The Bride of Willow Creek [Mass Market Paperback]

A decade later following the death of her father six weeks ago, a financially broke Angie travels to Cripple Creek, Colorado seeking Sam. She wants a divorce she can start anew. Angie meets Sam's two young children, Lacy and Daisy, offsprings of the deceased Laura, the woman he lived and loved with for several years. He informs Angie that he cannot afford to pay for a divorce, as he needs all his money to provide surgery for his youngest daughter. They agree to a business arrangement with her caring for his children and handling his money while he works as a carpenter and prays a mining claim comes through. As they learn to respect one another, Sam and Angie fall in love again, but for this pair it seems the opportunity of a relationship has past.

THE BRIDE OF WILLOW CREEK is an engaging western romance that sub-genre fans will enjoy due to the strong cast. Angie and Sam make a fine couple struggling with their joint and separated pasts and guilty feelings. His children, the look back at Laura, the townsfolk, and his in-laws add depth though his deceased wife comes across to perfect in a comparison with Angie. Still readers will fully relish Maggie Osborne's engaging historical romance.

Harriet Klausner

Angie Bertoli Holland was furious when Sam Holland left her in Chicago, shortly after their elopement ten years ago. When her domineering father refused to accept their marriage, Angie let Sam leave for undisclosed locations in the west. But when Angie finds herself penniless and homeless after her parents' deaths, she goes to Willow Creek, Colorado to find Sam and seek a divorce.

True to romance novel form, both Sam and Angie blame the other for the unfortunate turn of events ten years ago. However, spice is added to the pot when Angie discovers there is no place to stay while awaiting the divorce except with Sam and his two young daughters, Lucy and Daisy.

Providing complexity to Angie's character is her daily struggle with her feelings for Sam as well as loving his endearing children and coming to terms with Laura, their dead mother. And she and Sam are both faced with the ultimate decision of all, whether to repeat their mistakes of ten years ago or swallow their pride and reach for the brass ring.

The interesting cast of supporting characters, from the neighborly Molly and Can Johnson of Willow Creek to the Govenors, Laura's wealthy controlling parents, further enhances this read. Following in the footsteps of SILVER LINING and I DO, I DO, I DO, Ms. Osborne's latest is not to be missed.