Customer Reviews

Two Texas Hearts

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the first book by Jodi Thomas that I have read. And like the others before me it will not be my last. This book was absolutely breath taking. There was never at anytime a place in this book where I got bored. Win is like every woman's dream. Tough and rugged on the outside, but tender and warm on the inside. He just has trouble showing it. And Kora is nuturing, stronger then she thinks, and very loving. I guess I can really relate to this book, because I to am left handed. But at least in today's times it's nothing out of the ordinary like it was years ago. This is one book that I was truly sad to see end. It could have been a thousand pages and I would have read it till the end. Now I'm off to look for more of Jodi's books. Happy reading!

The marriage of convenience followed by falling in love is one of the mainstay plotlines of romantic fiction. It happens to be one of my favorites and it's always fun to read a well done version. In this case, Win owns all but the house of the Texas ranch he grew up on. The late owner's will provides that it will be inherited by Win's wife. Only one problem -- Win has no wife and the prospects are bleak. With only hours to go, he convinces the widow living in the shanty to marry him. Kora has her own pragmatic reasons to agree - she and her siblings are starving. Proximity and chemistry do the rest.

The auxillary plot is pretty much the western cliche of a threat to the ranch with mysterious riders in black dusters. It doesn't add much to book. Thomas does manage to stay out off the worst of the half-breed plot cliches.

Thomas produces some good romantic tension and chemistry between Win and Kora. I read the book in three hours straight and will hold on to it, at least for awhile. The Romance Reader, a magazine, awarded the book five stars.

Consistently, Jodi Thomas yanks me into a story, makes me hungry for detail, and then leaves me wanting! In short, Jodi Thomas generally frustrates me! . . . Again, TWO TEXAS HEARTS starts with Thomas' familiar potency . . .

Winter McQuillen was a hard man. He was strong and he was honest; yet he was a man without warmth and he was very satisfied with his life. Still, he had one small problem: Winter McQuillen needed a wife . . . immediately! Yet, men like him didn't have time for such foolishness. Time was vital and courtship and love were lame. Therefore, he struck a bargain with the widow, Mrs. Kora Adams: she would wed him, she would stay with him for six months, and she would be gone. And yes, he would allow her to drag along her little sister and brother.

Kora Adams had a black cloud hanging over her head. To begin with, she was left-handed and everyone knew that was bad luck! Furthermore, she had been born a girl and everyone knew boys were a mother's blessing and girls . . . were nothing more than a mother's hands! Kora Adams did not believe in forever, she did not believe in marriage, she did not believe in love. All her life, fate had slapped her down and once more Kora Adams would survive. She learned a long time ago caring for someone invited pain. She was just his wife; she was just someone to cook and clean.

Jodi Thomas comes up with a great plot idea, she fills the story with great secondary characters, and TWO TEXAS HEARTS wasn't hard to read, for Jodi Thomas has a very nice writing style. However, the problem with TWO TEXAS HEARTS is the story won't stay with me. Once I move on to another book, Thomas' story will be gone! Forgotten! Why? Because the romance isn't strong enough! The author spends far too much time on the plot "monkey wrench!" I wanted Jodi Thomas to exploit Winter and Kora's romance! I wanted Winter McQuillen to woo Kora Adams! Evil sabotage, in a plot, is great for an added draw, but the plot's romance should always be the main attraction! Here Thomas' story felt overcrowded and there was no reason for it. Still, I like this author's books, and it is to her credit that I continue to hunt them down. Ms. Thomas has an extraordinary gift, if only she would turn up the romance. If only, if only . . .
Grade: B

MaryGrace Meloche.

Once you start reading it's hard to put this book down. The story is unusual. A women, Kora, agreeing to marry a man, Winter, she just met, hence she gets 20 acres on a Texas ranch with a home, (part of his inheritance.) Kora is a poor woman, who needs a home and food; she is caring for her younger sister, who is a zany character to say the least, and her brother who is mentally scarred from war. Winter is a man of good character, his ranch is thriving, but under attack, but they are not sure from who. The characters are intriging, and the story takes many unexpected twists and turns. There is humor threaded throughout, and of course romance. It was a good mixture of fun and mystery and romance.

This book is excellent & I couldn't put it down. This is the first book I've read from this author & will be looking for more of hers. Win & Kora were meant to find each other & when they did they couldn't hold back their feeling long. I loved Kora's sister Jamie. She gave me many laughs. Don't pass of the chance to read this book. You won't regret it. This book is a keeper.

The main characters are likable. There's plenty of action. It's funny and hard to put down. The only down side to this book is that it was difficult keeping track of time. There was little to distinguish one day from the next and day from night. I often found myself struggling with the time line.

"Winter" is the half indian child rescued by the main characters in JT's Texas love song book. In my review on that one you will note that I really liked this little boy and hoped for more on him. This was a wonderful story and I'm pleased that I found it.
His bride was a wonderful mate for him and his friend "Cheyanne" worthy of his own story. I didn't give it a 5 because when "kora" is kidnapped twice in 24 hrs it is a bit of a stretch. Also the book goes from cheyanne and jamie hating each other to being married in the last few pages without any reason why they got together....Im glad winter and kora, who had an equally tough life, finally found happiness in his life.

I really enjoyed this book and found it very hard to put down. This is a great read for anyone who enjoys a happy ending.

I was really prepared to love this book after reading all of the favorable reviews. It had some good parts but overall it wasnt as good as I was hoping. The main charactors left me a little puzzled at times, such as (not to ruin the story for those who havent read it yet) when Kora is finally safe after a dangerous situation, Winter locks himself in the study without a word to her? Even though he has his struggles, I think he would at least show some concern or interest in her welfare. That would have moved the romance along. And then you have Kora who seems overly submissive in scene after scene. I found myself more interested in who her sister would end up with.

I usually don't read romance books with a western theme to them but I'm so glad I read this one! It is entertaining almost immediately as a young man (Win) has to find a bride one night to save the house in the middle of the property he has just inherited. Kora's reaction and the ensuing chapters were a delight to read. I almost felt like I could smell the dust from the trail and was transported to another place and time. Isn't that what a really good book should do? Well, look no further here it is! All the characters are great and in particular Kora's sister, Jamie, adds interest to the book.