Search - The Cowboy Takes a Bride (Jubilee, Texas, Bk 1)

When Mariah Callahan inherits a small ranch from the cowboy father who abandoned her and her mother, she's down to her last dime after being fired from the wedding planning job she loved. She heads to Jubilee, Tex., thinking to sell her shabby spread quickly, but is surprised by the connection she feels to the land and to the father she thought she hated. Young widower Joe Daniels, her nearest neighbor, had vowed to hate Mariah, thinking she neglected her father, who was his best friend and mentor--but he can't deny their sparks, and her side of the story gets under his skin.

The Cowboy Takes a Bride is a sweet and appealing story. Joe is the alpha male, but with great qualities of compassion and sincerity. Joe needs someone in his life to challenge him and keep things varied, which Mariah does, but she comes off as a character that can be a bit self-deprecating and contradictory. Mariah spends a great deal of time trying to break down Joe's walls and help him realize that loving again is possible. When he finally starts believing in her, she starts to question him and gets insecure instead of being elated.

This is the first book I've ready by Lori Wilde and it won't be the last. I will look for more of her works and hopefully these characters will spill over to another nice read. I truly enjoyed this book.