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The Princess of Coldwater Flats
So Samantha Whalen figured the only way to save her mortgaged-to-the-hilt spread was to find herself a husband, huh? But who'd marry a spitfire like her? Sure, she was a fine-lookin' woman--but everybody for miles around knew she was the orneriest filly west of the Rockies ....
Then Cooper Ryan came to town .... Seemed he had his eye on the Whalen ranch--and maybe on the rancher, too. And some folks figured the long, tall stranger with the lazy smile was a match for the princess of Coldwater Flats--in more ways than one ....
Then Cooper Ryan came to town .... Seemed he had his eye on the Whalen ranch--and maybe on the rancher, too. And some folks figured the long, tall stranger with the lazy smile was a match for the princess of Coldwater Flats--in more ways than one ....
250 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 4, 2015
I didn't particularly like this one as it seems all her life she'd been struggling against her beauty, legacy from absentee mother, with no one actually listening to her then letting her infamous temper flare. It seemed that was the whole book.
April 1, 2025
1.5 stars.
I feel that everyone should be reminded that this was written in 1994. On to the gripes. Honestly, I’m not sure I have much positive to say about this story.
1. I hate the cover. I hate a cover that doesn’t either match the characters or depicts a scene that didn’t happen in the story. Here we have that scene didn’t happen. This one was close to “it happened,” but it didn’t and they aren’t even wearing the correct clothing from the scene. But I suppose it’s a me problem.
2. I disliked a female writer wrote a description of a woman from a man’s point of view insinuating a woman must have long, thin legs and a flat stomach to be peak attractive. 1994 folks. Barf.
3. Sammy Jo. Wow. What a horrible caricature of a traumatized woman. Well 1994. Sammy Jo is unbearable and is her own problem, but a product of her environment and trauma. She is not a good problem solver. Her mind is all over the place. She needs money, but we don’t get a feel for her trying to make any money. The fact a woman wrote this romance novel for women is abominable. Hang your head in shame Bishop. You’ve let women down. Even in 1994. Sammy Jo is strong, she’s a stubborn jerk who needs therapy.
4. All side characters are superficial. And actually there are too many. Bogs down the story with their uselessness. Lorna is supposedly Sammy Jo’s only friend, but she hardly talks to her. We also have the idea here that all the women just want Cooper for his money. Because 1994 and that’s all women want according to men.
5. Cooper Ryan as any 1994 writer would write a man is handsome and fit, of course. Perfect male specimen that women flock to. He is also chauvinistic and a misogynist.
I’m not sure how I got through this book. It is a bit unbearable and Sammy Jo is a badly written character. The two mains fight constantly. Sammy Jo constantly argues with everyone. Terrible. This story is just terrible. I change to 1.1 star rating.
I am not inclined to read anything else by this author.
I feel that everyone should be reminded that this was written in 1994. On to the gripes. Honestly, I’m not sure I have much positive to say about this story.
1. I hate the cover. I hate a cover that doesn’t either match the characters or depicts a scene that didn’t happen in the story. Here we have that scene didn’t happen. This one was close to “it happened,” but it didn’t and they aren’t even wearing the correct clothing from the scene. But I suppose it’s a me problem.
2. I disliked a female writer wrote a description of a woman from a man’s point of view insinuating a woman must have long, thin legs and a flat stomach to be peak attractive. 1994 folks. Barf.
3. Sammy Jo. Wow. What a horrible caricature of a traumatized woman. Well 1994. Sammy Jo is unbearable and is her own problem, but a product of her environment and trauma. She is not a good problem solver. Her mind is all over the place. She needs money, but we don’t get a feel for her trying to make any money. The fact a woman wrote this romance novel for women is abominable. Hang your head in shame Bishop. You’ve let women down. Even in 1994. Sammy Jo is strong, she’s a stubborn jerk who needs therapy.
4. All side characters are superficial. And actually there are too many. Bogs down the story with their uselessness. Lorna is supposedly Sammy Jo’s only friend, but she hardly talks to her. We also have the idea here that all the women just want Cooper for his money. Because 1994 and that’s all women want according to men.
5. Cooper Ryan as any 1994 writer would write a man is handsome and fit, of course. Perfect male specimen that women flock to. He is also chauvinistic and a misogynist.
I’m not sure how I got through this book. It is a bit unbearable and Sammy Jo is a badly written character. The two mains fight constantly. Sammy Jo constantly argues with everyone. Terrible. This story is just terrible. I change to 1.1 star rating.
I am not inclined to read anything else by this author.
June 24, 2015
Sammy Jo has struggled to prove her competence all her life, as one of few single women in the male-dominated world of ranching. But she's about the lose the ranch - before his death, her father made a lot of bad business decisions and ran it into the ground. The bank is about to foreclose, and she's desperate, so she approaches new and wealthy neighbour Cooper for a loan. He's not willing to help, as he secretly wants to buy her land to expand his own. But then Sammy Jo decides to find herself a husband to help her run the ranch and pay off the mortgage, so Cooper decides to step in...
I couldn't like this. I wanted to, but I couldn't. More than anything, this felt like a book about an angry woman being angry at the world. Granted, Sammy Jo may have reason to be mad at her father, Cooper, the bank manager, and even perhaps the rest of the world. However, having legitimate reasons doesn't mean that angry people make good heroes and heroines. Any good qualities she may have had were obscured by the fact that she was spitting with rage for nearly all of her page-time - and that made everything else in the book, including the plot and the rest of the characters (even Cooper, the hero) fade into the background. I have no idea why Cooper fell for her. I have no idea how she managed to fall for him when she had so much rage in her. From my experience, that kind of anger drives all other emotion out of a person, including love.
I think the plot could have been quite interesting, and the setting quite sweet and peaceful, but Sammy Jo ruined the book for me. 2 stars.
I couldn't like this. I wanted to, but I couldn't. More than anything, this felt like a book about an angry woman being angry at the world. Granted, Sammy Jo may have reason to be mad at her father, Cooper, the bank manager, and even perhaps the rest of the world. However, having legitimate reasons doesn't mean that angry people make good heroes and heroines. Any good qualities she may have had were obscured by the fact that she was spitting with rage for nearly all of her page-time - and that made everything else in the book, including the plot and the rest of the characters (even Cooper, the hero) fade into the background. I have no idea why Cooper fell for her. I have no idea how she managed to fall for him when she had so much rage in her. From my experience, that kind of anger drives all other emotion out of a person, including love.
I think the plot could have been quite interesting, and the setting quite sweet and peaceful, but Sammy Jo ruined the book for me. 2 stars.
July 15, 2014
Sammy Jo Whalen is a force unto herself...and possibly her own worst enemy. Raised as the son her father never had, she faces the possibility of loosing the ranch she loves without some divine intervention or at the very least a good idea. Enter Cooper Ryan. Their first meeting is pivotal and things go downhill from there, at least in Sammy Jo's eyes. They look horns at every turn and the sparks do fly. I have read several of Nancy Bush's books and have added her to my favorite list (along with her sister Lisa Jackson). A good read, some say predictable I say enjoyable. I read for pleasure and this one certainly filled the bill.
August 4, 2013
Between 2 and 3 stars, because I just couldn't stand Sammy Jo. I liked the storyline but the main heroine drove me crazy. She was way to stubborn and all. i have no idea how anyone in their right mind would want to be with her.
September 1, 2016
Once upon a time I think I've read this book. It was called "The Taming of the Shrew", it was settled in renaissance Verona instead of Wild Oregon and the heroine was called Katherina. This book made me laugh at the h stubbornness and excess of pride :-)
October 7, 2013
Good book to pass the time. No surprises and pretty predictable, but a good finish. If asked could recommend.
Want to Read
April 2, 2016Read for 08.2015 Western and Medieval Romance Lovers BotM.
August 23, 2013
Fun story.
Read
April 24, 2018I have read other books by Nancy bush I thought were better.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews