The Lieutenant's Bargain by Regina Jennings

Synopsis: Hattie Walker dreams of becoming a painter, while her parents want her to settle down. As a compromise, they give her two months to head to Denver and place her works in an exhibition or give up the dream forever. Her journey is derailed when a gunman attacks her stagecoach, leaving her to be rescued by a group of Arapaho . . . but she's too terrified to recognize them as friendly.

Confirmed bachelor Lieutenant Jack Hennessey has long worked with the tribe and is tasked with trying to convince them that the mission school at Fort Reno can help their children. When a message arrives about a recovered survivor, Jack heads out to take her home--and plead his case once more.

He's stunned to run into Hattie Walker, the girl who shattered his heart--but quickly realizes he has a chance to impress her. When his plan gets tangled through translation, Jack and Hattie end up in a mess that puts her dreams in peril--and tests Jack's resolve to remain single.

This is the 2nd book in The Fort Reno Series. It was fun to see how this book went hand in hand with the first one but was a completely different story in its own right.  With each novel I fell in love with each of the characters and how they were written and portrayed. I also love the bit of mystery in the book and it kept me guessing and wanting more. 

Cara Putman rated it it was amazing

I expect to smile a lot while reading Regina's books and that definitely happened with this one. However, there was a depth to this on--maybe because the heroine meets with tragedy early and then finds herself in what she thinks is an untenable situation. The hero has loved her from a distance for years, which creates its own set of challenges. Add in all kinds of misunderstandings and mishaps, along with a school full of children that stole the heroine's heart and min, and it is another thoroughly enjoyable romp through Fort Reno. I love the fresh take on a marriage of convenience. A delightful historical romance.

Cara's Review was found on www.goodreads.com