What do you think?
Rate this book
The Rancher Needs a Wife
Joanna had found that being the daughter of a world-famous celebrity can bring its problems; and when things got too much for her she decided to get away for a while. So she took a job as summer help on a Canadian ranch, without letting anyone, even her fiancé, know where she was.
She was rather disconcerted to find herself the only woman on a primitive ranch, miles from anywhere, with one overbearing rancher, the three obstreperous children he had taken into his care, twenty cow-hands, and several thousand cattle. If anyone ever needed a wife, she thought, it was Rafe Holford -- though she pitied any girl who might try to cope with such a man!
All the same, when a young woman appeared on the scene who was clearly ideal for the position, Joanna found that it was not pity, but a much more surprising feeling that was aroused in her!
She was rather disconcerted to find herself the only woman on a primitive ranch, miles from anywhere, with one overbearing rancher, the three obstreperous children he had taken into his care, twenty cow-hands, and several thousand cattle. If anyone ever needed a wife, she thought, it was Rafe Holford -- though she pitied any girl who might try to cope with such a man!
All the same, when a young woman appeared on the scene who was clearly ideal for the position, Joanna found that it was not pity, but a much more surprising feeling that was aroused in her!
- GenresHarlequin
191 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1962
31 people want to read
About the author
Lilian Warren
87 books10 followersLilian Warren aka Rosalind Brett, Kathryn Blair, Katrina Britt, and Celine Conway.
Lilian Warren was born in London, England, UK. She worked as secretary, when at 19, her first magazine story was accepted. She married and moved to South Africa, where she continued writing. In the 1950s, she started to write to Rich & Cowan, and later to Mills & Boon, under various pseudonyms Rosalind Brett, Celine Conway, and Kathryn Blair. She passed away on 1961 in South Africa. Some of her books were published posthumuously.
Lilian Warren was born in London, England, UK. She worked as secretary, when at 19, her first magazine story was accepted. She married and moved to South Africa, where she continued writing. In the 1950s, she started to write to Rich & Cowan, and later to Mills & Boon, under various pseudonyms Rosalind Brett, Celine Conway, and Kathryn Blair. She passed away on 1961 in South Africa. Some of her books were published posthumuously.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 28, 2025
This is a pretty good book.
The heroine Joanna is the daughter of a famous mother and a wealthy step-father. Somehow this relationship caused a problem with her work as a teacher and she was hounded by the press. Because of the stress, she decides to go away to think things through. She also has a fiancé but has been feeling pressure from him as well.
She goes off to a ranch to be a nanny to 3 children. When she arrives, the ranch is a bit more primitive than she anticipated and the children are complete horrors. The Hero, Rafe, likes living in these primitive conditions (they take their baths at the lake). The children are his wards, but he sees nothing wrong in allowing them to run wild without guidance, so they are rude and unruly.
Joanna decides, within an hour of arriving, that she is not cut out for the job. Rafe agrees with her since he sees an elegant, well-bred young lady. He agrees to send her home the next morning. However as they talk, the eldest child unleashes his dog who goes for Joanna and scratches her face. Rafe is very apologetic and suggests that Joanna stays until her face heals. During this time, Joanna realises that Rafe really needs her help, so she decides to stay. The children continue being horrors, except for the youngest boy who is quite sweet and hasn’t been too influenced by his older siblings yet. She slowly does make some changes and sees improvement with the little girl, though this was very gradual. I appreciated that the author didn’t try to make her out as a miracle worker. The Hero is very attracted to her, he always makes remarks about her attractivness and elegance. Early in the story, he finds out about her engagement and is relieved, so he wouldn’t be tempted.
There is an OW, although she isn’t too vicious compared to some. She is the daughter of a neighbor and comes over, ostensibly to help out, but really she takes the opportunity to treat the heroine as the hired help, show off her country woman skills and point out that she is a much better match for the Hero.
The heroine adjusts to the situation, and is slowly making grounds with the two younger children, although the eldest is still horrid to her. The Hero can see the progress of the heroine and appreciates it, but it also bothers him that she has to work so hard in primitive conditions.
There is an OM who owns and runs an Inn, who is interested in the heroine. The Hero has some moments of jealousy. The Hero, heroine and the children are getting along swimmingly and the heroine even plans a small birthday party for the nasty eldest child. The night before the party when the heroine goes to bed she finds a rat under her covers, as she runs screaming, the Hero is very concerned for her and tries to “comfort” her. When she pushes him away he remarks that she shouldn’t think anything of it, he’s just a normal male.
The heroine is disheartened, by this time her feeling for the Hero and the children have deepened. She decides to go home. However before she can tell the Hero, he comes home in a bad mood, pays her wages and tells her to take the next train home.
The heroine is back in Vancouver and depressed. She has broken up with her fiancé who turned out to be a cad and a fortune hunter. Some weeks later, she comes home and finds the Hero in her flat. He has forced his way in and is there to confess his feelings. He had been in love w her for sometime but was fighting his feelings since she seemed so wrong for that kind of life. He had expanded the bungalow where they lived to include an indoor bathroom and they can stay there until the new big house he is building for her up on the hill is ready. He had sent her away that day since he had come home in a rage, having just found out her true identity.
It’s a cute story and the Hero is clearly smitten, though he doesn’t want to be.
The heroine Joanna is the daughter of a famous mother and a wealthy step-father. Somehow this relationship caused a problem with her work as a teacher and she was hounded by the press. Because of the stress, she decides to go away to think things through. She also has a fiancé but has been feeling pressure from him as well.
She goes off to a ranch to be a nanny to 3 children. When she arrives, the ranch is a bit more primitive than she anticipated and the children are complete horrors. The Hero, Rafe, likes living in these primitive conditions (they take their baths at the lake). The children are his wards, but he sees nothing wrong in allowing them to run wild without guidance, so they are rude and unruly.
Joanna decides, within an hour of arriving, that she is not cut out for the job. Rafe agrees with her since he sees an elegant, well-bred young lady. He agrees to send her home the next morning. However as they talk, the eldest child unleashes his dog who goes for Joanna and scratches her face. Rafe is very apologetic and suggests that Joanna stays until her face heals. During this time, Joanna realises that Rafe really needs her help, so she decides to stay. The children continue being horrors, except for the youngest boy who is quite sweet and hasn’t been too influenced by his older siblings yet. She slowly does make some changes and sees improvement with the little girl, though this was very gradual. I appreciated that the author didn’t try to make her out as a miracle worker. The Hero is very attracted to her, he always makes remarks about her attractivness and elegance. Early in the story, he finds out about her engagement and is relieved, so he wouldn’t be tempted.
There is an OW, although she isn’t too vicious compared to some. She is the daughter of a neighbor and comes over, ostensibly to help out, but really she takes the opportunity to treat the heroine as the hired help, show off her country woman skills and point out that she is a much better match for the Hero.
The heroine adjusts to the situation, and is slowly making grounds with the two younger children, although the eldest is still horrid to her. The Hero can see the progress of the heroine and appreciates it, but it also bothers him that she has to work so hard in primitive conditions.
There is an OM who owns and runs an Inn, who is interested in the heroine. The Hero has some moments of jealousy. The Hero, heroine and the children are getting along swimmingly and the heroine even plans a small birthday party for the nasty eldest child. The night before the party when the heroine goes to bed she finds a rat under her covers, as she runs screaming, the Hero is very concerned for her and tries to “comfort” her. When she pushes him away he remarks that she shouldn’t think anything of it, he’s just a normal male.
The heroine is disheartened, by this time her feeling for the Hero and the children have deepened. She decides to go home. However before she can tell the Hero, he comes home in a bad mood, pays her wages and tells her to take the next train home.
The heroine is back in Vancouver and depressed. She has broken up with her fiancé who turned out to be a cad and a fortune hunter. Some weeks later, she comes home and finds the Hero in her flat. He has forced his way in and is there to confess his feelings. He had been in love w her for sometime but was fighting his feelings since she seemed so wrong for that kind of life. He had expanded the bungalow where they lived to include an indoor bathroom and they can stay there until the new big house he is building for her up on the hill is ready. He had sent her away that day since he had come home in a rage, having just found out her true identity.
It’s a cute story and the Hero is clearly smitten, though he doesn’t want to be.
October 1, 2021
City girl heroine takes a job as a nanny for 3 kids at a ranch in the Canadian wilderness. She and the hero immediately decide she is not the right person for the job. However, she ends up staying and kinda-sorta tames the kids.( The eldest is basically a sociopath, but they're going to let boarding school straighten him out.)
I enjoyed the heroine's coping skills and how she didn't have to be perfect for the hero to fall for her. Miss Kitty has more details in her review.
I enjoyed the heroine's coping skills and how she didn't have to be perfect for the hero to fall for her. Miss Kitty has more details in her review.
October 19, 2018
It was interesting, but things didn't fall together. Not enough romance/chemistry, the OW was tedious but not quite malicious, etc.
October 17, 2015
This book was soooo romantic♥♥♥
September 29, 2025
* A Refreshingly Decent Romance
I genuinely enjoyed this book, though it might surprise some romance readers. This is a romance novel that takes a decidedly understated approach to romance itself. The chemistry between the two leads is subtle, with very few overtly romantic moments scattered throughout the story.
But here's the thing—I didn't mind it at all.
In fact, I appreciated it. There's something refreshing about a story that prioritizes decency and restraint. This might be the most decent Harlequin romance I've ever read, and in a genre that often leans heavily into passion and intensity, this book's gentle approach felt like a breath of fresh air.
If you're looking for a slow-burn romance with propriety and respect at its core, this book delivers. It won't set your heart racing with every chapter, but it will leave you with a warm, satisfied feeling—the kind that comes from a story well-told and characters treated with dignity.
A solid, respectable read that I'd recommend to anyone who values substance and decency in their romance novels.
October 1, 2018
This is not the copy my mum had and I much prefer the book cover of that one to this. I enjoyed the read and description of her Canadian location. I liked the characters portrayed too.
December 18, 2025
This story has a wonderful heroine (22) - I liked everything about her. The hero comes across as uninterested in her (and unlikeable), and the two eldest children she has to look after are ghastly (especially the eldest son that makes her skin crawl) and she's completely unappreciated. But she is amazing and when the hero explains at the end how he feels about everything it is a worthy declaration and makes him seem more likeable.
Upping from 4 to 5 stars on a re-read.
Upping from 4 to 5 stars on a re-read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews