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.

2 in 1 Review: Issued to the Bride: One Airman & One Sniper by Cora Seton

Publisher: One Acre Press
Date of publication: April 2017

Airman Connor O’Riley never believed in love until he saw proof of it in the most unlikely place--a battlefield in the middle of the Syrian civil war. Now he's in hot water with the Air Force, and if he wants to clear his name he'll have to put his new-found belief in love to the test--by convincing his superior officer's daughter to marry him. 

Sadie Reed is done with love. Her poor choices nearly got her sisters killed when she fell for a man entrenched in the drug trade. She’s ready to leave Chance Creek—just as soon as her sister returns from her honeymoon. So when a handsome airman shows up at Two Willows, with orders from her father to help Sadie build a legacy project, she gives Connor one month to get it done. 

Connor never thought he’d fall for Sadie, but when he learns she means to leave, he knows far more than his mission--and his future--is at stake. Can he convince her to stay? 
Or will love remain out of his reach for good? 

This is the second one in the series and features Sadie and Connor.  Sadie has a gift for hearing and knowing what the plants want to grow.  But since the attack on the ranch, she can't feel a thing.  When Connor shows up, she quickly realizes that he might be the key to helping her gift to come back.  

This one was cute.  I'm not sure I liked it as much as the first one.  I didn't like how everyone kept thinking Connor was betraying Sadie just by talking to the bartender in a bar.  Just because a guy smiles and maybe flirts a little doesn't mean they are going to be unfaithful.  I thought that was all a bit much.  Besides, he did have a reason for doing it.  He was also kind of a flirty guy.  I liked him more than I liked Sadie.  She was a bit too weepy for me.  But I thought her gift was kind of neat. The ending was pretty nail-biting.  It was a good addition to the series.


Publisher: One Acre Press

Date of publication: June 2017

Sniper Hunter Powell thought he lost everything when he took the rap for a crime he didn't commit in order to save a friend. Now he's got a chance to redeem himself. There's only one catch--he has to leave the military, settle down on a Montana ranch--and marry a woman he's never met before. A woman so young and sheltered he can’t believe she’ll have any interest in a hardened warrior like him—even if her fierce independence, hot-tempered humor, and unexpected beauty has got him plenty interested in her.

Jo Reed watched two of her sisters marry the men her father sent to help them on the family ranch, so when Hunter arrives, she’s ready for him. She doesn’t want a husband; she wants a house of her own where she can call the shots—and if the Navy SEAL wants to stay, he’d better build it to her specifications. More to the point, he’d better stop kissing her.

Hunter knows he’s not supposed to build Jo a house—he’s supposed to marry her. But first he’s got to earn her trust—and stop treating her like a new recruit. The longer he’s around the headstrong woman, the more he wants to be around her. 

Despite her best intentions, Jo’s falling for the Navy SEAL, but she’s already been unlucky in love twice. Will the third time around be the charm? 

This is the third book in the series and so far, it's my favorite.  This is Jo and Hunter's story.  Jo has a problem with people leaving her.  She has to come to trust that Hunter will stay, but the secret he is keeping just may make him have to leave.  

I loved this couple.  I loved watching them fall for each other and gain trust.  Hunter's big secret was honorable, if not a bit misguided.  Better communication would have kept him out of his mess, but then he never would have met Jo.  Still, they don't call it tough love for nothing.  I loved the ending.  I'm hoping the General is closer to going home.  He needs to reconnect with his girls!

Review: Issued to the Bride: One Navy Seal by Cora Seton

Author: Cora Seton
Publisher: One Acre Press
Date of publication: November 2016

Navy SEAL Brian Lake is out of luck. Going rogue on his last mission landed him on a fast track out of the Navy—years too soon to have saved up enough money to buy the ranch he’s always wanted. Without a career—or the cash to start over—Brian’s options are few, until Army general Augustus Reed steps in with an intriguing new mission—a permanent one. 

Ignored by her absentee father, duped by thief he appointed to oversee her family’s ranch, Cass Reed is done with men for good. From now on she’s determined to run Two Willows herself, so when her father sends a Navy SEAL to fix up her house, she vows to run him off her land as soon as possible. But Brian’s just as determined to stay, and he’s in a far different league than the men she’s met before. 

Brian’s ready to do anything that will earn him a share of a prosperous ranch—even take a chance on marrying the General’s daughter. And he soon realizes it won’t be a hardship to marry Cass. She’s everything he’s ever dreamed of in a woman—and Two Willows is everything he wanted in a ranch. 

But he’s not the only one who wants Two Willows—and Cass. 

Will falling in love be the most dangerous mission of all? 

Issued to the Bride: One Navy Seal is the first book in the Brides of Chance Creek series.   The premise of the series is that General Reed has five daughters.  After his wife died, he came into possession of a set of letters she left for him all with dates in the future.  As he reads through the letters, he is told by his wife that he has to find husbands for his daughters.  (It seems his wife could see the future).  The General finds five soldiers who have messed up in their military service.  Each guy is a perfect match for each of his daughters. He offers them a deal.  If they marry his daughters, they will be discharged honorably and will receive part of his successful ranch.

This is Cass and Brian's story. He is sent there to help a reluctant Cass fix up the house and to put things right at the house.  He is also there to find out who is trying to mess with the ranch. I thought this was a really cute romance.  Brian had been staring at Cass's picture for months before he met her, so for him his quick fall was easy.  Not so much for Cass.  She had been hurt too much in the past and was reluctant to try again.  She also has a lot of unresolved issues over the loss of her mother.  I loved them together and loved watching Brian win Cass over.

There is a little mystery, some nail biting action and a touch of mysticism thrown into the mix. .  I loved the humor and steamy attraction.  It's definitely worth picking up if you haven't read it yet.  I'm putting the rest of the series toward the top of my TBR Pile immediately.