
This is a very good beginning to Kelly's new series. I little different take on the mail order bride, since this was 3 ladies wanting husbands to help establish and build a sawmill. Instead of the "grooms" writing, they show up in numbers to meet the ladies. Some interesting characters among the men willing to stay and work in building the sawmill with food for wages.
I've already started reading the next in this series, and can't wait to see what's developing in Hope Falls.
I've already started reading the next in this series, and can't wait to see what's developing in Hope Falls.
Rugged and Relentless is the first book in Kelly's new series Husbands for Hire. I found all four of Hope Falls' founding women to be strong, yet fun and enjoyable. I liked Jake, too, even if I found myself confounded by the way he thinks. I nearly gave my husband the book and asked him to tell me if men really do think like Jake?!
I really enjoyed this book from Kelly Eileen Hake.
The story line was good and had humor, murder and love.
3 women place ads for husbands but like most men--they don't listen and come in person instead of write. And stay for the food ( I was always told "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach"). I have not enjoyed other of Hakes books (Prairie promise series). I felt she was not as good as her mom but so far this new series is great-- glad I tried Kelly again.
The story line was good and had humor, murder and love.
3 women place ads for husbands but like most men--they don't listen and come in person instead of write. And stay for the food ( I was always told "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach"). I have not enjoyed other of Hakes books (Prairie promise series). I felt she was not as good as her mom but so far this new series is great-- glad I tried Kelly again.
Dee W. (dwolters) reviewed Rugged and Relentless (Husbands for Hire, Bk 1) on + 63 more book reviews
#3 of the series. Really does not stand alone, so read the others first. Interesting plot for the series, but is a bit far fetched. Easy read, great for vacation.

"Rugged and Relentless" is a clever twist on the mail order bride genre.
Four young women (Evie, Cora, Lacey and Naomi) relocate to Hope Falls, Colorado on their own after a tragic mining accident injures and nearly kills Braden Lyman. (Coras fiancé and also brother of Lacey)
These four women are not only investors in Hope Falls but also best friends. Together, they place a newspaper ad requesting husbands. A Husbands for hire scheme. The plan starts to backfire right away when the ladies are met at the train station by a whole gang of prospective husbands.
The result is chaos and confusion!
But the story did have a twist along with murder, romance, faith, family and lots of laughs. I thought the characters were very likeable, although little hard to follow at times.
Four young women (Evie, Cora, Lacey and Naomi) relocate to Hope Falls, Colorado on their own after a tragic mining accident injures and nearly kills Braden Lyman. (Coras fiancé and also brother of Lacey)
These four women are not only investors in Hope Falls but also best friends. Together, they place a newspaper ad requesting husbands. A Husbands for hire scheme. The plan starts to backfire right away when the ladies are met at the train station by a whole gang of prospective husbands.
The result is chaos and confusion!
But the story did have a twist along with murder, romance, faith, family and lots of laughs. I thought the characters were very likeable, although little hard to follow at times.

A good story with fun characters! I am looking forward to the next one in the series.
Shelley A. (shell6834) reviewed Rugged and Relentless (Husbands for Hire, Bk 1) on + 95 more book reviews
I found this book to be a little on the hard to believe side which made it difficult for me to really get in to it. Three single women relocate to Colorado to keep a town alive. They make all the rules and the men follow them; seriously? I liked it enough not to feel that it was a total waste of time, but I was disappointed in this book from this author.
I enjoyed this book. The ladies of the book were in to women's lib way back then. I would recommend this book to everyone.