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The Makings of a Good Man
Beth Winters had a secret. Something that she couldn't share with anyone, but when they moved to a small town in Montana, it was in jeopardy of being known, especially when her father forced her to take a job with a local cattleman. Marshal Davis had the way of finding the truth in anything, and his attraction to Beth made him more determined to get to the bottom of things.
183 pages, ebook
First published August 14, 2011
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280 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 10, 2016
Drama filled amazing trill ride here!
This one was really Good.
I loved this Heroine!
She was in a horrible family situation and she did what she had to and owned her choices.
She was the living embodiment of the rose that grew from concrete.
She was sweet and kind but she has some spine when it came to the hero.
The hero, was kind but he was also too quick to believe the bull the evil OW was throwing out about the heroine.
I loved the secondary characters again here. LW seems to have a gift for making the characters come to life on the pages.
Very enjoyable!
I am so glad I picked this one up.
Safe with exception, as it had OW drama. The hero did not have a relationship with this OW but she still messed with the heroine and hero.
This one was really Good.
I loved this Heroine!
She was in a horrible family situation and she did what she had to and owned her choices.
She was the living embodiment of the rose that grew from concrete.
She was sweet and kind but she has some spine when it came to the hero.
The hero, was kind but he was also too quick to believe the bull the evil OW was throwing out about the heroine.
I loved the secondary characters again here. LW seems to have a gift for making the characters come to life on the pages.
Very enjoyable!
I am so glad I picked this one up.
Safe with exception, as it had OW drama. The hero did not have a relationship with this OW but she still messed with the heroine and hero.
April 10, 2020
As Preeti said in her review, Lietha Ward channels Diana Palmer’s hairy, slut shaming cowboy heroes and beaten down heroines with awesome secretarial skills. This h is sassy one when it comes to the hero. It’s just too bad she can’t apply the same spine to dealing with her father.
Her father is a traditional romance genre evil father. He manipulates the heroine for business, has beaten her in the past, makes not so subtle threats and warns her no one will believe her. I would have bought this scenario if it had been published in the 1970s, even up to the mid 80s, but no way could an ER doctor or staff today miss boot marks on a young girl’s body. For some reason, Ward and the heroine let the enabler mother off the hook.
There is an appropriately evil woman that the DP-ish hero listens to, a potential date raping OM that is led to believe that the heroine wants him, and the benevolent housekeeper who keeps the big H on the straight and narrow as much as she can, and makes him suffer with PB&J sandwiches when he’s mean. The OW gets her comeuppance in public.
Best quote of the book comes from the now conveniently contrite father.
You may not think so, but tossing you down those stairs made me feel guilty.
Gee whiz.
Her father is a traditional romance genre evil father. He manipulates the heroine for business, has beaten her in the past, makes not so subtle threats and warns her no one will believe her. I would have bought this scenario if it had been published in the 1970s, even up to the mid 80s, but no way could an ER doctor or staff today miss boot marks on a young girl’s body. For some reason, Ward and the heroine let the enabler mother off the hook.
There is an appropriately evil woman that the DP-ish hero listens to, a potential date raping OM that is led to believe that the heroine wants him, and the benevolent housekeeper who keeps the big H on the straight and narrow as much as she can, and makes him suffer with PB&J sandwiches when he’s mean. The OW gets her comeuppance in public.
Best quote of the book comes from the now conveniently contrite father.
You may not think so, but tossing you down those stairs made me feel guilty.
Gee whiz.
July 28, 2022
Lietha Wards is a new-to-me author and I am really enjoying her books. There is a lot of romance and angst (the good kind) without being over the top or making me want to throw my kindle across the room.
This story serves up Beth, who is in an abusive situation with her father, and Marshal who is manly, sexy and rich. He is a grump with a heart of gold. There is mild OW drama from a clueless OW who hoodwinks the H into thinking she is a sweet, vulnerable girl but the H only really pays attention to her because she is the daughter of his business partner and he doesn't want to burn any bridges. There were a few times where he blew the h off to go spend time with the OW that got me angry, but the h was just too irresistible and the H couldn't stay away. The book has great secondary characters with the H's brother the priest, the Hs nephew and the Hs housekeeper who punishes the H if he makes her mad by serving him cold peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner while everyone else gets steak. I loved her!
A friend loaned me a bunch of books by this author and I was planning on reading a few here and there, but so far, I am addicted and I'll be starting another one soon. The stories have a great harlequin-esque quality and feature arrogant jerk Hs with sweet, vulnerable hs and I am loving it so far!
Safety
This story serves up Beth, who is in an abusive situation with her father, and Marshal who is manly, sexy and rich. He is a grump with a heart of gold. There is mild OW drama from a clueless OW who hoodwinks the H into thinking she is a sweet, vulnerable girl but the H only really pays attention to her because she is the daughter of his business partner and he doesn't want to burn any bridges. There were a few times where he blew the h off to go spend time with the OW that got me angry, but the h was just too irresistible and the H couldn't stay away. The book has great secondary characters with the H's brother the priest, the Hs nephew and the Hs housekeeper who punishes the H if he makes her mad by serving him cold peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner while everyone else gets steak. I loved her!
A friend loaned me a bunch of books by this author and I was planning on reading a few here and there, but so far, I am addicted and I'll be starting another one soon. The stories have a great harlequin-esque quality and feature arrogant jerk Hs with sweet, vulnerable hs and I am loving it so far!
Safety
July 19, 2017
I quite enjoy Lietha Wards books for their simplicity and heart tugging romances, ingénues entangling with and getting the better of macho set-in-their-way heroes, teaching them a thing or two about love n tenderness. Never mind the grammatical and editorial gaffes.
This particular book reminded me of so much of some Diana Palmer books-older alphahole cowboy H with hand in oil as well (I think), an abused shy 19 years old virginal h who works as his secretary, a housekeeper who rules the house and burns the H’s food if he treats the h badly, sweet searing chemistry with hot makeout sessions, a scheming acquisitive ow in the past n present as well, church going ppl, a friendly police chief…i am sure you get the idea. :)
And boy, this h is quite a match for him if you think about the wedding night extending into a 3 day sexathon, particularly as she is just outa hospital, broken rib n all! Just thinking about it makes my toes curl- in a happy way. So yes, a book for you when you want all those formula boxes ticked out…a satisfying happy read!
This particular book reminded me of so much of some Diana Palmer books-older alphahole cowboy H with hand in oil as well (I think), an abused shy 19 years old virginal h who works as his secretary, a housekeeper who rules the house and burns the H’s food if he treats the h badly, sweet searing chemistry with hot makeout sessions, a scheming acquisitive ow in the past n present as well, church going ppl, a friendly police chief…i am sure you get the idea. :)
And boy, this h is quite a match for him if you think about the wedding night extending into a 3 day sexathon, particularly as she is just outa hospital, broken rib n all! Just thinking about it makes my toes curl- in a happy way. So yes, a book for you when you want all those formula boxes ticked out…a satisfying happy read!
September 21, 2020
I had mix feelings with this one. While I liked the consistency of the heroine’s character and the flow through out the book, the last few chapters got tedious for me with all the cheesy Hollywood style romantic nonsensical dialogs. It felt like after the final injury Beth has off the stairs, the story was rushed to include a HEA & an epilogue. It was nice that the author tried to redeem Tim & h’s father but it didn’t seem realistic with the latter cos well, abuse is abuse. But otherwise it was good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2019
This was an odd book. It’s supposed to be contemporary but really read like it took place in the 40s or 50s. It was so incredibly old fashioned in some ways and especially the dialogue. The author also used phrases that I’ve never heard before. Honestly I was convinced it was a historical book until cell phones were mentioned. The hero was a total asshole. He believes lies about the heroine, kicks her out of his home, fires her, and calls her a slut. He’s also incredibly stupid. I mean, agonizingly thick headed level of stupid. He’s incapable of putting a very obvious two and two together and despite there being clear signs flashed in front of him repeatedly about what was going on with the heroine, he’s oblivious. Talk about a total idiot. And he didn’t pursue the heroine to my satisfaction, nor did he grovel. She was way too quick to completely forgive him and forget what a bastard he was to her. The end was very rushed and none of the characters had any depth, they were all generic and I didn’t give a hoot about any of them. 2 1/2 stars because there were a few parts that kept me interested despite the poor writing, crappy plot, and stupid characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2012
SPOILER ABOUT BETH'S "SECRET"!!!!
.........................
I really enjoyed this book. I am beginning to love Lietha Wards’ work and the wonderful stories she writes!!! This book was no exception! It was funny, full of sexual tension, it was sweet to the bone and it had me smiling on every page! This is by far my favourite Lietha Wards book! It was wonderful...and I LOVED IT!!! =)
This book was centered around an abused heroine, Beth Winters, and I have to say this story really got to me! Beth is 20 years old, she’s sweet and innocent and has such a big heart! I just adored her! When you get to know the story of her abused life you literally have to pause and take a deep breath. It had my heart all up in a twist and I just wanted to shoot her father over and over again! God, I hated him!! :( I actually cried getting to know her story and how she and her mother were such unfortunate victims.
But despite the seriousness to the whole story, Ms. Wards finds ways to add funny situations into the story to make it enjoyable and less heart clenching! I love that about her stories! =)
Now for Marshal....CAN YOU SAY YUMMY COWBOY!!!!! Mmmmmm....I have to admit it is very hard for a girl to resist a sexy cowboy, especially one who is just HOT, BIG, STRONG AND SMART!! It was funny to see Marshal reason out why he shouldn’t be with Beth..but all the while he just can’t help himself and constantly teases her! LOL ;p He had me laughing the whole time with his sexual innuendoes! Very fun and refreshing! And yes the sexual tension between the two is.....sizzling and smoking HOT!!!
So, I am really enjoying Ms. Wards wonderful stories. And although, they do need some editing done...to be honest...if the story is good enough, you really don’t notice such minor details!! I AM IN LOVE and The Makings of a Goodman was my top stories! I can’t wait to read more work done by Ms. Wards! :)
.........................
I really enjoyed this book. I am beginning to love Lietha Wards’ work and the wonderful stories she writes!!! This book was no exception! It was funny, full of sexual tension, it was sweet to the bone and it had me smiling on every page! This is by far my favourite Lietha Wards book! It was wonderful...and I LOVED IT!!! =)
This book was centered around an abused heroine, Beth Winters, and I have to say this story really got to me! Beth is 20 years old, she’s sweet and innocent and has such a big heart! I just adored her! When you get to know the story of her abused life you literally have to pause and take a deep breath. It had my heart all up in a twist and I just wanted to shoot her father over and over again! God, I hated him!! :( I actually cried getting to know her story and how she and her mother were such unfortunate victims.
But despite the seriousness to the whole story, Ms. Wards finds ways to add funny situations into the story to make it enjoyable and less heart clenching! I love that about her stories! =)
Now for Marshal....CAN YOU SAY YUMMY COWBOY!!!!! Mmmmmm....I have to admit it is very hard for a girl to resist a sexy cowboy, especially one who is just HOT, BIG, STRONG AND SMART!! It was funny to see Marshal reason out why he shouldn’t be with Beth..but all the while he just can’t help himself and constantly teases her! LOL ;p He had me laughing the whole time with his sexual innuendoes! Very fun and refreshing! And yes the sexual tension between the two is.....sizzling and smoking HOT!!!
So, I am really enjoying Ms. Wards wonderful stories. And although, they do need some editing done...to be honest...if the story is good enough, you really don’t notice such minor details!! I AM IN LOVE and The Makings of a Goodman was my top stories! I can’t wait to read more work done by Ms. Wards! :)
June 26, 2016
Beth and Marshal. I love this author for when I want a DP style story where the H is an asshat but not as bad as a DP hero. ; )
Beth is new in town with her father the lawyer and her mother the doormat. Marshal notices her right away, because she's beautiful, but he decides to keep his distance. Marshal has a poor history with women. He views them all as lying manipulative shallow people. (I never understand how these heroes are able to differentiate between 'Those' women and the ones in their family??) but anyways...
Beth has secrets. Dirty ugly hurtful secrets that control every aspect of her life. She is used to living a lie and pretending to be strong. Marshal knows she is hiding something, but he is unwilling to look deeper. He is drawn to her and finds himself angry, jealous and full of lust around her and unable to think clearly. He lashes out and makes assumptions. There's the usual evil OW who does what she can to smear Beth's name. .
Things get crazy out of control and Marshal keeps trying to keep his head in his *ss, but eventually he has to pull it out and smell the coffee ; )
When he does, he takes charge and grovels quite well. Loved the epilogue! The are big holes in the story at the end, but just ignore and enjoy, lol.
Beth is new in town with her father the lawyer and her mother the doormat. Marshal notices her right away, because she's beautiful, but he decides to keep his distance. Marshal has a poor history with women. He views them all as lying manipulative shallow people. (I never understand how these heroes are able to differentiate between 'Those' women and the ones in their family??) but anyways...
Beth has secrets. Dirty ugly hurtful secrets that control every aspect of her life. She is used to living a lie and pretending to be strong. Marshal knows she is hiding something, but he is unwilling to look deeper. He is drawn to her and finds himself angry, jealous and full of lust around her and unable to think clearly. He lashes out and makes assumptions. There's the usual evil OW who does what she can to smear Beth's name. .
Things get crazy out of control and Marshal keeps trying to keep his head in his *ss, but eventually he has to pull it out and smell the coffee ; )
When he does, he takes charge and grovels quite well. Loved the epilogue! The are big holes in the story at the end, but just ignore and enjoy, lol.
July 23, 2013
Wow. And that's another 'don't judge a book by its cover' kind of wow. ;)
Beth's keeping secrets and Marshal's aware of it. But the way Beth carry herself made his gut twist. She's fascinating. When she applied for a job in his office, he couldn't say no. But what will he do when she start invading his heart as well?
This book's storyline is very similar with Diana Palmer. Only with more details and more scenes. I find it very enjoyable and very easy to read.
But is it me or Lietha Wards editing is very awful? She need a good editor.
But overall this books is really good. Surprisingly, depends on the terrible cover. But I'm looking forward to read her books. ;)
Beth's keeping secrets and Marshal's aware of it. But the way Beth carry herself made his gut twist. She's fascinating. When she applied for a job in his office, he couldn't say no. But what will he do when she start invading his heart as well?
This book's storyline is very similar with Diana Palmer. Only with more details and more scenes. I find it very enjoyable and very easy to read.
But is it me or Lietha Wards editing is very awful? She need a good editor.
But overall this books is really good. Surprisingly, depends on the terrible cover. But I'm looking forward to read her books. ;)
November 13, 2012
I really enjoyed this book, I was looking for a Montana book. This book was about family abuse. Beth Winters is a young women new to town and her abusive father make her apply for a job at Marshal's ranch. The rich sexy cowboy. It's was funny, full of sexual tension. I liked the relationship of Marshal and his house keeper May. Marshal is a little slow at seeing the abuse signs. Who doesn't want to be saved by the sexy cowboy. Good read.
February 2, 2012
2.5 stars.
A very "Diana Palmer" story line that could have been a good read, but it seriously needed major editing and proofreading.
I was frequently taken out of the story and found myself rewording and correcting.
A very "Diana Palmer" story line that could have been a good read, but it seriously needed major editing and proofreading.
I was frequently taken out of the story and found myself rewording and correcting.
June 13, 2015
i loved this book not because it was sweet and fluffy but because it dealt with a subject matter that many of us have a hard time talking about and dealing with
January 22, 2017
Loved this story.
February 10, 2021
What a thrilling contemporary western romance and I was definitely in the mood for an alpha cowboy H, a fiesty h with a secret and some evil. I needed the H and h to be good people and they were. I needed the feelings to be genuine and they were. I needed the OW to get her comeuppance and she did.
I know that some readers expressed concern that the abuse was not recognized/reported earlier and that a soon to be 21 year old should have been able to deal better. Perhaps. But it also emphasized that she was an adult who had been conditioned for many years by this dysfunctional situation. Many of her behaviors were more childlike than her age. Perhaps keeping her fears on this level helped control her?
Smooth writing, a few spelling and punctuation mishaps but nothing that detracted from the intensity of the story.
I know that some readers expressed concern that the abuse was not recognized/reported earlier and that a soon to be 21 year old should have been able to deal better. Perhaps. But it also emphasized that she was an adult who had been conditioned for many years by this dysfunctional situation. Many of her behaviors were more childlike than her age. Perhaps keeping her fears on this level helped control her?
Smooth writing, a few spelling and punctuation mishaps but nothing that detracted from the intensity of the story.
July 1, 2018
2.5 stars
Meh.
Meh.
October 28, 2019
Awesome read!
Loved the flow and how an ugly issue was handled. Although it would have been good for jail time for Dad!
Loved the flow and how an ugly issue was handled. Although it would have been good for jail time for Dad!
November 3, 2013
Some get wrenching moments but pure courtship! Beth has been manipulated and made to obey her father her whole life, that and constant moves has made her learn to cope on her own and not let anyone close. Marshal didn't have it easy in life, and neither did his brother or sister. His sister left her son with her brothers to raise and disappeared, Marshal has been raising Ben as his own, and has turned the family ranch profitable after his father near destroyed it.
Beth's father wants Marshal's business and sends Beth to be his secretary to get it, and he chooses Tim as her suitor, to get his families business. Everything goes awry on both ends and nothing is working out as her father wants, which causes Beth a lot of trouble and distress, before everything finally works out in the end
I liked Beth, she was strong and opinionated, and while she should have been weak, she wasn't. She stood up to Marshal more than once, and she was so likable that everyone who meets her automatically likes her. Marshal is a typical hard headed man, and when he beats himself up for not seeing what was going on, he should have, it was as if he only thought with his hormones and missed all the physical evidence he had.
He does well in the end, even though he still manages to mess things up while making them better, but his heart was always in the right place
Beth's father wants Marshal's business and sends Beth to be his secretary to get it, and he chooses Tim as her suitor, to get his families business. Everything goes awry on both ends and nothing is working out as her father wants, which causes Beth a lot of trouble and distress, before everything finally works out in the end
I liked Beth, she was strong and opinionated, and while she should have been weak, she wasn't. She stood up to Marshal more than once, and she was so likable that everyone who meets her automatically likes her. Marshal is a typical hard headed man, and when he beats himself up for not seeing what was going on, he should have, it was as if he only thought with his hormones and missed all the physical evidence he had.
He does well in the end, even though he still manages to mess things up while making them better, but his heart was always in the right place
June 3, 2013
The only reason I gave this 3.5-4 not 5 is that almost EVERY SINGLE book by L.W is about a virgin woman...I like reading about rich guys and sexy cowboys (Purrrrr) but I feel like the who virgin thing is majorly overused.
December 19, 2013
I read this because it was recommended based on my love for Lynda Chance. I really liked it but it's not as good as LC. It was no where near as steamy and the alpha male dialogue was missing.
Still, I definitely want to read more by this author.
Still, I definitely want to read more by this author.
February 4, 2012
I really liked this book. I finished it with a smile. I don't normally like stories with abuse, but this one was special. Ward made me want to bet the poop out of the father and Marshal.
December 2, 2012
A bit of humor, great characters, wanted more details
August 8, 2013
it was a good book but I'm just not good with physical abuse especially to a daughter from her father that bothered me :(
July 31, 2014
Good book just not great A bit formulaic with a Diana Palmer kind of hero.
January 1, 2017
Read September 25, 2014
Reread May 11, 2016
Reread May 11, 2016
July 12, 2013
sweet story.
happy ending. what else do i need.
no excess drama. short but sweet ove story.
happy ending. what else do i need.
no excess drama. short but sweet ove story.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews