Shotgun Bride (The Quinter Brides, Book One) by Lauri Robinson
The Wild Rose Press
American Historical
Full Length, Sensual
Review by Lilac

Like most girls, Jessie Johnson will never forget the first time she met her mother-in-law. After all who can forget a shotgun pointed at them? Bartered for a dead horse at gun point, she either agrees to marry one of the Quinter boys or her brother will hang for horse theft. Jessie knows nothing about being a wife- other than the wedding will likely put her new husband in grave danger. After being knocked unconscious by his brothers, Kid Quinter finds himself surrounded by his uncouth family, the sheriff, a preacher, and an adorable young woman. Tied to a chair, he's given no choice but to marry Jessie Johnson. And that’s just the beginning of his troubles- it appears his pretty little wife has quite a past, including a notorious gunslinger looking for retribution.

♥ ♥ ♥

Jessie Johnson is used to her brother’s schemes, but nothing could surprise her more than his latest.  Thanks to her brother’s actions she finds herself kidnapped and facing a shotgun wedding to Kid Quinter.  Kid is surprised to find himself being forced to marry Jessie.  His dreams of becoming a cattle baron don’t include a marriage to someone like Jessie, but his stepmother’s scheming and her shotgun leave him little choice but to marry Jessie, but it will be a marriage in name only.  However, the more time he spends with Jessie the harder Kid finds it to resist his innocent wife’s charm and beauty and he knows he must protect himself and his heart from the lovely young woman.  The couple faces even more trouble, when her brother’s past catches up with them.

Shotgun Bride is an absorbing tale of two people finding each other and realizing that what they want might not be what they need. 

Kid is a stubborn hero who has spent years focused on a plan to become a cattle baron and has saved up money to head to Europe to find an appropriate wife.  He is so focused on his plan that he almost misses out on the treasure that his stepmother gave him when she made him marry Jessie.  As the two grow closer, Kid has to face the fact that sometimes plans change.  I enjoyed how the author helped him to realize this even if it was almost too late.  At times I felt like smacking Kid upside the head for some of his actions, but overall he was a very likeable and interesting character.

Jessie was a very strong heroine that I really liked.  Having spent her life on the road and running from her brother’s troubles, all Jessie wants is a home she can call her own and in which she can feel safe.  I enjoyed how Jessie takes actions to protect herself.  She shows an intelligence and strength that I admire in a heroine as she tries to maintain her independence and adjust to her new life.  As Kid continuously pushes her away, I could feel and understand her confusion about her role in Kid’s home and their relationship.

In addition to the great main characters, there were several colorful secondary characters that really caught my attention.  This was especially true of Kid’s younger brothers.  They really stood out and intrigued me and I would have loved to know more about them.

The fascinating characters of Shotgun Bride are what helped to make it a wonderful read.