Title: Dude Ranch Bride
Author: Madeline Baker
Genre: Contemporary
Published in February 2003 by Harlequin's Silhouette
IBSN: 0-373-19642-3
Cindy Wagner fled down the aisle alone. Anywhere was a better place to be than the planned New York honeymoon Paul had arranged. She had wanted to go to Hawaii after a neat and tidy small wedding. Paul disagreed, so it was a big wedding, a big reception and a honeymoon in New York so he could complete some business. Gee, how romantic! You see, that was the essence of the problem. The man she wanted would love her and her children and put family first. Paul wouldn't do that, he had big ambitions and political aspirations. She didn't love Paul, and there was too much that she wanted that he would deny her to be without love too. Her dad was the one who wanted this marriage, this farcical marriage to Paul. Well, she had ended that when she left him at the altar.
This was another thing she had to settle in her own heart and mind, what was she doing here and did she still harbor feelings for him? She knew there was a chance she would run into Ethan, she knew a relative of his owned the Elk Valley Dude Ranch. Had it been any other day when she was thinking rationally, she might never have ended up here...but here she was, and here she would stay for a while. Her father was cold on the phone. He still wanted the marriage. She may be here quite a while if he didn't thaw soon, and it was painfully obvious that she would have no luck avoiding Ethan. What was a girl to do?
Well what the heck was she doing here? It has been five long years since Ethan Stormwalker has seen her. He thought for sure that he was over her, but then she had to show up here at Elk Valley, and in a wedding gown at that! Odd thing was that there was no groom with Cindy, only her looking as beautiful as he remembered. That made the pain start all over again. She had taught him a lesson the hard way, and it was one he wasn't soon going to forget. Her white world had a hard time accepting the Indian anyway, and her exclusive and rich high society would always look down on the poor lowly Indian as just so much dirt. That was a certainty, because he had already faced it. Her family was rich, and her father definitely didn't approve of him. No poor Indian was welcome in his home or welcome to his daughter.
He had been young and foolish then, but not now. He would do his best to stay far away from Cindy. Keeping his mind on his work, and helping his Aunt Dorthea run Elk Valley should fill up his days and leave him little free time to think, feel, or remember those blue eyes and that silky dark hair. She really hadn't changed, maybe grown up a bit, matured, but she was still beautiful. She was still the woman that filled his dreams, the one who stole his heart and never gave it back. Even though she didn't want it anymore, she kept it and he wondered if she even knew that she still had it in her possession. Darn, why can't he stop thinking about her?
Welcome to the wonderful world of Madeline Baker. You have known her work through her books like LACEY'S WAY, APACHE RUNAWAY, CHASE THE LIGHTNING, UNFORGETTABLE, SPIRIT'S SONG, and many others. She steps again into the present and provides for our reading enjoyment another luscious hero and heroine. Ethan and Cindy are your typical star-crossed lovers, kept apart by misunderstandings and the rules of a society with which neither are particularly thrilled. Dude Ranch Bride is their story and it is one you won't want to miss. From the time they meet again, Ethan and Cindy fight the feelings that may just be old embers. The question they must ask is do they want to stir them and see if they will still flame. Nothing has changed in their lives. Ethan is still an Indian, and Cindy is still a white woman. Elk Valley Dude Ranch may hold some surprises for them both.
Once again, Ms Baker has given us memorable characters and beautiful settings to take us on a romantic adventure. Dude Ranch Bride gives a look into the life of a dude ranch, and also the unique and beautiful dances of the American Indians. Her love of the subject, her skill as a writer, and her extensive knowledge and many contacts allow her to pull us into the story with the authentic details and touches that are often forgotten. Come along and join her for another fabulous read. Dude Ranch Bride is out in February 2003, so be on the lookout for it at a bookstore near you.
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
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