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Colter's Wife
IN A BOLD, DARING BARGAIN SHE MARRIED A STRANGER...AND DISCOVERED NEW DEPTHS OF DESIRE!
It was a shocking alliance indeed - Kinyan Holloway, the proud young widow, and Benjamin Colter, the tall, scarred drifter driven by a dream. Only as a married woman could Kinyan protect her beloved Triple Fork ranch from the violent land-lust of the Territory's most powerful cattle baron. But the hungry, urgent yearning that blazed, fierce and unbidden. between Kinyan and Colter awoke the tortured memories that kept him captive and out of her arms. If their new-found love did not destroy them, a killer's hellfire hatred would - as an old vengeance spiraled murderously out of the distant but all-too-living past!
It was a shocking alliance indeed - Kinyan Holloway, the proud young widow, and Benjamin Colter, the tall, scarred drifter driven by a dream. Only as a married woman could Kinyan protect her beloved Triple Fork ranch from the violent land-lust of the Territory's most powerful cattle baron. But the hungry, urgent yearning that blazed, fierce and unbidden. between Kinyan and Colter awoke the tortured memories that kept him captive and out of her arms. If their new-found love did not destroy them, a killer's hellfire hatred would - as an old vengeance spiraled murderously out of the distant but all-too-living past!
292 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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327 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 12, 2012
This was a decent read. It's one of those I basically enjoyed, although I can nit-pick it to death.
Premise: Heroine is half Indian (not sure why, since it made little difference to the plot, but she was) who married a Wyoming rancher at the age of 14 and now, at the age of 25, is widowed with 3 children. As a woman, she can't manage a ranch on her own, and rather than take an offer of marriage from a loathsome neighbor, she proposes to a drifter she knows nothing at all about. (I wonder if that sounded as sarcastic in print as it did in my head. :) )
Actually, I can't blame her. She was stuck between a rock and a couple of hard places, and Colter was, at least, very attractive to her.
Colter has his own issues -- his wife and daughter were killed 8 years ago by three men, only two of which he has managed to catch. Of course, coincidentally, the third man will be found in Wyoming, no where near Texas where the incident happened in the first place.
Actually, that was just one of a couple of really far-fetched things that happened during the book, some of which felt very deus ex machinish to me.
Technical difficulties aside, I think the reason I only felt a basic enjoyment of this one rather than a real liking was that the romance needed more buildup. It seemed a little too easy to me, and never really rose above its lustful origins.
I usually end my reviews by recommending a book (or not), but I don't feel strongly enough about this one way or another. Read it or don't. If you like Joan Johnston, I imagine you'll like this.
Premise: Heroine is half Indian (not sure why, since it made little difference to the plot, but she was) who married a Wyoming rancher at the age of 14 and now, at the age of 25, is widowed with 3 children. As a woman, she can't manage a ranch on her own, and rather than take an offer of marriage from a loathsome neighbor, she proposes to a drifter she knows nothing at all about. (I wonder if that sounded as sarcastic in print as it did in my head. :) )
Actually, I can't blame her. She was stuck between a rock and a couple of hard places, and Colter was, at least, very attractive to her.
Colter has his own issues -- his wife and daughter were killed 8 years ago by three men, only two of which he has managed to catch. Of course, coincidentally, the third man will be found in Wyoming, no where near Texas where the incident happened in the first place.
Actually, that was just one of a couple of really far-fetched things that happened during the book, some of which felt very deus ex machinish to me.
Technical difficulties aside, I think the reason I only felt a basic enjoyment of this one rather than a real liking was that the romance needed more buildup. It seemed a little too easy to me, and never really rose above its lustful origins.
I usually end my reviews by recommending a book (or not), but I don't feel strongly enough about this one way or another. Read it or don't. If you like Joan Johnston, I imagine you'll like this.
May 9, 2010
I enjoyed this book. I don't know why the author made the heroine half indian since it really didn't play into the story much at all. It was sort of used for a deus ex machina effect a couple of times. The writing was well done and the story emotional so I overlooked some non period feeling elements in spots that might have bothered me more if the writing wasn't so good. The tortured type hero was pretty good although most drifters in westerns are not rich but I overlooked it. I liked the saloon girl and the children of the heroine.
April 7, 2009
I really enjoyed this one. Set in the 1880's this would be considered an historical romance. Coulter really had some problems to work through and so did Kinyan but everything turned out for the best. I know this is a vague review but to me if I tell alot I will give away everything
July 15, 2017
Another Favorite!
I liked this book because of it's strong story line, solid characters, and intelligent dialogue. It kept my interest. Thanks Joan Johnston!
I liked this book because of it's strong story line, solid characters, and intelligent dialogue. It kept my interest. Thanks Joan Johnston!
August 14, 2017
Favorite
I have read this book several times. It is always worth my time. Love the old cowboys from the 1800's.
I have read this book several times. It is always worth my time. Love the old cowboys from the 1800's.
August 31, 2020
This western by Ms. Johnston was very good! I thought the characters were very well developed. I enjoy the way Ms. Johnston weaves the suspense factor in her stories. Sometimes I wish I didn't read as much as I do. When one has read several hundred books, one can frequently predict some of what will happen. For instance, I knew Colter would regain his eyesight. It would have been a helluva twist if he hadn't! I'm not sure when exactly, but I did figure out who the truly bad guy was from Colter's past before he revealed himself. All that matters not, I totally enjoy the many novels I have consumed that were penned by Joan Johnston! It's strange that this was flat out a western yet, after reading the Bitter Creek series, this book felt fresh, as though it was the first of her westerns that I was reading! I like that about Ms. Johnston's books. She has written other westerns. By mixing up the stories by her, each one seems fresh!
I'm hoping I have ordered No Longer A Stranger, Frontier Woman, Comanche Woman, and Texas Woman in addition to all the Bitter Creek novels. Until they come in I will likely read books that won't lure me into another series!
I'm hoping I have ordered No Longer A Stranger, Frontier Woman, Comanche Woman, and Texas Woman in addition to all the Bitter Creek novels. Until they come in I will likely read books that won't lure me into another series!
February 22, 2018
I enjoyed this novel and went back deliberately to read it after I had read another book by this author. I found it very engaging and interesting and even informative on the subject of ranching during that time. I like the way the author portrayed the two twins to be so different from one another and reacting to things in the plot as individuals. And I really liked Elizabeth a lot she was so cute. And I especially like that there was a lot of good storyline without an excessive amount of sexual description. I can leave a lot to my imagination thank you very much and don’t need a total description of the whole thing.
December 14, 2020
Good read. She is a half breed widow with three children. He is a scarred gunslinger wanted by the law. In order to prevent her land from being taken and a marriage to a person she despises plus the fact he wishes to settle down they arrange a marriage of convenience between themselves. He becomes a step father to the three children but is almost unable to cope with what the children seek, especially the youngest being a girl about the same age as the one he had lost. They deal with a deadly rival and he is shot becoming blind. He looses the will to live and she needs to find a way to help him. Love blossoms and of course a HEA ending.
June 9, 2017
This was a curious blend of western and romance. The struggles the two main characters were well developed and engaged the reader
April 8, 2019
Great book, loved it. Would be nice to continue this series. Love to see these boys as a growing up, not 15 years later, be good to see how they continue the ranch.
July 2, 2019
DNF. Boring, couldn't get into the story!
February 19, 2021
Romance! A page turner and keeps you wondering what will happen next! I enjoyed this book and this author. One of her first books!
May 8, 2024
WOW
some detailed stuff about live on a ranch and dealing with a bull who goes wild
some detailed stuff about live on a ranch and dealing with a bull who goes wild
May 21, 2011
This short prequel to Colter's Legacy would not encourage me to look for other titles by this author. I couldn't decide if it was a fantasy, a sci-fi, a romance, or porn. Hints of past tragedy in the heroine's life were poorly defined. While the author hinted at several twists in what could have been a well developed plot, nothing concrete ever materialized, except that 3 brothers had sex with their pregnant "wife". During a walk, the heroine had a fall, and was rescued hours later, in time to have her baby. And that's where the story ended. There was no satisfaction in this little excursion.
August 22, 2015
A story of courage, determination and perils of living in the west.
A widow of mixed heritage needs a man to teach her about ranching to protect her son's inheritance. Lessons included guns, self defence & learning to read.
A gunslinger on an 8 year hunt for the last of his family's brutal killers finally decides to settle. However, the price tag for the land a wilful wife, wild twin boys, a little girl who's painful to look at and a ruthless neighbor who covets his claim.
The characters are well developed and I became emotionally invested in the outcomes. Villain is greedy, cruel and without compassion. Storyline is fraught with dangers that keep the pagers turning.
A widow of mixed heritage needs a man to teach her about ranching to protect her son's inheritance. Lessons included guns, self defence & learning to read.
A gunslinger on an 8 year hunt for the last of his family's brutal killers finally decides to settle. However, the price tag for the land a wilful wife, wild twin boys, a little girl who's painful to look at and a ruthless neighbor who covets his claim.
The characters are well developed and I became emotionally invested in the outcomes. Villain is greedy, cruel and without compassion. Storyline is fraught with dangers that keep the pagers turning.
July 28, 2012
Benjamin Colter tried to leave behind the tragedy of his past. One that covered his body and soul with a mirad of scars. Mistaking Kinyan's sons and father as rampaging Indians, he comes to risk his heart again.
Kinyan has already lost one husband, and was estranged from her father. Could she risk again to save the family ranch for her sons and daughter?
A really great story. Enjoyed every minute of it.
Kinyan has already lost one husband, and was estranged from her father. Could she risk again to save the family ranch for her sons and daughter?
A really great story. Enjoyed every minute of it.
June 3, 2012
I am a sucker for a historical western romance so I decided to pick up this book. This is the first Joan Johnston book I have read and it wasn't too bad. There seemed to be non stop drama just for the sake of more drama though. I don't think I have read any other book were so many bad things kept happening to so many people. I just wish there would have been a couple more happy scenes to counter balance all the bad stuff that they had to go through. Overall it was a pretty good read.
October 7, 2012
a one weekend read! Good historical western set in Wyoming in the late 1800's. Kinyan's husband is killed in a range accident & the only way she can hold on to the ranch is to remarry. She chooses to marry the cowboy drifter who wants to buy her land, instead of the prominent rancher in town. Quite a few twists and turns. The drifter is not really that, the prominent rancher is really the outlaw, and Kinyan's family needs to learn to accomodate a new Pa in Colter.
January 5, 2016
It is a Western Study with the usual: cattle drives, Indians, marriage of convenience... But it also tries to cover the plight of the natives. this means there is too much to cover deeply and it doesn't do justice to some of these topics. If you read it as a romance set in the wild West and don't expect too much depth, then you're good!
October 28, 2008
This was the perfect beach read. Not very heavy and a typical type of romantic book which should not have much expected from it. It was not trashy romance but had it's mix of tragedy, sex, happiness, conflict and overcoming that conflict and of course everything ended happily ever after.
Read
October 19, 20162nd read...Read it before I started keeping track on Goodreads...10/25/2008
August 23, 2011
A good case for punctuation making a difference.... That apostrophe placement is NOT A TYPO.
Interesting read.
Interesting read.
December 21, 2011
Great!
July 3, 2012
Very good although I did have a hard time getting into it at first.
November 7, 2013
The book was a warm and loving read, although for me, there were some loose ends which could have been sorted out. Anyways, 4 stars to my love for the 'West'...:D
December 14, 2013
Okay Western story with a major coincidence. A story of arranged marriage and then a marriage of convenience.
May 7, 2015
I love a good Western romance, and this one fit the bill perfectly. Romance & intrigue & and a particularly rotten bad guy out on the wild plains. Joan Johnston does a good job!
Read
November 18, 2015good
Read
June 11, 2016Used - Good (Some spine creases; Signs of shelf wear)
September 18, 2012
great! loved it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews