This book was originally published in 1990 but remains just as fresh and entertaining today. I love a classy story about rough and tough ranchers and the women that somehow manage a home in what is a truly unpredictable and often harsh environment. DUNCAN'S BRIDE is Linda Howard's view of that life mixed in with style and intellect. Her characters are very sharp and smart and therefore so is the dialog contained in this delightful foray in one of my favorite settings.

What do you get when you combine a classy smart New Yorker and an equally smart but stubborn Montana rancher. Well you get DUNCAN'S BRIDE of course. Madelyn Sanger Patterson was classy and sexy from the top of her head to the tip of her designer shoes. She looked the part of a successful New Yorker -- but looks can be deceiving. Sure Maddie had a job that paid well. Her job with her step brother's company was pretty much a sure thing. But Maddie was bored to tears. Well not tears -- Maddie was tough and determined to find something that she would actually like and that would be anything but boring.

Reese Duncan was reeling from a disastrous divorce settlement from eight years ago. Boy his ex really hated Reese -- she took him to the cleaners and wound up with half of the ranch that had been in Reese's family for generations. Talk about messy divorces. But the bigger problem was that it left him with sizable debt and depleted many of the ranches resources including workers and stock.

What Reese missed most was the dream he had of a family and children to carry on the legacy of the ranch. He knew he made a huge mistake with April. He just hadn't counted on life on the ranch being more than she could or would deal with.

Now faced with the determination to avoid any more marriage pitfalls Reese has somewhat of a plan. People were meeting through personal ads. Reese put in a wife-wanted ad in a Midwest newspaper and would see who responded.

Maddie just happens to see that ad and her curiosity added to her current job dissatisfaction had her mailing a letter to meet this rancher. She had nothing to lose and visiting the Montana ranch was sure to bring back memories of spending time in the country as a youngster. What she didn't bank on was Reese.

Two people couldn't be more different except were they? Equally intelligent, passionate and candidly stubborn to boot. Although Reese definitely topped that scale. But to Maddie it was the strongest attraction she had ever felt. Kind of knocked Reese off his boots as well. Fascinated with this woman all Reese could do was bemoan the fact that he met her now. After a terrible defeating experience with one woman. Now when his ranch looked worse for wear. He knew he wasn't much of a prize. That's not what Maddie saw. She liked this tough rather stern man. The ranch needed work and so did the man. She felt she was up for the challenge. Now it was all up to him.

Are you ready for a fun sexy romp on a vast Montana ranch with two people that certainly make the oddest couple? Well if you are than DUNCAN'S BRIDE by Linda Howard more than fits that bill. The premise of DUNCAN'S BRIDE is about arranging a marriage through an ad. Mail order brides were common a long time ago but DUNCAN'S BRIDE is set in current days. This story is about people developing feelings, trust and respect for each other.