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Matrimony Valley #3

Wander Canyon Courtship

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They can't let this wedding happen
But M
atrimony Valley has only happy endings

Baker Yvonne Niles has nothing in common with cowboy Chaz Walker--except the upcoming marriage of her aunt to his stepdad. Convinced the two aren't right for each other, Chaz and Yvonne are determined to halt the wedding. But between the cake and family drama, they're discovering an undeniable attraction. Can an unlikely match ever become a recipe for happiness?

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published June 18, 2019

9 people are currently reading
58 people want to read

About the author

Allie Pleiter

121 books618 followers
An avid knitter, coffee junkie and firm believer that “pie makes everything better,” Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction working on as many as four novels at a time. The bestselling author of over fifty books, Allie has enjoyed a twenty-year career with over 1.5 million books sold. In addition to writing, Allie maintains an active writing productivity coaching practice and speaks regularly on the creative process, publishing, and her very favorite topic—The Chunky Method of time management for writers. Visit her website at www.alliepleiter.com to learn more.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Ronya.
49 reviews
June 14, 2019
I very much enjoyed the final book in the Matrimony Valley series (don't worry...there's more to come in Wander Canyon)! Matrimony Valley is a fun, quirky town in which everything revolves around weddings. It was a joy to revisit the residents of this small town.

You expect happily ever afters when going to Matrimony Valley, but this particular story really makes you wonder if you're going to ever get it. The deep, heartbreaking emotion is written so well, that your heart breaks along with theirs and the sigh of relief is real when you finally find see the story come together.

The characters are well developed. The author does not shy away from hard conversations, but also does an amazing job of expressing the sheer joy of God. This story deals with family rifts, blended families, family expectations and true abiding love. Finding God, following His leading and learning to trust Him in all things...even when it hurts, are lessons we learn as we enjoy this beautifully written book.
Profile Image for Suzie Waltner.
Author 13 books148 followers
June 23, 2019
Allie Pleiter returns to the Smoky Mountain wedding town of Matrimony Valley. Yvonne’s favorite aunt is getting married. And the son of the groom wants to break up the wedding.
Yvonne and Chaz have a rocky start but soon grow to see the positive traits in the other. And then there’s that chemistry brewing just under the surface.

There is a lot of family tension in the Walker clan that’s built with a bombshell of an announcement in the second chapter. The senior Walker could have stopped a lot of pain (for himself as well as his sons) by explaining his reasoning up front instead of giving vague and broad platitudes.

I enjoyed the family dynamics of the Walker men but would have liked a more details about the relationship Yvonne had with her sisters and mother…and why did it never come up while Chaz struggled with his family issues.

This book is a great bridge from the Matrimony Valley setting to the Wander Canyon one in Colorado (and future books). It’s a story about finding your place even when you feel as though you’re always considered second best.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Profile Image for Pam Graber.
1,128 reviews41 followers
May 30, 2019
Chaz Walker has never been so uncomfortable in his life. Matrimony Valley, a place dedicated to all things love and marriage, is way too over the top for his sensibility. The only reason he is here is his step father thinks he's found the woman of his dreams, and this is where she is. Chaz thinks they're moving awfully fast but he's willing to be supportive if he has to be. After all, he still has the ranch in Colorado right?

Until he doesn't, and the world implodes. Is he a son, or a step-son? Should blood really trump dedication?

Baker Yvonne Niles makes all of the wedding cakes in Matrimony Valley. Her cakes are the stuff of confectionery legend. Her last cake for the season is supposed to be for her Auntie P and her fiance. While she thinks they've moved too fast, she also understands that, at their age, they should know their own hearts. Then, at a wedding planning supper, Chaz's father, Hank, announces that he is leaving the ranch to his son, Wyatt, essentially cutting his step-son, Chaz out of the ranch succession. How could a man do such a thing to a son that he's supposed to love? If he could do this to a son, what other bad things are waiting to leap out and hurt her aunt in the process?

Will seeing the ranch both men love change Yvonne's mind about Hank? Will she find that, in his natural habitat, Chaz is a much better man than she expected?

I have loved Allie Pleiter's Matrimony Valley series, of which this is book 3. The fact that it's a series lets readers catch up with "old friends" while learning about a new member of the community. While Chaz and Yvonne end up taking their relationship away from the valley, it still begins there. I liked Chaz a lot. Even though he was wildly upset for most of the book, his gentleness and caring heart shone through.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes their romance to have some pretty serious barriers, distance being a big one. Once I started, I couldn't put it down.
Profile Image for Vicky Sluiter.
Author 1 book88 followers
June 30, 2019
If you’re looking for a fun read, then grab this book and head to Matrimony Valley, where happy endings are required but in this case may not happen.

Author Allie Pleiter did a good job of writing about family dynamics gone astray. Between two brothers at odds, and a father who doesn’t communicate well, things are really interesting for the ladies caught in the middle.

With well developed characters, great descriptions of the valley and the ranch, and tough real like conversations, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Profile Image for Kirby.
866 reviews42 followers
June 24, 2019
I have read a lot of Love Inspired books over the years, and I usually end up really enjoying them. However, because I've read as many of them as I have, sometimes they tend to blur together for me. So I really love when I discover a gem among the Love Inspired's; a story that truly stands out despite how many of them I've read. Wander Canyon Courtship was like this for me, it was original, it was heart warming, and it left me thinking about it long after I finished it.

Wander Canyon Courtship is the last book in the Matrimony Valley series, a series focused around a town that's re branded themselves as a destination wedding town. Due to this change, most of the businesses in the town now make their living off the wedding industry, and in this particular title, we are introduced to baker Yvonne Niles. Yvonne is the mastermind behind the fabulous wedding cakes featured at every Matrimony Valley wedding, and she's about to bake her last big cake of the season, for her elderly auntie P's upcoming nuptials. However, life throws a wrench in hers (and auntie P's) plans in the form of Chaz Walker-the step son of the man auntie P is planning to marry.

Chaz doesn't agree with his father's whirlwind romance, and is sure that auntie P is forcing him into something he's not ready for. Yvonne doesn't take kindly to anyone thinking such awful things about her aunt, but she's forced to address the fact that she has her own worries about the fast courtship. And those worries became a bigger reality when a side emerges of Chaz's stepfather that showcases him in an unflattering way. Soon Chaz and auntie P are both heartbroken over his decisions, and Yvonne is worried about whether or not the match is truly a good idea.

Chaz and Yvonne are both struggling to come to terms with everything; Chaz feels like not being family by blood means he's less important, and Yvonne is struggling with not wanting to encourage auntie P's romance because of the past hurts she experienced herself with someone who didn't show his true colors until it was much too late.

With well developed characters, atmospheric writing that will make you feel like you're right their in both Matrimony Valley and Wander Canyon with the characters, a beautiful developing romance, an emphasis on trusting God's plan even when it's hard to do so, and learning to let go and let God, Wander Canyon Courtship is a charming story from start to finish and I couldn't have enjoyed it more.

While I appreciated the fact that it's a well written sweet romance, I loved the fact that this one also dived into deeper topics like familial drama, blended families, failed relationships, and struggling to want to trust your heart. Everything came together to make this a story that held my attention right from the opening line, and I can't wait to see what's next for the characters in Wander Canyon.

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I highly recommend checking this one out, especially if you're a fan of sweet romances that dive into deeper topics!


Thanks so much to Allie Pleiter and Love Inspired for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book to read and review.


I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author and/or the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. I was not required to give a positive review.
Profile Image for Ashley.
1,177 reviews45 followers
June 17, 2019
I always look forward to a new Allie Pleiter book with great anticipation. I zoom through the pages becoming completely absorbed in the story and leave with a feeling of profound happiness when I reach the conclusion. Wander Canyon Courtship is no different.

We're back in the wedding-themed small town of Matrimony Valley in this third installment of the series. No worries though if you haven't read the previous two books. This stands alone perfectly fine.

I didn't know what to think of Chaz, at first. He came across a bit gruff, a curmudgeon, you might say. But once I got to know him, once I saw the multiple layers he was hiding, I could understand where he was coming from and why he acted the way he did. And I ended up firmly on his side.

Yvonne is kinda his opposite in demeanor, but, really, they're perfect for each other. While they get off on the wrong foot to begin with, and definitely have their ups and downs, they do share something big in common; their belief that his stepdad and her aunt shouldn't be getting married so quickly. What follows is a sweet and romantic story full of hurts and triumphs. A story that any fan of contemporary romance is sure to love.

I received a copy of this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,115 reviews9 followers
June 29, 2019
I am sad to see this series end I totally loved this series and I think this book was the perfect ending to it. I found Yvonne and Chaz like the cutest. They both faced some tough things and life and in different points in there life but instead of being victims they are being stronger and working hard to make life better. I loved Aunt P she was seriously the sweetest and I think we all need and aunt P in our lives. I hope that we might be able to read Wyatt's story in the future, just the little he was in the story it made me want to know more. I found this book hard to put down the author did an amazing job and keeping you drawn in. Total pager turner and keeps you going from beginning to end. This book is well worth the read.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
345 reviews17 followers
July 29, 2019
Super cute book! I enjoyed all the ups and downs of the story. Very much I will read more of this authors work.

Yvonne Niles runs a bakery shop in Matrimony Valley and will be providing all the goodies for her Aunt P’s upcoming nuptials to Chaz Walker’s step-dad who doesn’t think this marriage should happen and who wastes no time in voicing his thoughts to Yvonne. Over the course of their concerns over the upcoming marriage of her aunt and his step dad they start to become very close , especially through some very upsetting news delivered to Chaz during a dinner that nearly derailed everything. Can Chaz come to his senses in time to save love on both fronts?
Profile Image for Janice Sisemore.
1,648 reviews15 followers
June 19, 2019
Wander canyon courtship

The book was different than a lot of Love Inspired books I have read recently. It was very refreshing. I enjoyed reading about Yvonne and Chaz. His stepdad and her aunt are in the process of getting married. Chaz rescued a dog. I am a dog lover so definitely loved that part.

There is a lot of drama going on with Chaz and his family. Will they be able to work things out? I also the little kids they was in the story.

I brought this book from the Love Inspired monthly book through the Reader Service. I was not required to write an positive review on it.
158 reviews
July 25, 2019
Travel back to Matrimony Valley in Allie Pleiter’s Wander Canyon Courtship. The final book in the Matrimony Valley series, Wander Canyon Courtship is a story that is filled with a lot of drama, but also a lot of love and will no doubt keep you entertained until the very end.

If you enjoy the Love Inspired line, especially contemporary romances, then Wander Canyon Courtship is a story you will most assuredly enjoy!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, but was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own.
Profile Image for Cassandra Myers.
13 reviews3 followers
June 24, 2019
Chaz and Yvonne both have misgivings about how quickly his father Hank, and her aunt Pauline are planning to marry. Hank brings Chaz along partly to try to sway his opinion but also with news that will rock Chaz's world, and pit his two sons against each other. This news makes Yvonne even more worried about the upcoming nuptials. Events in Matrimony Valley could derail everything but a trip to Wander Canyon brings new romance and hope for the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Natalya.
530 reviews18 followers
July 15, 2019
“Faith-filled and feisty and fearless.”

It’s a wonderful and captivating read where characters face “challenge with prayer and ice cream.” And, you might get some words of wisdom:
“If you’re going to do something stupid, at least be smart about it.” :)
“When the road is long and rocky, the final bend is that much sweeter.”

I received an ARC of this book for review. I was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions in this review are my own.
Profile Image for Barbi Sherrill.
22 reviews
July 27, 2019
Quite entertaining. I enjoyed the book once I allowed myself to get into the story. This is the first of the series that I read and discovered it was book 4 when I was halfway through it. I'll definitely be reading the others!
Profile Image for Harlequin Books.
18.4k reviews2,804 followers
Read
July 1, 2019
Categories
Inspirational Romance, Contemporary Romance, Small Town & Rural Fiction, Wholesome Romance

Miniseries
Matrimony Valley
171 reviews1 follower
June 13, 2020
I really enjoyed the book. It looked like it would just be a normal romance book, but it wasn’t. It had some twists and turns that kept me wanting to find out what would happen.
Profile Image for Amber.
321 reviews3 followers
January 13, 2023
A well thought out romance. I appreciated the growth and change both the main characters showed. If you like a light romance story this one is for you.
Profile Image for Anna Mattocks.
66 reviews4 followers
June 22, 2019
I love Allie Pleiter's books and this trip to Wander Canyon did not disappoint! Yvonne and Chaz have a story that is touching and sweet even though it doesn't start it that way. I love how the story has realistic emotions and reactions while still being fun to read.
Profile Image for Karen Mcnicol.
701 reviews21 followers
June 5, 2019
Allie Pleiter never disappoints with her books, they are a joy to read. This books is set in a town that literally caters to love and weddings. You will love everyone you meet, you will giggle when Cecil is dressed up for the pet parade in a clown costume much to the dismay of Chaz (his new human), you will feel the sizzle between Chaz and Yvonne as well as the love between her Aunt Pauline and Chaz's (step) dad Hank. Make yourself comfortable because you will not want to put this down! I agree Allie Pleiter, Wyatt needs his own story and I can not wait to read it!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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