About This Episide

About the Book

Assistant schoolteacher Claribel Oakley struggles with saying no to people—a trait that gets her into serious trouble when Eric Meyer, the widowed father of two of her students, proposes marriage. When Claribel fumbles her attempt to decline, explaining she wants to marry for love rather than convenience, Eric misunderstands completely. Then tragedy strikes, and Claribel suddenly finds herself responsible for Eric’s children and his farm.

Enter Professor Franz Meyer, who arrives in Summit County, Colorado, hoping to reconcile with his estranged brother Eric. Instead, he discovers Eric is gone, leaving behind unanswered questions and two young children. One thing Franz knows immediately: he’s fallen for Claribel at first sight and is determined to win her heart.

But there’s a complication—Claribel’s flirtatious twin sister Clementine has set her sights on Franz. As Franz investigates what happened to his brother and danger closes in, Claribel must decide whether to say yes to love before it’s too late.

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Our Discussion Highlights

The Struggle to Say No

We connected deeply with Claribel’s inability to refuse people’s requests. As one host admitted, “I got told this week, ‘It’s okay to say no, Tiff.'” Claribel’s challenge resonated with us—she wanted to keep the children happy and ensure they grew up properly, showing her genuine heart for them. However, we agreed she needed to buck up and be firm, especially when facing an unwanted marriage proposal!

The Brother Backstory

The rift between Franz and Eric created compelling drama. Eric had run off with Franz’s fiancée after she became pregnant with Eric’s child—leaving behind both his brother and a vast fortune. We couldn’t blame Franz for not wanting to talk to his brother after such a betrayal. This backstory added depth and emotional weight to Franz’s journey.

Twin Sister Drama

The mix-up between Claribel and her twin Clementine provided some of our favorite moments. When Franz mistakes Clementine for Claribel at the mercantile and wraps his arms around her from behind, it sets off a chain reaction. Clementine, described as a big flirt (just like her older brother Maverick!), assumes Franz is interested in her.

We thought Franz should have been more direct in letting Clementine down gently, but we also understood the complications. When Clementine asked Claribel if she had feelings for Franz, Claribel couldn’t bring herself to tell the truth. While we didn’t care for Clementine’s dramatic reaction when Franz chose Claribel, we acknowledged that part of the blame fell on Claribel for not being honest.

That Adorable (and Confusing) “Wedding” Scene

One of the most entertaining moments involved the children reenacting the story of the troll under the bridge with the three goats. The kids, who desperately wanted Franz and Claribel to marry, took matters into their own hands. When they went to town and announced their teacher and uncle were married, it created quite the scandal!

This led to an interesting discussion about marriage customs in historical times, including common law marriage and the tradition of “jumping the broom.” We were fascinated to learn that couples could be considered married simply by saying vows in front of witnesses, even without a preacher present—which was necessary when preachers only came through every six months or so.

An Unexpected Ending

Rather than the typical ending where Franz might become a teacher and they’d settle down locally, Hedlund surprised us. The family’s move far away left us wondering if they’d ever see their loved ones again, though we appreciated that Claribel got her fairy tale ending—complete with a castle and more than she ever could have dreamed of.

The unresolved rift between Franz and Eric was heartbreaking, but we recognized it as an important reminder that sometimes we don’t get those resolutions in life. It’s a powerful lesson about making amends while you still can.

Our Ratings

• Drama Level: Latte (lots of drama between brothers and sisters!)
• Mystery Level: Espresso to Mocha (something’s definitely going on)
• Inspirational Level: Espresso (more historical romance than inspirational)
• Suspense Level: Espresso (present but not overwhelming)
• Romance Level: Latte to Mocha (opinions varied on the romance intensity)
• Overall Lasso Rating: 3 out of 3 Lassos

Final Thoughts

Willing to Wed the Rancher kept us engaged with its character-driven plot, family dynamics, and sweet romance. While it may not be Hedlund’s most inspirational series, it delivers an enjoyable historical romance with heart. The book also opens possibilities for a future series following the family in their new home.

We recommend this for fans of historical Christian romance who enjoy stories about second chances, blended families, and characters learning to stand up for themselves.

Have you read Willing to Wed the Rancher? We’d love to hear your thoughts! And if you enjoyed this episode, please share our podcast—every share helps us reach more readers and authors like you.

Until next time, happy and blessed reading and writing!

Listen to the full episode on the LiteraryScape Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts!