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Marrying My Cowboy Anthology
Take a walk down the aisle—western style—with these tales of unbridled love, from a trio of New York Times bestselling authors who know the way to a cowboy’s heart …
The Rancher’s Wedding* Diana Palmer
When a rugged Colorado rancher who’s in the red meets up with a screenwriter-turned-waitress dogged by scandal, they put their talents—and their hearts—together. But will front page news put a damper on the sparks flying between them?
“No one beats this author for sensual anticipation.”
—Rave Reviews
Wind River Wedding * Lindsay McKenna
A sprawling family ranch in Wyoming, or a swanky Hamptons hideaway? A young couple’s future in-laws try to stake their claim on where the newlyweds will live. But these lovebirds won’t be corralled …
“Moving and real … impossible to put down.”
—Publisher’s Weekly , STARRED REVIEW on Wind River Rancher
The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride * Kate Pearce
Between a hen night that goes terribly wrong and a missing wedding dress, a bride-to-be wonders if her plan to marry her longtime bad boy cowboy beau is doomed—and he wonders if his fiancée is avoiding the altar. Will love prevail? …
“Captures the spirit of the West.”
— Booklist on The Maverick Cowboy
The Rancher’s Wedding* Diana Palmer
When a rugged Colorado rancher who’s in the red meets up with a screenwriter-turned-waitress dogged by scandal, they put their talents—and their hearts—together. But will front page news put a damper on the sparks flying between them?
“No one beats this author for sensual anticipation.”
—Rave Reviews
Wind River Wedding * Lindsay McKenna
A sprawling family ranch in Wyoming, or a swanky Hamptons hideaway? A young couple’s future in-laws try to stake their claim on where the newlyweds will live. But these lovebirds won’t be corralled …
“Moving and real … impossible to put down.”
—Publisher’s Weekly , STARRED REVIEW on Wind River Rancher
The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride * Kate Pearce
Between a hen night that goes terribly wrong and a missing wedding dress, a bride-to-be wonders if her plan to marry her longtime bad boy cowboy beau is doomed—and he wonders if his fiancée is avoiding the altar. Will love prevail? …
“Captures the spirit of the West.”
— Booklist on The Maverick Cowboy
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published March 26, 2019
633 people are currently reading
2248 people want to read
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,049 books3,097 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Diana Palmer is a pseudonym for author Susan Kyle.
(1)romance author
Susan Eloise Spaeth was born on 11 December 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA. She was the eldest daughter of Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and also journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Her mother was part of the women's liberation movement many years before it became fashionable. Her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole), who now has two daughters, Amanda Belle Hofstetter and Maggie and lives in Utah. Susan grew up reading Zane Grey and fell in love with cowboys. Susan is a former newspaper reporter, with sixteen years experience on both daily and weekly newspapers. Since 1972, she has been married to James Kyle and have since settled down in Cornelia, Georgia, where she started to write romance novels. Susan and her husband have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980.
She began selling romances in 1979 as Diana Palmer. She also used the pseudonyms Diana Blayne and Katy Currie, and her married name: Susan Kyle. Now, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print, which have been translated and published around the world. She is listed in numerous publications, including Contemporary Authors by Gale Research, Inc., Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers by St. James Press, The Writers Directory by St. James Press, the International Who's Who of Authors and Writers by Meirose Press, Ltd., and Love's Leading Ladies by Kathryn Falk. Her awards include seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, several Affaire de Coeur awards, and two regional RWA awards.
Inspired by her husband, who quit a blue-collar manufacturing job to return to school and get his diploma in computer programming, Susan herself went back to college as a day student at the age of 45. In 1995, she graduated summa cum laude from Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, with a major in history and a double minor in archaeology and Spanish. She was named to two honor societies (the Torch Club and Alpha Chi), and was named to the National Dean's List. In addition to her writing projects, she is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. She hopes to specialize in Native American studies. She is a member of the Native American Rights Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Cattlemen's Association, the Archaeological Institute of Amenca, the Planetary Society, The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and numerous conservation and charitable organizations. Her hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music.
In 1998, her husband retired from his own computer business and now pursues skeet shooting medals in local, state, national and international competition. They love riding around and looking at the countryside, watching sci-fi on TV and at the movies, just talking and eating out.
Diana Palmer is a pseudonym for author Susan Kyle.
(1)romance author
Susan Eloise Spaeth was born on 11 December 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA. She was the eldest daughter of Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and also journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Her mother was part of the women's liberation movement many years before it became fashionable. Her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole), who now has two daughters, Amanda Belle Hofstetter and Maggie and lives in Utah. Susan grew up reading Zane Grey and fell in love with cowboys. Susan is a former newspaper reporter, with sixteen years experience on both daily and weekly newspapers. Since 1972, she has been married to James Kyle and have since settled down in Cornelia, Georgia, where she started to write romance novels. Susan and her husband have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980.
She began selling romances in 1979 as Diana Palmer. She also used the pseudonyms Diana Blayne and Katy Currie, and her married name: Susan Kyle. Now, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print, which have been translated and published around the world. She is listed in numerous publications, including Contemporary Authors by Gale Research, Inc., Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers by St. James Press, The Writers Directory by St. James Press, the International Who's Who of Authors and Writers by Meirose Press, Ltd., and Love's Leading Ladies by Kathryn Falk. Her awards include seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, several Affaire de Coeur awards, and two regional RWA awards.
Inspired by her husband, who quit a blue-collar manufacturing job to return to school and get his diploma in computer programming, Susan herself went back to college as a day student at the age of 45. In 1995, she graduated summa cum laude from Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, with a major in history and a double minor in archaeology and Spanish. She was named to two honor societies (the Torch Club and Alpha Chi), and was named to the National Dean's List. In addition to her writing projects, she is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. She hopes to specialize in Native American studies. She is a member of the Native American Rights Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Cattlemen's Association, the Archaeological Institute of Amenca, the Planetary Society, The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and numerous conservation and charitable organizations. Her hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music.
In 1998, her husband retired from his own computer business and now pursues skeet shooting medals in local, state, national and international competition. They love riding around and looking at the countryside, watching sci-fi on TV and at the movies, just talking and eating out.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
March 27, 2019
I really enjoyed reading Diane Palmer's story. It was romantic and old-fashioned. I wish it was longer. Short but sweet epilogue.
February 3, 2019
I voluntarily read and reviewed an copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to the author for providing a copy of this book.
This book had so much potential but till the end it was plain...
He was some billionaire who pretended being poor cowboy. But in the end he was flashing his money left and right. Author!! Better put this hero to give this money for charity!!!
I liked a heroine, she was quite sheltered because of her health issues but she's got some good kick!!
There were some miscommunication. I hate it.
3 stars!
Thanks to the author for providing a copy of this book.
This book had so much potential but till the end it was plain...
He was some billionaire who pretended being poor cowboy. But in the end he was flashing his money left and right. Author!! Better put this hero to give this money for charity!!!
I liked a heroine, she was quite sheltered because of her health issues but she's got some good kick!!
There were some miscommunication. I hate it.
3 stars!
March 30, 2019
**Only reviewing the DP book right now**
"The Rancher's Wedding" is the story of Cassie and JL.
Our h is a writer/citygirl, who takes solace in Colorado with her TV anchor dad. When a scandal rocks their life, and ashamed, her mother commits suicide, they escape to the ranching town. There they hide in plain sight- he works in an automobile shop, she works as a waitress. They meet the hero, a successful rancher who rears cattle and is not a fan of city women, thanks to his flighty and cheating ex.
Then the story goes as expected- the h is super innocent, the H is nice but cynical. She hides the truth from him, he frequently talks about his hate for successful and worldly women. She continues the disguise, and many at times her vulnerability is exposed (ie she gets pneumonia as she's asthmatic and does not wear coats as she's pretending to be poor??) and the hero is drawn to her like bee to honey. Anyways, he has a lecherous cousin who leads to the truth being exposed, the h runs away back to her big city. Suddenly the story goes at 100km/hr- we have a sudden resolution, minimal grovel and a super fast rush towards the end. I felt the climax was underwhelming, the build up just fizzled, and the hero was extremely prejudiced. Our Mary Sue heroine was soooooooo naive, I legit rolled my eyes when her past as a reporter/ successful novelist/ business woman was explained. I mean..
