Marigold Davis arrives in 1859 Denver City looking to put her past behind her and prepared to marry gold prospector Virgil Gardner. Virgil was expecting someone else but needs a mother for his kids so he can continue working with his partners at their mine. But instead of marriage, they make an agreement that Marigold will work as housekeeper.

This was a very enjoyable Western historical romance with depth, touching on topics of voting rights and how divorced women were viewed at the time. The story was full of fun banter, humor and steam with forced proximity added to the mix. Virgil was a gruff, grumpy hero with a soft side especially for his kids. Marigold was smart and outspoken determined to make a life of her choosing. Marigold and Virgil were great together --two people afraid to trust after previous betrayals who find themselves falling in love despite the circumstances.

If you're looking for a fun, fast paced Western romance ,add this to your TBR. Thank you to the publisher for my e-copy of this book.

I reviewed this title for Fresh Fiction. My review can be found at the following link: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=81701

Very cute romance. Loved the setting and the character's struggle with it. Good dialogue and pretty believable situations. Overall a really well written, engaging romance. Would definitely recommend this one.

Thank you Entangled and NetGalley for this eARC!

It is very difficult to find western romances that aren’t straight up Christian or written by men, so I was THRILLED to get this approval. I was a bit apprehensive because a miner is not what I would expect as the MMC of a western romance and trying to push Prospector Pete from my mind’s eye was tough, but then I started to read this book. DANI. COLLINS. You made a miner hot?! And angry!? AND YEARNING!??! Thank you!!!! Marigold is by far the most relatable FMC I’ve read in a western romance because I, too, cry when my emotions become too much for me. She’s just like me, for real. Besides a few personal preference things that were “meh” for me, this is an enjoyable read and I can’t wait for what Dani Collins writes next.

So much fun in one book!

From the moment they meet, Virgil and Marigold are needling each other in a way that can only be achieved by those perfectly matched in wit. And boy, do these two have each other's numbers!

Set in Colorado during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, Marigold takes her sister's place in answering widowed Virgil's mail-order-bride ad. He has hesitations - for good reasons - so he "hires" her to take care of the house and his children while he decides if she's worth marrying. Marigold has her own reasons - okay, they're the same reasons - why she's determined to remain single, but she's run out of other options so she's going to make a go of it no matter what it takes.

As the only woman at the mining operation that Virgil runs with his co-owners, Marigold has her work cut out for her. The children are adorable, but the conditions are beyond harsh and there's a very steep learning curve. I just loved her plucky, no-nonsense attitude, and I adored her for how quickly she opened up her heart not just to the children but to everyone in the little makeshift community.

Virgil is the kind of hero that takes some getting used to. He has the surliness of John Wayne, the snarkiness of James Garner, and the aloofness of Clint Eastwood, all rolled up in one gruff but loving father and a dedicated leader. He just doesn't know what to do with Marigold, even as his grudging respect for her grows.

I really enjoyed the raw and gritty day-to-day details, their growing affection and attraction to each other, and the sometimes combative way they come to trust each other. The scene with the nugget was hands-down one of the best scenes I've ever read! Of course there's a complication that arrives late in the game, but it was wonderfully handled even when I wanted to smack them each for ignoring the obvious, and it did lead to their eventual HEA.

This book was a lot of fun to read, with heartwarming emotional depth and realistic characters. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical, especially Old West, romances. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

This was an enjoyable read. Marigold and Virgil who have both been married and are now both single for different reasons come together in this entertaining story. The emotions and reactions of these two feel right and are not over exaggerated. The whole book left me feeling like this was a relaxing fun romance as Marigold discovers a new life and family at a gold claim.

An historical steamy romance with lots of passion and angst; Beauty & The Beast?
In 1859 lots of miners and early entrepreneurs in the country’s west needed brides to marry to take care of them in a harsh environment. In this story we meet sisters 26yo Marigold Davis and her younger sister, Pearl Martin. Marigold felt compelled to leave Topeka where she went through a very vile and unfair divorce as well as her suffragist leanings. All of which left her with one carpetbag of belongings. Marigold takes Pearl’s ticket to Jefferson Territory where Pearl was supposed to marry 35yo Virgil Gardner whose wife Clara died leaving him with three children. There is a little story about Clara’s babies too.
Along with his business partners, Virgil is one of those entrepreneurs and has become successful mining gold. With his children basically coming onto the scene recently because of his wife’s death, he needs help! The meet cute between Virgil and Marigold was unfortunate but laid the foundation for our story. There is humor throughout and quite a bit of angst. Virgil is known as a hard man so it is no surprise that this story has components of the age-old plotline of Beauty and the Beast. As this scenario is my all-time favorite, I was so happy to see its fulfillment in this story. If you like historical romance with lots of angst, humor, and passion, this is a must-read. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through Entangled/NetGalley.

The Prospector's Only Prospect by Dani Collins is a tale of two strong, independent people, having a match of their wills in this forced proximity with an arranged marriage story between a widower and a divorced woman who’s supposed to take care of his three children.The year is 1859 and Virgil Gardner is a gold miner in the Rocky Mountains outside of Denver City in the Territory of Kansas. After his wife dies in childbirth back east and his three children are sent to him he needs a bride; so he advertises for a mail-order bride. Instead of the woman he has been writing, her sister Marigold Davis arrives in Denver. Upon meeting Virgil, Marigold lets it be known that she will be a caretaker for his three children, but that she wants no part of marriage. She’d been there before, got burned, her reputation ruined; as she isn’t a widow but scandalously is a divorcee and a suffragist. Virgil is completely caught off guard by the change-up in brides, but despite feeling tricked and needing someone desperately as a mother figure for his kids agrees that she can work off her stagecoach ticket by her caring for the kids and housekeeping; or at least until she figures out the harsh life of gold prospecting is too much for her.

Marigold has a background that has toughened her up. She needs the protection of a man but really wants a partner. She earns the respect and affection of others in camp almost before Virgil can lower his defenses. Virgil has his own back story that includes years chasing the lure of gold and being away from his wife and kids. It is hard to reconcile that person to the man he is now. Marigold fell head over heels for the children, Harley, Nettie, Levi, and Marigold and protected them with her life; even against a bear. Despite the living conditions being primitive, all five are sharing a one room cabin, Marigold isn’t a fish out of water. She takes to caring for the children, cooking and even doing extra tasks like writing letters for miners or cutting hair to earn a little extra. She isn’t perfect at everything but she doesn’t complain as she learns about life in the mining camp. Virgil himself is hard working, stubborn and cares for his workers and his children.

Ms. Collins gave Marigold and Virgil time to get to know each other, fall in love and then fight it out. Add in a grumpy sunshine dynamic and sizzling tension and you have this amazing and enjoyable romance story. They both had things to answer for, but watching them fall into their love and family was fulfilling. It was also interesting to learn about what it means to be a “fallen woman” and the mention of suffragettes for that time period. I recommend The Prospector's Only Prospect to other readers, but especially those who enjoys a redeeming story.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

What a fun cute story! A historical romance, this takes place around Denver with prospectors looking for gold. A lot of fun dialogues, with sarcasm, butting of heads, and falling in love with three adorable children. I do not read a lot of historical anything, but this sounded like a good book to try. After several heavy books, i was looking for something light and this fit the bill.

Marigold Davis has no clue what is in store for her after traveling for over a week in a cramped stagecoach. Her hastily made plan: marry the man who proposed to her sister after short correspondence and a wife-wanted ad in the newspaper. But, she needs a husband, and gold prospector Virgil Gardner needs a wife. After a less than pleasant first introduction, the two agree to an employer/employee relationship rather than a marital one. Marigold is a divorcée, has a history of scandal, and she wasn’t the intended recipient of his proposal. However, it doesn’t take long for Virgil to notice that Marigold is made of tougher stuff than he originally assumed, and may in fact be more valuable than all the gold he is hoping to discover.

I flew through this book, and discovered I want so many more stories from the prospecting crew that Virgil works with! The author did a fantastic job balancing character and plot, filling each chapter with the perfect amount of slow burn romance, and the excitement that is found in the antebellum American west. Marigold and Virgil both had such fascinating backgrounds which contributed beautifully to how they approached the world and their relationships with others.

Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book!

I did admire the way that Marigold Davis just got on with things and made the best of her situation. The situation she found herself in was not easy, the place she went to live in was very basic and could be dangerous. Marigold and Virgil did feel a strong attraction to each other but were determined nothing would come of it for various reasons. This was an entertaining read with some interesting secondary characters. It also told of how the law didn’t treat women fairly or males who weren’t white. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ready for a second book
This is the first book I’ve read by Dani Collins, and I really enjoyed it. The two main characters, Marigold Davis and Virgil Gardner are both well developed and have a likability that made this book such fun. Marigold is a divorcee which is almost unheard of in 1859. Her life since her husband divorced her has been horrible so she decides to leave St. Louis and accept being a mail order bride (replacing her sister) in Denver City in the Territory of Kansas. The intended husband is Virgil who has just found out he has to take the 3 children from his now deceased wife. Neither of them really want to marry, and so when they finally meet both decide to have Marigold be the housekeeper/nanny. After the days Marigold has spent on a stagecoach to reach Denver City, Virgil takes her even further into the wilderness. The story that progresses from there is well written, with plausible situations occurring. The mining camp makes for an interesting backdrop, along with the “home” that has been built for Virgil and the 3 kids. There is quite a bit of tension, along with a continuing series of choices for both Marigold and Virgil. If you enjoy romances, this book is a winner. Hoping Dani Collins continues with the many characters that are in the background in this one. I was given an ARC of the book by the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest opinion.

I greatly enjoyed this title. I have not read a whole lot of western themed stories but this one caught me and pulled me in. It was an interesting take on the idea of a mail order bride and could not have been done better. The characters were fun to get to know and full of sass and chemistry. Their dry humor and teasing made the book all the more fun. I can't wait to read more titles by this author!

The book I didn’t know I needed!
I needed a break from my beloved ballrooms and English lords, bluestockings, wallflowers and the likes. And what’s better than a Wild West book?, I thought. And I was not mistaken, because not only did I discover a gorgeous new-to-me author, but I also found an exquisitely written book, with great, lovable characters, humor and angst. I really ADORED this book. Both Marigold and Virgil are veritable porcupines, with a very soft interior, but with prickles protecting their hearts after having been rejected all their lives. And their battle for a satisfying HEA is full of banter, funny scenes, tender moments, but also an healthy dose of angst. I loved the side characters as well and I’m hoping Williams can be persuaded to write their books as well! A delightful five-star read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a new author for me, and it was exciting. If you like western, gold mining stories, you will definitely like this one. Ms Collins wrote a fun and cute book with lots of adventure, sweet kids (sometimes) and one grumpy man. The characters were fully developed with thoughts and feelings of their own.
Marigold Davis is on her way to become a bride of a prospector. She has endured her share of heartaches and men who can't be trusted. Since she's a divorced women, her prospects are limited. Her ex husband was a weasel who couldn't care less about whatever happened to her. So Mari is off on a stagecoach to Denver City to marry, even if she's not the original woman he chose.
Virgil Gardner is a man who mines for gold and is a business man who only cares about one thing: his children. That's why he advertised for a woman to take care of his family and be hard working as he.
When he meets, Mari, he's no fool about what he desires. He sometimes has feelings for Mari but he's a bit skittish and wants nothing to do with love.
I really enjoyed how Virgil and Mari saw though complications and united to become a loving couple. The key to their happiness was of course, love!
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

Dani Collins' THE PROSPECTOR'S ONLY PROSPECT was a challenge to my long-held certainty that I do not read westerns and am cautious with historical romance. However, Collins' story was engaging, quick, heart-tugging, and enjoyable from the moment I met outspoken, kind-hearted Marigold through her adventures and misadventures with the dangerous, hard life in 1800s Colorado and her employer/sparring partner Virgil with his own secrets, ambitions, and desire. With no choice but to figure out how to thrive where she was planted, Marigold is spirited, hard-working, and true to herself as few heroes ever are. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my unbiased thoughts.

Love me a good grumpy male love story and this one does not disappoint. This story takes places during the gold rush days and is full of interesting characters, humor, romance, integrity, danger, and so much more. Marigold and Virgil have both had spouses who cheated on them in addition to other events in their lives that they are trying to get past. As the story progresses, you can't help but root for these two to admit their love for each other.

I haven’t read a western historical for so long and as I am a big fan of Dani Collins I was drawn towards her new book and I thoroughly enjoyed being taken back to the days of the old west, meeting Virgil Gardner and Marigold Davis was a delight the story is witty, sensual and filled with so many emotions as they work an uphill battle, with a cast of wonderful characters to find their HEA.

Virgil Gardner is in Denver City needs a mother for his three children, he is part of a company that prospects for gold, not an easy life and he is known to be grumpy, bad tempered and cantankerous, but needs must and he advertised for a mail order bride, when Pearl answers his advertisement he sends the money for her trip, but the woman who gets of the stage coach is not Pearl.

Marigold is divorced and living in Kansas is getting harder for her because of her reputation, but when her younger sister agrees to be a mail order bride Marigold steps in and decides that she will go, but eight days on a stagecoach is not what she had hoped the trip would be neither was the mosquitoes, the mud or the rough and tumble men.

Their first meeting does not go well at all, the sparks fly in many different ways but Virgil takes Marigold back to the camp where he does not think she will last but after a couple of weeks and a meeting with a bear, a bad haircut and the fact that the men love her and his kids do as well then maybe it might, then maybe it won’t when someone else arrives.

This one had me turning the pages, laughing and cheering Marigold on, she is one strong feisty heroine even after all she has been through and Virgil so untrusting but the pull between them cannot be denied for long they fight themselves long and hard to keep their hearts closed off, but love will win through. I do highly recommend this one, it has a bit of everything in it.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

This is an excellent western romance. Even the cover harkens back to the bodice rippers of the 80s I read in volumes.
Virgil needs a wife and mother for his kids in a mining camp and Marigold wants to have a home and family after her disastrous first attempt.
The spicy scenes caused me to fan myself due to the hotness.
My favorites were the kids and also all the mining camp men. They were so sweet and accommodating but offered humorous comments on the burgeoning relationship and its growing pains.

A pioneering romance, hard times, distrust and anger, potent chemistry and sweet children.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.