Trent Lockheart might be the new sheriff in town, but he can’t stop Jessie Jean from stealing his heart.
Sheriff Trent Lockheart knew he’d be in for a challenge when he moved from the big city and a large police force to the small Wyoming town of Cobble Creek. But at least he’d be able to stick to his bachelor ways without temptation. So he thought. Cobble Creek isn’t overflowing with young, single ladies, but Jessie Jean—the gorgeous brunette who runs the Country Quilt Inn—proves more tempting than any woman he’s known.
Jessie doesn’t care much for the new sheriff in town. After an explosive first meeting that almost ends in Jessie’s arrest, she’s even more determined to plan on dinner for one for the rest of her life. Sure, the new sheriff is seriously attractive, and after a second, much less dangerous run-in, he might not be that bad, but Jessie has no plan to marry, date, or even let a man into her life. Still, as the days pass, Trent’s surprising charm works past Jessie’s determination, and she finds promise in their budding relationship.
After opening up about the difficulties in her past, Jessie finds that Trent is guarding a dark tragedy of his own, one that might threaten their chance at a future together.
USA Today Bestselling author Kimberly Krey is known as the Queen of Steamy Clean Romance. She's a fervent lover of God, family, and cheese platters, as well as the ultimate hater of laundry. Her readers count on faith-filled romance novels that stay clean without losing the steam.
A stubborn small-town woman who never planned to marry finds unexpected tenderness and hard truths when a new sheriff wanders into her life. The Unlikely Bride follows Jessie Jean as she butts heads with Trent Lockheart, the newly arrived sheriff whose quiet steadiness gradually chips away at her defenses. The book leans into relational repair rather than melodrama: Trent carries a private sorrow, Jessie guards a complicated past, and Krey uses town rhythms, community events, and domestic detail to let their connection grow slowly and believably.
From an emotional vantage point, I appreciated how Krey gives both leads room to change without flattening them into tropes. Jessie’s reluctance to trust feels lived-in, and Trent’s protective but patient manner is rendered with restraint rather than performative heroism; their intimacy is built through conversation, shared responsibility, and small, tangible gestures. The pacing favors character development over high-octane plot, so readers seeking heavy suspense may find it gentle; but for those who savor grounded, faith-friendly contemporary romance with believable healing and a warm sense of community, this one lands with satisfying emotional payoff. The Unlikely Bride sits comfortably in the Cobble Creek line and has earned solid reader approval on Goodreads.
Four stars for authentic character work, thoughtful pacing, and a heartfelt, slow-burn romance.
I always look forward to Ms. Krey's books, they never disappoint. When I first saw the cover reveal for this one I was extra excited, I'm a sucker for a pretty book cover and I just loved this one!
I'm also a sucker for a good "frenemies" story and Trent and Jessie have a fun meet-cute, they do not get off on the best foot! I love the banter and tension when two characters meet in less than ideal situations. Makes for a fun read. I liked Trent and Jessie, they had good chemistry and a sweet romance. Oh, and I have to say I felt a special connection to them since
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I loved the charming small town setting and the strong feeling of community. A great cast of characters and a sweet romance.
Content Romance: Clean Language: None Violence: None Religious: None-Mild Series: Cobble Creek Romance, Book One (each book in the series can be read in any order and can stand alone)
I'm going to be a hypocrite for a minute. Hello---can I say, cover love?! And now that I totally just judged this book by the cover, I'm going to say that you can't really judge a book by its cover. Trent is the new sheriff in town and by first impressions, he's kind of stuffy and a strict rule-abider. His first meet with Jessie is hilarious and the situation really shows who these characters are and how opposite they are from one another. But don't opposites attract? Okay, back to that judging thing, Trent surprised me and definitely had reasons for being the way he is. Don't we all? So really...don't judge books by covers, or people by first impressions.
I adore Krey and her way of making characters come to life through volatile situations, dynamic banter, and steamy clean romance. There's also something about her writing, especially with the settings, that really strikes a chord deep inside of me and gives me a nostalgic feeling and this small, charming town is no exception.
There are so many events that happen that left me dying to see how they would turn out, especially when Jessie is auctioned off for a date. The denial of attraction is no match for the sparks that emerge through the banter and encounters. I loved this story and can't wait to see what's in store for the rest of the series. Cobble Creek...I'll be back!
Content: steamy clean romance
*I received a copy, which did not influence my opinion in any way.*
How cute is this cover? I just love it! And I love author Kimberly Krey. She is so good at writing characters I end up caring about and sparky scenes with witty banter.
Trent and Jessie meet in a less than ideal way. They start out on the wrong foot- completely misjudging each other. It happens though. We make judgments based on what limited knowledge we have and once we get more of the story, we usually understand each other better. It's the same with Trent and Jessie. That spark of attraction was there from the beginning and it grows as they get to know more about each other. The misunderstanding and early judgments fall away as a friendship and respect take root.
I loved the arc of this story- how it led me so easily from one emotion to the next. This book was so easy to fall into with a great cast of characters and a strong feeling of community. I really enjoyed it!
Content: kissing
- I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
After seeing her mother jump from one abusive relationship to the next, Jessie swore that she would never date, let alone get married. She knows that not all men are like her mother's boyfriends, but she just can't take the chance that she'll end up hurt and broken. It's safer for her to just stay far away.
Trent's life hasn't been the easiest. Not since the accident. There's a reason he is the way he is and there's a reason why he keeps people at arms length. Allowing them to get too close can be disastrous. He's sworn off relationships and marriage because he can't face the past. It's safer for him to just stay far away.
Both have sworn off the opposite sex, but that doesn't stop fate from getting involved. After a pretty explosive meeting, these two try their best to fight against their attraction, fight against fate. But they soon realize that there's more to the other than meets the eye. The more time the spend together, the closer they become. Just as they realize their feelings have grown into love, the past comes back to haunt Trent.
He can't allow his love for Jessie to grow any more. If she knows what he did, she'll leave him for sure. It's better that he breaks it off before she finds out. He'll just go back to life as it was before she came along. She'll be better off without him.
But when the truth finally comes to light, Jessie and Trent have a decision to make. Do they stay apart? Both going their own separate ways and living miserable lives? Or do they face the past together and fight for the future they both deserve?
*dreamy sigh*
Have you ever picked up and book and started reading it without reading the synopsis? Well, that's exactly what I did with The Sheriff's Bride! And all I can say is wow! Just wow! I had no clue what I was getting into but I will say I loved every minute of it! I laughed out loud, growled in frustration, got teary-eyed, and let out little dreamy sighs while reading this book! It was the perfect Saturday read for me!
Every time I read one of Ms. Krey's books I always seem to ask myself, "why in the world have I waited so long to read her books?!" I have gone and added several to my TBR list and will probably be reading more sooner rather than later. An author who can suck me in from the very beginning and make me forget about reality is one that I definitely need to be reading more by! I can't wait to see what journey her books will lead me on next!
And of course we cannot forget about my casting! What do you think?!
I had so much fun discovering these characters. I admire Trent — his ability to overcome, and his passion for helping others. As for Jessie, I fell in love with her tender heart, strength, and resiliency. These two were destined to meet; they really needed one another, and I'm so excited to share their love story! Hope you enjoy it!
I love Kimberly Krey's books. I don't think that I've read a single piece of her work that hasn't held me captive. This story definitely holds up to that standard.
Jessie had a painful time growing up, watching her mother move from one abusive boyfriend to another. Since she didn't have a good role model in relationships, she intended to stay single forever. That is until she met Trent. He was the small town's new sheriff and was appalled by the lax law enforcement. He planned on getting everyone to follow the law - for their own safety. When Trent and Jessie first met, it was not a match made in Heaven. Jessie was stapling fliers to all the posts in town and Trent was tearing them down because it was against the law and not safe. Trent also did not want a relationship so it surprised him when he started to have feelings for Jessie.
I love the way the characters come to life in this book. The author lets you get to know them completely. Both the good and bad. The description of the town was so realistic that I wanted to move there. But I especially liked that the feelings were so well described so that I could feel the anger and pain of the characters. The scene where Trent bid on Jessie for a date at an auction was funny because she was sure he hated her and couldn't figure out why he bid on her.
The only trouble I had with this story was that we are not told that Jessie owns the Inn or why neither of them wants to get married for quite some time. But since nobody else mentioned that, I think it's just my need for answers to everything all the time that was the issue. Not the writing.
