Hello Reader! Thank you for joining me for Mountain Brook Ink’s “Romantic Reads Blog Tour.” Follow the tour schedule below from February 23 – March 2 for opportunities to win free e-books, Amazon gift cards, and the grand prize, a Kindle Fire HD. Comment on this post and join the conversation for an opportunity to win a free e-book from Barbara Scott. To enter for the Kindle Fire or a giftcard, enter the rafflecopter form below. We hope you’ll discover a new favorite author and make some new friends! Have fun!

About the Book

Can A Reluctant Bride and Her New Husband Fall in Love Despite Their Wounded Hearts?
 
Plucky Irish immigrant Kate O’Brien struggles to hang on to her brother’s homestead after his death in a suspicious cattle stampede. If she’s unable to pay off the loan that paid for her ticket to America, she will be forced to marry the banker’s rogue son, Rafe Hamilton.
 
When Kate is attacked by a drunken gang, salvation comes in the form of a total stranger—Texas cattleman Buck McKean. He drives the men off her ranch and spends the night in her cabin to keep her safe. However, his act of kindness poses a profound threat to her reputation, and the two marry to prevent the impending consequences.
 
Kate makes it clear to her new husband that because of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepfather, she’ll never allow another man to control her life. Left at the altar in Virginia City, Buck has made his own vow never to give his heart to another woman.
 
When Kate asks Buck for the unthinkable, her choice endangers both their lives.
Can God mend their hearts and save their love?

My Review

Barbara is a new to me author, but will definitely be added into the “authors I watch for new books” rotation. This story is set in 1875, making it one of my favorite settings and my sweet spot for historicals. (My favorites are Regency and post Civil War-1900.)

We meet Katie in a spitfire strong woman fashion, but what I really appreciate about Katie is how she has this tough side that comes out when she needs, but she still enjoys the feminine aspects of her personality. She hasn’t had an easy life and is still very wounded, but it doesn’t overwhelm the story, and I think Barbara brings some realism to Katie’s emotions. But, there are times that I grow frustrated with the way she waffles between healing and choosing to hold onto that past and resulting hurt. While I know this is true with any healing coming from traumatic events (good days and bad), there were a few times I wanted to shake her for holding on so tightly. But, I’ll give her some grace because in the grande scheme of things, she’s not that far removed for the previous situation and I’m looking at it through the lens of someone who’s now in a place of life to look back on the tragic and not be glad it happened, but look on it with gratefulness of how God got me through.

Buck, on the other hand, holds onto something in his past and is at the point, in my opinion, where he should have let it go. It doesn’t come up too much in the story, but it does prove to really affect his relationship with Katie. That said, I do really like Buck. He shows patience with Katie, especially in an era that said she had few rights. He’s still a man though and screws up a few times, but he demonstrates true manhood by being willing to say he’s sorry.

There were a few places that I felt like the plot line skipped a bit too far or the emotions seemed to swing from one to the other very quickly, but overall was a very enjoyable read. I’m looking forward to Josh’s happily ever after.

I received a copy of this book for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review and all opinions are my own.

Author

Barbara J. Scott: After more than twenty years spent acquiring and editing books by numerous bestselling Christian authors, Barbara Scott has returned to her true love—writing—with this first novel in the Reluctant Brides series. Barbara and her husband Mike live in the Nashville area, where sweet tea is a food staple, with their two Chihuahuas, Riley and Sissy, both rescued from puppy mills. Reading, writing, and research are her passions.

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE:

February 23: Angela Ruth Strong w/ Shannon Vannatter
February 23: Angela Ruth Strong w/ Caffinated Reads
February 24: Angela Ruth Strong w/ Books, Music, and Life
February 25: Patricia Lee w/ Books N Baubles
February 25: Patricia Lee w/ Miralee Ferrell
February 26: Patricia Lee w/ Christian Shelf-Esteem
February 27: Janalyn Voigt w/ Among the Reads
February 27: Janalyn Voigt w/ Homemade Mythology
February 28: Janalyn Voigt w/ Debbie Lynne Costello
March 1: Barbara J. Scott w/ Kat’s Corner Books
March 1: Barbara J. Scott w/ April Erin
March 2: Barbara J. Scott w/ Petticoats & Pistols

Giveaway:

For opportunities to win free e-books, Amazon gift cards, and the grand prize, a Kindle Fire HD click here: a Rafflecopter giveaway. Comment on this post and join the conversation for an opportunity to win a free e-book from Barbara Scott. Please refer to Mountain Brook’s disclosures policy.