This Perfect Stranger

by Barbara Ankrum

For Maggie Cortland, a widow struggling to keep her husband's ranch -- her beloved land -- the answer was crystal clear. She needed a man, preferably one who was big and strong, and not afraid to take risks. And then, out of the rainy Montana sky, this perfect stranger rode up on his Harley, looking for work....

Cain MacCallister hadn't belonged anywhere in so long, he'd forgotten what it felt like. In the four months since his conviction was overturned, he'd drifted. And now this fragile-looking beauty with sadness in her eyes was asking him to be her temporary husband. Could he ever go down that road again?

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Harlequin

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 2001

About the author

Barbara Ankrum grew up in Upstate New York, training to be a ballerina, but secretly dreaming of being an actress. Her first fangirl crush on Haley Mills led her to practice her British accent on unsuspecting store clerks, and she dreamed of co-starring in the remake of THE MOONSPINNERS. Because she was also a compulsive reader, she discovered that the film was based on a book by the fabulous Mary Stewart, which led to Barbara's lifelong obsession with romantic fiction.

Since Haley Mills was, sadly, not in the market for a co-star, Barbara pursued a degree in English Literature from the University of Tennessee. And when that degree, predictably, led to unemployment, she pulled up her socks and moved to Hollywood where she built a career as a successful commercial actress while raising two amazing (now grown) children with her sweet husband.

Writing romance came naturally from all that reading and the down time between auditions. Once she sold her first book, she said farewell to Hollywood-Land and never looked back. In between writing novels, she got her MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard and optioned a few screenplays. But her first love is, and always will be, romance.

Barbara's emotional, character driven, adventurous historicals (Wild Western Hearts series), her sexy, romantic suspense for Harlequin and her funny, heartwarming contemporaries for Tule Publishing, offer a little something for everyone. Twice nominated for Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA Award, and her contemporary romance, Holiday Hearts, was made into a Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Christmas movie! Today, she lives in Texas with her husband and a scruffy, adorable rescue dog.

Please visit her on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Barbara.ankr...
Website: www.barbaraankrum.com
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BarbaraAnkrum

Reviews

[Pam H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie Cortland is about to lose everything she loves in the world. Ever since her husband Ben died, she has barely hung on to the spread she calls home in Montana. Laird Donnelly is using everything in his power to ensure her demise. Cain MacCalister, 3 months out of prison and on his last dollar blows into town on his Harley looking to find work and a place to park for a while. Moody, owner of the local diner, tells the tall, dark, gorgeous stranger that Maggie could certainly use his help. He drives on out to the ranch and arrives in the nick of time to avert one of the many disasters that occur. As much as she can't afford to pay him, she sees a solution to the problem she has been facing on her own.

This is the first story of Barbara Ankrum I have read and I enjoyed not only the story but her style of writing. Believable story line, characters with some depth and enough detail that you don't feel like you are guessing as to what she was trying to convey. A nice read.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/3.5 stars. This was a decent quick read with likeable characters some good suspense yummy hero with a chequered past and a strong heroine. An enjoyable read.

[Ishabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I surprisingly enjoyed reading this book.

The plot had enough suspense, action, and romance on it. The characters were consistent.

I did not really think I'd enjoy the book, but I'm glad I decided to read it.

[★¸. • * ° *Jillie* ° *•.¸☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was fun to read.