When a woman has to choose between death and marriage to a total stranger, she must be in a dire predicament....
And for Jolie McKibben, about to pay by hanging for a terrible crime she didn't commit, salvation by marriage couldn't come a moment too soon. Housekeeping for Daniel Beckham, a widower who invoked the town's wedding ordinance to rescue Jolie from the gallows, is better than the alternative...but understanding the silent stranger who is now her husband might just about kill her.
Daniel doesn't believe in Jolie's innocence. And despite his willingness to marry the pretty, defiant "outlaw" on the spot, the prosperous farmer had little to say to her after "I do." But for Jolie, their arrangement of convenience soon deepens into a rich and vibrant attraction that sets her trembling with desire in Daniel's presence. Somehow, she would win his love, body and soul. Unless the desperados on her trail shatter the fragile, trusting bond of husband and wife....
Linda Lael Miller's beloved novel of the American West shimmers with the unbridled passion of two adventurous hearts!
Linda Lael Miller is the author of seventy historical and contemporary romance novels, many of which are set in the American West. She was awarded the Romance Writers of America's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
In January of 2006, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Linda Lael Miller left the Arizona horse property she's called home for the past five years and listened to the call of her heart. Packing up her work-in-progress for HQN Books; her dogs, Sadie and Bernice, and her four horses, the author of more than 70 novels bid farewell to her home in the desert and returned to the place of her birth, Spokane, Washington. The daughter of a town marshal, Linda grew up in Northport, WA, a community of 500 on the Columbia River, 120 miles north of Spokane. Her childhood remembrances include riding horses and playing cowgirl on her grandparents' nearby farm. Her grandparents' spread was so rustic that in the early days it lacked electricity and running water.
As delightful as this childhood was, Linda longed to see the world. After graduating as valedictorian of her high school class, she left to pursue her dream. Because of the success of her author career, Linda was able to live part-time in London for several years, spend time in Italy and travel to such far-off destinations as Russia, Hong Kong and Israel. Now, Linda says, the wanderlust is (mostly) out of her blood, and she's come full circle, back to the people and the places she knows and loves.
Before Linda begins her writing day, she takes her first cup of coffee while enjoying the scenic view of the wooded draw behind her new home. The first morning there, a snowfall blanketed the pine trees, something she had missed in the desert outside Scottsdale. Still enamored with the people she came to love in Arizona, she says she will still set books in that starkly beautiful area, and, of course, in other stories the action will take place in Washington.
Devoted to helping others pursue their dreams, the author will launch her sixth round of Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women in May of this year. A talented speaker, she donates all her speaking honoraria to her scholarship fund. The stipends are awarded to women who seek to better their lot in life through education.
It's no wonder the protagonists in Miller's novels are women her readers admire for their honor, courage, trustworthiness, valor and determination to succeed, despite overwhelming odds. 'These qualities make them excellent role models for young women,' Miller explains. 'The male leads possess equally noble traits that today's woman would be delighted to find in her life's mate.'
The author traces the birth of her writing career to the day when a Northport teacher told her that the stories she was writing were good, that she just might have a future in writing. Later, when she decided to write novels, she endured her share of rejection before she made her first sale.
Although Linda has written successfully in other genres, she is best known for stories set in the West'stories like McKETTRICK'S CHOICE (HQN Books March 2006 paperback); THE MAN FROM STONE CREEK (HQN, June 2006 hardcover) and that very first novel, FLETCHER'S WOMAN, which is being reissued in 2006. Her stories, set in yesterday's world, and today's, are historical romances, romantic thrillers, and other contemporary tales. They consistently score on prestigious national bestseller lists.
Linda has come a long way since leaving her sheltered life in Northport at age 18 to experience the world. 'Growing up in that time and place, in a family grounded in Western values, served me well,' she allows. 'And I'm happy to be back home.'
This review is from: Daniel's Bride (Mass Market Paperback)
This is the best story I have read of Miller's so far! What a challenging way to save a person and gain a bride.
Even though Daniel Beckham refuses to love Jolie McKibben, he is willing to save her from the hangman's noose and gain a housekeeper and bed partner, also a cook. Wow! what a man. [grin]
Jolie gained a humorous friend and protecter in the lad called Deuter, the young man working for Daniel.
The unexpected arrival of the youngsters, Gemma and her brother Hank threw a monkey wrench into Daniel's plan of remaining emotionally uninvolved. And of course finding out that Jolie had not known any man physically brought confusion to Daniel's preconcieved ideas of who and what Jolie was.
Finding out about Pilar, Daniel's sometime lover, did upset Jolie a trifle. But Pilar was not going to get her husband. Nan and Joe Culley became very valued and accepted friends of Jolie and I cried with her. And then to have Nan take up with Ira January. Ugh!
I couldn't believe that Blake Kingston could even imagine himself in love with Jolie. [the rat] and she had a few close calls with the return of Blake and his partner, Rowdy, a killer with no conscience.
I was so afraid that Daniel might finally send Jolie and the kids packing before he would realize that he needed them to love and to be loved by them. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED with no reservations -- wonderful -- sexy -- and liberating -- We need more like this.
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5.0 out of 5 starsIncreasingly Beautiful as I read, May 7, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Daniel's Bride (Mass Market Paperback)
Jolie and Daniel are able to create an inner peace inside of themselves. Linda Lael Miller knew what she was doing when she placed these two charactors together. The story line was easy to follow, the emotions were expressed fully, and the feeling of complete happiness just followed after reading this book. Thank you Ms. Miller for creating such an awesome book that allowed me to release my inner turmoils. Reading is my forte, and it is great to have your books around to increase my enjoyment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)
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This review is from: Daniel's Bride (Mass Market Paperback)
This was my first LLM book and I have been reading LLM books ever since. The story was definitely good. I loved the book from the beginning to the end. This is a keeper.
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