These books were originally published by Caroline, but have recently been moved to Josephine's pen name. They have a heat level of 1 out of 5.
Lucas's Lady
Lucas Ryan has a problem
The rustling and land-grabbing on his ranch has been going on far too long and he's been assured it'll stop just as soon as he marries and produces an heir. So he's sent off for a mail-order bride who won't ask questions and wants a baby as much as he does.
There. Problem solved.
He just didn't count on falling in love with the woman.
Shannon Montgomery never thought she'd be a bride
She's spent her life being told she's undesirable, thanks to the large birthmark on her face. Becoming a mail-order bride to a man who has never seen her seemed the ideal answer, but she's eaten up with guilt for not confessing her imperfection to him ahead of time. Because in all her daydreaming about one day having children to dote on, she definitely didn't count on giving her heart to her husband quite so quickly!
And now they're out of luck
Lucas's problem doesn't go away with his marriage; if anything, it gets worse.Now Shannon is in danger too, and the gunslinger Lucas hired to protect her is hiding terrible secrets of his own. Although Lucas is falling for his wife and becoming desperate to protect her, these revealed secrets call him to face his past and question everything he thought he knew. How can he give his heart when nothing is as it seems?
Verrick's Vixen
Calm. Detach. Focus.
These are the words Verrick--the West's most notorious gunslinger--has lived by for the last twenty years. But six months ago his life changed when he received a telegram from his grown son, asking for help. Arriving at Sunset Valley, Verrick was disturbed to discover it was impossible to detach himself from this family he hadn't known about.
And when it comes to Cora Montgomery--his son's new sister-in-law--detachment and focus are impossible. She's as full of live and laughter as he is solitude and silences, and her paintings capture the world in a way Verrick can't fathom. From the moment he meets her, he's puzzled by their strong attraction...and concerned too.
But when a revenge-bent rival threatens Sunset Valley, Verrick knows he'll do anything to protect his new-found family, so he leaves...never expecting Cora to follow. And during their desperate race to save the ranch, he definitely doesn't expect Cora to carefully peel back the armor he's built around himself, showing him what a life with a loving woman could be.
Cora Montgomery is changing him, right as he needs all his wits and carefully honed instincts. And the worst part? Verrick isn't sure he's strong enough to stop her.
Widow Abigail Hembree’s entire world has been the Wigg School and Foundling Home. She and her precious children have found a home there, safe from the evils of men, as she taught and nurtured the orphans who shared their lives. But Madam Wigg has made her an offer she can’t refuse, and it comes with a terrifying stipulation: become a mail-order bride—put her future in a man’s hands once more—and she’ll be able to have her own school.
A year ago, Matthias Blake lay bleeding to death in the dirt outside of Black Aces, Montana, and came to a realization: more than anything, he wanted a wife and children. Now that he’s recovered and built his business into a success, a mail-order bride could take care of both of those dreams. But he didn’t plan on a wife who has a good reason to be afraid of men, or a son who wants nothing to do with Matthias’s beloved business.
When matters conspire—in the form of the mysterious Mr. King, who owns most of the town—to keep Abigail from opening her school, she is dangerously close to having to give up her dream. And while Matthias knows he’s willing to change his own dream to save hers, it all relies on Abigail. Can she learn to trust her new husband, or will the ghosts of her past overcome whatever chance she and Matthias have at a happily ever after?
Ready for more adventures in Black Aces, Montana? Then check out the Black Aces series!