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Bridgewater Ménage #6

Their Reluctant Bride

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Emily Woodhouse is a penniless, homeless widow thanks to her recently deceased husband. His gambling ways have placed her in a desperate situation. Faced with working off his debt in the basest of ways, she chooses instead to accept Tyler and Xander's unconventional marriage proposal. She won't be marrying one man, but two.

Tyler and Xander know instantly that Emily is the one for them. Not only does the widowed young woman rouse their protective natures, she knows of their customs regarding a two husband marriage. Despite the fact that Emily needs the safety they can offer, she isn't eager to remarry. She might be reluctant, but they will show her what it will be like with two men to cherish, protect and possess her.

But the past catches up with them in the most dangerous of ways. Only in facing the past can they forge a future together.

Bridgewater: Where ménage meets marriage.

If you like Lexi Blake's Virgin series, you'll love Bridgewater!

Book 1: Their Kidnapped Bride
Book 2: Their Wayward Bride
Book 3: Their Captivated Bride
Book 4: Their Treasured Bride
Book 5: Their Christmas Bride

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 13, 2016

205 people are currently reading
530 people want to read

About the author

Vanessa Vale

182 books2,566 followers
A USA Today bestseller, Vanessa Vale has written over 100 cowboy and small town romances. She lives in the American West where she's always finding inspiration for her next story.

You can find out more about Vanessa at VanessaValeAuthor.com

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5 stars
405 (38%)
4 stars
314 (30%)
3 stars
234 (22%)
2 stars
65 (6%)
1 star
25 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
Profile Image for  Linathebookaddict  .
1,580 reviews408 followers
February 7, 2016
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ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

It's been a while since I've read a spicy book like this!!! We are taken to the unique Bridgewater Ranch community and we follow the tale of Emily. Emily is a widow and very financially challenged. Her husband has left her with nothing but debts and heartache. Her life changes when two men offer to marry her. Xander & Tyler are nothing like her late husband. They are confident, strong and very, very interested in her.
Having no option, she will accept and get lost in a world of passion and seduction.
I liked the book. It was fast paced and very sensual. We enter a world where nothing is frowned upon and Emily will be momentarily overwhelmed by everything that is thrown at her.
The two men will protect her, but when a big secret comes out will they feel the same?
The book is a pure fantasy. If you go in, don't expect it to be realistic. There is insta-love and characters that fall too quickly. But, it is a great way to escape reality and great for a light and quick read.
For me it lacked a bit of character development, but like I said, this was a trip to fantasy land so, enjoy it for what it is. If you like some extra spice in your books, then try this one!

★★★3.5 Stars★★★

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Profile Image for Carlene.
1,031 reviews275 followers
July 19, 2016
I recieved an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
If you would like to read more about Their Reluctant Bride please visit my blog, Carlene Corrupted, where I have an excerpt I am sharing.

Xander and Tyler are visiting Bridgewater Ranch when Tyler's cousin insists they meet Emily, a new widow. Surprised by her beauty and age they offer her the opportunity to become their wife. Willing to do anything to save herself from her husbands past, Emily reluctantly accepts, but when her secret gets out there may not be a relationship to have.

Wasting no time at all, Vanessa Vale introduces us to Xander, Tyler, and young widow Emily, their menage relationship not yet begun, but is full of promise. Fast paced and full of sexy scenes, Their Reluctant Bride is all that fans have come to expect of the western Bridgewater Menage series. The three main characters are immediately likable, the men in their alpha ways and Emily for her strength and innocence despite trying times. There's a villain to protect Emily from, but also a big secret that could tear apart the new relationship. What starts as a reluctant relationship soon grows into that of a sexual and loving one. I really enjoyed all three characters, their unique voices, and how the three worked together in this fantasy novella. The multiple POV's brought depth to this book and the entire story is very well thought out. Though it is short, this standalone is a complete book, however I do recommend readers check out the others in the Bridgewater Menage series.
Profile Image for Jonel.
1,717 reviews311 followers
February 16, 2016
What an enticingly descriptive tale! I enjoyed how this was not only an erotically charged and explicit tale, but also how the real relationship between the characters was developed. It was so much more than simply erotica. The dose of suspense on the side increased the action and intensity factor as well. I couldn’t look away. Vale’s novella is 2ell written and edited. The plot was well thought out. This novella was a complete story in and of itself that was next to impossible to put down.

The multiple POVs gave a well-rounded view of the relationship, kicking up the heat another notch. Emily’s situation broke my heart. Regardless of the historical correctness of her first marriage, no one should have to live through that. Her strength and loyalty shone through regardless, showing her endless strength of character. Xander’s alpha control shines throughout, making it easy to fall under his spell, while Tyler’s subtle insecurities were so endearing that I couldn’t help falling for him.

Is this a ‘new to me’ author that I’ll be watching avidly for more releases? You can bet your last dollar on it!

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
2,512 reviews86 followers
February 10, 2016
ARC received from author for review

Another great Bridgewater Menage book. It's nice she's not a shy retiring virgin but a widow who had an idiot for a husband. It was nice seeing some of the Bridgewater gang again, but I'm sad they won't be living there so we won't get to see lots of them in the future. On a side note I don't think I'd want a wooden plug up anything...can you say splinters
Profile Image for Paige.
1,330 reviews114 followers
April 22, 2021
The two heroes of this book felt identical to me. Maybe that’s because it’s first person, and the audiobook narrator didn’t switch for the different perspectives. But I just couldn’t tell you which one was which.

The heroine didn’t seem to have many defining traits at all, either. One moment she was a ballsy woman standing up to her abusive husband, taking her future in her own hands. The next she was cowering and immediately obeyed any suggestion or order.

All these sex scenes would have been hot in theory, but the way they were actually written didn’t do it for me. Cringey dialogue, overuse of the word pussy, and skipping half the fun scenes (ex: teaching her how to give a bj, some butt stuff) just doused this book in cold water.

I like the idea, and I never considered giving up on it (it’s also less than 4 hours long on audio), but this wasn’t the book for me.

Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥, verging on erotica
Profile Image for Courtney.
873 reviews
June 1, 2020
This book was hard for me to get through. It so hard to listen to a women getting the wrong end of the stick, an dam glad Emily was able to get past it. Throughout the book you can see that it had traumatized her. In the end Tyler and Xander were able to help her get through what her lover ex husband did to her.
Profile Image for ♏Vanessa♏.
1,618 reviews7 followers
February 14, 2024
She was indeed reluctant.
Vanessa vale should try hard to write something less rape like, as there are ways for a strong male to have passion without humiliating or forcing his bride.
The beginning was a bit different than the other books in the series and the narration was good.
Free on audible cat +
Profile Image for Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams.
2,705 reviews5 followers
September 10, 2017
Their Reluctant Bride (Bridgewater Menage Series Book 6)

The love story of Emily, Xander and Tyler. Emily must make a chose: marry again or became a prostitute for a ma her late husband own money to. Tyler ask Emily to marry them, no he ask her to f$$$% her. Which chose will she make? Great story.
Profile Image for Kathy Heare Watts.
7,049 reviews175 followers
February 16, 2016
TYLER, XANDER, AND EMILY

These stories by Vanessa Vale will take the reader on a fascinating journey of dominance, submission, passion and erotic sexual scenes. The cast of characters is fierce, loyal and passionate in and out of the bedroom, the women are strong but willingly submit, and the men are dominant and very protective. Bridgewater men possess their wive’s in both body and soul. Nothing is considered inappropriate. These stories are extremely explicit in sexual detail in a loving and fulfilling relationship.

These stories are part of an ongoing series of the Bridgewater Menage series, and each book focuses on a new group and can be read out of order. Recently widowed Emily Woodhouse has been left penniless, soon to be homeless, and threatened by a man claiming her late husband owed him money, and he expected her to work in his saloon, on her back to pay off the debt. Friend Olivia forces Emily to attend a picnic along with her cousin Tyler and friend Xander. Olivia knows they are just the men for Emily, in the tradition of the Bridgewater ways, where ménage meets marriage. Can Xander, Tyler and Emily make a marriage where she can submit to two viral men who want to claim her together? How far will they go to protect their woman? Disclosure: As part of a review team, I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thought, opinions, and ratings are my own.
Profile Image for Joann Herley.
Author 19 books61 followers
February 17, 2016
This is the first book I have read by this author. Even though it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. A new widow, Emily Woodhouse, is about to lose her home. If that is not bad enough, her husband owed Ralph money that he has come to collect expecting her to work on her back to pay the debt. Encouraged to marry for her protection, she meets Tyler and Xander. She knows of the towns custom of two husband marriages, and isn’t eager for this kind of relationship. Faced with paying off her husband’s debt or this type of marriage, she agrees to marry. Carrying a secret into her new marriage, she struggles with telling her husbands the truth. Once they discover it, they take matters into their own hands to put an end to it.The story was an easy read, fast paced, and had enough heat to singe the pages. I enjoyed the story, but I would have liked more conflict or more of Ralph’s story. That character seemed to be eliminated too easily. He deserved to be punished on the pages. It would have brought more suspense to the story. I received a copy of the book in return for an honest review. 4 Stars
Profile Image for Shelley.
703 reviews4 followers
January 8, 2018
This is the 6th book in the Bridgewater Menage series. It can be read as a standalone, though it has several of the previous characters in it.

Emily is recently widowed from her abusive husband who was an alcoholic and left her with his gambling debts. Tyler, and his friend, Xander, are visiting Tyler's cousin, Olivia at Bridgewater ranch and selling some of their cattle. Olivia introduces Emily to Tyler and Xander at a church picnic. They know they want her as their wife. She knows the multiple husband situation per wife of the Bridgewater men. Emily is about to be homeless without family to turn to for help. She agrees to Marry Tyler and Xander for their protection and security when a woman didn't have many working options in the Montana Territory. Will they learn to trust each other and share their secrets? Can their mutual needs lead to love? This plot is the most involved in this series and made it enjoyable above and beyond the sexy scenes.
Profile Image for Lili.
696 reviews45 followers
June 7, 2019
I swear I lost brain cells just being near this book. Also, questionable consent is not romantic. It‘s kind of, you know, rapey. I repeat: not. romantic.
Profile Image for Brittany Duszczyszyn.
1,160 reviews2 followers
April 22, 2024
I was really bored during this book, I understand these are little smut books but come on a little storyline wouldn’t hurt.

