"With This Ring?"
by Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, and Melissa Jagears
by Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, and Melissa Jagears
With this Ring? is a collection of four different novellas.
In the first story, “The Husband Maneuver”, Marietta Hawkins is determined to get Daniel Barrett to propose to her before he quits working for her father to run his own ranch. So, she comes up with a brilliant plan, at least she thinks it is brilliant, to get him to see her as rancher’s wife material. When everybody else on the ranch goes out on the yearly cattle drive, she learns that Daniel is staying behind, so she decides that she will stay at the house instead of visiting relatives like she usually does. Once Daniel learns that she is still at the ranch instead of at her aunt’s house, he tries to send her back, but she refuses to go. Now Daniel must do everything in his power to stay away from the boss’ daughter, but Marietta is making it rather difficult to avoid her.
The second story, “Her Dearly Unintended”, is filled with lots of mayhem when a storm washes out the bridge to Katie Ellen Watson’s house. Katie Ellen has always been very independent and a bit high strung thinking she can do everything by herself and never admitting that she may actually need help from others. Josiah Huckabee has always wanted to help Katie Ellen, but she refuses any kind of help he has to offer. When they are both trapped at Katie Ellen’s house, because of the storm, they must figure out how to get along with each other. But when a mysterious man shows up in Katie Ellen’s living room, Josiah decides that the only way to protect Katie Ellen is to pretend to be her husband. Of course, Katie Ellen wants nothing to do with this scenario, but it may be the only way to save her life and her parent’s house.
“Runaway Bride” is the third installment in this book. In this story we find Carrie Halsey about to be married off to a rather loathsome man in order to pay off her father’s gambling debts. She does not want to be married to this man, so she plans to take her little brother and run away from her impending nuptials. Texas Ranger Big John Conroy was hired to bring Carrie to her sister in Colorado, but once he finds out the real reason for her predicament, he will stop at nothing to protect Carrie and keep her safe.
In the final story, “Engaging the Competition”, we have Harrison Gray and Charlotte (Charlie) Andrews. The two of them have been rivals for practically their entire lives. Charlie has to be the best at everything, and this drives Harrison crazy. Whereas, Charlie doesn’t understand why people can’t appreciate that she is so good pretty much everything. When Harrison’s glasses get broken – which he is nearly blind without them – Charlotte agrees to help him until he can get a new pair. During their time together, they realize that may have been entirely wrong about each other.
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I really enjoyed reading this book. While there was no obvious connection with the four stories in this particular novella collection, they do complement each other rather nicely. Each story is based on characters from other books and series that the authors have written. While I have not read the books from which the characters are based, I was only confused in one of the stories because of not knowing who the characters are. I found the book very delightful and fun to read. Usually when I read a novella collection book, I usually read them separately without starting the next one immediately following the previous one. This time however I find myself reading them one right after other. I could not put this book down, and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction, romance, or is looking for a good read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
In the first story, “The Husband Maneuver”, Marietta Hawkins is determined to get Daniel Barrett to propose to her before he quits working for her father to run his own ranch. So, she comes up with a brilliant plan, at least she thinks it is brilliant, to get him to see her as rancher’s wife material. When everybody else on the ranch goes out on the yearly cattle drive, she learns that Daniel is staying behind, so she decides that she will stay at the house instead of visiting relatives like she usually does. Once Daniel learns that she is still at the ranch instead of at her aunt’s house, he tries to send her back, but she refuses to go. Now Daniel must do everything in his power to stay away from the boss’ daughter, but Marietta is making it rather difficult to avoid her.
The second story, “Her Dearly Unintended”, is filled with lots of mayhem when a storm washes out the bridge to Katie Ellen Watson’s house. Katie Ellen has always been very independent and a bit high strung thinking she can do everything by herself and never admitting that she may actually need help from others. Josiah Huckabee has always wanted to help Katie Ellen, but she refuses any kind of help he has to offer. When they are both trapped at Katie Ellen’s house, because of the storm, they must figure out how to get along with each other. But when a mysterious man shows up in Katie Ellen’s living room, Josiah decides that the only way to protect Katie Ellen is to pretend to be her husband. Of course, Katie Ellen wants nothing to do with this scenario, but it may be the only way to save her life and her parent’s house.
“Runaway Bride” is the third installment in this book. In this story we find Carrie Halsey about to be married off to a rather loathsome man in order to pay off her father’s gambling debts. She does not want to be married to this man, so she plans to take her little brother and run away from her impending nuptials. Texas Ranger Big John Conroy was hired to bring Carrie to her sister in Colorado, but once he finds out the real reason for her predicament, he will stop at nothing to protect Carrie and keep her safe.
In the final story, “Engaging the Competition”, we have Harrison Gray and Charlotte (Charlie) Andrews. The two of them have been rivals for practically their entire lives. Charlie has to be the best at everything, and this drives Harrison crazy. Whereas, Charlie doesn’t understand why people can’t appreciate that she is so good pretty much everything. When Harrison’s glasses get broken – which he is nearly blind without them – Charlotte agrees to help him until he can get a new pair. During their time together, they realize that may have been entirely wrong about each other.
***************************************************************************************************************************************
I really enjoyed reading this book. While there was no obvious connection with the four stories in this particular novella collection, they do complement each other rather nicely. Each story is based on characters from other books and series that the authors have written. While I have not read the books from which the characters are based, I was only confused in one of the stories because of not knowing who the characters are. I found the book very delightful and fun to read. Usually when I read a novella collection book, I usually read them separately without starting the next one immediately following the previous one. This time however I find myself reading them one right after other. I could not put this book down, and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction, romance, or is looking for a good read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
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