The Princess And The Cowboy

Martha Shields

A Royal Married…Virgin?To avoid an arranged marriage, disguised princess Josephene Francoeur had to say 'I do' when rugged rodeo star Buck Buchanan swaggered into her life. And though Josie kept her royal pedigree secret, she needed a real wedding night to be legally wed. But suddenly the groom had a hands-off honeymoon in mind–just when Josie became officially lovestruck! Buck Buchanan had a secret, too, and vowed to leave his virgin wife alone. But with each passing moment, it became harder to resist claiming her–all of her–for his own.

Dear Reader,

Compelling, emotionally charged stories featuring honorable heroes, strong heroines and the deeply rooted conflicts they must overcome to arrive at a happily-ever-after are what make a Silhouette Romance novel come alive. Look no further than this month’s offerings for stories to sweep you away.…

In Johnny’s Pregnant Bride, the engaging continuation of Carolyn Zane’s THE BRUBAKER BRIDES, an about-to-be-married cattle rancher honorabl claims another woman—and another man’s baby—as his own. This month’s VIRGIN BRIDES title by Martha Shields shows that when The Princess and the Cowboy agree to a marriage of convenience, neither suspects the other’s real identity…or how difficult not falling in love will be! In Truly, Madly, Deeply, Elizabeth August delivers a powerful transformation tale, in which a vulnerable woman finds her inner strength and outward beauty through the love of a tough-yet-tender single dad and his passel of kids.

And Then He Kissed Me by Teresa Southwick shows the romantic aftermath of a surprising kiss between best friends who’d been determined to stay that way. A runaway bride at a crossroads finds that Weddings Do Come True when the right man comes along in this uplifting novel by Cara Colter. And rounding out the month is Karen Rose Smith with a charming story whose title says it all: Wishes, Waltzes and a Storybook Wedding.

Enjoy this month’s titles—and keep coming back to Romance, a series guaranteed to touch every woman’s heart.

Mary-Theresa Hussey

Senior Editor

The Princess and the Cowboy

Martha Shields

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

To Debra Dixon, my friend and mentor.

Special thanks to Dr. Stephen W. Pruitt, Professor of Finance at the University of Memphis, for help with financial information.

MARTHA SHIELDS

grew up telling stories to her sister to pass time on the long drives to their grandparents’ house. Since she’s never been able to stop dreaming up characters, she’s thrilled to share her stories with a wider audience. Martha lives in Memphis, Tennessee, with her husband, teenage daughter and a cairn “terror” who keeps trying to live up to his Toto ancestry. Martha has a master’s degree in journalism and works at a local university.

You can keep up with Martha’s new releases via her web site, which can be reached via the Harlequin/Silhouette author page at www.romance.net.

Dear Reader,

VIRGIN BRIDE. Such a notion may seem archaic in today’s world, and virginity irrelevant. Virgins older than eighteen are regarded as rare at best and bizarre at worst.

Yet…think of the strength of character it takes to remain a virgin. Graphic sex is depicted blatantly on television, in movies—even in commercials. On top of this, the peer pressure urging a young woman to lose her innocence is enormous.

Even so, VIRGIN BRIDES do still exist. There are young women who believe in themselves so strongly, who are so committed to the family they one day will have, that they resist all the pressures today’s world exerts. It’s this kind of strength, this kind of courage that makes women heroines.

To all of the women who are or will be or once were VIRGIN BRIDES, I salute you!

Love to all,

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Chapter One

“You’ve got to help me find a husband!”

Princess Josеphene Eugеnie Bеatrix Marguerite Isabe