When a Texan Gambles [Library Binding]

Jodi Thomas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2003

Sarah Andrews has been raffled off to a groom whose life is in need of saving. She agrees to help him, but never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that this dangerously attractive Texan would steal her heart-and make her want to take the biggest gamble of all.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1880, three young women are expelled from a wagon train in the middle of wild-and women-starved-Texas: young widow Sarah Andrews, volunteer nurse Lacy Dillavou and spunky Bailee Moore. All three become murder suspects when a no-goodnik attempts to steal both their wagon and Lacy, but in the absence of a dead body, a pragmatic sheriff raffles them off to marriage-minded locals-hence Thomas's Wife Lottery Series. This book, which is second in the series after The Texan's Wager, follows the relationship between Sarah and legendary bounty hunter Sam Gatlin as they evade criminals, sleep under the stars and sort out their feelings for each other. While Sam keeps them safe, Sarah tries to come to terms with her tumultuous past and the realization that she may be in love with her new husband. The Texas setting is familiar territory to Thomas's fans, as is the book's lively dialogue and endearing homespun characters. What may confuse some readers, however, are the occasional references to characters and incidents from the previous installment. Despite Thomas's sloppy plotting-she drops plot threads and characters at whim and then works them back in when it's convenient-this bright, character-centered tale should entertain fans of the Old West.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Sarah Andrews, first introduced in The Texan's Wager (2002), is cast off the wagon train as an "undesirable" with her friends Bailee and Lacey and then conned by the local sheriff into being part of a wedding lottery in order to stay out of prison. The man who "wins" Sarah, Sam Gatlin, is a universally hated bounty hunter, feared by everyone he meets except Sarah. Sam has terrible luck as a new groom. He gets shot, stabbed, and otherwise hunted down for his role in putting bad guys behind bars. To top everything off, Sarah has made him promise not to consummate their union until she's ready. Undaunted by Sam's reputation and gruff mannerisms, Sarah sticks by him during the attempts on his life, even acting as his protector when the situation warrants. Beauty and the Beast meet the Old West as the feisty Sarah refuses to fear the man whose reputation makes sane men tremble. Thomas' second Texas title is even better than the first, which is terrific. Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Library Binding: 330 pages
• Publisher: San Val (November 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1417715340
• ISBN-13: 978-1417715343
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,679,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times and USA Today's bestselling author Jodi Thomas has published over 30 books in both the historical romance and contemporary genres, the majority of which are set in her home state of Texas. Publishers Weekly calls her novels "Distinctive...Memorable," and that in her stories "[tension] rides high, mixed with humor and kisses more passionate than most full-on love scenes." In 2006, Romance Writers of America (RITA) inducted Thomas into the RWA Hall of Fame for winning her third RITA for THE TEXAN'S REWARD. She also received the National Readers' Choice Award in 2009 for TWISTED CREEK (2008) and TALL, DARK, AND TEXAN (2008). While continuing to work as a novelist, Thomas also functions as Writer in Residence at the West Texas A&M University campus, where she inspires students and alumni in their own writing pursuits.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ANOTHER GREAT ONE FROM JODI, November 27, 2003

By 

lovesbooks (North Kingstown, R.I. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When a Texan Gambles (The Wife Lottery) (Mass Market Paperback)

I like Jodi Thomas's books--they are well written, interesting and she seldom makes a misstep with the heroine or the hero. I look forward to having the time to read them, but I don't feel as if I have to stop my life for them. She deftly sidesteps traps--for example, there are children in the book, but they don't take it over. Most of this book is the two people on the run, either from the scads of people who want to kill Gatin or to reach a sadistic murderer before he can strike again. Sometimes when an author shows a villain, too much explicit violence is shown which haunts the reader (at least, this one!), But not so in this book. Although this book is part of a trilogy (the third is not out yet), you can read it on its own. Both Sarah and Gatlin are orphans who yearn for someone to love and to be loved and the process of their falling in love was fun to read. The only criticism I have is the ongoing (two books now) flight from the man the three women thought they had murdered. I suppose this will be wrapped up in the third of the trilogy, but it made this book seem unfinished. On the whole, a very, very good book!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'd give it 5 Stars PLUS!, March 12, 2004

By 

B. Sciarrotta "Oded fan" (Trenton, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When a Texan Gambles (The Wife Lottery) (Mass Market Paperback)

I've read the first two books in this series and, since I am not a reviewer and you can read the eitors' reviews, I can only give you my humble opinions: This is a wonderful story. Great characters. I loved this book so much, that I wish Jodi would make it at least 4 in the series as I would love to read more about that wild Texas Ranger, JACOB. I can't wait for Lacy's story. She's hillarious.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars superb western romance, November 7, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When a Texan Gambles (The Wife Lottery) (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1883 after confessing that she killed nasty Zeb Whitaker with two other women, Sarah Andrews is placed in a wedding raffle by Sheriff Riles. Shockingly the last person that anyone would expect to enter the contest, bounty hunter Sam Gatlin wins. He pays her fine, gets her out of jail, and marries her. Sarah expects he will abandon her like her husband and baby who died while heading west and the wagonmaster who kicked her off the train.

However, before they can leave town, Levi Reed stabs Sam in the back. He asks Sarah to pull out the knife and to get them out of town as he is a sitting duck for anyone who wants a reputation. She pulls off the impossible, but on the trail meets three children claiming Sam as their father though he denies it whenever he awakens. As she nurtures him back to health, they fall in love, but to have a long term relationship he paradoxically must die because so many wannabees will try to gun him down.

The second "Wife Lottery" tale (see THE TEXAN'S WAGER) is a superb western romance that moves at a fast pace, is filled with plenty of action and contains a strong cast. The key, besides the fully developed lead protagonists, are the townsfolk, the kids, and those foes wanting to kill the hero. Each one enhances the understanding of the inner values of a pair who are on the surface seem inappropriate together yet share similar ethics. Readers will look forward to the final novel in what is so far a delightful series focusing on players with principles.

Harriet Klausner