The Mountain Man’s Mail-Order Bride Series by Aria Cole – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read

The Mountain Man’s Mail-Order Bride Series by Aria Cole – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.ilovenovels.com Wed, 13 May 2026 18:52:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 http://www.ilovenovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/favicon.png The Mountain Man’s Mail-Order Bride Series by Aria Cole – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.ilovenovels.com 32 32 The Firefighter’s Forever Bride (The Mountain Man’s Mail-Order Bride #13) Read Online Aria Cole http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-firefighters-forever-bride-the-mountain-mans-mail-order-bride-13-read-online-aria-cole Wed, 13 May 2026 18:52:31 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-firefighters-forever-bride-the-mountain-mans-mail-order-bride-13-read-online-aria-cole Genre: Alpha Male Authors: Aria Cole Series: The Mountain Man's Mail-Order Bride Series by Aria Cole
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Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 39414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)

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She answered a mail-order bride ad to disappear.
She didn’t expect it to belong to her brother’s best friend.

Ellie James is backed into a corner—foreclosure on her chocolate shop, a controlling ex who won’t let go, and nowhere safe to run. So she makes the most reckless choice of her life: she accepts an offer of protection from a reclusive mountain firefighter who doesn’t ask questions… he gives orders.
Wyatt Cooper has three rules: stay on his land, do what he says, and pretend to be his wife.
It’s supposed to be temporary. A strategic ring. A fake marriage.
But the longer Ellie is trapped in Wyatt’s cabin—and the closer her stalker gets—the more she realizes the most dangerous thing on the mountain isn’t the man watching her…
It’s the man who’s decided she’s his.

🔥 Tropes: Mail-Order Bride • Best Friend’s Sister • Forced Proximity • Fake Marriage • Protective/ Possessive Hero • One Bed • Stalker Suspense • High-Heat Slow Burn • He Falls First

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter 1

Ellie

The bell over my shop door doesn’t ring.

That’s the first wrong thing. Not the foreclosure notice. Not the panic crawling up my throat.

“What the hell,” I whisper, leaning in. My breath fogs the glass. I can see my own reflection—messy bun, hoodie, leggings, the kind of outfit I wear when I’m planning to melt chocolate and pretend I have my life together.

I press my palm to the window and peer inside.

The lights are off, but the sun hits the copper kettles and the polished counter. My display case is there. The trays I set up last night. The chalkboard menu I rewrote because the “Devil’s Kiss” lettering wasn’t slanted enough.

Everything looks normal.

Except for the neon-orange paper taped dead center on the inside of the glass.

My stomach drops.

I bend, squint through the glare, and read the first line. My throat closes around it.

NOTICE OF DEFAULT.

I straighten too fast and nearly stumble. My coffee sloshes, hot liquid splashing my fingers, but I barely feel it.

No.

No, no, no.

I pull my phone out with hands that suddenly don’t work right and tap my banking app. It spins. Loads. Spins again.

Then a red banner flashes.

ACCOUNT RESTRICTED.

My ears start ringing.

I swipe through notifications. Missed emails. Missed calls. A voicemail timestamped last night.

I hit play and press the phone to my ear.

“Ms. James,” a man’s voice says, flat and official, like he’s reading off a script he uses to ruin people’s lives before lunch. “This is regarding your outstanding balance. The bank is exercising its rights under your agreement. Effective immediately, the property is in foreclosure proceedings. Do not attempt entry. You will be contacted with next steps.”

Beep.

My mouth goes dry.

Do not attempt entry.

My chest tightens like I’m being squeezed from the inside. I stare through the glass, at the counters, the shelves, the back room door. My inventory is in there. My paperwork. My receipts. My equipment.

My emergency bag is in there. My entire life is locked in the one bedroom studio apartment upstairs.

All of my clothes.

I just stepped away for coffee at The Devil’s Brew for twenty minutes and now I’m locked out of my life and livelihood.

I try the door again anyway, like the universe is going to remember who I am.

Locked.

I suck in a breath, forcing it down, forcing my face smooth because someone is walking past and I can feel their glance snag on the orange paper. Devil’s Peak is small enough that sympathy is a spectator sport.

My phone buzzes.

A text lights up the screen like a slap.

Graham:

Don’t make this ugly, Ellie. I tried to handle it quietly. You’re welcome.

My fingers curl around the phone until my knuckles ache.

Graham. Of course.

My ex-boyfriend. The banker. The man who smiled when he offered me the loan that made my dream possible and smiled again when he made it clear the dream belonged to him.

I type back before I can stop myself.

Me:

What did you do?

Three dots appear. Disappear. Reappear.

He takes his time. He always takes his time.

Graham:

I’m doing you a favor. You’re drowning. I’m throwing you a rope.

My jaw clenches so hard it hurts.

Me:

You changed the locks. That’s illegal.

Graham:

It’s not illegal when you signed your life away.

Heat crawls up my neck, into my cheeks.

Me:

This is because I left you.

Graham:

This is because you never learn. You could have had it all if you’d stopped pretending you didn’t need me.

I stare at that line until it blurs.

Because that’s what he’s really saying: come back.

Come beg.

Come let him decide what I deserve.

My hands are shaking so badly I almost drop the phone. I force myself to breathe, slow and controlled, like I’m standing over a chocolate pot and one wrong move will seize everything.

I can’t go to my family. That’s not a solution, it’s punishment. My mother will call this proof that I should’ve gone to college like my sister. My father will look at me like I’m a cautionary tale. They’ll wrap their disappointment around me and call it love.

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The Carpenter’s Secret Baby (The Mountain Man’s Mail-Order Bride #7) Read Online Aria Cole http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-carpenters-secret-baread-online-the-mountain-mans-mail-order-bride-7-read-online-aria-cole Thu, 12 Jun 2025 17:28:51 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-carpenters-secret-baread-online-the-mountain-mans-mail-order-bride-7-read-online-aria-cole Genre: Alpha Male, Novella Authors: Aria Cole Series: The Mountain Man's Mail-Order Bride Series by Aria Cole
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Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 20660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)

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A steamy small-town romance with secrets, sawdust, and second chances.

Holly Dawson has a secret. The kind that has big blue eyes, a dimpled smile, and the same crooked grin as the man who doesn’t even know he’s a father.

Years ago, Holly and Jack Rivers were childhood pen pals who shared everything—until one unforgettable Spring Break night changed everything. Her parents tore them apart, raising her baby as their own so she could chase the future they planned for her. But now? Holly’s back, with a hammer in one hand and a plan in the other.

When she answers Jack’s ad for a live-in assistant, she has one figure out if the gruff, gorgeous carpenter is the kind of man she can finally trust—with her truth... and her son. What she doesn’t expect? Jack asking her to play his fake girlfriend at a friend’s wedding to get everyone off his back about being alone.

But there’s nothing fake about the way his touch sets her on fire. Nothing fake about the way he looks at her like she’s already his.

She came looking for answers. What she finds is a man determined to claim what’s his—and maybe a second chance at the kind of love she thought she’d lost forever.

Filled with flirty banter, jaw-dropping reveals, and heart-melting heat, The Carpenter’s Secret Baby is a must-read for anyone who believes love can be built from the ground up.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter One

Holly

The place smells like cedar, sawdust, and something else entirely masculine. Devil’s Peak rises behind the cabin like a protective sentinel, and the Phantom River murmurs just out of sight, winding through trees lit gold by the late afternoon sun.

I shift my weight from one foot to the other on the porch, trying not to let nerves show. My toddler’s sticky fingers wrap tight around mine as she bounces beside me, completely unaffected by the tension crackling down my spine. That makes one of us.

The front door creaks open.

And there he is.

Jack Rivers.

He fills the doorway like a brick wall. Bearded. Sun-kissed. Shirtless.

His jeans hang low on his hips, and his chest is dusted with dark hair that draws the eye south. His skin is tanned, inked, and glistening with sweat like he’s just finished splitting wood with his bare hands. Hell, maybe he has.

His eyes drag over me slowly, from my high ponytail to my too-neat travel outfit. I feel a prickle in my chest as he lingers just a second too long on my lips.

“You’re late,” he says, voice low and rough like gravel under boots.

“Your directions sucked,” I shoot back, chin tilting up.

He crosses his arms over his chest. “I said left at the busted fence. How hard was that?”

“I didn’t realize I was entering Narnia.”

One of his brows twitches. “This Narnia doesn’t got Wi-Fi–are you about to complain about that too?”

I smile sweetly. “As long as there’s running water, we’ll get along just fine.”

He stares at me for a beat too long.

And then, abruptly, he steps aside. “You want the job or not?”

I grip my daughter’s hand and walk inside without waiting for an invite. The place is rustic but clean—open beams, big windows, stone fireplace, and the faintest smell of pine and citrus cleaner. It feels… too perfect. Which is a problem. Because nothing in my life stays perfect.

“I’ll show you the room.” Jack’s already halfway down the hall.

“You always this welcoming, or just saving the charm for a second date?”

“Don’t do charm,” he mutters.

Yeah. I remember.

I pause in the hallway, heart slamming against my ribs as he gestures toward a cozy bedroom at the end. He doesn’t remember me. Not even a flicker of recognition. Sure, I look different now–shorter hair a few shades darker than when he saw me last–but still, I thought maybe, just maybe he’d remember that one night five years ago.

But it gave me everything.

Like the little girl now chasing dust motes on the hardwood floor.

“So, this is the guest room,” Jack says, dragging my attention back. “Bathroom’s through there. You’ll cook, clean, and help out when I’m working. It’s not complicated.”

“And in exchange, we get to live here?”

He shrugs one shoulder. “That was the ad.”

I think of the mail-order bride ad I answered in Mountain Living magazine. I cross my arms. “And what exactly do you do, Jack Rivers? Aside from glare and grunt and pretend like you're not in desperate need of adult supervision?”

His eyes narrow slightly. “I build custom furniture. Mostly commissions. People pay good money for tables that’ll outlive them.”

I glance at his hands—big, rough, callused—and heat coils in my gut like a slow burn. I remember those hands.

“Well, lucky for you I majored in babysitting emotionally unavailable men with tools.”

He cocks his head. “You always this mouthy?”

“Only when I’m trying to impress my new boss.”

Jack steps closer, slow and deliberate, and my pulse quickens.

“You got a kid.” His gaze flicks toward the hallway where my daughter’s babbling to herself.

I tense, just for a second. “That a problem?”

“No. Just didn’t realize there were two of you.” His eyes flick back to mine. “You didn’t mention it. But then again, you failed to mention the attitude too.”

I flash him a grin I don’t feel. “Guess we’re even.”

He doesn’t smile. Just looks at me like he’s trying to pin me down and figure out what the hell I’m doing here.

Fair question.

Because even I’m not totally sure.

He nods toward the front of the house. “I’m making dinner. You want to stay, you pull your weight. Start with peeling potatoes.”

“Yes, Chef.”

I follow him into the kitchen and watch as he starts pulling ingredients from the fridge. The muscles in his back flex under his skin, and I can’t stop staring. He moves like a man who’s spent his entire life in control. Of wood. Of tools. Of women.

But I remember what it was like to make him lose that control. Just once. When he kissed me like he was starved. When he said my name like it tasted better than anything he'd ever put in his mouth. He called me Kat then–he never knew my real name–Holly. I hated the name I was born with so only went by Kat for the first twenty years of my life. A pang of guilt flashes through me as I think about telling him who I really am–but I need him to think I’m a stranger if I’m going to get a real sense for who he is–if he’s someone I can trust to be in me and Josie’s life.

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The Hunter’s Treasure (The Mountain Man’s Mail-Order Bride #6) Read Online Aria Cole http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-hunters-treasure-the-mountain-mans-mail-order-bride-6-read-online-aria-cole Thu, 17 Apr 2025 13:13:29 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-hunters-treasure-the-mountain-mans-mail-order-bride-6-read-online-aria-cole Genre: Alpha Male, Insta-Love Authors: Aria Cole Series: The Mountain Man's Mail-Order Bride Series by Aria Cole
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Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23649 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)

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A woman on the run. A dangerous past. A reclusive tracker who will stop at nothing to protect her.

Palmer Lane has spent the last year looking over her shoulder, running from a man who refuses to let her go. When she stumbles upon an ad for a wife—a mail-order bride situation that screams last resort—she doesn’t hesitate. A remote mountain cabin with a stranger is better than the nightmare chasing her.

Hudson Kane doesn’t want a wife. He just needs a woman’s name on the deed to keep his land. That’s the only reason he placed the ad. But the second he lays eyes on Palmer—delicate, wary, and far too beautiful for a man like him—his possessive instincts go into overdrive.

She’s hiding something. He knows it. But when danger follows her into the wilds of Devil’s Peak, it doesn’t matter who she is or what she’s running from—she’s his now. And Hudson? He protects what’s his.

💎 A protective, growly mountain man
💎 A woman with a dangerous past
💎 Forced proximity & undeniable tension
💎 A love so fierce, he’d burn the world down to keep her safe

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter One

Hudson

I don’t want a wife. Never did.

But when Palmer Lane stumbles off that bus, looking like a goddamn runway model in the middle of Devil’s Peak, carrying enough luggage to pack a damn mansion, I realize I might’ve made a mistake.

She doesn’t belong here. Too polished. Too delicate. Too tempting. We only exchanged a few text messages over the last week; I had no idea she’d be so damn…sexy.

She steps down, her designer boots sinking into the dirt, and—like fate has a twisted sense of humor—her heel catches on the gravel.

She yelps. I step forward. And suddenly, I’ve got an armful of woman.

Soft. Warm. Curves that make my blood heat instantly. Her scent—vanilla and something feminine as hell—hits me hard. I grunt, catching her easily, her weight nothing in my arms.

“Jesus, woman,” I mutter. “You trying to throw yourself at me already?”

Her head jerks up. Big green eyes—sharp enough to gut a man, wide enough to make him weak.

Heat crawls up her throat, but she recovers fast. Too fast.

“That was me testing your reflexes,” she quips, pushing off me, chin lifted. “Gotta make sure my new husband is at least capable of catching a falling woman.”

I snort. So she’s got a mouth on her. Figures.

“Throwing that word around already, huh sweetheart?”

Her gaze flickers—just for a second. But it’s enough. She’s running from something. Or someone. That much is clear.

“Isn’t that what you wanted?” she fires back, smoothing her coat. “A wife?”

I glance at her impractical suitcases, the way her hands tremble slightly before she clenches them into fists.

No. This isn’t what I wanted. I wanted some boring girl, easy to ignore, a name on a paper to keep my land. Not a gorgeous, mouthy, flight-risk city girl with secrets in her eyes.

I exhale sharply, stepping back. “Get in the truck.”

She arches a brow. “No welcome speech? No ‘I’m so lucky to have found you’?”

“I don’t do speeches,” I mutter, grabbing one of her bags. It weighs about as much as a cinderblock.

“What the hell is in here? A body?”

“Maybe.” She smirks. “Better sleep with one eye open.”

“Great,” I laugh as we walk across the lot to my pickup.

“Let me guess.” She cocks a hip when we reach my truck, watching as I load her bags into the bed. “Strong, silent type. Grumpy mountain man. Thinks emotions are for weak men and puppies?”

I slam the tailgate shut. She’s got a smart mouth. I’ll give her that.

“Got it in one,” I say. “Now, get in.”

She holds her ground, lips twitching. “You’re really not going to say anything nice–maybe it’s a pleasure to meet you or…?”

I lean in, dropping my voice. Too close. Just close enough to watch her breath hitch.

“Sweetheart, I caught you before you ate dirt. That’s the nicest thing I’ll ever do for you.”

A challenge flashes in those green eyes. And god help me, I like it.

I open her door and she slides into the cab of my truck. I expected more arguing, more barbs thrown my way on the drive. But Palmer’s staring out the window, watching the mountain roll past like she’s committing every tree to memory with each passing mile.

It’s a long, winding drive up to my cabin. The road is rough, the air colder, and I know she’s feeling it. She pulls her coat tighter around her, biting her lip.

“Already regretting it?” I ask, surprising myself.

Her head jerks toward me. “What?”

“This.” I nod toward her. “Running off to marry a stranger in the middle of nowhere. You could’ve picked a tropical island, you know. Nice rich man in a penthouse.”

Her gaze sharpens. “Not really my style.”

I keep my eyes on the road, but I feel her watching me.

“So what is?” I ask.

Her lips press together. For the first time since she stepped off that bus, her confidence wavers.

I don’t push. Instead, I focus on the road.

Fifteen minutes later, my cabin comes into view—tucked between towering pines, smoke curling from the chimney.

Palmer exhales, her fingers pressed to the window. “Wow.”

I glance at her. She actually looks impressed.

It’s a solid log cabin, built by my grandfather’s hands. The land stretches for miles, untouched wilderness that’s been in my family for generations.

“You’re not scared?” I ask.

She smirks. “What, of the growly mountain man?”

I grunt, throwing the truck in park. She doesn’t know it yet, but she should be. I help her with her bags, carrying them up the porch steps and throwing the door open wide. She steps into my cabin, taking in the massive stone fireplace, the wooden beams, the stocked kitchen.

“Okay, I’ll admit it,” she says, spinning slowly. “I was expecting something… rougher.”

I close the door behind me. “Expecting a shack in the woods?”

“Maybe a cave.”

I snort, crossing my arms. She wanders over to the fireplace, running her fingers along the mantle. My gut clenches. Seeing her here, in my home, feels… different than I expected.

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The Blacksmith’s Heart (The Mountain Man’s Mail-Order Bride #5) Read Online Aria Cole http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-blacksmiths-heart-the-mountain-mans-mail-order-bride-5-read-online-aria-cole Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:25:18 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-blacksmiths-heart-the-mountain-mans-mail-order-bride-5-read-online-aria-cole Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Suspense Authors: Aria Cole Series: The Mountain Man's Mail-Order Bride Series by Aria Cole
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Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 107(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)

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He forged his love in secret; now it's time to claim her heart...

Liam Grayson is a man of strength and scars—a rugged blacksmith who’s spent his life working with fire but has never felt the heat of love returned. Wounded in the war, he carries the scars of life with a heart full of secrets, resigned to his unrequited feelings for Callie Baker, the sunny yoga teacher who lights up Devil’s Peak with her smile. She’s everything he believes he could never have… until fate gives him a chance to prove her wrong.

When Callie’s yoga studio goes up in flames, leaving her dreams in ashes, she’s left with nowhere to turn. Nursing her heartbreak, she impulsively answers a mail-order bride ad seeking companionship. What she doesn’t expect is for the gruff, wounded hero of her childhood to walk through the door as her “date.”

Liam opens his home to Callie, offering her a safe place to rebuild her life—and maybe even a piece of his guarded heart. But just as their connection deepens, strange incidents plague Liam’s blacksmith shop, making them question if the fire at her studio was an accident—or something far more sinister.

As past promises and old wounds resurface, Callie and Liam must decide if love forged by fire can stand the test of time—and danger.

The Blacksmith’s Heart is a heart-pounding and steamy, second-chance-at-unrequited-love story with a swoon-worthy wounded hero, and his sweet and sunshiney first love.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter One

Callie

The acrid smell of smoke still clings to my hair, my clothes, even my skin.

Two days. Two agonizing days since my yoga studio burned to the ground, yet the smell lingers like a cruel reminder. Every time I inhale, it’s there—ash and charred wood mingling with the faintest traces of lavender essential oil, a ghost of what used to be my dream.

This morning, I walked through the wreckage again, picking my way across the scorched floorboards of what used to be my sanctuary. My feet carried me past the skeletal remains of my front desk, the place where I greeted every smiling face that walked through the door. Now it’s all ash and twisted metal.

I crouched in the corner where the props were stored, brushing away soot with trembling hands. A piece of a yoga block, half-melted but still vaguely recognizable, lay there like a taunt. My throat tightened as I traced my fingers over the singed edge of a strap. Everything I’d poured my soul into was gone.

Upstairs wasn’t any better. My small apartment above the studio had been my safe haven, a cozy space filled with thrift-store treasures and the scent of fresh sage I burned every evening. Now, it’s uninhabitable, blackened walls crumbling to the touch.

I found my journal—miraculously spared—its leather cover singed but intact. The words inside felt like they belonged to someone else. Someone hopeful. Someone who believed in their ability to build something meaningful.

I’d sat on the charred remains of my couch, clutching that journal to my chest, as tears streamed down my face. That place was more than a business; it was my heart, my livelihood. Every penny I had—and some I didn’t—went into creating that studio. The mortgage was a weight I couldn’t shake, and now? Now there’s nothing.

A part of me considered calling my friend in the city, the one who’s always inviting me to teach at her upscale studio. She’d take me in, no questions asked, and I could start over. But as tempting as it sounded, Devil’s Peak was my home. I’ve traveled the world—yoga retreats in Bali, workshops in Costa Rica—but none of those places ever felt like this town. The mountains, the people, the way the sunlight dances on the Phantom River in the mornings… This is where I belong.

But belonging doesn’t rebuild a studio.

I shake my head, trying to push away the memory as I sit at the bar in The Devil’s Brew. My hands drag through my hair as I lean heavily on the sticky bar. The whiskey in front of me glows like molten amber, mocking me with its unearned warmth. I’m not even a whiskey person, but tonight, it seems fitting.

“You gonna stare at that all night, or are you gonna drink it?”

Wendy’s voice cuts through my haze. She leans across the bar, her sharp blue eyes glinting with amusement. There’s always a smirk ready to tug at her lips, but tonight, it’s tempered with something softer.

“Maybe I like the way it looks,” I quip, forcing a smile that feels as weak as the rest of me.

Wendy snorts, wiping down the counter with a rag that’s seen better days. “That’s the saddest thing I’ve heard all week.” Her gaze flicks to the charred edges of my jeans, her voice softening. “Well, second saddest.”

The tightness in my chest intensifies. I glance away, blinking hard. I won’t cry here—not in front of a bar full of ranchers and loggers whose laughter is already rough enough without my sobs joining in.

My eyes wander to the bulletin board near the door. Among the flyers for missing dogs and farm equipment is one that stands out:

“Seeking mail-order bride for companionship. Room and board provided. Serious inquiries only.”

I shouldn’t be tempted. I shouldn’t even consider it. But my heart beats faster as I read the words again.

“Thinking about answering that one?” Wendy’s voice is laced with curiosity, her eyes narrowing as she studies me. She slides a fresh coaster under my glass, her movements slow and deliberate. “It’s been up for a week. Whoever posted it must be getting desperate.”

I glance at her, expecting her to laugh, but she’s serious. The weight of her gaze makes my skin prickle.

“Desperate’s not the worst thing,” I mutter, swirling the whiskey in my glass. My voice is steadier than I feel.

“Go for it,” she says with a shrug. “Worst-case scenario, it’s a serial killer. Best case…” She leans in, her grin turning wicked. “You get laid.”

“Wendy!”

“What?” She throws her hands up, laughing. “You could use a distraction.”

Her laughter is raspy and infectious, but I glare at her anyway. My hand inches toward my phone despite my better judgment. The logical part of me knows this is a bad idea—what kind of sane person responds to something like that? But the part of me drowning in smoke and ash says, What do you have to lose?

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The Rancher’s Runaway Bride (The Mountain Man’s Mail-Order Bride #4) Read Online Aria Cole http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-ranchers-runaway-bride-the-mountain-mans-mail-order-bride-4-read-online-aria-cole Sun, 02 Feb 2025 19:15:34 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-ranchers-runaway-bride-the-mountain-mans-mail-order-bride-4-read-online-aria-cole Genre: Alpha Male, Insta-Love Authors: Aria Cole Series: The Mountain Man's Mail-Order Bride Series by Aria Cole
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Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >25

From a society scandal to a cowboy’s arms—sometimes love finds you where you least expect it.

When pampered heiress Layla Hastings flees her high-society wedding in a swirl of satin and scandal, the last thing she expects is to land on the doorstep of rugged, brooding rancher Cal Walker in Devil’s Peak. Answering a mail-order bride ad was a desperate gamble, but for Layla, it’s the only escape from her controlling father and a life she didn’t choose.

Cal Walker is an ex-military man of few words and fierce loyalties. Between raising his young son, Carson, and running his sprawling ranch, Cal isn’t looking for love—especially not from a spoiled city girl who’s clearly out of her depth. But Layla’s sassy determination and surprising warmth quickly crack his hardened exterior, sparking a fiery connection neither can resist.

Just as Layla begins to find her footing—and her heart—in Cal’s world of wild mustangs, rodeos, and quiet mountain mornings, her past catches up with her at the annual Devil’s Peak Rodeo. But this possessive cowboy will stop at nothing to protect his family and the woman who’s become his whole world.

Full of sizzling enemies-to-lovers chemistry, tender single-dad moments, and a fierce cowboy willing to risk it all, The Rancher’s Runaway Bride is an insta-love romance as wild and breathtaking as the open range.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter One

Layla

The mud sucks at my heels with every step, turning my once-pristine designer shoes into an unrecognizable mess. I grit my teeth, clutching the strap of my hastily packed bag, the lace hem of my wedding gown dragging behind me like a broken promise. What was I thinking? Bolting from the altar in Lake Tahoe yesterday, running from a wedding that wasn’t just a ceremony but an alliance. Power. Status. Wealth. Legacy. My father’s master plan.

Instead, I’m here. Devil’s Peak, Colorado. The middle of nowhere.

The Lazy Devil Ranch sprawls out before me, an expanse of weathered fences, a red barn, and fields nestled in the mountain valley. It’s beautiful, sure. But the practical side of my brain—the side screaming that I’ve made a terrible mistake—can’t stop noticing the muck and the chill in the mountain air.

A dog barks, sharp and commanding, pulling my attention to the barn.

That’s when I see him.

Broad shoulders, rough hands, and a face that looks like it’s carved from granite. Cal Walker steps out of the barn, his cowboy hat tilted low enough to shadow piercing dark eyes that seem to size me up in an instant.

“This can’t be happening,” he mutters, the words rolling out like a low growl.

“Hello to you too,” I snap back, sarcasm my armor against the very real fact that I might’ve just landed in over my head.

A black and white cattle dog bounds toward me, tail wagging and ears flopping with excitement. Before I can stop him, his muddy paws slam into my midsection, leaving perfect prints on my dress.

I let out a strangled squeak, half laughing, half horrified. “Well, I guess this gown wasn’t salvageable anyway.”

Cal doesn’t move, doesn’t flinch, just stands there watching me like I’m some alien that crash-landed on his ranch. His eyes flick up and down my form then he asks, “You lost?”

“Nope.” I square my shoulders, willing the tremor in my voice to steady. “I’m Layla Hastings. I answered your ad.”

His brows lift, just slightly, but his scowl doesn’t budge. “The ad?”

“The mail-order bride ad.”

I expect shock, maybe a barrage of questions. What I get is a low, humorless chuckle.

“Well, hell,” he says, shifting his weight to one hip. “Didn’t think anyone would actually show up, let alone…” His gaze drifts down my muddied dress, and his mouth twists into something like a smirk.

I plant a hand on my hip. “Let alone what?”

“Let alone someone who looks like she got lost on her way to a country club.”

The audacity.

“Look,” I snap, yanking my bag higher on my shoulder, “I didn’t come here to be judged. I came here for… a fresh start.” My voice falters on the last words, but I hold his gaze, refusing to let him see how vulnerable I feel.

Cal’s silent for a beat, his eyes narrowing. Then, with a sharp whistle, he calls the dog–Duke–back to his side. The dog obeys, sitting obediently but still wagging his tail, clearly enamored with me.

“Fine,” Cal says at last, his tone amused. “Let’s get one thing straight, sweetheart. I don’t need complications. If you’re here to play house, this isn’t the place for you.”

“Noted,” I say through gritted teeth. “And just so you know, I’m not here to play anything.”

He mutters something under his breath, then jerks his head toward the house. “Follow me.”

The house is rustic and practical, with wood-paneled walls and furniture that looks like it’s been around for decades. It smells faintly of pine and leather, a comforting scent that matches the man towering beside me. I shift back and forth, foreign sensations spiraling through my system at his close proximity. I’ve never been around a man so…masculine. Cal Walker takes up space, and unapologetically so. I find myself feeling somewhere between uncomfortable and intrigued.

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Advertisement
The Mechanic’s Match (The Mountain Man’s Mail-Order Bride #3) Read Online Aria Cole http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-mechanics-match-the-mountain-mans-mail-order-bride-3-read-online-aria-cole Sun, 02 Feb 2025 19:15:32 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-mechanics-match-the-mountain-mans-mail-order-bride-3-read-online-aria-cole Genre: Alpha Male, Insta-Love Authors: Aria Cole Series: The Mountain Man's Mail-Order Bride Series by Aria Cole
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Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >29

Answering a mail-order bride ad was supposed to be her next great adventure, not her next life-changing decision. She never expected an irresistible ex-soldier mountain man who’s sworn off love...

Amelia Grant thrives on adventure, sharing her travel escapades with the world through her wildly popular blog. But when a mix-up leaves her stranded in Devil’s Peak with the wrong suitcase—and zero clothes—her biggest story yet might be the mountain man she didn’t see coming.

Fox Miller is a grumpy, snarky mechanic with a past he prefers to keep locked away. As an ex-military loner, he’s no stranger to isolation—and he likes it that way. The last thing he needs is a nosy, sweet-talking woman invading his loft and turning his quiet life into chaos. But when Amelia’s sass meets his scowl, their undeniable chemistry ignites, leaving them both questioning what they really want.

Close quarters spark a slow burn neither can ignore, but when Fox discovers Amelia is his boss’s estranged daughter, everything changes. Torn between his loyalty to the man who gave him a second chance and the irresistible pull of the woman who’s turned his world upside down, Fox must decide if he’s willing to risk it all for love.

Will their passion survive the secrets that threaten to tear them apart, or will this mechanic and his unexpected bride discover that love is the greatest adventure of all?

Perfect for fans of fiery instalove banter, slow-burn grumpy-sunshine chemistry, and age-gap, boss' daughter love stories with a forbidden twist.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter One

Amelia

My first thought when I step out of the taxi in Devil’s Peak is that I’ve made a colossal mistake. The second is that my memory could never do this place justice. Rolling mountains frame the horizon, their jagged peaks biting into a sky so blue it looks fake. The crisp air carries the scent of pine and earth, so far removed from the exhaust fumes of Chicago that I feel like I’ve stepped into another world.

Then I remember my suitcase isn’t here, and my phone battery is teetering on the edge of death.

“Great start, Amelia,” I mutter, tugging my carry-on bag higher on my shoulder. Buttercup lets out a long and tortured meow. She and my laptop bag with camera equipment are my only lifeline now. Everything else—clothes, toiletries, the essentials—is stuck in some stranger’s hands, probably halfway to a corporate retreat in Denver.

I inhale deeply, summoning the optimism that fuels my travel blog, Wanderlust and Whimsy. This is an adventure. Not a disaster.

Yet.

I glance down at the hastily scratched address on the sticky note in my hand.

River Auto. 673 Mountain Ave.

My next adventure: researching the mail-order bride trend that’s swept these mountains the last few years…by becoming a mail-order bride.

I’m not sure what to expect, only that the ad gave an address and said good woman needed, no questions asked. Apply in-person.

I cross the street to the local diner, hoping to gather my wits and get some directions since my phone battery won’t last another minute with the maps app open.

The Phantom View Diner, with its hand-painted sign and faded red awning, seems like a good place to regroup. The waitress, an older woman with a no-nonsense vibe, is kind enough to listen to my suitcase woes without rolling her eyes.

“You’re stuck without clothes?” she asks, her brow arching. “Honey, the only place to get clothes around here is by renting ski attire at the lodge. Nearest Walmart is two hours back.”

“Great.” I grunt, adjusting Buttercup’s carrier, feeling totally defeated. “I guess I should just head to River Auto–can you give me directions?”

“Why on earth would you go there?” The waitress narrows her eyes at me.

“It’s the reason I’m here.” I sigh, stirring my lukewarm coffee. “I answered a mail-order bride ad as research for my job actually.”

“Well, no shit.” The waitress smirks. “You’re lookin’ for Fox Miller then,” she says, with a twinkle in her eye like she’s in on a private joke. “He’s the town mechanic. If anyone can help you track down that suitcase, it’s him. His garage is just down the road, hang a left at the stop sign.”

“Mechanic?” I wrinkle my nose at the idea of grease-stained overalls and an oil-slicked demeanor. But I don’t have options, and judging by the smirk still hovering on her lips, this Fox character is either incredibly helpful or incredibly infuriating.

Probably both.

I finish my coffee, leaving the waitress a generous tip and then adjusting Buttercup on my shoulder and head out the door and down main street.

Ten minutes later, the sound of a pneumatic wrench hissing fills the air as I approach the open garage of River Auto. My steps falter when I catch sight of the man inside. He’s bent over the hood of an old truck, his broad shoulders filling out a dark t-shirt that clings to his frame in a way that makes my breath hitch.

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Advertisement
The Lumberjack’s Bride (The Mountain Man’s Mail-Order Bride #1) Read Online Aria Cole http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-lumberjacks-bride-the-mountain-mans-mail-order-bride-1-read-online-aria-cole Tue, 28 Jan 2025 08:15:15 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-lumberjacks-bride-the-mountain-mans-mail-order-bride-1-read-online-aria-cole Genre: Alpha Male, Insta-Love Authors: Aria Cole Series: The Mountain Man's Mail-Order Bride Series by Aria Cole
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Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >27

She wanted a fresh start. He just wanted a dog-sitter. Neither expected a love as wild as the woods…

Grady Stevens doesn’t need love. He needs a partner. A practical, no-nonsense wife to keep his rugged life in order and care for his aging black sheepdog while he spends his days deep in the forest, working as a brooding, solitary lumberjack. Inspired by his best friend’s successful mail-order bride story, Grady places an ad for his own bride. But what he gets is not what he expected.
Sarah Gerard is everything Grady didn’t ask for—and everything he secretly needs. A curvy, sunshiney schoolteacher with a past that’s left her bruised and wary, Sarah is seeking a fresh start far from the betrayal of her fat-shaming ex-boyfriend and toxic workplace. She’s ready to take on the wilderness, but she never expected her grumpy, older husband to be so…irresistible.
With a lazy, lovable dog at their feet, Sarah and Grady will have to decide if the life they’ve built together is worth fighting for, even as their pasts threaten to tear them apart.

The Lumberjack’s Bride is a fun romp with a grumpy, ex-military, mountain man loner and his younger, sweet and curvy bride. The Mountain Man’s Mail Order Bride series features rugged men, unexpected brides, and love as wild as the mountain winds that whip around Devil’s Peak.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter One

Grady

Bear’s paws click against the linoleum floor as we leave the vet’s office. He’s slower these days, his once-sleek black coat showing streaks of gray. I grip the bag of prescriptions in one hand and his leash in the other, my chest tightening as he stops to sniff a patch of grass just outside the door.

“C’mon, Bear,” I mutter. He looks up at me with those soulful eyes, and damn if it doesn’t feel like he understands every word I’m saying. “We’ve got a long day ahead.”

The vet’s words echo in my mind. A calmer routine will be good for him, Grady. Hell, Bear and I have spent years trekking through the woods, felling trees, and hauling logs. Asking him to slow down feels like cutting off his lifeline—and mine, too.

The bag rustles in my hand as I shove it into the truck’s glove box and then lift Bear into the truck. His movements are careful, calculated. Watching him hurts more than I’ll ever admit out loud. It’s been just the two of us since I came back to Devil’s Peak after my last deployment.

Lately, though, I’ve been thinking. Maybe it’s time for a change—for both of us.

The idea planted itself when Quinn, my sister, showed up on the mountain a few months ago to research the constellations around Devil’s Peak, and then answered a mail-order bride ad as part of a prank pulled by Ridge’s brother, Zane. I guess she couldn’t stand to stay with me and ole Bear more than a few weeks before being a mail-order bride sounded like a better deal–Ridge didn’t know Zane had taken out the ad on his behalf–not until my sister showed up on his doorstep with her suitcase and a smile. That woman has turned his world upside down since then, and now Ridge is happier than I’ve ever seen him. It’s been gnawing at me ever since. I can’t say I want what Ridge has exactly, but the thought of coming home to a quiet, steady presence—not a firecracker like my sister Quinn—doesn’t sound half bad.

I drive the few blocks to The Devil’s Brew, the local brewery, where Ridge and the rest of the guys are already waiting. The brewery’s neon sign buzzes faintly in the twilight, the scent of sawdust and hops wafting out when I push open the door. Ridge and Slate Warner, Liam, and Fox are at a booth, beers already in hand.

“Well, if it isn’t Grady Stevens,” Ridge drawls, his grin wide and wicked. “Finally decided to grace us with your presence.”

I grumble under my breath, sliding into the booth beside Liam. “Had to take Bear to the vet.”

“How’s the old boy?” Slate asks, his easy smile dimming just a touch.

“Slowing down,” I admit. “Got him on new meds, though.”

Liam raises his beer. “To Bear. The only soul who can stand this grouchy bastard.”

Fox chuckles. “Amen to that.”

I grunt, grabbing the beer Ridge slides across the table. The teasing is familiar, comfortable. These guys have been my family for years now, through deployments, losses, and more goodbyes than I care to count.

“You hear about the new teacher at the elementary school? Emma was talking about it last night–something about a city girl from Denver getting canned from her last teaching job for some rumor about–”

“Didn’t come here for the gossip,” Liam interrupts, then pulls on his IPA. Fox chuckles and nods in agreement.

“So, Grady,” Ridge starts, his tone far too casual. “You ever hear back from that ad you placed in Mountain Living Magazine?”

The beer freezes halfway to my mouth. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Liam snorts. “Don’t play dumb, Grady. We all know about the ‘practical wife’ ad. ‘Hardworking, no-nonsense, and okay with living in the woods.’ Real romantic.”

I set my beer down with more force than necessary. “It’s practical. Not everything has to be about romance.”

“Yeah, sure,” Ridge says, his grin widening. “Except the part where you’re hoping she’ll fall in love with you over chopping firewood and feeding Bear.”

“She’s not falling in love with anyone,” I snap. “It’s not that kind of arrangement.”

Slate raises an eyebrow. “So you’re just gonna bring some poor woman out here, plop her in your cabin, and expect her to be happy without so much as a damn spark?”

“Exactly.” My tone leaves no room for argument.

Ridge whistles low. “You really are a cold-hearted bastard.” His eyes brim with amusement as he says the next part: “Hey, you got no judgement from me. The day Quinn showed up on my doorstep changed my life–she’s made me the happiest man on this damn mountain. We both want the same for you, bro.”

“Whatever,” I mutter, draining my beer. “Not all of us are looking for a fairy tale.”

The guys exchange looks but let it drop. I glance at my watch, eager to leave before they can dig deeper. I’ve got a meeting tomorrow with whoever answered the ad. No need to have them ruin that, too.

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Advertisement
The Miner’s Miracle (The Mountain Man’s Mail-Order Bride #2) Read Online Aria Cole http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-miners-miracle-the-mountain-mans-mail-order-bride-2-read-online-aria-cole Tue, 28 Jan 2025 08:15:14 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-miners-miracle-the-mountain-mans-mail-order-bride-2-read-online-aria-cole Genre: Alpha Male, Insta-Love Authors: Aria Cole Series: The Mountain Man's Mail-Order Bride Series by Aria Cole
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Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >28

She moved to the mountains in search of peace, instead she found the neighbor from hell…

Tessa moved to Devil’s Peak for a fresh start, but instead, she got him, the loudest, grumpiest mountain man alive. Finn–and his mischievous dog—have been the bane of her existence since she moved into the cabin next door. But when Tessa answers a mail-order bride ad hoping to find a life partner after heartbreak, she’s blindsided to discover that Finn is her “perfect match.”
Finn’s no stranger to hard work or solitude. Haunted by a painful past, he put out the mail-order bride ad for a no-nonsense wife, not expecting the infuriating and feisty, flower-loving nurse next door to show up and throw his quiet life into chaos. Their banter is sharp, their attraction undeniable, but Finn is certain a woman as vibrant as Tessa could never fit into his rough and lonely world.
When an unexpected emergency forces them to share a bed, their fiery clashes ignite into a scorching attraction neither can ignore. Sarcasm turns to sizzling chemistry, and Finn’s icy heart begins to thaw under Tessa’s sunshine. But just as love blooms, life throws them another curveball that threatens their fragile bond and Tessa fears she’ll lose everything—again. But what she doesn’t realize is that this growly mountain man has no intention of letting her go…

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter One

Tessa

The sound hits me like a thunderclap. Metallic clanging, the rumble of a motor sputtering to life, and a low, gravelly curse that slices through the crisp morning air. My fingers freeze around the trowel I’m using to repot a fern, and I glare at the cabin next door, my peace and quiet obliterated for the third time this week.

“Are you kidding me?” I mutter, wiping my dirt-smudged hands on my jeans. This was supposed to be my fresh start—six months of tranquility, surrounded by the serenity of Devil’s Peak. Instead, I’ve landed next to Finn Taylor, the loudest man in existence, with his incessant mining equipment and that obnoxiously adorable dog of his.

I shove my trowel into the soil with more force than necessary and march toward the noise. Shep, his overgrown Australian Shepherd-Saint Bernard mix, bounds into my yard like he’s been waiting for me. His tail wags furiously, scattering loose dirt from my flowerbeds. I crouch down despite myself, scratching behind his floppy ears as he presses his massive head into my hands.

“Shep, you’re lucky you’re cute,” I mutter. He licks my cheek in response, his enthusiasm impossible to resist.

The clanging grows louder, followed by another low curse. I straighten, my annoyance rekindled as I head toward the source of my frustration.

Finn is shirtless, of course, because why wouldn’t he be? His broad, muscled back gleams with sweat as he leans over a hunk of machinery, wielding a wrench like it’s an extension of his arm. The sight is... distracting. Not that I’ll admit that out loud.

“Finn!” I call, stepping closer. He doesn’t hear me—or pretends not to—so I raise my voice. “Hey, mountain man!”

He finally turns, straightening to his full, towering height. His dark eyes lock onto mine, and his scowl deepens. “What do you want, Nurse Sunshine?”

I bristle at the nickname. “For you to stop ruining my mornings with all this noise! Some of us like a little peace and quiet, you know.”

Finn crosses his arms over his chest, his biceps flexing in a way that’s almost mocking. “Peace and quiet, huh? Tell that to your damn rooster. That thing starts crowing before the sun’s even up.”

“That’s nature, not machinery!” I snap back. “And at least my rooster doesn’t smell like diesel fumes and wake the dead.”

He smirks, slow and infuriatingly smug. “You sure about that? Pretty sure I heard that thing in my nightmares last night.”

Shep trots up to Finn, tail wagging, clearly unbothered by the tension. Finn scratches behind his ears absently, his gaze still pinned on me. “Anyway, it’s not my fault you picked a cabin next to a miner.”

“I didn’t pick this cabin because of you,” I fire back. “And for the record, I didn’t realize it came with a neighbor who treats noise ordinances like a joke.”

Finn takes a slow step closer, his presence as overwhelming as the mountain itself. “You know, for someone who claims to like peace and quiet, you sure have a lot to say.”

I refuse to back down, even as my pulse betrays me with its quickened beat. “Maybe if you weren’t so loud, I wouldn’t have to.”

He leans in slightly, his voice dropping to a rumble that makes my breath hitch. “You’re feisty, I’ll give you that. But maybe you should stop worrying about what I’m doing and focus on keeping your destroyed flowerbeds alive.”

I gape at him. “Excuse me? Your dog is the one who’s been digging them up!”

“Shep?” Finn looks down at the dog, who wags his tail innocently. “He’d never. Right, buddy?”

Shep barks, and I swear it’s in agreement with Finn. I throw up my hands, exasperated. “Unbelievable. You’re both impossible.”

Finn’s smirk deepens, and something about the glint in his eyes tells me he’s enjoying this far too much. “Welcome to Devil’s Peak, sweetheart.”

I stomp back toward my cabin, Shep trailing after me. When I glance back, Finn is still watching me, his expression unreadable. My stomach does a little flip, and I curse under my breath.

Inside my cabin, I try to distract myself with cleaning. It’s a futile effort, though, because my thoughts keep drifting back to Finn. It’s not just his grumpiness that gets under my skin—it’s the way he looks at me, like he sees straight through my defenses. Like he knows exactly how to rile me up and can’t resist doing it.

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. This wasn’t how I pictured my new life here. I’d hoped for quiet days filled with gardening and evenings curled up with a book. Instead, I’ve got a noisy neighbor with a devil-may-care attitude and a dog who’s charmed his way into my heart despite my best efforts.

A knock at my door pulls me from my thoughts. I open it to find Shep sitting on the porch, a mangled flower in his mouth. Finn stands behind him, holding a wrench in one hand and a sheepish expression in the other.

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