Stowaway Bride

by Adrianne Wood

A steamy Western from the author of Badlands Bride, in which a rich businessman looks for a saboteur—but finds an heiress.

Adrianne Wood lays the track for a steamy westward journey when a plucky heiress and a rugged railroad tycoon make sparks fly on the rails.

Emily Highfill Grant is done with the rules of Boston society. She wants adventure—to see things she’s never seen before—and that’s exactly what she gets when she sneaks onto a train bound for San Francisco and finds herself face-to-face with a handsome, bare-chested stranger...who is also her wealthy grandfather’s nemesis.

As stowaways go, the breathtaking woman who turns up in Lucien Delatour’s private Pullman Palace car is most intriguing. Though she refuses to reveal more than her first name, Emily creates a lot of scintillating commotion on their cross country journey. But when Lucien discovers her true identity, the real trouble begins, and he faces a choice between the trailblazing railroad he invested everything in, and the feisty lover who captured his heart.

• ISBN10: 1451698275
• ISBN13: 9781451698275
• Publish Date: 26 November 2013
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 15 August 2022
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Pocket Books
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

Stowaway Bride was another super fun, Western Romance! Emily desperately wishes to go to San Francisco. Not just to see her sister and be there when the baby is born. Emily craves adventure! So when her mother forbids her from joining her, Emily sneaks into their family’s traincar and hides out. What she doesn’t know is that her mother cancelled the trip, her younger sister followed her aboard, and a strange businessman is now renting the car! But Emily is going to get her adventure no matter what.

Stowaway Bride was a delight to read. I adored it from the first chapter with Emily falling asleep under the table. It has a bit of an enemies to lovers feel to it as Lucian despises Emily’s grandfather, but he doesn’t know that she’s his granddaughter. She keeps that bit of information to herself so he won’t throw her out of the car. Then it takes on a fake relationship turned real plot! Emily and her sister are being pursued, and the only way for them to not be returned to their parents, is if a husband claims them! Of course, Lucien and Emily have to get married for real in case those men return. It was just nonstop trouble and excitement!

I even liked the side plot involving Lucien’s railroad that he’s building. He needs investors to get it finished, but he refuses to let Emily’s wealthy grandfather invest. And if he does, other backers will….back out! There’s also the matter of sabotage! Someone is literally trying to blow up all of his hard work. Throw in his quickie marriage to his enemies’ granddaughter, an annoying contract claus, and an angry housewife and you’ve got the makings of high quality entertainment!

I really enjoyed Stowaway Bride. It was so much fun! Emily was a great character and I loved how she would do anything to achieve her goals. She also doesn’t let anyone push her around! The ending does feel a bit rushed and anticlimactic, but it’s a happy one, so I’m alright with that.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Cocktails and Books]

Stowaway Bride is smart, funny, sweet, and it's a historical romance novel. I didn't think I could find a historical that was true to its period and funny, but this novel is a rare treat that shouldn't be missed.

Annabelle and Emily are sisters that polar opposites. Annabelle is the beauty and Emily is the smart one. Each is comfortable in their established roles. Annabelle is the younger more adventurous one, but Emily surprises her by slipping aboard a train car meant to take her mother west. Never one to miss an adventure Emily also steals aboard the train and both are surprised to learn that the passenger isn't their mother. Lucien Delatour intends to write letters to investors and work out a strategy to make his railroad a success. However, he finds two obviously well-bred young ladies aboard his Pullman car and can't wait to be rid of them. However, a fortuitous injury means they must continue to journey together. Lucien hastily decides to marry Emily, but he still doesn't know that she is the daughter of a man he believes is sabotaging his railroad. They face a load of adventure, a hoard of naysayers, and none of it matters because love triumphs over everything.

This was my favorite historical romance. Emily was a strong, witty, resourceful, and intelligent character. Lucien was smart, sexy, and clumsy...but it all worked out for him. I loved all of the characters and felt they were very well developed. I loved that there wasn't a lot of pretense, and the romance between Emily and Lucien was very straightforward. I was totally vested in their story after the first few pages. I really admired Emily for how she was able to think through situations and turn them in her favor. I liked Lucien, but I think I fell in love with him when he burst in with guns blazing to save the day. The plot was familiar, but it was the depth of the characters that made the storyline take on a life of its own. Don't miss this historical romance treat.

Reviewed by Michelle for Cocktails and Books