Cowboy for Annabell by Jovie Grace

Cowboy for Annabell by Jovie Grace
Mail-Order Brides on the Run series, Book One
Publisher: JG Press
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

To dodge a group of ruthless debt collectors, an impoverished southern belle agrees to become the mail-order bride of a rugged cowboy in this sweetly suspenseful historical romance!
After refusing to marry the cruel new owner of her childhood home, Annabelle Lane finds herself on the run from the scoundrels he hires to change her mind. In desperation, she signs a mail-order bride contract and hops on the next train, praying the groom she is matched with is a man worth running toward.

The most sought-after range rider in the west, Ethan Vasquez is highly skilled at protecting livestock from bears, wolves, and rustlers. But it’s a job that leaves no time for courting, no matter how determined he is to have a family of his own someday. When a dare from friends has him scrambling to send off for a mail-order bride, he never imagines how quickly she will arrive or how much trouble will follow. It’s a good thing he knows a thing or two about handling predators. He can only hope she finds his heavily scarred hands worth joining with hers in holy matrimony after the first wave of danger is past.

An engaging, faith-rooted romance with heart and hope.

I’ll be honest—I can’t imagine being desperate enough to sign a mail-order bride contract, but for Annabelle, the heroine in this story, there truly was no other option. After losing her family, her home, and her way of life, she’d endured more than most, and the pressure of Mr. Featherfall’s vile behavior left her with a single escape route. Thank goodness she had her dear friends—Penelope, Olivia, Magnolia, Emmaline, and Eliza Jane—who had also suffered during the war. Their fierce loyalty and resourcefulness helped her survive long enough to board that life-changing train.

This is where the plot really takes off. The author masterfully paints Mr. Featherfall as the kind of villain you love to hate, and I found myself flipping pages anxiously, just waiting for Annabelle to meet her prospective groom. I was praying right alongside her and her friends that this cowboy would be kind, stable, and capable of rescuing her from her dire situation.

Enter Ethan Vasquez—and wow, what an entrance! Like Annabelle, my eyes went wide at their first meeting. He made an unforgettable impression, and I quickly grew fond of his tight knit, loving family. Their warm, protective embrace of Annabelle was a highlight of the story for me.

Despite the hopeful new beginning, Annabelle’s troubles didn’t instantly vanish. The plot held strong with tension, conflict, and well-paced twists that kept me deeply invested. I had full faith in Ethan’s unwavering desire to keep Annabelle safe—his strength and protective nature were truly admirable.

The romance between Ethan and Annabelle is sweet, respectful, and gently passionate. While their chemistry is clear, the intimacy is implied rather than explicit, which I appreciated. Their emotional connection is built on kindness, honesty, and patience. Watching them slowly open up to one another was both satisfying and heartwarming.

As someone who enjoys faith-based romance, I was comfortable with the light inspirational thread woven throughout. However, there is one particular scene with a strong spiritual tone that felt a bit jarring compared to the rest of the book’s more subtly integrated messages. Even as someone who values scripture, the shift in tone caught me off guard, though the story soon returned to its original flow.

The author did a fantastic job establishing a core group of characters with rich backstories, and I’m already tempted to dive into book two, which focuses on Penelope and one of Ethan’s brothers (yes, I read the sneak peek!). Ethan’s family and Annabelle’s circle of friends are sure to bring more heartwarming moments in the next installment.