The Bride of Willow Creek

Western Historical. Angie Bartoli and Sam Holland. Angie eloped with Sam, against her father's wishes when she was 16. She, and Sam, allowed her father to pull them apart just hours after the ceremony. Fast-forward ten years. Angie's father died, leaving the estate bankrupt. Angie has formed a relationship, proper with no physical attachment, with another man that has asked her to seek a divorce from Sam so they can be married. Angie tracks Sam down, and shows up expecting him to bankroll the costs of the divorce. In the ten years they've been separated, Sam found love with another woman, Laura, who died. He is raising their two daughters, Lucy and Daisy. Daisy has a club foot and needs an expensive surgery. Sam is saving every single penny towards that goal. He cannot bankroll the divorce. Angie has nowhere to turn. Sam is a man of honor and integrity - despite his adultery...that sounds really bad, and in reality it would be, but it flows for this work of fiction. The story is about how Sam and Angie work toward being able to afford a divorce, and become a family with Lucy and Daisy in along the way. I loved this book, and recommend it, fully.

I thought I only liked historical romance and time-travel romance (a la Diana Gabaldon). I thought I disliked western romance. But that all changed when I read Ms. Osborne's SILVER LINING (then saw HBO's DEADWOOD series too). BRIDE OF WILLOW CREEK is my third. I can't put them down. I'm rarely so involved with characters. But this author has a way of really making every situation so realistic. Her situations are so REAL and so unusual. Not your average romance novel settings that's for sure. These women have troubles. They are not always perfectly beautiful, but they are perfectly beautiful inside. They are strong heroines all on their own, don't fall in love with rapists, aren't conquered by barbarians they fall in love with. Thank you Maggie Osborne! I enjoy your writing so much I can't say enough good things about it. But I wish your books were a tiny bit longer because I am so happy but sad when they're done.

Maggie Osborne is one of the best writers in the business. Her stories are fresh and unique. The heroine is written to perfection. Not your average romance tale that repeats itself in book after book. I would highly recommend anything by Ms. Osborne - especially this one.

Humorous, sensitive, and emotional are but a few terms used to describe this latest read by Ms. Osborne, who seems to have a special knack when it comes to western historicals. Angie Bertoli Holland was furious when Sam Holland left her in Chicago, shortly after their elopement ten years ago. When her domineering father refused to accept their marriage, Angie let Sam leave for undisclosed locations in the west. But when Angie finds herself penniless and homeless after her parents' deaths, she goes to Willow Creek, Colorado to find Sam and seek a divorce. True to romance novel form, both Sam and Angie blame the other for the unfortunate turn of events ten years ago. However, spice is added to the pot when Angie discovers there is no place to stay while awaiting the divorce except with Sam and his two young daughters, Lucy and Daisy. Providing complexity to Angie's character is her daily struggle with her feelings for Sam as well as loving his endearing children and coming to terms with Laura, their dead mother. And she and Sam are both faced with the ultimate decision of all, whether to repeat their mistakes of ten years ago or swallow their pride and reach for the brass ring. The interesting cast of supporting characters, from the neighborly Molly and Can Johnson of Willow Creek to the Govenors, Laura's wealthy controlling parents, further enhances this read. Following in the footsteps of SILVER LINING and I DO, I DO, I DO, Ms. Osborne's latest is not to be missed.

When she was sixteen, Angie Bertoli married Sam Holland in Chicago. However, her father interceded, ending the relationship before the duo can begin learning how to be a married couple. Sam flees for the West while Angie remains home living in shame. A decade later following the death of her father six weeks ago, a financially broke Angie travels to Cripple Creek, Colorado seeking Sam. She wants a divorce she can start anew. Angie meets Sam's two young children, Lacy and Daisy, offsprings of the deceased Laura, the woman he lived and loved with for several years. He informs Angie that he cannot afford to pay for a divorce, as he needs all his money to provide surgery for his youngest daughter. They agree to a business arrangement with her caring for his children and handling his money while he works as a carpenter and prays a mining claim comes through. As they learn to respect one another, Sam and Angie fall in love again, but for this pair it seems the opportunity of a relationship has past. THE BRIDE OF WILLOW CREEK is an engaging western romance that sub-genre fans will enjoy due to the strong cast. Angie and Sam make a fine couple struggling with their joint and separated pasts and guilty feelings. His children, the look back at Laura, the townsfolk, and his in-laws add depth though his deceased wife comes across to perfect in a comparison with Angie. Still readers will fully relish Maggie Osborne's engaging historical romance.Harriet Klausner