Book picks similar to
Polite Enemies by JoAnn Smith Ainsworth


historical-romance
western
first-reads
future-borrowing

Lonesome Valley Bride


G.L. Snodgrass - 2019
    And it could be all his if he only married a woman he had never met. Jack Tanner had drifted from job to job. A natural loner, the last thing he ever expected was to end up married to a stranger and owning a beautiful valley. And now, just as he was beginning to put down roots for the first time in his life, someone wanted to take it all away from him. He’d die before he let that happen. Mail-order bride, Jenny O’Neil was coming west to marry Nathanial Parker only to find out he had been murdered. And here was this tall cowboy telling her that Nathanial had left his valley to them. But only if they married. A business arrangement, Mr. Tanner called it. Not a true marriage. But what choice did she have? Penniless, no home to go back to, alone in a different world. She had already committed herself to marry a stranger. Although, she had never imagined marrying a man like this. Tall, rough around the edges, with eyes that touched her soul. Someone has killed and would try to kill again to get their valley. Struggling together, the two of them will fight for what is theirs. All the while, growing closer. Both of them wanting more than a cold business arrangement. Both of them coming to want a true marriage.

The Coin


Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra - 2013
    Richard Harrison, the intelligence officer assigned to protect her, has all he can do to keep her safe. But when the psychological games to terrorize Gabriela escalate beyond his control, Richard must find a solution, if not, it may be too late for them both.Set in the exotic French Riviera, The Coin is a story of hatred, betrayal, love and duty—of terrible and painful choices that, nonetheless, bring about personal triumph.Winner of the 2018 Bronze Medal at Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards.

Orphan Train Brides


Caroline Clemmons - 2019
    Determined to liberate five quirky, ragtag orphans not likely to be adopted by caring people, they vowed the children would not end up as they had fourteen years ago. Back then, Merry and Polly and the two boys adopted with them from that orphan train worked as slaves. They received little food, substandard living quarters, and insufficient clothing to protect against the cold winters. Mary and Polly’s children love their new home and family at the sisters’ Mockingbird boarding house. The rescue idea appears to have been a great success—until the supervisor from the Children’s Protection Society arrives. Single women are not allowed to adopt. Merry and Polly each has five days to find a suitable husband who won’t steal her share of the boarding house. Two award winning and bestselling authors conspired to bring readers these two heartwarming stories, A Family For Merry and A Family For Polly in the duet, Orphan Train Brides. In addition to Orphan Train Brides, the authors have in their future projects a duet about the two brothers, Bart and Newton Bird.(The two novellas in Orphan Train Brides are expanded from previous inclusion in the Under A Mulberry Moon anthology.)

The Grateful Bride's Passion


Rowan Gracemill - 2020
    She has a pretty face and a sweet, grateful heart, and she's a wonder with small children. But when she nearly loses her nanny position at Pendleton Hall over a false accusation, she is sentenced to the laundry, where the endless, backbreaking work promises her no future. What were these false accusations? Can she prove her innocence?A fellow servant introduces Cassie to The Matrimonial Times. Cassie jumps at the idea of finding a husband and home of her own as a mail-order bride. Soon she is writing to Jake Everly, a Nebraska rancher, intrigued by his large extended family and small town lifestyle. Did she overreact, or did she make the right decision?When Jake proposes marriage, Cassie gratefully accepts. But while she waits for him to send the funds for her trip West, a tragic accident leaves her forever physically and emotionally scarred. What was the accident? Will Jake still want her as his wife after what happened to her?While Cassie is traveling to Nebraska, she meets a man named Zach Wright. He is going to Nebraska too, with his little nephew Samuel. When Cassie offers to help him with the toddler, Zach gratefully accepts, and watches in awe as the child instantly takes to her. Is this enough to make Zach fall in love with Cassie?Zach is prepared for life as a minister and carpenter in Nebraska, but he needs someone to help him care for his adopted little boy. Cassie longs for a family and a home, but wonders if anyone can love her now. What will happen with the arrangement between Jake and Cassie? Are love and happiness meant for Cassie, Zach, Jake, and Samuel?

Chasing Love on the Run: A Historical Western Romance Book


Aurora Hanson - 2021
    He is a dreadful man, with a terrible reputation and old enough to be her father. Being resourceful, bright, and unwilling to succumb to a life of despair, Sarah decides that the only way out for her is to run away from home...Stepping bravely into an unknown future, she has no idea whether it holds peace or more danger...Aaron Wilder has overcome many sticky situations in his life, but this time around he is in dire straits. He broke a cardinal rule and befriended his crooked boss's pregnant wife. She has begged Aaron to help her escape, knowing that if she bears a girl her husband will surely kill her. Aware of the risk and against his better judgment, Aaron agrees...Can he manage to smuggle them both out of New York City without anyone knowing?The fates align when both Sarah and Aaron find themselves in a sleepy little fishing village off the Oregon coast. Sparks fly between them as they try to settle in and before long their attraction is impossible to deny. Have they truly escaped their pasts though? Caught in a turmoil of intrigue, gun battles in the streets, and a love that can never be, can they dare hope for a happy ending?"Chasing Love on the Run" is a historical western romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

The She Boss A Western Story


Arthur Preston Hankins - 1922
    You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

The Rocking M Collection


Elizabeth Lowell - 2015
    Four fiercely independent cowboys must learn to trust if they hope to find love. FIRE AND RAIN Luke MacKenzie was haunted by the Rocking M’s legacy of grinding women into dust. He has vowed never to marry—the bitter legacy of the Rocking M will end with him--until Carla arrives. His best friend's little sister has grown up. Now Luke must choose between Carla and the ranch that is part of his soul. OUTLAW Tennessee Blackthorn is ramrod for the Rocking M, a remote western ranch where Anasazi ruins have recently been discovered. His new job is to protect the ruins and the delectable blond archaeologist who wants nothing to do with him. GRANITE MAN Cash McQueen had learned the hard way not to trust a woman. When he met Mariah MacKenzie, he thought she was like nearly all the women he had known, looking for a man to take care of every little thing for her. Mariah had come to the Rocking M looking for the brother she adored. Instead, she found Cash. Together they look for Mad Jack's lost gold mine and find instead a blazing passion. But will passion be enough to convince a hard-rock miner like Cash to trust her, to return her love? WARRIOR Nevada Blackthorn has spent too many years in too many war zones. He no longer believes in anything except his family. Then he meets Eden. He fights their mutual attraction as savagely as a wolf in a trap. She knows there is no guarantee that her love will be returned, yet still she loves.

A Waitress for Wade (Mail-Order Mama, #7)


Susan Horsnell - 2021
    He’s struggling to raise three children alone after losing his wife in an influenza epidemic two years earlier.Annalise Hudson is a woman happy in life. She works long hours in the family diner which she inherited when her mama and daddy were killed in a freak accident.Wade’s eldest daughter thinks it’s about time he remarried, but he’s having none of her suggestion to advertise for a mail-order bride.Annalise is forced to make a decision she wasn’t ready for when her world is tipped upside down.Can these two make a life together when their meeting is based on deceit?

Sarah Mayfield


J.S. Anthony - 2020
    On the strength of three letters she has traveled by railroad, riverboat and stagecoach to meet her new life out west. Grady McGuire, her intended and the author of those letters, though formally dressed and still holding a bouquet of wilted prairie flowers, is unfortunately passed out drunk in a buckboard behind the saloon.That new life isn’t beginning quite as she envisioned it. As she attempts to salvage the promises they made to each other, she finds herself involved with others in town with their own stories to tell:Addison Pruitt, Sarah’s saving grace, owns the very fine Russell Hotel and keeps the irritating John Russell close as she spends his money.Diego, the Mexican hotel cook possessed of an exquisite repertoire of French dishes, has a secret that he hopes he never has to tell.Jim, Booker and the boy Abraham, Grady’s long-suffering hands, are her new family. They run the ranch Grady didn’t intend to inherit and love him even though they can’t keep him out of trouble.Ellen, Grady’s strong-willed mother, lies under a headstone out by the river, but won’t quite stay dead.Last but not least, there is Elijah Blue, a member of the tribes, shotgun rider and horse trainer, who drove cattle with Grady from the time they were barely out of childhood, and is now waiting to see if his friend can make amends with the woman from the East, the one in the black traveling dress covered with dust, the one that he noticed the minute she stepped down off the stage.

Never a Lawman


Rachel Bird - 2018
    Since then, guilt and regret have made him impervious to love. But when he rescues a family of would-be homesteaders attacked by the notorious Deckom gang, one of the sisters shines a light on his cold, locked-down heart.The last thing Brady deserves is happiness, and he fights his unwelcome feelings for Belle. Which is fine with her, since she'll never let herself care for another lawman—even one as wonderful as Brady.Heat level 3/5: contains some violence, minor cursing, and not-so-minor kissing.

Westward Courage


A.T. Butler - 2021
     Caroline Harper has everything she could want--wealth, position, the attention of an eligible bachelor. When her brother’s news destroys all of that, Caroline must decide what kind of life she wants to create for herself. As the Harpers make their way along the grueling thousands of miles of Oregon Trail, Caroline discovers strength, poise and potential she didn’t realize she possessed. Strength that perhaps was not in a spoiled city girl at all. But will it be enough to survive and bring Caroline and her brother all the way to Oregon?

In Search of Love and Affection


Lilah Rivers - 2020
    She and her beloved brother, Stephen, have lived humbly in California for the last few years, after the tragic loss of their dearest parents; until one fateful day, Stephen goes off to work, but never gets back home. Being terribly upset and desperate, Julianna seeks help from the town's Sheriff. Will his experience be enough to puzzle out this distressing and unexplained case? Thomas Wingate is the quiet and diligent Sheriff of a new settlement in California. His meek demeanor tends to help him observe and solve cases quickly, and justifies his reputation for never letting a criminal get away. When hopeless Julianna asks for his services, he accepts with no second thoughts, and promises to make every possible effort to find her brother. But what will begin as a simple investigation, will turn out to be a challenging adventure. Will they maintain their hope that God will show them the way and bring Stephen home?In their search for Stephen, Julianna and Thomas will encounter friends, bandits, and the hidden crimes of a small town. While trying to figure out the unsolved mystery, Julianna and Thomas will start growing feelings for each other. Will the endless research bring their vulnerable hearts finally together? Or will the complications and their opposing personalities tear them eternally apart?"In Search of Love and Affection" is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Guided by a Shared Miracle: A Historical Western Romance Book


Lorelei Brogan - 2021
    Between looking after her grandmother, their farm, and working at the diner in town, she has no time to spare for thoughts of marriage. Then, one night, Summer finds a baby on her doorstep. Bewildered and overwhelmed, she’s suddenly faced with choices she never expected. When the handsome town doctor starts visiting her farm to help out though, she’s torn...Will she open her heart, or shut him out the way she has most people her entire life?Terrence Swanson moved to Texas knowing that all he wants is to help people as a doctor. He's noticed Summer for quite some time now, but respects that she isn't looking for romance. When she comes to him for help with caring for an abandoned baby, he can't turn her down. Yet the more he helps her, the deeper he falls in love with both her and the baby. Will Terrence be able to overcome Summer's walls and show her that letting others in isn't always a bad thing? When a new arrival in town threatens everything they hold dear, Summer and Terrence will be tested in ways they never imagined. Will their fragile connection withstand the most difficult of times ahead and blossom into life-changing love? Or could they end up losing everything they care about?"Guided by a Shared Miracle" is a historical western romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

So, You Think You're A Celebrity...Chef?


Caroline James - 2013
    Add in a washed-up celebrity chef whose career needs re-building…Flavour with…An aging rock star fresh from rehab, and a Sloane Ranger food writer who gets her own TV show…Bring to the boil…At a Gourmet Food Festival, in Ireland, where anything goes!When media agent Hilary Hargreaves travels to Ireland to look at a campaign for a new cookery school, she meets a blast from her past - the romantic but feckless chef Mickey Lloyd, who is hell-bent on resurrecting his flagging career. Her tough demeanour is rocked as it becomes apparent Mickey's intentions involve more than a stint behind a stove in his quest to pursue her. But as plans for the school gain momentum, she realises that she's developing more than a passing interest in reformed alcoholic Long Tom Hendry, who owns the crumbling old mansion where the school will be homed. Hilary has many ingredients to juggle with her demanding client list - which looks set to boil over if she doesn't keep control. From London's bustling Soho, to Southern Ireland and the sunny shores of the Caribbean, has Hilary got too much on her plate and is she really prepared to risk it all for love?

Two Bits for Her King


Rebecca Dawn - 2017
    She sees no other choice. She is forced to purchase a husband. With unwavering faith, she reluctantly follows a seemingly crazy prompting to bid on a huge, terrifyingly barbaric Irishman. Within hours of their wedding, she finds herself questioning her decision. He is a criminal with a violent past that she can only guess at, yet she witnesses his capacity for love and loyalty, and decides to trust in that prompting that had led her to choose him. Bought by a crazy lass for two bits. The old fellow with her is just as insane, he keeps calling her ‘Your Highness’. Patrick’s first thought is to relieve her of the money remaining in her bag and escape to find his brother and then a new life, but as the day progresses, he decides she needs him. She needs a husband and father for her brood of wee ones, and he can be that for her. He knows nothing will make up for the decisions made in the past, and after the loss of his own wife and child, he will never be able to love again, but he can protect and care for this family of heartbroken strays. ~The dangers of Frontier life, mail order brides,stepping into the unknown, trying to tame the wild west, struggling to survive and keep their ever growing families alive and well, disappointments, indians, bandits, deaths, and struggling with their own inner demons. The "Frontier Brides of Stormy Valley" series is Wild west romance at it's best! ~Nestled in a picturesque valley in Idaho Territory. The residents of Stormy Valley are a diverse handful of pioneers brimming with courage, strength, integrity and the spirit of adventure. Working together to turn their valley into a thriving community, growing ever richer for the friendships they’ve made and the trials they’ve overcome. ~Two Bits for Her King is the story of how it all began.~