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Rocky Mountain #2
The Heart Breaker
A CONVENIENT BRIDE
Burdened by family debts, Heather Ashford has no choice but to exchange her dreams of romance and accept the proposal of ruggedly handsome cattle baron Sloan McCord. However the widowed rancher is more than she bargains for. Tormented by a deep sorrow, Sloan keeps his heart well guarded, even as he sets her body on fire night after night. But each time Heather gazes into his ice blue eyes, she realizes she wants more from this man than his passion--she wants his love.
AN IRRESISTIBLE GROOM
But Sloan McCord has vowed never to love again. Although his infant daughter needs a mother, he doesn't want--or need--a wife. He is surprised that Heather, an elegant city-bred lady, turns his remote Colorado ranch house into a home, and tenderly cares for his child. She is beginning to haunt his thoughts by day and steal his breath by night--and this he cannot have if he is to keep a safe distance. Does his fierce bride of convenience have the strength to heal his broken heart--before he breaks hers?
Burdened by family debts, Heather Ashford has no choice but to exchange her dreams of romance and accept the proposal of ruggedly handsome cattle baron Sloan McCord. However the widowed rancher is more than she bargains for. Tormented by a deep sorrow, Sloan keeps his heart well guarded, even as he sets her body on fire night after night. But each time Heather gazes into his ice blue eyes, she realizes she wants more from this man than his passion--she wants his love.
AN IRRESISTIBLE GROOM
But Sloan McCord has vowed never to love again. Although his infant daughter needs a mother, he doesn't want--or need--a wife. He is surprised that Heather, an elegant city-bred lady, turns his remote Colorado ranch house into a home, and tenderly cares for his child. She is beginning to haunt his thoughts by day and steal his breath by night--and this he cannot have if he is to keep a safe distance. Does his fierce bride of convenience have the strength to heal his broken heart--before he breaks hers?
367 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1998
61 people are currently reading
1139 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Jordan
93 books976 followersNew York Times bestselling author Nicole Jordan spins delightful tales that simmer with passion and sensuality. In her former life, Nicole grew up as an Army brat, moving frequently and attending high school in Germany. She later earned a civil engineering degree from Georgia Tech and spent eight years as a manufacturing manager making disposable diapers and toilet tissue! Currently Nicole lives in the Rocky Mountains of Utah with her real-life hero (her husband) and beloved kids (her horses).
With over two-dozen historical romances to her credit and four million books in print, set in numerous eras and locales, Nicole now enjoys chronicling the sparks that fly when Regency lovers play the matrimonial mating game.
One of her novels had the dubious honor of being humorously spotlighted by Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show." On a more serious note, Nicole's romances regularly appear on numerous bestseller lists, including The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today, and have earned such honors as RITA finalist, RWA's Favorite Book of the Year, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Historical Romance, and the Dorothy Parker Award of Excellence, presented by a group of over one hundred romance reviewers.
With over two-dozen historical romances to her credit and four million books in print, set in numerous eras and locales, Nicole now enjoys chronicling the sparks that fly when Regency lovers play the matrimonial mating game.
One of her novels had the dubious honor of being humorously spotlighted by Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show." On a more serious note, Nicole's romances regularly appear on numerous bestseller lists, including The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today, and have earned such honors as RITA finalist, RWA's Favorite Book of the Year, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Historical Romance, and the Dorothy Parker Award of Excellence, presented by a group of over one hundred romance reviewers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
October 31, 2023
SPOILERS
Sloan's Cheyenne wife Doe, was raped and brutally murdered at their ranch while he was away and not able to save her.
We are in Colorado of the 1800's.
Sloan, a handsome cattle baron was left heart broken and guilt ridden over her murder.
His sister in law pushed him to remarry. He certainly needed a mother to raise his little daughter and a wife to help him with his political campaign as he was running for the Colorado senate.
Heather was a beautiful, sophisticated and well bred and educated lady from the city of St Louis. She had found herself in dire straits so she agreed to marry Sloan.
They were immediately attracted to each other but the Hero was emotionally unavailable.
Now we have two people who don't know and don't like each other, joined together.
The sweet heroine reached out to him but she could not touch him emotionally.
He refused to love again and wanted to stay true to his late wife's memory.
The two connected sexually, in fact they were dynamite together.
Heather gave all for the marriage but to no avail.
He kept her at arms length.
He was cruel, cold and mean.
Somehow she fell in love with him and was determined to help him through his trauma and guilt.
She was hoping against hope that one day he was going to come to love her.
Sloan was fighting his feelings for her. He was afraid that Heather was going to be taken from him like Doe was.
Heather was not allowed to enter Doe's bedroom. It was a sacred place like a shrine.
There was a scene where Heather interfered with Doe's clothes and when he had found out he chucked a fit then left the house livid and ended up drinking at the Saloon.
He got drunk and was intending to have sex with his favourite whore.
It didn't happen only because the whore was his friend and sensible and she rebuked him. She did not want to ruin his marriage.
He returned home drunk and angry and attempted to rape the heroine. She was saved and frightened fled to his sister in law where she stayed for several days.
They go through a lot of turmoil and anguish to finally reach their HEA.
Sloan's Cheyenne wife Doe, was raped and brutally murdered at their ranch while he was away and not able to save her.
We are in Colorado of the 1800's.
Sloan, a handsome cattle baron was left heart broken and guilt ridden over her murder.
His sister in law pushed him to remarry. He certainly needed a mother to raise his little daughter and a wife to help him with his political campaign as he was running for the Colorado senate.
Heather was a beautiful, sophisticated and well bred and educated lady from the city of St Louis. She had found herself in dire straits so she agreed to marry Sloan.
They were immediately attracted to each other but the Hero was emotionally unavailable.
Now we have two people who don't know and don't like each other, joined together.
The sweet heroine reached out to him but she could not touch him emotionally.
He refused to love again and wanted to stay true to his late wife's memory.
The two connected sexually, in fact they were dynamite together.
Heather gave all for the marriage but to no avail.
He kept her at arms length.
He was cruel, cold and mean.
Somehow she fell in love with him and was determined to help him through his trauma and guilt.
She was hoping against hope that one day he was going to come to love her.
Sloan was fighting his feelings for her. He was afraid that Heather was going to be taken from him like Doe was.
Heather was not allowed to enter Doe's bedroom. It was a sacred place like a shrine.
There was a scene where Heather interfered with Doe's clothes and when he had found out he chucked a fit then left the house livid and ended up drinking at the Saloon.
He got drunk and was intending to have sex with his favourite whore.
It didn't happen only because the whore was his friend and sensible and she rebuked him. She did not want to ruin his marriage.
He returned home drunk and angry and attempted to rape the heroine. She was saved and frightened fled to his sister in law where she stayed for several days.
They go through a lot of turmoil and anguish to finally reach their HEA.
August 14, 2019
The heartbreaker…what an apt name. The story, the hero…totally broke my heart. My heart was clenching with hurt and pain and desolation along with the h throughout. The H is not a bad guy, anything but… He is just so completely wrapped up in his dead wife’s love and grief to allow himself any happiness again. So he hurts the h again an again, intentionally and unintentionally. It’s one long angst fest getting worse and worse rather than better. I wanted to, but could not resent the presence of the dead wife till the very end. His memories, love and guilt keep her almost resurrected throughout like a real presence.
*Spoilers* The h is a proud, genteel ‘Eastern’ lady with a sweet, giving and loving nature. She agrees to a moc with the H whom she has never met.It's almost like a mail order bride as he only communicates with her once through a telegram. He is her bff’s brother in law and is a widowed rancher with a small daughter. He only wants a wife as a mother for his little girl and to run his house and maybe help him in his run for the senate. And of course to warm his bed but God forbid, the wife gets other ideas. The H time and again reminds her that she can never replace his Cheyenne wife (who was raped and murdered). This book is the sequel to his brother’s story. I haven’t read the other book and maybe I won’t as it probably has this H with his first wife in it.
Also we have an om who started out as a villain and then turned himself into a caring friend. There was a moment when I almost shipped h-om as I was furious with the H for being such a stubborn scumbag. He almost leaves it too late as she leaves him when she couldn't take anymore. He chases after her and grovels, accepting her for all that she means to him.
Heather. Warmth and light and healing.
*Spoilers* The h is a proud, genteel ‘Eastern’ lady with a sweet, giving and loving nature. She agrees to a moc with the H whom she has never met.It's almost like a mail order bride as he only communicates with her once through a telegram. He is her bff’s brother in law and is a widowed rancher with a small daughter. He only wants a wife as a mother for his little girl and to run his house and maybe help him in his run for the senate. And of course to warm his bed but God forbid, the wife gets other ideas. The H time and again reminds her that she can never replace his Cheyenne wife (who was raped and murdered). This book is the sequel to his brother’s story. I haven’t read the other book and maybe I won’t as it probably has this H with his first wife in it.
Also we have an om who started out as a villain and then turned himself into a caring friend. There was a moment when I almost shipped h-om as I was furious with the H for being such a stubborn scumbag. He almost leaves it too late as she leaves him when she couldn't take anymore. He chases after her and grovels, accepting her for all that she means to him.
Heather. Warmth and light and healing.
July 25, 2020
The hero is a big ole horse’s patoot for 90% of the book and hurts the gorgeous, saintly, mothering, sex on wagon wheels heroine time and time again but somehow manages to ravish her night after night. There is a LOT of sex in this book.
I think the hero is the emotional patriarch of Diana Palmer’s big, hairy stinkers as he is purposely cold, cruel and mean. The heroine finally realizes she has a spine and leaves his sorry self behind only to change her mind. At least the hero grovels and comes for her after an emotional epiphany.
Doe's brother Wolf really needs a story.
That cover, oh dear, that cover!
Might be time to read an Ellen O'Connell again.
I think the hero is the emotional patriarch of Diana Palmer’s big, hairy stinkers as he is purposely cold, cruel and mean. The heroine finally realizes she has a spine and leaves his sorry self behind only to change her mind. At least the hero grovels and comes for her after an emotional epiphany.
Doe's brother Wolf really needs a story.
That cover, oh dear, that cover!
Might be time to read an Ellen O'Connell again.
June 7, 2019
I adored every single word of this angsty as hell story. This story combined two of my favorite themes;
(1) an asshole hero
(2) said hero who can't move on after losing his first wife.
ME after diving into this baby:
Sloan remarries ONLY so that he can have someone to help him raise is daughter while he works on his cattle ranch. He's not interested in a real relationship with his new wife at all. Sloan, broken hearted and guilt ridden, refuses to let himself ever love again, and still wants to stay true to his dead wife. Sloan's treatment of his new wife Heather was gutting as hell. Heather was a patient saint and endured Sloan's scathing comparisons and cutting belittlements, while still trying to keep hope alive that eventually Sloan's heart might heal and allow Sloan to finally love her. Heather loses more hope as the days go by and Sloan's cool demeanor never thaws. The more time Sloan spends with Heather the harder he tries to push her away. Heather took a lot of shitty treatment from Sloan before getting a backbone, and refusing to let him treat her this way any longer. My heart broke for Heather as she gave her all to her marriage and received little back. My heart also broke for Sloan because even though he was such a stubborn jackass to Heather, he was truly messed up over the murder of his wife. It was all so heartbreakingly sad.
I loved both of these characters completely. The story was lovely and gave me all the angsty feels I could ask for and more. This is definitely going on my re-read shelf.
July 22, 2011
I really wanted to like this book, but in the end it was nearly everything I hate about romance novels. The widowed hero was a total ass to the heroine for 90% of the book. Yes, I get it, he was broken up about his first wife's brutal murder. Be that as it may, he proposed to the heroine of his own free will. Treating her cruelly and rudely because he didn't want to love her and thereby betray his first wife? 1. Not how normal people think/behave. 2. Not endearing in the least. 3. Makes me think less of the heroine for "loving" him despite the constant abuse. Couple this with an abusive streak--he attacks her when he was drunk and punches a guy who she's friends with--and I wanted to call a shelter for the dear girl. She wasn't in love. She was in a co-dependent, abusive relationship.
The plainly told writing did the book no favors either. Lord. If it was worth saying once, she made sure to explicitly spell it out a few more times, just to make damn sure I got what she was getting at. It was like training wheels for a book. Anytime something happened in the fairly predictable plot, she made sure to point out what it meant before I could hurt my purdy head thinking it over myself. Bored the tits off me.
The plainly told writing did the book no favors either. Lord. If it was worth saying once, she made sure to explicitly spell it out a few more times, just to make damn sure I got what she was getting at. It was like training wheels for a book. Anytime something happened in the fairly predictable plot, she made sure to point out what it meant before I could hurt my purdy head thinking it over myself. Bored the tits off me.
March 2, 2023
5 Stars to The Heart Breaker
Marriage of Convenience
Hero/Sloan - Cowboy/Ranch Owner, widower, father
Heroine/Heather - Elegant city Lady
See tags
The Heart Breaker, indeed. This is one of those books that make me question why I do this to myself. Why I read these angst-fests. What enjoyment could I get out of being emotionally tortured, right? Each time Sloan broke my heart, I imagined the author laughing evilly in the background. Sadist, meet Masochist.
The first half of the book was angsty AF. And I honestly wasn't sure if this book could make up for all the torment. When it comes to stories where the heroine has to compete with the hero's dead wife/gf, my worry is she'll end up as the consolation prize. As a romance reader, I expect the heroine to be his greatest love, for him to realize that if it was possible to bring back the OW, he would choose the heroine. Is that unreasonable of me? Perhaps, but I need this, nonetheless.
After the first half, my hope grew. I could breathe easier. There were many wonderful moments. The sexy times were absolutely divine, some of the best I've read. The connection and passion between them was palpable and intoxicating. Angels sang overhead. Sloan was my man.
It wasn't until it got closer to the end that I started to worry again. I felt ragey. The amount of times I wanted to take Sloan out of his misery with my bare hands, and the amount of times Heather tempted me into throwing my iPad out the window....Needless to say, this book tested me and petted a few of my peeves. I can handle an a-hole hero, that's not the issue here, what made me mad was that Heather was once again in danger of ending up the consolation prize, and a doormat. I had to remind myself of the numerous ways in which Heather made Sloan feel more. Where she outshone the OW. Sorry to the dead girl but this was necessary (for my sake).
"He’d never been so hungry for a woman before, so hot. He’d never felt this kind of need, mindless, relentless, endless. He couldn’t get enough of her. The depth of his need astonished him."
or
"She was, he thought, drinking her in, the most beautiful thing he had ever seen or ever would see. She was strength, she was courage. She was joy and triumph. She was his heart." 💓
Another aspect of the story that brought me comfort was that Heather was in Sloan's dreams before he even met her. He literally dreamed of her. It felt like fate, that Heather was always who he was meant to end up with.
Was the HEA convincing? Absolutely. I felt Sloan and Heather were soulmates. There were some beautifully poignant moments. I couldn't stop highlighting. However, I also had some issues with a few things that occurred towards the end (too close to the end for my comfort).
My biggest gripes:
❌Heather ultimately deciding to martyr herself to be with Sloan, before the grovel.
❌Sloan still heavily mourning the dead girl.
❌Not enough groveling because of course, Heather forgave him instantly.
✔️There was one grand gesture that made this better for me: he was willing to sell his ranch to go wherever Heather wanted to live. He would have given it all up for her. That land was in his blood, it was his "heritage," but Heather was more important to him.
Despite these issues, this book was still an awesome read. I would definitely read it again.
Thanks to 'Nikki ღ Navareus' for the rec ❤️
Marriage of Convenience
Hero/Sloan - Cowboy/Ranch Owner, widower, father
Heroine/Heather - Elegant city Lady
See tags
The Heart Breaker, indeed. This is one of those books that make me question why I do this to myself. Why I read these angst-fests. What enjoyment could I get out of being emotionally tortured, right? Each time Sloan broke my heart, I imagined the author laughing evilly in the background. Sadist, meet Masochist.
The first half of the book was angsty AF. And I honestly wasn't sure if this book could make up for all the torment. When it comes to stories where the heroine has to compete with the hero's dead wife/gf, my worry is she'll end up as the consolation prize. As a romance reader, I expect the heroine to be his greatest love, for him to realize that if it was possible to bring back the OW, he would choose the heroine. Is that unreasonable of me? Perhaps, but I need this, nonetheless.
After the first half, my hope grew. I could breathe easier. There were many wonderful moments. The sexy times were absolutely divine, some of the best I've read. The connection and passion between them was palpable and intoxicating. Angels sang overhead. Sloan was my man.
It wasn't until it got closer to the end that I started to worry again. I felt ragey. The amount of times I wanted to take Sloan out of his misery with my bare hands, and the amount of times Heather tempted me into throwing my iPad out the window....Needless to say, this book tested me and petted a few of my peeves. I can handle an a-hole hero, that's not the issue here, what made me mad was that Heather was once again in danger of ending up the consolation prize, and a doormat. I had to remind myself of the numerous ways in which Heather made Sloan feel more. Where she outshone the OW. Sorry to the dead girl but this was necessary (for my sake).
"He’d never been so hungry for a woman before, so hot. He’d never felt this kind of need, mindless, relentless, endless. He couldn’t get enough of her. The depth of his need astonished him."
or
"She was, he thought, drinking her in, the most beautiful thing he had ever seen or ever would see. She was strength, she was courage. She was joy and triumph. She was his heart." 💓
Another aspect of the story that brought me comfort was that Heather was in Sloan's dreams before he even met her. He literally dreamed of her. It felt like fate, that Heather was always who he was meant to end up with.
Was the HEA convincing? Absolutely. I felt Sloan and Heather were soulmates. There were some beautifully poignant moments. I couldn't stop highlighting. However, I also had some issues with a few things that occurred towards the end (too close to the end for my comfort).
My biggest gripes:
❌Heather ultimately deciding to martyr herself to be with Sloan, before the grovel.
❌Sloan still heavily mourning the dead girl.
❌Not enough groveling because of course, Heather forgave him instantly.
✔️There was one grand gesture that made this better for me: he was willing to sell his ranch to go wherever Heather wanted to live. He would have given it all up for her. That land was in his blood, it was his "heritage," but Heather was more important to him.
Despite these issues, this book was still an awesome read. I would definitely read it again.
Thanks to 'Nikki ღ Navareus' for the rec ❤️
September 5, 2021
Historical western with TONS of angst.
Sloan McCord is a Colorado rancher that lost his Cheyenne wife Sleeping Doe the previous year. He does not want a replacement for her (he feels very guilty over her death) but his sister-in-law (h from book 1) talks him into marrying her friend Heather Ashford (who is in financial ruin thanks her late father's gambling debts) so she can take care of the house, help raise his infant daughter, and play hostess for his upcoming run for senator...He also needs a warm body to slake his "carnal needs"... They are both very attracted to each other on sight, which Sloane hates, and tries to talk her out of the union. (despite his repeated declarations that he loves his wife, and will not love her)
The book is very similar to Linda Howard's Duncan's Bride both are ranchers who have first-wife baggage, and both heroines fall desperately in love with their broody emotionally unavailable men. Except where Duncan could be broody and grumpy; Sloan is cold and can be pretty damn cruel at times. He also keeps her at arm's length (like not allowing her to sleep in his dead wife's room) and pushes her away every time he feels himself softening to her. In the end, they work it out. Overall, an enjoyable short(ish) read.
There was one part that he almost pushed me too far, and I don't think he was honest...but it was a turning point in the story, and finally pushed Heather to stand up for herself.
Sloan McCord is a Colorado rancher that lost his Cheyenne wife Sleeping Doe the previous year. He does not want a replacement for her (he feels very guilty over her death) but his sister-in-law (h from book 1) talks him into marrying her friend Heather Ashford (who is in financial ruin thanks her late father's gambling debts) so she can take care of the house, help raise his infant daughter, and play hostess for his upcoming run for senator...He also needs a warm body to slake his "carnal needs"... They are both very attracted to each other on sight, which Sloane hates, and tries to talk her out of the union. (despite his repeated declarations that he loves his wife, and will not love her)
The book is very similar to Linda Howard's Duncan's Bride both are ranchers who have first-wife baggage, and both heroines fall desperately in love with their broody emotionally unavailable men. Except where Duncan could be broody and grumpy; Sloan is cold and can be pretty damn cruel at times. He also keeps her at arm's length (like not allowing her to sleep in his dead wife's room) and pushes her away every time he feels himself softening to her. In the end, they work it out. Overall, an enjoyable short(ish) read.
There was one part that he almost pushed me too far, and I don't think he was honest...but it was a turning point in the story, and finally pushed Heather to stand up for herself.
March 9, 2025
Finally! A HR western that is NOT faith-based, clean and sugary sweet 😈
To me, Nicole Jordan will always be the original old school HR author that brought a new level of steam to HR books. And this story does not disappoint either. I don't know why, but 99% of HR western stories I come across, especially with the mail-order bride trope, are always clean, faith-based stories. This story was well-written, kept me coming back for more, the characters were all likeable.... even though the hero oftentimes made me whisper, "omg what an asshole!". He was devastated by the loss of his first wife and absolutely hated the thought of another woman taking her place and erasing his memory of his deceased first wife's face. But the heroine was sweet and determined enough to make sure he fell in love with her. I did feel that there was a lot of repetition though going over certain drama... but it was a great falling in love story 🥰
PS: can anyone recommend any of their favorite HR westerns that are not faith-based?
To me, Nicole Jordan will always be the original old school HR author that brought a new level of steam to HR books. And this story does not disappoint either. I don't know why, but 99% of HR western stories I come across, especially with the mail-order bride trope, are always clean, faith-based stories. This story was well-written, kept me coming back for more, the characters were all likeable.... even though the hero oftentimes made me whisper, "omg what an asshole!". He was devastated by the loss of his first wife and absolutely hated the thought of another woman taking her place and erasing his memory of his deceased first wife's face. But the heroine was sweet and determined enough to make sure he fell in love with her. I did feel that there was a lot of repetition though going over certain drama... but it was a great falling in love story 🥰
PS: can anyone recommend any of their favorite HR westerns that are not faith-based?
November 20, 2025
I hated this hero.
He was so hung up on his dead wife and the guilt he felt about his dead wife, that he could only use the heroine as a babysitter and a sex doll.
They married because he needed a presentable wife on his arm to become state senator. She had debts from her late father's gambling addiction. Heroine had offers of marriage from a railroad baron, but she wasn't attracted to him. She was attracted to the hero - even when he told her she would be nothing to him but a babysitter and a sex doll.
To be fair, hero forewarned and then was consistent in his low-grade cruelty. Heroine was competent. The toddler loved her. She did everything she was supposed to do - including hot sex. He never hit her, but the drip, drip, drip of humiliation and disregard he had for the lovely heroine added up to the worst kind of abuse.
And heroine took it all with a smile - until he called her a whore and kept bringing up the debt he paid off for her. Her "pride" was dented so she ran away for a day with the rail baron. But she changed her mind just as the hero showed up to drag her back to the first circle of hell she had been enduring.
He did nothing to earn her regard or forgiveness. And I can't see how they will ever have a happy ending. He didn't even make the ranch successful - that debt will always be something he throws in her face.
I guess I love a cruel hero when he has big feelings he's trying to supress to explain his actions. Hero isn't supressing anything. His big feelings were centered around the dead wife - not the heroine - and it never changed.
*sigh* This kind of story - with the low-level abuse that chips away at your psyche and soul - is what gives romances a bad reputation.
Sex is not love. Constant criticism and comparison is not love. Isolation and neglect is not love. Being a second class citizen to a dead wife is not love. Name calling is not love. Etc . . .
He was so hung up on his dead wife and the guilt he felt about his dead wife, that he could only use the heroine as a babysitter and a sex doll.
They married because he needed a presentable wife on his arm to become state senator. She had debts from her late father's gambling addiction. Heroine had offers of marriage from a railroad baron, but she wasn't attracted to him. She was attracted to the hero - even when he told her she would be nothing to him but a babysitter and a sex doll.
To be fair, hero forewarned and then was consistent in his low-grade cruelty. Heroine was competent. The toddler loved her. She did everything she was supposed to do - including hot sex. He never hit her, but the drip, drip, drip of humiliation and disregard he had for the lovely heroine added up to the worst kind of abuse.
And heroine took it all with a smile - until he called her a whore and kept bringing up the debt he paid off for her. Her "pride" was dented so she ran away for a day with the rail baron. But she changed her mind just as the hero showed up to drag her back to the first circle of hell she had been enduring.
He did nothing to earn her regard or forgiveness. And I can't see how they will ever have a happy ending. He didn't even make the ranch successful - that debt will always be something he throws in her face.
I guess I love a cruel hero when he has big feelings he's trying to supress to explain his actions. Hero isn't supressing anything. His big feelings were centered around the dead wife - not the heroine - and it never changed.
*sigh* This kind of story - with the low-level abuse that chips away at your psyche and soul - is what gives romances a bad reputation.
Sex is not love. Constant criticism and comparison is not love. Isolation and neglect is not love. Being a second class citizen to a dead wife is not love. Name calling is not love. Etc . . .
June 10, 2019
4 stars
Pretty good historical western with lots of angst with H still in love with his dead wife and SIL arranges a MOC with h to care for his child, keep his house (he is a rancher), and act as his hostess, etc. as he runs for senator in Colorado.
Pretty good historical western with lots of angst with H still in love with his dead wife and SIL arranges a MOC with h to care for his child, keep his house (he is a rancher), and act as his hostess, etc. as he runs for senator in Colorado.
September 25, 2020
**** 4.5 stars ****
I'm an emotional mess😭😭
What a way of words this author has❤️❤️...God!! Writing style had me one the very first page.
Amazing plotting.
Fantastic characters.
Brilliant storyline.
This is my first time with this brilliant author and I'm going to ravage the rest of her books!!
I was completely enthralled by each and every word in this story.
I can't even remember the number of times it brought tears to my eyes and must be honest it's definitely NOT easy to make ME cry over a story/character. But I couldn't stop myself in this😭❤️
Characters were simply amazing amazing amazing.....
I loved the strong spirit of Heather. What made you so so strong lady??
I mean...she didn't flinch away from Sloan's not-so-loving touches. She endured his lust knowing she was very much in love...her situation and her reaction to it made me cry even more.
And SLOAN SLOAN SLOAN...!!
What shall I write about him?
Why did you wish to live in the past dude!? What good it did to you afterall??
But he like some stubborn asshole he resisted the love life offered him again. He made some bull-headed decisions regarding Heather which made him regret alot.
He almost lost her but I knew it's going to be an HEA. You know how?? Coz they both are really good people who have faced a lot of difficulties in their pasts. Life has not been very kind on them. So they deserve each other and their love❤️.
I'm an emotional mess😭😭
What a way of words this author has❤️❤️...God!! Writing style had me one the very first page.
Amazing plotting.
Fantastic characters.
Brilliant storyline.
This is my first time with this brilliant author and I'm going to ravage the rest of her books!!
I was completely enthralled by each and every word in this story.
I can't even remember the number of times it brought tears to my eyes and must be honest it's definitely NOT easy to make ME cry over a story/character. But I couldn't stop myself in this😭❤️
Characters were simply amazing amazing amazing.....
I loved the strong spirit of Heather. What made you so so strong lady??
I mean...she didn't flinch away from Sloan's not-so-loving touches. She endured his lust knowing she was very much in love...her situation and her reaction to it made me cry even more.
And SLOAN SLOAN SLOAN...!!
What shall I write about him?
Why did you wish to live in the past dude!? What good it did to you afterall??
But he like some stubborn asshole he resisted the love life offered him again. He made some bull-headed decisions regarding Heather which made him regret alot.
He almost lost her but I knew it's going to be an HEA. You know how?? Coz they both are really good people who have faced a lot of difficulties in their pasts. Life has not been very kind on them. So they deserve each other and their love❤️.
September 21, 2020
2.5 stars
It bored me. It also had all the right things to be interesting and angsty but it was none of those things.
Maybe I didn't read it at the right time.. don't know what it was but it made me fell nothing 90% of the time.
I do have to mention is that it was well written, had a strong heroine and the dialogue was mostly intelligent.
It bored me. It also had all the right things to be interesting and angsty but it was none of those things.
Maybe I didn't read it at the right time.. don't know what it was but it made me fell nothing 90% of the time.
I do have to mention is that it was well written, had a strong heroine and the dialogue was mostly intelligent.
July 2, 2023
3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise. The angst in the form of unrequited love. The baby.
The Not-So-Good: The ending. This ended so abruptly after the conflict is resolved. I needed a further glimpse into their future to be happy with it.
The Bad: The grovel. He was such a jerk, and said such awful things, but he never really made it up to her in my opinion!
Overall: This was enjoyable, and it gave me some of that unrequited love that I am always seeming to look for in a book. Unrequited love situations provide me some of that angst that I'm such a sucker for. I just wish that this had much more grovel because he was downright cruel to her! It also ended way too abruptly, and I needed much more closure.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Heather and Sloan's story. Sloan is in need of a new wife to help care for his infant daughter and his sister-in-law has a friend that she thinks would be a great fit. They enter the marriage of convenience because Heather is struggling after her father's death and his gambling debts. They are strongly attracted to each other, but Sloan holds back because he holds a lot of guilt and love for his deceased wife. There are some suspenseful scenes, some sad moments, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Heather and Sloan in third person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good up until the abrupt ending. I never skimmed, and I thought it flowed well otherwise.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 2.5 stars. Sloan. I struggled with him. I thought that he was too cruel at times and I definitely wanted him to grovel more.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Heather. I liked her. I appreciated her strength and her loyalty. I also appreciated how she was with the H's Daughter.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed some tears, but never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends too abruptly after the big conflict is resolved. I would still call this a HEA, but I wanted so much more closure
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise. The angst in the form of unrequited love. The baby.
The Not-So-Good: The ending. This ended so abruptly after the conflict is resolved. I needed a further glimpse into their future to be happy with it.
The Bad: The grovel. He was such a jerk, and said such awful things, but he never really made it up to her in my opinion!
Overall: This was enjoyable, and it gave me some of that unrequited love that I am always seeming to look for in a book. Unrequited love situations provide me some of that angst that I'm such a sucker for. I just wish that this had much more grovel because he was downright cruel to her! It also ended way too abruptly, and I needed much more closure.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Heather and Sloan's story. Sloan is in need of a new wife to help care for his infant daughter and his sister-in-law has a friend that she thinks would be a great fit. They enter the marriage of convenience because Heather is struggling after her father's death and his gambling debts. They are strongly attracted to each other, but Sloan holds back because he holds a lot of guilt and love for his deceased wife. There are some suspenseful scenes, some sad moments, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Heather and Sloan in third person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good up until the abrupt ending. I never skimmed, and I thought it flowed well otherwise.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 2.5 stars. Sloan. I struggled with him. I thought that he was too cruel at times and I definitely wanted him to grovel more.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Heather. I liked her. I appreciated her strength and her loyalty. I also appreciated how she was with the H's Daughter.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed some tears, but never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends too abruptly after the big conflict is resolved. I would still call this a HEA, but I wanted so much more closure
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
October 3, 2020
4,5 stars for the delightful angst and tears.
November 24, 2021
Maybe I have read too many Harlequin Presents blackmail to marriage books that I could never overlook heroine's choice to not marry the blackmailing banker OM and still remain a part of civil society in a city to instead marry a total stranger and move to tough ranch life. We eventually learn that the banker accepted her rejection and even financially helped her new family. So the writer fails to make the case of heroine abandoning a safe life with the banker to live a hard life with a Rancher she never knew.
All in all standard too much in love with dead wife trope. Heroine decides to marry a total stranger and when that stranger doesn't falls in love with her within six months of marriage, she's ready to call it quits. Overall a good read about stubborn, emotionally cruel hero and a loving, caring heroine and the ghost of dead wife.
All in all standard too much in love with dead wife trope. Heroine decides to marry a total stranger and when that stranger doesn't falls in love with her within six months of marriage, she's ready to call it quits. Overall a good read about stubborn, emotionally cruel hero and a loving, caring heroine and the ghost of dead wife.
August 17, 2025
This was definitely good, but could have been better.
Brief Summary:
When Heather’s father passes away, it comes as a surprise that her father had a gambling problem to which he still has a lot of unresolved debt— debt she is now responsible for. In a desperate attempt to rid herself of the lingering debt, she agrees to marry a stranger, a rancher from Colorado. Sloan will pay off her remaining debt in exchange for her to marry him, take care of his home and daughter, help bring some sophistication and finesse to his political campaign, and to also attend to his “carnal urges” whenever he has need. Only one catch— he will never love her because his heart died on the day his former wife was brutally raped and murdered. 🧐😳
[Yeah, I know— some heavy shit indeed…]
But she agrees.
Random Observations (in no particular order):
- virgin h
- H was kind of a manwhore apart from the time he was married to his wife, Doe (a Cheyenne, Native American but referred to in the text as “Indian” for historical reference accuracy)
- H could be a real ass, and was very inconsiderate of the h’s feelings
- H talked about and thought about his deceased wife all the time
- h was refined and always observed as beautiful by all who met her, but would become wildly passionate in the H’s arms much to his dismay (& delight)
- I wish the h would have stood up for herself more from the beginning. She seemed to have no problem doing that with anyone else but the H
- the daughter was always around in the story, but definitely felt more like a “prop” if that makes sense, rather than being cleverly integrated into the plot and, as a reader, she felt so disconnected from everything that was going on and I felt no emotion towards her whatsoever which is very rare for me. It’s hard for me to explain it, but I just don’t think the author gave her the care and supporting details needed for her character to develop the way it should have within this story. Especially with the significance her position was supposed be in relevance to everything.
- the H and h have a falling out. The heroine’s feelings are deeply hurt and what does the H do? He goes to the saloon and gets rip-roaring drunk then accepts the offer of a new prostitute “for a ride” and would have followed through with it had the madame of the establishment not intervened. He’s apparently slept with the madame many times in the past so when she puts him in her bed and puts a blanket on him, he gets upset telling her he wants to fuck! But she insists he doesn’t because he has a beautiful wife at home and he then concedes. So the sanctity of their marriage was at the mercy of a prostitute that just so happened to have a heart and respect for the h— otherwise he would have CHEATED— then he’s carted home drunk and his friend has to literally intervene to prevent him from raping the h who rightfully doesn’t want anything to do with him since he’s returned drunk and smelling of cheap perfume. (Needless to say, not my favorite H by a long shot)
Final Thoughts:
There’s a lot of angst that I truly enjoyed, but I think I would have enjoyed this more if the Hero had suffered more on behalf of the heroine. Sure he’s suffered because of what happened to his deceased wife, but Heather was so good to him and a lot of the time he treated her so poorly and she didn’t deserve any of it. I would have loved to see him pining more for her— and not just in the sense that the author told us because she did say this a lot, but I wanted actual scenes and scenarios to play out that he could experience the sting of rejection and his inadequacy as far as the heroine was concerned, ya know? In the end you were left with the feeling that the heroine really was too good for him, yet you know without a doubt he’s still going to see her as second best even if he’s finally accepted his wife’s death and the fact that he has to move on with his life. Essentially— if he has to love someone, it might as well be her. And that, my friends, is kind of heartbreaking for our heroine, if not devastating. Not entirely sure if that’s what the author was trying for, but it’s certainly what was achieved…
Brief Summary:
When Heather’s father passes away, it comes as a surprise that her father had a gambling problem to which he still has a lot of unresolved debt— debt she is now responsible for. In a desperate attempt to rid herself of the lingering debt, she agrees to marry a stranger, a rancher from Colorado. Sloan will pay off her remaining debt in exchange for her to marry him, take care of his home and daughter, help bring some sophistication and finesse to his political campaign, and to also attend to his “carnal urges” whenever he has need. Only one catch— he will never love her because his heart died on the day his former wife was brutally raped and murdered. 🧐😳
[Yeah, I know— some heavy shit indeed…]
But she agrees.
Random Observations (in no particular order):
- virgin h
- H was kind of a manwhore apart from the time he was married to his wife, Doe (a Cheyenne, Native American but referred to in the text as “Indian” for historical reference accuracy)
- H could be a real ass, and was very inconsiderate of the h’s feelings
- H talked about and thought about his deceased wife all the time
- h was refined and always observed as beautiful by all who met her, but would become wildly passionate in the H’s arms much to his dismay (& delight)
- I wish the h would have stood up for herself more from the beginning. She seemed to have no problem doing that with anyone else but the H
- the daughter was always around in the story, but definitely felt more like a “prop” if that makes sense, rather than being cleverly integrated into the plot and, as a reader, she felt so disconnected from everything that was going on and I felt no emotion towards her whatsoever which is very rare for me. It’s hard for me to explain it, but I just don’t think the author gave her the care and supporting details needed for her character to develop the way it should have within this story. Especially with the significance her position was supposed be in relevance to everything.
- the H and h have a falling out. The heroine’s feelings are deeply hurt and what does the H do? He goes to the saloon and gets rip-roaring drunk then accepts the offer of a new prostitute “for a ride” and would have followed through with it had the madame of the establishment not intervened. He’s apparently slept with the madame many times in the past so when she puts him in her bed and puts a blanket on him, he gets upset telling her he wants to fuck! But she insists he doesn’t because he has a beautiful wife at home and he then concedes. So the sanctity of their marriage was at the mercy of a prostitute that just so happened to have a heart and respect for the h— otherwise he would have CHEATED— then he’s carted home drunk and his friend has to literally intervene to prevent him from raping the h who rightfully doesn’t want anything to do with him since he’s returned drunk and smelling of cheap perfume. (Needless to say, not my favorite H by a long shot)
Final Thoughts:
There’s a lot of angst that I truly enjoyed, but I think I would have enjoyed this more if the Hero had suffered more on behalf of the heroine. Sure he’s suffered because of what happened to his deceased wife, but Heather was so good to him and a lot of the time he treated her so poorly and she didn’t deserve any of it. I would have loved to see him pining more for her— and not just in the sense that the author told us because she did say this a lot, but I wanted actual scenes and scenarios to play out that he could experience the sting of rejection and his inadequacy as far as the heroine was concerned, ya know? In the end you were left with the feeling that the heroine really was too good for him, yet you know without a doubt he’s still going to see her as second best even if he’s finally accepted his wife’s death and the fact that he has to move on with his life. Essentially— if he has to love someone, it might as well be her. And that, my friends, is kind of heartbreaking for our heroine, if not devastating. Not entirely sure if that’s what the author was trying for, but it’s certainly what was achieved…
January 8, 2013
What would you do to mend a broken heart, a tortured soul..
When I finished this book I found myself asking this question. Sloan is mourning his dead wife Doe, and dealing with his overwhelming guilt. Doe was raped and murdered because of range wars, and Sloan feels responsible for her death and not being there in time to save her. His heart and soul have gone to a very dark place, but he has as daughter Janna that he needs a mother for. And he is also trying to hold onto his land, harsh winters have killed much of his cattle. His sister in-law sets him up with a friend from St Louis and he writes her to propose marriage.
Heather is a woman with pride, and lots of debt. Her father died leaving her lots of debt to payoff. She is also fighting off a wealthy man who is trying to force her to marry him by using her debt and all of his money to intimated her. To escape her present circumstances and give herself a fresh start she agrees to marry a stranger, Sloan McCord.
Ok so now we have two people who don't know each other, or like each other really and both carrying their own emotional burdens to overcome. For me Sloan was someone I liked, then I didn't, then I did, then my heart broke for him. Sloan was determined to keep his emotions and his heart closed off, he didn't want to revisit his pain. Heather would reach out to him emotionally and Sloan would slap her down emotionally. Sloan was a man who enjoyed sex, so with a new wife he convinced himself they could have sex. He would keep his heart out of it completely and just satisfy his physical needs. This is when i started to get really angry at Sloan, how cold and distant can someone get? Heather refused to give up, determined to make this work, she reaches out to Sloan emotionally over and over again. This is where my question in my head pops up, I admire Heather, I love this woman. She can see and understand Sloan's pain and she is determined to help him through it.
Finally the last straw breaks and Heather gives up, she leaves Sloan and Janna (oh my god, my heart breaks). Sloan tries to apologize and Heather basically says f*ck you, I have had enough be miserable I don't care anymore (well she says this in a 1800's way)!! I have to admit a part of me what shouting "You go girl, give it him!"
So reading this book I can see where some would be put off my Sloan and the way he treats Heather. For me, I kept asking myself, what would I do in the same situation? Would i be as strong and determined to make the situation work and help mend the heart and tortured soul of someone I was growing to love? My answer to myself was, i hope so......
Another book that took me away to someplace else, I got really into this story and the characters. They felt like people I really knew and cared about, excellent read!! YAY!!
When I finished this book I found myself asking this question. Sloan is mourning his dead wife Doe, and dealing with his overwhelming guilt. Doe was raped and murdered because of range wars, and Sloan feels responsible for her death and not being there in time to save her. His heart and soul have gone to a very dark place, but he has as daughter Janna that he needs a mother for. And he is also trying to hold onto his land, harsh winters have killed much of his cattle. His sister in-law sets him up with a friend from St Louis and he writes her to propose marriage.
Heather is a woman with pride, and lots of debt. Her father died leaving her lots of debt to payoff. She is also fighting off a wealthy man who is trying to force her to marry him by using her debt and all of his money to intimated her. To escape her present circumstances and give herself a fresh start she agrees to marry a stranger, Sloan McCord.
Ok so now we have two people who don't know each other, or like each other really and both carrying their own emotional burdens to overcome. For me Sloan was someone I liked, then I didn't, then I did, then my heart broke for him. Sloan was determined to keep his emotions and his heart closed off, he didn't want to revisit his pain. Heather would reach out to him emotionally and Sloan would slap her down emotionally. Sloan was a man who enjoyed sex, so with a new wife he convinced himself they could have sex. He would keep his heart out of it completely and just satisfy his physical needs. This is when i started to get really angry at Sloan, how cold and distant can someone get? Heather refused to give up, determined to make this work, she reaches out to Sloan emotionally over and over again. This is where my question in my head pops up, I admire Heather, I love this woman. She can see and understand Sloan's pain and she is determined to help him through it.
Finally the last straw breaks and Heather gives up, she leaves Sloan and Janna (oh my god, my heart breaks). Sloan tries to apologize and Heather basically says f*ck you, I have had enough be miserable I don't care anymore (well she says this in a 1800's way)!! I have to admit a part of me what shouting "You go girl, give it him!"
So reading this book I can see where some would be put off my Sloan and the way he treats Heather. For me, I kept asking myself, what would I do in the same situation? Would i be as strong and determined to make the situation work and help mend the heart and tortured soul of someone I was growing to love? My answer to myself was, i hope so......
Another book that took me away to someplace else, I got really into this story and the characters. They felt like people I really knew and cared about, excellent read!! YAY!!
November 13, 2011
Just okay. I kind of expected more. But the characters seemed kind of wishy washy. I didn't have a real good sense of time or place. There were some extraneous things that distracted from the story. If he needed a mother for his daughter than was enough. I don't see why she had to throw in the whole running for election thing. I just felt like the story I was interested in reading was not there as strongly as it could have been. There were hints of them falling in love but there were way more hot sex scenes than developing relationship scenes.
I have to say also that I didn't enjoy the whole first scene where he is dreaming of having sex with a blond woman who lo and behold turns out to be the mail order bride he meets weeks later. What's up with sticking in that sort of paranormal thing in a western historical romance where no part of the rest of the book is paranormal?
All in all an interesting premise that missed the boat for me.
I have to say also that I didn't enjoy the whole first scene where he is dreaming of having sex with a blond woman who lo and behold turns out to be the mail order bride he meets weeks later. What's up with sticking in that sort of paranormal thing in a western historical romance where no part of the rest of the book is paranormal?
All in all an interesting premise that missed the boat for me.
July 16, 2022
Ms Jordan is a new-to-me author. I'm a bit on the fence about this one. On the one hand, it's reasonably well-written (writing is descriptive enough and period-appropriate). On the other hand, the hero, Sloan, is a deal breaker for many readers.
That's the thing with the unwanted wife trope. How does the author make the hero be an ass and, at the same time, make the readers empathize with him? It's a tricky line to walk.
Sloan's friends were pushing him to re-marry. He lost his Indian wife, Doe, more than a year ago (she was brutally raped and murdered due to a feud in the 1st book in the series), and they had a daughter together. His sister-in-law, Caitlin, thought her friend, Heather, would be a good match. Heather had to close school because of her late father's gambling debts. She also had another suitor, Evan, a rail magnate. She didn't like him because of his high-handed ways. He pressured her to marry him by holding on to her father's debts. The other reason for not wanting to marry Evan was that she didn't want to be just another society's wife. She wanted to contribute equally to marriage (eh, whatever). So, she thought marriage to Sloan would be a better match for her (little did she know).
They only met on the day before their wedding day. They got off on a very rocky start. Sloan kept thinking he had made a mistake; she wasn't cut out as a rancher's wife. He was also immediately attracted to her, which made him feel guilty towards his late wife. I had lost count of how many times Sloan was cruel towards Heather. Heather understood that Sloan didn't want her love. However, how do you protect your heart from being engaged when you're in close proximity with this person, day in and day out? It's almost impossible not to feel anything.
I thought Sloan was a sorry excuse for a human being. There was a scene where Heather professed her love for him, and he threw it back in her face. If you want to wallow in the past, you should just hire a nanny for your daughter instead of getting a wife. A wife is a human being; she's not an automaton. You're being cruel and unjust towards your wife because you couldn't get let go of the past. You know that the hero is problematic when you kept thinking that the heroine should have just accepted the other guy's proposition.
Heather is a different issue. I think the author did a fantastic job with her. I didn't feel that she was a doormat. She did put her foot down with Sloan a couple of times. I was able to empathize with her character and situation. I'm giving this book four stars on this factor alone. Also, I am an emotional reader, so some parts made me wept for/with Heather.
I would have liked an excellent grovelling scene from Sloan. I was disappointed when in the end, Heather was willing to go back to Sloan even before Sloan came to her to ask her to stay (ask, not beg, mind you). A good grovelling book is so hard to come by (sigh).
The book kept my attention engaged, so that's another plus point. I would definitely be reading more books by Ms Jordan.
Steam factor: High. I think there were about 7 scenes. Not very explicit and lengthy. A bit of purple prose as well (this book was written in the 90s, so it's to be expected).
That's the thing with the unwanted wife trope. How does the author make the hero be an ass and, at the same time, make the readers empathize with him? It's a tricky line to walk.
Sloan's friends were pushing him to re-marry. He lost his Indian wife, Doe, more than a year ago (she was brutally raped and murdered due to a feud in the 1st book in the series), and they had a daughter together. His sister-in-law, Caitlin, thought her friend, Heather, would be a good match. Heather had to close school because of her late father's gambling debts. She also had another suitor, Evan, a rail magnate. She didn't like him because of his high-handed ways. He pressured her to marry him by holding on to her father's debts. The other reason for not wanting to marry Evan was that she didn't want to be just another society's wife. She wanted to contribute equally to marriage (eh, whatever). So, she thought marriage to Sloan would be a better match for her (little did she know).
They only met on the day before their wedding day. They got off on a very rocky start. Sloan kept thinking he had made a mistake; she wasn't cut out as a rancher's wife. He was also immediately attracted to her, which made him feel guilty towards his late wife. I had lost count of how many times Sloan was cruel towards Heather. Heather understood that Sloan didn't want her love. However, how do you protect your heart from being engaged when you're in close proximity with this person, day in and day out? It's almost impossible not to feel anything.
I thought Sloan was a sorry excuse for a human being. There was a scene where Heather professed her love for him, and he threw it back in her face. If you want to wallow in the past, you should just hire a nanny for your daughter instead of getting a wife. A wife is a human being; she's not an automaton. You're being cruel and unjust towards your wife because you couldn't get let go of the past. You know that the hero is problematic when you kept thinking that the heroine should have just accepted the other guy's proposition.
Heather is a different issue. I think the author did a fantastic job with her. I didn't feel that she was a doormat. She did put her foot down with Sloan a couple of times. I was able to empathize with her character and situation. I'm giving this book four stars on this factor alone. Also, I am an emotional reader, so some parts made me wept for/with Heather.
I would have liked an excellent grovelling scene from Sloan. I was disappointed when in the end, Heather was willing to go back to Sloan even before Sloan came to her to ask her to stay (ask, not beg, mind you). A good grovelling book is so hard to come by (sigh).
The book kept my attention engaged, so that's another plus point. I would definitely be reading more books by Ms Jordan.
Steam factor: High. I think there were about 7 scenes. Not very explicit and lengthy. A bit of purple prose as well (this book was written in the 90s, so it's to be expected).
September 7, 2024
I love a good angsty book that makes you feel bad for the heroine. I don't know why, but books where the hero is a complete cad and has to grovel really do it for me. Sloan is mourning the loss of his Cheyenne wife Doe, who was brutally raped and murdered. He needs a new wife to help him raise his daughter, Janna and to help him win a seat in the Senate.
He learns about Heather and enters a marriage of convenience. In return for her hand he settles her father's gambling debts so in his mind, he now owns her. For the greater part of the book Sloan basically treats Heather as a maid, nanny, and a slattern. Sloan is not a bad guy, and he seems genuinely good, but he hardens his heart toward Heather from the very beginning. No matter what Heather does, Sloan is always comparing her to the paragon that is his dead wife, Doe.
The transgressions build and build and you get really frustrated with Sloan. It's amazing that Heather is able to forgive him, but there is a HEA.