In the end, they get married, join the mile high club (YES A DIANA PALMER COUPLE HAVE SHEX IN THE AIR), have super awkward but saccharine lovemaking and then move on to a sweet epilogue.
It was good, in parts. DP stuck to her well tried trope and it was only mildly disappointing.
I shall review the second book whenever I get to reading it.
Safe
2.5/5
"The Rancher's Wedding" is the story of Cassie and JL.
Our h is a writer/citygirl, who takes solace in Colorado with her TV anchor dad. When a scandal rocks their life, and ashamed, her mother commits suicide, they escape to the ranching town. There they hide in plain sight- he works in an automobile shop, she works as a waitress. They meet the hero, a successful rancher who rears cattle and is not a fan of city women, thanks to his flighty and cheating ex.
Then the story goes as expected- the h is super innocent, the H is nice but cynical. She hides the truth from him, he frequently talks about his hate for successful and worldly women. She continues the disguise, and many at times her vulnerability is exposed (ie she gets pneumonia as she's asthmatic and does not wear coats as she's pretending to be poor??) and the hero is drawn to her like bee to honey. Anyways, he has a lecherous cousin who leads to the truth being exposed, the h runs away back to her big city. Suddenly the story goes at 100km/hr- we have a sudden resolution, minimal grovel and a super fast rush towards the end. I felt the climax was underwhelming, the build up just fizzled, and the hero was extremely prejudiced. Our Mary Sue heroine was soooooooo naive, I legit rolled my eyes when her past as a reporter/ successful novelist/ business woman was explained. I mean..
In the end, they get married, join the mile high club (YES A DIANA PALMER COUPLE HAVE SHEX IN THE AIR), have super awkward but saccharine lovemaking and then move on to a sweet epilogue.
It was good, in parts. DP stuck to her well tried trope and it was only mildly disappointing.
I shall review the second book whenever I get to reading it.
Safe
2.5/5
February 28, 2020
Le iba a dar menos nota pero el último relato ha sido algo más interesante, así que me siento generosa 😆.
Son tres relatos cortos cada uno con una boda de un cowboy que ya has conocido en otros libros, así que, si te pasa como a mí y no has leído dichos libros, pues te vas a quedar igual.
El relato de la Palmer es el petardo supremo, gente actual que añora la época de Maricastaña, en la que las mujeres se dedicaban a cocinar, no tenían intereses propios y llegaban vírgenes al matrimonio aunque se casaran con cuarenta años. Que me parece estupendo si eso es lo que les gusta a ellos, pero se nota el tonillo de reproche hacia las mujeres que se comportan de otro modo. Un libro de cowboy ranciocerril que no es para mí.
El relato de McKenna nos cuenta cómo se conocieron y acabaron casados unos personajes que deben ser los padres de alguien de otro libro (por lo que se deduce de la nota que incluye la autora). Aquí se incide mucho en que están en los años 60 del siglo XX y en el feminismo, pero en la relación de ellos no se centra nada. Mñe total.
Y el relato de Kate Pearce es el más interesante (destaca, sobre todo, por comparación con los otros dos). Estos personajes deben tener un libro propio y esto funciona como su epílogo. Tiene más chicha y algo de guarrerismo (los otros son blancos a más no poder), y me ha picado la curiosidad, a lo mejor echo un ojo a su libro. Veremos.
En definitiva, que o eres fan o ni te acerques a este compendio
--------------
[Thanks Netgalley for the ebook. This review is my honest opinion but just another opinion, you should read this book and judge it by yourself]
Not for me. Three short stories about cowboy weddings that you're going to enjoy if
A- you're fan of the writers (which I'm not since I only knew Diana Palmer and her style is too old fashioned for me), and
B- if you know the characters and their stories (which I didn't).
Kate Pearce's story was the most appealing to me and the best of all them, I think I'm going to read HW and Sam book (their story in Marrying My Cowboy seems like their the epilogue).
It isn't the book, it's just me, I shouldn't have requested it.
Son tres relatos cortos cada uno con una boda de un cowboy que ya has conocido en otros libros, así que, si te pasa como a mí y no has leído dichos libros, pues te vas a quedar igual.
El relato de la Palmer es el petardo supremo, gente actual que añora la época de Maricastaña, en la que las mujeres se dedicaban a cocinar, no tenían intereses propios y llegaban vírgenes al matrimonio aunque se casaran con cuarenta años. Que me parece estupendo si eso es lo que les gusta a ellos, pero se nota el tonillo de reproche hacia las mujeres que se comportan de otro modo. Un libro de cowboy ranciocerril que no es para mí.
El relato de McKenna nos cuenta cómo se conocieron y acabaron casados unos personajes que deben ser los padres de alguien de otro libro (por lo que se deduce de la nota que incluye la autora). Aquí se incide mucho en que están en los años 60 del siglo XX y en el feminismo, pero en la relación de ellos no se centra nada. Mñe total.
Y el relato de Kate Pearce es el más interesante (destaca, sobre todo, por comparación con los otros dos). Estos personajes deben tener un libro propio y esto funciona como su epílogo. Tiene más chicha y algo de guarrerismo (los otros son blancos a más no poder), y me ha picado la curiosidad, a lo mejor echo un ojo a su libro. Veremos.
En definitiva, que o eres fan o ni te acerques a este compendio
--------------
[Thanks Netgalley for the ebook. This review is my honest opinion but just another opinion, you should read this book and judge it by yourself]
Not for me. Three short stories about cowboy weddings that you're going to enjoy if
A- you're fan of the writers (which I'm not since I only knew Diana Palmer and her style is too old fashioned for me), and
B- if you know the characters and their stories (which I didn't).
Kate Pearce's story was the most appealing to me and the best of all them, I think I'm going to read HW and Sam book (their story in Marrying My Cowboy seems like their the epilogue).
It isn't the book, it's just me, I shouldn't have requested it.
December 31, 2019
This review is only for the first story in this anthology, The Rancher’s Wedding by Diana Palmer
I was a little disappointed with this one. Though it did have classic, old school Diana Palmer formula to the story,. it still wasn’t to the caliber that a lot of her old school books that I have loved and adored over the years had. A lot was missing for me in the story.
JL and Cassie were no way the epic couple that say Judd and Christabel were or Tippy and Cash, or so many others in the LTT series, not this one was a LTT since it took place Colorado still same principal. JL and Cassie spent very little time together, at least in the romantic sense. There were no epic make out scenes, or sensual foreplay scenes that Diana Palmer has been known to write. In fact they didn’t kiss to very, very, very late in the story and didn’t really have a lot of build up to it. It was like one minute they were sitting there then suddenly JL was kissing her. It was like okay because up to that point I wasn’t feeling that JL was really romantically interested in her. He liked her and wanted to spend time with her, but I didn’t wanted her in a romantic context. The most romantic part of the book was at the end and the last twenty pages or so where they have the romantic date, the wedding then the wedding night if that feeling carried on throughout the entire book I would have felt totally different about this story and would have enjoyed it so much more.
Plus I really didn’t enjoy them as a couple. I have a lot of favorite Diana Palmer couples throughout years, but JL and Cassie were not one of them. Even when they first met, there was no real connection or spark for me that would say that they were going to be an amazing couple. There weren’t exciting. They weren’t passionate. They were just really flat and had more of platonic relationship, or at least that’s what it felt like to me. I liked that they became friends, and I liked them as friends, but didn’t like them as a couple. I just couldn’t connect to them as a romantic couple.
There wasn’t a lot of angst in the story that Diana Palmer is known especially in her older classics. There wasn’t a lot of back and forth, or really heavy conflict between them to make it hard for them to be together and be happy. There were a couple of things here and there, but it felt very contrived and easily glossed over once things came to a head. It was too easy to face these conflicts so that made the story less exciting. There wasn’t a lot of tension from the conflict that would have shown them fighting to be together, instead it was there then dealt with easily. Too easy.
Overall I wasn’t a fan of this story. It had some of the elements that I did enjoy from classic Diana Palmer, but it lacked in other ways that made it not a compelling Diana Palmer romance. I didn’t like JL and Cassie together as a couple. They lacked excitement and passion, which is huge in a romance, and it just wasn’t there. It took them forever just to have their first kiss, or anything romantic between them. It was very hard to tell if he was even into her romantically because it didn’t feel like it. It definitely didn’t feel like they were falling in love. When they stated that they deeply loved each other I asked myself “How?” Because I didn’t see it that way. It felt very contrived, and I wasn’t feeling it at all. It felt like a very unrealistic romance with so many different contrived things that it’s as really hard to get behind and enjoy. It was hard swallow that they were a deeply in love couple by book’s end. There just needed to be more romance between them than there actually was. It wasn’t romantic enough for me, and I had a skim a majority of it because I was bored with it to be honest. I just wanted to get to the romance already, which unfortunately didn’t show up until the very end. The stuff with the scandal stuff was kind bland to. Politically correct, but boring. I just wasn’t a fan of this story by Diana Palmer.
I was a little disappointed with this one. Though it did have classic, old school Diana Palmer formula to the story,. it still wasn’t to the caliber that a lot of her old school books that I have loved and adored over the years had. A lot was missing for me in the story.
JL and Cassie were no way the epic couple that say Judd and Christabel were or Tippy and Cash, or so many others in the LTT series, not this one was a LTT since it took place Colorado still same principal. JL and Cassie spent very little time together, at least in the romantic sense. There were no epic make out scenes, or sensual foreplay scenes that Diana Palmer has been known to write. In fact they didn’t kiss to very, very, very late in the story and didn’t really have a lot of build up to it. It was like one minute they were sitting there then suddenly JL was kissing her. It was like okay because up to that point I wasn’t feeling that JL was really romantically interested in her. He liked her and wanted to spend time with her, but I didn’t wanted her in a romantic context. The most romantic part of the book was at the end and the last twenty pages or so where they have the romantic date, the wedding then the wedding night if that feeling carried on throughout the entire book I would have felt totally different about this story and would have enjoyed it so much more.
Plus I really didn’t enjoy them as a couple. I have a lot of favorite Diana Palmer couples throughout years, but JL and Cassie were not one of them. Even when they first met, there was no real connection or spark for me that would say that they were going to be an amazing couple. There weren’t exciting. They weren’t passionate. They were just really flat and had more of platonic relationship, or at least that’s what it felt like to me. I liked that they became friends, and I liked them as friends, but didn’t like them as a couple. I just couldn’t connect to them as a romantic couple.
There wasn’t a lot of angst in the story that Diana Palmer is known especially in her older classics. There wasn’t a lot of back and forth, or really heavy conflict between them to make it hard for them to be together and be happy. There were a couple of things here and there, but it felt very contrived and easily glossed over once things came to a head. It was too easy to face these conflicts so that made the story less exciting. There wasn’t a lot of tension from the conflict that would have shown them fighting to be together, instead it was there then dealt with easily. Too easy.
Overall I wasn’t a fan of this story. It had some of the elements that I did enjoy from classic Diana Palmer, but it lacked in other ways that made it not a compelling Diana Palmer romance. I didn’t like JL and Cassie together as a couple. They lacked excitement and passion, which is huge in a romance, and it just wasn’t there. It took them forever just to have their first kiss, or anything romantic between them. It was very hard to tell if he was even into her romantically because it didn’t feel like it. It definitely didn’t feel like they were falling in love. When they stated that they deeply loved each other I asked myself “How?” Because I didn’t see it that way. It felt very contrived, and I wasn’t feeling it at all. It felt like a very unrealistic romance with so many different contrived things that it’s as really hard to get behind and enjoy. It was hard swallow that they were a deeply in love couple by book’s end. There just needed to be more romance between them than there actually was. It wasn’t romantic enough for me, and I had a skim a majority of it because I was bored with it to be honest. I just wanted to get to the romance already, which unfortunately didn’t show up until the very end. The stuff with the scandal stuff was kind bland to. Politically correct, but boring. I just wasn’t a fan of this story by Diana Palmer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2019
It's that time of year again. Love is in the air, beauty is starting to bloom and temperatures are on the rise. With the season of love on It's way, It's fitting that romance jumps in on the fun. Marrying My Cowboy came on the radar for me because I am a fan of all three authors. Pearce gives us something to talk about when taking a chance on naughty puts in question a matter of the heart. McKenna is the boss when it comes to wild rides, emotional moments and inspiring storytelling. Diana Palmer makes scandal front page news and our hearts are the prize at hand. Full of captivating characters, laugh out loud moments and irresistible romance, Marrying My Cowboy will put a move on hearts everywhere.
March 24, 2019
In this book we have three short cowboy themed reads but sadly the only one of the three I can honestly say I enjoyed was Kate Pearce's, The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride. Unfortunately, though I think this was the shortest of the three novellas. The novella was a wonderful follow up to the Morgan series and featured the wedding between HW and Sam. Those who have read the series will recognize and enjoy catching up with the series. Personally, I hope this is not the last time we will see these characters from the Morgan Ranch.
March 27, 2019
Three fast-paced reads all involving cowboys and their impending wedding day. Plenty of drama, emotion and steamy chemistry. I always love another chance to read more about the Morgan brothers. A fun and entertaining read.
March 22, 2019
I love Kate Pearce. In reading other collections she has been a part of I have found other authors to love. Of course, I couldn’t pass up the chance at an ARC of this collection when I saw she was involved. I’ve not had luck with Diana Palmer in the past, but I was all for giving her another go. Unfortunately, things did not go as I had hoped with this one.
The stories in the book are in the order of the author’s credits on the cover, but that’s not how I’m going to review them. I’m not a fan of negativity, especially when it comes to book reviews. We all have different tastes and opinions. I decided I’m going to list my opinions below with Kate Pearce’s story first, so you can stop after that if you don’t want any less than stellar thoughts on the other two stories. Here we go…
The Cowboy Lassos a Bride
by Kate Pearce
As usual, Kate Pearce does not disappoint. This story ties into her Morgan Ranch series and the love, chemistry, and friendships found in those full-length novels are also present in this short story. I love the Morgans, I love their friends, and I love the citizens of Morgantown. It’s hard for me to judge for sure since I have read this series, but I don’t believe you have to read the other books in the series to enjoy this story. They are all definitely worth the read though. This is the story of HW and Sam, who are featured in The Bad Boy Cowboy, getting engaged and married. It’s loaded with their usual spats and tons of chemistry and love to go along with those disagreements. I cannot get enough of this author. ~5 stars
The Rancher’s Wedding
by Diana Palmer
I’ll start this one off with facts instead of opinion. There are some major continuity issues with this story. The characters contradicted themselves numerous times. How can Cassie’s dad think she’s allergic to cats from one incident in her past, and then a few paragraphs later she states she’s had cats her whole life? Her dog situation became a confusing mess. The story was also very repetitive, Cassie and her father going over and over why they are in Colorado and the evil things that were done to them. Luckily, there was actual chemistry between Cassie and JL. That alone kept me reading.
I’m sure there’s a market for the type of characters that are in this book, but we’re at the opinion portion of my review now. The media is bashed, journalists are disparaged, the term “bleeding-heart liberals” is actually used, waitresses are looked at as less than. In fact, Cassie and her father hide the fact that Cassie is good at chess because JL might be suspicious of a chess playing waitress. Holy cow! I believe my blood pressure actually shot up a couple times while reading this story. After my other experiences with this author’s books, it really clear that she is just not an author I can enjoy. ~1.5 stars
Wind River Wedding
by Lindsay McKenna
Quite honestly, I skimmed a huge portion of this story. It was a whole heck of a lot of telling and no showing. Very early on, it was obvious this story is meant as a prequel to some other works by this author. I looked it up after and I’d say if you’ve read and enjoyed her Wind River Valley series, you may enjoy this. I’m pretty sure it’s a sort of origin story of the matriarch and patriarch of a major family in that series. But it is NOT a good introduction to the series. I felt like I would have enjoyed it a little more if I already knew some of these characters. There was no chemistry and the dialogue was stilted because the characters were telling each other things they already knew. Maud describing the layout of the land to Steve, who grew up on the land. Steve telling Maud who was standing up in their wedding like she doesn’t know her own best friend. I’m sure this was meant to convey this information to the reader, but it’s done in an odd way that really bogs the story down.
I will admit that I feel terrible judging this author on this story alone. Like I said, if you’re a fan of this series you may love this story. It doesn’t work for a compilation book that is, often, introducing a writer to potential new readers of their other stories. I may give her another chance if I come across something that is either a true book 1 of a series or a true standalone. This did nothing for me. ~1 star
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
This review can also be found at All In Good Time.
The stories in the book are in the order of the author’s credits on the cover, but that’s not how I’m going to review them. I’m not a fan of negativity, especially when it comes to book reviews. We all have different tastes and opinions. I decided I’m going to list my opinions below with Kate Pearce’s story first, so you can stop after that if you don’t want any less than stellar thoughts on the other two stories. Here we go…
The Cowboy Lassos a Bride
by Kate Pearce
As usual, Kate Pearce does not disappoint. This story ties into her Morgan Ranch series and the love, chemistry, and friendships found in those full-length novels are also present in this short story. I love the Morgans, I love their friends, and I love the citizens of Morgantown. It’s hard for me to judge for sure since I have read this series, but I don’t believe you have to read the other books in the series to enjoy this story. They are all definitely worth the read though. This is the story of HW and Sam, who are featured in The Bad Boy Cowboy, getting engaged and married. It’s loaded with their usual spats and tons of chemistry and love to go along with those disagreements. I cannot get enough of this author. ~5 stars
The Rancher’s Wedding
by Diana Palmer
I’ll start this one off with facts instead of opinion. There are some major continuity issues with this story. The characters contradicted themselves numerous times. How can Cassie’s dad think she’s allergic to cats from one incident in her past, and then a few paragraphs later she states she’s had cats her whole life? Her dog situation became a confusing mess. The story was also very repetitive, Cassie and her father going over and over why they are in Colorado and the evil things that were done to them. Luckily, there was actual chemistry between Cassie and JL. That alone kept me reading.
I’m sure there’s a market for the type of characters that are in this book, but we’re at the opinion portion of my review now. The media is bashed, journalists are disparaged, the term “bleeding-heart liberals” is actually used, waitresses are looked at as less than. In fact, Cassie and her father hide the fact that Cassie is good at chess because JL might be suspicious of a chess playing waitress. Holy cow! I believe my blood pressure actually shot up a couple times while reading this story. After my other experiences with this author’s books, it really clear that she is just not an author I can enjoy. ~1.5 stars
Wind River Wedding
by Lindsay McKenna
Quite honestly, I skimmed a huge portion of this story. It was a whole heck of a lot of telling and no showing. Very early on, it was obvious this story is meant as a prequel to some other works by this author. I looked it up after and I’d say if you’ve read and enjoyed her Wind River Valley series, you may enjoy this. I’m pretty sure it’s a sort of origin story of the matriarch and patriarch of a major family in that series. But it is NOT a good introduction to the series. I felt like I would have enjoyed it a little more if I already knew some of these characters. There was no chemistry and the dialogue was stilted because the characters were telling each other things they already knew. Maud describing the layout of the land to Steve, who grew up on the land. Steve telling Maud who was standing up in their wedding like she doesn’t know her own best friend. I’m sure this was meant to convey this information to the reader, but it’s done in an odd way that really bogs the story down.
I will admit that I feel terrible judging this author on this story alone. Like I said, if you’re a fan of this series you may love this story. It doesn’t work for a compilation book that is, often, introducing a writer to potential new readers of their other stories. I may give her another chance if I come across something that is either a true book 1 of a series or a true standalone. This did nothing for me. ~1 star
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
This review can also be found at All In Good Time.
June 22, 2019
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
I love a good anthology, and MARRYING MY COWBOY is an excellent pairing of three of my favorite authors with believable, charming characters – and who doesn’t love a handsome cowboy, right? I cannot pick a favorite story out of this bunch, they are all enjoyable stories with real issues to be faced and realistic actions taking place. If you love a really good cowboy romance set in today’s world then you’ll want to check out this one.
The Rancher’s Wedding by Diana Palmer will touch your heart from the first page. There is such sadness and betrayal in this story for both Cassie and JL that my heart broke and ached for them both. Cassie is forced to hide so much of what she is due to another’s actions. JL was betrayed by a woman and a member of his family. Each is looking for no more than a possible friendship between them, but the emotions run high between this couple. I adored this couple, enjoyed their romance — and the bad guy got exactly what he deserved eventually. Now that’s not only a happy ending for the couple but for the reader as well.
Wind River Wedding by Lindsay McKenna gives us the touching “backstory” of Steve and Maud from her Wind River series. If you’ve followed that series, as I have, then you’ll completely enjoy Maud and Steve’s first meeting, their growing romance right through to their wedding day. If you don’t know the series this story is a great introduction to the community surrounding the ranch, perhaps enough to go back to the very beginning. I loved this story and believe you’ll enjoy the slow, steady and lively journey that was the start of Maud and Steve’s lives together.
The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride by Kate Pearce gives readers of her Morgan Ranch series the delightful and, at times, madcap wedding preparations and chaos for HW and Samantha. I’ve enjoyed the series and having this couple finally, after all that they’ve been through seeing them make it to the altar – eventually – was such a treat. Laugh out loud moments blend easily with more serious moments of doubts to add that realistic touch that Ms. Pearce is famous for. I had a really good time with this romance and would recommend it for any reader but especially for those who have followed the Morgan Ranch series.
MARRYING MY COWBOY turned out to be a fantastic anthology with different styles of romances but all with a satisfying happy ever after ending. If you love a good romance then this group of Modern Western Romances in one book is perfect for you.
I own a Kindle edition of this ebook.
I love a good anthology, and MARRYING MY COWBOY is an excellent pairing of three of my favorite authors with believable, charming characters – and who doesn’t love a handsome cowboy, right? I cannot pick a favorite story out of this bunch, they are all enjoyable stories with real issues to be faced and realistic actions taking place. If you love a really good cowboy romance set in today’s world then you’ll want to check out this one.
The Rancher’s Wedding by Diana Palmer will touch your heart from the first page. There is such sadness and betrayal in this story for both Cassie and JL that my heart broke and ached for them both. Cassie is forced to hide so much of what she is due to another’s actions. JL was betrayed by a woman and a member of his family. Each is looking for no more than a possible friendship between them, but the emotions run high between this couple. I adored this couple, enjoyed their romance — and the bad guy got exactly what he deserved eventually. Now that’s not only a happy ending for the couple but for the reader as well.
Wind River Wedding by Lindsay McKenna gives us the touching “backstory” of Steve and Maud from her Wind River series. If you’ve followed that series, as I have, then you’ll completely enjoy Maud and Steve’s first meeting, their growing romance right through to their wedding day. If you don’t know the series this story is a great introduction to the community surrounding the ranch, perhaps enough to go back to the very beginning. I loved this story and believe you’ll enjoy the slow, steady and lively journey that was the start of Maud and Steve’s lives together.
The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride by Kate Pearce gives readers of her Morgan Ranch series the delightful and, at times, madcap wedding preparations and chaos for HW and Samantha. I’ve enjoyed the series and having this couple finally, after all that they’ve been through seeing them make it to the altar – eventually – was such a treat. Laugh out loud moments blend easily with more serious moments of doubts to add that realistic touch that Ms. Pearce is famous for. I had a really good time with this romance and would recommend it for any reader but especially for those who have followed the Morgan Ranch series.
MARRYING MY COWBOY turned out to be a fantastic anthology with different styles of romances but all with a satisfying happy ever after ending. If you love a good romance then this group of Modern Western Romances in one book is perfect for you.
I own a Kindle edition of this ebook.
March 25, 2019
Marrying My Cowboy
Three novellas in one volume providing fun reading for everyone...if you like weddings and cowboys, that is. I will say that it might help if you have been reading the series these stories are part of because my favorite is the one that I have read most of the books previous to this story.
THE RANCHER’S WEDDING by Diana Palmer
Cassie Reed and her father have “disappeared” to get away from media attention. They are making the best of things though transplanted to a completely different world. Cassie meets JL Denton due to a prank his cousin plays and then the two get to know one another better, begin to like one another, have ups and downs and eventually find a way to have their happily ever after. Entertaining though Cassie is a bit Victorian in her outlook and thus this is a very tame story. (3 Stars)
WIND RIVER WEDDING by Lindsay McKenna
I have a feeling this is going to be a hit with those who have read more of the Wind River Valley series than I have. I am not sure who Maude and Steve are but know they come before the books I have read and since I don’t remember the books well am left wondering if they do achieve their goals and have a family and if so...are their children genetic or adopted. This is a fun story but fairly linear in the telling and left me wondering what happens at the end of the story and in the decades between this story and the ones I did read. (3 stars)
THE COWBOY LASSOES A BRIDE by Kate Pearce
This series I am invested in so I thoroughly enjoyed it! I have met all the Morgans and their mates and had fun finding out how Sam and HW finally get hitched...tie the knot...are wed. There are definitely surprises and problems and a few things for them to overcome but they do finally get their HEA ending and it was definitely worth waiting for. (4 Stars)
Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Pearce and Kensington-Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
Three novellas in one volume providing fun reading for everyone...if you like weddings and cowboys, that is. I will say that it might help if you have been reading the series these stories are part of because my favorite is the one that I have read most of the books previous to this story.
