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Chief Cook and Bottle Washer (The Travers Brothers Series Book 1) by [Rita Hestand]

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Rita Hestand

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer (The Travers Brothers Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Rita Hestand (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

1,200 ratings

Book 1 of 5: Travers Brothers Series

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Emma Smith hadn't been straight with her new boss, but he hadn't given her much of a chance to explain. Trapped in her own lies and uncertainties Emma was running in fear of losing her baby. Deke Travers, oldest son on the 4 Bar None Ranch, needed one thing to make his life more peaceful, his brothers to settle down and get with the business of ranching. There was only one solution, marry them off to country girls. And Emma will be the first bride on the 4 Bar None Ranch.

Book 1 of 5

Travers Brothers Series
Print length

203 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publication date

October 5, 2009
Reading age

16 - 18 years
Grade level

10 - 12
File size

1591 KB
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Enabled
Word Wise

Enabled
Enhanced typesetting

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The Travers Brothers is a series, about 4 brothers. Rita Hestand writes romance, historical western romance, children's, poetry, and short stories. She's published with Decadent Publishing, Secret Cravings Publishing, Victory Tales Press, Smashwords, and Amazon. A widow, Rita has two grown daughters and seven grandchildren. She also has one great grandson. One of her grandsons is in the marines, one of her grand daughters is in college. Her hobbies include, bowling, skating, kid parties, and reading. She loves nature and music. One of her favorite things is to curl up with a cup of apple cider, and watch a good movie. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002Y26QY6
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Smashwords (October 5, 2009)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 5, 2009
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1591 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 203 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1449589790

Best Sellers Rank: #382,723 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #8,297 in Contemporary Romance Fiction
- #44,251 in Contemporary Romance (Kindle Store)
- #58,686 in Contemporary Romance (Books)

Customer Reviews:
1,200 ratings

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Rita Hestand

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Rita is a widow, with 2 daughters and 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. She writes contemporary, and historical romances along wtih children's books and short stories too. She's dabbled in poetry. You can find her at Amazon.com and smasnwords.com, at ritaphestand.com, also at rhestand.com, at Decadent Publishing, and self publishes. She loves writing, reading, bowling, roller skating, kid parties, and family get togethers. Rita is retired and writes full time now.

She plans on writing until her twilight years. She's got many series planned for your reading enjoyment.

Rita is a very happy woman, who puts God first, family second, and the rest of the world next. She's been through many hard times but feels it always taught her something about life. She's had many jobs and considers this part of her life long education. She feels "If you don't make any mistakes in life, you haven't yet lived." Although not a scholar in any way, Rita feels that life has been the real teacher. Once referred to as having no common sense, Rita has spent a lifetime acquiring some. She's a constant study, and feels that if she ever stops learning that her work here on earth is done.

She used to work at a school and would write poems for the kids during the holidays and stuff. Kids have been an intricate part of Rita's life. She ran a day care for nearly twenty years. She helped to raise her grandkids and is still involved involved in their lives.

You can find free books at Smashwords.com and try them. See how you like her writing. She usually gives a book a month away on TRS, and joins their parties.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

1,200 global ratings

5 star		56%
4 star		27%
3 star		10%
2 star		5%
1 star		3%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Amazon Customer

A Nice Read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 22, 2011

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I'll let the other viewers tell you what was good about the book make note however that I did like it no matter how negative my comments appear.

What I didn't care for is I felt it could have gone into more depth and detail, which would have made it longer and a better story. All in all it was worth it and I will read the sequel "Courting Abby Clint's story.

I would have liked to have seen more in the story about Sammy Jo's grandparents persuit of her, more about Emma's father and brother's plus I would have liked to have Deke's plan blow up in his face by Emma finding out about it. It would have made for more drama which I like in these types of books. I like happiness and without giving it away I didn't like the way Joel's character was delt with in the end.

I wanted the resolution between Emma and the grandparents to be alittle more action filled, I felt like it could have been more dramatic in the way Emma handled it and I hated Deke for what he did, I still do (sorry, I hold grudges).

Last but not least, what's up with the cover I think they could have used a baby that fit the childs description in the book and not had her look ill. Covers are what entice me to even look at a title before I even read detail about a book. I'm glad it didn't deter me this time.

I gave it 4 stars because it was better than the average of 3 stars yet not the best of 5 stars which is a keeper IMHO. Enjoy.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

teacher mom

Light Romantic Western

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 9, 2011

Verified Purchase

At 24 years old, Emma Smith finds herself in a tough predicament. Her cousin, Kate, has died and left custody of her baby girl to Emma. The baby's father is gone, and Emma's father and boyfriend are not supportive of her being a single young mother. When the father's parents show interest in the baby, Emma is afraid they will try to take her away and decides the only way to save the baby is to run away and seek legal counsel. She ends up working as a cook in a diner in a small West Texas community. Then she meets Deke Tavers, who offers her a job at his ranch as housekeeper and cook for his 3 brothers and ranch hands. At the ranch, Emma and her baby find a home and family. There's just one problem: Emma's falling for her boss, and he doesn't know anything about her past.

This is okay for a light romantic read. Emma is typically "good." She's small, lovely, humble, and selfless. In a lot of ways, she's the classically good heroine. Meanwhile, Deke is just as stereotypically strong, manly, handsome, and protective. Be prepared for an instant spark. Deke and Emma are instantly attracted to each other, but they're both hesitant for different reasons. He doesn't trust women, and he wants Emma to marry one of his brothers so they'll settle down. Emma's so busy trying to adjust to being a mother that she has no interest in a man right now. Predictably, they fall for each other and it ends with a HEA. All loose ends are tied, and things turn out more perfectly than is realistic.

There are quite a few errors in the Kindle edition, which adds to the frustration. The writing is fine, but the overall story is very formulaic and predictable. There's great potential here, but its lack of originality makes it seem like a mediocre version of romance at best.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Taylor Vickery

A Must Read Modern-Day Western Romance

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 21, 2010

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She never imagined a big, busy cowboy like Deke Travers sitting in a rocking chair holding a baby, reading a story, and sounding as though he enjoyed every moment of it.
"What? You don't think I had a Mama?" He slanted the baby a weird expression. "Well I did. And she was almost as pretty as yours."
Emma's heart lurched again. What a strange and wonderful combination this man was. The kind of combination a woman could get her heart tangled up with. But, of course not hers. No, she wasn't here for a man. She wasn't looking for a husband.

This is my favorite snippet from Author Rita Hestand's romantic western, Chief Cook and Bottle Washer, from her Travers Brothers Series. To me this little excerpt tells the story of this read. A tough cowboy like Deke Travers, with a marshmallow center, and a woman named Emma who does everything she can not to fall in love with him are definitely my type of people.

Ms. Hestand did an excellent job with making us feel Emma's despair and desperation when she "bumped" into Deke and the emotions she felt throughout the story. Sammie Jo is a fun, heart-wrenching addition to the cast. Even the Travers Brothers' father became real to me and is an important part of the story. But Deke, the cowboy who melts over the child, Sammie Jo, captured my heart and I fell more than a little in love with him.

Once again Ms. Hestand's knowledge of Texas, ranching, and her understanding of family life and responsibilities comes shining through. Be sure to read this Travers Brothers Series. (It doesn't really matter the order you read them as they are stand alone novels with interlinking characters and locations.)
I am really enjoying Ms. Hestand's style and plan to read more of her work.

33 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Awesome

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 8, 2022

Verified Purchase

I loved this book from the very beginning. I recommend it to everyone who reads. It is a awesome book.

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Top reviews from other countries

Marie P

Great book - should have read it sooner

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 26, 2012

Verified Purchase

I downloaded this as a free download a couple of months ago, but wasn't that gripped by the blurb so read others first. When i finally got to it, it was great, not gripping, page turning tension and drama, not steamy sex, but a really good romance with a strong family based storyline.
Emma is a strong character and can hold her own on a ranch full of men, but is terrified her past is going to catch up with her and rip Sammie-Jo from her life - which results in her loosing all rational thoughts on the subject. Rita has written this really well and shows both her strengths and weaknesses whilst keeping Emma believable. Deke is what we all dream of a gorgeous, sexy, dominant male who is great with babies,loving, re-assuring, happy to lend a hand with chores, happily takes you clothes shopping and defends you without second thought - not sure any of these actually exist in one full package! But how nice it is to dream!
Whilst there is no sex in this book, there is plenty of romance and a little steam to help it on its way. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be buying the rest in the series, hoping like most series they get better as you get to know the characters and they grow.

Me

Pleasant Read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 1, 2012

Verified Purchase

Emma Smith is the plucky heroine who has taken on the responsibility of looking after her late cousin's baby daughter, despite the disapproval of her family and ex-fiancee. She seems to be hiding, though not terribly well, from the baby's paternal grandparents afraid they will take her baby away. She meets the hero, Deke, by running into his car on a dark and stormy night and though he calls the police on her she doesn't recognise him when he offers her a job. Deke initially sees her as a potential wife for his brother to settle him down. This causes Deke jealousy in the initial half of the story. The other obstacle for love is that Emma claims the baby is her daughter and Deke keeps emphasising his need for honesty.
This is an entertaining book but the lie that Emma has told being an obstacle in the way the book tries to make out is not believable and makes it difficult to maintain your suspension of disbelief. Deke's lack of insight is also slightly overdone as well as his heavy handed input into Emma's life being easily accepted after a short pouting session. On the plus side the characters are likable being good and hardworking etc but with some human foibles e.g. Emma's excessive fear for the baby which is comprehensible in the light of the back story. I probably would not read another book by the same author and have removed it from the kindle but I did read the whole story and enjoyed most of it, which in the free download books is not a given.

Sharon

A Feel Good Book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 1, 2011

Verified Purchase

The Book is the first in a series of 4 books by Rita Hestand about 4 brothers living on a Ranch. This book is about the oldest brother, Deke, who along with his father tries to keep his brothers in order. Emma is on the run with a child that doesn't belong to her. She is caring for her cousin Kathleen's daughter after Kathleen died and she ends up in a small town working in a Diner.

She is offered the job of house-keeper to the Travers family, Deke needing a housekeeper and also planning to marry her off to one of his unruly brothers to try and calm him down. He doesn't plan on falling in love with Emma or 'her daugher', but that is exactly what happens.

I enjoyed this book, there is very little sexual wording and I would be willing to let my teenage cousins read it.

If you want a book that is not full of sexual inuendoes but full of family orientated story telling then is this the one for you. I am looking forward to reading the other 3 books in the series.

2 people found this helpful

Love Reading

Too flawed

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 28, 2014

Verified Purchase

Sorry but I didn't like this book very much in the end. It had started of really well and whilst the story was quite simple, it was rather sweet. However, the flow was flawed; e.g. One minute the baby was walking towards him, in the next sentence he picked her up out of the high chair (?). This can happy once but seemed to be a regular occurrence here. It's a shame because with a little more careful editing this could have been quite a passable book.

Anon

Easy read but wouldn't have been happy if I'd paid for it.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 31, 2014

Verified Purchase

An easy read, with very predictable HEA. OK for a free book but if I had paid for it I would have been very disappointed in the grammatical errors and the unrealistic way the few problems that crop up just happen to work out.

If it had a good editor I would have been tempted to try the rest of the series, but as it is I'll just delete it and move on to another author.

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