The Bounty Hunter and the Bride

Oklahoma Brides

by Vickie McDonough

Katie Hoffman lost her husband after only four months of marriage. Pregnant and close to losing the farm, she advertises to sell it. When a handsome buyer offers to marry her and let her keep the farm, she hastily agrees, wanting to give her child a father. But rushing into another marriage proves to be a mistake when a rugged bounty hunter crashes the wedding to capture the groom. Will Katie slow down enough to hear God's voice?

Dusty McIntyre lost his wife to a heinous outlaw. After tracking the criminal for over a year, catching him doesn't bring Dusty the satisfaction that he'd hoped for. Dusty feels compelled to help Katie. Will he stay and find the peace and love he is looking for?

Genres: Historical, Romance, Christian, Christian Fiction, Historical Romance, Westerns

170 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 10, 2007

About the author

Over 1.5 million books sold!

Bestselling author Vickie McDonough grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead, she married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams penning romance stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen, and others living in the Old West. Vickie is a best-selling author of more than 50 published books and novellas, with over 1.5 million copies sold. Her novels include End of the Trail, winner of the OWFI 2013 Booksellers Best Fiction Novel Award. Whispers on the Prairie was a Romantic Times Recommended Inspirational Book for July 2013. Song of the Prairie won the 2015 Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Gabriel’s Atonement, book 1 in the Land Rush Dreams series, placed second in the 2016 Will Rogers Medallion Award. Vickie has recently stepped into independent publishing.

Vickie has been married for forty-one years to Robert. They have four grown sons, one daughter-in-law, and a precocious granddaughter. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, antiquing, doing stained glass, watching movies, and traveling. To learn more about Vickie’s books or to sign up for her newsletter, visit her website: www.vickiemcdonough.com

Reviews

[Larik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this novella in a lull in my normally scheduled books for publicity, I felt sort of down and knowing Vicki McDonaugh’s normal comedies wanted to have fun. Little did I know that this particular comedy would be so heart wrenching. Even though it had a lot of fun parts, most of the book was a journey of two people that were terribly hurt by the same cruel outlaw trying to find healing and happiness again. Even though they fight it with all they’ve got, true love that blossoms is hard to avoid forever. I especially liked her uncle who, like them, had gone through a lot in life and had a calm reasoning and very good advises. Very touching lovely story, with a little history and humor for good measure.
Great short read!!! You should definitely read it!!!

[Melissa (christianbooksandcoffee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when authors write books that follow up on the family with the next generation. This story is a sequel to Sooner or Later we met Katie in the story as a little girl. Now in this story she is all grown up, widowed and pregnant. Dusty is a bounty Hunter tracking down the man who killed his wife. This man happens to be the man Katie is standing at the alter with. Dusty captures the man and saves Katie from a fire that starts in the process. Katie and Dusty both struggle with anger. I liked watching them get to know each other. And eventually becoming a couple. I loved seeing Dusty reconcile with God and come back to Him. And I loved seeing Katie’s family again! Good Christian content. I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[April Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Katie - from Sooner or Later - is all grown up now facing a tragedy while waiting for her child to be born. An impulsive decision puts her in a dangerous position where she meets Dusty, a bounty hunter with an anger at God over his own tragedy.

Guilt and circumstances throw them together where God is teaching them to let go of anger and draw close to him. We meet again Mason and Rebekah - also from Sooner or Later - and they play a vital role in helping Katie and Dusty.

There is much scripture and godly advice given that adds to the story (for me). I enjoyed this novel very much, even stayed up late to finish.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and these are my voluntary and honest opinions. I was not required to leave a positive review.

[Delia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie Hoffman just can't seem to get a break.

Her husband is killed in an accident only four months into their marriage, leaving her pregnant and unable to pay the mortgage on their farm. Unwilling to lose the property, she places an ad in hopes of selling it. But the stranger who shows up on her doorstep is more interested in Katie herself than in the farm, and she soon finds herself engaged again. Marrying Allan King seems like the perfect answer. She'll have a new husband, a father for her unborn child, and she can keep the farm.

But before she can say "I do," a pistol-packin' cowboy crashes the wedding, set on hauling her almost-husband off to jail. In the chaos, Katie winds up injured and her house burns to the ground. As if all that isn't enough, she finds herself stuck with the trouble-making cowboy as her escort on the lengthy wagon ride to her uncle's home and family.

Dusty McIntyre has been tracking the heinous outlaw responsible for his wife's death for over a year. But putting the slick character behind bars somehow fails to provide the satisfaction he expected - especially when another woman is very nearly killed in the process. Dusty determines to make it up to the young widow whose wedding he brought to a halt, and attaches himself to her in spite of her obvious wish to the contrary.

Before long, they're dealing with an unwelcome attraction. But God has lessons to teach - while He helps them tear down the walls of anger and resentment they've each built. Katie's Christian family - along with a series of sometimes thrilling, sometimes dramatic, sometimes heartbreaking moments - plays a major role in Katie and Dusty finding reconciliation with God and new hope in their individual hearts and lives.

The Bounty Hunter and the Bride is a fun ride through a past era, liberally sprinkled with humor and tastefully entwined with Christian values. Vickie McDonough's well-rounded characters - from feisty Katie to cuddly baby Joey ... from Nick and Nathan, the twin terrors, to wise Uncle Mason - are warm, real and and completely believable. Combined with realistic action and heart-tugging emotion, it makes for a well-written, enchanting and captivating tale.

This one will be a treasured addition to any library of romantic fiction.

[Melissa (Always Behind) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Katie Hoffman married Jarrod, she thought it would be forever. Now, after only four months together, she is a widow and risks losing their farm unless she can sell it soon. But instead of buying the farm, Allan King wants to marry her. His charming ways sweep Katie off of her feet and help her to imagine a brighter future. Is it really what she wants?

Just as the ceremony begins, in bursts a man dressed in black with guns waving. He calls Allan Sloane, and Katie is completely baffled by this turn of events. Things worsen when Katie's house catches fire and she is injured in the ensuing struggle. Dusty McIntyre's life was altered forever when an outlaw, Ed Sloane, set fire to his house and killed his wife. He vows to capture Sloane and avenge his wife's death if it is the last thing he does. When he discovers Sloane about to marry, Dusty decides to take matters into his own hands. Dusty feels guilty that Katie's house was destroyed, so he decides to stay and help. When he finds himself attracted to the beautiful widow, can he allow his heart to be opened to love again?

This is a charming romance, set in the early 1900s. The reader will feel a part of the setting and action through the vivid descriptions. Both Katie and Dusty have risked their hearts and loved before, but have been badly hurt. Watching them open up to God's opportunities in their lives is heartwarming and joyful to experience. Even readers who are not huge fans of romance novels will find plenty of action to keep them interested. This balance gives the book appeal to a wider audience. The Bounty Hunter and the Bride is a top-notch faith based historical romance.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely. I needed something light, but well-written after wading through a couple of non-fictions and some poorly written fiction material. It fit the bill of being a beautiful romance, but with plenty of drama (both predictable and unpredictable). The author uses beautiful phrasing and portrays likeable, relatable characters. The editing (one of my pet peeves) was pretty good. I recommend this to other lovers of historical fiction.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am working on my TBR pile and found this treasure! Vickie's love for God and his redeeming power is evident all throughout this wonderful story! Tragedy happens to most people in this fallen world, but God has a plan to fight sin and bring more people into His arms! I highly recommend this sweet book to all!

[Terry Yaceyko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read. Different story line.

[Valri Western · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the previous book in this series which told Katie's story when she was very young and how she ended up with her uncle because her mother was killed. She was so cute in that story and now she has grown up and pregnant with her own baby yet she is also a widow because after only a couple months of being married, her husband died, leaving her with a farm to manage. She feels like it's in her best interest to marry again so she'll have a man to help her manage the farm and help her raise the baby, especially since she's young.
Dusty has lost everything because of an outlaw who killed his wife while he was the law in town. Now he it's taken him two years tracking that outlaw to Katie's farm and he's going to put that dangerous man in jail even if he's right in the middle of saying his "I do's"! Katie had no idea she was about to marry an outlaw! She's not happy with Dusty either! Their lives get tangled up as Dusty takes Katie back to live with her Uncle's family since she's injured. I loved their feisty relationship. Dusty has no need of God or religion but just maybe he'll choose differently if Katie can be in his life along with that sweet baby! It'll take a while though! Katie's walls are sure up high! She's not about to go through another wedding! Great characters, good themes!

[Psusan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bounty Hunter and the Bride has the most heartbreaking opening as Dusty McIntyre’s life is shattered. Windswept Weddings Book 5 by Vickie McDonough is one that claimed my attention and held it until the end. I was completely concerned about Katie Hoffman until Dusty barges into the house. From there the story does not slow down even though Katie was stopped from making the mistake of her life.

One character needs help to survive and one character needs to make peace with the past, turning back to God. I understood Katie and Dusty, appreciating the change of heart, the growth in faith and the developments in the relationship. Now a favorite book of the series with these characters being superbly complex yet relatable. Bounty Hunter and the Bride is a story of surviving tragedy, finding love and having reconciliation with God. I can recommend this book to all who enjoy faith-based historical novels.

[Margaret Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a reprint of a Barbour Publishing novel from 2007 by the same name, which was in a series called Oklahoma Brides. Now it’s number 5 in McDonough’s Windswept Weddings series.

The book follows on about 10 years or so after #4, Sooner or Later, and a number of the characters from that fourth book do show up in this book, one of them becoming the main female character in book 5.

I enjoyed both the old and new characters, but the book starts out quite violently for both the main male character and main female character. I know what happens is realistic for the time and place, but I still don’t enjoy reading about it. McDonough does do a good job with how the characters deal with what has happened to them, and good spiritual insights are woven into the plot.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

[Betti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devastated by the loss of his family, Dusty leaves his job as a City Marshal and becomes a bounty hunter in order to catch Sloane and those who murdered his family. Catching up with them just as Sloane is about to marry an unsuspecting young widow in order to get her land, the bounty hunters capture their man.

Katie, widowed and pregnant, angry and blaming Dusty for the loss of her home, returns to live with her Uncle and Aunt trying to understand how this could be God’s plan. Dusty, feeling guilty for his part in all of this tries to understand how God would want to have anything to do with him.

A story of forgiveness and redemption, this copy of Windswept Weddings was received through Wild Heart Books and BookFunnel. These impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.

[Dawn Babbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story

I so hope there will be sequels to your stories Ms. McDonough!!
Your writing technique’s make you feel you’re are right there with these characters.

[Ophelia Sellers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bounty Hunter and the Bride

This writer is new to me but I’ll definitely read more of her work. The story is interesting and the characters are strong.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a sweet clean read. The Character development was good, it was fast paced and written well. Things are a little far fetched at the beginning like the reasons he chooses to follow our leading lady wherever she goes. The story was a little preachy in places but nothing that drug on. It was very clean with a little violence.

[Lucienne Ouellette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bounty Hunter and the bride

Beautiful love story ! It emphasises on God's wonderful love and Grace for His children. Life may bring us trials but His love covers a multitude. I recommend this book.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshing read and thoroughly enjoyable book! This is one I would recommend to lovers of short Christian romance.

[Marcella · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story had potential but the characters were really one sided

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this second book simply because it is based in Oklahoma.

[Rachel Sides · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be too preachy for some, I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. A fast read.

[janet frantum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story.

The story really emphasized the importance of keeping God in your heart. It shows us that no matter how what happens, you should always turn your life over God.

[Babs Wenk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute

This was a pleasure to read and dealt with forgiveness which is free from God. I am going to read more from this author and Truly Yours! Barbie

[Lisa Rumley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love happy endings

This is a good read! Katie and Dusty both had been through some hard times. God brought them together and prayers were answered.

[Glenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It gives the lesson on forgiveness and letting go of the past. A good read!

[JoAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice, clean book and a quick read. If you are looking for a nice romance book, I recommend this one.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun fast read for something different. Give it a chance

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very quick story, but also good. I felt bad for the characters and all the loss & death they endured. There were some scenes with action/suspense and I really liked that. All in all, I enjoyed this read.