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Granger Family Ranch #4
His Holiday Bride
Big-city sheriffs don't belong in tiny Wild Horse, Wyoming. At least that's what rancher Autumn Granger thinks when handsome Ford Sherman sweeps into town and sets his sights on her. A country cowgirl, she can't possibly be his match. Like most newcomers, he'll eventually get restless with small-town life and leave it—and her—behind. But when rustlers attack her family's ranch, Ford helps her protect Granger territory. She finds herself hoping that he really is in Wild Horse to stay. Could her holiday wish of a happily ever after with this handsome lawman come true?
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 17, 2010
About the author
Jillian Hart
189 books604 followersJillian Hart grew up on her family's homestead in Washington state, where she raised cattle, rode horses and scribbled stories in her spare time.
After earning her English degree from Whitman College, she worked in travel and advertising before selling her first novel.
When Jillian isn't working on her next story, she can be found puttering around her rose garden, curled up with a good book and spending quiet evenings at home with her family.
After earning her English degree from Whitman College, she worked in travel and advertising before selling her first novel.
When Jillian isn't working on her next story, she can be found puttering around her rose garden, curled up with a good book and spending quiet evenings at home with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 2, 2011
I just love this new series! I can't wait to read the next one. Every character feels like they could belong in your family. I love how close the grangers are and how you don't just get one character's story, but you get several story lines to follow. The redemption that both Autumn and Sheriff Ford Sherman learn are something that we all can experience. No one's past is the best, but if we allow it to dictate our futures, then we don't let God have it all. Autumn has to learn things the hard way. The new sheriff in town may be charming and cute, but he isn't someone out to charm just any gal and use her. He genuinely comes to care about the people in the town, especially with cattle rustlers on the loose and causing danger for those he is close to. Autumn is a tough gal, who is a daddy's girl at heart and one who loves Ranch life. She has been dealt some blows in the men department, and you can't blame her for not willing to trust guys from her past experience, but sometimes a little Faith in God is all you need to step out on that limb. In the end, both of them learn a valuable lesson. One that opens their eyes to what God really has in store for them.
October 9, 2010
Jillian Hart is gifted at making the life of a cattle ranch owner come alive, and it is obvious that she is often writing about things she is very familiar with. This third book of the series includes suspense, danger, and, of course, romance. The Granger family is very believable and admirable, and their love of animals and the importance of family come through clearly. The Granger Family Ranch series is very enjoyable, and I can't wait for the next installment.
February 4, 2019
was a good book
October 25, 2010
Bravo! Another excellent story from Jillian Hart.
Autumn Granger loves life. She can ride, shoot, train horses and herd cattle as well and better then most men. Which leaves men too intimidated to date her.
City Slicker Ford Sherman is the new Sheriff in Wild Horse. Autumn knows to stay away from some a handsome man who won't be able to handle life in her small town very long. Only the handsome Sheriff is more then what he seems. Mostly he don't give up easily.
Meanwhile another romance, or could be romance, continues but only in the secret heart of the two people. Neither is brave enough to approach the other.
We will have to wait for another Granger book for that romance.
Autumn Granger loves life. She can ride, shoot, train horses and herd cattle as well and better then most men. Which leaves men too intimidated to date her.
City Slicker Ford Sherman is the new Sheriff in Wild Horse. Autumn knows to stay away from some a handsome man who won't be able to handle life in her small town very long. Only the handsome Sheriff is more then what he seems. Mostly he don't give up easily.
Meanwhile another romance, or could be romance, continues but only in the secret heart of the two people. Neither is brave enough to approach the other.
We will have to wait for another Granger book for that romance.
January 14, 2011
This book is about 2 people finding each other, and learning to trust their hearts and find love again.
There is a little bit of suspense woven thru..and I like the family feel of this book.
I really liked it!
There is a little bit of suspense woven thru..and I like the family feel of this book.
I really liked it!
November 27, 2010
SO GOOD!!! Falling in -LOVE with the Grangers...Never thought I'd fall in LOVE with a family after the McKaslin's!...Leave it to Jillian!!! Another GREAT book!!! ANOTHER GREAT family I want to be a member of LOL!
Read
December 24, 2014Miniseries: The Granger Family Ranch
January 4, 2011
Very good..loved it
January 4, 2011
loved it
June 9, 2011
I enjoyed readying this book. Jillian Hart writes a good "Love Inspired" series.
Read
December 24, 2014Miniseries: The Granger Family Ranch
April 14, 2018
If there is a subgenre of romance involving lawmen (which my friend thinks there should be if there is not), this book would fall into that subgenre. I have not read previous books in the Granger Family Ranch series, but for the most part, I was not lost by jumping in here at book 4.
Ford Sherman is the lawman in question. He takes the job of sheriff for Wild Horse, Wyoming and starts earlier than his anticipated December start date. Because he's been working in Chicago, many assume he has no ranch skills and won't fit in. Though it is true that he doesn't know much about cattle (leading to a few funny scenes involving his jeep and a herd) he did work on his grandfather's horse ranch in his youth, so he's not a total tenderfoot.
Ford meets Autumn Granger early on in the book. Both are recovering from past loves who basically told them that they were unlovable in such ways that it has made them doubt themselves as potential mates. Autumn is a strong, independent woman, and I can see that it would take a man confident in his sense of self and in his skills to not be threatened by the fact that she can shoot well, manage a ranch, and prefers to be out on her horse rather than in the kitchen.
Side plots include Autumn's older brother getting married to Rori (probably the subject of a previous book in the series), Frank realizing that Cady is interested in him even though she doesn't show it in the same way that other women in town do, cattle rustlers whose MO is slashing every tire on every vehicle on the ranches they plan to hit, and Tucker being hurt while rodeoing.
I gave it 4 stars because for this type of book, I felt the story was well done. It pulled me in to the characters lives quickly and I cared what happened to them.
Ford Sherman is the lawman in question. He takes the job of sheriff for Wild Horse, Wyoming and starts earlier than his anticipated December start date. Because he's been working in Chicago, many assume he has no ranch skills and won't fit in. Though it is true that he doesn't know much about cattle (leading to a few funny scenes involving his jeep and a herd) he did work on his grandfather's horse ranch in his youth, so he's not a total tenderfoot.
Ford meets Autumn Granger early on in the book. Both are recovering from past loves who basically told them that they were unlovable in such ways that it has made them doubt themselves as potential mates. Autumn is a strong, independent woman, and I can see that it would take a man confident in his sense of self and in his skills to not be threatened by the fact that she can shoot well, manage a ranch, and prefers to be out on her horse rather than in the kitchen.
Side plots include Autumn's older brother getting married to Rori (probably the subject of a previous book in the series), Frank realizing that Cady is interested in him even though she doesn't show it in the same way that other women in town do, cattle rustlers whose MO is slashing every tire on every vehicle on the ranches they plan to hit, and Tucker being hurt while rodeoing.
I gave it 4 stars because for this type of book, I felt the story was well done. It pulled me in to the characters lives quickly and I cared what happened to them.
March 17, 2019
Cute story
May 5, 2019
Fun and serious Christian Romance. Available for loan (ebook) from Hamilton Township library.
December 12, 2020
Not bad but I think it's a series and I missed the other books
December 13, 2023
From Chicago to small town, sheriff Ford has to deal with cows and cattle rustlers. Autumn has been riding and ranching all her life and can't believe the new sheriff is from the big city
July 18, 2026
Loved it very much
May 25, 2013
The book synopsis tells us that “big city sheriffs don’t belong in tiny Wild Horse, Wyoming”. My question is, why not? They have more experience than most small-town sheriffs do, and are perfectly capable of handling every conceivable type of crime that might occur in a small town (vandalism, shoplifting, etc. But you know what? Never mind).
The Granger family ranch is the setting for this small town romance between feisty Autumn Granger, a born cowgirl, and big city sheriff Ford Sherman (an awesome name if I ever heard one; I picture a 1960s era Mustang combined with a Sherman Tank). You’ve heard the saying, “never assume because U make an ASS out of U and ME”? That’s exactly what Autumn does to Ford; after meeting him for the first time and seeing how he deals (or doesn’t deal, to be precise) with a herd of lost cows convinces Autumn that Ford’s deeply out of his element in Wyoming. But lo and behold, Ford is capable of riding a horse. And shooting a rifle while riding a horse. And shooting at a moving target while riding a horse through a snowstorm because cattle rustlers are trying to steal the Grangers’ cattle. And Ford is capable of all of this because he was raised in Kentucky by family who owned horses and taught him to ride.
Both Ford and Autumn are very self-assured and I liked that about both of them. They don’t suffer fools easily and neither of them crumples to the floor like wet tissue when in the other’s presence. They might stammer or blush or deny the attraction they feel, but they both stand their ground. They’re also both devoted to their families: Autumn’s brother Justin is marrying Rori (whose story is told in another of Hart’s books) and her father is becoming sweet on newcomer Cady, a woman from New York City who’s elected to open a B&B in Wild Horse and takes riding lessons from Autumn. Ford’s brother Shay drops by, mostly to tease Ford about renting a barn to live in.
One trope that seems constant in these books is a lack of trust on the part of the hero or heroine, or both, due to a previous relationship that ended badly. Ford’s brother Shay notes his “continual rejections” and Autumn’s nursing a broken heart because Denny Jones (a homicide cop from Philly who moved to Wild Horse also looking for a change) didn’t want to marry a woman who’d be more comfortable in the saddle than cooking at home for her family. Autumn is obviously attracted to Ford and is constantly teased by her sisters Addison and Cheyenne because of this, and Ford’s brother Shay does the same to him.
Just once, though, I would like a couple who realize that simply because they’ve suffered broken hearts before is no indication that every relationship will turn out badly. The hero/heroine’s attitude is generally, “My heart was broken once and I cannot ever fall in love again” instead of thinking rationally that just because they weren’t right for this person, they’ll never be right for anyone. I could even see younger heroes or heroines thinking that way. But for older heroes and heroines, it’s like refusing to fly on the Goodyear Blimp because the Hindenburg once exploded.
I do love the characterizations in these novels, though, and the devotion to one’s family. I would love to see a crossover with the McKaslins and Grangers together.
The Granger family ranch is the setting for this small town romance between feisty Autumn Granger, a born cowgirl, and big city sheriff Ford Sherman (an awesome name if I ever heard one; I picture a 1960s era Mustang combined with a Sherman Tank). You’ve heard the saying, “never assume because U make an ASS out of U and ME”? That’s exactly what Autumn does to Ford; after meeting him for the first time and seeing how he deals (or doesn’t deal, to be precise) with a herd of lost cows convinces Autumn that Ford’s deeply out of his element in Wyoming. But lo and behold, Ford is capable of riding a horse. And shooting a rifle while riding a horse. And shooting at a moving target while riding a horse through a snowstorm because cattle rustlers are trying to steal the Grangers’ cattle. And Ford is capable of all of this because he was raised in Kentucky by family who owned horses and taught him to ride.
Both Ford and Autumn are very self-assured and I liked that about both of them. They don’t suffer fools easily and neither of them crumples to the floor like wet tissue when in the other’s presence. They might stammer or blush or deny the attraction they feel, but they both stand their ground. They’re also both devoted to their families: Autumn’s brother Justin is marrying Rori (whose story is told in another of Hart’s books) and her father is becoming sweet on newcomer Cady, a woman from New York City who’s elected to open a B&B in Wild Horse and takes riding lessons from Autumn. Ford’s brother Shay drops by, mostly to tease Ford about renting a barn to live in.
One trope that seems constant in these books is a lack of trust on the part of the hero or heroine, or both, due to a previous relationship that ended badly. Ford’s brother Shay notes his “continual rejections” and Autumn’s nursing a broken heart because Denny Jones (a homicide cop from Philly who moved to Wild Horse also looking for a change) didn’t want to marry a woman who’d be more comfortable in the saddle than cooking at home for her family. Autumn is obviously attracted to Ford and is constantly teased by her sisters Addison and Cheyenne because of this, and Ford’s brother Shay does the same to him.
Just once, though, I would like a couple who realize that simply because they’ve suffered broken hearts before is no indication that every relationship will turn out badly. The hero/heroine’s attitude is generally, “My heart was broken once and I cannot ever fall in love again” instead of thinking rationally that just because they weren’t right for this person, they’ll never be right for anyone. I could even see younger heroes or heroines thinking that way. But for older heroes and heroines, it’s like refusing to fly on the Goodyear Blimp because the Hindenburg once exploded.
I do love the characterizations in these novels, though, and the devotion to one’s family. I would love to see a crossover with the McKaslins and Grangers together.
October 27, 2013
"His Holiday Bride" was yet another one of my favorite Love-Inspired novels, and Jillian Hart certainly did not disappoint. The story line was incredible and the characters were amazing as usual. I am completely in love with the Granger family and I can't wait to read more! It is definitely worth reading!
August 22, 2012
The Granger family - what a wonderful family. Ms Hart brought this family to life for me and made me want to visit their ranch as she made it very vivid in my mind in what it would look like there. Couln't put it down.
June 4, 2015
Another sweet story from the Granger family ranch. I liked how both Ford and Autumn needed to learn to let go of past hurts so they could see the future God had planned for them. I also liked how Frank finally decided to take a chance on Cady. Can't wait to see what happens next for the family!
February 8, 2013
A quick predictable but very sweet read. I enjoyed it.
March 9, 2013
Autumn Granger meets the new sheriff in town, Ford Sherman. They battle against the rustlers trying to steal from the area cattle ranches.
September 8, 2016
It eas a good story but rushed at the end. Needed a couple more chapters
December 4, 2012
Very cute story. Totally like a holiday Hallmark movie! LOL
December 3, 2012
Solid romance with some cattle rustling excitement thrown in.
January 9, 2014
Cowgirl Autumn finds true love.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews