The Texan's Wager

Jodi writes so that the reader sees, hears and smells the plot. I really liked this book and shall now read the second in the series. I really enjoyed Carter and Bailee's story.

A couple you really care about and wonderful secondary characters make this story of two emotionally scarred people finding a home with each other a standout. Carter is a hero to steal your heart. You just want to see Bailee "make it all better" for him...although it takes her a little too long to do that.Jodi Thomas also addresses several prejudices of the era in a sensitive way. The preview at the end of this book has me chomping at the bit to read the second in this series!! Well done Ms. Thomas! Keep 'em coming!

Finally a romance that keeps you reading. It is different than the usual- because the characters are so unique. I've been a romance reader for years and now it's hard to find a book with enough pizzazz to keep my interest. I remember some earlier Jodi Thomas books and they were great, so I was happy to try this. Keep the murders and mysteries- give me a happy ending every time. Thanks so much, Jodi. Hope the other romance readers enjoy as much as I did.Now I am going back to see which of your treasures I missed!

After she and two companions are thrown off of a wagon train, Bailee Moore is forced to help them kill a man who threatens the three women's lives. Since they are not murderers, they confess as soon as they find a lawman to whom to confess. The sheriff is perplexed as to what to do with them, especially since the victim was scheduled to hang anyway, so he settles on offering them in the wife lottery. Carter McKoy, a man still damaged by his past, wins Bailee as his bride. It is not long before she completely disrupts his carefully ordered world, breaking down all his defenses and finding her way into his reluctant heart. Then, they invite danger into their home when they shelter a deaf mute girl who is the one survivor of a train robbery and the sole witness who can identify the killers. Their newly discovered love may die a young death if the robbers have their way. Carter is a hero that presents contradictions; at once he is both naive and wise, with a strength and power that reaches across the page to captivate the reader. Bailee, as with most heroines in historical romances, is a woman ahead of her time, with guts and determination that leads her to strike out and get what she needs, rather than wait for someone to provide it for her. However, not only are the lead characters interesting, but also the background ones, from Bailee's companions to the local whores and the lawmen. Readers will eagerly await the next entry in the trilogy.