Tina Leonard, My Baby, My Bride

My Baby, My Bride

Tina Leonard

Harlequin American, September 2006, $4.99

ISBN: 0373751388

In Tulips, Texas, Sheriff Duke Forrester still misses his beloved Liberty Wentworth who left him on the day they were to marry, accusing him of being too rigid in his manner. He cannot understand why she believes that, as he knows the town is run by females, and he reports to a woman.

Though it happens to be Ladies Only Day at the Tulips Saloon, Duke enters the establishment to the ire of the patrons; he says he heard rumors that Liberty is back in town and he wants to confront her. However, though Liberty is pregnant carrying his offspring, she still refuses to marry him. Desperate, but as obstinate as his beloved claims he is, Duke pleads with the ladies of the Tulips Saloon to help him on his quest, though that means working with the enemy whose advice sent Liberty running in the first place.

Tulips is a fascinating place, as matriarchs run everything and are mentoring their replacements. Duke is a wise person who learned from his initial mistakes that winning Liberty's heart is not enough, as he must sell himself as a husband and father to the town female leaders. Though a bit inane, fans will enjoy his efforts to gain support by enlisting the enemy to develop the strategy he needs to deploy to triumph as this is love and war.