Customer Reviews

Hired By The Cowboy (Harlequin Romance)

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Due to the scare of tainted beef, Canadian cattle farmer Conner Madsen is in danger of losing the ranch that has been in his family for over one hundred years. Unable to access his trust fund, Conner has only one option. He must find someone who will marry him on short notice so he will be allowed to draw money from his trust fund. This might be a problem because not only is Conner not dating anyone, he doesn't even know anyone who might be willing to marry him. Salvation comes in the form of independent Alexis Grayson who also just happens to faint at his feet.

Conner tries his best to persuade Alexis to marry him. Offering to take care of her and her unborn child, and trying to convince her of his need, Conner prays for Alexis to agree to his plans. Because unless he marries, he will not have the funding needed to keep his ranch afloat.

Alexis Grayson gives new meaning to the word stubborn. Used to relying on no one but herself, she has a hard time lowering her defenses enough to let Conner take care of her. I found her capitulation sweet and happily cheered both characters on from the sidelines.

For a debut Harlequin release, HIRED BY THE COWBOY by Donna Alward is a good read. The characters are realistic - including the interfering, but well meaning, grandmother. Lovers of Harlequin Romances will really enjoy this book. I know I did.

Hired by the Cowboy is Donna Alward's debut book for Harlequin Romance and part of the Western Weddings series. It is absolutely a wonderful, sweet and tender love story and sure to melt any reader's heart and make any cynic a true believer in romance and falling in love.

Can you imagine having no family, on your own with little money, no husband and a baby on the way, and determined to take care of this new life? Well for Alexis Grayson that was the case and of all things she faints!

Connor Madsen, is one handsome and sexy cowboy and he has a serious problem. How will he save his previous Windover Ranch when his trust fund only becomes available to him upon marriage? Connor isn't even dating anyone and the bank won't lend him money, so what is he to do? As fate will have it Connor literally finds Alexis at his feet in a dead faint, and their story begins.

Connor immediately likes Alex, likes her strong character, determination, and sense of humour plus she's not too hard on the eyes. As for Alex, Connor is one handsome cowboy, a gentleman so when he offers her a place to stay until the baby is born and to take care of her, can that be so bad? Think again! When she learns his plan that they must marry to save his ranch, she believes he's lost his mind!

Donna's development of both of these two characters is amazing as she uses their attraction for each other in a very sweet and emotional way. I found myself holding my breath to see if and when they would realize that they belonged together and even though they both used their immediate situations to solve immediate problems, in the end, their attraction, sensitivity and friendship for each other would form such a bond they would soon see the light!

I would have never guessed this to be a debut book. I found Connor and Alex's story sincere, sweet, romantic, having all of the elements which make a great love story! Thank you Donna, for Hired by The Cowboy. I personally can't wait for the next Windover story, Marriage at Circle M.

This is the first book I've read from this author and it certainly won't be my last. Her characters could be my neighbors - real down-to-earth people who care for others as well as the land. People who try to live the life they're dealt while holding onto their dignity and self-respect. People who don't flash their money in your face just because they have it and you don't.

She uses Alberta, land of cowboys, mountains and wealth to weave a marriage of convenience story that starts with despair and ends in rapture. Ride along with me while I give the low-down on this poignant story:

Alexis Grayson is pregnant and alone. She's strong and penniless. She's a victim of circumstance, yet a survivor. She knows what she wants but isn't sure how to get it...

Until Connor Madsen walks into her life and asks her to share his.

Connor needs a temporary wife. Alexis needs a temporary home.

All they have to do is accept that true happiness comes when you give your heart into someone else's safekeeping. Strong is good. Together is better.

But, they'll have to dig deep and find the courage to take the chance.

This stand-alone book has characters from the Windover Ranch. Other Donna Alward books with related characters are:

- Marriage at Circle M - HR 3978 Sep 07

- Falling For Mr. Dark & Dangerous - HR 4044 Aug 08

Heat level: Romantic

I bought this book because of the back cover. It sounded like it would be a great story. And since I love almost any story about a cowboy I know it would be great. So not the case with this one! The first chapter starts off great but quickly went NOWHERE!!!! It was so dull and boring I had to force myself to finish it. For one it takes place in Canada not my idea of cowboys. And it is a really downer. Both of them lost their entire families is freak plane/ car accidents and are struggling with being alone. Shes poor and homeless he is losing his farm to mad cow. You wait the whole book for the happy ending and what do you get? He loses everything and has to kill off his whole herd and if that's not bad enough a tornado Comes and destroys his buildings. But somehow durning this they deside that they are in love in the most I romantic way. He kicks her out she slaps him in the face oh yeah we love each other end of story. There is absolutely no character development and it is so boringing! They are quite literally the ONLY characters in the book save for a grandmother that has a few lines.

yet another cowboy rancher novel. But, since this is my favorite "genre" I'd say this is a cute read.