Review: Issued to the Bride: One Marine by Cora Seton

Author: Cora Seton
Publisher: One Acre Press
Date of publication: November 2017

Marine Logan Hughes uses humor like a shield because the twists and turns his life has taken have led him far from the path he was supposed to tread. He’s no priest, and despite his parents’ continued hope, he has no desire to become one. Still, he’s no devil, either. So when his attempt to protect an innocent person lands him with two choices—the brig or marriage to a woman he doesn’t know—he chooses marriage. Which means denying his family’s plans for him once and for all. 

Lena Reed doesn’t find it funny at all that three times her father has sent a man to help with her ranch, and three times one of her sisters has married him. She’s not falling for that trick. She was born to run the cattle operation at Two Willows, and no man is going to take that away from her. So when Logan arrives, she’ll do whatever she can to keep him at arm’s length. Only problem is the marine refuses to stay there. Bit by bit, he’s wearing down her resistance to him. But will giving into her feelings mean giving up her dreams? 

This is the fourth book in the Brides of Chance Creek series.  This is Lena and Logan's story.  It can be read as a stand alone, but to get the full gist of what is going on, I recommend starting from the top.  In this one, Lena has watched her father send three soldiers to marry three of her sisters.  She vows that she won't ever fall for another man nor will she surrender the ranch to anyone.  Logan has spent his life listening to his parents wanting him to become a priest like his older brothers  He has taken a different path, but he often wonders if it was the right choice.

For the most part, I liked the book.  It was a nice addition to the series.  It's probably my least favorite of the series however.  I loved Logan and how he set about trying to win Lena's trust and heart.  But I really had a hard time warming up to Lena.  She drove me crazy.  For a woman who is supposed to be strong and independent, she was really dumb when it came to life.  The ranch had already been attacked three times in as many months, but she refused to believe that the twins and their creepy uncle could be up to no good.

My biggest issue with this book, however, was how Lena kept hitting Logan.  She didn't like being punched by her ex-boyfriend and spends a lot of the book reminding us of the fact. But she kept lashing out at Logan.  She even swung a crowbar at him at one point.  When he defended himself and she hit herself in the head with said crowbar and everyone blamed him!  If it's not OK for men to hit women, then women shouldn't be hitting men.  It's a dumb double standard and I didn't care for it.  

Despite that, I did like their HEA.  It was sweet and nice to see Lena become girly.  I look forward to reading Alice and Jack's story next.