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The Bad Penny
The Kincaid Ranch, near Red Horse, Wyoming...
Ethan Kincaid - He's got a rough-and-ready sense of justice; he's a man who makes his own rules, a rancher who wears his authority with confidence. He's a widower and a loner - and the loving father of a five-year-old girl.
Maggie Deaton - She's a rancher born and bred - but a rancher without a ranch. Framed by her stepbrother and convicted of livestock theft, she's spent the past two years in jail.
Maggie arrives on the Kincaid Ranch because she's been promised a job - a job that may not materialize. Not surprisingly, Ethan doesn't want a convicted cattle rustler working there. He also makes it clear that he doesn't want a woman as attractive and appealing as Maggie anywhere near him!
Ethan Kincaid - He's got a rough-and-ready sense of justice; he's a man who makes his own rules, a rancher who wears his authority with confidence. He's a widower and a loner - and the loving father of a five-year-old girl.
Maggie Deaton - She's a rancher born and bred - but a rancher without a ranch. Framed by her stepbrother and convicted of livestock theft, she's spent the past two years in jail.
Maggie arrives on the Kincaid Ranch because she's been promised a job - a job that may not materialize. Not surprisingly, Ethan doesn't want a convicted cattle rustler working there. He also makes it clear that he doesn't want a woman as attractive and appealing as Maggie anywhere near him!
Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1993
3 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
Susan Fox
136 books46 followersThere is more than one author with this name. When entering books for this particular Susan Fox. The name needs to be entered with only one space between the first and last name.
Susan grew up with her sister, Janet, and her brother, Steven, on an acreage near Des Moines, Iowa, where, besides a jillion stray cats and dogs, two horses, and a pony, her favorite pet and confidant was Rex, her brown-and-white pinto gelding.
Susan has raised two sons, Jeffrey and Patrick, and currently lives in a house that she laughingly refers to as the Landfill and Book Repository. She writes with the help and hindrance of five mischievous shorthaired felines: Gabby, a talkative tortoiseshell calico; Buster, a solid lion-yellow with white legs and facial markings; his sister, Pixie, a tri-color calico; Toonses, a plump black-and-white; and the cheerily diabolical, naughty black tiger Eddie, aka Eduardo de Lover.
Susan is a bookaholic and movie fan who loves cowboys, rodeos, and the American West, past and present. She has an intense interest in storytelling of all kinds and in politics, and she claims the two are often interchangeable.
Susan loves writing complex characters in emotionally intense situations, and hopes her readers enjoy her ranch stories and are uplifted by their happy endings.
Susan grew up with her sister, Janet, and her brother, Steven, on an acreage near Des Moines, Iowa, where, besides a jillion stray cats and dogs, two horses, and a pony, her favorite pet and confidant was Rex, her brown-and-white pinto gelding.
Susan has raised two sons, Jeffrey and Patrick, and currently lives in a house that she laughingly refers to as the Landfill and Book Repository. She writes with the help and hindrance of five mischievous shorthaired felines: Gabby, a talkative tortoiseshell calico; Buster, a solid lion-yellow with white legs and facial markings; his sister, Pixie, a tri-color calico; Toonses, a plump black-and-white; and the cheerily diabolical, naughty black tiger Eddie, aka Eduardo de Lover.
Susan is a bookaholic and movie fan who loves cowboys, rodeos, and the American West, past and present. She has an intense interest in storytelling of all kinds and in politics, and she claims the two are often interchangeable.
Susan loves writing complex characters in emotionally intense situations, and hopes her readers enjoy her ranch stories and are uplifted by their happy endings.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 7, 2017
Re-read. Still five stars.
Heroine is just out of prison for cattle theft. (She was set up by evil step-brother). Hero refuses to hire her, but his conscience niggles when he turns her out into a snow storm. The heroine proves her usefulness during the blizzard and the hero allows her to stay on. Eventually the heroine's name is cleared and the real culprits are caught.
I think this is one of Susan Fox's best. There is no OW drama. The hero hasn't been personally harmed by the heroine like in so many other SF's stories, so he isn't as cruel as some of her other heroes. Also, the heroine knows she's innocent - she has no guilt so she is able to clearly stand up for herself. The heroine is not from this ranching community so we don't have the spectacle of the entire town treating her like dirt. (Another SF favorite)
While the angst isn't as extreme as other SF stories, the romance is more realistic. The H/h are equals in their knowledge of ranching, they work well together and their flirty talk at the end was well done. Give this one a read if you like falsely accused heroines.
Heroine is just out of prison for cattle theft. (She was set up by evil step-brother). Hero refuses to hire her, but his conscience niggles when he turns her out into a snow storm. The heroine proves her usefulness during the blizzard and the hero allows her to stay on. Eventually the heroine's name is cleared and the real culprits are caught.
I think this is one of Susan Fox's best. There is no OW drama. The hero hasn't been personally harmed by the heroine like in so many other SF's stories, so he isn't as cruel as some of her other heroes. Also, the heroine knows she's innocent - she has no guilt so she is able to clearly stand up for herself. The heroine is not from this ranching community so we don't have the spectacle of the entire town treating her like dirt. (Another SF favorite)
While the angst isn't as extreme as other SF stories, the romance is more realistic. The H/h are equals in their knowledge of ranching, they work well together and their flirty talk at the end was well done. Give this one a read if you like falsely accused heroines.
July 12, 2019
"Look, Kincaid, I'm as thrilled to be stuck with you as you are with me...but I don't figure that [gives] you permission to browbeat and snap at me every time you get chafed about something. If I'm out of line, speak up and say how, but if you're just too upstanding a citizen to tolerate a low-down convict fresh out, I guess you'll just have to bide your time and keep the smelling salts handy."
Yeah, girl!!! I mostly enjoyed Susan Fox's Bad Penny, the story of a wrongfully convicted woman who is finally released from jail and goes to work for a rancher who decides he is going to be another judge, jury, and executioner, all set to convict and punish her all over again.
The heroine was strong and feisty at times, weak and dumb in other moments but it made sense in terms of her life experience, because she had unfortunately been betrayed so badly that she couldn't put her trust in anyone anymore.
What marred my enjoyment was a thoroughly unlikable, hypocritical, judgmental "hero" and several really gaping plot holes that had my eyes rolling. The true love story in this was the heroine's moving relationship with her abused horse. The hero of this piece, I could have happily left behind.
It is one thing to be cautious and weary of employing an ex-con on your property, but another to be disgustingly rude and abusive, and at the same time sexually harass her while she is in your employment.
He was so crass about it, not bothering to mask his intention to have a fling with a bad girl that he totally disrespects.
His hypocrisy and self-righteousness made me sick to my stomach. She was too dirty to speak to his daughter, or be considered marriage material, but good enough to have sex with? What a great example for his seven year old daughter to see the behavior of her father like this.
Even if he believed in her guilt, hadn't she paid already with her prison sentence? Was she not a human being deserving of getting a chance at rehabilitating herself? Was she destined to be punished again and again? She was convicted of rustling cattle, not murder.
If the tables were turned, and this was a male ex-con looking for a chance to turn his life around, and he was hired by the heroine, you can bet your bottom dollar the author would have presented her heroine as understanding and compassionate. There was however absolutely no compassion in this male protagonist.
It didn't seem to matter how hard she worked, how uncomplaining she was, how carefully she toed the line. As soon as something went awry at the ranch, he pounced on her as the guilty party then afterwards, even in the midst of apologizing, partly blamed her for looking guilty.
I can't even with this guy. Even his proposal at the end (when she was fully exonerated) was so arrogant and not humble in the least, like he was such a prize that she would fall over herself to accept becoming his lifelong drudge.
As to the, pardon the pun, horseshit plot holes. The lawyer who could have cleared up the Great, Big, Terrible Misunderstanding (that the heroine was in fact set up and wrongfully convicted of a crime she didn't commit) either had a faulty phone connection, was away on vacation, and didn't even have an answering service so he could return calls for more than a month. LMAO.
Also the eye rolling coincidence of having the guy who set heroine up in the first place show up in the same town that she randomly ended up at and again trying to set her up for the same crime.
If the romance between the two was more likable, I would have overlooked those stupid plot holes but as it was, I just grew more frustrated and annoyed. Still, I would recommend the book on the strength of the very likable, strong heroine and her lovely abused horse who hopefully will live to a well deserved HE A.
Yeah, girl!!! I mostly enjoyed Susan Fox's Bad Penny, the story of a wrongfully convicted woman who is finally released from jail and goes to work for a rancher who decides he is going to be another judge, jury, and executioner, all set to convict and punish her all over again.
The heroine was strong and feisty at times, weak and dumb in other moments but it made sense in terms of her life experience, because she had unfortunately been betrayed so badly that she couldn't put her trust in anyone anymore.
What marred my enjoyment was a thoroughly unlikable, hypocritical, judgmental "hero" and several really gaping plot holes that had my eyes rolling. The true love story in this was the heroine's moving relationship with her abused horse. The hero of this piece, I could have happily left behind.
It is one thing to be cautious and weary of employing an ex-con on your property, but another to be disgustingly rude and abusive, and at the same time sexually harass her while she is in your employment.
He was so crass about it, not bothering to mask his intention to have a fling with a bad girl that he totally disrespects.
His hypocrisy and self-righteousness made me sick to my stomach. She was too dirty to speak to his daughter, or be considered marriage material, but good enough to have sex with? What a great example for his seven year old daughter to see the behavior of her father like this.
Even if he believed in her guilt, hadn't she paid already with her prison sentence? Was she not a human being deserving of getting a chance at rehabilitating herself? Was she destined to be punished again and again? She was convicted of rustling cattle, not murder.
If the tables were turned, and this was a male ex-con looking for a chance to turn his life around, and he was hired by the heroine, you can bet your bottom dollar the author would have presented her heroine as understanding and compassionate. There was however absolutely no compassion in this male protagonist.
It didn't seem to matter how hard she worked, how uncomplaining she was, how carefully she toed the line. As soon as something went awry at the ranch, he pounced on her as the guilty party then afterwards, even in the midst of apologizing, partly blamed her for looking guilty.
I can't even with this guy. Even his proposal at the end (when she was fully exonerated) was so arrogant and not humble in the least, like he was such a prize that she would fall over herself to accept becoming his lifelong drudge.
As to the, pardon the pun, horseshit plot holes. The lawyer who could have cleared up the Great, Big, Terrible Misunderstanding (that the heroine was in fact set up and wrongfully convicted of a crime she didn't commit) either had a faulty phone connection, was away on vacation, and didn't even have an answering service so he could return calls for more than a month. LMAO.
Also the eye rolling coincidence of having the guy who set heroine up in the first place show up in the same town that she randomly ended up at and again trying to set her up for the same crime.
If the romance between the two was more likable, I would have overlooked those stupid plot holes but as it was, I just grew more frustrated and annoyed. Still, I would recommend the book on the strength of the very likable, strong heroine and her lovely abused horse who hopefully will live to a well deserved HE A.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2016
A 3.5 technically. I wanted to see the hero crawl a bit more. He was such a jerk. Yes, the heroine was a convicted criminal and he had a right to be leery of her, but the way he wanted to make her into a bed partner when he had no respect for her and didn't think she was good enough to speak to his little daughter was what made me sick. Guess I have to give him some credit for later recalling his exact words when he proposed the affair and cringing over them.
The story was very readable despite my dissatisfaction with the hero's level of suffering. Of course, I'm almost never satisfied with their level of suffering...
The story was very readable despite my dissatisfaction with the hero's level of suffering. Of course, I'm almost never satisfied with their level of suffering...
Read
December 22, 2017I just can't rate this despite the fact that the heroine is an awesome, strong heroine with a spine of steel that holds her own against huge old ass-hat of a hero.
The hero. Yeah, no. From the Diane Palmer Hall of Heroes, honestly he could give them lessons on shaming, jumping to conclusions, condescension, and all around arrogant un-hero like behavior. What we have here is a man who doesn't like women.
The hero. Yeah, no. From the Diane Palmer Hall of Heroes, honestly he could give them lessons on shaming, jumping to conclusions, condescension, and all around arrogant un-hero like behavior. What we have here is a man who doesn't like women.
July 31, 2020
"The Bad Penny" is the story of Maggie and Ethan.
Hey! This was so good! And not as angsty as expected!
The heroine is a sad but determined waif, who has just been released from prison, after being wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for two years- thanks to an evil stepbrother. Her lawyer gets her a probationary job at his widowed brother in law's ranch. The hero is extremely skeptical and suspicious, and immediately dismisses the heroine. However, a snowstorm causes her to be stranded on his land, and she takes up a temporary ranch hand job. Ofcourse, we have the hero behaving like an utter asshole- accusing her of all crimes, keeping her away from his child, thinking of her as a femme fatale while fighting his growing attraction. The heroine has gone through a lot and takes it all in stride, until she meets her beloved horse on his ranch.. The shitty stepbrother re-enters, loads of drama ensues, confessions are made and ends in a HEA.
I liked the horse love, the packing unpacking drama and the angst. It was nowhere near as potent of a tearjerker as I expected, and this hero rated like a 60 on cruel scale- he was more an oblivious, paranoid asshole. Kudos to the heroine though!
Safe
4.25/5
Hey! This was so good! And not as angsty as expected!
The heroine is a sad but determined waif, who has just been released from prison, after being wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for two years- thanks to an evil stepbrother. Her lawyer gets her a probationary job at his widowed brother in law's ranch. The hero is extremely skeptical and suspicious, and immediately dismisses the heroine. However, a snowstorm causes her to be stranded on his land, and she takes up a temporary ranch hand job. Ofcourse, we have the hero behaving like an utter asshole- accusing her of all crimes, keeping her away from his child, thinking of her as a femme fatale while fighting his growing attraction. The heroine has gone through a lot and takes it all in stride, until she meets her beloved horse on his ranch.. The shitty stepbrother re-enters, loads of drama ensues, confessions are made and ends in a HEA.
I liked the horse love, the packing unpacking drama and the angst. It was nowhere near as potent of a tearjerker as I expected, and this hero rated like a 60 on cruel scale- he was more an oblivious, paranoid asshole. Kudos to the heroine though!
Safe
4.25/5
May 6, 2018
A million stars for the h and minus 50 for the H, who wasn't an H and should have crawled back to the cesspit he came out of.
September 22, 2018
Couldn't get into this romance about the ex-convict h trying to reboot her life on the ranch of a highly suspicious but clearly besotted H. It was an engaging read but there was not enough heat between them, it just felt like they made good partners in managing the ranch. I could almost see the H like a farmer accessing his livestock when he looked at the h, like she had breast and hips for breeding.
The backstory of how she got into prison was pathetic. That the prosecution and her defence lawyer could be that incompetent and not apprehend her step-brother was incomprehensible. Then the wrap-up, where he conveniently shows up to set the h up yet again so he's easily caught, it was just flimsy and weak.
Then the H's daughter, omg, what a cardboard character. If there are romances with kids involved, I need to see better interaction with the future step-parent instead of please-come-see-my-kittens.
And though I hate dead wives sharing page time, I'm also opposed to what seemed like a tacky one line reference to her : H musing that the h had more impact on him than his dead wife. Dude, have a little more respect for the woman who bore your child.
Best part of the book was when she encounters her beloved horse, he just stole the show. So did the sheriff at the end. Though he was a tad too unrealistically accomodating of an ex-convict, the HEA would be him riding off into the sunset with the horse.
The author does have an excellent writing style and some parts were riveting. I adore the ex-con MC trope plus this one had no silly OW/OM drama. But this romance never went to full-steam-ahead so here I am, wingeing, cause I really wanted to like it.
But many others did enjoy it so do check out StMargarets review and Naksed's nice analysis on what's wrong and right with the book. I had just come off an excellent read with another book so it probably affected my rating.
The backstory of how she got into prison was pathetic. That the prosecution and her defence lawyer could be that incompetent and not apprehend her step-brother was incomprehensible. Then the wrap-up, where he conveniently shows up to set the h up yet again so he's easily caught, it was just flimsy and weak.
Then the H's daughter, omg, what a cardboard character. If there are romances with kids involved, I need to see better interaction with the future step-parent instead of please-come-see-my-kittens.
And though I hate dead wives sharing page time, I'm also opposed to what seemed like a tacky one line reference to her : H musing that the h had more impact on him than his dead wife. Dude, have a little more respect for the woman who bore your child.
Best part of the book was when she encounters her beloved horse, he just stole the show. So did the sheriff at the end. Though he was a tad too unrealistically accomodating of an ex-convict, the HEA would be him riding off into the sunset with the horse.
The author does have an excellent writing style and some parts were riveting. I adore the ex-con MC trope plus this one had no silly OW/OM drama. But this romance never went to full-steam-ahead so here I am, wingeing, cause I really wanted to like it.
But many others did enjoy it so do check out StMargarets review and Naksed's nice analysis on what's wrong and right with the book. I had just come off an excellent read with another book so it probably affected my rating.
February 11, 2016
This book is not as unforgiving as some reviews have said. Yes the hero is an ass but he has a ranch and she is a convicted cattle thief. So yes he should have hear her out and I was mad as hell when he said she was good for a lay but not for anything else. He thought he was protecting his family ranch and himself. I loved the heroine she was proud and spunky and I loved that she did not give in. Yes girl power. Great story
July 14, 2019
4 1/2 Stars ~ Two years ago when Maggie lost her freedom, her ranch and the respect of her community, she thought she'd lost everything. It's her release day, and on the recommendation of her lawyer, she's asking Ethan for a job on his ranch in Wyoming. Ethan expected her, but he hadn't expected her to be an ex-con, one that had been convicted of cattle rustling no less. So he sends her packing, and off she goes walking the six miles to town. It's not long before the freezing rain starts and Ethan regrets not giving her a lift, so he goes after her and when he's forced to keep her because a blizzard sets in, he's not too happy about it. Maggie insists on working for her room and board and while the blizzard keeps them ranch bound she proves her worth in the barns, especially with the horses. There's something about Maggie that gets to Ethan and this irritates him. He doesn't need a thief on his ranch, or anywhere near his five year old daughter either. And to top it off, she speaks to his libido in a very tempting way. When the storm ends, Ethan offers her the two week probation she was promised. Maggie's pride in her work no matter how menial inspires Ethan's admiration, but when rustling in the area gets worse, he can't help suspecting her. When Maggie is approached in town by the same men who had framed her two years ago to help them rustle from Ethan, she knows she about to lose even more.
I love these wrongfully accused heroine stories and Ms. Fox does a great job writing them. Maggie could easily have been too downtrodden but she's written as a strong heroine who is determined to make a life for herself. Ethan's generally a fair man, but Maggie brings out a harshness in him that cuts her deeply. When he sees the pain he causes her, he's torn and then shaken when he learns the truth of her conviction. Though his apology is heartfelt, I would of liked him to suffer a little more for his harsh judgments. For me this is a keeper, one I'll be happy to read again.
I love these wrongfully accused heroine stories and Ms. Fox does a great job writing them. Maggie could easily have been too downtrodden but she's written as a strong heroine who is determined to make a life for herself. Ethan's generally a fair man, but Maggie brings out a harshness in him that cuts her deeply. When he sees the pain he causes her, he's torn and then shaken when he learns the truth of her conviction. Though his apology is heartfelt, I would of liked him to suffer a little more for his harsh judgments. For me this is a keeper, one I'll be happy to read again.
September 13, 2014
A young woman is framed by her step-brother and serves two years in prison. Her lawyer knows she is innocent so when she is released he asks his brother-in-law to hire her on his ranch. The heroine was well written and incredibly strong, but I never warmed up to the hero and nothing happened in the story to redeem him for me. He actually tells her that she should be grateful for a sleazy affair, because women like her don't have the right to expect a ring and happy ever after. At that point, I wanted him to ride off into the sunset and never come back. I was actually hoping that she would connect with the sheriff, a man who had much more going for him.
But in the end, once her innocence is proven, hero says I love you and all is forgiven. How sad.
It's still an engaging story, but the hero leaves a lot to be desired.
But in the end, once her innocence is proven, hero says I love you and all is forgiven. How sad.
It's still an engaging story, but the hero leaves a lot to be desired.
April 1, 2011
Nice story of a woman just out of prison who goes to the hero's ranch looking for a job. He doesn't want to hire her but she gets stuck there in a snow storm and by the time the snow is over, she has proved she is a good worker and he hires her. He is attracted to her but doesn't want to be. I liked her but I didn't like him much. He wasn't willing to take her on her own merits at all. He was an ass to her many times especially when he makes her stay away from his daughter so her bad doesn't wear off on her and when he tells her she might as well sleep with him since she is not good enough to marry. When her innocence comes out, he believes her but only after the sheriff of this town tells him she'd been framed. He tells her that he loves her and all is hunky dory. He apologizes for being an ass but he definitely did not grovel enough which left a bit of a sour note in my mouth.
The book was well written though and the plot held together pretty well and it moved right along.
The book was well written though and the plot held together pretty well and it moved right along.
March 28, 2021
I finally dragged myself into reading this book to its end. Seems to be a popular one on GR but personally it didn’t stir anything for me!
The h was an ex con who wrongly served 2 years and was now on parole and looking for honest work. She was also from a rancher family so she was pretty at ease around horses and barns and such. The H was an angry ranch owner and a single father with his wife having passed away.
I found this book to be rather boring. There is much mention of horses and cattle and their calves being born. The H and h’s interactions weren’t romantic and I didn’t feel any chemistry at all to keep me tuned in. There wasn’t as much sparring instead more that Maggie was always talking back and storming off in disagreement or making empty threats. The H was also not as alpha or mean as I would’ve liked. At most their interactions were impersonal and I’d fall asleep each time I tried to finish this book.
Thankfully I’ve tried way better books from this writer. I will try some more to see if there are any other winners.
The h was an ex con who wrongly served 2 years and was now on parole and looking for honest work. She was also from a rancher family so she was pretty at ease around horses and barns and such. The H was an angry ranch owner and a single father with his wife having passed away.
I found this book to be rather boring. There is much mention of horses and cattle and their calves being born. The H and h’s interactions weren’t romantic and I didn’t feel any chemistry at all to keep me tuned in. There wasn’t as much sparring instead more that Maggie was always talking back and storming off in disagreement or making empty threats. The H was also not as alpha or mean as I would’ve liked. At most their interactions were impersonal and I’d fall asleep each time I tried to finish this book.
Thankfully I’ve tried way better books from this writer. I will try some more to see if there are any other winners.
June 26, 2025
3.75 🌟
October 14, 2021
Hero did redeem himself actually. He was a typical HQ hero with a bad attitude and there were times I wanted to hurt him several times. But the heroine actually annoyed me at times too. I don't know why but I just wanted to say tell him the truth and then when she told the sheriff the true story, she told Ethan, oh I was lying. I wanted to slap her too. LOL. Not really I am not vicious but I did get annoyed with both of them. And her brother was just evil. He framed her the first time and was going to do it again. And what he did to her horse Rounder was hearbreaking. I hate when people abuse anything, but animals definitely touch my heart. I was glad he remembered her. And the book was good actually and this is the 2nd time I have read it but it has been so long, it was like reading it new again. The joys of old age! :}
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2024
I wouldn’t forgive him.
December 3, 2025
Was excited about this because it s about a female ex con and we don't a lote of those.
the novel was light and realistic.
But not so romantic according to my taste, mmc was so much stubborn and assholish. I think she deserved better and for such intetesting plot we deserved more burning desires.
the novel was light and realistic.
But not so romantic according to my taste, mmc was so much stubborn and assholish. I think she deserved better and for such intetesting plot we deserved more burning desires.
September 27, 2022
This was a 3.5 🌟 🤩 I actually really enjoyed this story, I would've liked to see more of the h, Maggie's life with the H after, (like an epilogue) but otherwise I really enjoyed this. She got Justice and rightfully deserved her happy ending so that's what matters.
The H, Ethan really annoyed me at times 😤 and I wasn't impressed of his treatment of Maggie at some parts, but I liked them together. Would've actually liked to see them together more rather then them just fighting. But all in all, this was great. ❤️
The H, Ethan really annoyed me at times 😤 and I wasn't impressed of his treatment of Maggie at some parts, but I liked them together. Would've actually liked to see them together more rather then them just fighting. But all in all, this was great. ❤️
March 27, 2011
Absolutely terrific awesome read definetely a keeper,its now aded on my most fav books list,Susan Fox has a way to bringing characters to life n i got so involved with Ethan-Maggie i laughed,smiled,cried,cursed n really wanted to hit Ethan on one occasion when he insults Maggie saying "You haven't got the right set of chips to barter in exchange for a ring and a ceremony." but my heart also went out to him cause Ethan regretted his actions and was sorry from his heart for what he said n way he acted towards Maggie when he realises she is innocent,Ethan is a good man but his overly judgemental and self rightious attitude was not attractive to me and cause of his these 2 things he acted jerk through the book almost end till he comes to know Maggie was innocent n how she was trapped by her step bro Bret
Maggie is fresh out of prison for a crime she didn't commit and looking for a job, with nothing but $50 in her pocket and the promise from her attorney his brother in law will give her a 2 week trial on his ranch as a ranch hand. When Ethan gets the full story about Maggie being an ex-con convicted of cattle rustling she is kicked out of the house and into a blizzard. Once Ethan's continuous gets to him, he finally drags her back to his ranch and lets her stay on never trusting her because of her past, while Maggie is just happy to be out in the open on a ranch again away from the small spaces of a jail cell. Maggie coming to terms with getting out of prison and her new role in life is very well done, along with all the honest and wonderful emotions in her true to life character
Wanted Ethan to grovel a little for the insult but the story was so good and Maggie is one brave-courageous woman who fought through her hardships and also stood for herself
Recommend it
definetely a keeper
Maggie is fresh out of prison for a crime she didn't commit and looking for a job, with nothing but $50 in her pocket and the promise from her attorney his brother in law will give her a 2 week trial on his ranch as a ranch hand. When Ethan gets the full story about Maggie being an ex-con convicted of cattle rustling she is kicked out of the house and into a blizzard. Once Ethan's continuous gets to him, he finally drags her back to his ranch and lets her stay on never trusting her because of her past, while Maggie is just happy to be out in the open on a ranch again away from the small spaces of a jail cell. Maggie coming to terms with getting out of prison and her new role in life is very well done, along with all the honest and wonderful emotions in her true to life character
Wanted Ethan to grovel a little for the insult but the story was so good and Maggie is one brave-courageous woman who fought through her hardships and also stood for herself
Recommend it
definetely a keeper
January 11, 2021
I'm not sure why I keep trying romances, I should know by now that this is not my thing.
Dnf 20%
Dnf 20%
July 23, 2018
Three and a half stars because I liked the h and felt like the H apologized quite well, even though he was kind of a one-note judgmental jerk for much of the book, and I was convinced he really loves her and will treat her well in the future.
September 24, 2021
This was the first book I read from you, and it was love at first word.
I have read everything you wrote. Thank you for everything
I have read everything you wrote. Thank you for everything
May 31, 2011
Nice read;Susan Fox writes good dialogues as usual. Ex-con girl seeking work in ranch of judgmental cowboy. More grovelling needed though from the guy.
February 2, 2012
I love this one - and I reread it every year. :)
August 29, 2021
My last few books have been by Susan Fox. I may be suffering from a little bit of saturation with her at the moment. It is a good story, but I am wondering if I would have rated it higher had I not read so many recently. This is also about the 3rd story in the last week where the heroine has some issues to work through. These issues become a big part of the story, so if you like a little more “meat” with your romance then this will be easily a 4 or 5 star. I have really been craving something super angsty and I wasn’t quite getting the fix I needed with the story.
I feel Naksed’s review summed up most of what am would want to say, check it out here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Stmargarets gives a spoiler free review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Sandra is a moody cow: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
There are other reviews as well that will give details, since I am lacking or shall I say slacking as I have 2 or 3 more reviews to write.
I feel Naksed’s review summed up most of what am would want to say, check it out here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Stmargarets gives a spoiler free review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Sandra is a moody cow: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
There are other reviews as well that will give details, since I am lacking or shall I say slacking as I have 2 or 3 more reviews to write.
September 12, 2025
I really enjoyed this sweet romance. The hero was strong and stern, yet never controlling or demeaning. His willingness to apologize to the heroine and acknowledge his mistakes made him a truly redeeming hero, balancing his toughness with admirable qualities. The heroine, on the other hand, was proud, hardworking, and displayed a strong character. Together, their charged sexual tension created a captivating dynamic that kept the story engaging from start to finish.
March 30, 2019
Think if this book was longer it would have been better. Cause the characters rush through everything too quickly that it doesn't make sense. Liked the story, but it just didn't feel super realistic. What happened to the daughter after the kitten? Never saw her again. Very choppy in the end to get the bad guy caught and everything. Just not worth it in the end, skip.
March 12, 2022
Nice read in general, but the development was a little off
not nearly enough groveling considering how he treated her
the ending was way too rushed
the proposal comes off as unconvincing
again
where's the grovel
not nearly enough groveling considering how he treated her
the ending was way too rushed
the proposal comes off as unconvincing
again
where's the grovel
March 15, 2022
Had so much potential, but it fell short so many ways. His daughter just felt like some filler - he basically hated her most of the book, then guilt, then love? Even him being a widow was like 1-2 sentences towards the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2024
This book has been in my TBR list for so long, I can't remember why I didn't pick it up.
Well, it's fair to say the hero is not my favorite, and for me that's a major disappointment with any book. So 3 stars is generous.
Well, it's fair to say the hero is not my favorite, and for me that's a major disappointment with any book. So 3 stars is generous.
September 27, 2025
Love me some western suspense with this one. Loved the characters. The unjust arrest and imprisonment of the heroine and the salty, suspicious hero. Loved the ending when they caught the bad guys and didn't have to go through more angst. Done just right.
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