Courting Miss Hattie
Courting Miss Hattie book cover

Courting Miss Hattie

Price
$6.34
Format
Paperback
Pages
304
Publisher
Bantam Books
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0553290004
Dimensions
4.25 x 0.75 x 7 inches
Weight
5.6 ounces

Description

From the Publisher The news spread like brush fire through the whole county when widower Ancil Drayton announced his intention to start courting Miss Hattie Colfax. She was certainly spirited and delightfully sweet natured, and she'd managed to run her family farm almost single-handedly. But wasn't a twenty-nine-year-old lady farmer too old to catch a husband? An Irresistable Suitor. All his life handsome, black-haired Reed Tyler had worked Miss Hattie's farm--and dreamed of one day settling down on his own piece of land with the pretty young woman he'd sworn to marry. Hattie was someone he could tell his hopes and troubles to--someone he looked on as a sister. So he thought, until the idea of Ancil Drayton calling on her made him seethe. Until the night a brotherly peck became a scorching kiss... and Reed knew nothing would bank the blaze--and that his best friend was the only woman he would ever love. From the Inside Flap ead like brush fire through the whole county when widower Ancil Drayton announced his intention to start courting Miss Hattie Colfax. She was certainly spirited and delightfully sweet natured, and she'd managed to run her family farm almost single-handedly. But wasn't a twenty-nine-year-old lady farmer too old to catch a husband?An Irresistable Suitor.All his life handsome, black-haired Reed Tyler had worked Miss Hattie's farm--and dreamed of one day settling down on his own piece of land with the pretty young woman he'd sworn to marry. Hattie was someone he could tell his hopes and troubles to--someone he looked on as a sister. So he thought, until the idea of Ancil Drayton calling on her made him seethe. Until the night a brotherly peck became a scorching kiss... and Reed knew nothing would bank the blaze--and that his best friend was the only woman he would ever love.

Features & Highlights

  • The news spread like brush fire through the whole county when widower Ancil Drayton announced his intention to start courting Miss Hattie Colfax. She was certainly spirited and delightfully sweet natured, and she'd managed to run her family farm almost single-handedly. But wasn't a twenty-nine-year-old lady farmer too old to catch a husband?An Irresistable Suitor.All his life handsome, black-haired Reed Tyler had worked Miss Hattie's farm--and dreamed of one day settling down on his own piece of land with the pretty young woman he'd sworn to marry. Hattie was someone he could tell his hopes and troubles to--someone he looked on as a sister. So he thought, until the idea of Ancil Drayton calling on her made him seethe. Until the night a brotherly peck became a scorching kiss... and Reed knew nothing would bank the blaze--and that his best friend was the only woman he would ever love.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(142)
★★★★
25%
(59)
★★★
15%
(35)
★★
7%
(17)
-7%
(-17)

Most Helpful Reviews

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They Had Me at "Plowboy"...

Yay for Pamela Morsi! Once again, we have a sweet romance with realistic characters, funny dialogue, and a couple of sensual scenes that nearly set the pages on fire.
Hattie Colfax is a twenty-nine-year-old spinster who manages her Arkansas farm with a lot of work, plenty of good humor, and help from her neighbor and friend Reed Tyler. Reed is five years younger than she, and has known her all his life. He believes himself in love with his fiancee Bessie Jane, but Hattie is his best friend.
Out of the blue, Hattie finds herself being courted by the widower Ancil Drayton. While she can accept that he wants her for her land and as a mother to his children, she finds his physical advances confusing. She rebuffs him when he tries to kiss her, and he calls her 'Horseface Hattie'. Reed finds her crying in the barn, and decides to give her kissing lessons to help the courtship along. One 'peach' (sweet and juicy kiss) later, the whole situation has changed.
Reed is now very attracted to Hattie, and Hattie knows that she'd rather kiss Reed than Ancil Drayton. Confuzzlement occurs, Bessie Jane becomes distant to Reed and breaks their engagement, Hattie tells Drayton to back off, and poor nervous Reed officially comes a-courting Miss Hattie. The memorable one-night courtship is almost ruined by Reed's lack of romantic notions, but finishes with a scene that will give you a host of new ideas regarding your porch and porch swing.
Of course, it's never _too_ easy. Reed has to let go of Bessie Jane, and acknowledge his love for Hattie, and Hattie has to be convinced that Reed didn't just marry her for her farm. But this is a Pamela Morsi novel, so you can be sure it'll turn out fine. If you can find it, get it, and enjoy!
15 people found this helpful
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An Original Story Lovingly Told

This is a unique story about finding love – when the other person has been your best friend for years. Hattie Colfax is a plain woman of 29 years. Both parents are dead and Hattie has been tending her farm with only help from Reed Tyler.

Reed started working at the Colfax farm when Hattie’s father hired him to help out at their farm; Reed was less than 10 at the time. He loves the land; Hattie has promised to sell it to him when he has saved enough to buy it. Reed is 24 years old.

Bessie Jane is the beautiful, spoiled 17 year-old engaged to marry Reed; she wants to marry NOW and Reed patiently tells her they must wait. Reed refuses to marry until he can provide for a wife.

This quiet situation is suddenly overturned by the news that Ancil Drayton, a recent widower with seven children, plans to court Miss Hattie. It takes Reed some time to realize that he is jealous; he’s never looked at the five year older Hattie as a woman.

This is an absolutely beautiful story; why only 4 stars? *************SPOILERS **************** When Ancil Drayton becomes enraged that Hattie shies away from his kisses, he calls her cruel names. Then he tells other men why he really wants to marry Hattie – and it has nothing to do with her fine character or charm. Hattie is a strong woman; I cannot imagine her standing for such cruel treatment just to get married (never mind that he’s a mean, weak person).

I simply could not understand why Bessie Jane suddenly agreed to marry Harmon. They had been in love with each other for years. Bessie Jane’s dad hated Harmon and tossed him from his home. She was a snob and did not want to marry a junkman. What suddenly changed? *********************

This is an original story that is really well-written. The characters are real and engaging. I was hooked from page one.

Courting Miss Hattie – 1992 RITA Award for Best Novel
6 people found this helpful
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In one word: Perfect.

I have no words.

Perfection.

Expanded thoughts: Although I would normally be troubled by a hero who is already engaged, it worked in this book, and the bratty betrothed actually has more layers than initially portrayed. Miss Hattie is a wonderful character who reminds me a bit of Maggie Osborne's Jenny Jones in her self-sufficiency and lack of pretension. Reed is hotttness personified - honest, hard-working, and playful with a hint of wickedness. I love how the author reveals his feelings for Hattie...even without Reed's being able to put a name to such just yet. The moment when Hattie realizes Reed intends his visit to be courting is priceless. I was deeply invested in their HEA from the start. Reed and his peaches...*shivers* delicious! Theirs is a sweet and passionate story with a slow burn that feels so damn good when it catches fire.

I loved this book. Seriously loved it.
1 people found this helpful
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A few new twists on an old theme

Much of this book is traditional romance. Boy knows girl, girl knows boy but both are clueless that they are meant for each other. What is different about this book is that it takes on ageism as Miss Hattie is several years older than Reed. It's also set around the turn of the century, a time that hasn't been done to death in romantic fiction.
The book's a little slow to get started but the last hundred pages are hard to put down. Not a keeper but a good read.
1 people found this helpful