I'm so glad I was offered a copy of this book to review. A warning though. Have a tissue handy for the ending.
What a better way to start you night than curling up to a great book? That’s how I felt reading Kimberly Krey’s The Sheriff’s Bride. Jessie has seen plenty of heartache and hurt growing up, watching her mom battle abusive relationship one right after the other. She’s all but sworn off love for herself. However, fate wouldn’t hear of it, because there’s a new Sheriff in town and one way or another, fate was going to have its way.
Sheriff Trent Middleton had his work cut out for him in this town and its lax laws. For the people’s safety he was hell bent and determined to make sure the laws were followed, even if that meant making him the most hated man in town. The first person on his radar? The beautiful woman plastering flyers all over the town’s power poles. Sparks were going to fly.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Kimberly Krey is an amazing author. She brings life to these characters. You feel their pain, their hope, and their happiness. You walk the walk with them and can’t help but to cheer them on-or yell at them for being stubborn and not noticing what they have right in front of them. Fighting through their pain and their past, you want Jessie and Trent to succeed and find their way to each other. Thank you for another great story, I can’t wait for any more Kimberly has to send our way.
I received a free ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Kimberly Krey tells the story of Jessie and Trent so masterfully well that the characters come to life as full-blown, real-life people who are relatable and genuine. The story pulled me in and kept me involved from beginning to end. I appreciated the fact that Ms. Krey extended the story well beyond the typical story that ends when the protagonists get to the altar. I recommend this offering to all who enjoy well-written, clean romance.
Sheriff Trent Middleton and Jessie Jean hadn't liked each other much when they first meet when he first moved in to her small town, but some time later when he won a date with her at an auction, they started to spend more time together and saw that what they first thought about the other wasn't entirely true, and then their feelings for each other grew into a forever kind of love.
The Sheriff’s Bride: Cobble Creek Small Town Romance Book 1 is by Kimberly Krey. This book takes place in mythical Cobble Creek, Wyoming. This is a small town where time moves slowly and sweetly. It is a place where kids can be kids and enjoy life like it was without worrying constantly about the evil in the world. Yes, bad things happen here; but the community comes together and helps correct things. It is into this town that Sheriff Trent Lockheart comes, unaware that his life is to change. Trent Lockheart is a police officer who abides by the law and expects everyone else to do the same. He doesn’t look at infractions, especially traffic ones, as something to be given a warning over. No, he wants the person to get a taste of the consequences facing them if they continue that behavior. He wants to prevent bad things from happening to anyone. He doesn’t make friends easily and has decided that he is not going to marry and random dating isn’t for him. He has somewhat shut himself off emotionally from everyone. He is in for a big surprise from this town. Jessie Jean Phillips has lived in Cobble Creek for most of her life. After her mother died, she came to live with her Grandmother who ran the B&B in town. She left it to Jessie and Jessie now runs it and intends to run it alone. After her experiences with her Mother, she has decided not to get married nor get involved with any man. She is perfectly happy with her life without men in it. That is until she meets Sheriff Trent Lockheart. How Trent and Jessie handle the town’s attempted involvement into their love lives is one of the cutest parts of the book. It seems the entire town is involved with matchmaking. However, will it work?
Clean country, small town romance! Need a book that shows we all have bruises but still can find that perfect ft -this is it
Jessie is the passionate town guardian angle helping stranger to the extended family with whatever they need. The local town Sheriff Trent is new and small town living does take some adjusting. You can imagine Jessie get it done now attitude may not be simple black and white like the strict law wants. Yep some oil and water moments. Some violence talking about tragic deaths, struggling with cancer and the grieving family. Why following the laws are so important. Simple romantic sex scenes so safe and a good book for a young adult also.
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Two people trying to forget their pasts and afraid to face a future with new love... Will Jessie and Trent learn to let go of past hurts and guilt and move on to make a new start in life? Or will their pasts keep them from finding true love, security, and forgiveness?
Aww, I love to read anything Kimberley Krey writes! She has a wonderful gift and I'm always thrilled when she chooses to share it with us, her readers. This is a great, clean romance with lots of steamy kisses and a really fun storyline. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more books from this new series by the various authors. I will continue to keep an eye out for future books from this wonderful author too!
