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The Heart of Main Street #3
The Boss's Bride
Talk Of The Town
Leaving her cheating fiancé at the altar made Gracie Wilson famous in tiny Bygones, Kansas. Now the only things she can count on are her job at the Fixer-Upper Hardware store and the store's handsome owner. Though Bygones's runaway bride has boosted Patrick Fogerty's business more than any sale could, his feelings for Gracie are more than professional. But with Gracie's heart in pieces, he's afraid to hurt her. Gracie must somehow find the courage to run toward the man of her dreams.
The Heart of Main They're rebuilding the town one step—and heart—at a time.
Leaving her cheating fiancé at the altar made Gracie Wilson famous in tiny Bygones, Kansas. Now the only things she can count on are her job at the Fixer-Upper Hardware store and the store's handsome owner. Though Bygones's runaway bride has boosted Patrick Fogerty's business more than any sale could, his feelings for Gracie are more than professional. But with Gracie's heart in pieces, he's afraid to hurt her. Gracie must somehow find the courage to run toward the man of her dreams.
The Heart of Main They're rebuilding the town one step—and heart—at a time.
284 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
Brenda Minton
112 books214 followersBrenda Minton lives, procrastinates, writes, drinks coffee, raises her kids and is wife to her husband, in the Ozarks.
Okay, now to first person because a third person bio sounds like someone else wrote it about me, and is just license to create flowery prose about myself.
I grew up on a farm in the Ozarks. It was long ago and far away, in a land before cable TV, video games and the internet. To pass the time we read books, watched (gasp) network TV that rarely came in clear, and had friends over on weekends to play music on the front porch, or card games in the dining room.
The result of growing up 'country' was an active imagination. For fun I wrote stories to entertain myself and I dreamed of being an author. Oh, but first, before writing, I wanted to be a jockey.
Writing won out over being a jockey. In the spring of 2006 I got the call that made those dreams come true: the call that welcomed me into the Steeple Hill family of authors.
The moral of this story, never stop dreaming.
Okay, now to first person because a third person bio sounds like someone else wrote it about me, and is just license to create flowery prose about myself.
I grew up on a farm in the Ozarks. It was long ago and far away, in a land before cable TV, video games and the internet. To pass the time we read books, watched (gasp) network TV that rarely came in clear, and had friends over on weekends to play music on the front porch, or card games in the dining room.
The result of growing up 'country' was an active imagination. For fun I wrote stories to entertain myself and I dreamed of being an author. Oh, but first, before writing, I wanted to be a jockey.
Writing won out over being a jockey. In the spring of 2006 I got the call that made those dreams come true: the call that welcomed me into the Steeple Hill family of authors.
The moral of this story, never stop dreaming.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 9, 2013
I must admit, I was a little surprised when I ran across THE BOSS'S BRIDE, by BRENDA MINTON, for there was no mention of a cowboy or ranch in the title, or a visual of one on the cover. I'm a HUGE fan of MS MINTON'S, and love anything that involves a cowboy.
Gracie Wilson attempts to make a life of her own, away from her father and overprotective brothers, after ditching her soon-to-be-husband at the altar. She's taken care of the men in her life for far too long. Now it's time to let them fend for their own.
Patrick Fogerty's escape to a small town was every bit intentional, though he'd never imagined finding a "runaway" bride in his store.
I love the concept of the story, though it had a much different feel then the stories I've read by MS MINTON in the past (a total of 18). I have to admit, I prefer the ones with a cowboy as the main character, though I did get excited at the mention of one of Gracie's brothers, a bull rider. I have a sneaky feeling we'll be reading about him in an upcoming book. Yee haw!
Gracie Wilson attempts to make a life of her own, away from her father and overprotective brothers, after ditching her soon-to-be-husband at the altar. She's taken care of the men in her life for far too long. Now it's time to let them fend for their own.
Patrick Fogerty's escape to a small town was every bit intentional, though he'd never imagined finding a "runaway" bride in his store.
I love the concept of the story, though it had a much different feel then the stories I've read by MS MINTON in the past (a total of 18). I have to admit, I prefer the ones with a cowboy as the main character, though I did get excited at the mention of one of Gracie's brothers, a bull rider. I have a sneaky feeling we'll be reading about him in an upcoming book. Yee haw!
March 30, 2022
Working my way thru the stories in this series. This one... I'll be honest. I didn't have high hopes for it, it was no surprise that this is a one star. If you're not doing the series? This book is seriously not worth your time, unless it's the only book available and you're SERIOUSLY bored.
Truth is, Brenda Minton's writing isn't great. I've read three others - gave them all one star, so... not a good track record with her writing. Hence why I wasn't looking forward to this. Minton was given a fun storyline - runaway bride! - and she managed to make it about as lackluster as humanly possible. The whole book just talks in circles. Attraction but too early but kisses but not together but rumors but friendship only but following her around but not looking for anything serious but heart flutters but not ready for something new and on and ON and *ON*.
And not just romance circles, either. Family but independence but brothers but getting her own place but cooking for her father but mothering her sibs but strength but the granary but something new but not... and around and around and AROUND it went with her family, as well.
If you like a faith thread running through your books, this one will disappoint. Faith is abstract with vague mentions of God and prayer, at best. It's not inspiring, and doesn't feel like the spiritual really matters to either one of these characters.
It also irritated me that Trent had to be cheating on Gracie. She couldn't just decide that she didn't love him? That she didn't want his mother running her life, forever? It had to be a cheating angle? Because that's overdone and trite, right there...
More, Minton make Gracie pretty much a town busybody who organizes street fairs and pulls people together to do things. Except that's already been done in this series - TWICE. Miss Coraline is the town busybody who organized the SOS and pulls people together to mentor and/or support each other. Ann Mars is the busybody who organizes things and pulls people together. Did we need ANOTHER one of those? No. No we did not.
It was tedious. The whole of what happened could've been summed up in a quarter of the pages, without all of the repetitive and circular writing. Which stunk. It felt *tiring*. And the thing is, it could've been so GOOD. There was so much light-heartedness and humor and fun that could've been had with a runaway bride theme. With five single brothers, a single dad, and a single boss? She could've decided to swear off men herself and matchmake for others, instead. If could've been so sweet and cute, an 'Emma' angle.
This book? NOT fun. Or sweet. Or cute. At all.
I also hated the contrasts. Patrick is 6'4, while Gracie is 4'11 - NO. Just no. Any scene with them together was awkward because of it. Worse, he's 35 to her 24. NO... it felt forced. And he's big city to her hometown, he's alone to her half dozen-ish brothers... none of this helped to bring the characters together, it mostly drove wedges into our minds, as readers. It was badly done. Not that there can't be age or height differences in characters, but when you force so much contrast, it doesn't make for cohesion.
Don't get me wrong - I love the premise of this series. Flawed as it is (if the town is in such terrible shape that they want to close the SCHOOL? People won't be buying bookcases, cupcakes, gourmet coffee or flower arrangements, hello.). But the shopkeepers and the little town rallying together? It's a sweet idea.
Brenda was NOT the one to bring in on it, though. There's no romantic *zing*, everything is talked to death, and Gracie is a hot mess. Minton kept saying how strong and spunky she is, but for the past two books she's been railroaded, run over, cowed, and under the foot of her family/pending in-laws... so I just don't see it. Heck, she runs away from her wedding directly to her workplace for support from her boss. That's NOT strength. She doesn't even get an apartment of her own - she leans on Ann Mars and her sister, the entire time.
And there were other issues. Like Gracie saying in the last book that she *really* wanted a carrot cake for her wedding, but in this book Minton says she really wants vanilla cake, no almond extract. (?!?!) Like Gracie falling off a ladder and having a 'bad sprain' in her ankle on Saturday, but *VOILA!* - it's completely healed by Thursday. (That's N.O.T. a bad sprain.) Like Gracie being Ms. Fix-it according to the author, but she can't tell a weed from a power cord.
Also, Gracie *NEVER* has an encounter with her nearly-mother-in-law. It felt like a *total* cheat. More, Trent just showed up to rant and whine. Repeatedly. ((((gag.)))) That's trite and cliche, too.
Gracie drives a 'farm truck' from her dad's spread, then moves out, walks everywhere, but then 'her truck' won't start. What truck - isn't that on the farm? And it's out of gas - HOW does this indicate that she's a responsible, strong, independent woman who's got it all in the bag? I don't know. And then Gracie accuses Trent of cheating on her, a minute later Patrick comes in the back door of the store, and yet somehow he knows what they were talking about in a conversation he wasn't there for. ??????? BAD writing.
Occasionally I read a book that's got a good premise but stinks, and I re-write the thing better, myself. I'm actually thinking of doing that with this one. Scrapping everything Minton screwed up in this thing, and writing a chubby, shy but awkward shopkeeper from Michigan and a timid Gracie who wages a secret campaign to hook up all of the men in her life... with her boss suspecting what she's up to.
Or maybe something totally different... maybe to get away from MIL-monster, she'd been working in her spare time on a pre-fab cabin on the back of her father's land, unbeknownst to anyone but her boss, who questions the purchases she's been making in the store. He knows where she retreats to when she flees her wedding, and offers company and help in continuing her work on it? Maybe he's not shy and chubby, maybe he's dyslexic but really good with his hands, instead. I don't know. But it could be cute.
Or maybe Trent was a super-nice guy run over by his mother who desperately wants Gracie back and understands why she ran... and there's a love triangle of some sort? Could be a fun way to take the story, too.
But NOT this. This was NOT good.
Truth is, Brenda Minton's writing isn't great. I've read three others - gave them all one star, so... not a good track record with her writing. Hence why I wasn't looking forward to this. Minton was given a fun storyline - runaway bride! - and she managed to make it about as lackluster as humanly possible. The whole book just talks in circles. Attraction but too early but kisses but not together but rumors but friendship only but following her around but not looking for anything serious but heart flutters but not ready for something new and on and ON and *ON*.
And not just romance circles, either. Family but independence but brothers but getting her own place but cooking for her father but mothering her sibs but strength but the granary but something new but not... and around and around and AROUND it went with her family, as well.
If you like a faith thread running through your books, this one will disappoint. Faith is abstract with vague mentions of God and prayer, at best. It's not inspiring, and doesn't feel like the spiritual really matters to either one of these characters.
It also irritated me that Trent had to be cheating on Gracie. She couldn't just decide that she didn't love him? That she didn't want his mother running her life, forever? It had to be a cheating angle? Because that's overdone and trite, right there...
More, Minton make Gracie pretty much a town busybody who organizes street fairs and pulls people together to do things. Except that's already been done in this series - TWICE. Miss Coraline is the town busybody who organized the SOS and pulls people together to mentor and/or support each other. Ann Mars is the busybody who organizes things and pulls people together. Did we need ANOTHER one of those? No. No we did not.
It was tedious. The whole of what happened could've been summed up in a quarter of the pages, without all of the repetitive and circular writing. Which stunk. It felt *tiring*. And the thing is, it could've been so GOOD. There was so much light-heartedness and humor and fun that could've been had with a runaway bride theme. With five single brothers, a single dad, and a single boss? She could've decided to swear off men herself and matchmake for others, instead. If could've been so sweet and cute, an 'Emma' angle.
This book? NOT fun. Or sweet. Or cute. At all.
I also hated the contrasts. Patrick is 6'4, while Gracie is 4'11 - NO. Just no. Any scene with them together was awkward because of it. Worse, he's 35 to her 24. NO... it felt forced. And he's big city to her hometown, he's alone to her half dozen-ish brothers... none of this helped to bring the characters together, it mostly drove wedges into our minds, as readers. It was badly done. Not that there can't be age or height differences in characters, but when you force so much contrast, it doesn't make for cohesion.
Don't get me wrong - I love the premise of this series. Flawed as it is (if the town is in such terrible shape that they want to close the SCHOOL? People won't be buying bookcases, cupcakes, gourmet coffee or flower arrangements, hello.). But the shopkeepers and the little town rallying together? It's a sweet idea.
Brenda was NOT the one to bring in on it, though. There's no romantic *zing*, everything is talked to death, and Gracie is a hot mess. Minton kept saying how strong and spunky she is, but for the past two books she's been railroaded, run over, cowed, and under the foot of her family/pending in-laws... so I just don't see it. Heck, she runs away from her wedding directly to her workplace for support from her boss. That's NOT strength. She doesn't even get an apartment of her own - she leans on Ann Mars and her sister, the entire time.
And there were other issues. Like Gracie saying in the last book that she *really* wanted a carrot cake for her wedding, but in this book Minton says she really wants vanilla cake, no almond extract. (?!?!) Like Gracie falling off a ladder and having a 'bad sprain' in her ankle on Saturday, but *VOILA!* - it's completely healed by Thursday. (That's N.O.T. a bad sprain.) Like Gracie being Ms. Fix-it according to the author, but she can't tell a weed from a power cord.
Also, Gracie *NEVER* has an encounter with her nearly-mother-in-law. It felt like a *total* cheat. More, Trent just showed up to rant and whine. Repeatedly. ((((gag.)))) That's trite and cliche, too.
Gracie drives a 'farm truck' from her dad's spread, then moves out, walks everywhere, but then 'her truck' won't start. What truck - isn't that on the farm? And it's out of gas - HOW does this indicate that she's a responsible, strong, independent woman who's got it all in the bag? I don't know. And then Gracie accuses Trent of cheating on her, a minute later Patrick comes in the back door of the store, and yet somehow he knows what they were talking about in a conversation he wasn't there for. ??????? BAD writing.
Occasionally I read a book that's got a good premise but stinks, and I re-write the thing better, myself. I'm actually thinking of doing that with this one. Scrapping everything Minton screwed up in this thing, and writing a chubby, shy but awkward shopkeeper from Michigan and a timid Gracie who wages a secret campaign to hook up all of the men in her life... with her boss suspecting what she's up to.
Or maybe something totally different... maybe to get away from MIL-monster, she'd been working in her spare time on a pre-fab cabin on the back of her father's land, unbeknownst to anyone but her boss, who questions the purchases she's been making in the store. He knows where she retreats to when she flees her wedding, and offers company and help in continuing her work on it? Maybe he's not shy and chubby, maybe he's dyslexic but really good with his hands, instead. I don't know. But it could be cute.
Or maybe Trent was a super-nice guy run over by his mother who desperately wants Gracie back and understands why she ran... and there's a love triangle of some sort? Could be a fun way to take the story, too.
But NOT this. This was NOT good.
September 7, 2013
You can never go wrong with a book by Ms. Minton! She does it again with a sweet love story about finding love when you least expect.
December 14, 2013
Sweet story, easy read.
December 3, 2017
cute book, makes us all believe in second chances in love
June 5, 2018
I'm sorry I stopped reading this story at chapter 3 because it didn't hold my interest.
January 21, 2025
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
October 28, 2013
A fun little continuity series about a mysterious donor who is trying to keep the town of Bygones alive. 6 new business's (all but one are strangers to the town) have received money with the stipulation that they stay in town for 2 years and hire locals to work with them. This is book 3 about Patrick, the hardware store owner. After his employee, Gracie, slips out the window on her groom at the alter, Patrick finds her hiding out in the back of his store. Everyone is convinced she just got cold feet but Gracie isn't saying. Everyone thinks her groom is the victim here. After all, Gracie would never have to work another day in her life and Trent Morgan would be quite the catch for any woman. Gracie is happy to let any woman have him. She insists there will be no reconciliation and to keep herself busy she decides to find a wife for her boss, Patrick. He's tall, dark and handsome and a good guy besides! But soon she's feeling a little jealous of all the single women and he can't bring himself to fall for a woman who was so recently engaged to we'd another.
Very enjoyable story.
Very enjoyable story.
April 27, 2014
"The Boss's Bride" was a wonderful inspirational romance and a fantastic installment in The Heart of Main Street series. I loved the storyline and the characters were awesome, especially Gracie and Patrick. I love that every book in this series is about each owner of the new stores in Bygones, Kansas. I also loved that you were able to see so many of the characters from the previous books. The only negative I had was the fact that the romance/relationship was a little lacking, but other than that, I thought it was great.
May 6, 2014
Gracie was about to get married but found out the one she was marrying cheated on her. She left the wedding at the last min. She went back to work at the hardware store, working for Patrick. She brings in a lot of business due to people coming to the store asking questions about why she runaway from the wedding. Of course her and Patrick falls in love.
October 6, 2013
This is the third book in The Hoeart Of Main Street series..Great story and really love getting to know the people of the town and the owners of the new stores..Very touching and heartwarming..Highly recommend it!!
Read
December 29, 2014Received 4 stars @ RT Book Reviews
Miniseries: The Heart of Main Street
Category: Inspirational Romance
Miniseries: The Heart of Main Street
Category: Inspirational Romance
Read
December 29, 2014Received 4 stars @ RT Book Reviews
Miniseries: The Heart of Main Street
Category: Inspirational Romance
Miniseries: The Heart of Main Street
Category: Inspirational Romance
July 14, 2015
nice read
April 2, 2016
Gracie & Patrick
August 15, 2016
Inspirational romance. Quick read, but fun. Definitely want to read more of this series.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews