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Outlaw Brides
From the wilds of northern Scotland to the Texas plains to the rugged hills of New Mexico, don't miss these exciting romantic stories by bestselling historical authors. Includes "The Bride of Blackness Castle" by Elaine Coffman, "Maverick Hearts" by Ruth Langan, and "The Ballad of Josie Dove" by Mary McBride. Original.
- GenresHistorical Romance
378 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1996
51 people want to read
About the author
Elaine Coffman
63 books117 followersBarbara Elaine Gunter was born in San Diego, California, to William Samuel Gunter, Jr., a naval officer and Edna Marie (née Davidson) Gunter, a homemaker. From the age of three she lived in Midland, Texas and graduated from Midland High School. After she received a degree in elementary education from North Texas State University, she taught elementary school in Midland, Texas, while working on her Master’s Degree and certification for Language and Learning Disabilities at Texas Tech in Lubbock.
Elaine currently resides in Austin, Texas, where her son, Chuck, also lives. She has two daughters, Lesley who resides in Raleigh, N.C. and Ashley, who lives in San Diego, California.
Elaine Coffman is a New York Times bestselling author with a large international following. She has penned novels in both the historical romance genre and suspense. A lover of history, she has penned several novels set in Scotland, Regency England, Italy and the American West. To date, she is the author of nineteen novels and five novellas.
While writing her first novel, My Enemy, My Love, she found herself inspired by a letter her great-great grandmother, Susannah Jane Dowell Shacklett wrote in 1920, telling about her journey from Brandeburg, Kentucky to San Antonio, Texas, and then going with an army escort to El Paso, Texas, where her brother, Ben Dowell, a veteran of the Mexican War, was El Paso's first mayor.
Elaine continued to write best-selling, award-winning books until the publication of her eleventh novel, If You Loved Me, which was the last book of her beloved Mackinnon series and her first book to hit the New York Times bestseller list.
Her first suspense novel, Alone in the Dark, was published by Pocket books in 2006.
Elaine currently resides in Austin, Texas, where her son, Chuck, also lives. She has two daughters, Lesley who resides in Raleigh, N.C. and Ashley, who lives in San Diego, California.
Elaine Coffman is a New York Times bestselling author with a large international following. She has penned novels in both the historical romance genre and suspense. A lover of history, she has penned several novels set in Scotland, Regency England, Italy and the American West. To date, she is the author of nineteen novels and five novellas.
While writing her first novel, My Enemy, My Love, she found herself inspired by a letter her great-great grandmother, Susannah Jane Dowell Shacklett wrote in 1920, telling about her journey from Brandeburg, Kentucky to San Antonio, Texas, and then going with an army escort to El Paso, Texas, where her brother, Ben Dowell, a veteran of the Mexican War, was El Paso's first mayor.
Elaine continued to write best-selling, award-winning books until the publication of her eleventh novel, If You Loved Me, which was the last book of her beloved Mackinnon series and her first book to hit the New York Times bestseller list.
Her first suspense novel, Alone in the Dark, was published by Pocket books in 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 27, 2019
Having just finished a book by Elaine Coffman, I was eager to read this compilation. It also has another author I really like -- Ruth Langan. Mary McBride's name was the only one I wasn't familiar with when I opened the book.
THE BRIDE OF BLACKNESS CASTLE (Elaine Coffman) - In a few words, this is a retelling of the 'Beauty and the Beast' with different character names. Lady Anne comes to live with her father when her mother dies. Instead, she decides to save her father's life because he has been captured by a mysterious man he wronged.
MAVERICK HEARTS (Ruth Langan) - Summer is a con artist traveling to various towns as "Sister Goodness." While on a stagecoach, she meets a handsome robber. When he accidentally comes to her revival, Montana decides that 'they' could make a lot of money with Summer's con. However, their plans change when three orphans come to Summer's wagon and tell their tragic tale.
THE BALLAD OF JOSIE DOVE (Mary McBride) - Sheriff Will Curry wins a young woman in a high-flying poker game in Las Vegas. They both think Josie is a prostitute. However, Josie really has no memory of her past life. By the time Will and Josie think they could have a life together, trouble comes to town.
I really did not care for Elaine Coffman's story at all. Since I'm not fond of Middle Ages tales, I weighed that in the balance of my evaluation.
Ruth Langan's story was just wacky enough to be possible; I enjoyed it. However, Mary McBride's story was the best of the three. It was engaging from the first page and held my attention until the last words.
THE BRIDE OF BLACKNESS CASTLE (Elaine Coffman) - In a few words, this is a retelling of the 'Beauty and the Beast' with different character names. Lady Anne comes to live with her father when her mother dies. Instead, she decides to save her father's life because he has been captured by a mysterious man he wronged.
MAVERICK HEARTS (Ruth Langan) - Summer is a con artist traveling to various towns as "Sister Goodness." While on a stagecoach, she meets a handsome robber. When he accidentally comes to her revival, Montana decides that 'they' could make a lot of money with Summer's con. However, their plans change when three orphans come to Summer's wagon and tell their tragic tale.
THE BALLAD OF JOSIE DOVE (Mary McBride) - Sheriff Will Curry wins a young woman in a high-flying poker game in Las Vegas. They both think Josie is a prostitute. However, Josie really has no memory of her past life. By the time Will and Josie think they could have a life together, trouble comes to town.
I really did not care for Elaine Coffman's story at all. Since I'm not fond of Middle Ages tales, I weighed that in the balance of my evaluation.
Ruth Langan's story was just wacky enough to be possible; I enjoyed it. However, Mary McBride's story was the best of the three. It was engaging from the first page and held my attention until the last words.
April 11, 2013
Back cover blurb:
THE BRIDE OF BLACKNESS CASTLE by Elaine Coffman
In order to free her ailing father, the lovely Lady Anne must marry the "beast" who holds her captive.
MAVERICK HEARTS by Ruth Langan
A female con artist and a handsome drifter become unwilling parents when they're adopted by three desperate orphans.
THE BALLAD OF JOSIE DOVE by Mary McBride
Robbed of her memory, Josie finds herself completely at the mercy of the taciturn sheriff who won her in a card game.
The first story was DNF for me. Just didn't keep my interest. Fans of Coffman will probably enjoy it.
The second story was pretty good, although very saccharine sweet, where everything gets wrapped up easily and perfectly. But hey, it's romance.
I didn't finish the third story when I found out the hero has an arrangement with a widow. Not that that bothers me that much, except that the widow hates sex and only puts up with it because she hopes the hero will marry her. But the hero never intends to marry her, yet continues to have sex with her anyway. Umm...eww. Use your hand, buddy, not a woman who's only enduring your advances on false pretenses. He may have her consent, but without her enthusiastic participation, it skeeved me out.
THE BRIDE OF BLACKNESS CASTLE by Elaine Coffman
In order to free her ailing father, the lovely Lady Anne must marry the "beast" who holds her captive.
MAVERICK HEARTS by Ruth Langan
A female con artist and a handsome drifter become unwilling parents when they're adopted by three desperate orphans.
THE BALLAD OF JOSIE DOVE by Mary McBride
Robbed of her memory, Josie finds herself completely at the mercy of the taciturn sheriff who won her in a card game.
The first story was DNF for me. Just didn't keep my interest. Fans of Coffman will probably enjoy it.
The second story was pretty good, although very saccharine sweet, where everything gets wrapped up easily and perfectly. But hey, it's romance.
I didn't finish the third story when I found out the hero has an arrangement with a widow. Not that that bothers me that much, except that the widow hates sex and only puts up with it because she hopes the hero will marry her. But the hero never intends to marry her, yet continues to have sex with her anyway. Umm...eww. Use your hand, buddy, not a woman who's only enduring your advances on false pretenses. He may have her consent, but without her enthusiastic participation, it skeeved me out.
March 15, 2013
Each story got better than the next and they were ALL very well done. Excellent anthology!
November 10, 2012
Ballad of Josie Dove best of bunch. Expected better from Coffman.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews