Customer Reviews

The Texan's Reward (Berkley Historical Romance)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Jacob Dalton, Texas Ranger, really couldn't remember a time when he hadn't had Nell, `Two Bits' on his mind. From the very first days the rebellious orphan had come to live and be raised by Fat Alice, the town's madam, she'd been a thorn in his side, and he'd always been there to pull her out of one fix or another. Yet, whenever he returned after chasing desperados around Texas, it would be Nell who'd run, jumping into his arms to welcome him back. Now, after a shooting accident that has left Nell a cripple, he's back after hearing that she was advertising for a husband to run her ranches - and Jacob knows he is the only man for the job! Returning just in time, Nell is interviewing applicant number twelve, an innocent business-like bookkeeper, who seems to be meeting all her qualifications for husband material. Before she can make up her mind Jacob is in her face `bossing her around' and telling her that she darn well marry him before he feels forced to shoot her latest applicant - who promptly passes out on the floor! As if there weren't enough commotion with those two vying for her hand, along comes a slippery lawyer with paperwork stating she already accepted his proposal but whose primary concern was to swindle her out of her property. Oh, and along with that - toss in a vicious gang of train robbers; and, a house full of social misfits that seems to grow and pandemonium reigns supreme! Though Nell has loved Jacob all her life, she's determined not to tie him down with a `cripple' but Jacob has to convince her otherwise.


*** This was an absolutely delightful and entertaining read, from beginning to end. Nell and Jacob, the two main characters were drawn vividly with compassion, humor, and heart. Additionally, the reader is offered up an immense cast of secondary intriguing and quirky characters that all come completely fleshed out revealing their own individuality and you'll find them all worming their way right into your heart! The pace is fast with never a dull moment and you'll find yourself going from laughter to tears in this newest installment to her Texan books. This was my first introduction to this prolific author and I can assure you, it won't be my last! -- Highly recommended for those looking for an immensely entertaining read!

First of all I want to start out by saying that the reviewer before me is inaccurate. Jodi Thomas wrote the Wife Lottery Series, which consisted of 3 books. The Texan's Wager, When A Texan Gambles & A Texan's Luck. This book is a spin off of that series. In those 3 books you met Ranger Jacob Dalton & Nell a.k.a. "Two Bits". This is their story. You never even see Bailee, Sarah or Lacy in this book. I don't think it's technically considered part of that series but anyone that read that series probably fell in love with the Ranger & Two Bits & will really enjoy reading their story.

Book description:

Years ago, Texas Ranger Jacob Dalton Bailed an orphan girl named Nell out of trouble more times than he could count. But now the kid he once called "Two Bits" has grown into a beautiful young woman-an id in more trouble than ever before.

Wounded in an ambush, Nell refuses to become a burden to her former guardian angel. Unfortunately, her injury has made it impossible for her to handle the ranches she as inherited, so she decides to get herself a husband. One thing's for sure: She isn't about to let Jacob bully her into saying "I do." When Jacob steps in line for her hand, Nell is forced to weigh her need for his help against a love too strong to allow him to sacrifice his future for her.

* I really enjoyed this book but it didn't quite measure up to other books that I've read from Jodi Thomas. It was good & I do recommend it but it's not something I'll be reading again. If you're a Jodi Thomas fan I'm sure you will enjoy this book.

In The Texan's Reward, the hero's known the heroine since she was a young girl. He was already a Texas Ranger when he met her, so there's obviously an age difference, but it's ignored.

In a previous book, she was shot in the back, and the bullet remains lodged next to her spine, so she's mostly an invalid with a lot of pain.

He returns to town when she takes out an ad offering a half interest in her properties (there are quite a few) in exchange for marriage. He proposes, but she says no because she wants better for him.

This is cute because they're both so clueless, but the back and forth got to be a little much, plus the reasoning for it wasn't very clear.

There were a couple of secondary romances, too, which was nice. And a mystery, part of which wasn't explained at the end.

Finally, Jodi Thomas gives her readers the story of "Two Bits" and "Her Ranger" . . .

THE TEXAN'S REWARD is the final book in Jodi Thomas' "Wife Lottery series" and throughout this series, Thomas hinted at which direction she would take her fourth and final story . . . "I am waiting for you to grow up Miss Nellie Jean" . . . "I'm growing as fast as I can . . . I'll be there before you know it . . ."

Raised, in a brothel, by the town's notorious madam, Nell "Two Bits" Smith had grown up lonely and boisterous. Certainly, over the years, Nell had given the town gossips endless scuttlebutt. Yet, Texas Ranger Jacob Dalton had always been there for her. Always, he had been her hero, her best friend, and finally her heart's secret love. "Her Ranger" had always been there . . . except for the time THE bullet slammed into her back and changed her life forever. Then little "Two Bits" went from lively and troublesome . . . to pitiful and crippled.

Just what was she doing? Preposterous! His Nellie Jean advertising for a husband! Over his dead body! No way! Never! If she needed a husband so bad, then he, Texas Ranger Jacob Dalton, would marry Miss Nell Smith! All he had to do was convince his little "Two Bits." All he had to do was get around her silly husband candidates, and her endless supply of social outcasts, and his never-ending Ranger duties! Exactly when had life gotten so complicated?

*** Reviewer Comments:
I once read "Jodi Thomas writes so, that her reader sees" and I couldn't agree more. Jodi Thomas is a wonderful descriptive author and a western written by Ms. Thomas is indeed a treasure. However, in THE TEXAN'S REWARD, the author lost her romantic direction. Although, the story started with great promise, it soon bogged down in numerous sub-plots. Mind you, sub-plots and secondary characters are great when used for a colorful diversion. However, when they get in the way of the story's main direction, they are unappreciated! Disappointingly, Ms. Thomas spent too much time on secondary problems and Ranger duties then on the main characters' actual wooing. "Two Bits" and "Her Ranger" deserved much more . . .!
Grade: C-

MaryGrace Meloche.

After reading the previous 3 stories, I was so excited to finally find out what happens with Nell and Jacob!! As always, Jodi Thomas did a fabulous job and I just could not put the book down!
I must say, I'm a little disappointed that the two main characters did not seem to spend much time in each others company. I would have liked to see more interaction between the two as Jacob realized just how much he really loves Nell.
However, already knowing the two from the previous books, I didn't find anything lacking and was very happy with the end to this love story.
A definite must read!

this began as a good read, but somewhere in the middle i was hoping for more to come. and the ending was definitely lacking. i just love jodi thomas and was soooo excited to get this in my paws but the first three installments were better. i wasn't as riveted here. and it was very transparent. could figure the story line from the first few chapters: old sheriff in town, he's a ranger, duh. and at the end when she's recovering from surgery, he has to go out of town, comes back to find. . .? no surprize there! i would rather read things i CAN'T write.
but i still love jodi thomas and am still an avid fan, will always be.

Wounded in an ambush, Nell Smith is healing but remains wheelchair bound aided by Amazonian nurse Mary Ruth. Nell knows she needs someone to help her manage her seven properties so she puts out an ad for a husband willing to sign a prenuptial agreement of no sex and division of ownership in exchange to managing the properties. The first eleven were losers, but the twelfth shows some promise even if he is a greenhorn bookkeeper.

However, everything changes when number thirteen comes busting through her door. Texas Ranger Jacob Dalton learned of the marriage mart four days ago by telegram from Clarendon Sheriff Parker Smith. He rode hard from El Paso knowing if he arrived too late to stop his "Two Bits" from marrying anyone but him, he would make her a widow. Nell tells him to leave when he offers to marry her, and she says I don't because she loves him with all her heart, but believes he still sees her as his mischievous little sister rather than a beautiful adult who has loved him since Fat Alice adopted her as a child. Jacob knows he has his work cut out to prove to his beloved he no longer sees her as his impish younger sibling.

Jodi Thomas shows why she is considered the queen of the Texas romance with this fine western tale. The story line is fun to follow as Two Bits makes Jacob court her because she refuses to marry him as she fears her unrequited love will kill her. The battle of the sexes provides the audience with a fun nineteenth century tale.

Harriet Klausner

Way too much going on in this book that took away from the two main characters story. There were so many secondary characters that took away from their story that all that seemed to happen was they kept getting pulled apart by other things going on and the story never had any real flow to it. It was like you had multiple stories going on and the two main characters really ended up being lost in with the secondary characters. Almost secondary characters themselves. Not what I expected and hoped for.

This was not very romantic. I kept waiting and waiting for their love scene, and not even that happens! They kiss, they feel, they hug, that's it. There were too many characters in this book that kept getting in the way. It seemed like every time they were going to get closer something else happened to break them apart again. It was so frustrating because there wasn't much build-up to go along with that. Not really sure what Thomas was doing while she wrote this but it's like it wasn't finished. Nell and Jacob were so perfect for each other, I felt they deserved a better story than this.

This book is a continuation of the wife lottery series. I loved the first three, and this one was just as good.