Jessie is the owner of the local bed & breakfast who is also the town cryer (so to speak) making sure that if there is a need somewhere it gets done. Trent is the new sheriff, a no-nonsense police officer who is harboring a dark secret. Jessie has secrets of her own. One of the secrets they share is that both have sworn off getting married. That secret might be negated when they start to fall for each other. However, during a visit from Trent's parents, he is reminded of the reason he has sworn off relationships and he and Jessie have a bad breakup. Will the two people who love each other be able to overcome the secret forcing them apart? Ms. Krey has written a wonderful tale of self-punishment and redemption. It will definitely keep you turning the pages.
Reads really well. Has plenty of ups and downs. Lots of quirky characters. The characters are "real" and have to work through hardships and pain. Lovely community and supportive network. A lovely ending. Enjoyed it.
I was pleasantly surprised when I read ‘The Unlikely Bride.” The characters were well-developed and the plot a delight to follow. Very talented writer and such a super-fun book.
Trent said, "Mrs. Lockhart, my wife." Jessie said "My husband". Trent and Jessie's love story is breathtaking. Trent is the new Sheriff in town. Jessie owns the B&B in town. When they meet, he almost arrests her for illegally stapeling posters to poles. As they get to know each other, of course they fall in love. She tells him her life's story but he is reluctant to tell her his story. She hears him telling his story to a group of teens about to get their licenses. Now she understands his problem and together they learn to overcome their problems. I love their banter and flirting. Years ago Trent had been warned not to take kissing lightly, that he could make love with a kiss. He'd never believed it until now. I love you Jessie. I love you, too Trent. Jessie knew that hope was alive in her once more. This is easy she had been holding on for. Trent was back in her life. Something told her that things between them would work out just as she hoped. Jessie, I love you more with each passing day and night and breath I take. Will you do me the honor of being my wife? She nodded. He kissed her on front of everyone. Trent was finally ready to receive the gifts life had in store for him, and what a gift Jessie was. Trent was so happy to have Jessie near that he leaned down and gave her a peck on the lips. "Hey now" Pastor John said, "It's not time to kiss the bride yet. First we've got to make her yours", "I like the sound of that," Trent said. This was the start of the rest of their lives, and with Trent by her side, what a life it would be.
Kimberly has written another beautiful story about being the new sheriff in town, running the local B&B, overcoming past hurts and fears, and of course falling in love. I recommend this and all of Kimberly's books to everyone.
The Unlikely Bride was a beautiful surprise, filled with humor and raw emotion!
The author, Kimberly Krey's tagline is "Clean without losing the steam" and I agree 100%. Her combination of witty repertoire, toe tingling romance mixed with gut-wrenching, heartfelt drama delivers a powerful punch that will have you both laughing and crying throughout. Meet heart-throb Trent Lockheart, though the name sounds like he should be a detective in a1950's crime drama, he's the newly non-elected Sheriff of a small town in Cobble Creek, WY. He's used to big city life where things are black and white and the law is never questioned. He knows personally what can happen when you deviate from it, so he follows it to the letter, at all times-always going by the book. Jessie Phillips is young, beautiful, owns the local Country Quilt Inn and has a heart the size of Texas. She's passionate about all things and helps her town in any way she can. She sees the law as being "flexible", esp. if there's a good enough reason behind bending it, if not breaking it. Sparks fly when these two opposites meet, and they can't decide if they want to kill or kiss each other more! One thing they can decide on, is that neither is interested in having a relationship-at least that's what they thought... The writing is crisp, the storylines deeper than you think they will be and the characters each have their share of hardship and heartbreak, while still keeping their small town charm, creating this "not to be missed" read that will keep the pages turning till the end!
What a better way to start you night than curling up to a great book? That’s how I felt reading Kimberly Krey’s The Sheriff’s Bride. Jessie has seen plenty of heartache and hurt growing up, watching her mom battle abusive relationship one right after the other. She’s all but sworn off love for herself. However, fate wouldn’t hear of it, because there’s a new Sheriff in town and one way or another, fate was going to have its way.
Sheriff Trent Middleton had his work cut out for him in this town and its lax laws. For the people’s safety he was hell bent and determined to make sure the laws were followed, even if that meant making him the most hated man in town. The first person on his radar? The beautiful woman plastering flyers all over the town’s power poles. Sparks were going to fly.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Kimberly Krey is an amazing author. She brings life to these characters. You feel their pain, their hope, and their happiness. You walk the walk with them and can’t help but to cheer them on-or yell at them for being stubborn and not noticing what they have right in front of them. Fighting through their pain and their past, you want Jessie and Trent to succeed and find their way to each other. Thank you for another great story, I can’t wait for any more Kimberly has to send our way.
I received a free ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
So this is a cute little romance with some serious undertones. Both characters are carrying around baggage from childhood that they must overcome to be able to move on with life.
I enjoyed the story overall but got tired of one phrase being used repeatedly through the beginning of the book. "A knot of heat rolled through his belly" or variations similar to this. Heat in the belly.... There must be some other ways to describe attraction toward another person. But I find it is used with a number of authors. Just don't use it so much. Other than that one mild annoyance I liked the story.
I liked that even though Trent and Jessie got off to a rough start, they were able to see the other's point of view and find their strengths. They overcome their dislike really quickly because of that.
Sex: basically clean but has some kissing and innuendo Language: none Violence: run in with a druggie that results in some violence against law officer. Not graphic.
I had high hopes for this story, but I could not like the hero and heroine very much. They were sympathetic characters, but not particularly engaging. In fact, frankly, I did not like Jessie for the first 3rd of the book.
Too often authors attempt to write Lizzie Bennett and Mr Darcy type romances where the Lizzie character is rendered into a witch instead of a lighthearted soul who sees the humor in human foibles and enjoys laughing & teasing about them. That's a trait with redeeming qualities; unapologetic self-righteousness is not so much.
The fulsome descriptions of their physical attraction to each other were so numerous that I skimmed past them. Too much focus on the superficial physical details becomes redundant not exciting.
I waffled between 2 or 3 stars up until the end which seemed to go on and on. I'm sorry but I've never wondered when the happily-ever-after part was going to end before. That is just not a good sign. I have enjoyed other books by this author, but I can't recommend this one.
A sweet small town romance, having her characters realize they had to be “willing to work at things to get what you want” showed a true understanding of romance. The fact that they had to fight to overcome their backgrounds and fight for each other made their relationship more real and relateable.
My one struggle was that Jessie’s realization of wanting to fight for Trent seemed to be a turning point, but then she gave up too quickly. I think it would’ve fit more with the moment and her personality for her to demand he talk and not leave until he acquiesced. There were one or two other moments that didn't seem to fit the characters she'd established, but otherwise a cute quick read.
Clean and sweet. But wasn't feeling the romantic side.
Trent is the new sheriff in town and meets Jessie after he takes down the flyers that she illegally put up. Love-hate then not so much hate. Both have troubled pasts, but have a little relationship for about a month and then he can't talk about his past and he blows it.
They were broken up longer than they were together and I wanted more about their relationship together; we're told but not shown.
Jessie has decided to be single forever. she runs into the new Sheriff in town taking her flyers off the poles and of course Jessie is mad. Sheriff Trent says she is my Kryptonite. She doesn’t like him and he doesn’t like her. Trent asked her if she had a room to live in at the inn. In time they learned about each other and fell in love. Trent has issues to get over which caused Jessie and Trent to beak up. Great read you will have to read the book to see if they get back together or not.
Romance, sweet, contemporary; series, but stand alone read Jessie and Trent’s story was a sweet reluctant romance. Both Jessie and Trent had sworn to stay single, neither one wanting a relationship. But the stars said differently even after a heated meeting over removing fliers for a fundraising dinner. Secrets, feelings, and undeniable chemistry and attraction lead to a lovely fall between two genuine, honest hearts.
This was such a cute book! Both Trent and Jessie had sworn off dating and marriage but when you find your match it’s hard to stay away no matter what happens. I loved that this book wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows and they both had issues to work through. Makes the book that much better to read. Love everything by this Author can’t wait to catch up on the few I haven’t read yet!
This book is one of the sweetest I've read. It had me cheering, frustrated, tearing, and swooning. A book doing all that heck ya! SO cute, so sweet and one dang hot sheriff, what more could you want? She's feisty with baggage and he's determined with baggage. The best is watching them strip the baggage away to be with each other.