These book have slight changes but are almost all the exact same book.

One girl gets married to two men, the guys all talk the same and “expect” the same thing from their wives. It’s starting to feel like these women just didn’t have any choices in their lives.

They are all married extremely fast and then fall in love within days..

Okay okay onto this book.

She was married to a drunk gambler, she killed him and his loan sharks somehow knew & blackmailed her.

So she married two soldiers who “dealt” with the problem.

Then they lived happily ever after 🤷‍♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
573 reviews16 followers
January 28, 2020
2.5 stars. It bumped from 2 to 2.5 stars in my review, because of the steamy sex scenes!! Other than that there's nothing to recommend. No story, no chemistry. I don't have anything against threesome romances or erotica, but this book had nothing redeemable, save the smutty sex scenes. It might well have been taken from or published in Letters to Penthouse or any erotic stories websites!!
Profile Image for Angela.
274 reviews9 followers
June 13, 2020
Reluctant no more

I have become totally invested in this series. Vanessa Vale is a great story teller.
The story of Tyler, Xander and Emily was a bit different. Tyler and Xander, still needing to save their wife, their wife was widowed at her hand.
On to the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Maggie May.
915 reviews12 followers
February 3, 2022
Giving these books 3 stars is a little generous, but I like that they don’t try to be more than what they are - fantasies about giving over control, being defended and cared for, and an avalanche of orgasms. The series is repetitive and the grammar and vocabulary mistakes are plentiful, but it’s a fantasy quickie that satisfies.
Profile Image for Barbara.
1,898 reviews6 followers
March 26, 2023
Rescued widow

Emily's abusive husband has died and she needs protection from a debt collector. Along come Tyler and Xander who are immediately interested. She takes them up on their offer of marriage and they show her how a threesome relationship works. She's completely willing and they cherish her.
Profile Image for Kimberly.
1,223 reviews
December 23, 2016
Great

What more can be said about Vanessa's writing. Intrigue and romance with a bit of suspense. Although the marriages are unorthodox you can't discount the thinking behind wanting to protect and cherish their women. I absolutely love this series.
Profile Image for Coral Mitchell.
3,191 reviews
April 27, 2019
Tyler and Xander are not actively looking for a bride, but when they meet Emily they know they want her. Emily is a recent widow and all too glad to be rid of her alcoholic, abusive husband and not wanting another. A quick, explicit read with some danger and misunderstandings.
Profile Image for Elaine.
4,546 reviews91 followers
February 12, 2020
This is my favourite of this series so far. I think because I loved the plot more than the others. Also loved the characters Xander and Tyler. Just three more in this series to go. Book 7 looks good too.
5☆
Profile Image for Chriss.
516 reviews1 follower
April 30, 2022
Reluctant

Xander is just dreamy. He absolutely has a special place in my..... Heart😈. Tyler is the grounding energy between them, not opposite, just grinding. And Emily is the lucky girl who gets to be their heart. Another lovely hot installment to the Bridgewater clan❣️
3,255 reviews
June 16, 2023
Wonder sexy read

Manage read of remarkable character, wonderful story and characters that you will simply fall in love with. I highly recommend this different read where a widow meets the Bridgewater mention and is struck by lightening.
Profile Image for Shawn-Joy Martin.
1,057 reviews15 followers
June 22, 2023
Copy...paste...copy...paste....

Just as ridiculous as the last one but shorter. If you don't like "you do like it because your body is responding" then don't read this. Also I'll add, they're made to allow their men to shave them in every single book too.
Profile Image for Latisha's Library.
285 reviews7 followers
December 16, 2023
3/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Vanessa Vale measures smut with her heart and I love that about her books! The plot was more developed and intriguing than the last book I read in this series and had a bit of a murder mystery too. I liked it!
2,215 reviews7 followers
August 12, 2017
A great story of love, pleasure, protection of a woman by her men. Again this writer pulls it off. Gotta love the west.
Profile Image for Toi.
4,311 reviews
February 28, 2018
Quick Read

What happens when you marry for protection - Emily agrees to marry Tyler and Xander to keep that creep Ralph from making her work off the debt her late husband left.
Profile Image for Tracey Crawford.
1,504 reviews6 followers
January 1, 2019
Perfect Choice

Another Perfect Choice. A good read in a continuing series. Well written with moments of humor and intensity. I can't wait to read the next one
Profile Image for Mallory.
422 reviews3 followers
October 10, 2019
Great addition to the series!! Looking forward to the next one!
Profile Image for Shy Gawerecki.
1,798 reviews10 followers
July 26, 2020
Quick and enjoyable. If you've read and enjoyed Vanessa Vale books in the past then you know what you're getting here. I like her menage books and keep coming back whenever I can.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews