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Princes of the Outback #3
The Ruthless Groom
HE NEEDED A WIFE. AND HE NEEDED HER TONIGHT, IF NOT SOONER.
Enter Zara Lovett. His ex-fiancee's best friend. Her hair was a spill of honeyed silk framing on whiskey eyes. Zara, who'd strode into Alex Carlisle's life on killer legs and lit up a powder keg in his gut. It was chemistry, the kind of powerful, explosive mix Alex made a habit of avoiding--until today. Because the fireworks between them changed nothing. He still needed to satisfy the terms of his father's will.
That was his goal. That was his duty. That was what mattered.
And he'd make sure Zara said yes.
Enter Zara Lovett. His ex-fiancee's best friend. Her hair was a spill of honeyed silk framing on whiskey eyes. Zara, who'd strode into Alex Carlisle's life on killer legs and lit up a powder keg in his gut. It was chemistry, the kind of powerful, explosive mix Alex made a habit of avoiding--until today. Because the fireworks between them changed nothing. He still needed to satisfy the terms of his father's will.
That was his goal. That was his duty. That was what mattered.
And he'd make sure Zara said yes.
Paperback
First published November 1, 2005
9 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Bronwyn Jameson
153 books25 followersBestselling and award-winning author Bronwyn Jameson grew up on an Australian farm where she developed a lifelong love of animals and the written word. Happily she was able to marry the two working as a rural journalist before a magazine article introduced her to Romance Writers of Australia and the possibility of a new career writing the books she loved to read.
After five years, a handful of contest wins and an equal number of rejections from Harlequin Mills & Boon, Bronwyn received the phone call all aspiring novelists dream of: Leslie Wainger at Silhouette Books wanted to buy the manuscript she'd judged in the Romance Writers of New Zealand Clendon Award.
Silhouette Desire published In Bed With The Boss's Daughter in July 2001. Since then Bronwyn has continued to write take-to-bed romance for Desire, winning contests such as The Aspen Gold, The Write Touch Readers' Award and the Anne Bonney Readers' Choice. In 2006 she was a triple RITA finalist with her Princes of the Outback trilogy and a nominee for the Romantic Times Series Storyteller of the Year.
As well as strong Australian heroes and spirited heroines, her stories feature all kinds of animals including an energetic Border Collie named Mac, a jet black racehorse named Stella, an attack cat named Gizmo, a talking pony nicknamed Mini Ed, a bitzer named Digger, a Russian Blue named Tolstoy…well, you get the picture.
She still loves animals and the written word. Her home is still a farm in the Australian heartland, which she shares with her husband and three sons, a thousand sheep, half a dozen horses, three dogs, an echidna and a wallaby.
After five years, a handful of contest wins and an equal number of rejections from Harlequin Mills & Boon, Bronwyn received the phone call all aspiring novelists dream of: Leslie Wainger at Silhouette Books wanted to buy the manuscript she'd judged in the Romance Writers of New Zealand Clendon Award.
Silhouette Desire published In Bed With The Boss's Daughter in July 2001. Since then Bronwyn has continued to write take-to-bed romance for Desire, winning contests such as The Aspen Gold, The Write Touch Readers' Award and the Anne Bonney Readers' Choice. In 2006 she was a triple RITA finalist with her Princes of the Outback trilogy and a nominee for the Romantic Times Series Storyteller of the Year.
As well as strong Australian heroes and spirited heroines, her stories feature all kinds of animals including an energetic Border Collie named Mac, a jet black racehorse named Stella, an attack cat named Gizmo, a talking pony nicknamed Mini Ed, a bitzer named Digger, a Russian Blue named Tolstoy…well, you get the picture.
She still loves animals and the written word. Her home is still a farm in the Australian heartland, which she shares with her husband and three sons, a thousand sheep, half a dozen horses, three dogs, an echidna and a wallaby.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 23, 2025
This was the best book in the series. Hero was the eldest of the sons who had to produce a grandchild in order to inherit their father's Outback station. He was going to enter into a business arrangement with a cold fish executive from the same social class, but she jilted him the day of their ciivic ceremony. The bride's illegitimate half-sister (h) is the one who delivers the message to the hero. Since we never meet the half-sister, it's not squicky that the H/h fall for each other - at least to this reader.
The heroine is in med school and actually has to spend hours studying. That was a refreshing change of pace. The hero has self-control and doesn't put the moves on the heroine until he knows that whatever that arrangement he had with the half-sister is truly over. Author did a great job with sexual tension. Also, the hero does all the running, which was nice to see.
I believed in this HEA and enjoyed their story. For the series as a whole - I thought it was diverting, but it was predictable. A fairly low-stakes premise that was relaxing to read.
The heroine is in med school and actually has to spend hours studying. That was a refreshing change of pace. The hero has self-control and doesn't put the moves on the heroine until he knows that whatever that arrangement he had with the half-sister is truly over. Author did a great job with sexual tension. Also, the hero does all the running, which was nice to see.
I believed in this HEA and enjoyed their story. For the series as a whole - I thought it was diverting, but it was predictable. A fairly low-stakes premise that was relaxing to read.
May 13, 2019
3.5 ⭐ Ya lo he dicho mil veces, pero amo las historias de amores por contrato... aunque aquí no termina siendo lo que uno cree que es y eso me gustó mucho 😬
Como es usual de esta editorial, la lectura es corta, rápida y atrapante.
-Alerta spoiler -
Alex necesitaba una esposa ya! Para cumplir con un pedido de su padre muerto, pero a poco de cumplirse el tiempo límite nuestro protagonista es abandonado por la mujer que había dicho que si a su plan de formar una familia y es aquí donde en la búsqueda de su prometida conoce a Zara, la mejor amiga... La atracción es inmediata por ambos pero el valor de sus palabras y las historias ocultas dificultan que ambos diera rienda a los sentimientos, pero Alex se va a asegurar de que Zara dijera que si... ¿Tú qué crees?
Como es usual de esta editorial, la lectura es corta, rápida y atrapante.
-Alerta spoiler -
Alex necesitaba una esposa ya! Para cumplir con un pedido de su padre muerto, pero a poco de cumplirse el tiempo límite nuestro protagonista es abandonado por la mujer que había dicho que si a su plan de formar una familia y es aquí donde en la búsqueda de su prometida conoce a Zara, la mejor amiga... La atracción es inmediata por ambos pero el valor de sus palabras y las historias ocultas dificultan que ambos diera rienda a los sentimientos, pero Alex se va a asegurar de que Zara dijera que si... ¿Tú qué crees?
February 5, 2018
i found this book to be boring
June 17, 2020
Very flat story. The need for a wife dropped quickly and practically forgotten. Skip.
January 18, 2012
4 1/2 Stars! ~ Alex in the race to produce a grandchild to meet his stepfather's will, is anxious to marry a long time friend and business associate. Only Suzanne gets cold feet and sends her cousin Zara to break the news to Alex. From the moment Alex see's Zara he can barely contain his desire. The sparks fly and they enter a brief affair. Until Zara turns up pregnant. Then they pit their wills, as Alex insists they marry and Zara says no.
There's alot in this book that grabs you and pulls you in. Zara's a prefect match for Alex's ruthless streak. The outcome was as expected but it was an enjoyable journey to get there
All three books in the Princes of the Outback series were exceptional. As mentioned, I did have a few problems with The Rugged Loner in Tomas' early treatment on Angie. Ms. Jameson created characters rich with emotion and personal pasts. Each couple faced unique problems and their realistic struggles enhanced each story.
PRINCES OF THE OUTBACK trilogy by Bronwyn Jameson
When Charles Carlisle realized he was dying, he decided it was time to shake things up in the family. He wanted to give his wife Maura a purpose to keep going on and to bring his three sons closer together. In his will he stipulated that in order for the Carlisle properties to remain in Carlisle ownership, one of his sons would have to produce a child within the first year of his death. He knows that all three of his sons will give this his best shot increasing the odds of success. This is a true challenge; not one of the sons has a wife or a steady woman in their lives. In fact, the youngest is a recent widower and this will prove especially difficult for him.
There's alot in this book that grabs you and pulls you in. Zara's a prefect match for Alex's ruthless streak. The outcome was as expected but it was an enjoyable journey to get there
All three books in the Princes of the Outback series were exceptional. As mentioned, I did have a few problems with The Rugged Loner in Tomas' early treatment on Angie. Ms. Jameson created characters rich with emotion and personal pasts. Each couple faced unique problems and their realistic struggles enhanced each story.
PRINCES OF THE OUTBACK trilogy by Bronwyn Jameson
When Charles Carlisle realized he was dying, he decided it was time to shake things up in the family. He wanted to give his wife Maura a purpose to keep going on and to bring his three sons closer together. In his will he stipulated that in order for the Carlisle properties to remain in Carlisle ownership, one of his sons would have to produce a child within the first year of his death. He knows that all three of his sons will give this his best shot increasing the odds of success. This is a true challenge; not one of the sons has a wife or a steady woman in their lives. In fact, the youngest is a recent widower and this will prove especially difficult for him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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October 16, 2012I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11468785
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11468785
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews