First published 1992
Annika breaks off her wedding and boards a train bound for adventure in the western territories. She wants to escape her sheltered Boston life and see what lies beyond proper society. Buck lives alone in the mountains, scarred by past losses. He ordered a mail-order bride to ease his solitude. When the train arrives, he mistakes Annika for his intended bride and takes her to his remote cabin. She knows the mix-up will sort itself out, but winter storms trap them together in the wilderness. Annika fights to maintain her emotional distance while sharing close quarters with this rugged stranger. Buck realizes his error but cannot bring himself to let her go. The long, cold nights and Buck's quiet strength gradually break down the walls around Annika's heart. She discovers that love can bloom even in the harshest conditions, growing stronger with each passing day.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water, forced-proximity
Setting: Boston, Western Territories
Period: 19th-Century
377 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Jove Books