Dani Collins’ THE PROSPECTOR’S ONLY PROSPECT features divorcee Marigold Davis as she travels in place of her sister to marry gold prospector Virgil Gardner, a scarred man with a chip on his shoulder. Upon learning Marigold is in fact not her sister, Pearl, Virgil decides to hire her as his housekeeper and caregiver to his three children in order for her to pay back the price of the train ticket he had purchased for her.     As the two spend more and more time together, they come to realize there might be more between them.

This was my first Dani Collins title and I am really hoping she writes another similar to this because it was fantastic. Grumpy heroes are my favorite of all time and Collins wrote a great one. Virgil has a scarred face and a temper but is also such a sweet man just trying to take care of his children while running a demanding business. Marigold has had a rough few years after divorcing her cheating husband and losing her home. She sees Virgil’s proposal to her sister as a fresh start and takes her sister’s place, causing Virgil to mistrust her for much of the book. Marigold is a strong woman who isn't afraid of Virgil's grumbling and is just trying to make a life for herself.

There wasn’t really a central plot driving the narrative here but rather just days building up throughout so there are a few slow spots, but they don’t amount to much and don’t detract from the story overall. I read almost exclusively historical romances set in Regency England, so it was refreshing to step out of the ballrooms and read about characters struggling to make lives for themselves.

I loved THE PROSPECTOR’S ONLY PROSPECT, thanks to a grumpy hero, the heroine who tames him, and watching them face obstacles and get through them together.