Want Ad Wedding

Cowboy Creek #1

by Cheryl St. John

Second Chance Bride  

When Daniel Gardner convinced the residents of his Kansas boomtown to advertise for mail-order brides, he never expected the woman he once loved to respond. But Leah Swann steps off the bride train…pregnant and widowed and in need of a husband. Drawn to protect his fragile childhood friend, Daniel proposes a marriage of convenience. 

Seeing her onetime best friend waiting to meet the bride train is a wonderful shock for Leah. After her first rocky marriage, a practical partnership with Daniel sounds perfect—as long as her heart doesn't get involved. But when she starts to fall for her husband, will her plans of a fresh start be ruined…or is a real marriage to Daniel exactly what she needs? 

Cowboy Creek: Bringing mail-order brides, and new beginnings, to a Kansas boomtown.

Genres: Love Inspired, Romance, Historical Romance, Christian Fiction, Love Inspired Historical, Historical, Historical Fiction

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 5, 2016

About the author

Cheryl is the author of more than fifty historical and contemporary romances. Her stories have earned numerous RITA nominations, Romantic Times awards and are published in over a dozen languages.

In describing her stories of second chances and redemption, readers and reviewers use words like, “emotional punch, hometown feel, core values, believable characters and real-life situations.”

With a 4.9 star rating on amazon, her bestselling non-fiction book, Writing With Emotion, Tension & Conflict by Writers Digest Books is available in print and digital.

Reviews

[Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again I made the mistake of reading the books in a series out of order. I read the third book in the Cowboy Creek series first, so I already had the background information that this book spends a lot of time providing. It does a thorough job of establishing the setting of the growing town and introducing all the main players, which detracted a bit from the focus on Daniel and Leah's relationship. The plot fell a little flat for me since there isn't much tension, chemistry, or obstacles in their romance (though I really liked the characters), and the altercations in the town don't get resolved since those plot lines are meant to last through the entire series. I'm still excited to read the middle book to see how Will ends up with someone so different from what he planned.

(I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher; all opinions in this review are my own)

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has been a while since I have read a mail order bride themed story. I found this book to be very sweet and charming. This book is a good start to this series. It was nice that Leah had a friend in Daniel. He is a gentleman. I like that he did not push Leah into the romance. So this way I got to know them both better and thus their love felt real. A pleasant surprise was the references to God. Yet, this book is not preachy. The town and the other folks of Cowboy Creek were nice as well. Although I liked this story, the townfolk and the mail order brides, I did feel like this story was just that...charming. I wanted a little more than charming. However I do look forward to reading more by this author and this series.

[Kathy Heare Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

PICKING UP THE PIECES OF THE PAST AND FORGING A FUTURE

I enjoyed this second chance romance that also has some mystery, suspense and secrets. Three friends, Will, Daniel and Leah, who grew up together in Pennsylvania had a special bond. Going from childhood to courtship, to one willing to step aside rather than cause a rift in friendship. Then the country changed with the outbreak of the Civil war; men left home; women made do, and lots more changes were on the horizon. Now many years later, a new beginning in Kansas is a town called Cowboy Creek, and Will and Daniel, along with another soldier they served with, Noah, has made this a growing town, and have sent for mail order brides. What a shock to Will and Daniel to see their childhood friend, Leah, arrive as one of the brides. Widowed, Leah needs a husband and a second chance.

The plot twists kept me captive and the pages turning in this suspense-filled story of friendship, loss, heartache, betrayal and new beginnings. It is a reminder that not everything that seems good on the outside will turn out good in the end. Sometimes when the knight in shining armor comes to rescue the damsel in distress he may be her Prince Charming. The story is clean and inspirational without being preachy. This is the first book in the Cowboy Creek series, and I look forward to reading more as this town grows and with its mail order brides.

[Rhonda]

4 STARS

Want Ad Wedding is set in Cowboy Creek, Kansas April 1868

Three friends after the civil war decide to start a town in Kansas. The Texas trail herds are coming up to their town for the railroad.

Daniel Gardner convinced the town to send away for mail order brides. Lots of single men come out to meet the first four woman.

