Midnight Bride

by Tanya Hanson

Committed to running the shoddy Lazy Jazy ranch left by her granddaddy, Carrie Smith is eager to try her own ideas on saving the place. And she doesn't need a man to help her. When handsome cowboy Jed Jones arrives without warning in Sweetcream, Texas, he bears documents that proclaim they must wed by midnight or lose the Jazy. Both fearful of relinquishing their heritage, the two exchange vows and steaming kisses... all the while Carrie seeks an annulment even as she falls head over heels. Jed, meanwhile, intends to discover the mystery of his own pa's death all the while he falls for Carrie even faster and harder.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Westerns

ebook

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[JadeShea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Midnight Bride is about Carrie Smith's grandfather recently passed away now she's the only one looking after her land. But one day out of know where she meets Jed Jones, a man who has a document stating that half of her land is his, and that they must get married by Midnight if they wish to keep their land.

Carrie doesn't trust this at all, even though the document seemed real and the judge and sheriff approved it. She still doesn't believe it. And Jed said they would only be married by name, so they have to make it look real to others but they each know it isn't. She tries everything she can to prove that Jed isn't who he says, and that everything he's said about her family is lies.

Jed on the other hand is instantly attracted to Carrie, and wants to make her his wife in every way possible. He will stop at nothing to win her over, and make her love him.

But people around them want to take the land away from them, so they have a lot of things to go through before they can live happily ever after.

This book was okay. I got extremely frustrated with Carrie throughout the whole book. The way she wouldn't ever believe anything that Jed said was truly annoying. And the fact that she kept saying she was going to end the marriage, but yet didn't actually do a whole lot to end it at all. I truly couldn't stand her at all, and it made me dislike the book.

The other character's in the book were okay though. I didn't really have any problems with them. This book isn't something I will read again, but it was okay at the time.

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carrie agrees to marry the dazzlingly handsome stranger Jed in order to comply with a will supposedly written by their grandfathers. She goes through with the ceremony on the advice of the judge and with the promise from Jed that it will be in name only. She fully intends to get an annulment, despite the fact that Jed tells her it is forever.
He has earned money working hard on the trail and wants to invest and enjoy his own land. She has nothing but debts at the store, so that at least seems like a good idea...for now. Jed has promised that he will not force her, but he has every intention of courting her and winning her around, especially as there is an undeniable attraction between them.
There is a mystery surrounding the death of their fathers and some scandal in the family, which is investigated as the story progresses, questioning the past, the will and ownership of the ranch. Jed also has a wealthy grandmother who desperately wants him to come home and will do anything to scupper his ranch plans.

The real story is of course the romance between Carrie and Jed. He is charming, generous, kind and thoughtful, with beautiful manners unlike the cowboys she has grown up with. She can see all of his qualities, but hates the idea that she is cornered against her will. Jed is happy to have Carrie as his wife, despite the doubts about the past. She is pretty, capable and intelligent. Inevitably she falls for him as much as he falls for her.

An upbeat, amusing read without great complexity.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the unexpected wedding at the start to the end of Midnight Bride, one mystery after another is revealed and solved. Carrie Smith is struggling to keep the Lazy Jay, her late granddaddy's ranch afloat when in rides handsome cowboy Jeb Jones with proof of an agreement between her grandfather and his that they have to wed by midnight of the sixtieth day after the death of the last grandfather. As strangers they wed and start a journey to save the ranch and Jeb hopes find love on the way, as Carrie dreams of an annulment of the marriage. It seems each day brings a new obstacle or challenge for Carrie and Jeb, as they learn to stick together to save the ranch. The portrayal of western lifestyle, the beauty of Western Texas and the customs of the times make this a great western, which I always enjoy.

[Clarke · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.7 Stars. Free Book. The two main characters must wed in order to keep the family farm. Carrie kicks up a fuss about marring a stranger while Jed tried to make the best out of the situation. I found the book slow and overly long. Explanations are given as to why neither Jed nor Carrie know about the marriage contact until the last minute but even that seemed silly and unbelievable. This book missed its mark with me I skimmed most of it. If you're looking for a book with family feuds, cowboys, pushy people, and small towns this book is for you.

[Bobbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was pleasently surprised at this book. I anticipated that it would be a typical girl-must-marry-boy-to-keep-family-house book. You know the one, right? It was at that, but it added a bit more depth to it. I like that. I'd have been perfectly happy with the typical but having the little bit of extra made it go up. I'd have given it 3 1/2 stars if that were possible.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The terms of the will said they had to be married by midnight; he arrives as a stranger in town and she becomes his Midnight Bride. Married to a stranger is a hard way to start married life, as the story of the Midnight Bride unfolds. It is a good story with interesting conflicts coming from several directions to keep the action going.