The Bride Series by S. Doyle

Ellie. So here’s the deal. I’m sixteen and I’m getting married. Super weird, I know. My dad is a cattle rancher in Montana. Or he was, until he died suddenly, leaving me an orphan (which is still a thing). I’m sixteen months away from being a legal adult, so I have two choices. Foster home, or married. To Jake Talley. The foreman of the ranch and my best friend. It’s legal. It solves all my problems... moreEllie. So here’s the deal. I’m sixteen and I’m getting married. Super weird, I know. My dad is a cattle rancher in Montana. Or he was, until he died suddenly, leaving me an orphan (which is still a thing). I’m sixteen months away from being a legal adult, so I have two choices. Foster home, or married. To Jake Talley. The foreman of the ranch and my best friend. It’s legal. It solves all my problems. Except now I’m living with Riverbend’s hottest cowboy - my husband (in name only of course) - and I’m still in high school. Trust me, no one wants to date Weird Married Ellie. But it’s cool. All we have to do is wait it out until I'm eighteen and we'll get a divorce. Then Jake and I will go back to being normal. We’ve got this. Right? Jake. I’m twenty-six, and I never saw this coming. Married. To a kid I’ve known her whole life. But there was no way in hell I was going to let her live at a foster home, instead of at the ranch where she belongs. Sure we’re married but it’s not real. Just a piece of paper. My girlfriend is furious but I know I’m doing the right thing - for Ellie. For sixteen months, it’s me and her against the world - until the divorce. No big deal. Or is it? less

Ellie. I married Jake Talley when I was sixteen because I was an orphan left with a cattle ranch to run, and getting hitched was the only way to keep me out of a foster home. It was supposed to be easy; a marriage of convenience. Only I'm not a kid anymore and my husband is the hottest guy in Riverbend, Montana. The plan was to get divorced when I turned eighteen but life got in the way. Life, my feelings…the kiss. Did I mention the kiss? Only now he won’t let himself touch me... moreEllie. I married Jake Talley when I was sixteen because I was an orphan left with a cattle ranch to run, and getting hitched was the only way to keep me out of a foster home. It was supposed to be easy; a marriage of convenience. Only I'm not a kid anymore and my husband is the hottest guy in Riverbend, Montana. The plan was to get divorced when I turned eighteen but life got in the way. Life, my feelings…the kiss. Did I mention the kiss? Only now he won’t let himself touch me. The right thing to do would be to divorce Jake and set him free. Neither of us had a choice in this marriage. But I can’t help wonder, what would it be like to be Jake’s wife? Jake. Our marriage was never real. Only walking away wasn’t as easy as I’d thought. Ellie still needs me. And maybe I don’t want to go? I kissed her when I shouldn’t have. All the more reason for me to leave. I know can’t have her. Because Ellie isn’t really my wife. Or is she? less

Ellie. Quick recap. My dad died leaving me an orphan. Jake stepped in and married me rather than letting me go to a foster home. Did I mention I was only sixteen at the time? It was okay for a while until it wasn’t. Because those feelings that I had for Jake as my oldest friend slowly turned into something else over the years. Feelings he could NOT deal with. So I did the right thing and divorced him. It was the right thing. I’m pretty sure it was the right thing... moreEllie. Quick recap. My dad died leaving me an orphan. Jake stepped in and married me rather than letting me go to a foster home. Did I mention I was only sixteen at the time? It was okay for a while until it wasn’t. Because those feelings that I had for Jake as my oldest friend slowly turned into something else over the years. Feelings he could NOT deal with. So I did the right thing and divorced him. It was the right thing. I’m pretty sure it was the right thing. Okay it was probably the wrong thing… but I don’t think either of us know where we go from here. Jake. I had to let her go. I had to let her see there was more to the world than the ranch. Than me. She’s never had a choice really, in any of this. I think I did the right thing. I know I did the right thing. Did I do the right thing? More importantly if I didn’t… how do I get her back? less

Some girls dream about Prince Charming. I got the highest bidder. JulesMy dad put me up for auction at a horse show. That’s something you don’t hear every day. His excuse? He was dying, and he didn’t think I was capable of running our Montana farm. His cure was marriage. Enter Creed O’Mara—former Navy SEAL and ultimate badass. He decided I was the future he wanted the second he laid eyes on me. I, however, had other plans... moreSome girls dream about Prince Charming. I got the highest bidder. JulesMy dad put me up for auction at a horse show. That’s something you don’t hear every day. His excuse? He was dying, and he didn’t think I was capable of running our Montana farm. His cure was marriage. Enter Creed O’Mara—former Navy SEAL and ultimate badass. He decided I was the future he wanted the second he laid eyes on me. I, however, had other plans. Like surviving this sham of a marriage long enough to divorce him and reclaim my legacy. We were never supposed to be partners. Never supposed to be friends. And definitely never supposed to fall in love. That kind of thing is for hopeless romantics. (The Auction is a standalone story set in the world of the The Bride. ). less

Jake and I are married now. For real this time. Everything that happened - my dad dying, our fake marriage to keep me out of foster care, the divorce, all of that is finally behind us. This is our happily ever after. We both decided we’re ready for a baby. It's just that. .. I was pregnant once before, and it didn't end well. It crushed both of us. So much that I almost lost Jake forever. Now I'm riddled with all of this fear and doubt. I did something crazy... moreJake and I are married now. For real this time. Everything that happened - my dad dying, our fake marriage to keep me out of foster care, the divorce, all of that is finally behind us. This is our happily ever after. We both decided we’re ready for a baby. It's just that. .. I was pregnant once before, and it didn't end well. It crushed both of us. So much that I almost lost Jake forever. Now I'm riddled with all of this fear and doubt. I did something crazy. Jake doesn't know about it so I'll have to tell him. And he'll have to forgive me. Because we both want this family so much. Right? *The Baby is a 25K word novella in The Bride Series. less

Ruby. I needed to get away. Someplace safe. Someplace far away from the mess I've made of my life. Turns out I have a half-brother I never knew about. I took a chance, left everything behind to go find him in Riverbend, Montana. Then because I’m me and I have my luck, my car broke down. The surly cowboy who picked me up didn’t seem thrilled with the idea that I was showing up unannounced at Long Valley Ranch. But he didn’t know I had no options left... moreRuby. I needed to get away. Someplace safe. Someplace far away from the mess I've made of my life. Turns out I have a half-brother I never knew about. I took a chance, left everything behind to go find him in Riverbend, Montana. Then because I’m me and I have my luck, my car broke down. The surly cowboy who picked me up didn’t seem thrilled with the idea that I was showing up unannounced at Long Valley Ranch. But he didn’t know I had no options left. It was either this or go back to the ex-boyfriend who hit me. I didn’t know what to expect of life on the ranch. I know didn’t expect to make friends. I didn’t expect to feel like I had family. And Cody… well no one could have expected Cody. Cody. She lied to me. She told me she knew Jake and Ellie but when she showed up at their door I could tell she was a total stranger to them. Even if she was related to Jake by blood. Jake and Ellie being who they are took her in of course. Because of the bruise around her eye. Someone hit her. And while that didn’t sit well with me, it didn’t mean I was suddenly going to trust her. No, instead I was going to watch her. I watched Ruby a lot. Until I stopped watching her and started wanting her…. less