I have a secret y’all (not really a secret but we’ll pretend it is). I love me some military men, and cowboys. Books that give me both are like the best thing in my world.
Like her slogan says, Cora Seton writes small town romance for the 21st Century. Her books and series may not be life changing, but they are funny, touching, loving, and filled with sexy men. So if this is one of the genres you love to read, you’ll certainly be entertained. These are the kind of books I read to unwind after a long day. They make me escape reality on my commute to and from work, and until I fall asleep at night. So if you’re with me, let me introduce you to the gang of Heroes of Chance Creek.
Most people may think that this series is about four brothers. But to me this series is about their Great Aunt Heloise, and how she plays them all like little puppets to get them all married. In order for them to inherit the ranch they loved so much, Crescent Hall, she cons them into this ridiculous agreement where they all need to be married within the year, and have children.
Not one of the brothers was ready for the commitment. But they all wanted to regain ownership of the home they lost after their father’s death. So they came up with this plan to place online ads for arrange marriages, and that’s where all the fun begins. Take a look:
THE NAVY SEAL EMAIL ORDER BRIDE
Mason Hall, Navy SEAL, knows all about difficult assignments, but his current mission is one for the record books. Not only must he find a wife—and get her pregnant—or forfeit the ranch his family has prized for generations, he must also convince his three brothers to marry, too—before the year is up. Who knew one city girl and three wayward brothers could put up such a fight?
Regan Anderson can’t wait any longer to meet Mr. Right, so she’s taken matters into her own hands. She’s quit her job, given up her nice apartment and undergone all the preliminary appointments to prepare for artificial insemination. Still, becoming a single mother is daunting, so when she spots Mason’s Wife Wanted ad on the Internet one night, she’s ready for a few laughs. She’s sure the ad must be fake, but when Mason answers back, she soon finds herself wanting more than a long distance relationship.
If Mason can just keep her talking until he makes it home from Afghanistan, he’s sure he can convince Regan he’s her man. But when he whisks her off for a trial run in Chance Creek, they’re in for an unpleasant surprise. The ranch is in ruins, the house has been stripped, and they’re going to have to work day and night to beat Mason’s deadline to win it back.
Can two strangers pull together against all odds? Or is this mission doomed to fail?
THE SOLDIERS’ EMAIL ORDER BRIDE
Staff Sergeant Austin Hall has a brilliant record in the Special Forces—except for one disastrous decision that cost his best friend’s life. Now he’s heading home to Chance Creek, Montana, where he’d like to spend the rest of his days in the obscurity of his family’s ranch. Too bad Great Aunt Heloise won’t hand the ranch over unless all four of the Hall brothers marry and one of them produces an heir within the year. Austin is too broken to marry for love, so he places an online ad for a fake wife. What could possibly go wrong?
Ella needs to leave Hollywood—fast. It’s bad enough another actress stole her fiancé—on national television. Now she’s ruined her comeback by decking her ex on a morning talk show. Pursued by paparazzi, Ella needs a new life, a new name and someplace to hide. When she reads Austin’s ad for a stand-in wife, she knows she can act this part perfectly. To the rest of the residents of Chance Creek, they’ll be a happily married couple. In private, they’ll just be roommates. In a year when she’d old news and the Hall brothers secure the ranch, she and Austin will quietly divorce and she’ll go on her way.
Or will she?
Austin’s already finding it hard to remember his promise never to love again. Ella’s finding it hard to keep her hands to herself. But when they’re asked make a back-up baby, Ella realizes she may have stepped into a lifetime role.
Can this pretend marriage go the distance?
THE MARINE’S EMAIL ORDER BRIDE
If Gunnery Sergeant Zane Hall wants to save his family’s ranch, he’ll need to fix up the buildings, stock the spread with cattle—and find a wife. The first two are easy with the help of his brothers, but getting hitched is proving more difficult. When he meets mountaineer Kenna North through an online ad, she seems like the perfect fit—at least in her e-mails. She wants the same thing he does: a temporary marriage to secure an inheritance. But when Zane meets Kenna, she’s nothing like he expects, and Zane finds himself changing his priorities, fast.
If Storm Willow wants to save her family’s seaside cottage, she’ll have to keep her boss happy—which means taking Kenna’s place and marrying Zane when Kenna is detained out of the country. As long as Storm acts her part, no one will know that she’s an imposter. But when she falls for the handsome Marine, Storm begins to wonder if holding onto the cottage is worth giving up on love.
Can a fake marriage lead to real happiness? Or is disaster just a heartbeat away?
THE NAVY SEAL’S CHRISTMAS BRIDE
Navy SEAL Dan Hemmins goes head to head with soldier Sarah Metlin to prove once and for all that women can’t possibly qualify for an elite branch of the military, but when Sarah proves she’s not just one of the most qualified warriors he’s ever met, she’s also one of the smartest and sexiest, too, he’ll do whatever it takes to get closer to her, even if he has to challenge her to another contest… or three… or five!
THE AIRMAN’S EMAIL ORDER BRIDE
Tormented by the knowledge that his father died thinking the worst of him, Colt Hall never meant to come home to Chance Creek. But with his brothers banding together to rebuild the family’s old ranch, he’s finding it hard to stay away. In accordance with the conditions for them to inherit the spread, Colt must soon marry. Too bad the only woman he wants is Heather Ward, the girl he walked away from years ago without saying good-bye.
Heather hid a secret for twelve long years, but when the Halls moved back to town it was only a matter of time before the truth came out. Now everyone but Colt knows he has a son. She’ll get one chance to convince Colt to forgive her—and become the father Richard has always longed for. If she answers Colt’s online ad for a temporary wife, will he fall in love with her before he learns the truth?
Colt knows it’s crazy to try to find a wife through an internet ad, and it’s even crazier to fall for a stranger who wants far more than a temporary marriage, but Helena Warner reminds him so much of Heather, he begins to wonder if the two might be the same woman. Heather can’t believe she’s using a fake name to seduce the father of her own child, but is it possible Colt might know more about her true identity than he’s letting on?
Once all the lies and secrets are stripped bare, Colt and Heather must answer the ultimate question: can a love interrupted ever be renewed?
If you do read this series, let me know what you thought. The beauty about reading is that it may be a hit or miss, and even if you don’t like something, I love discussing it.
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Nerd & Lace 