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In 1874 Texas, the wealthy patriarch of the 7-Heart ranch delivers an ultimatum to his seven independent sons: marry within the year or forfeit their inheritance. The directive sends these confirmed bachelors scrambling to secure their futures while protecting their fiercely guarded freedom.
While the youngest brother races to be first at the altar, the other brothers are more reluctant to tie the knot. The Hart brothers face unique challenges on the road to romance with a cast of remarkable women: a long-lost love haunted by the past, a former sweetheart guarding her heart, a cave-dwelling lady with mysterious money, a mail-order bride who falls for the wrong man, and a Civil War nurse willing to heal a scarred soldier's heart.
Will they find true love under the pressure of their father's demands, or will they sacrifice their inheritance to maintain their independence?
This fun series by Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2025
What a delightful book! Even though it was a long book, I had a hard time putting it down and when I was finished, I didn't want to leave the Hart family! I wanted to know how all of their futures turned out! After spending so much time with them, I felt like part of their family! award-winning cast of authors is a great read.
From a Reviewer:
My novella in the series is #6 out of 7. Here's sneak peak:
Mail-Order Mayhem
Hartsville, Texas
1874
Stephen Austin Hart stood behind a parked wagon in the alley beside the blacksmith shop, watching the main road leading into Hartsville. The stage was due in five minutes, although that didn’t mean it would arrive any time soon. Or even today.
Leaning back against the wall of the mercantile, he tried to stop the apprehension snaking through him. He hadn’t been this nervous since his first few battles during the War Between the States. Something in his gut told him he was making a huge mistake, but what choice did he have after his pa issued that ultimatum—get married in a year or lose his inheritance.
He couldn’t lose the land that represented his future—land that had been in his family going on three generations. Here he was the oldest of the Hart brothers and still wifeless, while all of his brothers were now married, except Bowie. His youngest five brothers had hopped on the task of finding a bride like cats on crickets, and each one had met with success and was happier now than he’d ever seen them. He didn’t begrudge their success or happiness, but he sure didn’t like that his pa had forced them all to marry so quickly.
Would Pa really deny him his inheritance if he didn’t marry? The huge ranch house that had been the family home all his life was supposed to go to him, as well as a big section of land due south of it. What if things didn’t go as planned? Could he lose everything? If that happened, could he ride off like Bowie had done, turning his back on his heritage?
Austin gritted his teeth. No. He couldn’t. The Seven Heart ranch was his home. His only option was to marry-no matter what.
Like any warm-blooded man, his eye had strayed toward a pretty woman when he encountered one, but he’d never thought much about marrying. He stayed too busy for that, trying to keep things in order and running smooth at the ranch. But soon he would be married. Wrapping his mind around that notion wasn’t easy, especially since he’d never laid eyes on his future wife. But soon….
He pressed his hand against his vest pocket, feeling the familiar crinkle. He’d done something none of his brothers had thought to do—sent for a mail-order bride. His gut churned as if he’d swallowed soured milk. What if he didn’t like her? What if she was plug ugly? What if she took one look at him and hopped back on the stage?
Austin blew out a sigh. Character mattered more to him than looks, when it came down to what was most important in a long-term relationship. He hoped his bride felt the same. He could face a homely gal each morning as long as her cooking was good and she was honest and faithful to him and God. But knowing that didn’t take the edge off his jitters. The most important thing was that he could not fail.
He had a feeling he was already starting off on the wrong foot since he had agreed to Jenny Evans’ request to meet him and then to spend a few days getting to know one another before they married. What if she decided she didn’t like him? His brothers had said plenty times he was too cranky. Too bossy. They didn’t realize how hard it was to keep six rowdy brothers, such a large ranch, and thousands of head of cattle all moving in the direction of profitability. One bad year of drought or sickness could ruin all that his forefathers had worked so hard to build. And even though his father was still alive, somehow the load of it all rode on Austin’s shoulders.
Throwing an unknown woman into the whole shebang wasn’t something he could prepare for. But, he had no other option. He’d made up his mind to marry—and he rarely changed it once he’d decided on which trail to take. But he still wondered what he’d do if she changed her mind, which he was learning from his five sisters-in-law was something women did a lot. He booted a rock. It rolled across the narrow alley and thunked against the far wall. He couldn’t shake the worry that his bride would find him lacking.
He had to make her want to marry him.
But he had no idea how to do that.
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