NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A DESPERATE DECEPTION THE PROMISE OF FOREVER When Karl Norwood’s mail-order bride meets an untimely demise on the way to the Montana Territory, Hetty Wentworth steps in to take her place. Hetty has no idea how she’s going to pretend to be all the things she isn’t—including the mother of two kids. She only knows her deception is necessary if she’s going to save two orphans from the awful fate she suffered as a child. Karl smells a rat when a much younger woman than he was expecting arrives with two children who look nothing like her. But his mail-order bride is so beautiful, he doesn’t object—until he realizes that his charming new wife has been lying . . . about everything. Can a woman forced to keep secrets and a man hindered by distrust ever hope to find happily ever after in each other’s arms? Praise for Montana Bride “[A] swiftly paced romance.”—Publishers Weekly “Montana Bride is a compelling read and definitely a noteworthy addition to a great series.”—Fresh Fiction “Joan Johnston knows how to spin a story that will get to the readers every time. [Montana Bride] is no different. . . . It was emotional, heartfelt and real. It was honest. . . . It was simply magic from a master storyteller.”—Night Owl Reviews “If you are a fan of historicals, a fan of beautiful descriptive writing, and a fan of steamy romance, you won’t want to miss out on Montana Bride.”—Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews “Johnston has a keen eye for quirky circumstances that put her characters, and the reader, through a wringer. Laughing one moment and crying the next, you’ll always have such a great time getting to the happy-ever-after.”—Romance Junkies Reviews The passionate Westerns in Joan Johnston’s Bitter Creek series can be enjoyed together or separately, in any order: TEXAS BRIDE • WYOMING BRIDE • MONTANA BRIDE • SINFUL • SHAMELESS • BLACKTHORNE’S BRIDE • SULLIVAN’S PROMISE

This is book 1 in the (Westward) Montana Mail Order Bride Series. After his wife, Sarah, passed away, Dean never intended to marry again. His ranch and his children became his life. However, it becomes apparent that his son and daughter need stability and love in their lives. The demands of raising his children and keeping his head above water financially have taken a toll and Dean grudgingly gives in to his brother’s suggestion to find a mail order bride…but the woman who arrives is nothing like what he expected.

Upon the impassioned request of her dear friend, Annabel Coleman, scheduled to become a mail order bride, Gisela Craig had reluctantly switched identities on their trek west from South Carolina to Colorado. At the last minute (thankfully before final arrangements were made and a husband duped), the truth had come out. Although Gisela, who has rightfully reclaimed her name and character, had no plans to be married, she is drawn to the charming and devilishly handsome Jesse, second oldest of the Falcon sons, as he is to her. Within a short time, they celebrate their romance in a double wedding ceremony with Sam and Annabel and set up housekeeping on the Cottonwood Ranch. All is going well. Gisela and Jesse are plainly in love; she is happily settling into the ranch routine and adapting to her change in circumstances; relations with all of her new in-laws can be seen as friendly and supportive. All is going far too well. Because, as always, there’s another shoe to drop. One rainy October day, the sheriff of Pasto Verde arrives at the Falcon homestead. He has come with a single express purpose: to arrest newlywed Gisela Craig Falcon. For murder.

In some parts of the Deep South, a full economic recovery has not yet occurred even fifteen years after the end of the War Between the States. Thus, Annabel Coleman has been shipped off by her father to marry a man she has never met—Jesse Falcon—in a state she has never visited—Colorado. Arriving with her will be her childhood friend, Gisela Craig. Not only for companionship, but because no true lady ever travels alone. The two look enough alike to be sisters: both blessed with a creamy southern belle complexion, buttercup-colored hair, and greenish-gold eyes. The difference lies in their personalities. Annabel seems remote and standoffish, capable but cool; while perky Gisela captures hearts and loyalties everywhere. But Annabel, for a number of reasons, doesn’t want to get married. So she persuades (coerces) a reluctant Gisela to take her place. Thus, Annabel becomes Gisela; Gisela becomes Annabel. Trying to keep themselves straight, not to mention keeping straight the stories they tell the Falcon family members, leads to confusion, mix-ups, and remorse. When Gisela falls flat-out in love with Annabel’s intended, and moves ahead with wedding plans, Annabel realizes there is no place for her here on the Cottonwood Ranch. Trying to decide where her destination might be, and what she can do to support herself once there, poses a dilemma. But not as much of a dilemma as the fact that Samuel Falcon, younger brother of Jesse, has gotten involved in the whole muddle. Because Sam, who is, courtesy of patriarch Charlie, already betrothed to a mail order bride from Missouri, has decided he prefers Gisela Craig (actually Annabel Coleman) instead.

It's 1884, and love is in the air in the town of Come-By-Chance! In this much-loved series strong women risk everything to rise above their desperate circumstances, find true love, and wed real men who'll treat them right. Meet Ruby - She's lost her Ma, and struck out into the world on her own. The good news is she's traveled to Pittsburgh and found a good job as a schoolmistress. The bad news is, the school's owner, the portly, whiskey-breathed Mister Murphy, has developed wandering hands, and Mrs Murphy's preparing to leave to visit her sister for a month in New York. Ruby sees an advertisement in the Matrimonial News and takes a desperate chance, writing away to the handsome Six-feet-four James Drinkwater. Will James be the answer to Ruby's plight? Is the handsome Montana man all that he seems? Or will someone else come to Ruby's rescue, so together they can find true love? The Come-By-Chance series consists of: Come-By-Chance Brides of 1884 Book 1. Ruby Book 2. Emily Book 3. Violet Book 4. Kate Book 5. Rose Book 6. Emmy-Lou Come-By-Chance Brides of 1885 Book 1. Opal – The Outlaw and the Sheriff Who Loved Her Book 2. Coral – The Widow and the Man Who Loved Horses Book 3. Ava & Ina – The Twins and the Fist-Fightin’ Cowboys Coming Soon: Book 4. Lillie – The Orphan and the Grief-Stricken Groomsman Book 5. Pearl – The Divorcee and the Wedding-Shy Dabster Book 6. Jane – The Modern Miss and the Preacher Who Had to Decide