Showing results by author "Madeline Thornton" in All Categories

Jessie Dunn has always been an outsider—too outspoken, too different, too marked by a heritage no one in Morris Ridge cares to understand. When corruption in the mines turns deadly and her world collapses, she's forced to flee with nothing but unanswered questions about who she really is. She never expected a hardened widower to be the one standing between her and death… Jameson Riley buried his heart with his family and swore he'd never love again. Years underground have left him hollow, and he wants nothing but silence and solitude. But when danger closes in on a woman with fire in ...

When Clara Donovan's sheriff husband is ambushed and murdered, she flees with her young son, carrying nothing but a mysterious map. Under a false name, she finds shelter at a struggling ranch in exchange for work. It should be simple, but she never expected the rugged rancher to make her believe in love again… Jackson Hayes is a man haunted by betrayal and loss. His ranch is failing, his daughter is wild with grief, and he's sworn off trusting anyone. But when a mysterious widow breathes life back into his home and his daughter's heart, he finds himself wanting something he thought he'd ...

After a tragic loss, nurse Winifred "Winnie" Lawson flees West with a five-year-old girl, desperate to hide her from the child's ruthless father—a dangerous gang leader who will stop at nothing to find them. Posing as a widow with a young son, she prays the distance will keep them safe. The only available shelter though belongs to a mysterious rancher who makes her heart race despite his cold demeanor… Levi Burke wants nothing but solitude. After losing his wife and infant in a devastating accident, he's buried himself in grief and silence on his isolated ranch. When a brave young widow...

The courageous midwife Charlotte Johnson is kidnapped by a gang of outlaws, forced to help ruthless Jesse Clayborn’s wife through a dangerous birth, clinging to her skill and courage to keep them both alive. Trapped on a remote ranch far from home, Lottie finds an unlikely ally in Jesse’s oldest son and the heir to the infamous gang and she begins to fear her heart may betray her long before she can escape. Jack never wanted anyone to get hurt, least of all the kind woman now caught in his father’s grip. Trapped between the need to save his mother and unborn sibling and the pull of ...

After a failed correspondence marriage, Sarah Whitman is determined to protect her heart. But when her family’s financial troubles deepen, a rancher offers her a marriage in exchange for her nursing skills to care for his sick mother. Hesitant yet desperate, Sarah must decide if she can make the most of this unexpected proposal—or risk losing her heart once again. Dan McAllister’s life has been upended by his father’s death, leaving him to manage the family ranch alone. When his mother falls gravely ill though, she takes matters into her own hands and arranges a correspondence ...

Desperate for a fresh start, young widow Celia Harper arrives in Ash Hollow to become the new schoolteacher. Determined to bury her grief, she throws herself into rebuilding the struggling school—unaware her late husband has left her one final gift. When a reclusive horse trainer offers his help, she begins to wonder if the future holds more than she dared hope… Micah Thorne has spent his life between two worlds, belonging to neither. Raised in an orphanage and marked by his half-Native heritage, he came to Ash Hollow searching for the mother who abandoned him. He never expected to find...

When Lucy Griffin inherits a crumbling estate from Archie Templeton the town whispers that she must have been his mistress. Being in charge of the local orphanage, she has spent her life caring for forgotten children, never seeking anything for herself. Now she has the chance to transform the manor into a true home, but she'll need help from the handsome stranger who arrives at her door… Jesse Holden makes his living uncovering secrets, and he's been hired to dig up dirt on Lucy and destroy her claim to the fortune. Getting close to her should be simple, but as he helps with renovations ...

After her friend’s death, Adeline Pierce heads West with a promise to deliver a baby to his only relative, a brooding rancher with a past as wounded as her own. Yet, this journey holds not only the weight of a vow but also the threat of danger and a love she never expected… Benjamin Taylor is a man scarred by betrayal and loss, with no one left to trust. When Adeline enters his world, secrets and mystery stir, but so does the attraction toward the woman carrying his sister’s baby. Can he uncover the truth and protect them from what’s lurking? Thrown together by fate, Adeline and ...

Sadie, daughter of Boulder Ridge’s beloved mayor, is more of a burden than kin to him, a sentiment that deepened by her near-deafness following her mother's death in childbirth. While also facing relentless judgment from the townsfolk, rumors of her alleged affair with the saloon owner's son start to spread. Prioritizing his reputation, the mayor forces Sadie into a marriage with a man with nefarious intentions, leading Sadie to finally take fate into her own hands. The time to escape her cruel future arrives and she flees as a mail-order bride to a rancher West. Will she find her own ...

Thalia Evangeline Pendleton once lived among Boston’s literary elite—until a scandal tarnished her name and left her hollow. With her reputation in ruins and her father in prison, she seeks a fresh start as a mail-order bride in the quiet town of Clearwater Springs. Can the rugged West offer the redemption her soul craves… and perhaps a chance at love she never dared hope for? Matt Sterling lives a quiet life as a carpenter, burdened by grief and sorrow. After losing his brother to outlaws and his fiancée to betrayal, he has no interest in romance—only in building a life untouched ...

Fleeing from the shadow of her father's mysterious death and the relentless pursuit of an obsessed ex-fiancé, Willow Carthington seeks refuge in the West as a mail-order bride. But upon arrival, a startling twist of fate awaits her: the brooding rancher who greets her is not the man she was promised. As Willow grapples with her unexpected new life and a growing attraction to the rancher's quiet strength and kindness, she must also face the threat of her past’s vengeful hunt. Will her new life in the West be her sanctuary or seal her fate? Zachary Swift, a rugged rancher, was unprepared ...

Fiona Dalton has fought to keep her late husband’s saloon alive in Dustmoor. With a bitter rival at her heels and a circle of women who depend on her, she can’t afford to falter. Yet, when a quiet orphan is left in her care and the rugged stranger who brought him lingers at her side, Fiona feels a pull she swore she’d never allow again. Colt Remington has made his living with a gun, chasing men across the frontier and burying the weight of his brother’s accident with every bounty claimed. Dustmoor was meant to be just another stop until the town’s saloon owner and a boy in need ...

Eliza Callahan has always lived life on her own terms, refusing to marry for convenience as her parents demand. Scarred by a past she can't forget, she places an ad for a husband who will accept her as she is. The man who answers is Harlan Prescott, a man with a dark secret; yet something about him makes Eliza's heart stir in a way she never expected. After the death of their mother, Zeke made a vow to protect his sister from the violent wrath of their outlaw stepfather. Now, fleeing the clutches of the gang, Zeke answers Eliza’s ad, hoping to find temporary refuge in Wyoming Territory. ...

Lucy Moreno has never trusted the wealthy after a lifetime of hardship serving the spoiled daughter of the household. When outlaws seize her, believing she's the wealthy heiress, Lucy is forced to flee with the man promised to another. Can she trust a man born into privilege—or risk losing her heart? Wyatt Maddox understands the weight of wealth but refuses to stand idle. Captured with Lucy while escorting his fiancée, he faces a stark choice: save himself or risk his life to protect the defiant woman who challenges everything he thought he knew, stealing his heart… Forced to depend on...

Mary Lou Matthews is determined to help her struggling family. Hired as a cook-housekeeper on a remote ranch, she brings her cheerful spirit into the kitchen and the home. Can her warmth and holiday cheer thaw the cold heart of the brooding rancher? Clint Hayward retreats to his ranch to escape the Christmas season that reminds him of his deepest losses. His resolve to remain isolated is tested by Mary Lou's infectious optimism. But can he truly let go of his past to embrace a future that includes her? As Christmas approaches, a dangerous stranger with a mysterious interest in the ranch ...

Clara Hayes never expected her orderly life in Sagebrush to change with one knock at the door. Busy running her late father’s store, she’s always found comfort in routine until a rugged bounty hunter arrives with a quiet child and a haunted past. As she opens her heart to the boy, she finds herself drawn to the man who claims he can’t stay… Luke Carson has spent years chasing outlaws and outrunning the pain of a childhood filled with loss. When his first love dies in his arms and entrusts him with her son, Luke intends to find the boy a new home and move on. But Clara’s strength, ...

Promised to a Texas rancher, Olivia Benson leaves New York behind, embarking on a perilous journey west with her sister—and a heart full of courage and doubt. But when her rugged escort turns out to be more than just a guide, Olivia’s carefully guarded heart begins to waver. Wesley Morgan has spent years outrunning his past, but escorting his mentor’s fiery bride-to-be proves a challenge he didn’t anticipate. As his growing feelings for Olivia clash with the dangers closing in, Wesley must decide if protecting her is worth risking everything—including his heart. As their journey ...

Elise Sawyer's seemingly perfect life crumbles when her adoptive family neglects her in favor of their own flesh and blood. Left to toil in the shadows, Elise finds an unexpected ally when a mysterious bounty hunter promises to help her find her real parents in exchange for information on his mission. Soon, fueled by surprising feelings for her rugged companion, Elise's heart is torn between her past and her future… Will her love for Mason win over her mistrust before everything collapses? Mason Wilson is determined to free his brother from prison and clear his name of a heinous crime, ...

A shocking deathbed confession sends Nora Hale on a quest to find the father she never knew. With only a faded sketch and her mother’s dying words to guide her, she turns to Andrew Hayes—a bounty hunter with a troubled past whose touch ignites a fire she didn’t expect. Will the mysterious man with the haunted past ever allow her to get close enough to uncover the secrets he keeps? Andrew Hayes carries guilt and responsibility for his teenage sister and the death of his father at the hands of a ruthless gang. Reluctantly, he agrees to help Nora, but as they travel together, his ...

Clementine Bailey struggles to preserve her family’s ranch against the looming threat of a ruthless cattleman bent on taking her land. However, she unexpectedly finds an ally when Chester, a weary veteran arrives at her doorstep. Soon, his mysterious presence captivates Clementine and a glimpse of hope shines through her darkness. Beneath his gentle facade though, lies a secret bound to Clementine's late brother. Will she ever trust him again once Clementine finds out the truth? Chester Moore, bearing the weight of his sister’s illness, enters Clementine’s life with a hidden agenda; ...