Hired by the Cowboy [Kindle Edition]

Donna Alward (Author)

Book Description

Wanted: one contract bride!

Alexis Grayson is good at looking after herself—she's been doing it all her life. So what if she's alone and pregnant? She'll cope! But gorgeous cowboy Connor Madsen seems determined to take care of her. And Alexis can help him—he needs a temporary wife; she needs somewhere to live until the baby's born. A short-term marriage will solve all their difficulties!

As Alexis gets to know the courageous, honorable Connor, she realizes that she might have made the biggest mistake of her life. Because all this wife-for-hire wants is a marriage for real!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...sincere, sweet, romantic, having all of the elements which make a great love story!" --Pink Heart Society Reviews

From the Author

For Subcare - keep the faith! It does happen!
And with special thanks to Michelle Styles and Trish Wylie, for their unwavering support and guidance.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 280 KB
• Print Length: 177 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0263854337
• Publisher: Harlequin Romance (August 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008NBWKRO
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #461,003 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 58 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Romance Junkies review of Hired by the Cowboy! May 19, 2007

By Natalie S VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

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.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2 stars - A keeper! November 14, 2008

By Anita Draper

Format:Mass Market Paperback

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

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dynamite Debut Book! September 10, 2007

By Marilyn Shoemaker

Format:Mass Market Paperback

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.

More About the Author

A busy wife and mother of three (two daughters and the family dog), Donna Alward believes hers is the best job in the world: a combination of stay-at-home mom and romance novelist.

An avid reader since childhood, Donna always made up her own stories. She completed her Arts Degree in English Literature in 1994, but it wasn't until 2001 that she penned her first full-length novel, and found herself hooked on writing romance. In 2006 she sold her first manuscript.

Donna loves being back on the East Coast of Canada after nearly twelve years in Alberta where her Harlequin career began, writing about cowboys and the west. Donna's debut Romance, Hired by the Cowboy, was awarded the Booksellers' Best Award in 2008 for Best Traditional Romance. She's a two-time Colorado Award of Excellence winner and a 2012 RITA Award nominee.

Donna loves to hear from readers; you can contact her through her website at www.donnaalward.com, visit her facebook page, or through her publisher.

Twitter: @DonnaAlward

Representation: Jennifer Schober of Spencerhill Associates