A Cowboy of Convenience

Stacy Henrie

Jun 2018 · Sold by Harlequin

About this ebook

Groom by Agreement

A real home—it’s what Vienna Howe dearly wants for her young daughter. Yet the ramshackle property she just inherited hardly qualifies. She can’t afford the repairs—until foreman West McCall suggests they start a dude ranch together. For propriety’s sake, they’ll need a marriage in name only…a practical solution for two wary hearts.

Years ago, West convinced Vienna to marry a man of means, never realizing how cruel her husband could be. Guilt-ridden, he intends to secure the lovely widow’s future. But despite his reluctance to get close to anyone, this union might do more than fix Vienna’s ranch. It could open the door to a warm, loving future…

Ratings and reviews

Vienna Howe has never really had a home of her own, especially after fleeing her abusive husband. She has achieved some sort of contentment working in the kitchen of a ranch where she lives with her little daughter Hattie, when news of her husband’s death upends her little world. She now has a decrepit ranch on her hands, and she cannot afford the repairs with the little money she had saved in hope of one day opening a café or a restaurant. West McCall has always wanted a dude ranch, and when he learns of Vienna’s predicament, he offers her a solution. They have been friends for a long time, so West proposes a marriage of convenience which would be beneficial to both of them: he makes his dream come true, and she finally can provide Hattie with a real home and a father figure because West is a good man. A COWBOY OF CONVENIENCE is an extraordinary love story between two real lonely hearts, and Stacy Henrie’s profound insight into the human psyche lifts this marriage of convenience trope to new heights. West and Vienna are both remarkable characters: Vienna, who throughout her life has been made to feel weak, is an incredibly strong and caring woman who doesn’t quite see herself that way. Her Faith in God has helped her survive, she has remained serene and hopeful against all odds, yet for her, it’s matter-of-fact. West, on the other hand, has a peculiar relationship with God and with people, which stems from his upbringing but also from what he perceives as disasters that were of his own making. Vienna had, in the past, hoped that West would propose, which never happened, and it’s all tied to how he sees himself in relation to God and others. To others, West seems a man determined to succeed on his own, but he is supremely insecure, and this is what stops him from admitting his feelings for Vienna. A COWBOY OF CONVENIENCE is a romance, and a very beautiful one, but it is the inspirational angle that made the strongest impression on me because West’s relationship with God is one I don’t believe I have ever read before, and what I thought would be his epiphany was not, but it was for me an unforgettable moment in the book and something that is as relevant today as it was in 1901, when the story takes place. West and Vienna have, in all truth, a cozy relationship apart from the fact that Vienna doesn’t know where she stands with West; he keeps giving mixed signals that even he cannot understand or accept. I find it remarkable that Ms. Henrie avoids every cliché known to this trope: no one is exasperatingly obstinate or annoying, there isn’t the usual push-and-pull; West’s struggle is real and only he can do something about it. West, Vienna, and even Hattie are all wonderfully developed characters, and West’s relationship with Hattie will melt many hearts. And of course, Stacy Henrie made me cry. Again. A COWBOY OF CONVENIENCE is a magnificent love story that kept me enthralled from beginning to end.

There is a wonderful sense of anticipation throughout the book as we wait for West and Vienna to work up the courage to share their deepening feelings with each other. This is a lovely marriage of convenience story because they are already good friends with each other and have several years of built up trust behind them. They work together well as they build the neglected ranch into a dude ranch that wealthy easterners will pay good money to come visit and experience the western way of life. The conflict comes from their hesitation to risk their hearts to love again and the possibility of rejection if they share their feelings. As time goes by they have experiences, some frightening, that build a foundation of love that keeps growing stronger. I loved the setting and characters, especially cute Hattie and Vienna's friend Maggy from the previous book in the series. (I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions expressed in this review are my own)

About the author

Stacy Henrie has always loved history, fiction, and chocolate. She earned her B.A. in public relations before turning her attentions to raising a family and writing inspirational historical romances. Wife of an entrepreneur husband and a mother to three, Stacy enjoys living out history through her fictional characters. In addition to author, she is also a reader, a road trip enthusiast, and a novice interior decorator. Her books include HOPE AT DAWN, a 2015 RITA award finalist.