The Lieutenant's Bargain
by Regina Jennings
Pub DateDec 04 2018
Bethany House |Bethany House Publishers
Christian



Hattie Walker dreams of becoming a painter, but her parents want her to settle down. Their compromise is to give her two months to get to Denver and exhibit her work or give up forever. A gunman attacks her stagecoach, leaving her to be rescued by a group of Arapaho. However, she's too terrified to recognize them as friendly.



Lieutenant Jack Hennessey has worked with the tribe for many years and is charged with convincing them that the mission school at Fort Reno can help their children. .Jack heads out to take a recovered survivor home--and plead his case once more.



As he runs into Hattie Walker, the girl who broke his heart, he realizes he has a chance to impress her. Jack and Hattie's plan gets tangled by translation, putting her dreams in jeopardy--and testing Jack's resolve to remain single.


I give The Lieutenant’s Bargain five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

The Lieutenant's Bargain was such a great historical romance. After reading the first book in this series, I couldn't wait to pick up this one...and it was even better than book one!

I loved the characters and how they already knew each other. The marriage and events surrounding it were fun and unique. I found the book to be a quick read, as the danger and storyline made me want to just keep reading. ;)

All in all, I loved The Lieutenant's Bargain and definitely recommend it. I plan on reading book three ASAP.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Cute. Quick read. Quirky. Overall, super fun.

Lifelong friends to...marriage of convenience(ish). An adorable couple in a solid read.

In the first book I really felt for Jack and his unrequited love for Hattie. Their reunion is unexpected and again the author devises a highly unusual and entertaining first meeting! The way that they get to know each other again is so sweet, and their eyes are opened not only to the strengths, but also the weaknesses, flaws, and quirks. Jack comes to know the real Hattie, not just the enigma he placed on a pedestal, and Hattie quickly recognizes the significant changes in the young boy she knew and tolerated. Their relationship is rocky and goes through plenty of ups and downs that kept me glued to the pages. I loved Hattie's determination to make something of her painting talent, and Jack's devotion to the success of the school for Arapaho children. The pace is steady with humor, gentle romance, and some suspenseful action as the danger from the stagecoach robbery continues to plague Hattie. This one is my favorite of the series!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

This is a rainy-day sort of book, a perfect delight of reading material. I kept laughing aloud while reading because the situations were just so funny. I loved the whole things—although I really needed at least 500 pages with these characters. So much believable chemistry...so much fun with the blunders they make along the way. Ah, those mischievous “hostile” Indians!! I was dying through those scenes.

I’d liked Jack in the first book in the series and was excited to find out who he’d end up marrying. Hattie, with her fire and spunk and her enjoyable personality, was such a perfect match for him. This book fulfilled all my hopes of how good it would be—and surpassed them. Jennings is easily one of my favorite current authors, and this is one of her best yet.

Thanks to the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

A match made in heaven or a happy misunderstanding? Both of these thoughts would be an appropriate description of this book.

Hattie is on her way to Denver when a bandit holds up the stagecoach killing the driver and passengers. She barely escapes because she took a pit stop in a ditch. Running from outlaws, freezing, and frightened she is eventually rescued by Indians. It seems her luck couldn't get any worse until it does.

Jack is a Lieutenant stationed at Fort Reno and is asked to remove a white woman from the Arapaho tribe. She is causing quite the ruckus. He quickly realizes that she is the girl from his childhood whom he has always carried a torch for. To impress her he asks the chief to turn her over to him in a ceremony, so she will be impressed. He just didn't realize that it was a marriage ceremony.

With a beginning like this, you know it's going to be a fun book to read. I was not disappointed in the slightest. I devoured this book in a day and a half. I loved Jack and Hattie's adventures as they try to remain friends, while attracted to each other. There were many awkward situations and misunderstandings that kept me amused and anticipating what would happen next.

This is a romance with suspense. The gunman is still on the loose and until he is captured, Hattie is the only witness. I loved the humor and the characters. This is a book that I recommend! It has Christian themes and mild kissing.

Source: I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

They are out of the frying pan & into the fire...

I have to confess that once again I didn't read the blurb for a book before deciding I wanted to read it. Really all I had to see was that it is Regina Jennings latest. I stumbled on her books several years ago and have now read nearly all of them published since then.

My second confession is that I really think The Lieutenant's Bargain is my favorite Regina Jennings book, at least so far. The story started off with a bang, almost literally, and took off from there. The mixture of historical romance, moments of humor, and a dash of danger with some surprising results, was just right. There was an additional depth to the story that surprised me in the best of ways. Both Hattie and Jack have a lot of maturing to do, she with her somewhat spoiled childishness, and he with his unrealistic ideal of her perfection. Watching the two of them discovering themselves, with all of their flaws and hidden strengths, and each other was a delight to read.

The Lieutenant's Bargain is a wonderful addition to The Fort Reno Series set in the historical Fort Reno and Darlington Agency of Indian Territory in Oklahoma. It's a charming story of finding out what really matters in life, of love and learning to sacrifice for those you love, and of finding beauty in the most unexpected places.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

This one was really a fun book! I loved Hattie, yes she was a bit of a brat some of the time but I really related to her!
I was sucked in within the first few pages, its starts off with a bit of action, almost leaves you biting your nails, and even when things slow down you still don't want to put the book down

I received this book for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

https://booksnbaubles.com/the-lieutenants-bargain-by-regina-jennings/

The portrait of God and the portrayal of reservation life are the two strongest aspects of this novel. The author uses an observer perspective with an analytical eye that makes for good description but leaves the flow of the romance at a surface level. Occasional modern phrases like “he was clueless” and “messed it up” lifted me out of the time period and the story sometimes, but overall, I enjoyed reading The Lieutenant’s Bargain, and I feel romance readers will feel very satisfied with this novel of inspiration and history.

Please see my full review at All About Romance (dot) com using the link below.

This was a fun, easy read. I have always been intrigued by the arranged marriage, mail-order bride concept of books, where the couple has to learn to love after the vows have been said. This book has a similar concept to that and was a great read.

Set in Indian country, Jack is doing all he can to build good relationships with the local Indians. He works to learn their language, get their children into a school and so on. These plans are threatened by an Indian ceremony gone very wrong.

Hattie has come west to pursue painting before she is forced to get married. Her plans go awry by a stagecoach mishap and I'll leave you to read the book to find out the rest of the story.

Regina did a nice job with the writing. There was romance, friendship, mystery, and sacrifice in the book and that is always valuable in making a good story. I think this is the first book I have read by Regina and I look forward to reading more of her works.

This is the second book in the Fort Reno series, but it reads very well as a stand-alone. Reading the first book first would help with character development, but I didn't struggle at all to figure out what was going on in this second book.

I received this book from Bethany House through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review.

It’s a sweet romance with lovable characters and a plot that moves at just the right pace. The requisite mystery and peril involved take up just enough of the novel to make it interesting, without drawing out the drama too much. Though I didn’t anticipate liking Hattie much at the start of the novel, the way she grows was refreshing and endearing. Jack, of course, was lovable already.

I read this one cover to cover in a few hours, and was sad to see it end. Though I loved Holding the Fort, The Lieutenant’s Bargain was even better. Highly recommend this series!

Hattie Walker doesn’t want to get married.
She wants to be an artist, Her parents have given her two months to prove herself and get a painting in a reputable Denver exhibition, so she’s travelling to Colorado to try and make her mark in the art world. Otherwise, it’s go home to Van Buren, Arkansas, and plan for her future. A stagecoach shootout leaves Hattie as the only survivor … and therefore the only eyewitness to murder. But that’s nothing compared to being kidnapped by Indians for who knows what nefarious purpose.

Lieutenant Jack Hennessey has never been interested in marriage.
The only girl he was ever interested in never showed the slightest sign of liking him. But now he’s rescuing the survivor of a stagecoach robbery, and it turns out to be his childhood sweetheart. Anxious to impress, he asks the village Chief to arrange a ceremony … and ends up married.

Oops. Not quite the impression he wanted to make.
It’s a great set-up: a marriage that’s neither mail order bride nor marriage of convenience, but marriage all the same. And between two people who know and like each other, although that doesn’t mean they actually want to be married. It makes for a fun story, with a lot of great scenes as the two get to know each other and consider their options.

Parts of the novel show the hopefully well-meaning but almost certainly misguided colonialism, with the attempts to integrate the local Indian tribes into the white man’s world (and isn’t that phrase telling: the white man’s world. Not the white world. That’s still a distinction we’re all fighting for). Some Native American readers may say this history is sanitised and sugar-coated, and they’d probably be right.

However, this novel is intended as light entertainment, not a serious treatise on the faults of colonialism (of which there are many). On that level, it works.

The Lieutenant’s Bargain is the second book in the Fort Reno series, but can easily be read as a standalone novel. Recommended for fans of Christian Western historical romance … especially those who like a little humour in their romance.

Thanks to Baker Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

The Lieutenant’s Bargain by Regina Jennings was a book that I found to have adventure and suspense with romance thrown in there as well. This is the second book in the series by this author and I think could be read without reading the first book in the series. With that being said, I think the first book is definitely worth reading and if I had to decide on rating them I would rate the 1st book higher. This book drew me in with the cover. It gives a great feel of early American life around the American Indians. The determination to work with them and find ways to work together and not against each other is inspiring. The adventure of what she thinks her future should look like in contrast with what her future turns out to be is exciting to watch unfold.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

***Also posted on CBD, B&N

I enjoyed this book so much! I loved that is was a sequel but always a stand alone novel. The events that took place was so fun and adventurous I felt right there in it. I loved seeing how the two main characters grew together through their unfortunate events.

Well written plot and characters. Nice read for fans of clean romance with a little bit of mystery. A good book to read on a cold, winter’s night.

The Lieutenant’sBargain see Hattie is quite a few interesting interesting diliemas from the very first page to the last. Thank you for continuing the series. Can’t wait till the next one.

Fun historical romance. Well worth the time to read. You will grin from ear to ear during parts of the story and cry during other parts.

Another great story by Regina Jennings!

There is so much interesting history tucked into this book....I loved finding out about  some of the Arapaho Indians customs and about the Indian School in Darlington. 

Hattie and Jack's characters are adorable as well as their supporting cast. I can imagine them in this setting of Fort Reno perfectly.

If you like a little history with your romance, you'll love this book. Just enough history to whet you appetite and a truly beautiful love story.

Though this is the second book in the Fort Reno series, it can easily be read as a stand alone book. I hope you choose to pick up a copy of this book and enjoy it as much as I did.

This is an entertaining and well-written story. There’s humor as well as suspense, and I enjoyed that combination. I loved the characters of Jack and Hattie, especially Jack. It was fun to see him through Hattie’s eyes as the awkward, intelligent young man she knew in their childhood years and then see him become her handsome, if sometimes still socially awkward, hero. Hattie is quite the lively young woman who means well but has a tendency to act before she thinks. The setting of the Indian school was interesting and I liked the way the author incorporated her research into this book. Jack and Hattie’s unintentional wedding is the centerpiece of the storyline and keeps the interest in the story moving along. Hattie needs a hero to protect her from those who want to kill her, and Jack’s there to help. Their story is a sweet one and makes this a good, old-fashioned Western love story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Susan F's review
Dec 29, 2018 · edit


it was amazing






This is an enjoyable romance and adventure story that starts out with action. Hattie is a character that changes and matured though the trials she endures. Jack is getting a form of payback for the teasing he gave his superior officer and friend from the previous book in the Fort Reno series. He is also a magnetic male lead.
The inclusion of Arapaho natives makes this story interesting and informative. Their caring, loyalty and pride adds such depth to the story, especially their devotion to the children who they are slowly allowing to attend the white man's school. The characters are easy to care about and the believable plot makes me want to read more from the series. This is an excellent story for the Christmas season or any time.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my copy. (I must comment that the description in the advanced readers copy about using oil paints and having them mistakenly dry quickly was forgivable because the story is so good.)