As the only doctor in the frontier town of Savage Wells, Gideon MacNamara knows his prospects for a bride are limited. The womenfolk in town are either too young, too old, or already spoken for. So, being a practical man, he decides to take advantage of the matchmaking service of the day—mail-order brides—and sends away for a woman with nursing experience.
When Miriam steps off the stagecoach in Savage Wells, she sees a bright future in front of her. But when the town—and Gideon—meets her, ready for a wedding, her excitement quickly turns to horror. Somehow Dr. MacNamara's message had gotten turned around. He didn’t want a nurse, he wanted a wife. When she refuses to marry him, she finds herself stranded in Savage Wells with some very unhappy townspeople.
But Gideon is not like the other men Miriam has met. Embarrassed by the misunderstanding, he offers her a job, and the two begin an awkward—and often humorous—dance of getting to know each other as they work to care for the people of their town. Romance blossoms between the two, but when a former medical associate of Miriam’s arrives in town, Gideon and the other townsfolk must rally around Miriam to protect her from a dangerous fate. Gideon and Miriam must decide if they are willing to risk their hearts for each other even as buried secrets are brought to light.
Opening line:
"Miriam Bricks sat in the cramped and rancid interior of a rickety stagecoach and contemplated for the hundredth time how fortunate she was to be there."
Ms. Eden hooked me right from the start of the story as Miriam met Gideon, or "Doc," in the unfortunate event of a wedding that she hadn't planned. She stays in town and Gideon hires her as his nurse, which Miriam thought was the reason she was in Savage Wells.
Miriam is trying to outrun her past; Gideon is where he wants to be. Miriam is sick, Gideon is a doctor. What could be better?
The start of their professional relationship was a little rocky but they both developed a respect for each other. And the respect deepens to where the start to have feelings toward each other. Then something happens, and something else happens, and something bigger and there are twists and sweetness and changes and I really loved it.
If you love Ms. Eden's books, you'll need to add this one to your collection!
Thanks to netgalley for the early read.
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