I have been a [a:Johanna Lindsey|29542|Johanna Lindsey|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1218589823p2/29542.jpg] fan for many years; in fact, she is really the only historical romance author I read these days.
I’m not sure if it is because my reading tastes have changed, but I haven’t enjoyed her recent books as much as much as her earlier books. [b:Fires of Winter|891814|Fires of Winter (Haardrad Viking Family, #1)|Johanna Lindsey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1257220035s/891814.jpg|3101571], [b:Once a Princess|419280|Once a Princess (Cardinia's Royal Family, #1)|Johanna Lindsey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1268443278s/419280.jpg|408425], [b:Love Only Once|891813|Love Only Once (Malory-Anderson Family, #1)|Johanna Lindsey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1305335578s/891813.jpg|1766847] (and others) are among my favourite books and I have read them many times, but [b:Marry Me by Sundown|36373455|Marry Me by Sundown|Johanna Lindsey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1513747448s/36373455.jpg|58060766] would have been a DNF if it were written by anyone else.
The basis of the story just didn’t ring true – 20 year old male twins call their 18 year old debutant sister back from the UK to travel to the “wild west” alone and unchaperoned to search for their missing father… REALLY?????
It didn’t help that I really didn’t like Violet – like her brothers, she was entitled and selfish. Morgan was more likeable, but his interest in Violet felt more like “lack of options” than any strong emotion.
I really enjoyed this story. It kept me engaged the entire time, although I didn't think the ending fit with the rest of the story. I saw Morgan as this mountain man/rugged miner and turned shopkeeper just didn't fit. But overall, enjoyable story!
A woman falls for a man who doesn't meet any of her mate requirements after he kidnapped her believing she wanted to steel his mine. He thinks she's gorgeous and likes control.
I was put off by the fact he kidnapped her thinking her a spy for his enemy. I mean, why bother, why not continue to ignore her? There was no way she was going to be able to follow him once he left town. He didn't believe her story about being his partner's daughter. It seems like an odd start to their relationship. But then he had all the control.
I like that she had so much agency though it didn't always work out the way she wanted.
She decided to get on the train to Montana. She decided to keep going when that didn't go as planned. She decided to leave when she thought the situation untenable. She helped capture the bad guys. She even demanded they marry.
Marry Me by Sundown is the latest release in the Callahan Warren series and its also the last book published by this author (as many know she passed away...RIP Johanna Lindsey). I will admit that the moment that I started to listen to this one the feelings I was going into it with were very bittersweet. I was excited to be able to get back to the Callahan-Warren world but I was also saddened in knowing this is one of the last books this author would ever publish. And this story lived up to my expectations and quite frankly I had no idea what I was going into until I started to listening to it and it was NOT what I expected but then that is the par for course for this series. She has really written a set of books that are so unique in their way that sets them apart from other books in typical Lindsey style.
Marry Me by Sundown features our two protaganists: Violet and Morgan. Violet was sent to England by her aunt to live with them, as she didn't care for how uncivilized and tom boy like Violet was becoming living in a house full of only men with no female role model. And now she has spent years in England and accustomed to her life there despite how much she misses her father and brothers. But when she receives a desperate letter for her to return home, she knows its not a prank. But when she comes home, her father has migrated for work and the silver/gold rush out west, her brothers are barely making it by, and their family mansion is about to be sold off to pacify the creditors. So knowing she has limited time, she goes out west determined to find her father and the money he promised to keep their ancestral home. But instead of finding her father, she learns he is dead and she is being kidnapped by his partner of all people who thinks she is in collusion with his enemy that want their mine. Now Violet has to prove to this bear of a man that she is who she says she is and to give her family they need desperately. But soon Violet and Morgan in the western plains of Montana find a love they never expected to find, but Violet will have to choose the wild west or society in England.
Marry Me by Sundown was a HOOT of a read, I can't tell you all how much I had a blast with this book and I just couldn't put it down at all because these two were so entertaining together. I am not always in the "mood" for a enemies and lovers trope but Lindsey definitely worked her magic with this story and I couldn't help but fall in love with it. I know this book received quite a few mixed reviews but I can tell you right now I had a ball of a time. The chemistry between these two is fiery sweet. Both of them know there is more than just captor and captive type of relationship. And despite the beginning where the hero kidnaps the hero, Violet doesn't really fear him. She has enough courage to spit verbal fire his way and doesn't back down. Violet understands his purpose and is only trying to reach an understanding with him.
I know the heroine in this book is NOT for everyone, and even though this narrator wasn't my favorite to listen to especially in the heroine's dialogue, I grew charmed by her. I liked that she stood by who she is and didn't apologize for it despite she being out of place in the west culture. Now our hero, he was fun. Morgan is determined to make his own way in the world apart from his family's wealth and wants to do it with the mine. He is no pansy and is determined to not let the mine fall into the wrong hands. He has a enemy that will do anything to create more power and wealth in his domain, and Morgan is a threat to him.
Both of these characters have a relationship that definitely has its rocky starts but I grew to fall in love with the rocks and seeing them learn to build a trust together. I was definitely charmed in seeing them come together in this book and they are definitely opposites attract in this book. I was intrigued in seeing how they would reach their happy ever after, because they are so different and at the beginning have different goals. But it ends up beins pure perfection seeing them find the balance in their relationship, defeat the villain, a miracle forming and finding their destiny ...together.
Overall I found myself captivated by Marry Me by Sundown and Johanna Lindsey captures the magic of the gold rush and the sensuality that builds between these two. FANTASTICALLY PENNED!