I loved this book. I really wish Jordan would have been able to finish the trilogy and write Wolf's story. I'm excited to read Jake's story next. I will look for more romance by Jordan.
Reread: 9/7/24 this book is my comfort read
He learns about Heather and enters a marriage of convenience. In return for her hand he settles her father's gambling debts so in his mind, he now owns her. For the greater part of the book Sloan basically treats Heather as a maid, nanny, and a slattern. Sloan is not a bad guy, and he seems genuinely good, but he hardens his heart toward Heather from the very beginning. No matter what Heather does, Sloan is always comparing her to the paragon that is his dead wife, Doe.
The transgressions build and build and you get really frustrated with Sloan. It's amazing that Heather is able to forgive him, but there is a HEA.
I loved this book. I really wish Jordan would have been able to finish the trilogy and write Wolf's story. I'm excited to read Jake's story next. I will look for more romance by Jordan.
Reread: 9/7/24 this book is my comfort read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2020
Story/schmory--the sex scenes in this were smoking hot! The story itself was okay--MoC between a grieving widower determined not to love again and a southern belle who falls for her emotionally unavailable priapistic rancher husband. The writing is a little purple and clunky, the Western period details are just decent, and there's not a ton of character development (and we're told over and over again about the hero's Tragic Past and refusal to let the heroine into his heart to the point where I was willing to settle for the hot sex on her behalf)--but those D/s-y sex scenes, whew! Come for the angst; stay for the sex!
March 12, 2025
4.5 stars
What a delicious read! I hate myself a little for bypassing this book for so long. Just because I am not a big fan of Western romances. Very silly of me ofc 😅. The language was at times derogative whenever Native Americans characters are mentioned so that might fray a bit contemporary readers but I felt it was period realistic.
NJ was a delightful author with this story. She tackled the widower trope in a wholesome manner, squeezing all the angsty goodness from him. Exactly how I like my brooding, cutting widower Hero and my suffering but strong Heroine to be. As a bonus, her description of 19th century Colorado farm life was so vibrant and vivid. And I enjoyed the old school 3rd person narrative style - it was such a comfortable read!
5 GR stars because it was an almost perfect take on the widower and MOC tropes. It would have been perfect if we had had an epilogue with glimpses any future children, how the ranch fared and how his political career was. I was disappointed that the 3rd instalment in the series never materialised as it could have provided me with said glimpses.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2024
Third time reading per 2024: Solid 5 stars.
Edited Review per 2022: STILL 5 Stars!!!!!!
Original Review per 2021.
OMG OMG! Such a beautiful story. FINALLY! After months of not being able to finish a story, Nicole Jordan proved she's an amazing author.
Love it when the hero and heroine didn't get along well initially. The hero is such a drool worthy man, strong, handsome, rugged, extremely proud and tortured by his first wife's death.
The heroine is so beautiful (I love blondes!), sensual, intelligent, sensible and such a sincere soul.
I like that the hero treated the heroine badly but couldn't stay away from her body. In the end, the heroine stood up for herself and ensured the hero had to grovel before returning to him. (Unlike most other novels where there's not enough groveling).
Love the ending. Truly deserving a 5 star.
Edited Review per 2022: STILL 5 Stars!!!!!!
Original Review per 2021.
OMG OMG! Such a beautiful story. FINALLY! After months of not being able to finish a story, Nicole Jordan proved she's an amazing author.
Love it when the hero and heroine didn't get along well initially. The hero is such a drool worthy man, strong, handsome, rugged, extremely proud and tortured by his first wife's death.
The heroine is so beautiful (I love blondes!), sensual, intelligent, sensible and such a sincere soul.
I like that the hero treated the heroine badly but couldn't stay away from her body. In the end, the heroine stood up for herself and ensured the hero had to grovel before returning to him. (Unlike most other novels where there's not enough groveling).
Love the ending. Truly deserving a 5 star.
September 18, 2015
What a beautiful heart wrenching love story! Loved how heroine healed the very brooding widower hero with her unconditional love! It was sweet how he finally let go of his guilt over the death of his wife and his painful past and let Heather in. Wish it had an epilogue with cute babies though.
November 26, 2009
I've read this book 4 times. It is my all time favorite books from Nicole Jordan.
September 16, 2015
I cannot express my love for this book. Thank you to my GR friends for recommending, or putting this on my feed list! It was beautiful. Throughout the whole book, I shed tears. I love it. If anyone has any books similar to this, please send them my way!!!
October 6, 2023
Plot: love triangle between the h + H + dead wife. Honestly, this would’ve been a better book if the h had ended up with the om, who truly seemed to love her.
Hero didn't cheat because the OW-SHE- stopped him. He def would’ve slept with the whore, if the madam hadn’t interfered, so to me, it’s the same as cheating.
Also, H grovels at 98%, but the h - a doormat - had already decided to go back to him even before the grovel, so what’s even the point? This is even worse than an insta forgive scene.🙄
People talking about the good grovel…what, where? The doormat already forgave him even without the grovel, and decided she’ll stay with him no matter what… that’s what I call a terrible grovel scene, a grovel scene gone totally wrong..AND this happens 5 pages from the end.🙄
That's probably why I gave this 3 stars, as much as I enjoyed the angst in this book.
Hero didn't cheat because the OW-SHE- stopped him. He def would’ve slept with the whore, if the madam hadn’t interfered, so to me, it’s the same as cheating.
Also, H grovels at 98%, but the h - a doormat - had already decided to go back to him even before the grovel, so what’s even the point? This is even worse than an insta forgive scene.🙄
People talking about the good grovel…what, where? The doormat already forgave him even without the grovel, and decided she’ll stay with him no matter what… that’s what I call a terrible grovel scene, a grovel scene gone totally wrong..AND this happens 5 pages from the end.🙄
That's probably why I gave this 3 stars, as much as I enjoyed the angst in this book.
February 20, 2021
After reading The Lover, I need to read another book from the author to forget the book I've read previously. I saw some reviews about this book, and I have this feeling that I'm going to like it... but ugh! I was kind of disappointed and frustrated. I really wanted to like this book, I really do. But the hero killed it for me. He's a complete and utter pig of a man! This is one of those books you wish would end with the heroine telling the hero to go to hell and fuck himself, but of course, we don't always get what we want.
June 23, 2011
4.5 stars What a sweet yet heart-wrenching story. Call me crazy but I love books like this! I love when the Hero or Heroine can't let go of a lost love. It breaks the heart a little to read it which makes it all the better. :)
If you enjoy a bit of heart break and yet sweet tenderness then this is a good read. There were some hot lovin in this book as well as some tender moments.
Some of my favorite lines:
"You fill the emptiness inside me, Heather."
"I'm still not close enough,he said harshly, I want to share every breath, every beat of your heart."
This book is definitely worth reading.
If you enjoy a bit of heart break and yet sweet tenderness then this is a good read. There were some hot lovin in this book as well as some tender moments.
Some of my favorite lines:
"You fill the emptiness inside me, Heather."
"I'm still not close enough,he said harshly, I want to share every breath, every beat of your heart."
This book is definitely worth reading.
March 6, 2022
The hero was crass, the heroine a doormat. Not the best association to get me out of my book slump!
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