Dude Ranch Bride

by Madeline Baker

SHE SAW THE SUNSET IN HIS EYES...

Sexy Native American Ethan Stormwalker vowed never again to speak to his ex-flame, Cindy Wagner. But when she showed up at his dude ranch wearing a wedding gown--without a groom!--all promises were off. Gone was the girl who had broken his heart, and in her place...an utterly irresistible woman.

Runaway bride Cindy Wagner forever longed for past love Ethan Stormwalker. And with one look into his untamed gaze, the years of silence that hung between them melted away. But loving Ethan came with a price. Could Cindy turn her back on the life her family wanted her to live for the man she was born to love?

Genres: Harlequin, Romance, Contemporary

272 pages

First published February 1, 2003

About the author

Madeline Ruth was born on 1963 in California, where she raised. She married her high school sweetheart and they have three sons, all handsome enough to be cover models. Growing up, her favorite pastimes were going to the movies and going horseback riding on Saturday mornings at Griffith Park. Madeline has always been "horse happy." A horse was the one thing she asked for on every birthday and every Christmas. Many years later, that dream came true when she bought an Appaloosa mare named Candy—because she was so sweet. Madeline loves animals. Over the years, she's had numerous dogs, cats, fish, mice, hamsters, turtles and birds, and her horse, of course. The most exotic pet was a crocodile that belonged to one of her sons. Currently, she has a terribly spoiled Pomeranian named Teddi, six goldfish, a catfish, and a betta. When she's not writing, Madeline enjoys going to movies and the theater. Her favorite plays are The Phantom of the Opera, The Scarlet Pimpernel and her all-time fave, Beauty and the Beast. She also loves reading, going to lunch with her best friend, collecting Star Wars, The Phantom of the Opera and Beauty and the Beast memorabilia, and playing with the most beautiful, adorable, brilliant grandkids in the world.

Madeline started writing when her children were still at home, and she wrote for several years, finding time to write after her children were in bed and her husband was at work. In true cliché fashion, she wrote the books and put them under the bed, never telling anyone what she was doing, until one day she let a friend read one. Encouraged by her friend's comments, and armed with a copy of Writer's Market supplied by said friend, Madeline began sending out query letters. After six years and 31 rejections, Leisure Books bought Reckless Heart, and she's been writing ever since. After writing several Westerns, Madeline decided to try her hand at something else and wrote her first vampire romance. It was a short story titled "Masquerade" for an anthology. She loved writing that so much that she wrote her first full-length vampire romance, Embrace the Night, and thus Amanda Ashley was born. One of her dreams had been to write for Harlequin, and she accomplished that in 2003 with the publication of her Silhouette Romance novel, Dude Ranch Bride. Madeline loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her online at DarkWritr@aol.com or by mail at PO Box 1703, Whittier, CA 90609-1703.

Reviews

[Lori (on hiatus, life is crazy busy)) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good quick read. I love stories that have a sexy native American hero! I enjoyed reading about some of the Lakota's tradition's and history. Cindy and Ethan made a great match.

[Robert Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love as it should be.....

I really enjoyed getting to know each of the characters. It was refreshing to read about a society girl who was able to recognize the value of love over money and prestige. It was encouraging to read about her mother being able to see her daughter's old feelings about a young native American, and to advise her to follow her heart, even as she was walking down the aisle to wed her father's choice of a wealthy society man.
What an inspiration it was to find a young woman, a true virgin bride on her wedding night. A real story of love 💘and inspiration!!

[Toni Pulley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I loved this story. I read a lot of Indian stories. My favourite author of all these stories is Madeline Baker.

[Ada Geringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dude Ranch Bride

You just out did yourself again. I just love your stories they give my heart a best ever time I read them and I thank you again. Ada G.

[Pauline Destinugrainy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cindy Wagner lari dari pernikahannya dengan seorang pria pilihan ayahnya. Dia tidak bisa menikahi Paul, sementara di dalam hati kecilnya dia tahu bahwa dia masih mencintai seorang pria lainnya. Dalam pelariannya, dia akhirnya sampai di Elk Valley Dude Ranch. Tidak disangka di sana dia berjumpa dengan pria yang pernah mengisi hatinya itu, Ethan Stormwalker.

Ethan bekerja untuk bibinya di Elk Valley Dude Ranch. Selain sebagai pemandu, Ethan juga sering tampil untuk menarikan tarian Indian sebagai hiburan di ranch tersebut. Tarian yang ditampilkan oleh Ethan memiliki nuansa magis yang menyihir penontonnya. Begitu juga Cindy, dia tidak pernah lupa akan pesona tarian Ethan.

Dahulu mereka adalah sepasang kekasih. Tetapi profesi Ethan sebagai penari dan berasal dari keluarga yang miskin tidak disukai oleh ayah Cindy yang kaya raya. Ethan sendiri menganggap Cindy sebagai gadis manja yang tidak siap meninggalkan kekayaannya, sehingga akhirnya dia memilih meninggalkan Cindy. Di lain pihak, Cindy mengira Ethan tidak punya nyali untuk berhadapan dengan keluarganya.

Err... kisah yang tipikal sniteron Indonesia membuat saya tidak menyukai novel ini. Penyelesaian masalahnya juga gak jauh-jauh dari ending sinetron. Ughh..

[Mirella Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yah, tepatnya 3 1/2 bintanglah. Sebenernya bisa aja bintang 4. Cuma tu si Paul alias mantan calon suaminya nyebelin banget yaaaa.

Yang menarik di buku ini buat saya malah kebudayaan Indian Lakota. OMG... jadi penasaran mau tau dan belajar abis tentang suku suku Indian Amerika Utara (jadi, bukan suku Inca or Maya yang ada di Peru or Amerika Tengah / Amerika Selatan). Kan ada banyak tuh, kaya suku Sioux, dll. Asli, penasaran abis. Kagak heran, pas SMA dulu sempet pengen banget kuliah arkeologi... Sayang ditentang abis-abisan ama bokap... :((

Inti ceritanya... yah, namanya cinta sejati, mau digimanain juga gak bakal ilang yaaa... Ada yang bilang cinta itu harus dipupuk dan disirami, alias kudu dibina, kaya, harus sering ketemu, komunikasi, dll. Kalo gak, bakalan hambar dan ilang gitu aja... Nah, yang ini juga bener. Jadi, what should we do about love? Trus, semakin sering baca buku roman, jadi keknya bisa ngebedain apa itu falling in love ama in love nya sendiri. Buat aku, beda jauh banget deh...

[Fiary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meski pria dan wanitanya saling jatuh cinta dengan sangat mendalam….tapi mereka menunda kesenangan dan kenikmatan pada saat yang tepat. Menjadi point lebih untuk novel ini….

[Yacita Aditya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bukan hal rahasia lagi klo pengantin wanita melarikan diri saat pernikahan lebih dikarenakan faktor tak bisa move on dari mantan pacar. Tak peduli walau si mantan tidak menunggunya atau sdh memiliki gandengan baru.
Kisah ini lebih mengeksplore peliknya cinta lama bersemi kembali antara Cindy dan Ethan. Penolakan Ayah Cindy atas pilihan anaknya tidak begitu diekspos. Ujung2 ayahnya sakit tak sadarkan diri lalu saat siuman udh merestui Cindy. Begitu pula dgn penolakan keluarga Cindy lainnya. Jadi ibarat kate, semua tokoh dan konflik sekadar settingan belaka.

Yg menambah nilai plus dari cerita ini bagaimana teguhnya Ethan menjaga kesucian Cindy. Utk kisah2 berlatar pengantin kabur, itu tentunya bagus sebab masih memegang teguh norma.