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The Legends of Laramie County #3
The Texas Rancher's Marriage
A Special Christmas Reunion
Few people in Laramie, Texas, know that Merri Duncan is actually the biological mother of her late sister’s twins. Even fewer know that Chase Armstrong, and not his late brother, is their biological father. It’s even news to Chase—and when he returns from military duty, he’s determined to do the right thing by Merri, who’s been raising the twins alone on the Broken Arrow ranch. It’s time for a walk to the altar, for the sake of the children.
There’s just one problem. Merri and Chase are, as they always have been, just friends—nothing more. Without love, their marriage can never be truly complete. Sticking it out may mean sacrificing their chances for future happiness. But maybe faith, hope and desire can bring these two newlyweds what they truly need. After all, it is the season of miracles.
Few people in Laramie, Texas, know that Merri Duncan is actually the biological mother of her late sister’s twins. Even fewer know that Chase Armstrong, and not his late brother, is their biological father. It’s even news to Chase—and when he returns from military duty, he’s determined to do the right thing by Merri, who’s been raising the twins alone on the Broken Arrow ranch. It’s time for a walk to the altar, for the sake of the children.
There’s just one problem. Merri and Chase are, as they always have been, just friends—nothing more. Without love, their marriage can never be truly complete. Sticking it out may mean sacrificing their chances for future happiness. But maybe faith, hope and desire can bring these two newlyweds what they truly need. After all, it is the season of miracles.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2012
17 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Gillen Thacker
381 books105 followersDear Readers,
The love stories in my family have always been fodder for romance novels.
My maternal grandmother and grandfather simultaneously ran a business together and raised four daughters, long before it was an accepted thing to do. Grandpa O’Dell ran the gas station and the barber shop; Grandma O’Dell managed the grocery and cooked for customers. They were true partners and madly in love and parted, tragically, way too soon when he succumbed to cancer when he was in his early fifties. Grandma grieved deeply but eventually picked herself up, started a new career as a cafeteria chef, and eventually found deep romantic love and happiness again, in the form of a second marriage.
Read more here...
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 31, 2018
Merri thought about how intimate it was, sitting here like this, just talking, sharing their day. Who would have thought this part of marriage would be so comforting and fun? 51%
I hunted very hard for an opening that wasn't just me squeeing over kissing. So, you're welcome.
This book was actually great! And it did something that I think is quite rare in Harlequin's American Romances: have sexual tension. Not only did I think Chase would be excellent in bed, but there is plenty of kissing and sex in here.
If I wrote a book, I would title it A MENSCH WHO LOVES KISSING and it would be all about a mensch who loves kissing. There would be so much kissing, and so much mensch-behavior, and it would be lovely. Thacker was tapping into this idea when she wrote this book.
The book starts out a little rocky. You are not sure what you are going to get when you start a Harlequin AR: let's face it, anything could happen. Except detailed sex scenes, apparently.
ANYWAY. Merri has been raising the twins (Jeffrey and Jessalyn) whom she was granted custody of four and a half years ago when her sister (Sasha) and Chase's brother (Scott) died in a car crash. Chase, the children's uncle, is in the army serving in Afghanistan or Iraq or somewhere (this is 2012) and is now coming home. He is a physician, M.D., doctor.
Here comes the first weird part: Merri and Chase are actually the biological parents of the twins. Sasha used Merri's donated eggs and Chase's donated sperm to make the children. Chase's sperm was used without his permission, and he's just now finding out that the twins are his biological children.
I swear to you, fertility treatments, IVF, and surrogacy has really created some weird-ass romance novels with some weird-ass situations. There's actually a Harlequin American Romance series that centers around a fertility clinic and each romance features strange, almost unbelievable fertility issues that foster romance. It's called the Safe Harbour Medical series by Jacqueline Diamond.
This is no exception.
The book then delves into "Marriage of Convenience" trope when Chase and Merri must marry in order to keep custody of the children.
Then it gets even weirder. Merri agrees to marry Chase, but...
"Okay. I'll do it. On one condition..."
Lines of concern bracketed his sensual lips. "And that is...?"
Merri forged ahead. "That I get something I really want out of all this, too."
"And what would that be?" He lifted a brow.
Overwhelmed by the restlessness stirring inside her, Merri angled a thumb at her chest. "What I've never had and always wanted. To carry a child inside me."
"You want to have my baby?"
I know what you're thinking, "Uh-oh, are we getting into Alexa Riley territory?" I was worried about the same thing. I mean... you have to admit this is strange.
Chase went still. His gaze roamed over her, head to toe, then lingered on her lips. "You're asking me to impregnate you?"
Alexa Riley alarms were screaming in my brain!
Fortunately, Thacker doesn't go down that route, as in, the sex isn't laser-focused on breeding. Thank heaven. I mean, they are actively trying to get pregnant but it doesn't bleed over into fetish territory. OF COURSE they are going to do it 'the natural way' and not have her be inseminated at a clinic, because ROMANCE.
So, they get married, start trying to get her pregnant, Chase has to be patient and loving with the kids until they get used to him, we have to deal with an Army buddy who is in love with him and wants to steal him from Merri, and Merri has to get over her bad experience with an ex.
SEXUAL CHEMISTRY
This book was amazing because you actually felt the leads had sexual chemistry. The book not only made my heart speed up when Chase would initiate kissing with Merri, but I actually felt like they were attracted to each other and that things between them were sexually exciting.
That is very rare in Harlequin AR.
KISSING
OK, so this book has a LOT of kissing and a LOT of kissing scenes and I was EXTREMELY HAPPY. Kissing is so important. You should have kissing every day. Also, kissing should not take a back-burner to sex. Also, tons of descriptive kissing should be in romance novels. There should be lots of neck-kissing. Kissing. Kissing, kissing, kissing.
He bent down, caging her with his arms and lowered his face until their mouths were an inch apart. He lifted a strand of hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. Came even nearer, so their bodies were touching and she could feel the heat coming from his. "So what you're saying is we've got some convincing to do if people are going to believe this marriage is for real," he proposed silkily. ...
Merri knew it was all for show. As his lips moved slowly and sensually over hers, she swore that she wasn't going to kiss him back, but instead would let him do all the work.
It was a good plan. A very safe, intelligent way of resisting him. Unfortunately it backfired big-time. Before even a millisecond went by, her lips parted beneath the persuasive pressure of his. Succumbing, she wreathed her arms around his neck and kissed him back, melting against him.
They snuggle in bed. I wish there was more slow kissing in bed, I thought that was a prime opportunity to have slow kissing in bed. BUT THEY DIDN'T. :(
Anyway, he loves kissing her and there are always little kissing sessions in the book. And the best part is, it doesn't lead to sex all the time. These leads believe in kissing for kissing's sake. KISSING! So much kissing!
He loves to put her back against a wall and then have slow kissing with her, and that is one of my favorite ways of kissing, and there's a lot of that in here. :D
MENSCH
First I was kind of worried about Chase, because Thacker was starting out the book with all this "*grunt* He's a MAN!" "Texans!" "Take charge" shit and I was like, "Uh-oh." But really Chase ended up being a mensch, and there's no one I'd rather read about than a mensch.
He just steps up and acts as a helpmeet to his wife like a man. Nothing is more attractive than a man who just shoulders his responsibilities, takes some of the burden off of your shoulders, and is helpful.
He asks her where she needs help. He not only brings home money, but he often takes care of the children and the dairy cows when she needs him to. He never gets angry or snappish and he doesn't complain about shouldering his fair share of burdens in the marriage. It's very hot.
Even when the children don't like him and are skittish around him and are taking a while to warm up to him, he doesn't get impatient with them or complain.
He doesn't get impatient or short-tempered with his woman. She's a bit anxious sometimes about being able to give her heart to him. An example of this is when she leaps out of bed after sex.
"How could five minutes of cuddling be so wrong?" ...
"I swore when I ended my relationship with Pierce that I wouldn't allow myself to indulge in any more whimsical thinking." ...
"So no cuddling."
She tilted her chin, affirming flatly, "No cuddling."
Because cuddling with Chase could tempt her to fall in love with him. Merri did not want to love another man who - in the end - did not love her in return. 45%
He doesn't get offended or angry or try to press the point. He's very patient with her. It's mensch behavior, and super-attractive.
His body might be telling him all systems were ready, but his head knew different. Merri wasn't the kind of woman who could handle sex with no strings, even for the purpose of making a baby they both yearned to have. She was the kind of woman who needed tenderness as well as passion. Love. Commitment.
And though he could easily give her three out of the four, his gut told him that she would never be happy unless she had the Real Deal feelings included in any bedroom alliance: love. 29%
There's also super-cute scenes in this book, like when Chase takes Merri and the twins out shopping for a Christmas tree as a surprise. They have an adorable time shopping for trees. Then,
Merri breathed in the fragrance of fresh-cut pine and man. He was so handsome and kind. "Don't you think it's a little excessive?"
"For our first Christmas together?" Chase murmured. "I think it's just right."
Merri warned, "You're going to spoil them."
"I'm going to spoil all of you." He took her chin in his hand and kissed her, right there in the parking lot.
A jolt of desire swept through her. Shocked but elated, Merri rose up on tiptoe and kissed him back. If today was any indication, she thought happily, they were going to have a very Merry Christmas indeed. 56%
He doesn't insist on them sharing a bed, when she wants him to sleep in the guest room, he always does so graciously. He never pushes her sexually. MENSCH.
Was that why she hadn't wanted to continue sleeping with him? Because she had sensed the deed was done and she had been successfully impregnated the first time out of the gate? Or was it simply because she was still trying to get used to being married to him, before they leaped into bed again? The only thing Chase knew for sure was that he didn't want to rush her, any more than he already had. Because Lord knew she deserved some kind of courtship and a get-to-know-each-other-better period. 58%
Just blown away by how patient and understanding Chase is. Far from the domineering man I thought he was going to be in the opening. He kept surprising me with his mensch-ness.
I can't tell you how he steps up and takes responsibility as a father, as a husband (he buys her a tankless water heater!), and as a helpmeet to his woman. SO FUCKING HOT. Never complains about shit. MAN.
He cleared his throat. "Now that we're married, I can help with things like that." 33%
PERFUME
Merri wears a lavender perfume all the time and it is talked about a lot. I liked that! I had a fun time speculating on which lavender perfume she was wearing. They never name it. I like when a female character has a signature scent and it runs throughout the novel.
Chase inhaled the sweet fragrance of her skin and the lingering scent of her perfume, and knew he'd been welcomed into her world, fully and completely, at long last. 60%
HOW'S THE SEX, CARMEN?
I'm willing to believe Chase is amazing in bed. Seems like a man who would be terrific in bed. But the sex isn't detailed enough for me to really grasp anything.
TL;DR This book was very surprisingly good for an AR. Sexual tension between the leads - super rare. Lots of kissing. Multiple sex scenes (although not detailed). Mensch hero.
I don't know if I can give this five stars, I'd need detailed, hot sex to give that. This is NOT Thacker's fault, Thacker did great. It's Harlequin AR's fault.
Overall, a delightful book that was a pleasant surprise to this reader.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES:
Contemporary Romance
Cowboy/Western Romance
Holiday/Christmas Romance
Military Romance
Non-Virgin Heroine
Secret Baby
Marriage of Convenience
Doctor Romance
She's a Dairy Farmer, He's a Physician
He tightened his grip protectively and leaned in close. "I say it because I believe in us." Before she could do more than haul in a breath, he lowered his head and kissed her full on the mouth, not caring that they were standing in the middle of Main Street. 65%
YES! Let's have MORE KISSING!
I hunted very hard for an opening that wasn't just me squeeing over kissing. So, you're welcome.
This book was actually great! And it did something that I think is quite rare in Harlequin's American Romances: have sexual tension. Not only did I think Chase would be excellent in bed, but there is plenty of kissing and sex in here.
If I wrote a book, I would title it A MENSCH WHO LOVES KISSING and it would be all about a mensch who loves kissing. There would be so much kissing, and so much mensch-behavior, and it would be lovely. Thacker was tapping into this idea when she wrote this book.
The book starts out a little rocky. You are not sure what you are going to get when you start a Harlequin AR: let's face it, anything could happen. Except detailed sex scenes, apparently.
ANYWAY. Merri has been raising the twins (Jeffrey and Jessalyn) whom she was granted custody of four and a half years ago when her sister (Sasha) and Chase's brother (Scott) died in a car crash. Chase, the children's uncle, is in the army serving in Afghanistan or Iraq or somewhere (this is 2012) and is now coming home. He is a physician, M.D., doctor.
Here comes the first weird part: Merri and Chase are actually the biological parents of the twins. Sasha used Merri's donated eggs and Chase's donated sperm to make the children. Chase's sperm was used without his permission, and he's just now finding out that the twins are his biological children.
I swear to you, fertility treatments, IVF, and surrogacy has really created some weird-ass romance novels with some weird-ass situations. There's actually a Harlequin American Romance series that centers around a fertility clinic and each romance features strange, almost unbelievable fertility issues that foster romance. It's called the Safe Harbour Medical series by Jacqueline Diamond.
This is no exception.
The book then delves into "Marriage of Convenience" trope when Chase and Merri must marry in order to keep custody of the children.
Then it gets even weirder. Merri agrees to marry Chase, but...
"Okay. I'll do it. On one condition..."
Lines of concern bracketed his sensual lips. "And that is...?"
Merri forged ahead. "That I get something I really want out of all this, too."
"And what would that be?" He lifted a brow.
Overwhelmed by the restlessness stirring inside her, Merri angled a thumb at her chest. "What I've never had and always wanted. To carry a child inside me."
"You want to have my baby?"
I know what you're thinking, "Uh-oh, are we getting into Alexa Riley territory?" I was worried about the same thing. I mean... you have to admit this is strange.
Chase went still. His gaze roamed over her, head to toe, then lingered on her lips. "You're asking me to impregnate you?"
Alexa Riley alarms were screaming in my brain!
Fortunately, Thacker doesn't go down that route, as in, the sex isn't laser-focused on breeding. Thank heaven. I mean, they are actively trying to get pregnant but it doesn't bleed over into fetish territory. OF COURSE they are going to do it 'the natural way' and not have her be inseminated at a clinic, because ROMANCE.
So, they get married, start trying to get her pregnant, Chase has to be patient and loving with the kids until they get used to him, we have to deal with an Army buddy who is in love with him and wants to steal him from Merri, and Merri has to get over her bad experience with an ex.
SEXUAL CHEMISTRY
This book was amazing because you actually felt the leads had sexual chemistry. The book not only made my heart speed up when Chase would initiate kissing with Merri, but I actually felt like they were attracted to each other and that things between them were sexually exciting.
That is very rare in Harlequin AR.
KISSING
OK, so this book has a LOT of kissing and a LOT of kissing scenes and I was EXTREMELY HAPPY. Kissing is so important. You should have kissing every day. Also, kissing should not take a back-burner to sex. Also, tons of descriptive kissing should be in romance novels. There should be lots of neck-kissing. Kissing. Kissing, kissing, kissing.
He bent down, caging her with his arms and lowered his face until their mouths were an inch apart. He lifted a strand of hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. Came even nearer, so their bodies were touching and she could feel the heat coming from his. "So what you're saying is we've got some convincing to do if people are going to believe this marriage is for real," he proposed silkily. ...
Merri knew it was all for show. As his lips moved slowly and sensually over hers, she swore that she wasn't going to kiss him back, but instead would let him do all the work.
It was a good plan. A very safe, intelligent way of resisting him. Unfortunately it backfired big-time. Before even a millisecond went by, her lips parted beneath the persuasive pressure of his. Succumbing, she wreathed her arms around his neck and kissed him back, melting against him.
They snuggle in bed. I wish there was more slow kissing in bed, I thought that was a prime opportunity to have slow kissing in bed. BUT THEY DIDN'T. :(
Anyway, he loves kissing her and there are always little kissing sessions in the book. And the best part is, it doesn't lead to sex all the time. These leads believe in kissing for kissing's sake. KISSING! So much kissing!
He loves to put her back against a wall and then have slow kissing with her, and that is one of my favorite ways of kissing, and there's a lot of that in here. :D
MENSCH
First I was kind of worried about Chase, because Thacker was starting out the book with all this "*grunt* He's a MAN!" "Texans!" "Take charge" shit and I was like, "Uh-oh." But really Chase ended up being a mensch, and there's no one I'd rather read about than a mensch.
He just steps up and acts as a helpmeet to his wife like a man. Nothing is more attractive than a man who just shoulders his responsibilities, takes some of the burden off of your shoulders, and is helpful.
He asks her where she needs help. He not only brings home money, but he often takes care of the children and the dairy cows when she needs him to. He never gets angry or snappish and he doesn't complain about shouldering his fair share of burdens in the marriage. It's very hot.
Even when the children don't like him and are skittish around him and are taking a while to warm up to him, he doesn't get impatient with them or complain.
He doesn't get impatient or short-tempered with his woman. She's a bit anxious sometimes about being able to give her heart to him. An example of this is when she leaps out of bed after sex.
"How could five minutes of cuddling be so wrong?" ...
"I swore when I ended my relationship with Pierce that I wouldn't allow myself to indulge in any more whimsical thinking." ...
"So no cuddling."
She tilted her chin, affirming flatly, "No cuddling."
Because cuddling with Chase could tempt her to fall in love with him. Merri did not want to love another man who - in the end - did not love her in return. 45%
He doesn't get offended or angry or try to press the point. He's very patient with her. It's mensch behavior, and super-attractive.
His body might be telling him all systems were ready, but his head knew different. Merri wasn't the kind of woman who could handle sex with no strings, even for the purpose of making a baby they both yearned to have. She was the kind of woman who needed tenderness as well as passion. Love. Commitment.
And though he could easily give her three out of the four, his gut told him that she would never be happy unless she had the Real Deal feelings included in any bedroom alliance: love. 29%
There's also super-cute scenes in this book, like when Chase takes Merri and the twins out shopping for a Christmas tree as a surprise. They have an adorable time shopping for trees. Then,
Merri breathed in the fragrance of fresh-cut pine and man. He was so handsome and kind. "Don't you think it's a little excessive?"
"For our first Christmas together?" Chase murmured. "I think it's just right."
Merri warned, "You're going to spoil them."
"I'm going to spoil all of you." He took her chin in his hand and kissed her, right there in the parking lot.
A jolt of desire swept through her. Shocked but elated, Merri rose up on tiptoe and kissed him back. If today was any indication, she thought happily, they were going to have a very Merry Christmas indeed. 56%
He doesn't insist on them sharing a bed, when she wants him to sleep in the guest room, he always does so graciously. He never pushes her sexually. MENSCH.
Was that why she hadn't wanted to continue sleeping with him? Because she had sensed the deed was done and she had been successfully impregnated the first time out of the gate? Or was it simply because she was still trying to get used to being married to him, before they leaped into bed again? The only thing Chase knew for sure was that he didn't want to rush her, any more than he already had. Because Lord knew she deserved some kind of courtship and a get-to-know-each-other-better period. 58%
Just blown away by how patient and understanding Chase is. Far from the domineering man I thought he was going to be in the opening. He kept surprising me with his mensch-ness.
I can't tell you how he steps up and takes responsibility as a father, as a husband (he buys her a tankless water heater!), and as a helpmeet to his woman. SO FUCKING HOT. Never complains about shit. MAN.
He cleared his throat. "Now that we're married, I can help with things like that." 33%
PERFUME
Merri wears a lavender perfume all the time and it is talked about a lot. I liked that! I had a fun time speculating on which lavender perfume she was wearing. They never name it. I like when a female character has a signature scent and it runs throughout the novel.
Chase inhaled the sweet fragrance of her skin and the lingering scent of her perfume, and knew he'd been welcomed into her world, fully and completely, at long last. 60%
HOW'S THE SEX, CARMEN?
I'm willing to believe Chase is amazing in bed. Seems like a man who would be terrific in bed. But the sex isn't detailed enough for me to really grasp anything.
TL;DR This book was very surprisingly good for an AR. Sexual tension between the leads - super rare. Lots of kissing. Multiple sex scenes (although not detailed). Mensch hero.
I don't know if I can give this five stars, I'd need detailed, hot sex to give that. This is NOT Thacker's fault, Thacker did great. It's Harlequin AR's fault.
Overall, a delightful book that was a pleasant surprise to this reader.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES:
Contemporary Romance
Cowboy/Western Romance
Holiday/Christmas Romance
Military Romance
Non-Virgin Heroine
Secret Baby
Marriage of Convenience
Doctor Romance
She's a Dairy Farmer, He's a Physician
He tightened his grip protectively and leaned in close. "I say it because I believe in us." Before she could do more than haul in a breath, he lowered his head and kissed her full on the mouth, not caring that they were standing in the middle of Main Street. 65%
YES! Let's have MORE KISSING!
October 20, 2012
Very good book. Chase got quite a surprise when he got home and found out that he was actually the twins' father, not their uncle. Because he and Merri felt it was important that the children had a stable home, they got married. They had always been friends, so they figured it would be no problem. They soon discovered that their friendship was becoming something else, but what was it really? I liked both Chase and Merri. Merri had been named the twins' guardian when her sister and Brother-in-law died. Chase had been overseas for most of the time and had not been around the kids much. When he returned she felt it was only right that he be involved in their lives. She didn't know that his brother had forged Chase's signature on the sperm donor form and that Chase didn't know he was the father. When he did, he proposed marriage to give the kids two parents. Merri wasn't sure about getting married having been burned once by a man she had lived with and thought she loved. So she tried to keep Chase at a distance even after they were married. She wasn't expecting the intense attraction they had, and also that they would grow closer. She was always afraid that it wouldn't last and didn't want to have her heart broken again. She soon discovered that she had fallen in love with him, but thought that it was hopeless. I liked the way that she worked so hard to help Chase and the twins get closer. She seemed to know what to do and also was very sensitive to his feelings. I also liked the way that she finally decided he was worth fighting for. Chase was a great guy. He had worked well with his nurses overseas, to the point where a group came to visit him when they came back, not knowing that he had gotten married. One of the nurses had a huge crush on him and kept making advances that he would shut down, but bothered Merri. I loved the way that he really wanted to connect with the kids. It was very hard for him to be patient, but it finally paid off when he quit trying so hard. I also loved the way that he realized his feelings for Merri before she did and was determined to win her over. I loved the thought that went into his Christmas gifts for her. Their final attempts to connect with each other got them the happy ending they wanted.
September 21, 2019
Ì submitted this review after listening to the audiobook titled "The Groom who (almost) got away", as this title was a bonus read.
Two people, hoodwinked, each by their own sibling, find that their lives were turned upside down, when their siblings were killed in an accident, leaving behind the twins, who was th he cause of the consternation the adults were feeling. For paperwork found after the deaths, revealed a situation, which neither knew how to handle.
I have tried not to spoil a good yarn, but it is mind boggling in one respect and difficult to solve in another. However, your best to either listen to, or read the story, to get this story's true impact.
Two people, hoodwinked, each by their own sibling, find that their lives were turned upside down, when their siblings were killed in an accident, leaving behind the twins, who was th he cause of the consternation the adults were feeling. For paperwork found after the deaths, revealed a situation, which neither knew how to handle.
I have tried not to spoil a good yarn, but it is mind boggling in one respect and difficult to solve in another. However, your best to either listen to, or read the story, to get this story's true impact.
May 7, 2018
It is a very sweet story. I am almost done with it and want to go back sbd read the first 2 books in the series.
November 3, 2012
4 STARS
The Texas Rancher's Marriage is a Legends of Laranie County novel.
It has a good looking doctor returned home from war zone, cute twins,a community of characters, a unselfish mother,bunch of guests show up for honeymoon also lots of fun embarrasing moments and too many love scene details.
When Merri Duncan sister was having problems concieving she stepped in and donated her eggs and when the father too had problems he got a hold of his brothers sperm and used it. They had cute girl and boy twins. then the parents died together in a accident.
Merri steped in and was raising the twins and taking care of thier ranch for them.
Merri always wondered what had changed Chase Armstrong mind into donating his sperm to his brother when he refused once before.
Chase Armstrong was done with his tour in the army and now was back home and joined the hospital. He wanted to see his niece and nephew. When Merri had the chance she asked Chase why he changed his mind about being the father.
Chase was shocked. He never gave permission for his brother too use the sperm he donated for science to use as a donor father.
Chase did not want to be a father with someone else raising his children. Now he had 5 year old twins!
Merri and Chase decided it would be best if they marry instead of dragging the twins into a mess if he reveals what had gone on behind his back.
They hurry and get married. The grief counceler at hospital was worried that it was because of serving in the war.
The Judge doubted thier marriage and was looking into seeing if they were going to be good parents for the twins.
The whole town was watching them. Right before Thanksgiving a bunch of nurses he worked closely with showed up on his doorstop to take him up on to come visit him.
One of the nurses had a really bad crush on Chase. The twins are not happy with changes.
It was entertaining but I admit thier were a few scenes that I skipped over.
I like Cathy stories but I could do without detail love scenes in them. I will keep reading them just skip a few pages though.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange for honest review from Netgalley.
11/01/2012 PUB Harlequin Imprint Harlequin American Romance 224 pages
The Texas Rancher's Marriage is a Legends of Laranie County novel.
It has a good looking doctor returned home from war zone, cute twins,a community of characters, a unselfish mother,bunch of guests show up for honeymoon also lots of fun embarrasing moments and too many love scene details.
When Merri Duncan sister was having problems concieving she stepped in and donated her eggs and when the father too had problems he got a hold of his brothers sperm and used it. They had cute girl and boy twins. then the parents died together in a accident.
Merri steped in and was raising the twins and taking care of thier ranch for them.
Merri always wondered what had changed Chase Armstrong mind into donating his sperm to his brother when he refused once before.
Chase Armstrong was done with his tour in the army and now was back home and joined the hospital. He wanted to see his niece and nephew. When Merri had the chance she asked Chase why he changed his mind about being the father.
Chase was shocked. He never gave permission for his brother too use the sperm he donated for science to use as a donor father.
Chase did not want to be a father with someone else raising his children. Now he had 5 year old twins!
Merri and Chase decided it would be best if they marry instead of dragging the twins into a mess if he reveals what had gone on behind his back.
They hurry and get married. The grief counceler at hospital was worried that it was because of serving in the war.
The Judge doubted thier marriage and was looking into seeing if they were going to be good parents for the twins.
The whole town was watching them. Right before Thanksgiving a bunch of nurses he worked closely with showed up on his doorstop to take him up on to come visit him.
One of the nurses had a really bad crush on Chase. The twins are not happy with changes.
It was entertaining but I admit thier were a few scenes that I skipped over.
I like Cathy stories but I could do without detail love scenes in them. I will keep reading them just skip a few pages though.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange for honest review from Netgalley.
11/01/2012 PUB Harlequin Imprint Harlequin American Romance 224 pages
May 8, 2014
Hott Synopsis:
Merri Duncan has spent the last four years caring for her sister’s twins and waiting for their father,Chase Armstrong, to take an interest. When Chase finally returns from his military tour he’s astonished to find that he is the biological father of the kids – his brother forged his name at the pregnancy clinic – and wants to be the father he didn’t know he was.
Merri just happens to have donated her egg to produce these wonderful twins and is the biological as well as guardian of the kids so the two decide that their best bet for giving the twins the family they deserve is to marry and legally adopt them.
What they weren’t counting on is a judge and entire town watching to see what the reasoning is behind the hasty marriage and whether there are ulterior motives.
Hott Review:
What I liked: This was a really cute book. I like the light low-meat Harlequins when I want a quick fun read & I was disappointed in that ;) Yup! This book was REALLY good. It was intense, realistic, and lots of fun.
The steam was a bit intense – the kissing was tremendously steamy – but it wasn’t graphic or raunchy, just real.
What I didn’t like: The synopsis — I read the synopsis and then started reading the book and for the longest time felt like I was reading the wrong book. I did eventually get there but it was confusing.
More…
Author: Cathy Gillen Thacker
Source: Harlequin via Netgalley
Grade: A
Steam: Cinnamon Schnapps!
Series: The Legends of Laramie County #3
Merri Duncan has spent the last four years caring for her sister’s twins and waiting for their father,Chase Armstrong, to take an interest. When Chase finally returns from his military tour he’s astonished to find that he is the biological father of the kids – his brother forged his name at the pregnancy clinic – and wants to be the father he didn’t know he was.
Merri just happens to have donated her egg to produce these wonderful twins and is the biological as well as guardian of the kids so the two decide that their best bet for giving the twins the family they deserve is to marry and legally adopt them.
What they weren’t counting on is a judge and entire town watching to see what the reasoning is behind the hasty marriage and whether there are ulterior motives.
Hott Review:
What I liked: This was a really cute book. I like the light low-meat Harlequins when I want a quick fun read & I was disappointed in that ;) Yup! This book was REALLY good. It was intense, realistic, and lots of fun.
The steam was a bit intense – the kissing was tremendously steamy – but it wasn’t graphic or raunchy, just real.
What I didn’t like: The synopsis — I read the synopsis and then started reading the book and for the longest time felt like I was reading the wrong book. I did eventually get there but it was confusing.
More…
Author: Cathy Gillen Thacker
Source: Harlequin via Netgalley
Grade: A
Steam: Cinnamon Schnapps!
Series: The Legends of Laramie County #3
October 28, 2012
Reviewed at: HarlequinJunkie.com
The Texas Rancher's Marriage is a heartwarming story, a book I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
There are so many tropes thrown into this book (friends to lovers, Marriage of convenience, surprise baby, military surgeon hero) but they all mesh so brilliantly to create this fabulous read.
Chase gets the surprise of his life when he finds out through Merri that he is the father of his brother’s orphaned twins. (His brother forged his signature on the sperm donor form) Chase proposes marriage to Merri to give the kids the love and security of two parents.
I really liked Chase and Merri; the attraction between the two sizzled off the pages. I really liked how Chase made an effort to get to know and connect with his kids.
I am so impressed by Cathy Gillen Thacker writing, the characters in the book were brilliantly drawn out. She never let my mind wander away, even for a minute; this was my first book from this author and it’s safe to say it won’t be my last.
The Texas Rancher's Marriage is now one of my favorite American Romance books. HJ Top pick and Highly recommended.
January 3, 2013
The Texas Rancher's Marriage is one of those books that just warms your heart. The romance is sweet [yet passionate in many places] and the characters are instantly likeable (who wouldn't love a guy finding out he has two 4 years olds and just JUMPING to help raise them?!)
The plot is clear quite early on but Thacker certainly keeps you guessing thoughout. I wasn't so sure how the requesting another child of Chase was going to pan out but it molded together so brilliantly and didn't feel out of place by the time it came around.
You'll find yourself routing for Chase and Merri to figure out they both actually, truly, love each other. If you're anything like me, when his nurse friends visit from over seas, then you'll be hissing and narrowing your eyes everytime one particular friend is mentioned....*hisssss*
I loved how Thacker portrayed the twins' reaction to Chase realistically. Four year olds are pensnickety and following the story as they gradually opened up to their new daddy and fell in love with him was so incredibly sweet, I teared up in places.
Also, I DARE...no, DOUBLE DARE you not to "Awwww" when you read what the twins really asked for, for Christmas!
The plot is clear quite early on but Thacker certainly keeps you guessing thoughout. I wasn't so sure how the requesting another child of Chase was going to pan out but it molded together so brilliantly and didn't feel out of place by the time it came around.
You'll find yourself routing for Chase and Merri to figure out they both actually, truly, love each other. If you're anything like me, when his nurse friends visit from over seas, then you'll be hissing and narrowing your eyes everytime one particular friend is mentioned....*hisssss*
I loved how Thacker portrayed the twins' reaction to Chase realistically. Four year olds are pensnickety and following the story as they gradually opened up to their new daddy and fell in love with him was so incredibly sweet, I teared up in places.
Also, I DARE...no, DOUBLE DARE you not to "Awwww" when you read what the twins really asked for, for Christmas!
November 7, 2012
This book tell the story of Merri and Chase who is the biological of twins of their respective sister and brother. Both of them are the egg and sperm donor. when their siblings' untimely demise, Merri was their appointed guardian of their childrens and also the executor of their estate. When Chase came back from being a army doctor, he found out that his brother has forged his signature for the sperm that he donated for medical research to be implanted with Merri's egg for his wife (Merri's sister). Upon knowing the news, he is determined to make things right for his children.
Although the story line is rather peculiar, i like Chase in this book and the scene where both he and Merri is together. You basically can feel their attraction sizzle. ;) Overall, this book is an enjoyable and obviously a great book for the season!
Although the story line is rather peculiar, i like Chase in this book and the scene where both he and Merri is together. You basically can feel their attraction sizzle. ;) Overall, this book is an enjoyable and obviously a great book for the season!
February 11, 2013
Another fun Laramie book
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June 30, 2016Miniseries: Legends of Laramie County
Category: Heart & Home
Category: Heart & Home
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews