. Sadie is a widow with 2 small girls. She comes along with Ella trey's ma. To see if she can find work or get married in the town. How will Trey react when work gets around there is a widow in the mix? Suitors start of show up? Will Trey change his plans? I loved this story, it was a favorite of mine.
7.The Wrangler's Woman by Davalynn Spencer
Colorado 1881 Corra was always fascinated with cowboys from her dime novels. She's never seen a herd of cattle before running through the town. She likes the look of he man pushing the cattle. Josiah is a widow with 2 small children. He needs help someone to help his daughter act like a girl instead of a boy. Her aunt is suppose to come and check on her and make sure she is acting proper. If not she will take her away from Josiah.He asks Corra to be a housekeeper, cook, and help is daughter act like a girl.
8.Cowboy Competition by Becca Whitamter
Texas Toby has been getting judged by his father's pas as a horse thief. He gets fired often because of it. He's sees a cowboy competition in the paper if you win and have good character you can be the foreman on the Double L. Nia is a cowgirl. She rides, ropes,and wears mans clothing. Too bad the Double L belonged to Toby's family. Until he lost it to a card game. I believe this was the shortest novella. A sweet romance I liked it.
9. The Cowgirl's Lasso by Jaime Jo Wright
New Mexico 1895 Jonah has a woman foreman the first around he believes. C.J. (Celia Jo) tricked him into hiring her. He thought she was a man. He doesn't like her opinions because she is a girl. Can he overlook that fact she is a girl but knows all about horses and Mustangs? Can he see her as a woman?
I loved this novellas they were sweet. I love reading about the west and living on ranches. Frontier life and prairies. Thanks again to NetGalley these are my honest opinions and thoughts.

[Marilyn Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nine novellas in one book, all dealing with Cowboys, need we say more? Each author has their own style and each novella is filled with romance. If you enjoy reading short stories about cowboys you will love this collection. I was given a copy of this book from netgally for my honest opinion.

The Cowboy Poet - by Susan Page Davis
Rilla lives on the ranch with her parents, she has come home from finishing school to help take care of her mother. While she takes care of her parents she tries to find the time to write poetry, and keep an eye on the handsome Bat.
Bat does not know what has come over him. He loves how Rilla can put her thoughts on paper and tries to do some of his own. When he must make some difficult choices will he do what is easy or stand tall and do what is right?

For a Song - by Susanne Dietze
Lilly has lost all hope in God, when she hears of a way to get free from her current situation, she is really given no choice but to go. What will her new employer think and will he really just allow her to sing?
Jackson never expected his Aunt to show up with two surprises. Yet he now feels responsible for them. He is a determined cowboy, yet Lilly keeps getting under his skin.
I loved the misunderstandings, learning to trust God and the romance in this novella.

Crazy about Cait - by Nancy J. Farrier
Cait can not believe her father has hired Jonas to help train the horses. First, she is an amazing trainer and second, Jonas, really???
Jonas can’t wait to show Cait he is a changed man, but will she ever be able to forgive him and learn to trust him?
This novella is full of good humor, hard work, learning how to work together and forgiveness.

Love’s Sweet Storm - By Miralee Ferrell
Addie is on her way to a new life. When a storm throws her into some very difficult situations. Addie is not sure what to do when she must help the handsome Grant back to recovery. Will she ever make it to Mr. Tolliver?
Grant is not sure who this angel is helping him recover but when he awakens and realized she is not an actual angel will their worlds ever be the same? Addie is unlike any woman he has ever met, yet he must do what is right by her.
This novella is full of heartache, misunderstanding, forgiveness, doing what is right and humor.

The Reformed Cowboy - by Darlene Franklin
Millie is trying to bring culture to the many cowboys in her town. She is also excited to meet the man she has been corresponding with for about an year. When one cowboy spikes her interest it is fair to the man she has been writing?
Wes can’t wait to meet Millie, however when he sees her for the first time he is blown away by her beauty yet what he overhears throws him a little. Will his scheme be his undoing or is there hope for a future?
This novella is full of some laughter, misguided trust and fun.

A Texan’s Surprise - by Vickie McDonough
Trey is always happy to see his mama, yet she upsets his normal busy schedule. As a rancher he works from sunup till sunset, but he always takes time to visit with his mom when she comes. Trey is not expecting the surprise that she has brought with her.
Sadie just needs to find a good place for her and her children. She would love to find someone who will love her and her family, yet she understands sometimes it is a choice of need.
Will Trey and Sadie ever find the love they both seek or will they let it pass them buy?

The Wrangler’s Woman - by Davalynn Spencer
Josiah is a strong determined wrangler. He is only trying to save his family. When he needs help around his farm can Corra be what he is looking for or will there be more at risk?
Corra loves her romance novels, so when a rugged, handsome, cowboy is in need of help is it more than a romance novel come to life? Corra must learn not all things are a romance novel, life has ups and downs and consequences. Will she get her story book ending?

Cowboy Competition - by Becca Whitham
Nia struggles finding the balance between being a lady and a cowboy. When she is faced with decisions that will effect the future of her ranch will she make wise decisions or prove she is not ready for that responsibility.
Toby is a hard working cowboy, running from his families past. Will his past define him forever or will he be able to get over it and move into the future God has for him.

The Cowgirl’s Lasso - by Jaime Jo Wright
CJ is a determined lady trying to fit into a mans world. She is good at her job even if it is a little unconventional. Sparks fly between her and her boss.
Jonah can’t believe his luck, how could CJ be a woman? Will he be the laughingstock or will she be the best decision he has ever made.
I loved their sass and determination. The author does a great job with their dialogue.

[Yvette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is now officially one of my favorite novella collections (so far) from Barbour Publishing. When choosing whether or not to read each collection, there is generally one author's name that draws me in. For this collection that name is Susan Page Davis, and her story did not disappoint. Bat Wilson, ranch hand, is inspired by the boss's daughter, Rilla Lane, to write poetry - much to the amusement of the other ranch hands. A sweet, fun story that sets the tone for the collection.

In the second story, Jackson Bridge asks his Aunt Martha to send two songbirds for his "saloon." While Lily Kimball and her sister Delia delight his daughter Georgie, they were not quite what he had in mind.
Cait Sullivan excels at working with horses. Much to her chagrin, her father hires Jonas Hall to train them. Having her sister's ex-fiance working on the ranch is difficult for her pride, and her heart. Addie Patrick, raised like a son, is an orphan with no place to go. After a few letters, she leaves Iowa to be the bride of a Colorado store owner. Being trapped in a line shack with an injured rancher during a snow storm was not in her plans. For Grant Hollister, however, it is a good thing that he felt God nudging him to keep going until he could be.

Millie Cain has co-founded the Ladies Society for the Betterment of Culture, intent on bringing Boston manners to the cowboys of Wichita, Kansas. Little does she know that Wes, the man she has been corresponding with for a year, has joined her Learn To Be A Gentleman class to see if she can accept him as a cowboy. Everything they hope for hinges on a song.

When Trey Carpenter's ma comes to visit his ranch, he is unprepared for the surprise she brings with her. He is even less prepared for how he feels when neighbors come courting Sadie Hunter, the penniless young widow with two daughters.

With the threat his deceased wife's sister coming to take his daughter, Josiah Hanacker hires a spinster, Corra Jameson, to turn her into a lady. Petunia (Nia) Lindley learned not to trust her judgement about men, but there is something about Toby Lane, one of the men competing to become foreman of her family ranch. Jonah Spark has come a long way from being a titled Englishman to a New Mexico rancher, but he is still a bit too proper to accept a woman as his foreman. CJ Matheson is ready to fight to win this power struggle. It isn't her fault the ranch's owner thought she would be a man.

In a collection like this, there are often stories that you wish would be developed into full length novels. Miralee Ferrell provided a prime example with her story. It felt a bit of a jumble, which might have been partly due to the length, but it was so very sweet that I would gladly read a longer version.

I try to take time between each story so that my reaction to one doesn't affect my thoughts and feelings about the next. Sometimes, however, the stories are strong and distinct enough that this isn't necessary. For example, Becca Whitham's story was a little touch and go for me at first, but had such an "awwww" ending that I was won over. Jaime Jo Wright, on the other hand, had me from the first page with her descriptions and humor.

Darlene Franklin and Vickie McDonough are two authors I have been wanting to try, as they wrote a series with Susan Page Davis. I was quite pleased to see that they had contributed the fifth and sixth stories in the collection, and I've lost any trepidation I may have felt about reading the rest of that series.

If you enjoy, as I do, Historical Romance set in the Old West with faith integrated into the story, engaging main characters, and touches of humor then this is a great choice. I plan on adding a physical copy to my bookshelves in the near future. French flaps, deckled edges, and nine enjoyable romances that are just the right length to read one (or two, if you start early) in an evening. Whether you prefer ebooks or physical books, I recommend it.

This review refers to a review ebook read for free courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. This review, with a few short quotes added, was originally published on my WordPress blog: http://wp.me/p5Tcfi-Uo

[Robbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cowboy Poet, by Susan Paige Davis, begins the stories in The Cowboy’s Bride Collection.

Rilla Lane has returned home to the family ranch due to her mother’s illness. She loves the ranch and her Ma and Pa, but the poetry that lives in her heart needs a release.

Bat Wilson, a cowboy, had come to work on the ranch while Rilla was away. They really didn’t know each other, but Bat was hoping to remedy that by writing his own poems. What he didn’t expect was the ridicule he’d endure from the other ranch hands.

For A Song, by Susan Dietze, is a fun story full of miscommunication, misunderstanding and lots of faith and humor.

Aunt Martha Phipps believes she has the perfect answer to sisters Lily and Delia Kimball’s dilemma when she receives a letter from her nephew, Jackson Bridge. However, she only opens up a can of worms, and there will be a lot of talking to get out of the mess!

Crazy About Cait, by Nancy J Farrier, introduces us to Cait Sullivan and Jonas Hall.

Cait is one of the best horse trainers in the area, however, her father hired Jonas to train his horses for the cavalry, and Cait feels betrayed. Not only did Jonas get her job, but he had stolen and then broken her sister’s heart, how could she ever forgive him?

Love’s Sweet Storm, by Miralee Ferrell, puts us on the trail with Addie Patrick during a blizzard.

Addie is stranded when her wagon careens off the path, and the driver is gravely injured. Knowing she’ll never survive without shelter, she sets out to find somewhere warm.

Grant Hollis is caught out in the same blizzard, but he’s injured. When he arrives at the line shack Addie found, he passes out, leaving only Addie to assist him.

Darlene Franklin brings us the amusing story of Millie Cain and Wes Harper in The Reformed Cowboy.

Millie recently relocated to Wichita from Boston in order to meet her pen pal and possible boyfriend, Wes. However, she first decides she would like to teach the Kansas cowboys lessons in etiquette and how to be true gentlemen. Mayhem and confusion ensue, leaving Millie to wonder if cowboys can learn!

Trey Carpenter, a rancher by trade, is supposed to meet his mother at the train station in A Texan’s Surprise, by Vickie McDonough. However, his Mom has a surprise for him-she brought along a widow, Sadie Hunter, and her two daughters, Abby and Martha.

Trey isn’t very happy about his Mother’s unannounced surprise; however, he’s even more unhappy when the local men begin to court Sadie.

The Wrangler’s Woman, by Davalynn Spencer, captures the story of Corra Jameson, widower Josiah Hanacker and his two children, Joe and Jess, and Josiah’s meddling sister in law.

Josiah needs help with turning his daughter Jess from wrangling and tomboy ways to a refined and genteel young woman, and if Corra agrees, she’s the perfect answer to his dilemma. If Corra’s unable to help with his daughter, his sister in law plans to spirit her away and train her properly.

Toby Lane needs to hire on as a foreman at the Double L Ranch in Cowboy Competition, by Becca Whitham, but he fears his family’s “curse” will keep him from doing his job.

Nia (Petunia) Lindley is trying everything she can to convince her Father she can “run” the ranch and still be a lady. However, her Father is doubtful and determined to sell the ranch. Toby may just be the answer to her problems if he can overcome the family “curse.”

The Cowgirl’s Lasso, by Jaime Jo Wright, is about Jonah Sparks and his search for a new foreman on his ranch. He is thrilled when his mentor, Charlie, recommends CJ Matheson. That is until he learns CJ is a woman named Celia Jo.

Jonah doesn’t believe CJ can do the job and constantly challenges and undercuts her authority. CJ knows she can work wonders for the ranch, if only Jonah would leave her alone to work.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve expressed my love for novellas before because sometimes you only have a couple of hours and you want a short and sweet story to read. This is another great collection of fun, emotion-evoking novellas you will love! Several of these stories made me wish they were full-length books because I just didn’t want them to end.

The Cowboy Poet by Susan Page Davis – 4 stars
Rilla and Bat’s story revolves around their mutual love for poetry. This is a sweet story but it failed to grab me or my heart.

For a Song by Susanne Dietze – 5 stars
In a crazy mixup about songbirds, Lily and her sister end up at Jackson’s ranch. He’s saddled with two unwanted women thanks to his aunt, but soon he comes to depend on Lily. I enjoyed this story a lot. There are funny and touching moments.

Crazy about Cait by Nancy J. Farrier – 5 stars
Cait can train horses better than anyone around, but when the calvary refuses to buy horses trained by a woman, her father hires Jonas – the one man she never wants to see again. I loved the struggles and emotions in this story.

Love’s Sweet Storm by Miralee Ferrell – 3 stars
Addie is on her way to meet her betrothed, but when an accident lands her in the care of a local rancher, she wonders if her plans for a loveless marriage is possible after she falls in love with Grant. I really liked the plot of this story, but it felt so rushed I couldn’t believe they were falling in love.

The Reformed Cowboy by Darlene Franklin – 5 stars
When one of the drovers in her class to teach cowboys manners catches her eye, Millie wonders if her long-time pen pal Wes is the one for her or if cowboys, like Mr. Wesley aren’t as bad as she thought. I always love stories where the characters have real struggles. Millie is a snob and Wes resorts to lying about who he is to see if the girl he loves will accept him. A favorite in this collection.

A Texan’s Surprise by Vickie McDonough – 4 stars
Trey finds his house full of women when his mother comes to visit and brings recently widowed Sadie, two daughters in tow, to stay as well. He can’t turn them away and promises to help teach Sadie to be a rancher’s wife so she can marry again. But when the suitors start coming to call, Trey realizes he doesn’t want Sadie to go anywhere. I liked the idea, but this one felt rushed to me too.

The Wrangler’s Woman by Davalynn Spencer – 5 stars
Josiah wants nothing more than to keep his family together, but when a relative threatens to take away his wild tomboy daughter, he asks Corra to teach Jess to be a lady. When summer is over will Jess be able to stay and will Josiah want to keep Corra too? The only thing I don’t like about this story is the title. It just doesn’t do it justice.

Cowboy Competition by Becca Whitham - 5 stars
Nia’s ailing father won’t leave her their ranch unless she hires a trustworthy foreman. The winner of his competition will get the job as long Nia agrees. Toby wants nothing more than to be free of his father’s sins as a gambler and horse thief, but he’s been turned away from so many jobs. How will Nia and her father react, even if he wins the competition? This is a great story of God’s grace and forgiveness.

The Cowgirl’s Lasso by Jaime Jo Wright - 5 stars
Jonah would rather have any other foreman on his ranch than CJ (Ceila Jo) and he’d send her packing except for the man they both love like a father asked him for the favor of hiring her. CJ can’t stand Jonah’s melding in her job and everything else about him. I loved to hate parts of this, but it felt oh so realistic. Pride really can ruin any relationship before it starts. Another emotion-gripping story!

As with any collection featuring different authors there will be one or two that don’t suit my taste, but overall this collection was great!

I received a copy of this book to review from Barbour Books to read and give my honest feedback and review.

[Gayle Fontenot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every story in this book. So nice reading clean romance and stories that keep you so interested that you can't stop reading, even to sleep. I even read a few of them over again. There is a list of more Anthologies listed at the end of the book with most of the same authors, yay!! I am already searching for them.

[Paula-O · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cowboy's Bride collection
If you like cowboys-ranches and learning about the Brides chosen,this is a book to read.
Great authors and stories

Susan Page Davis wrote "The Cowboy Poet", when he met his bride to be,the words just came out of his mouth in verses of a poem...what a charming story.
Vickie McDonough wrote "A Texan's Surprise", surprised when his mother comes for a visit and does some matchmaking. Bringing a young woman and her child along.
Suzanne Dietze writes "For a Song", when songbirds get mistaken for two women that sings, you are in for quite a treat in this story.
Nancy J Farrier wrote "Crazy about Cait", this story has a father hiring a man named Jonas to take over for his daughter on the ranch and now sparks fly between the two...
Miralee Ferrell wrote "Love's Sweet Storm", Addie is a mail order bride that meets danger in a storm -the driver dies and she must make her way to a cabin and survive-the owner of the cabin stumbles in half frozen midst the storm, the two must shelter together and in time get to know one another and makes her think twice about marrying a man she has never met...
Darlene Franklin wrote "The Reformed Cowboy", This story has Millie and Wes writing many letters and midst them she gets the idea he is a well educated man that likes poetry and music, will she be disapointed to find this cowboy when she arrives??,
Davalynn Spencer wrote The Wrangler's Woman", Josiah is raising his children after his wife dies and when his sister in law says she is coming to visit and wants to take his daughter to raise-because a man cannot raise a little girl, he know he must make changes and changes did come when he hired a woman from town to cook and teach his tomboy "girl" to become a little lady. Changes for the whole household. I really enjoyed this story.
Becca Whitham wrote "Cowboy Competition", Toby has his work cut out for him with the Boss's daughter in this story.
Jaime Jo Wright wrote "The Cowboy's Lasso", Jonah hires a new foreman and has many lessons to learn when a "she" shows up instead of a "he", a quite competent "CJ" could be a fantastic foreman if he would just stay out of her way and let her work the ranch,but Jonah is fit to be tied and feels he has been taken-when she shows up...this story will have you reading fast to keep up with these two.

many stories -I took some time to savor each as they are all different by different authors and will please you and give many hours of reading pleasure.
I recieved this book from Goodreads authors and have enjoyed all the stories as I know you will too.

[Vera mallard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Western Love and Romance At Its Best

STORY LINE, PLOTTING AND DEVELOPMENT:

This is a wonderful collection of western romance stories of strength, love, romance, adversity, and faith in God. Each author is talented in story-crafting, plotting, and development. These stories are so well written and developed, if you did not know you were reading 9 different authors, you would think one author wrote the stories contained in this book. The authors are in harmony with each other in regard to writing style and crafting.



Each story depicts the character’s faith in God, in his love for us and his caring and each face situations that God has in hand and will direct. The authors do not push or preach, but gracefully created stories of faith and romance. In the 1800’s, courting was held in a different light than our day. Courting was a very serious affair and was not entered into without marriage in mind. Women had few choices in this time period and marriage was the only option most woman could consider.



The settlers of our country were strong faith based people; the authors skillfully portrayed these characteristics in each book. I loved the humor found in some of the stories. The sweet character of the men and women was refreshing.



The stories are clean, well written, and clear. You will find mail order brides, discouraged and desperate women (some with child to support), lonesome strong ranchers, cowboys who need mothers for their children, and you will find these characters are strong, independent, smart men and women; they will all find the love of a lifetime.



RECOMMENDATION:

This collection was a delight to read. This book is suitable for anyone that loves well written, well developed, and plotted stories which contain faith, love, and strength of character.

[Teri-K · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading an anthology means you're taking a chance. You may get lucky with a collection of stories you love or you may have a stinker on your hands, with nothing worth your time. This collection falls somewhere in between. There were some stories I had a hard time finishing and a few I thought were quite good.

In a collection of similar stories I look for one of three things - a unique, intelligent plot (which is hard to find), characters who come alive, or solid writing. Sadly, about half of these stories didn't rate high. Among the weaknesses I found characters' actions inconsistent or plots that depended on coincidence. Also there are lots of very young-acting MCs, so that sometimes I felt I was reading about young teenagers, which doesn't appeal to me in romance. Other readers might not care so much about these things.

Fortunately for me there were several stories I genuinely enjoyed. The ones I liked were: A Texan's Surprise by McDonough; The Wrangler's Woman by Spencer; The Cowgirl's Lasso by Wright and The Cowboy Competition by Whitman, which I thought was wonderful. I think all of these writers are new to me, so I can look forward to trying some new author's And that makes taking a chance on books like this worth it.

I do think the publisher should consider not ordering the stories by author's last name, because sometimes it means you have to wade through several weak stories to get to the better ones, and it's always more fun to read a really good story at the beginning.

Does the subtitle of this book drive anyone else crazy? What are they really trying to say?

I received a free copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

[Edward Arrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of nine novellas was very entertaining. I enjoyed the variety of the stories. Space does not permit telling much about each story and I don’t want to skip any. The stories include a rancher’s poetry-writing daughter who is wooed by a cowboy who hopes to win her with his poetry; a Texas rancher who asks his aunt to bring him two songbirds from Boston and gets a redhead and a blonde instead; a female horse trainer who can train better than any of the men on her father’s ranch but is shut out by the cavalry horse buyer who refuses to buy mustangs trained by a woman; a woman who has agreed to marry a store owner after just a few letters but gets sidetracked at the ranch of an eligible bachelor after a wagon accident; a Kansas cowhand who signs up for a class on Learning to Be a Gentleman with the hope of learning more about the young lady his cousin is trying to match him with; a mother who arrives by train bringing a young widow and her two daughters without warning her son in advance that she is not coming alone; a widowed rancher who hires a young woman to teach his tomboy daughter to be a lady; a cowboy who returns to the ranch that once belonged to his father before it was gambled away and a rancher’s daughter who has been entrusted with the task of choosing the new foreman from the entrants in a competition; and an Englishman, who wants to be a rancher more than an English lord, who has hired a young woman as foreman because his dearest friend has recommended her. The stories are rather quick reads that hold the interest. I recommend the book to all who love action-packed romantic stories with good values and faith added in.

[Callie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cowboy's Bride Collection is yet another novella collection by Barbour publishers. I liked this one better than the Love is Patient Romance Collection which I've previously reviewed. I find that it's kind of a hit-or-miss with novella collections, and this one was a definitive "hit" for me. I was pleasantly surprised that even those these nine novellas all had the same premise, wild west + cowboy + girl, they were all original stories and plots. I'll most likely be looking up some of these authors.



Some of my favorite novellas from this collection were The Cowboy's Lasso, The Reformed Cowboy, and The Wrangler's Woman. There were some really creative stories in this collection! I would highly recommend it for light reading when you want to read a story but don't have time for a full novel. Each of these novellas stand alone too, so you don't have to remember characters that would have carried over. The charcters were very cute from story to story, and each story was unique.



Thank you so much to Barbour publishers and Net Galley for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and were not required to be positive.