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Sierra Bride
Powerful Sam Pickett is used to getting his way. So he is baffled when Kate Wells, a feisty little hellion who steps between him and a bullet in the back, isn't remotely interested in becoming his latest plaything--despite the fact she's poor, with an aunt and blind sister to support!Sam's life is transformed by this compassionate, hardworking woman--who is strangely cynical for one so young. He fully intends to make Kate his bride, but that could prove to be the greatest challenge of his life!
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published July 28, 2009
2 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Jenna Kernan
123 books395 followersThank you for finding me on GoodReads.
Find my social media links here: https://linktr.ee/jennakernan
Here's a bit more about me...
Publishers Weekly bestselling author, Jenna Kernan has written over forty novels, most recently penning domestic thrillers. Her debut thriller, A Killer's Daughter, won the bronze medal in popular fiction from the Florida Book Awards in 2021. Jenna’s 2022 domestic thriller, The Ex-Wives, won the gold medal in the same category. The Nurse, was released in 2023, The Patient's Daughter released in 2024, and The Fake Mother in 2025. Her thrillers are intense, unsettling, and gripping with unexpected twists and turns.
Jenna began her writing journey penning historical romance, paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Find them here: https://www.jennakernan.com/books-1
A member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Florida Mystery Writers and Novelists, Inc. and a natural redhead living with her husband on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Jenna has recently increased her sunblock to SPF 50.
Jenna offers a FREE BOOK as a welcome gift to new VIP Readers. Subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/jennakernan/grippi...
Visit Jenna at www.jennakernan.com
Follow Jenna here ...
BookBub: jenna-kernan
Twitter: @jennakernan
Instagram: jenna-kernan
Facebook: AuthorJennaKernan or join her newsletter at www.jennakernan.com
Find my social media links here: https://linktr.ee/jennakernan
Here's a bit more about me...
Publishers Weekly bestselling author, Jenna Kernan has written over forty novels, most recently penning domestic thrillers. Her debut thriller, A Killer's Daughter, won the bronze medal in popular fiction from the Florida Book Awards in 2021. Jenna’s 2022 domestic thriller, The Ex-Wives, won the gold medal in the same category. The Nurse, was released in 2023, The Patient's Daughter released in 2024, and The Fake Mother in 2025. Her thrillers are intense, unsettling, and gripping with unexpected twists and turns.
Jenna began her writing journey penning historical romance, paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Find them here: https://www.jennakernan.com/books-1
A member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Florida Mystery Writers and Novelists, Inc. and a natural redhead living with her husband on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Jenna has recently increased her sunblock to SPF 50.
Jenna offers a FREE BOOK as a welcome gift to new VIP Readers. Subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/jennakernan/grippi...
Visit Jenna at www.jennakernan.com
Follow Jenna here ...
BookBub: jenna-kernan
Twitter: @jennakernan
Instagram: jenna-kernan
Facebook: AuthorJennaKernan or join her newsletter at www.jennakernan.com
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 19, 2011
I liked this book a lot. It’s different from the other two books by Ms. Kernan that I have read and enjoyed, but that’s good. I like to see an author doing different things and mixing it up. One thing that was similar, and the most important thing, is Ms. Kernan’s ability to write a story that engages me, and her penchant for troubled characters falling in love with each other.
My thoughts:
• Sam was a sexy guy. He had charisma. I loved that Sam built himself from the ground up, from a very troubled past. He did something to survive that really tortured him, and made him feel unworthy of love. He wasn’t always the most honorable guy in the way he interacted with Kate, but he still showed her a lot of TLC, which counts for more in my book. Normally, I don’t like mistress storylines very much. Sam didn’t have honest intentions towards Kate initially, which bothered me. He saw the fire in her and thought she was sexy, so he wanted to get her into his bed. He didn’t really think about that being the last thing a woman who was trying to stay respectable would need. That struck me as being a little selfish of him (although he was more than willing to provide for her material needs), which made me unhappy with Sam. However, it was clear that there was a powerful attraction between Sam and Kate, and that had me interested. As I continued to read, I could see why Sam avoided marriage. He had two reasons: fear of commitment because of being rejected by the family who adopted his brother but left him because he was older, and also because of his feelings of unworthiness as a person. Ms. Kernan did a good job of showing that Sam was a down-to-earth guy, who might not have had a formal education, but he was smart and motivated. Who could ask for anything more in a hero? Although he was a rich man with access to anything he wanted, he was still an earthy man, which was very appealing! And he lacked the one thing he truly needed, the love and devotion of a good woman.
• Kate was tough, a survivor. She was also giving and self-sacrificing. She had scars from the loss of her family, and the fact that she felt responsible for her sister being blind. Also, from her marriage to a controlling, bullying man who used her for his own gain, and destroyed her reputation with his swindling ways. She was happy to be free and independent again, even if it made for long days and uncertain finances. She saves Sam’s life, and for her thanks, she gets pursued by him to be his mistress. At first, Kate says no, but her aunt will lose her house if she doesn’t go through with it. In any case, a temporary mistress stint would allow her freedom that being trapped in marriage had denied her the first time around. Although she agreed to be Sam’s mistress because of the financial necessity her family faced, she liked him and was very attracted to him. I like that Kate stood by Sam, even after finding out his terrible secret, and when he’s in danger from his competitors. She actually ends up saving Sam’s life twice. What a woman!
• The chemistry between Kate and Sam was hot. The love scenes were very passionate and fiery! I like how Sam was patient about Kate’s fears of intimacy, and cared about her pleasure, which wasn’t the case with her loser, deceased husband.
• Sam and Kate were both sweeties. I also liked Sam’s best friend, Cole. Sam and Cole’s friendship survived some truly horrible events, which is great, since we all need friends who will stand by us thick and thin.
• I must add that I liked the action/adventure elements very much. What’s a good western without one shootout? And the flood was a nice bonus. Another area in which Ms. Kernan excels.
Although I thought I would like this book, just based on my past experience reading Jenna Kernan, it was also a surprise that I found so many hidden depths to this story and our hero. Sam is one of those tough guys that I feel is just begging to be hugged, even if he doesn’t know it yet. I’m glad that he found Kate to give him lots of huggies and love to make up for lost time!
My thoughts:
• Sam was a sexy guy. He had charisma. I loved that Sam built himself from the ground up, from a very troubled past. He did something to survive that really tortured him, and made him feel unworthy of love. He wasn’t always the most honorable guy in the way he interacted with Kate, but he still showed her a lot of TLC, which counts for more in my book. Normally, I don’t like mistress storylines very much. Sam didn’t have honest intentions towards Kate initially, which bothered me. He saw the fire in her and thought she was sexy, so he wanted to get her into his bed. He didn’t really think about that being the last thing a woman who was trying to stay respectable would need. That struck me as being a little selfish of him (although he was more than willing to provide for her material needs), which made me unhappy with Sam. However, it was clear that there was a powerful attraction between Sam and Kate, and that had me interested. As I continued to read, I could see why Sam avoided marriage. He had two reasons: fear of commitment because of being rejected by the family who adopted his brother but left him because he was older, and also because of his feelings of unworthiness as a person. Ms. Kernan did a good job of showing that Sam was a down-to-earth guy, who might not have had a formal education, but he was smart and motivated. Who could ask for anything more in a hero? Although he was a rich man with access to anything he wanted, he was still an earthy man, which was very appealing! And he lacked the one thing he truly needed, the love and devotion of a good woman.
• Kate was tough, a survivor. She was also giving and self-sacrificing. She had scars from the loss of her family, and the fact that she felt responsible for her sister being blind. Also, from her marriage to a controlling, bullying man who used her for his own gain, and destroyed her reputation with his swindling ways. She was happy to be free and independent again, even if it made for long days and uncertain finances. She saves Sam’s life, and for her thanks, she gets pursued by him to be his mistress. At first, Kate says no, but her aunt will lose her house if she doesn’t go through with it. In any case, a temporary mistress stint would allow her freedom that being trapped in marriage had denied her the first time around. Although she agreed to be Sam’s mistress because of the financial necessity her family faced, she liked him and was very attracted to him. I like that Kate stood by Sam, even after finding out his terrible secret, and when he’s in danger from his competitors. She actually ends up saving Sam’s life twice. What a woman!
• The chemistry between Kate and Sam was hot. The love scenes were very passionate and fiery! I like how Sam was patient about Kate’s fears of intimacy, and cared about her pleasure, which wasn’t the case with her loser, deceased husband.
• Sam and Kate were both sweeties. I also liked Sam’s best friend, Cole. Sam and Cole’s friendship survived some truly horrible events, which is great, since we all need friends who will stand by us thick and thin.
• I must add that I liked the action/adventure elements very much. What’s a good western without one shootout? And the flood was a nice bonus. Another area in which Ms. Kernan excels.
Although I thought I would like this book, just based on my past experience reading Jenna Kernan, it was also a surprise that I found so many hidden depths to this story and our hero. Sam is one of those tough guys that I feel is just begging to be hugged, even if he doesn’t know it yet. I’m glad that he found Kate to give him lots of huggies and love to make up for lost time!
May 24, 2021
Nice try not giving me the needed vibes
Abused women were a more wide common situation at that time but she is too aware she steps too bold in his proposal and he falls like a tree abruptly
It’s not you it’s me
SNS
Next please
Abused women were a more wide common situation at that time but she is too aware she steps too bold in his proposal and he falls like a tree abruptly
It’s not you it’s me
SNS
Next please
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2010
It's one of those stories where you hate the hero and then love him. Why does that keep happening to me?
March 6, 2015
2.5
I don't like the last part of the story. Though a happy ending...
I don't like the last part of the story. Though a happy ending...
February 23, 2026
DNF at 25%. I just can’t anymore. It’s taken me two hours and many accidentally social media scrollings to get from 22% to 25%. The writing is just so cheesy, I can’t take anything serious and/or care what happens next. There is a reason this book hovers at 3.29 GR stars!
It was like watching a bad, really bad western soap opera. The more I read, the more I was laughing. Specifically at the ridiculousness of everything the hero said, thought and did. Nothing he did was realistic or remotely made any sense. I was constantly asking myself, “why would he say that!? Why would he react that way!?”
If the heroine blinked her eyes in his general direction, he was hard. If she breathed in the same room as him, he was wondering how soon she will invite him into her bed (as a mistress).
I started to save quotes to use, as proof or absurdness, but it was basically all 25%. Moving on…
It was like watching a bad, really bad western soap opera. The more I read, the more I was laughing. Specifically at the ridiculousness of everything the hero said, thought and did. Nothing he did was realistic or remotely made any sense. I was constantly asking myself, “why would he say that!? Why would he react that way!?”
If the heroine blinked her eyes in his general direction, he was hard. If she breathed in the same room as him, he was wondering how soon she will invite him into her bed (as a mistress).
I started to save quotes to use, as proof or absurdness, but it was basically all 25%. Moving on…
September 1, 2009
I would have given this a higher review, for a pretty good story and interesting characters, if it wasn't for all the word usage errors. So many flipped words (steel/steal, their/there, weak/week etc). And so many just WRONG!
The errors that seriously brought me to a standstill and made me put the book down:
-You do not consider "hawking" his jewelry, you hock it.
-If someone does something gutsy, they do not have "bullocks". They have bollocks. Bullocks are castrated steers - in other words, bullocks have no bollocks! This was said at least twice in the book.
-She didn't get a sip of tea through the whole book because things kept interrupting them. Unbelievable that, while getting ready to get onto the train, one couldn't also grab a sip of tea? She wasn't being hurried onto the train, it wasn't going to leave without her, etc etc - she couldn't get *one sip* of tea from her cup right in front of her while everyone was getting up from the table and getting their jackets and bags and luggage and and and? ONE SIP? Lady, if I hadn't had tea in weeks and someone put a cup of it in front of me, NO ONE is getting me up from that table until I've had at least one sip. Even if it's boiling hot, *one sip*. You can do it as you stand up, as you're putting on your jacket. Even as you're being dragged to the train station, you could grab your cup and drink it as you run. This happened multiple times, in fact often enough that at the last one I threw the book across the room. For supposedly being someone who "loved tea", she wasn't much of a tea drinker! It wouldn't have bothered me as much if it hadn't been used as a big character point for her, that she loved tea so much and people kept giving her tea and she kept not drinking it.
Having said all that, the story and characters were enough that I kept picking the book up and finished it. Which is a big positive - because I will NOT finish a book if it's not worth finishing!
The errors that seriously brought me to a standstill and made me put the book down:
-You do not consider "hawking" his jewelry, you hock it.
-If someone does something gutsy, they do not have "bullocks". They have bollocks. Bullocks are castrated steers - in other words, bullocks have no bollocks! This was said at least twice in the book.
-She didn't get a sip of tea through the whole book because things kept interrupting them. Unbelievable that, while getting ready to get onto the train, one couldn't also grab a sip of tea? She wasn't being hurried onto the train, it wasn't going to leave without her, etc etc - she couldn't get *one sip* of tea from her cup right in front of her while everyone was getting up from the table and getting their jackets and bags and luggage and and and? ONE SIP? Lady, if I hadn't had tea in weeks and someone put a cup of it in front of me, NO ONE is getting me up from that table until I've had at least one sip. Even if it's boiling hot, *one sip*. You can do it as you stand up, as you're putting on your jacket. Even as you're being dragged to the train station, you could grab your cup and drink it as you run. This happened multiple times, in fact often enough that at the last one I threw the book across the room. For supposedly being someone who "loved tea", she wasn't much of a tea drinker! It wouldn't have bothered me as much if it hadn't been used as a big character point for her, that she loved tea so much and people kept giving her tea and she kept not drinking it.
Having said all that, the story and characters were enough that I kept picking the book up and finished it. Which is a big positive - because I will NOT finish a book if it's not worth finishing!
May 16, 2013
i so wanted to give this book three stars, but its language stopped me.
this book is tagged under Historical romance but the language *shaking heah* ......language was too bad.
there were many words that were not used in Historical romances for example kinda, how can one use "kinda" in a historical romance. many different errors were there and spelling mistakes, if i started quoting. this review wont be enough.
Story was good and were the character build-up. i enjoyed the story dispite the lack of language.
this book is tagged under Historical romance but the language *shaking heah* ......language was too bad.
there were many words that were not used in Historical romances for example kinda, how can one use "kinda" in a historical romance. many different errors were there and spelling mistakes, if i started quoting. this review wont be enough.
Story was good and were the character build-up. i enjoyed the story dispite the lack of language.
January 24, 2012
This is a realy good read. I adore the heroine, she is so strong and Sam is a super hero. I loved the emotion in the story, especially Kate's feelings of fear and caution about falling in love and being with a man again. I liked the reality of the emotions, how she had been hurt by Luke. Well written and nicely expressed.
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September 18, 2009Western
September 27, 2009
Excellent read. Engaging characters and a setting brought to life by beautiful writing.
May 24, 2010
Not my usual type of book, but I enjoyed it.
December 23, 2011
Great quick read. I love Sam! Enough said
August 25, 2014
A forgettable book, though I really like the beginning.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews