Bryan's Bride - PAPERBACK

She travels to a small town to take care of her aunt, but she’s robbed and left with no memory, and then mistaken for another woman. He knows there was been a mix-up because his mail-order bride cannot possibly be the woman who had broken his heart years ago.

Coralie Rasmussen travels to Stumptown to care for her injured aunt. Just as she arrives, she is robbed and hit over the head, knocking her out. When she gains consciousness, she doesn't remember anything – not even her name. Everyone thinks she is Leah Bennett, so she accepts the name. But when she meets a man who everyone thinks she came to Stumptown to marry, she is not too sure about her future. But without a memory, does she have a choice?

Bryan Easton can't believe that bad luck is in his life, once again. Seeing Coralie after she had broken his heart four years ago, has left him irritable. Then to add insult to injury, she thinks she is his mail-order bride. Fate has thrown them together again, but this time, someone is after her. Bryan must do all he can to protect her from being killed. Yet perhaps it's his heart that needs protecting.

Experience the charm of this sweet and wholesome Historical Romance, where tender passion is softly woven, inviting your imagination to bring the rest to life.

Bryan Easton sat as calmly as he possibly could, watching his grandfather pace the floor. Almost a year had passed since he last saw Gramps, and that meeting hadn’t gone well. Bryan suspected this meeting wouldn’t either.

Gramps had given Bryan and his two brothers, Joel and Maverick, an ultimatum. They were to marry within six months, or they’d be cut out of their inheritance, which meant they’d lose their jobs and homes since these were some of the things Grandfather gave them. Both of his younger brothers were married.

Fisting his hands at his sides, Bryan breathed through his frustration. Today, Gramps would cut Bryan off. He just knew it.

The past year had not been kind to the old man. The once vibrant grandfather now walked stooped over, leaning heavily on his cane with each step. The wrinkles on his face had multiplied since Bryan last saw his grandfather, and even the man’s hair seemed to have more strands of gray.

It was difficult not to wonder what hardships this man had endured. Had Gramps finally realized that forcing his grandsons to find wives wasn’t worth the stress? Then again, both Joel and Maverick were happy in their marriages. Bryan was the one who didn’t want to marry. Neither did he want to lose his job and home.
A deep sigh rattled from Gramps’ throat as he sat in his favorite brown leather chair near the fireplace.

Although the weather was quite warm today, the small fire still brought more heat to the room.

Swallowing hard, Bryan wiped a bead of sweat off his moist forehead. If his grandfather didn’t get their meeting over with soon, Bryan would surely melt.
“My boy,” Gramps began in a cracked voice, but he cleared it quickly. “I’m very worried about you.”

Bryan crossed his legs and leaned back on the sofa. “Forgive me for putting you through that much stress.”
“I want to know why.” The color in Gramps’ blue eyes dimmed. “Are you not happy with your life? Don’t you enjoy overseeing the sawmills?”

“Of course, Gramps. I love what I do.”

The old man shook his head. “Then why aren’t you married? I’ve given you ample time to find a wife. Your brothers didn’t waste time, and both were married within six months after I issued the ultimatum. So, what is taking you so long?”

Closing his eyes, Bryan rubbed the pounding in his forehead. He had no answer to give. He had once loved, but then at the time, he hadn’t been good enough for her, and she married another man with more money. Now Bryan has money, but he doesn’t like how women look at him as though he was a walking money belt.

Bryan hardened his jaw and looked at his grandfather. “I have no excuses.”
Gramps nodded and scratched his chin. “I think I know.”

“You do?” Bryan didn’t think his grandfather was a mind reader.

“Miss Coralie Hastings is the reason you don’t want to marry.”

The throbbing in Bryan’s forehead increased, both in pain and rhythm. “Gramps, Coralie has been married four years now, so Hastings isn’t her last name. And why would you think I’m pining over a married woman?”

“Haven’t you heard?” Gramps arched a bushy gray eyebrow. “Her husband’s family went bankrupt and lost all their money. Then, to add insult to injury, her husband died.”

Mixed emotions filled Bryan. He didn’t want to care about her anymore, not after she had ripped out his heart and stomped on it. Part of him wanted to be relieved that she was finally unmarried, but then the angry part of him didn’t care one iota.

“I feel bad for her situation, but that doesn’t mean I want to marry her, and I’m certainly not in love with her anymore.” The words were difficult for Bryan to say, but that was the only way to heal.

“She hurt you, I know.”

Bryan shrugged. “Men get hurt by women all the time, and they recover.”

“Some men do, but some don’t.” Gramps sat forward in his chair, leaning on his cane. “But you, my dear boy, have not recovered.”