THE RANCHER’S WEDDING by Diana Palmer
Cassie Reed and her father have “disappeared” to get away from media attention. They are making the best of things though transplanted to a completely different world. Cassie meets JL Denton due to a prank his cousin plays and then the two get to know one another better, begin to like one another, have ups and downs and eventually find a way to have their happily ever after. Entertaining though Cassie is a bit Victorian in her outlook and thus this is a very tame story. (3 Stars)
WIND RIVER WEDDING by Lindsay McKenna
I have a feeling this is going to be a hit with those who have read more of the Wind River Valley series than I have. I am not sure who Maude and Steve are but know they come before the books I have read and since I don’t remember the books well am left wondering if they do achieve their goals and have a family and if so...are their children genetic or adopted. This is a fun story but fairly linear in the telling and left me wondering what happens at the end of the story and in the decades between this story and the ones I did read. (3 stars)
THE COWBOY LASSOES A BRIDE by Kate Pearce
This series I am invested in so I thoroughly enjoyed it! I have met all the Morgans and their mates and had fun finding out how Sam and HW finally get hitched...tie the knot...are wed. There are definitely surprises and problems and a few things for them to overcome but they do finally get their HEA ending and it was definitely worth waiting for. (4 Stars)
Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Pearce and Kensington-Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
Read
March 28, 2019The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride by Kate Pearce – 5 stars.
I requested a copy of this anthology from NetGalley solely because I wanted to read and review Kate Pearce's story. My rating is based on that one alone as real life stuff has kept me from having the time to read the other two.
I've read all of the books in the Morgan Ranch series, and loved them, so I couldn't wait to get my eyes on this one. While I think you will still enjoy this story even if you haven't read the other Morgan Ranch books, I urge you to at least read The Bad Boy Cowboy first. It's the story of how HW and Sam first get together.
HW Morgan has been the bad-boy of this series but he finally met his match in Samantha (Sam) Kelly in The Bad Boy Cowboy. I loved that story so much and I couldn't wait to read about their wedding trials and tribulations in The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride.
HW is so afraid that Sam is going to leave him just like his mother did so it wasn't difficult to guess what kind of situation might crop up in this story. What was fun about it though, was waiting for the "thing" to happen and not knowing when it was going to happen. 😊
This story was such a fun read. I really enjoyed visiting with all of the characters from previous books. Everyone in the extended Morgan family is so supportive of each other, even when they don't always see eye-to-eye. Reading such great family stories helps me to escape from the stress of everyday life.
I'm looking forward to reading more stories set in the world of Morgantown. The Second Chance Rancher, coming in late May, kicks off a new related series called The Millers of Morgan Valley and I'm ready to read it!
A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.
I requested a copy of this anthology from NetGalley solely because I wanted to read and review Kate Pearce's story. My rating is based on that one alone as real life stuff has kept me from having the time to read the other two.
I've read all of the books in the Morgan Ranch series, and loved them, so I couldn't wait to get my eyes on this one. While I think you will still enjoy this story even if you haven't read the other Morgan Ranch books, I urge you to at least read The Bad Boy Cowboy first. It's the story of how HW and Sam first get together.
HW Morgan has been the bad-boy of this series but he finally met his match in Samantha (Sam) Kelly in The Bad Boy Cowboy. I loved that story so much and I couldn't wait to read about their wedding trials and tribulations in The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride.
HW is so afraid that Sam is going to leave him just like his mother did so it wasn't difficult to guess what kind of situation might crop up in this story. What was fun about it though, was waiting for the "thing" to happen and not knowing when it was going to happen. 😊
This story was such a fun read. I really enjoyed visiting with all of the characters from previous books. Everyone in the extended Morgan family is so supportive of each other, even when they don't always see eye-to-eye. Reading such great family stories helps me to escape from the stress of everyday life.
I'm looking forward to reading more stories set in the world of Morgantown. The Second Chance Rancher, coming in late May, kicks off a new related series called The Millers of Morgan Valley and I'm ready to read it!
A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.
March 28, 2019
Marrying My Cowboy is a collection of 3 cowboy stories by different authors. Having enjoyed the Morgan Ranch series by Kate Pearce immensely, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this story. Overall, I loved The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride which is a great addition to the Morgan Ranch series and cannot wait to read more.
As for the other 2 stories, while their names are familiar, they are still new to me authors. The Diana Palmer story had a lot of inconsistencies and I never really got invested in the characters. Very little spark. With regard to Wind River Wedding, this was obviously a prequel to another series and it left me more confused than interested.
As for the other 2 stories, while their names are familiar, they are still new to me authors. The Diana Palmer story had a lot of inconsistencies and I never really got invested in the characters. Very little spark. With regard to Wind River Wedding, this was obviously a prequel to another series and it left me more confused than interested.
March 26, 2019
MARRYING MY COWBOY is a three book box set totaling about 272 pages. They are quick feel good reads that somewhat remind me of something you would enjoy on the Hallmark Channel. The books that you get are :
Wind River Wedding by Lindsay McKenna
The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride by Kate Pearce
The Rancher's Wedding by Diana Palmer
I am a big fan of these writers and always looking for their books. Overall really enjoyed this set of books.
Wind River Wedding by Lindsay McKenna
The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride by Kate Pearce
The Rancher's Wedding by Diana Palmer
I am a big fan of these writers and always looking for their books. Overall really enjoyed this set of books.
April 17, 2019
2.5 stars
I only read the Diana Palmer story “The Rancher’s Wedding”. I don’t read the other 2 writers included in this anthology.
So this is a review based on that story only.
It’s the usual diana palmer formula.
(ie. cynical older rich man+ younger, smart, inexperienced girl, each w/some tragedy in past but can they get past it to fall for each other?)
Good characters, story and chemistry b/w Cassie & JL.
it does drag a bit.
I only read the Diana Palmer story “The Rancher’s Wedding”. I don’t read the other 2 writers included in this anthology.
So this is a review based on that story only.
It’s the usual diana palmer formula.
(ie. cynical older rich man+ younger, smart, inexperienced girl, each w/some tragedy in past but can they get past it to fall for each other?)
Good characters, story and chemistry b/w Cassie & JL.
it does drag a bit.
May 5, 2019
I originally purchased this anthology as I am an avid reader and love both Lindsay McKenna's Wind River series and Kate Pearce's The Morgan Brothers' Ranch series but I enjoyed Diana Palmer's story, too. Ms. McKenna's Wind River Wedding is sort of a flashback, telling us all about how the family ranch came about. I've read these two as adults but it was fun to read about them as young, headstrong, and in love. Ms. Pearce's story is a calamity of misunderstandings and bull-headed brothers but ultimately, Sam and HW are fun and made for each other and get their HEA. Can't wait for more stories from these authors.
March 20, 2019
Three Halmark type romance stories with a dude with a cowboy hat. Nothing wrong with that. My favorite was by Kate Pearce because it was a part of her Morgan Ranch series of which I am a fan. "A copy of this book was provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."
March 26, 2019
This is an anthology of 3 novellas featuring cowboys. They are all remarkably written. The last two stories are continuations of series by their authors, but can be read as a stand-alone story. The pace of each story is wonderful and the characters are well developed. If you like cowboy stories and HEA this is a marvelous read.
December 15, 2020
2.5 stars for The Rancher's Wedding by Diana Palmer
January 31, 2019
MARRYING MY COWBOY is a collection of books by Diana Palmer, Lindsay McKenna and Kate Pearce. All three of these authors are amazing storytellers and I love their stories of the west!
May 21, 2019
Good ole cowboy romance is in the house! It's been a while since the last time I read Diana Palmer's book and for this one is pretty classic. I adore the Hero and the heroine though at some points they both can be frustrating.
Lindsay McKenna's writing is as solid as usual. The story itself is refreshing, but I wish there'd be more, you know, drama. But overall, a good one!
Finished reading Kate Pearce's book and what a ride! It's an exciting read and a perfect closure for the book. It's my first time reading Kate Pearce's writing and I definitely will read more.
Lindsay McKenna's writing is as solid as usual. The story itself is refreshing, but I wish there'd be more, you know, drama. But overall, a good one!
Finished reading Kate Pearce's book and what a ride! It's an exciting read and a perfect closure for the book. It's my first time reading Kate Pearce's writing and I definitely will read more.
May 18, 2019
Marrying My Cowboy is three novellas in one, by three different authors, all relating to courtships and weddings, and, since I marginally liked the first two, I did enjoy the last novella best, and averaging my ratings for all 3 titles, this anthology gets a 3-star average rating from this reader.
The Rancher's Wedding by Diana Palmer was like every other novel I've read by this author--and I've read every book she's ever written. High profile, Cassie Reed and her father are in hiding to disappear from the chaos and media attention, based on an "All About Eve" character who falsely accuses Cassie's father of sexual harassment in order to get his weekly TV show for herself. The father and daughter moved out west seeking anonymity, Cassie is now working as a waitress at the local diner, and her father is working at the local hardware and farm machinery store.
One of Cassie's customers is a practical joker who convinces Cassie that chickens are being horribly abused at the chicken ranch owned by JL Denton, and Cassie agrees to join a protest march that weekend, except she's the only one who shows up, protest sign in hand, standing alone in the freezing rain and wondering why no one else is there. Finally, handsome, "dishy," JL, finds her and brings her to his ranch to warm up and dry off. That's where she learns she's been had by JL's cousin, Cary, and that JL doesn't even own chickens. I so wish Ms. Palmer with get with the fact that's it's the 21st century and no one calls anyone "a dish" or "dishy" these days, and hasn't since the 1930s.
Like all of Ms. Palmer's heroines, Cassie is a 24-year-old virgin, as straitlaced as they come. JL, a typical Diana Palmer hero, doesn't trust women easily after his ex-fiance dumped him, and Cassie has to lie to him about who she is and why she's moved from Atlanta to such a remote town out west, in order to keep her identity from becoming common knowledge due to the small town gossip mill. These two characters spend a lot of time talking, but when cousin Cary plays one more prank on them, the truth about Cassie's identity and the fact that she's been lying to JL, makes him drop her like a hot potato and tell her to leave his ranch immediately. Of course, matters are eventually settled, but the plot and characters follow Ms. Palmer's formula, only with less of a build-up to the couple finally getting together, to their HEA ending. This one was barely a 3-star read for me.
Wind River Wedding by Lindsay McKenna
I've been following the Wind River series from the outset, and so I didn't really need an introduction to the couple who started it all, Maud and Steve, but expected it to be an interesting read. Their budding relationship in this novella is where it all started. It's the mid-1960s, and Maud is the daughter of a billionaire NYC family, she's 18, enrolled in Rider College in Princeton, NJ, and Steve is also 18, a ranching cowboy from out west at a 3-generation ranch now owned by his parents. He's at Princeton working to eventually get his Masters degree in architecture--his dream is to built economical and sustainable homes in third world nations--a selfless and noble idea. Maud's always loved the great outdoors, disliked the hustle and bustle of NYC, and has always dreamed of living and working on a ranch. The two first meet as servers in a local homeless shelter and soup kitchen, funded by Maud's wealthy family, and they like each other immediately. They eventually live together, fall in love, and plan to marry. Maud loves Steve's family ranch, Steve's family loves her, but her mother wants her to use her MBA to take over her billion dollar, high society life in NYC, which is the last thing Maud wants.
My problem with this novella is that while it gives us the budding relationship of the main characters who formed and developed the Wind River ranch that we've come to know in this series. and learn their differences and similarities, so much time was spent on them discussing their future plans and professing their love for one another, that there wasn't one iota of drama, not even a slight disagreement about anything or anyone to liven up this novella, which was utterly mundane and predictable. I've been reading Ms. McKenna's novels for decades, but in all honesty, this was, in my opinion, the most uneventful and boring thing she's ever written. It gets a 2-star rating from this reader.
The Cowboy Lassos a Bride by Kate Pearce
I've been following the Morgan Ranch series for some time, and am addicted to books about wounded warriors and the way they cope when they return home. This novella is about how Sam (Samantha) and HW, who've been featured in earlier novels, finally get together and marry, and it's the best of the 3 novellas in this anthology. It was a blessed relief after the first two novellas left me wanting more. There was plenty of emotion, and some heat between these two characters, plenty of issues and pre-wedding complications and craziness before these two finally make it to the altar, and their happily ever after ending and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Because it out-shined the two previous novellas and kept me entertained throughout, it gets 4 stars from this reader.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
The Rancher's Wedding by Diana Palmer was like every other novel I've read by this author--and I've read every book she's ever written. High profile, Cassie Reed and her father are in hiding to disappear from the chaos and media attention, based on an "All About Eve" character who falsely accuses Cassie's father of sexual harassment in order to get his weekly TV show for herself. The father and daughter moved out west seeking anonymity, Cassie is now working as a waitress at the local diner, and her father is working at the local hardware and farm machinery store.
One of Cassie's customers is a practical joker who convinces Cassie that chickens are being horribly abused at the chicken ranch owned by JL Denton, and Cassie agrees to join a protest march that weekend, except she's the only one who shows up, protest sign in hand, standing alone in the freezing rain and wondering why no one else is there. Finally, handsome, "dishy," JL, finds her and brings her to his ranch to warm up and dry off. That's where she learns she's been had by JL's cousin, Cary, and that JL doesn't even own chickens. I so wish Ms. Palmer with get with the fact that's it's the 21st century and no one calls anyone "a dish" or "dishy" these days, and hasn't since the 1930s.
Like all of Ms. Palmer's heroines, Cassie is a 24-year-old virgin, as straitlaced as they come. JL, a typical Diana Palmer hero, doesn't trust women easily after his ex-fiance dumped him, and Cassie has to lie to him about who she is and why she's moved from Atlanta to such a remote town out west, in order to keep her identity from becoming common knowledge due to the small town gossip mill. These two characters spend a lot of time talking, but when cousin Cary plays one more prank on them, the truth about Cassie's identity and the fact that she's been lying to JL, makes him drop her like a hot potato and tell her to leave his ranch immediately. Of course, matters are eventually settled, but the plot and characters follow Ms. Palmer's formula, only with less of a build-up to the couple finally getting together, to their HEA ending. This one was barely a 3-star read for me.
Wind River Wedding by Lindsay McKenna
I've been following the Wind River series from the outset, and so I didn't really need an introduction to the couple who started it all, Maud and Steve, but expected it to be an interesting read. Their budding relationship in this novella is where it all started. It's the mid-1960s, and Maud is the daughter of a billionaire NYC family, she's 18, enrolled in Rider College in Princeton, NJ, and Steve is also 18, a ranching cowboy from out west at a 3-generation ranch now owned by his parents. He's at Princeton working to eventually get his Masters degree in architecture--his dream is to built economical and sustainable homes in third world nations--a selfless and noble idea. Maud's always loved the great outdoors, disliked the hustle and bustle of NYC, and has always dreamed of living and working on a ranch. The two first meet as servers in a local homeless shelter and soup kitchen, funded by Maud's wealthy family, and they like each other immediately. They eventually live together, fall in love, and plan to marry. Maud loves Steve's family ranch, Steve's family loves her, but her mother wants her to use her MBA to take over her billion dollar, high society life in NYC, which is the last thing Maud wants.
My problem with this novella is that while it gives us the budding relationship of the main characters who formed and developed the Wind River ranch that we've come to know in this series. and learn their differences and similarities, so much time was spent on them discussing their future plans and professing their love for one another, that there wasn't one iota of drama, not even a slight disagreement about anything or anyone to liven up this novella, which was utterly mundane and predictable. I've been reading Ms. McKenna's novels for decades, but in all honesty, this was, in my opinion, the most uneventful and boring thing she's ever written. It gets a 2-star rating from this reader.
The Cowboy Lassos a Bride by Kate Pearce
I've been following the Morgan Ranch series for some time, and am addicted to books about wounded warriors and the way they cope when they return home. This novella is about how Sam (Samantha) and HW, who've been featured in earlier novels, finally get together and marry, and it's the best of the 3 novellas in this anthology. It was a blessed relief after the first two novellas left me wanting more. There was plenty of emotion, and some heat between these two characters, plenty of issues and pre-wedding complications and craziness before these two finally make it to the altar, and their happily ever after ending and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Because it out-shined the two previous novellas and kept me entertained throughout, it gets 4 stars from this reader.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
March 17, 2019
I received a free advanced copy of this book from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review. This is a collection of three stories from three different western romance writers.
THE RANCHER’S WEDDING
Kudos to Diana Palmer for tackling the spat of false accusations against Conservative men like the ones against Judge Kavanaugh. Producer, Lanier Roger Reed, was falsely accused of sexual harassment by a women who wanted his job. The SJW harassed his family so viciously that his wife committed suicide. He fled NYC with his daughter, Cassie, a successful script writer, to Benton, Colorado, leaving everything behind and now struggling to make a living. JL Denton, is a wealth rancher, who has been in a funk, since he found out that his fiancée was a fake, who was only after him for his money. They meet, when Cassie is the target of a prank by his cousin Carey. Neither is looking for a relationship, just friendship, but they seem to be made for each other. But will Cassie have the courage to tell JL the truth of her history before he finds out on his own?
I love that Cassie is an innocent with a morality that is not usually found in romance novels and that she was living in Atlanta (me too). As all of Palmer’s stories, the characters are endearing and the plot engaging. My favorite quote, which everyone needs to remember is “… we should never judge the past by the morality of the present. You have to judge by the morality of the time period.”
WIND RIVER WEDDING
I have not read any of the Wind River Ranch books, so really could not relate to this “backstory” of Maud and Steve Whitcomb. Having lived through the time period described, I was not impressed with the feminist movement then or now. The dialogues were rather strange, with the author trying to relate information to the reader, but already known to the other character.
THE COWBOY LASSOES A BRIDE
Kate Pearce is one of my favorite western romance writers and I love the Morgan Ranch series. This story is about HW finally convincing Sam to marry him and the tumult leading up to the wedding. This novella is a must for all who have enjoyed the rest of the series.
THE RANCHER’S WEDDING
Kudos to Diana Palmer for tackling the spat of false accusations against Conservative men like the ones against Judge Kavanaugh. Producer, Lanier Roger Reed, was falsely accused of sexual harassment by a women who wanted his job. The SJW harassed his family so viciously that his wife committed suicide. He fled NYC with his daughter, Cassie, a successful script writer, to Benton, Colorado, leaving everything behind and now struggling to make a living. JL Denton, is a wealth rancher, who has been in a funk, since he found out that his fiancée was a fake, who was only after him for his money. They meet, when Cassie is the target of a prank by his cousin Carey. Neither is looking for a relationship, just friendship, but they seem to be made for each other. But will Cassie have the courage to tell JL the truth of her history before he finds out on his own?
I love that Cassie is an innocent with a morality that is not usually found in romance novels and that she was living in Atlanta (me too). As all of Palmer’s stories, the characters are endearing and the plot engaging. My favorite quote, which everyone needs to remember is “… we should never judge the past by the morality of the present. You have to judge by the morality of the time period.”
WIND RIVER WEDDING
I have not read any of the Wind River Ranch books, so really could not relate to this “backstory” of Maud and Steve Whitcomb. Having lived through the time period described, I was not impressed with the feminist movement then or now. The dialogues were rather strange, with the author trying to relate information to the reader, but already known to the other character.
THE COWBOY LASSOES A BRIDE
Kate Pearce is one of my favorite western romance writers and I love the Morgan Ranch series. This story is about HW finally convincing Sam to marry him and the tumult leading up to the wedding. This novella is a must for all who have enjoyed the rest of the series.
March 18, 2019
What a fantastic collection of stories. Also what an amazing way to introduce readers to new authors. I am familiar with Kate Pearce's work but not the other two. I will have to change this quickly.
The Rancher’s Wedding* Diana Palmer
Cassie is a woman who is trying to lay low after a family scandal. However, someone tries to get a laugh at her expense and she meets LJ. LJ isn't the type to let a woman freeze especially when he finds out his cousin is to blame. Neither of these individuals are looking for anything but yet they are drawn to each other. I really enjoyed this book.
Wind River Wedding * Lindsay McKenna
I enjoyed this book because it showed two people from different world (East vs West) fall in love even though their upbringing was very different. I loved the character of Maud. I thought she had such a great head on her shoulders and loved that she just wanted to help. Steve was a very stand up guy, it just seemed like he wanted to help a little further away from home. My only complaint about this book was the ending. I would like to have seen them 2 years after the wedding. There was a lot of concern about their time apart but then as a reader, we didn't get to see the happily ever after, after the two years.
The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride * Kate Pearce
I LOVED this book. If you have read Mrs Pearce's series, you already have a feel for this couple. Even if you don't, its easy to catch up. This story centers around every possible thing that could go wrong right before a couple gets married. Luckily these two are strong enough to withstand it. My favorite part was when she was drunk and HW was trying to take care of her. The banter was fun.
The Rancher’s Wedding* Diana Palmer
Cassie is a woman who is trying to lay low after a family scandal. However, someone tries to get a laugh at her expense and she meets LJ. LJ isn't the type to let a woman freeze especially when he finds out his cousin is to blame. Neither of these individuals are looking for anything but yet they are drawn to each other. I really enjoyed this book.
Wind River Wedding * Lindsay McKenna
I enjoyed this book because it showed two people from different world (East vs West) fall in love even though their upbringing was very different. I loved the character of Maud. I thought she had such a great head on her shoulders and loved that she just wanted to help. Steve was a very stand up guy, it just seemed like he wanted to help a little further away from home. My only complaint about this book was the ending. I would like to have seen them 2 years after the wedding. There was a lot of concern about their time apart but then as a reader, we didn't get to see the happily ever after, after the two years.
The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride * Kate Pearce
I LOVED this book. If you have read Mrs Pearce's series, you already have a feel for this couple. Even if you don't, its easy to catch up. This story centers around every possible thing that could go wrong right before a couple gets married. Luckily these two are strong enough to withstand it. My favorite part was when she was drunk and HW was trying to take care of her. The banter was fun.
April 1, 2019
Kate Pearce's excellent short story, Cowboy Lassoes a Bride is the only one worth reading in this anthology and I'm really sad about that. I have never read anything by Diana Palmer or Lindsay McKenna and I was really looking forward to it. Now I can say I will never look at their titles again. Diana Palmer's Rancher's Wedding was an OK story but it had so many errors in it. It started out with a promising opening scene that was a really different way to start a love story and it just never tugged at my heart. Maybe her other stories are better. Lindsay McKenna's Wind River Wedding was definitely a looking back to the beginning couple. But it was a "telling" story not one experienced with the characters. She told us what happened and I found I wasn't invested in it. When you read a short story, you should hunger to read the series it's set in when you finish the story. I didn't with either of these tales.
Kate Pearce gave us a truly stellar story. We got to share in the lives of the Morgan family we have come to love. We care about the characters and are pulling for the wedding to happen. We even get laugh out loud moments like Sam being arrested for being "loud & obnoxious, and fondling public property"! Some bachelorette party she had! I am delighted Kate gave us another peek at this special family.
A copy for this book was provided to me for an honest and voluntary review.
Kate Pearce gave us a truly stellar story. We got to share in the lives of the Morgan family we have come to love. We care about the characters and are pulling for the wedding to happen. We even get laugh out loud moments like Sam being arrested for being "loud & obnoxious, and fondling public property"! Some bachelorette party she had! I am delighted Kate gave us another peek at this special family.
A copy for this book was provided to me for an honest and voluntary review.
May 25, 2019
The Rancher’s Wedding* Diana Palmer
When a rugged Colorado rancher who’s in the red meets up with a screenwriter-turned-waitress dogged by scandal, they put their talents—and their hearts—together. But will front page news put a damper on the sparks flying between them?
I’m torn with this one.... it seemed a little rushed and a little too busy by that I mean there was just too much in the story plot. I normally love Diane Palmer but this instalment left me just confused!
Wind River Wedding * Lindsay McKenna
A sprawling family ranch in Wyoming, or a swanky Hamptons hideaway? A young couple’s future in-laws try to stake their claim on where the newlyweds will live. But these lovebirds won’t be corralled …
Yeah sorry I couldn’t get into this... it just didn’t gel for me. I can’t actually tell you why. Maybe because they seemed so young and idealistic. I don’t know. It just wasn’t my cuppa tea.
The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride * Kate Pearce
Between a hen night that goes terribly wrong and a missing wedding dress, a bride-to-be wonders if her plan to marry her longtime bad boy cowboy beau is doomed—and he wonders if his fiancée is avoiding the altar. Will love prevail? …
**Thanks to the author and netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
When a rugged Colorado rancher who’s in the red meets up with a screenwriter-turned-waitress dogged by scandal, they put their talents—and their hearts—together. But will front page news put a damper on the sparks flying between them?
I’m torn with this one.... it seemed a little rushed and a little too busy by that I mean there was just too much in the story plot. I normally love Diane Palmer but this instalment left me just confused!
Wind River Wedding * Lindsay McKenna
A sprawling family ranch in Wyoming, or a swanky Hamptons hideaway? A young couple’s future in-laws try to stake their claim on where the newlyweds will live. But these lovebirds won’t be corralled …
Yeah sorry I couldn’t get into this... it just didn’t gel for me. I can’t actually tell you why. Maybe because they seemed so young and idealistic. I don’t know. It just wasn’t my cuppa tea.
The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride * Kate Pearce
Between a hen night that goes terribly wrong and a missing wedding dress, a bride-to-be wonders if her plan to marry her longtime bad boy cowboy beau is doomed—and he wonders if his fiancée is avoiding the altar. Will love prevail? …
**Thanks to the author and netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
August 20, 2019
*3.5 stars*
Cowboys!
The Rancher’s Wedding* Diana Palmer
I used to read this author all the time – she was my go to for emotional and uplifting romance. This novella was more of what she did best when instant like ignites between a struggling, down on her luck heroine and a wealthy rancher. I struggled with the premise of a virginal, almost perfect heroine and a stoic hero who blinked at the hint of trouble. That didn’t stop me from reading, however, because once past that I enjoyed the simplicity of this sweet story.
Wind River Wedding * Lindsay McKenna
This prequel to the series felt very much like foundation building as the hero and heroine met at school and tried to find a way to bridge their very different families and backgrounds. Low drama found this flashback story from the sixties, a piece of nostalgia as well as a solid romance.
The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride * Kate Pearce
I loved this romance full of sass and vinegar! When a reluctant bride meets a determined groom, the shenanigans were everywhere and they were so much fun! I laughed and cheered as the hero and heroine rolled with the never-ending punches leading up to their wedding day.
*I happily reviewed these stories
**Thank you to NetGalley
Cowboys!
The Rancher’s Wedding* Diana Palmer
I used to read this author all the time – she was my go to for emotional and uplifting romance. This novella was more of what she did best when instant like ignites between a struggling, down on her luck heroine and a wealthy rancher. I struggled with the premise of a virginal, almost perfect heroine and a stoic hero who blinked at the hint of trouble. That didn’t stop me from reading, however, because once past that I enjoyed the simplicity of this sweet story.
Wind River Wedding * Lindsay McKenna
This prequel to the series felt very much like foundation building as the hero and heroine met at school and tried to find a way to bridge their very different families and backgrounds. Low drama found this flashback story from the sixties, a piece of nostalgia as well as a solid romance.
The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride * Kate Pearce
I loved this romance full of sass and vinegar! When a reluctant bride meets a determined groom, the shenanigans were everywhere and they were so much fun! I laughed and cheered as the hero and heroine rolled with the never-ending punches leading up to their wedding day.
*I happily reviewed these stories
**Thank you to NetGalley
March 17, 2019
This book is a series of 3 novellas by authors known for their cowboy stories. If you have read Ms. McKenna’s Wind River series, as well as Ms. Pearce’s Morgan Ranch stories, their stories are extensions of the series.
I especially enjoyed THE COWBOY LASSOES A BRIDE, by Kate Pearce. Having read and enjoyed the Morgan Ranch stories and in this case, The Bad Cowboy I knew this wedding story would be special. Their original book centered around HW Morgan , a professional rodeo cowboy and Samantha Kelly, an army vet whose injuries devastated her not only physically but also emotionally.
Now that they finally have decided to get married, things don’t go as plan. Will Sam change her mind and leave HW feeling abandoned once again, or will they finally find their HEA?
Diana Palmer’s story, The Rancher’s Wedding, is quintessential Diana Palmer. Strong older male rancher, and naive/innocent younger woman. Both cautious and not looking for love.
Add some drama in all the stories, and you have three novellas that will entertain you in an afternoon of leisure.
I was entrusted this copy by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
I especially enjoyed THE COWBOY LASSOES A BRIDE, by Kate Pearce. Having read and enjoyed the Morgan Ranch stories and in this case, The Bad Cowboy I knew this wedding story would be special. Their original book centered around HW Morgan , a professional rodeo cowboy and Samantha Kelly, an army vet whose injuries devastated her not only physically but also emotionally.
Now that they finally have decided to get married, things don’t go as plan. Will Sam change her mind and leave HW feeling abandoned once again, or will they finally find their HEA?
Diana Palmer’s story, The Rancher’s Wedding, is quintessential Diana Palmer. Strong older male rancher, and naive/innocent younger woman. Both cautious and not looking for love.
Add some drama in all the stories, and you have three novellas that will entertain you in an afternoon of leisure.
I was entrusted this copy by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
March 27, 2019
Marrying My Cowboy is an anthology by Diana Palmer, Lindsay McKenna and Kate Pearce. All involve weddings, the title makes that clear. Right? Two of the stories I am sure are parts of series. For that reason, they may seem like teasers to those who haven’t read the series. Because I have been following Wind River and the Morgan Ranch I had no problems.
The Rancher Wedding by Diana Palmer did not go with any series that I am familiar with reading. Scandal, money crunching problems brings a tough cowboy together with a writer. Enjoyable read. 4 Stars
Wind River Wedding by Lindsay McKenna is my favorite of the three. Family meddling in young couple future. Great read with the back story of Maud and Steve. 5 Stars
The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride by Kate Pearce has a wedding jitters and lost wedding dresses has the bride questioning her decision. Is this marriage ill-fated? 4 Stars
An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Rancher Wedding by Diana Palmer did not go with any series that I am familiar with reading. Scandal, money crunching problems brings a tough cowboy together with a writer. Enjoyable read. 4 Stars
Wind River Wedding by Lindsay McKenna is my favorite of the three. Family meddling in young couple future. Great read with the back story of Maud and Steve. 5 Stars
The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride by Kate Pearce has a wedding jitters and lost wedding dresses has the bride questioning her decision. Is this marriage ill-fated? 4 Stars
An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 8, 2019
This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.
This is really one book with two novellas which is nice if you have been reading the series. I enjoyed the first book, and have read most of the Wind River series so this was fun to see where Maud and Steve come into the story, but the last part with Sam and HW, I was kind of lost as I have not read any of that series.
While I enjoyed the Rancher's Wedding by Diana Palmer, there were a few times that I felt Cassie was way too quick to forgive JL, and I was really glad when Cary got his just rewards for the cruel way he treated JL.
Wind River Wedding was a great back story to see Maud and Steve when they first married and their backgrounds.
I might have liked Cowboy Lassoes a Bride more if I knew all the characters, but I did not and was kind of confused with all the different people.
All three had great HEA and that is what is the best part!
This is really one book with two novellas which is nice if you have been reading the series. I enjoyed the first book, and have read most of the Wind River series so this was fun to see where Maud and Steve come into the story, but the last part with Sam and HW, I was kind of lost as I have not read any of that series.
While I enjoyed the Rancher's Wedding by Diana Palmer, there were a few times that I felt Cassie was way too quick to forgive JL, and I was really glad when Cary got his just rewards for the cruel way he treated JL.
Wind River Wedding was a great back story to see Maud and Steve when they first married and their backgrounds.
I might have liked Cowboy Lassoes a Bride more if I knew all the characters, but I did not and was kind of confused with all the different people.
All three had great HEA and that is what is the best part!
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