The Marriage Pact. Linda Miller Lael
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The women of Bliss County are ready to meet the men of their dreams! See how it all begins in this enthralling new series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller
Ten years ago, Hadleigh Stevens was eighteen and this close to saying “I do,” when Tripp Galloway interrupted her walk down the aisle. Now that she’s recovered from her youthful mistake and Tripp’s interference, Hadleigh and her single friends form a marriage pact. She doesn’t expect Tripp to meddle with her new plan to find Mr. Right—or to discover that she’s more attracted to him than ever!
Divorced and eager to reconnect with his cowboy roots, Tripp returns to Bliss County to save his ailing father’s ranch. He’s not looking for another wife—certainly not his best friend’s little sister. But he’s never been able to forget Hadleigh. And this time, if she ends up in his arms, he won’t be walking away!
Praise for #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller
“Miller tugs at the heartstrings as few authors can.”
—Publishers Weekly
“[Miller] is one of the finest American writers in the genre.”
—RT Book Reviews
“All three titles should appeal to readers who like their contemporary romances Western, slightly dangerous and graced with enlightened (more or less) bad-boy heroes.”
—Library Journal on the Montana Creeds series
“A real page-turner. With vibrant prose, fully realized characters, an engrossing plot…Miller has hit another bull’s-eye.”
—LoveWesternRomances.com, 5-Spur Review, on The Rustler
“Miller seems to understand her characters’ thoughts
and state of mind while fulfilling her reader’s expectations.
She doesn’t disappoint.”
—Armchair Interviews on The Rustler
“Linda Lael Miller has crafted a tale that has the perfect balance of passion, compelling characters and a rich setting,
proving once again that she is a master of her craft.”
—Romance Junkies on A Wanted Man
“Miller enthralls, once again, in the second entry of her new McKettrick Men series (following McKettrick’s Luck), an engrossing, contemporary western romance…Miller’s masterful ability to create living, breathing characters never flags, even in the case of Echo’s dog, Avalon; combined with a taut story line and vivid prose, Miller’s romance won’t disappoint.”
—Publishers Weekly on McKettrick’s Pride (starred review)
“Miller’s name is synonymous with the finest
in western romance. From the hard realities of life
in an untamed land to the passionate people
who bring the colorful history to life, she brings the best
of the West to readers, never failing to deliver a great read!”
—RT Book Reviews on McKettrick’s Choice
The Marriage Pact
Linda Lael Miller
Dear Readers and Friends,
I’m excited to introduce you to an entirely new series of contemporary Western romances, The Brides of Bliss County.
Set in Wyoming in and around a small fictional town called Mustang Creek, the stories come directly from my heart.
The saga begins with The Marriage Pact, and the agreement between three close friends—Hadleigh, Melody and Becca (also known as Bex)—to work together to find a Mr. Right for themselves and each other. They’re successful in their chosen careers, and that’s fine with all of them, but they’re also tired of being perennial bridesmaids; they want homes and families of their own, beginning with a husband—preferably perfect.
In The Marriage Pact, you’ll read about cowboy/businessman Tripp Galloway, who has just sold a very successful charter-jet company and come home to the family ranch, along with his dog, Ridley, to help his widowed stepfather and maybe—just maybe—come to terms with his own past. Hadleigh Stevens, local quilt-shop owner and quilt designer, is a big part of that past, and not just because Tripp “rescued” her from marrying the wrong man a decade before—by carrying her bodily out of the church before the “I dos” could be said. Hadleigh’s known her share of tragedy, losing both parents and then her beloved older brother, Will, who just happened to be Tripp’s closest friend. He’d made a solemn promise to look after Will’s kid sister, to step in and be her big brother.
Promises have consequences, though, don’t they?
What happens when time and trouble have mellowed both Hadleigh and Tripp, and fate has brought them together again?
And what happens when Hadleigh decides to let go of her childhood crush on Tripp and get on with her life, just when Tripp is finally realizing she’s all grown-up and he wants to be her partner, not her honorary big brother?
Read on, my friends…
With love,
For Buck and Goldie Taylor,
cherished friends and true Westerners, with love.
Contents
Prologue
One Saturday in September,
Ten years ago...
BOTH SIDES OF the shady street were jammed with cars and trucks for what seemed like a mile in both directions, and time was running out—fast. So Tripp Galloway double-parked his stepdad’s ancient truck alongside the bride and groom’s waiting limo, shifted into Neutral,