Here Comes The Bride (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

~ Laura Drewry (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Six days on a stagecoach - driven by the devil himself! What with the ruts and the potholes, Tess McKinley has been bumped, bruised, scraped and scratched until she's ready to scream - and she hasn't had a wink of sleep. Next stop: Butte, Montana. Tess can't wait to sink into the biggest bed she's ever seen. Sweet slumber at last...and the rugged angel in the black Stetson must be a dream...No, Gabe Calloway is a flesh-and-blood man. And he can't imagine what a proper Boston lady like Tess is doing way out West. All right - so she saw an ad for hard-working, honest ranchers in need of wives. That doesn't mean Gabe's looking to get hitched. He's tempted to send her back - but there's something about beautiful Tess that just melts his heart - and makes him want to share his home on the range...

From the Publisher

In this passionate western historical romance, a proper Boston lady takes refuge with a rugged rancher in Montana and steals his heart.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (May 3, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821778587
• ISBN-13: 978-0821778586
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #929,235 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific debut!, April 20, 2005

By	proreader "proreader" (New York City) - See all my reviews

I loved this charming western historical! Tess is an engaging heroine, the plot moves along quickly, the romance is compelling and rewarding, and I found the hero to be a realistic, satisfying alpha male. I'll be looking for more books by Laura Drewry!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very enjoyable first book, May 18, 2005

By	Shanna MacIain (New York) - See all my reviews

this writer's first book shows a lot of promise. I particularly delighted in the heroine's inability to stop talking when she was upset. This was so 'real'.

I look forward to Drewy's next book. In a period where the Western seems to be overlooked it's good to see new fresh voice.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and funny tale, April 20, 2005

By	booksforabuck "BooksForABuck.com" (Dallas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)

When her father arranges her marriage to a Boston lawyer, Tess Kinley flees. She believes in marrying for love and she'll never love the lawyer. She's also dreamed of living in the country so she runs away and heads west. By the time she ends up in Gabe Calloway's ranch, she's exhausted, filthy, and been won and lost in a poker game. She takes one look at Gabe (Gabriel), decides he's her angel, and falls in love.

Gabe has no idea what to do with this strange woman who drops into his life and disrupts it completely. One thing for sure, though, he's not going to lose his heart to her. He's already fallen for a woman who claimed to love the country but then decided that the city was the only way she could get what she really needs. Tess may claim to love the land, but she only knows about it from her books. Gabe is certain that no city-woman can ever endure the hardships of Montana territory. Since his own mother gave up her life trying to have a baby far from doctors and medical care, he wouldn't want Tess to stay even if she would. He's had too much loss in his life and Tess looks like another coming up.

Tess realizes that she cannot control Gabriel's love--but the longer she spends in Montana, the less she wants to return to the city. Even if she can't spend her life with Gabriel, she wants to spend it here.

Although Tess doesn't think of herself as beautiful, that doesn't mean she isn't sought after--by other men in Montana, but also by the man who was intended to be her husband back in Boston. Living a quiet life in Montana isn't going to be an easy option for her--and having a woman who sets his blood on fire isn't an easy option for Gabe. But only if he can overcome the wounds from his past can he save himself--and Tess.

Author Laura Drewry spins a warm-hearted romance. Gabe and Tess are perfect for each other--he serious and concerned with consequences, she good-hearted but with an inclination to run off at the mouth when nervous and impulsive (an amusing moment comes when she fantasizes about a child with Gabe's looks and her common sense). Strong secondary characters, including Gabe's brother Bart, the neighboring ranchers who despise Gabe, and Rosa, the housekeeper add to the story's texture.

I would have liked to see the adventure side of the story more fully integrated into the romance rather than coming largely after the romantic resolution, but HERE COMES THE BRIDE is an enjoyable and funny tale.