Harlequin American Romance
Featuring: Laura Jessup; Tanner Hudson
ISBN: 0373756011 EAN: 9780373756018 Kindle: B015CIL6GG Mass Market Paperback / e-Book Add to Wish List
I've said it before and I'll say it again -- Donna Alward is
a hopeless romantic, but her stories and characters are
anything but hopeless. In fact, it's that stalwart can do
attitude that is the core of most of her writings and THE
COWBOY'S CONVENIENT BRIDE is a shining example of Alward's
innate optimism. It's true not all stories have to have a
happy ending to be enjoyable and memorable, but in truth an
upbeat ending does it for me.
THE COWBOY'S CONVENIENT BRIDE is a bit of a marriage of
convenience meets Harry Met Sally. Two characters who are
definitely moving along on a path that just doesn't seem to
have a chance for happiness. But everyone has their own
definition of happiness. Tanner Hudson and Laura Jessup's
previous attempts at love left them quite
disillusioned and somewhat tainted. The reputation of each
of these young people suffered the consequences of their
missteps. Notice I didn't say mistakes -- that would be way
too negative. Tanner and Laura had followed their hearts
and were majorly disappointed. Now back at home they are
busy trying to live down their reputations. Not an easy
task.
Small towns are infamous for their gossip and at times this
gossip borders on cruelty. Appearances can definitely be
deceiving, and in small towns justice is meted with a quick,
steady hand. For Laura it is truly the victim being tried
and in Laura's case it was a case of misdirected blame. But
Laura willingly took on the label of home wrecker that
provided a measure of safety considering what the truth
actually was concerning the father of her baby girl. Laura
found herself pretty much alone in a town filled with
people that treated her as if she was invisible -- with the
noted exception of a very few. Tanner proved to be someone
that was willing to go out on a limb to help Laura. It
could be that he identified with her plight, or it could be
that he found her nice to be with. He too needed a friend --
one that wasn't judgmental.
So that's how it came to be that Tanner proposed to Laura.
A marriage between them would offer many benefits -- even
though the marriage would not be a true union of souls
based on love. Their marriage would be a sort of business
arrangement. We all know contracts can be broken. As
long as hearts weren't involved, Laura and Tanner figured no
big issue.
Donna Alward loves matching rather odd couples. In THE
COWBOY'S CONVENIENT BRIDE you can't help but root for the
underdog. Several characters are reintroduced from previous
books to point out their relationship to the stars of this
wonderful book. THE COWBOY'S CONVENIENT BRIDE is enjoyable
and engaging from the first page to the last.
Laura Jessup is used to the rumors—everyone in tiny Gibson,
Montana, thinks
she's a home-wrecker.
And Laura can handle that if it means protecting her
daughter from her sweet
girl's father. Only hunky
EMT Tanner Hudson seems immune to the gossipmongers. The
solution he
proposes—a marriage in
name only!—might just be crazy enough to work…if only Laura
can keep her
heart out of it.
Tanner wasn't sure Laura would accept a platonic marriage,
even though it
would stop the rumor mills
and get his own family off his back. But as the wedding
draws closer, Tanner
worries that his plan is
working a little too well. He's falling for Laura, hard.
They thought they were
ready for marriage, but are
Tanner and Laura prepared for real love?