What do you think?
Rate this book
The Borrowed Bride
"WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CHILD. YOU NEED TO COME HOME SO WE CAN GET MARRIED."
So wrote Hannah Gustavson to her childhood sweetheart, the father of her baby. But with no response, she was forced to marry another man ... her lover's brother.
Tall, handsome and honorable, Judd Seavers could make any woman's heart race. Hannah was no exception, and she was awed by the ex-soldier who gave her his name.
A forbidden love as grand as the Rockies crested between them. But a shadow loomed. Would the baby's father come home? And if he did, would Judd return his borrowed bride?
So wrote Hannah Gustavson to her childhood sweetheart, the father of her baby. But with no response, she was forced to marry another man ... her lover's brother.
Tall, handsome and honorable, Judd Seavers could make any woman's heart race. Hannah was no exception, and she was awed by the ex-soldier who gave her his name.
A forbidden love as grand as the Rockies crested between them. But a shadow loomed. Would the baby's father come home? And if he did, would Judd return his borrowed bride?
275 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published October 28, 2008
193 people are currently reading
523 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 7, 2024
Yeah!!! A western, frontier story that is NOT clean and wholesome 😈 . That makes me sound bad, but honestly 99% of the westerns I come across are inspirational and clean, I prefer a little more spice and a little less scripture to my stories.
With that being said, I found this storyline to be refreshing in that we had a ranching family storyline withOUT a rich neighbouring ranch owner terrorising our hero/heroine in a fight for land ownership, etc. So I was so happy to not have to read thru that drama. The only drama in this story was the unknown whereabouts of Baby Daddy, the mean new mother-in-law, and the falling in love of our main couple.
In my opinion, the Baby Daddy struck me right from the beginning as a complete loser, totally immature and irresponsible. I still felt that way at the end of the book, and have no desire to read the next book in the series with him being the "hero".
The mother-in-law was a sour, bitter old lady. I initially was thinking "man, I wouldn't have taken her BS, I would have talked-back for sure!"... but then we come to find out about her issue, and it all made sense. (good part on the author).
I also initially thought that the heroine was a simpleton idiot, but then realised she came from a very sheltered simple life of a huge loving family and most likely never had dealt with such unpleasant people before, so I also thought the author wrote her very realistically as well.
As for the romance... I just wish the book could have been longer so the author could have spent a wee bit more time showing the H/h falling in love. (it seemed like each chapter started a few months apart).
With that being said, I found this storyline to be refreshing in that we had a ranching family storyline withOUT a rich neighbouring ranch owner terrorising our hero/heroine in a fight for land ownership, etc. So I was so happy to not have to read thru that drama. The only drama in this story was the unknown whereabouts of Baby Daddy, the mean new mother-in-law, and the falling in love of our main couple.
In my opinion, the Baby Daddy struck me right from the beginning as a complete loser, totally immature and irresponsible. I still felt that way at the end of the book, and have no desire to read the next book in the series with him being the "hero".
The mother-in-law was a sour, bitter old lady. I initially was thinking "man, I wouldn't have taken her BS, I would have talked-back for sure!"... but then we come to find out about her issue, and it all made sense. (good part on the author).
I also initially thought that the heroine was a simpleton idiot, but then realised she came from a very sheltered simple life of a huge loving family and most likely never had dealt with such unpleasant people before, so I also thought the author wrote her very realistically as well.
As for the romance... I just wish the book could have been longer so the author could have spent a wee bit more time showing the H/h falling in love. (it seemed like each chapter started a few months apart).
May 11, 2011
Judd Seavers proposes to his brother's pregnant fiance with the best motives and intentions: “He would treat Hannah as a sister, keeping her at a distance, avaoiding any physical contact that might be misunderstood. When Quint returned, he would sign the divorce papers and hand her over to the father of her child, untouched. His behavior would be above reproach.” He doesn't count on how much he would come to feel for the beautiful woman who's his legal wife.
Hannah Gustavson knows she has to save her unborn child from wretched poverty and the stigma of illegitimacy, though it breaks her heart to marry someone other than her beloved Quint. But she finds herself unexpectedly drawn to the quiet, suffering man who's always there when she needs him. "Two different men, each of them hers in a different way. Heaven help her, was it possible to love them both?"
I found this sweet and enjoyable, but after having recently read books with similar plots by more powerful writers (Sweet Lullaby,The Way Home,) it fell a little flat. The characters are likable but shallowly drawn, the themes are equally shallow, and the happy ending is implausibly quick. I am certainly curious to read the sequel though.
Hannah Gustavson knows she has to save her unborn child from wretched poverty and the stigma of illegitimacy, though it breaks her heart to marry someone other than her beloved Quint. But she finds herself unexpectedly drawn to the quiet, suffering man who's always there when she needs him. "Two different men, each of them hers in a different way. Heaven help her, was it possible to love them both?"
I found this sweet and enjoyable, but after having recently read books with similar plots by more powerful writers (Sweet Lullaby,The Way Home,) it fell a little flat. The characters are likable but shallowly drawn, the themes are equally shallow, and the happy ending is implausibly quick. I am certainly curious to read the sequel though.
February 16, 2020
Sencillo pero muy bonito, es una historia totalmente blanca, el romance es puro y simple, y escasas escenas se sexo, pero el contexto en si es atrayente.
Hanna siempre estuvo enamorada de su mejor amigo al punto de entregarle su virginidad, pero al día siguiente este tomo el tren a Alaska en busca de fortuna en las minas de oro, al mismo tiempo su hermano Judd llegaba de la guerra en España con sus fantasmas y el cuerpo mal trecho, en el anden su amargada Madre le esperaba con cara de asco junto a Hanna a quien despreciaba por ser pobre y vivir en la granja de al lado del rancho Seaver.
El amor siempre triunfa cuando es verdadero, Hanna y Judd se casan tras el inminente embrazo de esta, por honor Judd decide que su sobrino no sera un bastardo y propone un simple matrimonio a Hanna con papeles listo para el divorcio en cuanto regrese su hermano, pero esto no sucede, entre tanta calamidad esta bonita pareja termina enamorándose.
Un bonito libro que nos presenta Harlequin Iberica, esta muy bien para pasar el rato....
Hanna siempre estuvo enamorada de su mejor amigo al punto de entregarle su virginidad, pero al día siguiente este tomo el tren a Alaska en busca de fortuna en las minas de oro, al mismo tiempo su hermano Judd llegaba de la guerra en España con sus fantasmas y el cuerpo mal trecho, en el anden su amargada Madre le esperaba con cara de asco junto a Hanna a quien despreciaba por ser pobre y vivir en la granja de al lado del rancho Seaver.
El amor siempre triunfa cuando es verdadero, Hanna y Judd se casan tras el inminente embrazo de esta, por honor Judd decide que su sobrino no sera un bastardo y propone un simple matrimonio a Hanna con papeles listo para el divorcio en cuanto regrese su hermano, pero esto no sucede, entre tanta calamidad esta bonita pareja termina enamorándose.
Un bonito libro que nos presenta Harlequin Iberica, esta muy bien para pasar el rato....
March 25, 2011
4.5 stars. Might still raise it to 5 because the ending was very strong. Very good romance, emotional without being angsty, but needed a little more depth in the main characters to become trully a keeper.
December 6, 2015
Quint is headed off to find adventures in Alaska. He's wanted to do so for awhile, but with his father dead and his older brother off fighting in the war, he had to stay home and keep the ranch running. Now Judd is coming home, and it's Quint's turn to travel, leaving his childhood sweetheart behind.
Judd and his best friend signed up together and fought together. But now Judd is coming home alone, with a broken body, a broken spirit, and nightmares.
Hannah is devastated that Quint is leaving. She writes to him every week, but there are no letters from him. No word from him, to her, or to his brother and mother. The night before his departure, she gave herself to him in a hay barn. And she soon realizes that she now carries a piece of him, growing inside her.
This was a sweet little story. When I picked it up I was looking for something light. It wasn't. It was in fact a little bleak at times, a little sad. Hannah is young and desperately in love with Quint, but realizing she's pregnant makes her have to grow up quickly. When Judd learns of her pregnancy, he offers marriage, in order to give her his family's name, make her child legitimate, protect her from disgrace. Judd's family is well off, Hannah's is dirt poor. It's to be a marriage in name only. Judd has divorce papers already drawn up and ready to signed the minute Quint comes home.
It was a valiant offer, but I couldn't help wonder what would have happened if Quint did come home, Hannah and Judd divorced, and Hannah married Quint. I can just imagine the gossip and speculation that would cause among the townsfolk.
But it doesn't matter, because of course as time goes by Hannah and Judd fall for each other. Hannah was a good character, sweet. But at times I wanted to shake her and tell her to quit pining for the brother who just up and left, without a look back, and appreciate the man taking care of her. Because I really liked Judd. He was a good man, with a lot of emotional scars, not just from the war, but also revolving around his father's death many years prior. With Quint gone, we don't really get to know him, but it's still clear that Quint is a boy, and Judd is a man.
The ending was satisfying, although part of the resolution felt a bit rushed. Quint does finally come home. His reaction was expected, but then he went from one extreme to another, and I felt like he bounced back unrealistically quick. However, it is Judd and Hannah's story, not Quint's, so I guess I shouldn't actually have expected much dwelling on him. But I do look forward to reading his story in the next book.
Review first posted on my blog.
Judd and his best friend signed up together and fought together. But now Judd is coming home alone, with a broken body, a broken spirit, and nightmares.
Hannah is devastated that Quint is leaving. She writes to him every week, but there are no letters from him. No word from him, to her, or to his brother and mother. The night before his departure, she gave herself to him in a hay barn. And she soon realizes that she now carries a piece of him, growing inside her.
This was a sweet little story. When I picked it up I was looking for something light. It wasn't. It was in fact a little bleak at times, a little sad. Hannah is young and desperately in love with Quint, but realizing she's pregnant makes her have to grow up quickly. When Judd learns of her pregnancy, he offers marriage, in order to give her his family's name, make her child legitimate, protect her from disgrace. Judd's family is well off, Hannah's is dirt poor. It's to be a marriage in name only. Judd has divorce papers already drawn up and ready to signed the minute Quint comes home.
It was a valiant offer, but I couldn't help wonder what would have happened if Quint did come home, Hannah and Judd divorced, and Hannah married Quint. I can just imagine the gossip and speculation that would cause among the townsfolk.
But it doesn't matter, because of course as time goes by Hannah and Judd fall for each other. Hannah was a good character, sweet. But at times I wanted to shake her and tell her to quit pining for the brother who just up and left, without a look back, and appreciate the man taking care of her. Because I really liked Judd. He was a good man, with a lot of emotional scars, not just from the war, but also revolving around his father's death many years prior. With Quint gone, we don't really get to know him, but it's still clear that Quint is a boy, and Judd is a man.
The ending was satisfying, although part of the resolution felt a bit rushed. Quint does finally come home. His reaction was expected, but then he went from one extreme to another, and I felt like he bounced back unrealistically quick. However, it is Judd and Hannah's story, not Quint's, so I guess I shouldn't actually have expected much dwelling on him. But I do look forward to reading his story in the next book.
Review first posted on my blog.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2015
3 and 1/2 stars.
Hannah, from an impoverished but hard-working, loving family, has a final night with her boyfriend before he leaves to make his fortune on the Goldfields. She's pregnant, but her boyfriend is suddenly uncontactable and it looks like Hannah is heading for doom. When her boyfriend's brother, Judd, finds out she's pregnant he offers her a marriage in name-only so the baby isn't born a bastard, adding that they can get divorced when his brother receives her letters and returns.
I liked a lot of aspects of this book. The relationship between Judd and Hannah is sweet and builds fairly naturally over time, as does Hannah's resignation to the loss of her boyfriend as months go by with no contact. The mother and housekeeper characters were a little one-dimensional, but the bravery with which the author tackled some of the harder issues raised by Hannah's plight more than made up for it - Also, I liked that there weren't too many misunderstandings between the characters that weren't cleared up within a page or so by people actually talking to each other.
The main thing I didn't like was that I felt one of Judd's main plot lines was unresolved, and the other resolved in a way so off-handed as to make it meaningless.
On a personal note, this made me feel like such a baby for the way I gave birth. whereas I had a nurse come in and ask my husband to ask me if I could not swear quite so often or so loudly because I was scaring passers-by. I think he knew what mood I was in because he didn't pass that along till after I was cuddling my bub later.
Overall this was a really nice book about accepting change and being honest with others and yourself. Really enjoyed it.
Hannah, from an impoverished but hard-working, loving family, has a final night with her boyfriend before he leaves to make his fortune on the Goldfields. She's pregnant, but her boyfriend is suddenly uncontactable and it looks like Hannah is heading for doom. When her boyfriend's brother, Judd, finds out she's pregnant he offers her a marriage in name-only so the baby isn't born a bastard, adding that they can get divorced when his brother receives her letters and returns.
I liked a lot of aspects of this book. The relationship between Judd and Hannah is sweet and builds fairly naturally over time, as does Hannah's resignation to the loss of her boyfriend as months go by with no contact. The mother and housekeeper characters were a little one-dimensional, but the bravery with which the author tackled some of the harder issues raised by Hannah's plight more than made up for it - Also, I liked that there weren't too many misunderstandings between the characters that weren't cleared up within a page or so by people actually talking to each other.
The main thing I didn't like was that I felt one of Judd's main plot lines was unresolved, and the other resolved in a way so off-handed as to make it meaningless.
On a personal note, this made me feel like such a baby for the way I gave birth. whereas I had a nurse come in and ask my husband to ask me if I could not swear quite so often or so loudly because I was scaring passers-by. I think he knew what mood I was in because he didn't pass that along till after I was cuddling my bub later.
Overall this was a really nice book about accepting change and being honest with others and yourself. Really enjoyed it.
October 19, 2011
Eh, this book was just okay. I liked the tension between the hero and heroine and their families, and the mystery over Quint's whereabouts kept me reading until I finished it in one sitting, but the romance was ultimately left undeveloped.
All of their thoughts of desire and angst over not wanting to betray Quint just seemed unsubstantiated. I didn't really see two people talking to each other and discovering a connection, I saw Romancelandia®-style elemental attraction where a chaste kiss or touch sets a treacherous body on fire. It's a common shortcut, for sure, but when used in a story where the heroine transfers her love from her lifelong beau to his brother, it's extra problematic. The hero spends much of their first married year away from her -- first leaving the day after their wedding to attend a weeks-long roundup and then leaving for months to look for Quint in Alaska. In the absence of conversation or some other sort of relationship building, what is there to convince me that Hannah's change of heart isn't just fickleness or gratitude? How do I know she won't flake out on Judd later?
The one thing I did really like about the book, though, was the cultural diversity of the characters. Lots of westerns imagine the place as homogenous and WASPy, but immigrants were everywhere in reality. So I really enjoyed that Hannah's parents were Norwegian, Judd's mother's nurse was German and the cook they hire later on was a Mexican. It was a refreshing change.
All of their thoughts of desire and angst over not wanting to betray Quint just seemed unsubstantiated. I didn't really see two people talking to each other and discovering a connection, I saw Romancelandia®-style elemental attraction where a chaste kiss or touch sets a treacherous body on fire. It's a common shortcut, for sure, but when used in a story where the heroine transfers her love from her lifelong beau to his brother, it's extra problematic. The hero spends much of their first married year away from her -- first leaving the day after their wedding to attend a weeks-long roundup and then leaving for months to look for Quint in Alaska. In the absence of conversation or some other sort of relationship building, what is there to convince me that Hannah's change of heart isn't just fickleness or gratitude? How do I know she won't flake out on Judd later?
The one thing I did really like about the book, though, was the cultural diversity of the characters. Lots of westerns imagine the place as homogenous and WASPy, but immigrants were everywhere in reality. So I really enjoyed that Hannah's parents were Norwegian, Judd's mother's nurse was German and the cook they hire later on was a Mexican. It was a refreshing change.
May 3, 2018
A much used plot but not very well handled here. Most of the book H and h had only 3 days together as married couple. I don't know how they managed to fall in love in those three days.
SPOILER ALERT
Then, finally they are together for some happy months before brother comes back. That is when H just decides to sign the divorce papers, leave them to get married and he himself make a new life in one of the several options states and maybe find another women several years later (!!!).... all these decisions are being made without one word to h. To me this doesn't sound like a man desperately in love with his wife. He just gave up on her so easily and so quickly. I don't know how h could forgive that spinelessness in the name of being honorable!
SPOILER ALERT
Then, finally they are together for some happy months before brother comes back. That is when H just decides to sign the divorce papers, leave them to get married and he himself make a new life in one of the several options states and maybe find another women several years later (!!!).... all these decisions are being made without one word to h. To me this doesn't sound like a man desperately in love with his wife. He just gave up on her so easily and so quickly. I don't know how h could forgive that spinelessness in the name of being honorable!
February 29, 2016
Sepertinya aku lagi beruntung banget nemu cerita2 yang bagus. Dan jelas ini cerita yang bagus, bersetting tempat di Amerika. Sepanjang cerita aku dibuat penasaran bagaimana akhirnya, maksudku jelas akhirnya pastilah si tokoh utama bersatu tapi bagaimana prosesnya itulah yang bikin aku penasaran. Rasanya hatiku terus diremas-remas oleh setiap kejadian, dialog, dan pikiran para tokohnya. Ketidakpastian dan kekacauan yang didapati oleh Hannah dan Judd.
Bercerita tentang Hannah yang menjalin kasih dengan teman sepermainannya semenjak kecil, Quint. Hingga suatu hari Quint memutuskan untuk merantau untuk berburu emas di Alaska bertepatan dengan sang kakak yang baru kembali dari perang, Judd. 3 bulan kemudian Hannah hamil. Untuk menjaga nama baik keluarga juga agar anak yang dikandung Hannah terlahir sebagai anak yang sah, Judd pun menikahi Hannah. Perjanjiannya Judd hanya akan menjadi penjaga Hannah dan memperlakukannya seperti adik menunggu Quint kembali. Kemudian Judd akan menandatangani surat cerai sehingga Hannah bisa menikahi Quint. Hanya saja perasaan Judd pada Hannah tidak seperti perasaan seorang kakak, demikian juga Hannah. Meskipun begitu mereka mencoba tetap setia dan teguh memegang janjinya. Setiap minggu Hannah mengirim surat pada Quint tak tak pernah ada kabar berita. Hingga Judd memutuskan untuk menyusul Quint. Pencariannya nihil. Tak ada jejak Quint sama sekali. Judd berkesimpulan sesuatu yang terburuk telah terjadi pada Quint. Tapi Hannah menolak kenyataan itu. Hingga Hannah melahirkan di tengah badai salju saat dalam perjalanan kembali dari rumah orang tua Hannah. Judd lah yang membantu proses kelahirannya.
Kemudian datang kabar tak menyenangkan, ditemukan tas Quint yang masih utuh tak tersentuh di kirim dari sebuah hotel di San Fransisco. Judd sudah pasrah jika adiknya telah tiada. Ia berharap Hannah mau menerimanya juga dan mulai memikirkan masa depan mereka. Judd sudah tak bisa menahan diri lagi untuk bisa menyentuh istrinya, Hannah sah baginya di mata hukum. Hanya saja Hannah masih berharap Quint suatu saat akan datang, melewati pintu depan rumah mereka dalam keadaan sehat. Judd kesal, ia memutuskan dalam hati jika dalam beberapa waktu tertentu Hannah masih belum bisa menerimanya, ia akan meminta kebebasannya kembali.
Suatu hari Judd pergi ke kota, mengantar mantan pengurus rumah tangga mereka yang memutuskan untuk pindah ke kota lain, terjadi badai salju yang hebat. Hannah tentu saja mengkhawatirkan Judd. Orang-orang disekelilingnya telah pergi meninggalkan dirinya. Pertama Quint, kemudian ayah dan ibu mertuanya meninggal disusul Gretel pengurus rumah tangganya, jika Judd juga meninggalkannya Hannah akan hancur. Makanya begitu melihat Judd kembali Hannah tidak ragu-ragu lagi.
Aku tidak bisa berhenti membaca cerita ini, selalu saja ada “what’s next?” Bagaimana akhirnya Judd dan Hannah bersatu, lalu bagaimana Quint? Kapan Quint kembali? Dan apa alasan di balik ketiadaan jejaknya di Alaska? Apakah Quint masih ingin menikah dengan Hannah? Bagaimana dengan Judd?
Salut dengan kesabaran dan pengorbanan Judd menghadapi Hannah, kesetiaan Hannah yang selalu rajin mengirim surat pada Quint. Di setiap bagian cerita tidak ada bagian yang sia-sia. Semuanya memberi pengaruh pada bagian berikutnya.
Bercerita tentang Hannah yang menjalin kasih dengan teman sepermainannya semenjak kecil, Quint. Hingga suatu hari Quint memutuskan untuk merantau untuk berburu emas di Alaska bertepatan dengan sang kakak yang baru kembali dari perang, Judd. 3 bulan kemudian Hannah hamil. Untuk menjaga nama baik keluarga juga agar anak yang dikandung Hannah terlahir sebagai anak yang sah, Judd pun menikahi Hannah. Perjanjiannya Judd hanya akan menjadi penjaga Hannah dan memperlakukannya seperti adik menunggu Quint kembali. Kemudian Judd akan menandatangani surat cerai sehingga Hannah bisa menikahi Quint. Hanya saja perasaan Judd pada Hannah tidak seperti perasaan seorang kakak, demikian juga Hannah. Meskipun begitu mereka mencoba tetap setia dan teguh memegang janjinya. Setiap minggu Hannah mengirim surat pada Quint tak tak pernah ada kabar berita. Hingga Judd memutuskan untuk menyusul Quint. Pencariannya nihil. Tak ada jejak Quint sama sekali. Judd berkesimpulan sesuatu yang terburuk telah terjadi pada Quint. Tapi Hannah menolak kenyataan itu. Hingga Hannah melahirkan di tengah badai salju saat dalam perjalanan kembali dari rumah orang tua Hannah. Judd lah yang membantu proses kelahirannya.
Kemudian datang kabar tak menyenangkan, ditemukan tas Quint yang masih utuh tak tersentuh di kirim dari sebuah hotel di San Fransisco. Judd sudah pasrah jika adiknya telah tiada. Ia berharap Hannah mau menerimanya juga dan mulai memikirkan masa depan mereka. Judd sudah tak bisa menahan diri lagi untuk bisa menyentuh istrinya, Hannah sah baginya di mata hukum. Hanya saja Hannah masih berharap Quint suatu saat akan datang, melewati pintu depan rumah mereka dalam keadaan sehat. Judd kesal, ia memutuskan dalam hati jika dalam beberapa waktu tertentu Hannah masih belum bisa menerimanya, ia akan meminta kebebasannya kembali.
Suatu hari Judd pergi ke kota, mengantar mantan pengurus rumah tangga mereka yang memutuskan untuk pindah ke kota lain, terjadi badai salju yang hebat. Hannah tentu saja mengkhawatirkan Judd. Orang-orang disekelilingnya telah pergi meninggalkan dirinya. Pertama Quint, kemudian ayah dan ibu mertuanya meninggal disusul Gretel pengurus rumah tangganya, jika Judd juga meninggalkannya Hannah akan hancur. Makanya begitu melihat Judd kembali Hannah tidak ragu-ragu lagi.
Aku tidak bisa berhenti membaca cerita ini, selalu saja ada “what’s next?” Bagaimana akhirnya Judd dan Hannah bersatu, lalu bagaimana Quint? Kapan Quint kembali? Dan apa alasan di balik ketiadaan jejaknya di Alaska? Apakah Quint masih ingin menikah dengan Hannah? Bagaimana dengan Judd?
Salut dengan kesabaran dan pengorbanan Judd menghadapi Hannah, kesetiaan Hannah yang selalu rajin mengirim surat pada Quint. Di setiap bagian cerita tidak ada bagian yang sia-sia. Semuanya memberi pengaruh pada bagian berikutnya.
February 4, 2026
The book had a good start. It provided me with a good background for the main characters with their families and the MC’s trauma. The FMC is a good daughter, a great girl who finds herself in trouble. Also the MC is the broody, somber, mysterious kind because of his past. I felt for them both. It was a nice place to start a story and to set up the relationship.
I was ready to kick back and relax, enjoy the build of their relationship in this marriage of conveniece trope. I was ready for the steady and slow development of the two from indifference-aquintances-friendship-partnership- budding attraction-then finally romance.
Except, this did not happen. The relationship between this two abruptly jumped. It was more of aquintances to sexual attraction in just a blink of an eye. For some reason, the MMC already has very very explicit wet dreams of his brother’s girlfriend literally three days in— and less than five conversations with her, after years of not really thinking anything much about her. Then he was already having this angsty corny thoughts about not being able to have her, loving her and his dick being so hard when he sees her. And it being very very hard for him to give her up to his brother.
This immediately made this story boring to me. Where was the cute love story first??? Before the angsty shmancyyy parts??
I want my romance books filled with lovely conversations and deep connection before jumping into the sexual monolgue authors immediately write up to fill up the space. This book did not flow very well at all.
I was ready to kick back and relax, enjoy the build of their relationship in this marriage of conveniece trope. I was ready for the steady and slow development of the two from indifference-aquintances-friendship-partnership- budding attraction-then finally romance.
Except, this did not happen. The relationship between this two abruptly jumped. It was more of aquintances to sexual attraction in just a blink of an eye. For some reason, the MMC already has very very explicit wet dreams of his brother’s girlfriend literally three days in— and less than five conversations with her, after years of not really thinking anything much about her. Then he was already having this angsty corny thoughts about not being able to have her, loving her and his dick being so hard when he sees her. And it being very very hard for him to give her up to his brother.
This immediately made this story boring to me. Where was the cute love story first??? Before the angsty shmancyyy parts??
I want my romance books filled with lovely conversations and deep connection before jumping into the sexual monolgue authors immediately write up to fill up the space. This book did not flow very well at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2023
This is a quick read and a fairly satisfying story. Hannah gets pregnant by her long-term beau Quint who has left for the Alaskan gold fields. With no other choice, she marries his brother Judd to give the baby a name and avoid disgrace. Judd has PTSD from his time in the Spanish-American War and vows to keep this marriage in name only with a divorce once his brother returns.
Hannah's large family is Swedish and poor, while Judd owns a large ranch. Judd's mother is not kind to Hannah, blaming her for Quint's departure.
My only problem with the story was that I didn't feel Hannah and Judd's romance. It seemed to come out of nowhere, complicated by their feelings of honor and loyalty to Quint, but still didn't feel quite real. It's more Judd's loneliness and Hannah's practicality than any true feelings of love. It's a sweet story with some passionate scenes.
Hannah's large family is Swedish and poor, while Judd owns a large ranch. Judd's mother is not kind to Hannah, blaming her for Quint's departure.
My only problem with the story was that I didn't feel Hannah and Judd's romance. It seemed to come out of nowhere, complicated by their feelings of honor and loyalty to Quint, but still didn't feel quite real. It's more Judd's loneliness and Hannah's practicality than any true feelings of love. It's a sweet story with some passionate scenes.
March 14, 2015
She's not a cup of sugar, guys!
A marriage for respectability has insurmountable obstacles to clear nasty MIL, war nightmares & guilty longing while waiting for intrepid baby daddy to return or death notice, before they can think of a HEA.
The prickling feeling, tension builds, a new disaster was dumped on the couple who are afraid to share. Loved the characters, descriptive scenery, the plot & it's twists. Kept me turning pages.
A marriage for respectability has insurmountable obstacles to clear nasty MIL, war nightmares & guilty longing while waiting for intrepid baby daddy to return or death notice, before they can think of a HEA.
The prickling feeling, tension builds, a new disaster was dumped on the couple who are afraid to share. Loved the characters, descriptive scenery, the plot & it's twists. Kept me turning pages.
June 14, 2019
Judd Seavers has come back from being a Rough Rider and learning that war wasn't all glory. Quint Seavers has been aching to go off for an adventure of his own and decides to go to Alaska as soon as Judd returns.
Soon after, Hannah Gustavson realizes she and Quint are going to have a baby. When Quint doesn't return, Judd agrees to marry Hannah so her baby will have a name.
What happens seems to be very realistic. This is book one of a two book series.
Soon after, Hannah Gustavson realizes she and Quint are going to have a baby. When Quint doesn't return, Judd agrees to marry Hannah so her baby will have a name.
What happens seems to be very realistic. This is book one of a two book series.
July 15, 2024
Good
Good love story about a woman who becomes pregnant by her love. He then leaves for Alaska not knowing she is expecting. His older agrees to marry her to give her child a last name. They agree to a marriage in name only. The older brother searches for the baby’s father but cannot find him so it is presumed he is dead. The older brother falls in love with the woman and she with him. The brother returns and there is fire works. Good believable characters.
Good love story about a woman who becomes pregnant by her love. He then leaves for Alaska not knowing she is expecting. His older agrees to marry her to give her child a last name. They agree to a marriage in name only. The older brother searches for the baby’s father but cannot find him so it is presumed he is dead. The older brother falls in love with the woman and she with him. The brother returns and there is fire works. Good believable characters.
January 20, 2020
Amazing. Judd marries his brother’s finance to give the their baby a name until he returns from his adventures. They plan to divorce upon his return. When they receive devastating news their relationship takes a turn for the romantic. A surprise revelation has unexpected consequences for all involved
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2013
This book was pretty good. The chaacters were fun, and the story was compelling enough to keep me reading for most of the afternoon. She's also good at setting the scene, and describing the physical environment. The ending was a little bit 'neat' - I think Quint should have been more upset - but it was satisfying, and all in all, this was a good book.
July 28, 2017
No fue un gran libro,pero tampoco el peor. Me pareció que las muertes fueron innecesaria,ademas que fue fastidioso en cuanto las cartas. Judd me parecio que fue el mejor personaje de toda la obra. Ya que lo demas no le ponia accion. El libro solo me tomo 2 horas de leerlo y esperaba mas. El final fue lo mas bonito por eso le regale 3/5
April 24, 2022
This book was pretty good. The chaacters were fun, and the story was compelling enough to keep me reading for most of the afternoon. She's also good at setting the scene, and describing the physical environment. The ending was a little bit 'neat' - I think Quint should have been more upset - but it was satisfying, and all in all, this was a good book.
February 5, 2010
I liked this book pretty well. There were no glaring historical anachronisms. The author did pretty well giving a feeling of the times. The ending seemed a bit hasty. Still a good enough read to encourage me to try the author again.
November 27, 2018
Very good book.didn't want to quit reading until I finished the book.recommend to readers .
The plot of book makes you want to see what happens next , want to read not write this re view", yes I don't want to write a review now
The plot of book makes you want to see what happens next , want to read not write this re view", yes I don't want to write a review now
Want to read
June 5, 2025published 2010
During her own bridal shower, Isabel Wharton is whisked away by past love Dan Black Horse to his retreat in the Cascade range. But returning to her Native roots, and Dan's loving arms, is harder than she ever imagined.
During her own bridal shower, Isabel Wharton is whisked away by past love Dan Black Horse to his retreat in the Cascade range. But returning to her Native roots, and Dan's loving arms, is harder than she ever imagined.
March 26, 2011
A break with this not bad little western romance helped me deal with the intensity of another book I'm trying to read.
July 28, 2012
Yeah you probably already read this plot before but just for Judd, you gotta read it. He was just so perfect husband material.
October 27, 2012
Sweet and lovely. Light to have on a sunday afternoon.
August 22, 2013
Loved this book. Great story, believe characters and great twists in the end. Really enjoyed it, so easy to read. A real page turner.
Want to read
August 21, 2016I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14138310
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14138310
May 25, 2017
The Borrowed Bride
Great surprises and terrific action. A lot of people in the story stayed in the background but love won out.
Great surprises and terrific action. A lot of people in the story stayed in the background but love won out.
January 14, 2018
In the entire story the best part was the conflict. The conflict between betraying one brother and falling for another kept me at the edge of my seat.
April 28, 2018
HH #920 = 4+ stars
August 8, 2018
Good love story! It involves a ranch in Colorado during the 1890’s. The main characters are two brothers, their mother, and the younger brother sweetheart.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews