This was a fun, sweet read. I enjoyed it and it kept me engaged. I really enjoy Ms. Henrie's writing style.

Though I read less and less inspirational romance these days, I chose to read Henrie’s A Cowboy Of Convenience because Harlequin is shutting down its Love Inspired Historical line and I was feeling nostalgic. Like Superromance, I’ve found some authors I’ve loved in it: Lacy Williams, Sherri Shackelford, Karen Kirst, and Alie Pleiter. I hope they’ve found writing pastures and are busy and happy sowing their talents.

Henrie’s Cowboy Of Convenience contains much of what we’ve come to expect of the subgenre and, most importantly, what I appreciate of it: a certain humility in its world-building and characterization. Nothing in Henrie’s romance rocked my romance-reading world, but I appreciated what it had to say nonetheless. Its story is typical: a cowboy, Westin McCall, who yearns to start his own dude ranch asks the ranch (where they both work) cook, widowed single-mother Vienna Howe, to pool their resources, marry as a “business arrangement” and start their own enterprise. Vienna, with her daughter Hattie, recently inherited her abusive, deceased husband’s near-by ranch, in Wyoming. Until West’s proposal, Vienna was uncertain as to what she would do with her windfall. The idea of creating a country home and business that her daughter could inherit was too good to pass up and Vienna agrees to marry, in name only, with West.

Henrie’s gentle romance is about gentle people. They are surrounded by the beauty of early 20th century Wyoming just as city folk are discovering the virtues of countryside vacations. It looks like Vienna, Hattie, and West are going to be able to make a go of it, though the business aspect of their venture is not the novel’s heart.

Henrie centres her novel on her characters’ growth, making it richer and more interesting. Though A Cowboy Of Convenience is light on external conflict, there’s enough going on inside Vienna and West to move the novel along and keep the reader engaged. I liked the themes that comprised both Vienna and West. Vienna is a woman who has lost her confidence after her abusive marriage to Chance Howe. A prison sentence, for him, kept her safe and free for the past three years and though she cannot mourn his passing, she feels sorry for his wasted life. In her life working for her friends and with West close by as a friend, Vienna has grown happy with her daughter and the loving people who surround her. Romantic love, marriage, however, are not for her. There is a hint that she felt things for West when they met years ago, but her lack of womanly confidence and West’s own withdrawal saw that affection smoulder, but never flame. West too has a lot of feelings for Vienna, but they are subsumed by guilt: that his withdrawal to give Vienna a chance to choose between him and Chance caused her to live in an abusive relationship for as long as she did. West is also troubled by memories of his estranged family.

One of Henrie’s strengths is in the gradual resolution to West and Vienna’s doubts. The faith aspect is present as an internal bolster to how they figure out how to overcome their hesitations, insecurities, and emotional inhibitions. I thought it was a thematically rich endeavour to show how West and Vienna must build a friendship through hard work and companionship to reach their HEA. As with all inspie romance, there is attraction, but it never strays below the protagonists’ chins. There is a modicum of touch, but it is proper and relegated to chaste kisses and arm-touching. There is no external conflict and the community, unlike others I’ve read in inspie romance, isn’t too given to gossip and judgy-judgy. On the other hand, West and Vienna took care of that by a marriage of convenience. I’ve read more fraught, engaging romances in Williams, Kirst, and Shackelford, but Henrie’s humble prose, gentle, but nuanced characterization, and tiny little raised fist for women taking control of their destinies, with a lovely beta-hero beside them has a lot to be said for a subgenre we sadly won’t see as much of.

With Miss Austen, we say that Stacy Henrie’s A Cowboy Of Convenience offers “real comfort,” Emma.

Stacy Henrie’s A Cowboy Of Convenience is published by Harlequin Books. It was released on June 5th and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received an e-ARC from Harlequin Books, via Netgalley.

A Cowboy Of Convenience Is a story of trust, love, hardship, parenting and Faith. It is a book that flows gently but fiercely throughout. The two main characters are very comfortable with each other and that is how they were able to make a marriage of convenience. Why do that? Because - - - well that is a serious reason you have got to find out. This story is delightful, elaborate, fabulously faithful to each other and mostly GOD. It isn't flashy or flamboyant quite the opposite. I love this series and I pray I get the opportunity to get the next one in the series.

There is a wonderful sense of anticipation throughout the book as we wait for West and Vienna to work up the courage to share their deepening feelings with each other. This is a lovely marriage of convenience story because they are already good friends with each other and have several years of built up trust behind them. They work together well as they build the neglected ranch into a dude ranch that wealthy easterners will pay good money to come visit and experience the western way of life. The conflict comes from their hesitation to risk their hearts to love again and the possibility of rejection if they share their feelings. As time goes by they have experiences, some frightening, that build a foundation of love that keeps growing stronger. I loved the setting and characters, especially cute Hattie and Vienna's friend Maggy from the previous book in the series.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions expressed in this review are my own)

What a cute story & such a sweet romance! I’m a sucker for marriage-of-convenience stories – and cowboy stories – so A Cowboy of Convenience was right up my alley!

We first meet West McCall and Vienna Howe in The Rancher’s Temporary Engagement, and their stories – especially Vienna’s captured my attention then even in the smaller secondary roles they played. So I was thrilled to find out that these two are the main characters in A Cowboy of Convenience – a couple of chronological years down the road from when the first story ended.

I love how Vienna has really come into her own and embraced her inner strength even more since we last saw her – and her adorable little daughter Hattie! Oh goodness, she’s a cutie, stealing nearly every scene she’s in. West is the perfect blend of hero and friend – watching out for Vienna and Hattie but also giving Vienna room to save the day on her own a couple of times. As their tender friendship slowly grows into something deeper, be prepared to hold your breath during several almost-kisses and meaningful gazes.

Bottom Line: If you love cowboys, marriages-of-convenience, friends-to-more and adorable little girls, then A Cowboy of Convenience should be a must-read for you! Henrie once again creates a story that is equal parts endearing and swoonworthy – with characters who quickly feel like friends. I’m sad to see this imprint closing, but i hope Henrie will bring us back to Sheridan at some point anyway – at least once more!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

After reading (and loving!) the first book in this series, The Rancher's Temporary Engagement, I was excited to read A Cowboy of Convenience. It did not disappoint.

I loved the setting and concept of the story. It was written very well and held my attention throughout. The main characters from book one made appearances in this novel, which I loved, and it was neat to see how things were going for them.

I really liked the romance in this book and I loved how West was so caring towards Hattie (the heroine's daughter). There were some true heartwarming moments that made me smile. :)

I've yet to dislike a Stacy Henrie novel and can say that she is one of my favorite historical writers. I definitely recommend this one.

*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, only my honest opinion. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Vienna Howe left her abusive husband when she found out that she was pregnant, now she is working as a ranch cook and her daughter is 2 years old. She and her daughter, Hattie, are happy and safe, but when the sheriff delivers the news that her husband has died and his land is now her's, she decides to claim what is rightfully her's, to give her daughter a home.



Her employer's foreman, West McCall, offers to help Vienna and Hattie make their land profitable, and offers a marriage of convenience to make his staying on the property above reproach.



Will their marriage of convenience make a family of them yet?



West grew up in the city, and has been saving his money for a long time to start a dude ranch to show other city folks the beauty of living on the land. He knows that Vienna needs a plan in order to make ranching work for her and Hattie, and he offers to help them, introducing them to his friends who run a dude ranch. I love how he interacts with Hattie, listening and encouraging her, while showing her how to do things.



Seeing Hattie with West helps Vienna to deicide favor of marrying West. Shes sees how kind he is, and that her daughter needs a father. I like how West and Vienna work together to make their dream a reality.



Overall, a sweet book about second chances at love, and overcoming the past through faith. Hattie is a charming and delightful child, she brings life and touches of humor to the story. I liked the setting and the plotline, a sweet western romance.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

A Cowboy of Convenience (Sheridan Sweethearts #2) by Stacy Henrie

Groom by Agreement

A real home--it's what Vienna Howe dearly wants for her young daughter. Yet the ramshackle property she just inherited hardly qualifies. She can't afford the repairs--until foreman West McCall suggests they start a dude ranch together. For propriety's sake, they'll need a marriage in name only...a practical solution for two wary hearts.

Years ago, West convinced Vienna to marry a man of means, never realising how cruel her husband could be. Guilt-ridden, he intends to secure the lovely widow's future. But despite his reluctance to get close to anyone, this union might do more than fix Vienna's ranch. It could open the door to a warm, loving future...

A Cowboy of Convenience (Sheridan Sweethearts #2) by Stacy Henrie

This is one of the better-written Love Inspired Historical books I’ve read recently. Set in Wyoming in 1901, it is a mature sort of book in that the characters are practical and sensible and have more in their lives to take into consideration than just falling in love.

A Cowboy of Convenience has a heavy focus on a child - as so many books in this line do - which isn’t always my thing, but this child was also written well and so I didn’t mind that aspect.

I didn’t find the faith elements overpowering here (this is supposed to be Christian fiction), and I liked the evolution of the relationship, which seemed natural to me.

If I'm going to be really picky, I'd say that the term "dude ranch" (which I had to look up, because I've heard of it but it's not a term used here) wasn't yet recorded at the time this book is set.

For fans of gentle Western romances.

Earlier this year I read Stacie Henry's The Rancher's Temporary Engagement, and the spunky Pinkerton detective with a difficult past meets English lordling turned Wyoming rancher romantic adventure. But on the road to that happily-ever-after, there was another character that stood out, unhappily married Vienna Howe. So I was glad to see that this follow up, with Vienna in the lead, made it under the wire before Harlequin ends the Historicals line of their Love Inspired imprint.

Several years have passed and Vienna is happily working as an assistant cook on the Kents' ranch, raising her two and a half year-old daughter, and enjoying the friendship of West McCall, the ranch's foreman. When news of her husband's death reaches her, Vienna is determined to leave the Kents' ranch and make a home for herself and her daughter. It's not too long before she agrees to a marriage in name only with West, and they begin to work together to start a dude ranch.

Vienna's past continues to haunt her, however, as she works to become even stronger and to resist falling back in love with West. For his part, West has been hiding some of his past and can't seem to find the right time to share it with Vienna. Needless to say, complications arise and the road to happily ever after is a bit bumpy. That, the adorableness of young Hattie, and the faith aspect, are what make this such a fun story.

If you enjoy a quick, fun read with cowboys and a storyline that combines a marriage of convenience with a second chance at love and a faith element, then this and the previous book will be right up your street.

This review refers to an e-galley read courtesy of the publisher, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was a bit disappointed in this one - Henrie is usually so good at building tension and yearning, but the minimal conflict was very noticeable. I was expecting more suspense as with the previous book in the series.