The Texan's Wager (The Wife Lottery)

This is the first book of a series known as the Texas bride lottery series. The story begins with three women, Bailee, Sarah, and Lacy, abandoned by their wagon train and left stranded with no weapons and very little food. The people who abandoned them might have thought they would die, but these are very plucky women. As they make their way to Texas, they are accosted by a criminal and local bully who decides to take their wagon and kidnap the youngest woman for later sale to commancheros. The women have finally taken enough from life in general and this person in particular and they him with a club. Horrified that they seem to have killed him, they decide their only option is to fess-up at the nearest town and plead self defense. Soon they are confessing their sins to the sheriff of Cedar Point, who doubts the story but must keep a hold of them while he checks it out. It doesn't help when they can't find the body. In the meantime the women are taking over his jail and eating his small budget into the ground. Knowing that even if they find a victim, he would never get a conviction in this woman-starved town, he manages to talk them into participating in a bride lottery where any man willing to pay their fine would be allowed to put his name in a hat to get a chance to marry one of them. This is Bailee's story and it is a very moving and funny romance. I like the touches of humor and the way the author deals with this oddball romance and makes it work. She makes you like these people, and care what happens to them. When it turns out their victim is not only not dead, but is carrying a grudge and suspects them of robbing him while he was unconscious, the plot heats up. Throw in some train robbers, a deaf child who is the only witness to their crime, some gypsies on the run, and assorted deputies, Texas rangers, and ladies of easy virtue, and you have a lively and amusing tale. This one is a keeper.

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Book Evaluation: Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️ World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎 Cover:📔📔📔📔 Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻 Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️ Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥 Relationship Building: 💒💒💒 Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞 Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂 Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖 Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧 Overall View: ✨✨✨✨ First Impressions The Texan's Wager is the first book in the Wife's Lottery series by Jodi Thomas. This was also my very first Jodi Thomas book and I was beyond impressed with this. I was first drawn to this book years ago when seeing it on all of the top romance booklists and I was intrigued on why that was. I finally took the initiative and buddy read this with Mina @ Mina Reads and it was a blast of a good time. I was so highly entertained by this one and I couldn't put it down. If you are looking for witty writing that is highly engaging in a historical read, than this is a book for you especially if you are drawn to the forced marriage type of situation and a beta tortured hero. I was so fascinated by the set up of the story and for the most part it was execute very well and the author really engages you very easily. This is a quick and fast read that has such heart and characters that just wrench your heart in such a relative human way. First Line Bailee Grace Moore watches as the last few stragglers of the Rolan wagon train disappeared into the fiery sunset. The Main Protagonists The Hero: Carter McKoy Parents murdered at a young age, was abused living in different homes, until he found his place at his parents farm learning to make his place a fortress and building a life for him away from the human world and is more than content. The Heroine: Bailee Moore Bailee having been kicked out of her fathers home, abandoned by a previous fiancee and forced to go out west on a wagon train, is a strong go getter who is independent but has a soft caring heart. Summary Bailee alongside with her two friends Lucy and Sarah are abandoned by their wagon train near the Texas border, so they make the trek through Texas, hoping that they find a town before they starve to death. They are discovered by a lone man outside of the town "Cedar Point" and this is where they are attacked and in self defense they are forced to kill the man that attacked them. They then find the town Cedar Point and confess everything to the sheriff. The sheriff knows that these women aren't killers, but he also can't let it just be hidden under the rug. So he barters them off as brides to pay the fine of the crime. Bailee is bartered off to Carter McKoy who is the town's reject. He doesn't speak much and isn't used to human interaction. When he finds himself with a wife, he has no clue what to do with her. He has had only the barest interaction with very few people from town, he doesn't speak much and is haunted by the demons of his past and losing his parents at such a young age. But he knows that having a "wife" is the normal way of things even if he is at a loss how to deal with her after living alone for so long. But Bailee is determined to make this marriage work and find a common ground with her new quiet husband who is making her fall hard for him in his strong resilient ways... What I Loved The Texan's Wager was such a delightful book! I had so much fun with this one. Literally I was laughing all over the place. The writing style from this author is super witty just in the way its written and it just captivated me immediately and I was so drawn into these characters. I absolutely loved all of these women that become friends and very quickly. They all have very different personalities but Bailee was one I probably related with the most. She is strong and independent but also wants love in her life and a true family. Then we have Carter, who is a hero that held my heart. I am normally not drawn to the beta heroes, but Carter, he was so delicious. He is broody, quiet, and so tormented. When you see as he goes through the motions, what motivates him and how he gets treated by others in the town, my heart fell so hard for him. But if you are a fan of (Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan I guarantee you will die for this hero). These two couldn't be more opposites if they tried. haha And Carter doesn't talk very much so their beginning is definitely tough and it happens very slowly their connection. But once they really find their common ground with each other and start communicating with each other in some very unique ways they also click on every level and seeing this connection was so captivating. I was so drawn in emotionally on the bond that they create for each other. The sweet way that they can sense what the other needs and fill that need. The moments in which they will protect each other and fight for what the other needs and protect those in need, just melts the heart. If you are looking for a solid historical western that will steal your heart, then look no further than "The Texan's Wager". What I Struggled With So there were a few aspects to this story I wasn't a huge fan of. The plot in the second half of the story was truly unnecessary. It couldn't have been way shortened down the danger aspects to the story because having it drawn out so much really was a detriment to the romance as a whole. Because just when these two are clicking and connecting, is when the danger side of the plot is introduced and it really took away for their story. This couple deserved more time to flesh out their relationship more and really learn each other. Also if you are expecting high spice, don't with this one. There is like one bedroom scene although the intimacy aspects are done very well and they each have a deep connection to each other. However, I feel like their romance was ruined by the plot of the story. And there were a few plot holes on little details that might throw some readers off as well Overall View The Texan's Wager is a emotionally powerful story that will grab your attention and take your breath away. Its a story to tug at your heartstrings and display deep poignant emotion to captivate from beginning to end. Book Details (also in my shelves) Sub Genre: Historical Romance, American West Character Types: Beta Hero, Tortured Hero Themes: Small Town, Disability, Female Friendships, Wager, Western Tropes: Arranged Marriage/Marriage of Convenience, Opposites Attract Book Perspective 3rd POV Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict Plot Conflict is more present Song This Book Inspires Don't Be Afraid by Air Supply Recommendation For Reading Order Can be read as a standalone

A strong 4.5 stars for me! Second time I have read this book. Starts out wonderful! We meet the 3 brave, down on their luck, lonely women of Mrs. Thomas's Texan's series. Then we meet Carter who is to become Bailee's wife. OMG one of my favorite hero's EVER!!!! He's the strong silent type, which as the story progresses you will realize why. You will also learn that his still waters run DEEEPPP!!! He did'nt just tug at my heartstrings he ripped them out of my chest! He's shunned, he does not even realize he's so lonely. What he writes on his plain brown sack for the bride raffle is both simple and heartrendering. Then their are his first few spoken words to her, SSIIIGGGHH. I usually don't wax SO poetic over every novel I read but this one just stays with you. The heroine Bailee, although not as sigh-worthy as the Carter is still really likeable. She's brave, passionate, but also insecure, unwanted and untouched. They fulfill in each other the basic human need to love and be loved. Bravo Mrs. Thomas! Would have given this book a 5 star rating except for the middle where it gets unneccessarily convoluted with a child, train robbers, sheriffs, gypsies, whores, a ranger, a widow, and other people and sundry. Took away from the main characters beautifully blossoming romance. Of course some of this conflict helps the characters bond and realize how important they are to each other. Their was just too much melodrama. Still the ending, (not the epilogue) the last chapter in this book, was also pretty sweet and satisfying. This one made me want to write the author and beg her to re-write this one if only so I could spend a few more hours with Carter and Bailee. Read it!

This was a great read with a lot of funny and delightful characters. On to book number 2, which I hope is as good as this one.

gut entwickelte Charaktäre machen das Buch zu einem Lesevergnügen. STarke Frau mit Vergangenheit trifft Famer mit PTSS nach dem Mord an seinen Eltern.

Carter McKoy... Big time swooning. And a great heroine, not a pushover, not a damsel in distress. Great book in everyday.

After being left behind the wagon train, Bailee and her 2 friends are entered in a wife lottery. She's won by reclusive widowed farmer Carter McCoy

Una pena que un libro que empieza tan bien acabe tan regular. La primera mitad del libro está muy bien (algo más de la mitad). La historia de tres mujeres, a cada cual más diferente, que intentan sobrevivir en medio (literalmente) del salvaje oeste. En cuanto se acercan a la “civilización” todo se les va de las manos y dejan de tener control sobre sus vidas, de repente, la única manera de seguir adelante es aceptando el matrimonio con un desconocido, y aquí, empieza el libro. Carter y Bailee son la pareja protagonista de este libro, cada uno tiene un pasado complicado, cada uno tiene sus miedos y cada uno se enfrenta (o no) a sus miedos como buenamente puede, hasta aquí todo bien. La relación entre los dos es muy tierna, plagada de inseguridades que les impiden “tirar para adelante”, pero se va viendo que, poco a poco, se van dejando llevar…y van avanzando. Mi problema con esta historia ha empezado en cuanto el “suspense” aparece y empiezan a surgir personajes nuevos, no definidos, sin mucho sentido (o al menos yo no se lo he encontrado) y planos, sin personalidad, incluso excesivamente infantiles, que me han hecho volver los ojos 100 veces y me han sacado de la historia. Ha sido como un frenazo en seco, todo se para, el libro cambia de repente, ya no es lo que era, y para cuando las aguas volvieron a su cauce estaba ya tan desconectada que ni me importó, ni me conmovió lo que pasaba con los protagonistas…una pena… Quizás volviendo hacia atrás, leyendo el primer 10% del libro, donde aparece el primer malo-malísimo, podría haberme servido de pista para ver cómo iban a ser el resto de los personajes secundarios, porque dónde se ha visto, que un villano decida pagar por el carromato (en vez de robar) a las protagonistas, incluso regatea con ellas, perooooo….se quiera llevar a una de ellas para….diossabequé (aunque te lo imaginas…) raro…no?

Loved this book - just discovered this author. Loved the storyline, plot development and the revealing of these characters in all their complexity. Read on. My only (serious) gripe is....I could only download the first two in the series to my kindle, had to buy two from USA, and...can’t download all of her other novels- only some. It’s a real shame. When i find an author I love, like this, I want to, do, download whole sagas. If Jodi is listening....please sort if you can. Thanks