Stella Bagwell
Author of Midnight Clear (3-in-1)
About the Author
Series
Works by Stella Bagwell
The Maverick's Bride-to-Order (Montana Mavericks: The Great Family Roundup) (2017) 15 copies, 1 review
Ooh, Baby, Baby! Bundle: Bound by the Baby / Having the Cowboy's Baby / The Sheriff's Pregnant Wife (2007) — Author — 1 copy
The Baby Surprise 1 copy
Associated Works
Going to the Chapel (It Happened One Night / Marrying a Millionaire / The Bride's Big Adventure) (2002) — Contributor — 30 copies, 1 review
Christmas Cowboys (A Cowboy Christmas / A Cowboy for Christmas) (2002) — Author — 29 copies, 1 review
Valentine's Day Collection 2020: A Date with Her Valentine Doc / The Proposal Plan / Fortune's Perfect Valentine / The Unforgettable Spanish Tycoon (2020) — Contributor — 2 copies
Harlequin Comics Best Selection, Vol. 007 — Original Text — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Gender
- female
- Short biography
- At seventeen, Stella married her high school sweetheart: Harrell, and they had a son Jason. She began her writing career almost by accident. She was a hairdresser and worked in her sister's beauty shop. Ironically, Stella developed a severe allergy to hairspray and was forced to resign. With time on her hands, Stella wanted to do something creative. She remembered a high school English teacher telling her she could be a writer if she wanted. Although she always loved reading romances, she never thought to write one herself. Armed with that now notion and an old, manual typewriter, she went to work, attempting to create a story similar to those she liked reading. The result‚ her first book, purchased by Mills & Boon and issued under the Harlequin imprint. After that, she became a full time writer and today, has close to forty published novels. Her for the future is to continue writing romance novels as long as there's an audience to enjoy her work.
Next to writing, traveling is one of her most favorite activities. Yet, because the southwest is dear to her heart, she sets most of her books there in rough, rugged ranch country. She feels it's essential to know a place before writing about it; that philosophy gives her more reason to plan trips! The marriage has always lived in southeastern Oklahoma. But, they purchased a portion of a twenty-two hundred, acre ranch; they now make their home there. Before moving onto the ranch, she had a swimming pool in her back yard and spent most of her summer evenings in the water. Her husband has promised to put in another pool, but for now she has to make do with the creek that runs through their property. The closest town of three thousand is fifteen miles away; she says she loves the seclusion, living among the woods and horses and wildlife. The only thing she doesn't like is making the thirty mile round trip to the post office or grocery store. Worse still, is the eighty-five mile trip to get office supplies!
One of her greatest joys was to see Jason, her only son, graduate from college with degrees in math and physical education. He now lives in Port Lavaca, Texas, where he teaches high school algebra and geometry and coaches football and weightlifting. Family has always come first with Stella and she enjoys spending time with her son when he visits Oklahoma. Sometimes, she and her husband drive down to the Texas coast to see him. However, her mother, step-father and siblings all live nearby and they have routine get-togethers. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing violin and guitar, both of which she can play by ear. She claims to need years of practice before calling herself a musician. Stella also enjoys gardening and being outdoors. - Nationality
- USA
- Places of residence
- Oklahoma, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Oklahoma, USA
Members
Reviews
Good book, though there were times I wanted to smack both Lydia and Zach. Zach, his four brothers, and his father recently moved to Rust Creek Falls. They are looking for a fresh start after their mother died in a wildfire. For Zach, the only thing that he feels will fill the void is a wife and family of his own. Normal dating hasn't gotten him any closer to what he wants, so he decides to put a classified ad in the newspaper. He has very definite ideas of what he wants, and won't accept show more anything less.
I liked Zach. He is charming, sweet, and has that whole cowboy mystique going on. He is also a bit clueless when it comes to women. He's looking for a domestic goddess that will fulfill all his dreams of a wife like his mom had been. I had to laugh at his complete seriousness when he was dictating his ad to Lydia, and his surprise at her disbelief.
Lydia is the daughter of a single mom. Her father had deserted them when she was little, leaving her mom bitter about the uselessness of men. She's spent her entire life listening to her mother's opinions about how a man will let you down every time. Lydia sees herself as the woman that guys want to be friends with, but not the type they want to take out or marry. She sees herself as plain and doesn't see any sense in trying to pretend otherwise.
I enjoyed the development of Zach and Lydia's relationship. There's an instant connection when they meet, but since Lydia doesn't match any of his requirements, he treats her like a friend. Lydia, on the other hand, develops a quick crush on Zach but doesn't see any chance of something coming of it. I enjoyed seeing Lydia tease him about the boxes and boxes of responses he gets from his ad. Zach finds it incredibly frustrating that there are so many women that seem to fit his requirements exactly, but all he can think of is Lydia. Some of those dates were pretty amusing, and I kept waiting for someone to tear into him about his chauvinistic requirements. But the closest anyone came was the woman who thought he was kidding and just using the ad as a way to find women to date. It seemed as though every time Zach had one of those dates, he needed to spend time with Lydia to get over the frustration. I liked seeing them spend time together, and it was pretty obvious that he was falling for her and just couldn't see it. I ached for Lydia, who knew she was falling for Zach and could only see heartache in her future. It was very satisfying the night they were both at the bar watching The Great Roundup and Lydia had too much to drink. Zach got very protective of her and insisted on taking her home. At the same time, the alcohol loosened Lydia's tongue and she let him know what she really thought about what he was doing. Both of them were blown away by the kiss that followed, and the passion that exploded between them. The problem was, Zach's eyes were opened, but Lydia was determined to protect her heart. I felt like Zach got a bit of what he deserved, and I was happy to see that he had to work to make Lydia believe in his feelings. His big moment at the end was very well done and I loved how he pulled it off.
I also enjoyed the various reactions of family and friends. Zach got a boatload of teasing from his brothers, which makes me look forward to their stories. I ached for him when he didn't get the hoped-for support from his father. Some of the best parts were the various entries from the Rust Creek Rambler and the way they stirred up public opinion. Lydia wasn't entirely immune either. She had her own problems with her mother and her mother's attitude. I was happy to see their relationship start to improve by the end of the book. show less
I liked Zach. He is charming, sweet, and has that whole cowboy mystique going on. He is also a bit clueless when it comes to women. He's looking for a domestic goddess that will fulfill all his dreams of a wife like his mom had been. I had to laugh at his complete seriousness when he was dictating his ad to Lydia, and his surprise at her disbelief.
Lydia is the daughter of a single mom. Her father had deserted them when she was little, leaving her mom bitter about the uselessness of men. She's spent her entire life listening to her mother's opinions about how a man will let you down every time. Lydia sees herself as the woman that guys want to be friends with, but not the type they want to take out or marry. She sees herself as plain and doesn't see any sense in trying to pretend otherwise.
I enjoyed the development of Zach and Lydia's relationship. There's an instant connection when they meet, but since Lydia doesn't match any of his requirements, he treats her like a friend. Lydia, on the other hand, develops a quick crush on Zach but doesn't see any chance of something coming of it. I enjoyed seeing Lydia tease him about the boxes and boxes of responses he gets from his ad. Zach finds it incredibly frustrating that there are so many women that seem to fit his requirements exactly, but all he can think of is Lydia. Some of those dates were pretty amusing, and I kept waiting for someone to tear into him about his chauvinistic requirements. But the closest anyone came was the woman who thought he was kidding and just using the ad as a way to find women to date. It seemed as though every time Zach had one of those dates, he needed to spend time with Lydia to get over the frustration. I liked seeing them spend time together, and it was pretty obvious that he was falling for her and just couldn't see it. I ached for Lydia, who knew she was falling for Zach and could only see heartache in her future. It was very satisfying the night they were both at the bar watching The Great Roundup and Lydia had too much to drink. Zach got very protective of her and insisted on taking her home. At the same time, the alcohol loosened Lydia's tongue and she let him know what she really thought about what he was doing. Both of them were blown away by the kiss that followed, and the passion that exploded between them. The problem was, Zach's eyes were opened, but Lydia was determined to protect her heart. I felt like Zach got a bit of what he deserved, and I was happy to see that he had to work to make Lydia believe in his feelings. His big moment at the end was very well done and I loved how he pulled it off.
I also enjoyed the various reactions of family and friends. Zach got a boatload of teasing from his brothers, which makes me look forward to their stories. I ached for him when he didn't get the hoped-for support from his father. Some of the best parts were the various entries from the Rust Creek Rambler and the way they stirred up public opinion. Lydia wasn't entirely immune either. She had her own problems with her mother and her mother's attitude. I was happy to see their relationship start to improve by the end of the book. show less
Good book. Drew came to Rust Creek Falls from Thunder Canyon to fill in as a doctor at the clinic. With him is his seven-year-old son, Dillon. Ever since the death of his wife, Drew has buried himself in his work, leaving most of his son's care to his parents. Now he is trying to bond with Dillon and having a rough go of it. As the story opened, Drew and Dillon were at a back-to-school picnic, where Drew was counting the minutes until they could leave. Dillon, on the other hand, was show more determined to introduce his dad to all of his friends and be on the lookout for a girlfriend for his dad. I had to laugh as Dillon zeroed in on Josselyn and immediately made his pitch. Josselyn was amused, but poor Drew was so embarrassed he couldn't get out of there fast enough. But not before both he and Josselyn had gotten a good look at each other. Josselyn was immediately intrigued by Drew and couldn't stop thinking about him.
I loved watching Drew fight the inevitable at the beginning. Dillon had made up his mind that Josselyn was perfect and he was determined to get them together. Once Drew decided that he wanted to get to know Josselyn better, he was off and running. There were some terrific scenes of the three of them together, such as when they all went fishing. Drew also realized that he wanted to spend time alone with her. The biggest problem was that he was still fighting the guilt he felt over his wife's death, blaming himself for what had happened. He was also afraid to love again because that meant he risked losing also. Meanwhile, Josselyn fell fast and hard for Drew and Dillon. She, too, was fighting against telling Drew how she felt. She was afraid that he was still in love with his late wife and would reject her love. Just when it looked like Dillon was going to get his wish, something happened that brought all of Drew's fears rushing back. I ached for Josselyn as Drew ran from his feelings, leaving her heartbroken. I also hurt for Dillon, who saw his dad revert to the grumpy, withdrawn man he used to be. It took a scare caused by a heartfelt note from Dillon for Drew to realize what he was throwing away. I loved his big moment at the end as he finally let go of his fears. The location and witnesses to his declaration were a nice touch. show less
I loved watching Drew fight the inevitable at the beginning. Dillon had made up his mind that Josselyn was perfect and he was determined to get them together. Once Drew decided that he wanted to get to know Josselyn better, he was off and running. There were some terrific scenes of the three of them together, such as when they all went fishing. Drew also realized that he wanted to spend time alone with her. The biggest problem was that he was still fighting the guilt he felt over his wife's death, blaming himself for what had happened. He was also afraid to love again because that meant he risked losing also. Meanwhile, Josselyn fell fast and hard for Drew and Dillon. She, too, was fighting against telling Drew how she felt. She was afraid that he was still in love with his late wife and would reject her love. Just when it looked like Dillon was going to get his wish, something happened that brought all of Drew's fears rushing back. I ached for Josselyn as Drew ran from his feelings, leaving her heartbroken. I also hurt for Dillon, who saw his dad revert to the grumpy, withdrawn man he used to be. It took a scare caused by a heartfelt note from Dillon for Drew to realize what he was throwing away. I loved his big moment at the end as he finally let go of his fears. The location and witnesses to his declaration were a nice touch. show less
Terrific book about two people scarred by their pasts. Vivian is a park ranger whose partner is out of commission due to a broken leg. Even though she felt confident in her ability to work alone, she was assigned a temporary partner. Sawyer Whitehorse is not what she expected. He is young, incredibly handsome, and an inveterate flirt.
I liked both Vivian and Sawyer. Though she is a member of a wealthy family, Vivian works for a living at a job she loves. She is close to her family and their show more land. She is also the single mother of a twelve-year-old daughter, from a brief but disastrous marriage. She still holds herself responsible for her bad choices and refuses to let herself go down that path again. However, there is still a part of her that dreams of a man who loves her. Sawyer loves his work as a ranger and is working toward his degree in wildlife ecology. He lives on the reservation with his grandmother, whom he adores. He decided long ago that he was not cut out to be a husband or father, thanks to the bad examples set by his parents, and instead has developed quite the reputation as a ladies' man.
I loved the development of the relationship between Vivian and Sawyer. Sparks were flying between them from the moment they met. Sawyer's first reaction was that he wanted to find a way to sleep with her. Meanwhile, Vivian was shaken by her physical reaction to Sawyer, something she hadn't experienced in a very long time. It was fun to see Sawyer put his best flirtatious foot forward and Vivian shoot him down every time. Sawyer wasn't discouraged, though, and kept going back for more. I also enjoyed how his cheerful persistence started to wear Vivian down a little, to the point where she was amused rather than annoyed. Those sparks between them continued to build. Vivian tried hard to resist them, looking at the downsides of letting anything happen. First, they were coworkers, making a relationship against the rules. Second, Sawyer was six years younger than Vivian, something she wasn't exactly comfortable with. Then there was his reputation, showing that he is not interested in anything permanent, and she isn't a fling kind of person. Sawyer rapidly found himself in a situation he didn't know how to deal with. He had started out simply wanting to seduce Vivian, but the more he got to know her, the more those feelings changed. I ached for him as part of him dreamed of what could be, and the other part was certain that it was impossible. He also had to deal with some insecurity because of the difference in their circumstances.
It warmed my heart to see Sawyer and Vivian together, whether they were working or not. There were some terrific scenes of them with Vivian's daughter Hannah, who thought that Sawyer was wonderful. He was fantastic with Hannah, and it was obvious that he would be a great dad if only he could believe in himself. I loved how well he fit in with her family, much to his surprise. Which made it all the more heart-wrenching when he let his fears get the best of him. I cried for Vivian as her fears reared up to further break her heart. It was quite satisfying to see that Sawyer was deservedly miserable, and I loved seeing his friend Zane read him the riot act. I liked seeing both Sawyer and Vivian come to their senses, with a little bit of outside help. His big moment was pretty sweet as he confessed those fears and let go of them. The epilogue was great, especially how it showed Vivian's insight into her husband. show less
I liked both Vivian and Sawyer. Though she is a member of a wealthy family, Vivian works for a living at a job she loves. She is close to her family and their show more land. She is also the single mother of a twelve-year-old daughter, from a brief but disastrous marriage. She still holds herself responsible for her bad choices and refuses to let herself go down that path again. However, there is still a part of her that dreams of a man who loves her. Sawyer loves his work as a ranger and is working toward his degree in wildlife ecology. He lives on the reservation with his grandmother, whom he adores. He decided long ago that he was not cut out to be a husband or father, thanks to the bad examples set by his parents, and instead has developed quite the reputation as a ladies' man.
I loved the development of the relationship between Vivian and Sawyer. Sparks were flying between them from the moment they met. Sawyer's first reaction was that he wanted to find a way to sleep with her. Meanwhile, Vivian was shaken by her physical reaction to Sawyer, something she hadn't experienced in a very long time. It was fun to see Sawyer put his best flirtatious foot forward and Vivian shoot him down every time. Sawyer wasn't discouraged, though, and kept going back for more. I also enjoyed how his cheerful persistence started to wear Vivian down a little, to the point where she was amused rather than annoyed. Those sparks between them continued to build. Vivian tried hard to resist them, looking at the downsides of letting anything happen. First, they were coworkers, making a relationship against the rules. Second, Sawyer was six years younger than Vivian, something she wasn't exactly comfortable with. Then there was his reputation, showing that he is not interested in anything permanent, and she isn't a fling kind of person. Sawyer rapidly found himself in a situation he didn't know how to deal with. He had started out simply wanting to seduce Vivian, but the more he got to know her, the more those feelings changed. I ached for him as part of him dreamed of what could be, and the other part was certain that it was impossible. He also had to deal with some insecurity because of the difference in their circumstances.
It warmed my heart to see Sawyer and Vivian together, whether they were working or not. There were some terrific scenes of them with Vivian's daughter Hannah, who thought that Sawyer was wonderful. He was fantastic with Hannah, and it was obvious that he would be a great dad if only he could believe in himself. I loved how well he fit in with her family, much to his surprise. Which made it all the more heart-wrenching when he let his fears get the best of him. I cried for Vivian as her fears reared up to further break her heart. It was quite satisfying to see that Sawyer was deservedly miserable, and I loved seeing his friend Zane read him the riot act. I liked seeing both Sawyer and Vivian come to their senses, with a little bit of outside help. His big moment was pretty sweet as he confessed those fears and let go of them. The epilogue was great, especially how it showed Vivian's insight into her husband. show less
Good story about two people who are afraid to risk their hearts. Lilly is the new physical therapist for Bart Calhoun. Rafe is Bart's grandson and the ranch foreman. The sparks fly when they first meet, and they aren't all from the attraction they both feel. I loved that first meeting and seeing Rafe run up against a woman who doesn't immediately fall at his feet.
Rafe is a guy who doesn't stay long with any woman. He'll see one he likes, have a few dates, and then move on before it can show more become serious. He has had some loss in his life and witnessed what it has done to the people left behind, and he wants no part of that kind of suffering. He figures if he doesn't love,he won't have to worry about being hurt.
Lilly had been in love and then betrayed by the man she cared for. Not only did he cheat on her, but when she became pregnant he wanted nothing to do with the baby. She was devastated when she lost the baby and swore she'd be a lot more careful about getting involved with another man.
Rafe looks at Lilly as something of a challenge. Normally when he's turned down for a date, he simply moves on, but there's something about Lilly that he just can't get off his mind. When he talks her into going out with him they have a nice time, but Lilly makes it clear that she doesn't want to get involved with him. Lilly is actually a lot more affected by him than she lets on, but she's spent so long protecting herself that she's not sure she's ready for someone like Rafe.
They agree to spend time with each other, as long as they can keep it casual. The more time they have together, the deeper their feelings grow, even though they try to deny it. Rafe is especially hard hit as he has been avoiding even the idea of love for so long. I loved seeing him get more and more invested in them as a couple, even as he tries to convince himself that he could walk away at any time. When they split because Lilly wants more than Rafe thinks he can give, he starts to realize just what he's given up. His pain makes him do and say some stupid things, but some advice from his father finally makes him think about what he really wants.
Lilly starts out their relationship just thinking of Rafe as a way for her to get back into living. She knows he'll never settle down, as he's made no secret of his views. He's the first man in years who has made her even think about getting involved. I loved the way that she didn't fall for his lines and really pushed back at him. "Go find the nearest mirror and tell the guy who's looking back at you that he's not quite the Romeo he thinks he is." just made me laugh and root for her. She really thought that she could have a casual fling with him, but the longer they were together the more she realized that her heart was really at risk. I liked the way that she let him know her feelings even though it caused trouble between them. After some time apart, and an enlightening conversation with her mother, she discovered that she had been letting her own issues affect what they might have together. I loved seeing the two of them come together, finally opening their hearts to the possibilities. The epilogue was sweet.
I also enjoyed the family dynamics. The Calhouns are a large family with very strong personalities. We met most of them in The Baby Truth. Rafe's grandfather, Bart, made an especially strong impression and not a very good one. In this book we see a different side of him and he is much more likable. I also liked Rafe's interactions with his brothers. It's obvious that there's love and respect, but the relationships are realistic in that there are also conflicts that arise and have to be dealt with. I can't wait to read stories involving them. show less
Rafe is a guy who doesn't stay long with any woman. He'll see one he likes, have a few dates, and then move on before it can show more become serious. He has had some loss in his life and witnessed what it has done to the people left behind, and he wants no part of that kind of suffering. He figures if he doesn't love,he won't have to worry about being hurt.
Lilly had been in love and then betrayed by the man she cared for. Not only did he cheat on her, but when she became pregnant he wanted nothing to do with the baby. She was devastated when she lost the baby and swore she'd be a lot more careful about getting involved with another man.
Rafe looks at Lilly as something of a challenge. Normally when he's turned down for a date, he simply moves on, but there's something about Lilly that he just can't get off his mind. When he talks her into going out with him they have a nice time, but Lilly makes it clear that she doesn't want to get involved with him. Lilly is actually a lot more affected by him than she lets on, but she's spent so long protecting herself that she's not sure she's ready for someone like Rafe.
They agree to spend time with each other, as long as they can keep it casual. The more time they have together, the deeper their feelings grow, even though they try to deny it. Rafe is especially hard hit as he has been avoiding even the idea of love for so long. I loved seeing him get more and more invested in them as a couple, even as he tries to convince himself that he could walk away at any time. When they split because Lilly wants more than Rafe thinks he can give, he starts to realize just what he's given up. His pain makes him do and say some stupid things, but some advice from his father finally makes him think about what he really wants.
Lilly starts out their relationship just thinking of Rafe as a way for her to get back into living. She knows he'll never settle down, as he's made no secret of his views. He's the first man in years who has made her even think about getting involved. I loved the way that she didn't fall for his lines and really pushed back at him. "Go find the nearest mirror and tell the guy who's looking back at you that he's not quite the Romeo he thinks he is." just made me laugh and root for her. She really thought that she could have a casual fling with him, but the longer they were together the more she realized that her heart was really at risk. I liked the way that she let him know her feelings even though it caused trouble between them. After some time apart, and an enlightening conversation with her mother, she discovered that she had been letting her own issues affect what they might have together. I loved seeing the two of them come together, finally opening their hearts to the possibilities. The epilogue was sweet.
I also enjoyed the family dynamics. The Calhouns are a large family with very strong personalities. We met most of them in The Baby Truth. Rafe's grandfather, Bart, made an especially strong impression and not a very good one. In this book we see a different side of him and he is much more likable. I also liked Rafe's interactions with his brothers. It's obvious that there's love and respect, but the relationships are realistic in that there are also conflicts that arise and have to be dealt with. I can't wait to read stories involving them. show less
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