Last Chance Bride

by Jillian Hart

Last Chance At Love...

The lonely bearer of a shameful secret, Libby Hodges needed to make a new start—in Montana Territory as Jacob Stone's mail-order bride and mother to his little girl. Hoping to meet a loving husband, she found, instead, a man shattered by by loss and wary of affection. Libby could read in his gentle gray eyes a desperate plea for the tenderness they both craved. But how could she claim the heart of a man who'd vowed never to give it away again, or tell her prospective groom that she carried another man's child?

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical, Romance, Harlequin, Mail Order Brides, Westerns

298 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 1998

About the author

Jillian Hart grew up on her family's homestead in Washington state, where she raised cattle, rode horses and scribbled stories in her spare time.
After earning her English degree from Whitman College, she worked in travel and advertising before selling her first novel.
When Jillian isn't working on her next story, she can be found puttering around her rose garden, curled up with a good book and spending quiet evenings at home with her family.

Reviews

[Debby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Libby Hodges is a mail order bride of sorts for Jacob Stone and his 6-year-old daughter Emma in Montana. Libby is pregnant by her previous employer in Kansas (who just happened to forget to tell her he was married). Jacob is a good man, but lost his wife in childbirth and doesn't want to risk it again. Libby and Jacob both fall in love and end up living together, but after Libby's baby is born, Jacob's fears take over again. Finally it works out, but it's poorly edited toward the end especially. Details come out in conversation that hadn't previously been discussed.

Good story but not completely plausible for the time period.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow. It's been awhile since I've read a book in under 48 hours, LOL.

This book wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible either :P The hero kept on wallowing in self-pity and despair, which is honestly, not the greatest personality trait. There was also a serious communication break down between hero and heroine. The storyline felt somewhat depressing at times, however, it was a fun, quick read.

Now, on to my next western-historical romance... :)

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful tale of a young woman who traveled miles to be a wife and a mother under an agreement; however, she found herself in a bit of trouble and the father no longer wanted her around. Needless to say, the little girl had already grown to love the young woman. This situation left the father trying to push the woman away but still keep her close for the little girl's need for a mother figure.

[Marnie Boyers · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was terribly boring. The dialog between Libby and Jacob was ridiculous. I gave up on them after 180 pages because the back and forth and nauseating excuses made me tired. I no longer cared if they got together or not.

[Breyaniah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d give this like 3.75⭐️and 2.5🌶️

I liked it. The romance was good, but I mostly wanted to smack Jacob. I continued to read it mostly for Libby and Emma’s relationship. They are the sweetest!

[Ariahlynn S’Rhea · Rating 3 out of 5]

All that blubbering and bullshit for like that?!

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was… alright. Honestly, the hero and heroine got on my nerves quite a bit at times. The plot itself isn’t bad, but it gets so bogged down by the constant reminders of their anxieties. Hardly a page goes by without the hero wondering if he could love again or the heroine wondering if she could have the life she truly hoped for. It’s like they’re drawn together, but both fighting like mad to stay apart.

The characters are both kinda broken, I’m not surprised that they’re both unsure about the future, but it got *really* old after a while. I found myself scoffing and rolling my eyes at times. The ending is somewhat satisfying, but it seems rushed compared to how long the rest dragged out. Emma is sweet, she’s probably my favorite character in this.

I feel like I would like it more if a lot of the fretting and mental hand-wringing was cut out.

[Priscilla · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fim apressado com edição ruim.

Há diálogos que não fazem sentido provavelmente porque certas partes foram cortadas e o que sobrou não foi reescrito.

Dispensável.

[Laney · Rating 1 out of 5]

Only redeeming thing about this book was that it was like a buck 🫶🏻

[Tonileg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Western historical romance with a grieving widower with a young daughter who gets a mail order bride to take care of his daughter, but gets more then he wanted from his marriage.
Miss Libby Hodges has traveled far through dangerous lands to be married to the kind man she found through letters because she has a secret and has to marry before her secret starts to show on her body. In Montana Territory, Jacob Stone doesn't have lots of choices to take care of his little Emma so he has resigned to marrying a stranger for childcare.
Second chances for everyone in this story. Jacob's pain is palpable through out this story where even in the end the reader can tell that he is only starting his journey towards healing. I liked how the people in the small town wasn't judge-y about the two living together without being married. I guess because the two of them are so sweet and caring to everyone in the town.
Well written story about two people that are desperate to receive and give their love away even after being hurt. I was seriously worried about this not getting a HEA, but it does come around before it is too late. I felt so close to these people! I loved little Emma and her little homemade doll.
298 pages bought used at a used book store
3 stars

[Jody · Rating 2 out of 5]

So sad! Jacob puts out an ad for a wife and Elizabeth answers. Libby comes with a very large secret and Jacob has a condition. Emma,Jacob's daughter, seems to be caught up in the mess they create and gets her heart broken.

[amaareads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I respect the 'clean romance' vibe, but these two had about as much chemistry as two rocks sitting next to each other on the prairie

[Sydnee Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful read. The awkwardness of their feelings made for an interesting compound in this book. The added daughter made it a great family setting.