Leah Swann is a widow and with child. She has lost her whole family. She hopes to find a good husband. She is surprised to find two childhood friends Daniel and Will behind the town. In fact she was engaged to Will at start of war but they broke up.

Both Daniel and Will are glad to see Leah again. Leah when she sees them does not feel so alone in the world anymore.

There is plenty of drama, mystery and it is fun to see them build their town. Someone is trying to Sabotage the town.

I want to comeback and read more books in the Cowboy Creek series.

I was given this ebook to read for free from NetGalley and Harlequin. In return I agreed to give a honest review of Want Ad Wedding.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

* I like that they got married :) I love a good wedding :) Even if it was because she was pregnant. Sweet proposal too.
* Daniel's wedding gift was so sweet :)
* I wasn't overly interested in the stuff about the no gun law.
* Dora. Tut, tut.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good read. I loved the surprise Leah, Daniel, and Will had when she arrived with the other brides. There was a bit of a mystery, who's trying to sabotage the town, and that really hasn't been solved. Hopefully that'll be covered in the next two books, because I'm very curious about that. The ending was sweet and I'm glad that I read this book.

4.5 stars

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good and unusual mail order bride story. I’m glad it is a series because I would love to read more.

[Books and Spoons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming and inspiring story, with an intriguing history of how the Kansas town got started, mixed with life as it was after the war, at 1868, dangers of small town during that time, about love that can win over many obstacles, and about faith, that seems to be able to move the mountains.
Usually a romance book has a 'theme' friends to lovers, second chance, etc. This story had adopted most of them, it has childhood friends, cowboy and baby mom (who is best friend's ex), gets a second chance by forming a marriage of convenience, that turns to love, living with the dangers of the wild west. But it was all well built into the story, that had a nice flow to it, and was able to capture my mind and thoughts completely, so that I finished the book in one sitting.
The development of the town was fascinating, and was touched on several occasions. The people of the town, and the town itself, was very well thought out and developed, and I believe this will be an interesting, and noteworthy series, for sure.
I enjoyed Leah and Daniel together. They had great chemistry, and Daniel is the most tender, loving, kind man towards her. It was lovely to see their relationship develop, as they grew closer together. The war had left scars on both of them, but the honesty, Daniel had, about everything, made Leah trust him, and open up about the past, and start healing.
As always in the Love Inspired stories, the faith in God is at the center of the story. Leah's faith of God guiding her to home, is refreshing. As the danger comes too close to home in that small Kansas development, the whole town comes together, and pray for protection and guidance in the turbulent situation.
Some of the issues and events that took place in town, didn't come to completion, and hopefully will be revealed in the future books of the series.
Sometimes we a granted a second chance, of what should have been in the first place, as it is shown in Leah and Daniel's tender and gentle story
~ Four Spoons

[Romancing the Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Danielle U
Book provided by NetGalley

Want Ad Wedding by Cheryl St. John is a delightful read. A town started that started out as nothing...was slowly transformed into a place for men to work. The original men who bought out the property and started businesses came up with the idea of bringing women into their town. They soon came up with the idea to send ads in for women to come to marry the men in their town. But one of the men finds a huge surprise coming off one the trains that held women from the want ad wedding. A surprise that may lead to one man's happily ever after...

Fate is what brings people together or break them apart. Cheryl St. John's novel shows us, readers, how easy it is for some to find the one and how easy it is to lose the one we want. Heartbreak, betrayal, hope, and maybe new love are all a part of this brilliant story. A story that goes by just as fast as the trains come and go into the town. Women looking for husbands to take of them...men looking for the one woman they can keep forever. Three men hoping to expand their town by bringing more women, a pastor, and teachers into their land. Sometimes we don't know what we have until we lose it. One woman gains a man and another loses a man. I found the Want Ad Wedding to be a real portrayal of the old days when new towns were being built. I loved how Cheryl St. John showed readers what women's lives were like during this time period. The friendships, drama, and new found love will keep readers turning the pages in a race to find out what happens next.

Overall, this was my first novel read by this talented writer, and I highly recommend it to readers everywhere.

[Susan Shearer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read almost all of St. John's books and am never disappointed! And this one is no different. I stayed up until 3AM to read it and was falling asleep, went to bed and then woke up and finished it.
From the beginning when we meet Daniel Gardner and Will Canfield waiting for the train with the brides we are kept wanting to know more. Then the brides arrive....each different but looking for the same thing...love, marriage, a husband and a new life. For Leah Swann it was a blessing from God. She found her old friends Will and Daniel. They were childhood friends who had gone through events during the war that shaped their lives, each differently.
Leah lost confidence in herself and her choices. Will and Daniel built a town with their friend Noah. Leah wanted a husband for her unborn child and found that in her friend Daniel. They learned second chances was what God had in mind of them and their friends. God brought them together and helped them through their difficult times and showed them He is always watching over them.
Through the way you can't help but feel that if God can give others a second chance He can you.
I highly recommend this book filled with love...love of old friends, new friends and, like I said, second chances. God is all for each of us to know He loves us and will be with us if we allow Him to do what He does best....love us.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel and his two friends have helped start the little town of Cowboy Creek. So when they want the town to grow, they send off for four mail-order brides to help grow the families of the town. They plan to start small and order more if the first four work out. Daniel is in for a shock when he sees his childhood friend step off the train. Leah is now a pregnant widow with no family to help her. She was desperate enough to answer the ad, but a marriage of convenience with her friend Daniel might be the perfect safety net for her and her unborn child.

This was a sweet, well written story. The characters had depth and were engaging. I liked the back story that the author gave the two main characters. She also set several people up to be the main characters in the next book. The secondary characters were interesting as well and added to the whole plot. Overall, it was a sweet, clean romance with just a little drama that I enjoyed reading.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to Deeanne Gist I've been on a historical romance kick. Unfortunately, not every author out there meets my needs for a light, fun read. Half this book was made up of both characters repeating over and over how they'll never find the love they want because "I'm not her first choice" or "he's only doing this cause he's a nice guy" blah blah blah. In fact, I honestly started saying "blah blah blaaah" in my head whenever I hit these parts (which happened every single chapter) and pretty soon I just started skimming the book. Conversations between characters were usually dull. They either jumped around with no whim to why they changed directions or they were long and drawn out leaving me bored out of my mind. And the characters themselves weren't even that interesting. Overall, I was quite put out with the quality of this book. I was torn between an average 3 star rating or a 2 and my annoyance won out. I'm sure in retrospect I'll lean more towards a 3, but my ratings usually go up as I start to forget all the negative parts of a book.

[Paula-O · Rating 5 out of 5]

LIH triolgy by three authors."Cowboy Creek", #1 by Cheryl St John with Want Ad Wedding.


I loved this little part of Kansas, Cowboy Creek was settled by three veterans after the war, two had been lifelong friends and the other met in the war Noah.
Noah along with Daniel and Will started and this story will tell how they grew over the years.
Now the men know they need women to make their community grow so they put a want ad to draw them.
Fate or divine intervention, who should be on the first "Bride Train", Leah who had grown up with Daniel and Will. I choose to think it was God's plan for these three to be together again.
I loved reading this story and know if you like LIH stories you will too. we will get to see the men find wives and the women coming that need a second chance come together as only God can plan.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like mail-order bride stories and I am a fan of Cheryl St John's books but this left me cold. I've never read a Love Inspired title before but I thought I knew what to expect. It was so much worse, completely passionless, it could have written in the 1950's and the couple had barely more than a brother and sister relationship. They were married for goodness sake, I wasn't expecting rampant love scenes but their 'marriage' was so tepid it was boring. If you want to read a good book about a pregnant woman and a marriage of convenience read His Secondhand Wife by the same author. One of my favourite books and a much better read than this one.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely story about second chances and reunions. I was immediately hooked by the thought of three friends trying to build a town after surviving a brutal war. The townspeople are very endearing for the most part. Which is perfect because a few miserable people add flavor. The mystery behind the plot to hurt the town held my attention. I look forward to future stories in this series.

[Harlequin Historical]

Miniseries: Cowboy Creek

[Kayli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fate seems to get its way when Leah Swann steps off the train in Cowboy Creek and sees two familiar faces in Daniel Gardiner and Will Canfield. The three grew up together in Pennsylvania pre-Civil War and though Will and Leah were engaged, Daniel always harbored a secret crush for her. Fast-forward to the present-day, with Leah standing before him as one of the mail-order brides, Daniel can't help but feel no one is good enough for her. With Will already engaged and their previous engagement dubbed puppy love, Daniel is convinced by his friends to  court her but Leah has a secret of her own. Though she is a widow, she is pregnant and hoping to find a good father in the form of a husband. Could the childhood friends make an adult relationship work? Can Leah put all her trust in a man who's big dreams as a teen once scared her? And can Daniel be the man she needs him to be?

I loved Want Ad Wedding for its lovely characters, believable plot, and, of course, the romance that blooms between Leah and Daniel. Both characters are well developed and experience a range of emotions outside of love, which was utterly refreshing in Daniel. Cheryl St. John also does an excellent job of depicting a realistic experience of post-war trauma. As the first novel in the series, St. John sets you up for a strong story and leaves you wanting to know more about every character, especially ambitious Will and reclusive introvert Noah, our other veterans. I rated Want Ad Wedding four stars and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants a romance that explores deep emotions or someone who enjoys the genre.

[Dorothy Roller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this story of Leah and Daniel in Cowboy Creek This is a mail order story to get a new booming town more woman and the three main characters Leah, Daniel and Will were best friends back in Pennsylvania in their childhood years before the Civil War.
It was a great surprise when Leah shows up on the train with three other mail order brides and she sees Will and Daniel. They were all surprised to find each other in the Kansas boomtown.
I love this story of faith, trust, great friendship, honor, and all those wonderful qualities we would all love to have. These three people start back up their friendships years later and yet it was like old times in a sense.
Cheryl St John knows how to write great stories that affect us in such a way that you just want everything to turn out right and have love find a new life between friends.
I highly recommend this story and there are two more that follow and I believe you will want to read all three.

[Earlene Click · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daniel and Leah

This is a sweet tale of a new and developing town and mail order brides. Daniel is one of the men starting snd financing this town. They have sent for four brides for to begin having more wives for the many cowboys here in this new town. Leah is one of the four ladies arriving. No one knows some how she knows two of the men for childhood. They each have skeletons in their closets due to surviving the civil war and memories that will forever haunt them. You will enjoy discovering how they find their happily ever after.

[Ladyhawke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really 2 and a half stars

... I know it’s inspired book but it’s really kinda dull. I like a lot of mrs stjohn books. This one .... I fell asleep on several times. And the plot didn’t go anywhere !! I gave it three stars cuz I wanna know where it’s going. Who’s doing these dastardly things.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

New to me author!

I loved this beautiful story. Leah was a broken woman. Daniel was a lonely man. Can they overcome past hurts and trauma and become what God intended?

Great story! Only thing that would have made it better was an epilogue 😊💕

[Tess DeGroot · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful read. The "mail-order bride" may be a familiar trope in the romance genre, but Ms. St. John adds a wonderful twist to the story - the bride is pregnant! Emotionally satisfying.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay, but I ended up giving up on the book. I just couldn't bring myself to care about the characters.

[Heidi Busch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a light hearted historical romance set in the time period shortly after the Civil War. Perfect read for just after Valentines Day.

[Tunde · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. I gave up on page 31. I liked some of the other books of this author very much but the dialogue seems forced and repetitive in this one.

[John]

Good

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book. I really enjoyed it.

[Readswithdiana]

Dnf @60%… I was just so bored and it was putting me into a slump

[Madeline Carroll Surratt · Rating 2 out of 5]

cowboy creek 1

Okay read…very low key, not a lot of excitement - just an easy read. I not sure it is worth the $4.99. I usually enjoy and love Cheryl St. John’s books…