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Young widow Martha Stanton returns to her parents’ parsonage in Cañon City, bereft of love and deprived of hope. As dry and lifeless as the fossils she once collected during the city’s infamous “bone wars,” she resigns herself to a dull existence—until she crosses paths with an old flame and a darkly mysterious Colorado Ranger.

Haskell Jacobs is on a mission. And the flame-haired beauty in black who steps off the train isn’t what he’s looking for. Or is she? As drawn as he is to her fiery spirit, Haskell learns that she has connections to the horse thief he’s hunting. Entanglement with a preacher’s daughter is the last thing he needs—and the one thing he can’t avoid.

156 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 6, 2014

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About the author

Davalynn Spencer

40 books263 followers
Cowboys. Gotta love 'em, right? That's why I write about them and their sweethearts, whether they live in 1800s Colorado or on a modern California ranch. My personal background in rodeo journalism helps me add a bit of cowboy reality to those stories.

My contemporary books are often found under Davalynn C. Spencer.

The Rocky Mountains offer rich settings for my historical novels, from actual cities with Wild West history to fictional towns tucked into the fold where granite ramparts meet grassy plains.

I've collected three "Bestseller" labels for novellas in Barbour collections, two Will Rogers Gold Medallions for Western Inspirational Fiction, and an international first-place award for my historical romance series, "Front Range Brides."

For information on my cowboy brides - whether runaway or mail-order - sign up for my quarterly newsletter at https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor....

Connect with me at http://www.davalynnspencer.com and http://www.Facebook.com/AuthorDavalyn.... And for a visual peek at what I'm thinking when I write, check out the images collected at https://pinterest.com/davalynnspencer....

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5 stars
64 (62%)
4 stars
27 (26%)
3 stars
11 (10%)
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1 (<1%)
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for June.
1,542 reviews17 followers
October 26, 2014
Really enjoyed this new story from Davalynn Spencer. The Ranger shows up in town to find a horse thief only to let someone steal his heart.

Martha "Marti" Hutton is all grown up, educated and a widow. She returns home to her parents after her husband has been gone for over a year. Can she move on with her life? And what of that mysterious man who keeps showing up? Is he Evil or Good?

Profile Image for Pamela.
60 reviews
February 10, 2018
Davalynn Spencer won the Will Rogers Gold Medallion Award for Romancing the Widow.
Now I know why! A Colorado Ranger and Widowed lady meet and the fireworks start. The first time these two see each other is my favorite scene of all the books I’ve read.
Romancing the Widow is set in the Old West and I felt like I was there with these people. I was sad, laugh out loud happy, intrigued and scared to death. So many emotions was felt while reading this Old Western.
If you’re like me and like those Rangers then this is the book for you!
240 reviews6 followers
January 14, 2022
Love and restoration

This is a beautiful story of finding love after loss. When Martha Hutton returns home after her husband is killed, she feels like her life is over. Until she is almost trampled by a horse ridden by a dark stranger she noticed when she stepped off the train. He turns out to be a Colorado ranger who is hunting a horse thief.
Their attraction to each other grows and it is encouraged by her parents.
There is excitement, danger, and humor. A wonderful story following the Hutton family.
500 reviews11 followers
October 14, 2017
I have loved this Canon City Chronicles series. Each one of the three seemed better than the last! #3 - Martha and Haskell's story, was touching and heartwarming . It was fun revisiting characters from the first two stories as I watched this new romance unfold. More of Davalynn's lovely writing style and her talent for creating loveable, strong characters. Don't miss this series! I was given a copy of this book by the author. The review and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Val.
1,385 reviews7 followers
July 27, 2021
Now it's Martha's turn for happy ever after. Her first chance at love ended in tragedy and Martha wants no part of romance again. Haskell comes to town chasing a horse thief and falls head over heels for Martha. Their road to happy ever after was bumpy to say the least 😉 but it was still worth it. Still not as good as Mom and Dad's story but I think it was pretty good.
609 reviews1 follower
April 14, 2020
Enjoyable Book

I have read he three books in this series and have enjoyed each one. A wonderful story of a family and their love for each other. I only wish there had been an epilogue to the last book.
431 reviews4 followers
May 10, 2021
Love the series—great book!

Love both characters in the story. Hopefully there is more information in the fourth book. I would love to hear that they were able to have a child or at least adopt.
25 reviews
February 15, 2018
Such a wonderful series!

When I finished this series, I felt bad there was no further books in it to read . It was sweet and romantic, very clean with connections to the Lord.
4 reviews
March 12, 2019
Captivating read

This western romance will keep you captivated from the very first page. Fun read! If you like stories with happy romantic endings you will love this story.
12 reviews
September 27, 2019
Great read

I enjoyed reading the 3 books the words flow smoothly thru my mind I had trouble putting the book down
Profile Image for Sally.
319 reviews6 followers
August 16, 2014
Romancing the Widow
By: Davalynn Spencer

How can you move on when it feels like your life is over? Martha Stanton’s husband is struck down by a stray bullet. Martha moves back home with her parents. She can’t have children. Who would want her? She must rediscover God’s love for her and learn how to open her heart to the love of another.

Haskell Jacobs is a Colorado Ranger. He is tracking a horse thief and the path leads him straight to Martha. His father taught him to judge wisely with evidence. Pastor Hutton, Martha’s father, states that faith is the evidence of what we hope for and evidence of what we can’t see. It’s proof of the invisible. Haskell can tell who the horse thief is when he gathers the evidence, but can he prove his love to Martha? Can she look past her fear of guns and see his heart?

Martha is terrified of Haskell’s gun. Can she trust him to use it wisely? What if someone else she loves is hurt by a gun? The day of apple picking is the day of change. The horse thief confronts Haskell and Martha. Can Haskell keep her safe, or will she fall by the bullet she fears so much?

I enjoyed this story of Martha and Haskell. Martha must learn to trust God and Haskell. With faith and hope she can move forward with her life and with God. She must learn to trust Haskell to take care of her and Haskell must learn to rely on God for the hopes and dreams of his heart.

A statement that stuck with me after I finished the book: “It’s often difficult to see a parent’s wisdom when you know them so well.” Martha talks with a friend of hers who tells her she had the advantage of listening to Martha’s mother’s wisdom. Children tend to disregard their parent’s advice, but some of the best wisdom can be found in them. They don’t want to see their children hurt and want what’s best for them. This sentence summed that up.

For a great inspirational romance, I highly recommend this book and this author! Her characters come to life and the story lines pull you in and you don't want to stop reading. I have enjoyed each of her books that I have read and look forward to reading many more!
123 reviews
July 20, 2015
It’s been a while since I’ve the opportunity to read one of my favorite genres, 19th century historical. The story takes place in my state, Colorado, in the late 1800’s.

Young Martha Stanton doesn’t believe her wounded heart will ever heal after she suffers the untimely death of her husband by a stray bullet. She returns home to live with her parents and encounters the handsome and charming Haskell Jacobs.

Haskell is a Colorado ranger in pursuit of a horse thief. Of course, this requires him to use a gun as the main tool of his career, an object that strikes fear in the heart of Martha. Add to that the fact that her past happened to be tied in with the very criminal Haskell is pursuing.

Martha finds herself facing many questions about her feelings, her faith, and her future as she struggles to move past the unfortunate circumstances that brought her to this point in her life.

Davalynn Spencer has crafted an enjoyable story with realistic plot situations and engaging characters. She explores the depths of loss and leads her character from despair to hope.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy 19th century historical romance. An extra bonus for me was that places were mentioned that I am well familiar with in Colorado.
Profile Image for Ruth.
114 reviews7 followers
September 21, 2014
I won ROMANCING the WIDOW by Davalynn Spencer, from a comment made on the author's FB page. Mrs. Spencer DID NOT ask me to leave a review of her book, but Pardner, let me tell you, I am going to anyway!! I loved loved loved this book!! It is one of those books that make you want to turn off your phone and door-bell so you won't be bothered when you are about to learn if the tall dark, handsome and mysterious Colorado Ranger, Haskell Jacobs, will kiss the beautiful, flame haired widow, Martha Stanton, before someone steals his horse right out from under him! All the characters are very colorful and interesting, the pacing moves along smoothly, and the story line kept me wanting to find out what would happen next, thus making it almost impossible to lay it down!! I love happy and exciting endings and you will not be disappointed with this one! I highly recommend this book to everyone. You did an awesome job on this one, Davalynn and I certainly look forward to more to come! Blessings
Profile Image for Melody.
560 reviews
August 6, 2014
Apple picking will never be the same! I loved how a thing like apples made this story all the more sweet! This is the third one in the familiar Colorado setting. Loved getting to have familiar characters back, and new ones to fall in love with. :)
Profile Image for Joan Arning.
1,804 reviews29 followers
March 23, 2016
Romancing the Widow is a sweet historical romance set in Colorado. Haskell Jacobs, the main male character, was a great character. I enjoyed reading the story of this young widow and a Ranger. I won this book in a giveaway by the author, Davalynn Spencer.
109 reviews
February 17, 2016
Another winner from Davalynn Spencer. Love everything she writes!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews