Three of Harlequin Historicals best western authors.
Carolyn Davidson gives readers a wagon train story. The heroine wagon train has been attacked by Indians, she is rescued by a scout from another wagon train. He cares for her as she recovers.

Cheryl St. John gives us the story of Annie's cousin. Sweet Annie is one of my very favorite St. John's books. Charmaine has waited 4 long years for her beau to ask for her hand in marriage. When a new widower comes to town with his son her feels change.

Jenna Kernan writes a wonderful story of a marriage of conveniences. Clara is left penniless after her husband's death and must travel west to marry her husband's brother. Both had awful childhoods with scars. Once they both realize they aren't the perfect people that her husband make each believe they can make a future together.

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The first story in this book is so bad, I have to write an essay on it before I blow a fuse. Carolyn Davidson should know better.

ABANDONED (Carolyn Davidson)
A small wagon train group is attacked by Indians. Instead of protecting his beloved daughter, Elizabeth Travis, her father chases after another man who is running from the situation. What father would abandon his daughter to chase a coward? Miraculously, Elizabeth is only badly beaten -- not killed.

The story gets worse; Elizabeth is saved by Cameron Montgomery, one of the scouts (of a large wagon train) who comes upon the burning wreck of the smaller train. Cam instantly decides that he wants her for his wife and and goes from protecting her to jealous of other men to insisting that Elizabeth marry him. Elizabeth demurs because she isn't sure; things have moved too fast for her. Cam runs rough-shod over her doubts and marries her. And Minnie Milk-toast goes along with his plan! Bizarre!

ALMOST A BRIDE (Cheryl St.John)
In her hometown, Charmaine Renlow is the only female over the age of 17 who is not married. She has a beau of 4 years who seems to be satisfied with the way things are. Widower, Jack Easton has moved closer to town so his part-Cheyenne son can get an education. Things are not going well for Daniel at school; both he and his father are lonely. At first, Jack sees Charmaine as a spoiled woman; she seems to talk more than get things accomplished.

HIS BROTHER'S BRIDE (Jenna Kernan)
The only person who ever loved bad-boy Nate Justice was his brother, Jacob, a minister. Now Jacob has died and his last wish was for Nate to marry his wife Clara and together raise (Jacob and Clara's daughter) Kitty.

Clara has no choice (she is penniless) and arrives by train to Colorado City to marry her brother-in-law. Nate is so horrified by the thought of marriage that he is stinking drunk by the time Clara arrives. He suggests they marry quickly, before he passes out.

The last two stories were much more interesting than the first. Ms. St.John shows readers that children of mixed heritage had a difficult time during this time period in America; it took a special kind of woman to ignore the prejudice and create a loving home. HIS BROTHER'S BRIDE, I thought was a lovely story with an unlikely plot. Ms. Kernan used a deft hand to bring this story to life; it was my favorite.

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I really enjoyed this book. I loved all three stories and it was a quick read. I like a wide range of authors and hadn't read anything by these ladies, but I thoroughly enjoyed the stories. Historical romances aren't my favorite but I really liked these characters.

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