Books & Spoons Review for THE SHERIFF'S MAIL-ORDER BRIDE by Ann B. Harrison

Laid off and down to her last few dollars, Gina Taylor is desperate to provide for her baby boy when she sees an advertisement for a mail order bride in Marietta, Montana. On just a photo of a serious but handsome man and the charm of his kind, deep voice on the phone, Gina packs up her few belongings and leaves the hardships of San Francisco behind.

When widowed deputy sheriff Rory Watson buys a neglected ranch in desperate need of repairs and a homey touch, he realizes how much he misses the companionship marriage offers. His brother found a bride and happiness with an advertisement. Maybe he can too. But Rory gets more than he bargained for when Gina arrives, baby on her hip.

Rory can forgive a lot, but Gina never mentioned a baby. His instinct is to send her home, but his uneasy conscience insists she stay–temporarily. Gradually, Rory discovers that Gina’s smile, love of country life, and can-do attitude wake up something he never knew was dormant, and the chubby baby reminds him of how much he once wanted a family.

Can a down-on-her-luck woman find the home she’s always wanted with a man afraid to love again?

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A poignant story in a unique setting for a modern day romance, where arranged marriages are helping Montana cowboys to find their HEA.
Gina, a single mom, is a true survivor, she has managed to make it despite the circumstances with a sheer strength of will and utter determination. She is not used to asking or getting any help with anything she has had to face in life, so accepting aid or support is something she has to learn to obtain. I love her guts, she strength, and her adventures spirit. 
Rory, a widow, is a true alpha man, one of four brothers raised by a single dad, whose drinking and morose after their mother's death shake the family dynamics and causes irk, even affecting the relationships today. Rory is protective, take-charge man, who has a soft spot for those in trouble. His has been mourning for his wife for three years and is now taking unique steps to find companionship for the rest of his days. He has a hard time trusting Gina, his quick emotional reactions cause him to act before reflection, and his stubbornness made me think of a bull, yet he has a big, caring, generous heart, that beats for those he takes under his wings. 
The beginning of the story was filled with emotions, concerns, and careful attraction as Rory and Gina adjust to their new situation, a new life, and a new and different kind of relationship. The feelings go from joy and passion to doubt and aggravation. I liked how the attraction took more and more hold of them and how they were so open about their wants and needs. I was involved with the story and felt the emotional turbulence that was riding at the ranch. But there's a point in the book where it changes its dynamics rather drastically in my opinion, from budding romance to family drama. Some of the big moments in the development of the relationship between Rory and Gina are jumped over, and it is just assumed that they are madly in love while tackling the trouble at their doorsteps. 
The secondary characters in the story contributed to the story and were given a considerable amount of screen time and importance to the plot development. They did raise my interest towards the other titles in the series, the Watson brothers are a passionate and a rather temperamental group of fascinating characters. 
With an intriguing road to their destiny, Gina and Rory find out that nothing in life comes easy, not even an arranged marriage. With a roll-a-coaster of emotions their tackle the heaps of trouble they face, while learning to trust each other, and test the waters if they could find a way to do life together, make a family, and maybe even learn to love each other. This series gets all the three A's from me: an alluring, absorbing and appealing story
~ Four Spoons

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The Sheriff's Mail-Order Bride at KOBO

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