Westerns, romance and humor seem to go hand in hand. From 1938’s The Cowboy and the Lady to 2014’s A Million Ways to Die in the West, movies and books love to blend a look at the Wild West with a pretty lady, a clueless cowboy and a lot of laughs. With This Ring? is an anthology of Inspirational Romance novellas that feature some of the most popular writers in Christian fiction today exploring this theme to the fullest.

Engaging the Enemy by Melissa Jagears, the first book in the Teaville Moral Society series, is all about the war between the sexes.

Harrison Gray has carried a grudge against Charlotte “Charlie” Andrews since she embarrassed him by outshooting him at a Sunday school party. He’d eventually let go of his need for vengeance but the two have not been friends since. When the pastor of their church informs him that Charlie is entering a marriage of convenience and asks that he speak to her, Harrison (against his better judgment) follows her out to her ranch to hold the discussion.

When a storm forces them to seek shelter, Harrison breaks his pair of glasses which essentially blinds him. Charlie helps him home and agrees to be his eyes in his classroom until he can receive a new pair of spectacles. As the two spend time together they realize they have loved each other all along, work out the problem behind Charlie’s planned marriage of convenience and bibbity bobbity boo, HEA.

I had some real issues with this story. The first was the glasses fiasco. Why would a man who had money saved up own only one pair of glasses when they were absolutely necessary and would have to be shipped from out of town? If his sight was so bad he couldn’t see a HOUSE in a rainstorm, wouldn’t he be essentially legally blind without them? Wouldn’t it make sense for him to have spares? I double-checked the text and all I learned was that the glasses available in town weren’t the kind he needed and he knew this before the breaking of his only pair of eyewear. The man is a school teacher so he reads a lot. Even if he didn’t need them to just see (which he totally does) he needs the glasses so that he can work. Not having a spare set when there is money in the bank and it takes over half a month to get replacements is at best careless but in all truth, leans towards stupid.

Issue number two for me was how much of the text was about how girls are just as good as boys. It’s an interesting and honest point, but the issue had never been about equality between the sexes but about Harrison’s inability to hold a conversation and Charlie’s inability to refrain from bragging. It just seemed rather pointless to spend so much of the story discussing who was the better shot. Also, it meant that the courtship which leads to the HEA was all done off page. We saw only the lead up to the courtship which had them resolving the issues they had to clear up before they could start dating. I’m fussy – I want the courtship and falling in love, not the prequel period. Grade: C- Sensuality: Kisses

Her Dearly Unintended by Regina Jennings is the story of Josiah Huckabee and Katie Ellen Watson. Fans of the author will recognize Josiah from A Most Inconvenient Marriage and both characters made an appearance in At Love’s Bidding.

At the start of this story, Katie Ellen is trying to get two cows across a bridge in a gushing rain storm when Josiah steps in to lend a hand. Proving that no good deed goes unpunished, the bridge connecting their properties washes out behind him, stranding him on her land. Since Katie Ellen currently despises Josiah for apparently throwing her over, this is not a good thing. When the two head back to her place it is to find a stranger on her porch, a man who seems determined to avail himself of their hospitality, whether they want to share it or not. Knowing her parents are out of town and determined to protect her, Josiah attaches himself to the lovely Katie Ellen despite her protests. But will playing man and wife in order to convince the outsider they are a young couple equipped to deal with danger prove more hazardous to their hearts than it is to the villain on their sofa?

It’s a romance novella so you can rest assured the answer is a resounding yes. I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Jennings’ At Love’s Bidding but the silliness of this tale just about drove me to distraction. Katie Ellen was so caught up in how she felt about Josiah she couldn’t concentrate on the danger they were in, the case of mistaken identity was frankly ridiculous and Josiah’s unwillingness to actually talk to Katie about things didn’t bode well for their future. Good prose and some nice character building saved this from being a complete fiasco but it was a bit too slap-stick for my taste. Grade: C Sensuality: Kisses

Mary Connealy’s Runaway Bride introduces readers to Carrie and Isaac Halsey, the brother and sister of heroine Audra, from the author’s In Too Deep. Carrie is being married off to a truly bad man to pay off her father’s gambling debts. She determines to run away before the wedding and Isaac accompanies her, both to keep her company and to get himself out from under his father’s nefarious schemes. However, no sooner are they out their window than they meet up with a tall, dangerous man.

Big John Conroy loves his life as a solitary, nomadic Texas Ranger. He doesn’t expect that doing a favor for some friends in the form of escorting Carrie to safety will change that. But spending some time in her company has him wondering if maybe he shouldn’t think about putting down roots so he can spend all his time in her company. Chock full of characters from the author’s The Kincaid Brides and Trouble in Texas series, this novella will be a real treat for the author’s fans. It’s also very easy to follow for those who have never read any of her books.

I found the story mildly engaging and blessedly free of overt slap-stick comedy. The characters are a bit stock-in-trade, but given the length of the tale it works here and the plotting and pacing make it a very quick read. Grade: B Sensuality: Kisses

The Husband Maneuver by Karen Witemeyer is a sequel to her book A Worthy Pursuit. In that book. Daniel Barrett and Marietta Hawkins are secondary characters who clearly have feelings for each other but at that time Daniel had no intention of acting on those emotions. When he’d hired on as ranch foreman for her father, he’d sworn not to flirt with, court or otherwise attempt to engage Marietta’s affections as long as he worked on the ranch.

At the start of this novella, he’s ready to move to his own spread. Once he’s got the place habitable and viable he plans to begin wooing Marietta properly. Naturally, none of this is discussed with the lady in question. All Marietta knows is that Dan is planning to leave – without her!

Witemeyer’s novella is perfect for fans who love their romances sweet and their heroines sassy. Marietta refuses to play a passive role in her own destiny and goes after what she wants with gusto. Determined that Dan won’t leave before becoming convinced his life won’t be complete without her she sets out to prove just what an invaluable asset she will be to his new life, with sometimes hilarious results. This is a sweet, fun tale which was a pleasure to read. Grade: B+ Sensuality: Kisses