"The Engagement Bargain" by Sherri Shackelford

 About the Book 

Make-believe betrothal  

Rock-solid and reliable, confirmed bachelor Caleb McCoy thought nothing could rattle him—until he discovers he needs to pose as Anna Bishop's intended groom. After saving her life, his honorable code bid Caleb watch over the innocent beauty. And a pretend engagement is the only way to protect her from further harm. 

Raised by a single mother and suffragist, Anna doesn't think much of marriage—and she certainly doesn't plan to try it herself. But playing Caleb's blushing bride-to-be makes her rethink her independent ways, because their make-believe romance is becoming far too real…  

Prairie Courtships: Romance on the range

Please visit Sherri Shackelford's website

Buy "The Engagement Bargain" from Amazon

Buy "The Engagement Bargain" from Barnes&Noble

Buy "The Engagement Bargain" from Harlequin

This book was released in February 2015

This is a well loved library book that was used for review

My Review

“The Engagement Bargain” by Sherri Shackelford is another wonderful book that is connected to her other three books. There are a lot of connections, yes I admit that, however this is a perfect stand alone book. I found this book to be humorous and eye opening too, not to mention a few moments of tension due to what is happening.

This story is interesting for it has its up and downs and there were even times when I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Other times my heart was in my throat or tears were gently falling. This is a story of coming into one's one destiny for one of the characters need to make their decision as to what their future holds and in what way will that future be shaped. Choices are having to be made by both characters and some of them are not easy and some are heartbreaking. 

Anna is a woman who believes firmly in the movement that she is part of and she is not sure if she is ready and willing to change. There are two parts to Anna, the part she is on the inside and the part she projects to everyone around her. Though there are two parts to her, they are not all that different really, it is just how she projects herself to the world and how she admits how she is on the inside. There are times when she is searching for something else too, while other times she knows exactly what she is feeling and her desires for the future. Her heart is for others without a doubt, there is no question about that for her thoughts are always on the people she is wanting to help.

Caleb is a man that we have seen in a few other of Ms. Shackelford's books, and is pretty quiet and likes keeping to himself. There really isn't any special reason that he likes to keep to himself other than the fact that is a bit of a loner, but throughout the story Caleb discovers a few things about himself. Caleb is the type of a man who acts first and thinks later, does what he needs to do regardless of whether he should or shouldn't, and unconditional loves. Caleb is a quiet man for sure but he is not one to stay silent when something needs to be said either.

The conflict of the story is not at all what I expected it to be. When all the pieces fell into place I have to say that my mouth dropped open for I never saw that coming at all. What a twist to the story that is for sure. Even thinking back through the story I really can't even think about where things would have pointed to the ending, yet it made sense at the same time. So there is an external conflict, but most of the conflict was internal with one of the characters. It is a struggle to watch this characters internal conflict but at the same time I was so proud as this character came to their decisions.

I have to say that I learned something interesting by just reading the author's note at the end. I love when I learn something historical whether it be through the actual story or in the author's note, for it is so important to continue learning something whenever possible for it helps keep the mind going.

I hope that all who read this book enjoy it as much as I did.

"The Cattleman Meets His Match" by Sherri Shackelford

About the Book

Galahad in a Stetson
Cowboy John Elder needs a replacement crew of cattle hands to drive his longhorns to Kansas—he just never figured they'd be wearing petticoats. Traveling with Moira O'Mara and the orphan girls in her care is a mutually beneficial arrangement. Yet despite Moira's declaration of independence, the feisty beauty evokes John's every masculine instinct to protect, defend…marry?

  

Moira is grateful for John's help when he rescues her—and she can't deny that his calm, in-control manner proves comforting. But she is determined not to let anything get in the way of her plans to search for her long-lost brother at journey's end. However, can John show her a new future—one perfect for them to share?

Please visit Sherri Shackelford website

Buy "The Cattleman Meets His Match" from Amazon

Buy "The Cattleman Meets His Match" from Barnes&Noble

Buy "The Cattleman Meets His Match" from Harlequin

This book was released in August 2014

This was a well loved library book that was reviewed

 

My Review

“The Cattleman Meets His Match” by Sherri Shackelford is about another one of the Elder brothers that we only heard about but never meet until now. There is some connections to Ms. Shackelford's prior books “Winning the Widow's Heart” and “The Marshal's Ready-Made Family”, but they are loose connections which means that this book is the perfect stand alone book with connections to the past books.

Jack is a man who is trying to find his own way in the world finally, and yet when things go way off course then he has to make some pretty some hard choices. Throughout the story Jack shows his honor and protective instincts regardless what he wants to do. At times there are moments where I could just imagine him wanting to pull his hair out because something that is happening. Though it is obvious that things are not going his way or the way he thinks they should be going, he shows that though he doesn't like it, he can go with the flow with little complaints. Hey he is a typical alpha male so of course a few grumbling moments is to be expected. Jack learned a few lessons along the way about himself.

Moira is a woman on a mission even with the side trip of trouble that she finds herself in. At times she is obsessive about her mission of finding her brother, but she is not willing to just dump her responsibility either. When things seem to be hitting an impossible roadblock, she decides to do something she figured was the only thing she could do, even though she had no clue on how to accomplish her plan. We watch Moira change in little ways through the whole story and maybe mature some.

The four young ladies who Moira feels so responsible for each have their own personality that is easy to see as the story progresses to where their names didn't always need to be mentioned to know who was who. Actually all of the characters, both major, secondary and minor characters had been written so well that they all seem to come to life.

The adventure that Jack, Moira and the girls goes on is not easy but wow what they all have to endure is both tiresome and at times down right hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud at some spur of the moment comment or one of the situations that was beyond funny. The adventure also one that stripes away pride and independence helping to create humility in some, while helping others mature into someone worth reading about later (I hope anyway) and strength in ones own self worth.

This book is worth the time it takes to read it for it was such a wondrous read that with lessons that each reader might come away with something different. I hope all who read it enjoy it as much as I did.